Chapter 128: Ouroboros (2)

Chapter 128: Ouroboros (2)

TL/Editor: Rungir

Schedule: none

Illustrations: none

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In the northernmost part of the continent, the climate was perpetually cold, with snowfall throughout all seasons. Half of the area was comprised of snowy mountains, yet equally vast plains also existed.

These plains were home to a massive community of giants.

Perhaps due to the harsh environment, where the climate made survival difficult for ordinary humans and crops barely grew, the giants of the community were predominantly aggressive, enjoying hunting and reveling in combat.

Thus, even after becoming part of the empire through the Eternal Treaty, skirmishes and larger conflicts between the giant communities occurred annually.

"Lately, not having fought feels like an itch I can't scratch."

The two giants from the 'White Mane' tribe, guarding the boundary between the communities, were part of the preparations for such conflicts.

"That's what I'm saying. I thought we'd be included in the battle against the 'Blue Claw,' but they went with the same ones again."

The giant with the long black beard responded, eliciting agreement from his bushy-browed companion.

"Ha, I should protest and demand they take us next time. Guard duty is important, sure, but standing around like this is going to rot my body."

"I agree. Feeding this guy some blood from time to time keeps it from getting dull," the bushy-browed giant said, pulling out his axe and swinging it lightly.

That moment,

"......Huh?"

The bearded giant, watching the axe, noticed something odd reflected on its perfectly polished side, like a mirror.

The reflection showed a steep snowy mountain on the right side, an area that should have been desolately empty except for snowstorms, but now, something numerous was moving.

"Look, over there...!"

The bearded giant pointed towards the sight with wide eyes, turning the bushy-browed giant's head in that direction.

"What's got you all...!"

His eyes began to fill with horror at the sight.

-------------!

An army.

It was an army made up solely of monsters.

A horde of countless monsters filled the snowy mountain vista, descending at a frenzied pace.

It was a scene that could truly be described as a tidal wave of monsters, without any exaggeration.

"We must alert the tribe!"

The bushy-browed giant, having stared dumbfounded for a moment, turned pale and started running in the opposite direction.

Though he greatly enjoyed combat, he had no desire for a one-sided slaughter.

"Come on, follow me!!"

The bearded giant quickly followed suit, chasing after the bushy-browed giant.

Following that, a monstrous roar echoed!

The horde of monsters swiftly approached, shattering the outpost where they were and began to invade the land of the 'White Mane' tribe in earnest.

The central branch of Ouroboros.

The term 'central' was apt for this enormous place, home to a multitude of combatants on a regular basis.

Each one possessed military prowess on par with knights serving in the imperial palace.

Their strength was so formidable that, if known to the world, it could cause a major upheaval, but,

"Hold them back! Hold them baaaack!!!!"

"We, we can't... Aaargh!"

They were displaying a pitifully powerless scene at the moment.

Slash, slash, slash!

Attackers wearing bizarre masks relentlessly advanced, cutting down every Ouroboros member they encountered.

Their swordsmanship was so superior that most of their victims didn't even realize how they had been decapitated before falling dead.

"Exactly, how did they find this place and... huh?"

One of the members, looking pale as he watched the scene, suddenly had his eyes clouded with doubt.

Step, step.

What he saw was a man, walking slowly from behind the swiftly approaching masked swordsmen, drawing closer with terrifying speed.

Merely walking, yet one couldn't tear their eyes away from the man, as if enchanted.

At the same time, the member noticed the man's hair color.

It was a distinct silver.

"C-could it be...?"

There was only one family with such hair color in the world.

"Ag, Agnes...!"

Before the member could fully voice his realization, his throat was sliced by the nearby masked swordsmen.

'Surely fast, but...'

Passing by his corpse, Zion glanced down the straight, long corridor of the building.

The corridor stretched out, seemingly endless, with floors continuing upwards.

The space around the demon tore apart as thousands of claws burst forth, indicating his readiness to go all out from the start.

"Yeah, I got what you're saying."

Sharin also began to muster all her power as she stared down the red witch, emerging from what could no longer be called a room due to the extensive destruction.

Sharin was proud, but not foolishly so. Otherwise, she wouldn't have risen to be a key leader within Ouroboros.

Indeed, could this be the power of one of the worst organizations in the world?

The space around her cracked and crumbled as she summoned her strength.

"This is going to be really fun, isn't it?"

Sensing the strength of both opponents, Liushina, with a blood-red smile, once again drenched the surroundings in a bloody hue.

---------------!

And so, the clash began.

"Kyahahahaha!"

A chilling laughter filled the air as thousands of demonic eyes and beastly mouths began to obliterate everything they touched, spreading destruction.

Diral's numerous black claws, filled with vile magic, tore through the witch's dominated space, invading it in retaliation.

With every microscopic gap they created, Sharin May unleashed dozens of rapid strikes in less than a second, each attack booming like thunder, shattering the already torn space and even shaking the very core of its existence.

*****TURN 12*****

With a deafening crash, the building shook as if hit by an earthquake, and entire floors began to collapse from the colossal clash.

"Kyahahaha! Yes! I love it!!!"

Unlike the grim-faced duo, the witch of annihilation radiated sheer ecstasy, ramping up her intensity.

For Liushina, the situation was exceedingly joyous.

'I came here for a simple massacre, and now I've snagged two big fish.'

One of them was even a catch she regretfully missed before.

Certainly, if she could absorb their lives, it would greatly advance her Sangria Requiem.

But, could it be that these formidable foes were too much even for her?

The battle remained fiercely balanced, with no side gaining the upper hand, which was astonishing.

After all, this was to be expected.

Diral, in his true form, possessed a force to rival the Oma spirits, and Sharin's power, though not as immense, was not to be underestimated.

Then, with a massive tearing sound,

Diral's claws, breaking through the crimson tide, impaled Liushina's entire body.

Following that, the demonic energy bursting from the claws took on the form of evil spirits, beginning to freeze the witch's body in space itself.

The Chains of the Demon God.

A unique transcendental spell that only Diral could wield.

"Now, now is the time!"

The demon, grimacing as if the effort was taxing, shouted towards Sharin.

Diral knew.

Even if the battle seemed evenly matched for now, eventually, the tide would turn in favor of the red-eyed monster.

Thus, he had poured every bit of his demonic energy and power into this spell.

With a piercing shriek,

Instinctively sensing this was their final chance, Sharin was already hurtling towards the bound Liushina at a terrifying speed before Diral even finished speaking.

From her sword began to burn a clear, fiery aura, the intensity of which surpassed all her previous displays of swordsmanship.

'To cut and burn away the very essence, preventing regeneration.'

Sharin's eyes gleamed with a deadly resolve, brimming with the intent to kill.

'This could be dangerous.'

For the first time, a hint of trouble flickered in the eyes of the witch, completely frozen in space, as she watched Sharin approach.

Thump!

A vibration emanated from the ground.

It was so subtle that it would be imperceptible unless one was paying close attention.

But, thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

The rhythm of the vibrations grew steadily louder and closer, rapidly approaching their location.

"......?"

A moment of doubt crossed Sharin's eyes as she charged forward, then a massive explosion!

As if dozens of bombs exploded simultaneously beneath her feet, the ground where she stood burst open.

From within, a sinister darkness shot straight up to the ceiling, writhing as if alive, stretching from the first floor to the very top of the building.

"......!"

Overwhelmed by the unimaginable ferocity emanating from it, Sharin's eyes widened, and before she could even react,

"It's been a while."

A languid voice accompanied a pale hand shooting out from the darkness, seizing her head and then, with a crushing force,

Slammed her straight into the ground.

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