Chapter 612

612.

Clang – Clang –

On the castle wall of Guardstron.

Kyle stared into the distance at the endless horde of undead approaching and drew his sword.

“Ka, Kyle. Shouldn’t we be running away by now?”

Aron, who had hidden his body behind Kyle, spoke with a trembling voice.

“Foolish talk, Aron.”

Dwenno, who carried a massive battle axe on his shoulder, let out a low sigh as he stood beside Kyle.

“Where in the world do you propose we run to from here?”

“Urgh…”

Aron let out a groan at Dwenno’s words.

The last stronghold of the world, Guardstron.

Its fall would mean the end of the world itself.

There is literally nowhere to run.

Watching the trembling beastman, Dwenno let out a small sigh and asked Kyle:

“What do you think of this battle, Kyle?”

“Hmm.”

Kyle squinted, his eyes fixed on the horde of undead that stretched to the horizon.

“Even Guardstron might not be enough this time.”

Kyle’s hand trembled slightly as he gripped his sword.

Not just Kyle – Dwenno was the same.

Though they didn’t show it, both men were feeling fear.

The Demon King’s army, known as the strongest from Tartarus.

In this age heading toward the world’s destruction, there are more dead than living people.

And all those corpses are part of the Demon King’s army.

“It’s been awhile. I wish those disgusting things would just disappear from my sight forever.”

Kyle glanced behind him.

There, Lissinas and Luna were approaching.

“Why did the notorious skeleton army disappear for a while?”

Luna looked bewildered at the sight of the army that had reappeared after a year.

“Since the world was already on the verge of destruction anyway.”

Lissinas narrowed his eyes.

“The world was going to end soon without him doing anything. The Demon King must have been enjoying his time while watching the impending demise.”

“But, if that’s true, why has he suddenly attacked?”

Aron asked with a grimace. Lissinas crossed his arms.

“Probably because of the King of Gluttony’s d*ath.”

The elimination of Jormungand, the King of Gluttony, was an unprecedented event in this dying world.

“Did that event make the Demon King realize the danger?”

Luna crossed her arms, glaring at the horde of undead.

“Hmph! Let them all come! I’ll wipe them all out!”

“R, really? Can we just rely on Luna?”

“Of course! Trust me! Aron!”

Luna gave a proud declaration while punching her chest with her fist.

“You just need to hold them off until I resolve everything!”

“So I have to fight too in the end…”

Aron made a grimace.

“Let’s prepare quickly. They’ll attack soon…”

Dwenno’s gaze sharpened mid-sentence.

Not just Dwenno – Kyle reacted to the killing intent, deploying his mana.

At that moment.

KOOOOONG!

A massive rain of corpses fell from the sky.

These weren’t ordinary bones.

Black magic created from the bodies of powerful wizards.

Rain of d*ath that destroys everything it touches.

“The Demon King’s magic!”

“Quick! Counter with protective magic!”

The wizards waiting on the castle wall of Guardstron deployed their mana to block the Demon King’s magic.

Luna prepared her magic in a hurry.

‘Too late!’

Though Kyle had noticed it later than her, Luna’s magic was completed faster than his.

Even so, it was already too late to completely block it.

‘There’s no avoiding damage to the castle wall!’

The moment Luna gritted her teeth.

PAH!

A golden flash surged.

Aron ascended into the sky, drawing his sword.

As a golden auric storm painted the sky.

KOOOOOOM!

An enormous explosion shook the earth along with the golden blade of energy.

Not too long from now.

The magic of the Demon King would be stopped by the great beastman who would later be known as a hero.

TACK!

As everyone held their breath watching Aron land on the ground.

An overwhelming sense of pressure emanated from Aron as he stood up.

“Kyle! I was scared!”

Watching his friend, who had run to him with an almost tearful expression, Kyle sighed and patted his back, who hadn’t outgrown his childish ways yet.

“If you’re so scared, why do you think of running first?”

Luna said curiously.

Watching this, Dwenno spoke.

“Lissinas.”

“Yeah.”

“Kyle said he thinks we can’t block this one. What do you think?”

“…”

Lissinas glanced at Kyle before looking around.

Unbeknownst to them, the local heroes guarding Guardstron had gathered around the five of them.

‘Thinks we can’t block it… for Kyle that’s a pretty positive outlook.’

Dwenno wasn’t unaware of this.

There was a simple reason why he asked anyway.

The words of Kyle and Lissinas carried different weights.

Lissinas, who had once been ridiculed as a fool, had gradually fulfilled everything he claimed.

Eventually, he became a symbol of hope in Guardstron.

Dwenno had asked simply to hear another lie from him.

“We can block it.”

Lissinas said.

‘How much effort will it take to turn this lie into reality?’

He chuckled bitterly to himself.

“The Demon King’s army is the core of Tartarus.”

Lissinas climbed onto the castle wall and raised his hand.

FWHOOSH!

The Emperor of flames who burns the impure appeared.

“Victory in this battle will tip the scales in our favor.”

Not lying.

If the infinite horde of undead is wiped out, it would deal a tremendous blow to Tartarus.

The scales that were already tipping would be moved toward their side.

‘But only minimally.’

However, Lissinas didn’t care.

If this lie can bring hope, he’d do anything.

“This world won’t end. So everyone, believe in me and follow me.”

“Wowww!”

“The Dragon of Wisdom is with us!”

“Guardstron will never fall!”

“Let’s bring destruction to the wicked Demon King!”

The morale of the heroes rose.

They believed without a doubt that today was not the end.

GWERWWWWWW!

The horde of undead started their charge.

The battle that would determine the fate of the world begins.

Beastmen and dwarf warriors take the front lines.

Elf mages in the back sing their magic.

The dragons summoned Great Spirits.

Five Great Spirits were summoned.

“Elshi.”

Responding to Kyle’s call, Elshi answered.

“Please provide support.”

“…Understood.”

Kyle headed to the front lines to stop the horde of undead.

The Shadow Spirit just stood there watching the back of the Vow Keeper.

“This might be the end.”

“It won’t.”

“…”

Only the Black Dragon and the Great Spirit of Darkness stood on the castle wall.

Elshi looked expressionlessly at Lissinas, who smiled at her.

“We can’t defeat the Demon King.”

“Yes, we can.”

Lissinas’ eyes sparkled.

Elshi saw her past self in that gaze.

Her once bright eyes used to sparkle like that.

“How?”

“Because you’re here.”

“Me?”

Confusion flitted across Elshi’s usually stoic expression at Lissinas’ words.

“You’re a special Spirit, Elshi. Shadows are essentially another version of me. And in this world, there’s nothing without a shadow.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’re the Shadow Spirit. Shadows are essentially under your control.”

“…”

“Back when I first learned of your existence, I wanted to make a pact with you. But I couldn’t comfort your wounds. Only Kyle could be your sanctuary.”

The one who could fully draw out Elshi’s power was none other than Lissinas.

The Black Dragon Lissinas and the Spirit of Darkness Elshi had perfect synergy.

But to Lissinas, who sought light, Elshi was an uncomfortable presence, deeply immersed in darkness.

That’s why Elshi was drawn to Kyle, who had a darkness similar to her own.

“So please, help Kyle with your power.”

Lissinas smiled faintly.

“You’ll surely find your potential that shines even in the darkness.”

*

“Do something! Alisia!”

Even Istha’s shouted orders failed to move Alisia.

She just stood there, her eyes filled with bewilderment as she looked at Elshi.

‘What is this…’

Having existed as a lower Spirit to Istha, the Spirit of Fire for a long time, Alisia immediately noticed the change occurring within herself.

“I…”

Alisia took a step back, releasing her grip on Elsi, a perplexed expression on her face.

Then, the shadows emanating from Elshi crawled up Alisia’s legs.

With a shudder, Alisia tried to move away from Elsi.

But the shadows held her in place.

“Aaah…”

Fear consumed Alisia’s eyes.

Elshi smiled softly.

“Don’t be scared.”

WHOOSH!

The shadows engulfed Alisia.

Witnessing this, not only Istha but also the other top-tier Fire Spirits gasped.

“Attack!”

At Istha’s shout, the top-tier Fire Spirits attacked Elshi.

Elshi standing there simply smiled and raised her hand.

WHOOSH!

Like a tidal wave, the shadows covered the Fire Spirits.

In an instant, the Fire Spirits were engulfed, leaving only the two Great Spirits in the space.

Istha’s face hardened.

“What have you done to my subordinates?”

“I’ve embraced them in my shadows.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hard to explain. Quicker to show you.”

Elshi smiled and raised her hand.

At that moment.

WHOOSH!

The top-tier Fire Spirits, including Alisia who had been hidden within Elshi’s shadows, revealed themselves.

Seeing this, Istha’s eyes widened in shock.

‘My influence…?’

The control she had over her subordinates moments ago was now gone.

The top-tier Fire Spirits too looked confused as they alternated their gaze between Istha and Elshi.

They too had sensed that their master had changed suddenly.

“What sorcery is this!”

“This is my power of dominion. Sorry for stealing your spirits, but since you tried to harm me, let’s call it even.”

Elshi’s expression turned cold.

“Listen to me, you ignorant Fire Spirits! I am Istha, the Spirit of Purification! Why are you listening to the Great Spirit of Darkness!”

Istha desperately tried to regain her influence.

But she had no way of breaking Elshi’s power.

Having understood the situation, the top-tier Spirits looked at each other.

“Situation unclear…”

Alisia blinked.

“But I guess our new master is you?”

“Seems so.”

At Alisia’s words, another Spirit nodded.

“So if we beat up that self-obsessed Spirit legally?”

The temperamental top-tier Fire Spirits’ eyes glimmered with vicious intent.

“I, this is treason! How dare you attack your master!”

“That brat’s done for!”

“You got what’s coming to you today!”

“This is it! It’s like magic! My lifelong wish is fulfilled today!”

“KRAAAAHHH!”

BOOM! WHOOSH!

Istha, having been suppressed by Elshi, began to be ravaged by the flames of top-tier Spirits.

Watching this, Elshi covered her cheeks with her hands, looking troubled.

“Uh, folks. Don’t go overboard.”

“UUUUUUH!”

The anguished cries of Istha, the Spirit of Purification, echoed.