abcnovels
Chapter 118
Chapter 118
Chapter 118
True Madness
***
The time given was only ten seconds.
Once ten seconds passed, the balance between the Heavenly Slaughter Star and the madness would break, leading to an immediate rampage.
Knowing this well, Kraush’s body moved faster than anyone else.
Boom!
The sound filled the spot belatedly, raising a cloud of dust.
When Kraush, who had vanished in an instant, reached the Night God’s proximity,
the skull’s eyes belatedly turned towards him.
Clack!
But it was already too late to react.
Kraush’s red blade had already pierced the Night God’s shield.
Too fast.
Kraush was absurdly quick, so much so that even a divine being couldn’t track him.
If it were the Night God’s true body, it might be different.
But the power dwelling in the crystal skull was less than 5%.
Thus, it couldn’t keep up with Kraush activated Annihilation Asura.
Boom!
With a collision, the Night God was sent flying again.
But this time, it didn’t end there.
Kraush moved faster than the flying Night God and was already at his destination.
Kraush’s foot struck towards the Night God.
Boom!
A deafening roar echoed as his foot slammed down.
Kraush had halted the Night God mid-air, shield and all.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
What followed was the crazed sound of a sword striking down repeatedly.
Kraush’s sword struck the Night God’s shield dozens of times in an instant.
Each strike emitted black flames, turning the shield’s front pitch black.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
In the pitch-black void, the metallic sounds from the sealed shield were maddening.
Even the Night God felt an eerie sensation.
What kind of madman would strike a shield so aggressively to break it?
The Night God was appalled by Kraush’s madness.
?You grave robber!?
Enraged, the Night God extended his hand, causing black spikes to shoot out from the shield in all directions.
Kraush was pressing down on the shield with his foot while striking with his sword.
If he didn’t dodge, he’d be impaled.
If he dodged, he wouldn’t be able to attack in the darkness and would have to retreat.
The Night God had realized that stalling would make Kraush collapse on his own.
Clang!
But another strike came immediately.
The Night God was bewildered.
Spikes had been launched, so why was he still striking?
Clang, clang!
Despite the black flames obscuring his vision, the strikes continued.
The black flames from the World Erosion and Ignis disoriented even the god’s sight.
Thus, the Night God couldn’t tell what Kraush was doing on the shield.
At that moment,
crack!
A sound echoed as the shield, unable to withstand the relentless strikes, began to crack.
The light in the skull’s eyes flickered.
A shield made with divine power was breaking from sheer force and repetition.
It seemed impossible, but it was happening.
Kraush was emitting an unexplainable level of output.
Clang!
A sword blade emerged through the black flames, finally piercing the shield.
The red blade stopped just short of the Night God’s face.
Amidst the sparks, Kraush’s face reappeared.
His red eyes, reminiscent of a demon, stood out against his dark blue hair.
The Night God realized.
Kraush hadn’t dodged the spikes at all.
His left leg was impaled by a spike.
Rather than being deterred, Kraush found the fixed position beneficial.
He kept striking in that position, black flames hissing as his blood dripped onto the shield.
The sound made it clear how hot his body was.
Kraush ignored his impaled leg, focusing solely on breaking the shield within ten seconds.
It was madness.
A level of obsession far beyond human capacity.
An all-out attack, disregarding his own body.
The Night God was bewildered.
Attacking him for being a grave robber was one thing, but this level of recklessness would leave him in a dire state even if he survived.
?Even if you survive, you’ll burn out.?
As the Night God questioned in disbelief, Kraush didn’t pay attention.
Kraush silently exhaled smoke, lifting his sword above his head.
‘Two seconds left.’
Lightning energy gathered in the sheath formed by his sword.
Simultaneously, the black flames within clashed, creating a storm.
A single concentrated strike.
As Kraush reached the realm of Sword and Spirit Fusion,
crack!
The lightning sheath shattered, and black flames and lightning energy surged.
The crimson sword slashed straight down towards the cracked shield.
Watching the red trail, the Night God asked,
?Why go to such lengths??
That was his last question before the sword reached him.
Annihilation Erosion
Third Form
Sky-Thundering Annihilation
Boom!
A storm of black flames and lightning energy swept through the tomb.
The impact shook the entire tomb.
When the storm subsided,
Juio’s charred body lay beneath the cracked crystal skull.
A hand grabbed the crystal skull.
Clack-
The crystal skull’s teeth clattered.
The hand belonged to none other than Kraush.
“Spit.”
Kraush spat out the black blood that had risen to his mouth and wiped his lips.
Then, seeing blood flow from his nose, he clicked his tongue and wiped his nose as well.
As soon as the ten seconds passed, Kraush reactivated Doll’s Eye to forcibly suppress the madness and the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
The timing was tight, leaving residual effects.
Kraush clenched his teeth, struggling to stay conscious.
His mind was foggy.
‘My whole body… aching to death.’
Forcibly elevating his physical state with the Heavenly Slaughter Star and enhancing Annihilation Erosion with madness had harsh aftereffects.
But without such measures, he couldn’t have broken the Night God’s shield.
Despite the power being far below the true deity, it was still divine power.
Anything less wouldn’t have sufficed.
[You endure well.]
Crimson Garden’s voice echoed.
“Well, if I don’t, I’d lose my mind and turn into a murderer.”
[You really want to shorten your life.]
“I plan to solve that with your immortality.”
[Cheeky brat. I won’t give it to you!]
“Who else would you give it to?”
Feeling absurd, Kraush took out some painkillers and swallowed them.
He poured a potion directly onto his impaled leg.
With a sizzling sound, the expensive potion began to heal the hole in his leg.
He gulped down the remaining potion.
That should be enough for emergency treatment.
‘I’ll have to see Astria again when I get back.’
That’s what healers are for.
Feeling somewhat better from the potion, Kraush looked at the crystal skull.
The Night God’s power within had diminished significantly.
During Annihilation Asura, he could have obliterated it, but he chose not to.
He had to achieve the goal he had in mind since arriving at the tomb.
“Still conscious?”
Kraush called out to the Night God within the crystal skull.
The light in the skull’s eyes returned slightly.
?Still talking about that conversation.?
“Well, it was my goal from the start.”
?I don’t know your god precisely.?
Starting from that topic, it seemed the Night God limited Kraush’s interest to the god he contracted with.
?I only know that your god is the most resented by other gods.?
“Resented?”
?What do you think was done with that thieving ability??
“Stealing divine power, you mean?”
No response.
So, it was true.
A skill is a blessing from a god.
In essence, a skill is part of a god’s power.
But a skill is just a fraction, not the god’s full power.
Kraush’s contracted god stole the full power of other gods.
‘What a crazy woman.’
Even among gods, that would draw immense ire.
She would face worse than the Night God.
Moreover, Kraush always had a question.
Others contracted with gods from birth, but Kraush met the god who gave him Black Hood after his regression.
‘I thought she would approach me since I had her skill.’
Yet she never appeared.
‘What is she doing? Or does she not care like before?’
Uncertain, but the Night God’s story intrigued him.
‘Maybe I can do that too later.’
Stealing divine power could make preventing world destruction much easier.
‘Without a way to reach the divine realm, I’d need to forcibly manifest a god.’
Thinking along those lines, Kraush shook his head.
That was too far off for now.
?No news since, just giving skills to humans.?
The Night God’s tone was incredulous.
Watching him, Kraush waved dismissively.
“It was curious, but if you don’t know, fine.”
He had already suspected his god was different from normal gods.
“I propose a deal.”
[You really like deals.]
Don’t criticize a human’s most rational method.
At the word “deal,” the skull’s eyes shimmered.
Clack, clack, clack!
Then it laughed.
?Grave robber, what can you possibly offer me in a deal??
“Your name.”
The Night God’s laughter ceased.
“I’ll retrieve your name.”
?Nonsense. A grave robber can’t find it.?
“If I can steal divine power, why not a name? Your name was stolen by another god, right?”
The Night God fell silent.
Having lost his name and slumbered in this tomb,
to a god, a name is power.
Of course, he wanted his name back.
?What do you want??
The Night God’s thought was correct.
When he asked, Kraush replied.
“Your skill, Nox.”
?You already have a skill. I can’t grant another.?
“It’s fine. Give it to that guy.”
Kraush pointed at Juio, charred but alive.
Though his lifespan wouldn’t be long after hosting the Night God, he was alive.
Kraush was asking the Night God to grant Juio the skill.
The Night God was stunned.
He realized Kraush intended to use Black Hood to steal the skill from Juio.
?You’re a true grave robber, seeking to take everything.?
“That’s how you use abilities.”
As Kraush spoke, the Night God sighed.
Then the crystal skull moved.
?Can you guarantee retrieving my name??
“Well, you’re just lying here, might as well give it a shot.”
?You’re not a grave robber, but a con artist.?
But there was no reason to refuse.
Either way, there was no loss.
?Place me on him.?
Following the Night God’s instruction, Kraush placed the skull on Juio’s body.
The skull clattered as the remaining night within it flowed into Juio.
Juio didn’t need to answer a contract for the skill.
Having hosted the Night God once, he was already a forced apostle.
Thus, as the skill imbued into Juio, Kraush activated Black Hood.
With Juio unconscious and unaware,
Kraush seized the Night God’s skill, Nox.
He felt the black night permeate his body.
As it spread, Lunar Body emitted a noticeably strong yin energy.
His body, heated from Annihilation Asura, began to cool.
Kraush clenched his fist.
Stealing Nox was the right decision.
Nox had an additional effect.
When night fully descended,
under that night, Kraush would be much stronger.
Nox was most potent when night prevailed.
This would be very useful against the Moon Rabbit in the future.
“Thanks.”
?Remember the deal.?
“I said it, so of course I will.”
Kraush grinned and turned away.
He stumbled slightly.
Though better from the potion and Nox, the aftereffects hadn’t entirely faded.
?One more thing. Where did you send the girl??
The Night God’s question referred to Haring.
Scratching the back of his head, Kraush replied.
“I told her to destroy all your relics in the tomb and bring just one.”
It would take time, but that way, he could ensure he could threaten the Night God.
Kraush intended to deal with the Night God from the start.
If the deal succeeded, fine.
If not, he planned to threaten.
?You maniac! Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution!?
The Night God’s roar came too late as Kraush was already leaving.
“I’ll stop her before she breaks everything.”
?Get back here! I’ll smash your head!?
“Haha, the relics are what will be smashed, not me.”
Kraush’s final retort was as unyielding as ever.
[What a crazy bastard.]
Crimson Garden’s quiet curse echoed in place of the Night God’s anger.