Chapter 98

In silence, the black knight, resembling a demon, swung down his black sword, but Shu easily dodged it. It was too straightforward, making it easy to avoid.

However, the sword that was swung down made an unexpected move.

The blade, stained with darkness, bent and twisted like a whip, trying to wrap around Shu. Surprised, Shu used acceleration magic to escape into the sky.

Then, the black knight produced a dark cube in his left hand, instantly divided it, and launched it. The small dark projectiles, flying in a trajectory, aimed to pierce Shu. But Shu absorbed them all with death magic.

"Right from the start, huh?"

"You were the one who killed the Ice Princess Palace with a surprise magic attack."

"That's true, but unfortunately, that magic wasn't mine. It was my companion's magic."

"Companions of the King of the Underworld? You're making me laugh!"

"Do you know my true identity, then?"

It's unclear why he was recognized, but Shu could make a rough guess.

It was probably information leaked from a high-ranking official of the black cat faction who had joined the Great Empire. Shu had no intention of hiding the fact that the King of the Underworld and the 'Reaper' were the same person. Therefore, he wasn't fazed by this.

"If I kill you, the war will be won by the Great Empire."

"Then, the war will be won by the Revolutionary Army. You know you can't kill me, right? I assume you understand that a 'King' of monsters isn't an opponent a single Awakened Magus can handle?"

Among monsters, a 'King' is special.

It is a truly awakened monster.

Even an Awakened Magus, a human who has also awakened, cannot handle one alone; it requires multiple people. A 'King' of monsters is a being that should be called an irregular demon king, created by the world itself. Yama Kuroha understood this much.

So, even though he said he would kill Shu, in his heart, he was just trying to buy time.

"This body is a temporary creation made by magic. You can't kill me... King of the Underworld."

"You're quite talkative. Considering how you attacked me in silence."

"If words can disrupt your concentration even a little, then they should be used. That's what I thought."

The black knight wielded a pitch-black sword that could deform at will and sometimes launched dark projectiles. His attacks were seamless, covering both close and long ranges, and assaulted Shu.

The density of the attacks was terrifying; an ordinary opponent would have been killed a hundred times over.

But they couldn't reach Shu, the King of the Underworld.

He nullified all attacks with death magic and remained unscathed.

(Where is the main body?)

While dodging the attacks, Shu was searching for the location of the main body. The black knight seemed to be hiding his magic power skillfully with unaligned magic, making it impossible for Shu to detect him. He could sense that it was nearby, but he couldn't pinpoint its exact location.

(He didn't show any signs of being hit by Iris's 'Dragon Fang Assault,' so he must be outside the range. But where?)

Continuing the battle wouldn't lead anywhere, so Shu tried using death magic.

Of course, the target was the black knight. The black knight, whose life was instantly taken, turned black and disintegrated, disappearing. An Awakened Magus's servant-type magic armor can be eliminated with death magic. This information was valuable to Shu.

But his joy was short-lived.

A new black knight was born on the spot.

"Servant types shouldn't be able to be created unless the main body, the magus, is nearby..."

"By marking them, they can regenerate from the point of destruction. That's all there is to it."

"I see. So it's like a save and load function."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, never mind."

The marking method was unknown, but it seemed that some means allowed for regeneration on the spot. This was a nuisance for Shu.

(But why is there only one Awakened Magus, even if it's a servant type, against me?)

It seemed as if they had no intention of defeating Shu.

For the Great Empire of Subarokia, the 'Reaper' was a threat, and they should have wanted to defeat him with multiple Awakened Magi. However, there was no such determination.

The black knight's attacks were simple, combining slashes with black projectiles.

They were far from lethal.

This suggested that there was another purpose behind these actions.

(The target isn't me, but something else... the main force of the Revolutionary Army, perhaps?)

He quickly reached a conclusion.

At the same time, a powerful magical light shone near where the main force of the Revolutionary Army was located. Seeing the massive magic array spread across the sky, Shu understood everything.

"You're trying to stall me here and crush the main force of the Revolutionary Army with a divine curse, aren't you?"

"I know you have the power to erase magic and magic armor. That's why I'm stalling you."

"I see."

Perhaps because his intentions were exposed, Yama Kuroha spoke the true plan through the black knight. Indeed, Shu's goal was to lead the Revolutionary Army to victory and make the Holy Grinia the ruler of this continent.

In other words, as long as the Revolutionary Army was destroyed, it didn't matter whether Shu was alive or dead.

Shu was the King of the Underworld and the 'Reaper.'

His rationality and purpose-driven actions were known to the Great Empire of Subarokia. Because they had partially figured out his goal, this stalling and divine curse strategy was implemented.

(This magic array... the main component is a gas molecule movement spell, with a weight spell added. It's a wind divine curse.)

Having obtained several magic books from the Great Empire's forbidden library, Shu knew about wind divine curses.

Once activated, it would undoubtedly annihilate the Revolutionary Army.

If he tried to steal the energy with death magic before activation, the black knight would interfere. The black knight was surrounded by countless black cubes, ready to be launched at any moment.

(Then, there's only one way.)

Shu gathered pitch-black magic in his right hand.

It was the magic of death, the death magic that embodies the law of death. A special magic that can even kill concepts, unique to the King of the Underworld. He condensed this death magic at his fingertips, making it burn like a black candle flame.

The black knight was on guard, but it was too late.

Shu released the condensed death magic toward the massive magic array shining in the sky. The tiny death magic disappeared in an instant.

"What did you do?"

"..."

Shu said nothing, pointing to the sky.

The magic array covering the sky was instantly devoured by the pitch-black magic. The magic array itself was killed.

The black knight was speechless.

At the same time, a black line extended northwest from the remnants of the vanished magic array.

"I see, there."

The black line was a conceptual line connecting the magic user and the magic array.

It was a thought, a spirit, and magic.

To handle magic remotely, a conceptual transmission line was necessary. Shu's death magic had even killed this.

The adjusted death magic had penetrated to such a deep layer.

"Die!"

Realizing this, Yama Kuroha attacked Shu with the servant-type black knight, which resembled a demon. But Shu, who had anticipated this, was already gathering death magic again.

The death magic released from his fingertips killed the black knight, and the thought line extended northwest.

"Huh. You were in the same place all along."

Yama Kuroha's servant had moved far away, and the万象真理 (Banbutsu Shinri) had activated the magic through its eyes. It was a well-used servant suicide forbidden spell combo by the two of them.

For Shu, the fact that the two were in the same place was convenient.

He materialized into a spirit, eliminating air resistance, and used acceleration magic to exceed the speed of sound instantly.

The being closest to death and most beloved by death was approaching the two magi.

◆◆◆

Yama Kuroha, who had the illusion of death, hurriedly shouted.

"Hurry! We have to escape!"

"I know!"

Since they shared their vision, Banbutsu Shinri also understood the situation. The approaching black line would undoubtedly kill them upon contact. They severed their thoughts and separated themselves from the magic and magic armor. Thanks to this, the death magic that was destroying thoughts stopped halfway and didn't reach them.

However, it had come quite close.

In other words, the King of the Underworld had pinpointed their location with considerable accuracy.

"Hmph. It's pitiful that the Great Empire's trump cards are running away together."

"I know. Since the Ice Princess Palace was killed, we are also in danger."

"To this extent... King of the Underworld, Arkwright!"

This was truly hateful.

The two, who considered themselves among the strongest in the world, had to admit that they were only the strongest "among humans."

Their desperate escape was humiliating.

However, for the sake of the Great Empire's victory, they could endure it.

"Yama Kuroha, can you leave the rear to your servant?"

"No. For some reason, I can't use my magic armor."

"Is it the concept of death that the King of the Underworld is said to control?"

Banbutsu Shinri understood.

Yama Kuroha's magic armor had been killed by the King of the Underworld's magic. It would take a considerable amount of time to revive. He realized the power of the concept of death.

(I should have brought a teleportation magic user.)

It was too late to regret now.

Moreover, the Great Empire's teleportation magic users were also 'Hawk Eyes.' Even if they were here, it wouldn't have made a difference.

The two converted their overflowing magic into physical strength and ran.

That was the only way to escape.

However, it was only natural that they would be caught by Shu, who could exceed the speed of sound with acceleration magic.

"How disgraceful."

With a whoosh, the sound of the wind, the King of the Underworld's voice reached their ears.

At the same time, Banbutsu Shinri and Yama Kuroha felt a coolness in their chests. Of course, this was because a hole had opened in their left chest, where their hearts were.

"What...?"

They spat blood simultaneously and fell to the ground.

Of course, they were dead instantly.

Shu turned around and released the death magic wrapped around his hands.

"Three down. One Awakened Magus remains."

The plan to lure the Awakened Magi using the main force of the Revolutionary Army as bait was successfully completed. The Revolutionary Army could now advance smoothly to the capital, Aldar.

Shu would also receive his reward of 5,000 gold coins.

With this, 80% of the Great Empire of Subarokia's Awakened Magi were dead. There was almost no resistance left.

At least until the decisive battle in the capital, Shu had no particular role to play.

"All that's left is to wait. Should I return to Iris?"

Shu disappeared from the spot.

As expected, Iris was lost, but that's another story.