Chapter 223: Divine Battle (10)
Even if it has completely transformed now.
The once-straight pole, twisted and poked full of holes by Infernal Fire, had a hook that used to resemble a crescent but was now broken, turning into a bizarre jagged shape. In contrast, the pitch-black Blade, which had warped and melted from the battle in Alectine City, was now flawless; all the chips had vanished, and the scythe had become even sharper.
Scarlet, strange patterns spread from the dark blade all the way to the handle, flickering with fiery brilliance. Sparkles of red light were continuously emitted from the huge scythe, giving the impression that the whole thing had been tossed into a lava pit and forged anew under fearsome heat, and just pulled out, radiating a lingering warmth.
It had completely changed.
Now it looked fiercer and more monstrous, nearly hateful, like a legendary artifact designed to decimate demons with fire properties. But I could still recognize it in an instant—my Captain Gray.
…You little thief, daring to steal my Captain Gray!
Clang—
An arm swung wide open, and a writhing shadow raised the scythe, swinging it down at me. My anger peaked, and I glared without flinching. My other giant hand turned into a claw and lunged for the incoming blade!
Creeeak—
Sharp nails scraped against the blade, sending chills down my spine with an obnoxious screech. My giant hand’s stunning grip halted the descending blade right in its tracks, tightly gripping it in my palm, with the gleaming edge just a few centimeters from my skin. No matter how hard that bl**d Shadow tried, it couldn’t budge it an inch.
“Hmph.”
With a cold snort, I planned to snatch Captain Gray back, but in the next moment, scarlet flames erupted from the scythe.
!
A sudden intense sense of danger washed over me.
Before my brain even processed it, my body instinctively reacted, letting go of the grip and pivoting aside just in time to dodge the scythe’s trajectory. All I heard was a wheezing shot followed by a scorching wave, as blinding light burst from the blade and narrowly grazed my nose, shooting off so fast it was nearly invisible.
Cold sweat dripped down my forehead.
If I hadn’t dodged that…
A shiver of fear crept into my heart as I recalled the fire blade that streaked out from the scythe, almost slicing me in half with its severing momentum. And I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of its shape…
My mind finally kicked into gear as my feet kept moving. The instant I evaded the fire blade, I bent my knee and catapulted into the air, swinging my blue arm in a punch aimed right at the bl**d Shadow’s featureless, tentacled face.
Bam!
Thick, dark bl**d erupted before my eyes, severed tentacles exploding in all directions. I exploded the bl**d Shadow’s head with my punch, but it seemed utterly unfazed. Before I could withdraw my fist, it swung the scythe again, aiming to slice me in half!
d*mn…
Its moves were quick.
But my reflexes were quicker. With a bang, I shattered the ice slab under my feet that had formed suddenly, retreating several meters in mid-air to dodge the sweeping blade. As I flipped and came down safely, I heard a familiar ‘click’ sound from ahead. The scythe’s razor-sharp edge gave a ringing turn, and the massive tool transformed into a three-meter long spear in an instant, the shaft flashing with red light, screaming at me as it lunged forward!
Clang-clang-clang—
At the moment the scorching blade thrust out from bl**d Shadow’s grasp, the black handle splintered, and with a crisp clatter of the chains, the spear’s attack range expanded instantly, sharply increasing its speed as the deadly point was nearly upon me. My pupils constricted, barely enough time to lean my head and let the blade pass with a whoosh, slicing through a few strands of my flying white hair, drawing a thin line of bl**d.
That was close…
My heart raced violently.
Crack!
In the next moment, that very blade that had zipped behind me sounded off again.
!
I knew that sound all too well, familiar to the point that I could rely on it without looking. I knew the blade had morphed into a hooked scythe again, and in the next instant, bl**d Shadow was about to pull it back and take my head off.
In a split second, I shot out my right arm and gripped the fiery red chain tightly. With a mighty tug, bl**d Shadow stumbled, its body off-balance and unable to proceed with another attack. The blade fell to the ground with a thud.
Ha!
Trying to fight me with my own weapon…
I chuckled bitterly, ready to seize my Captain Gray back from bl**d Shadow’s grasp, but suddenly my grasping blue hand was met with unbearable searing pain. Smoke began to rise from my palm.
“Ah!”
I couldn’t help but cry out, instinctively letting go.
So hot…
Captain Gray had indeed been imbued with Infernal Power, and that power was blistering enough to make my hand burn…
I felt betrayed.
It was as if a good comrade, once fighting together and trusting each other, suddenly turned traitor, using powers given by the enemy to block my path. This feeling only filled me with more rage and urgency.
Since the battle with Teresa in the Royal City, my powers had long surpassed typical human understanding. I had no need to rely on weapons anymore, yet I never imagined my Captain Gray would turn out to be this troublesome. This was undoubtedly linked to it having been bestowed with Infernal Fire’s power—or perhaps after being whisked away by tentacles, it had inadvertently been dragged into the Divine Egg and bathed in divine bl**d, transforming into what it was now. Regardless, I was truly a bit upset.
Why did you have to be used by such a ghastly thing…
“Captain Gray—!”
My palm was probably already scorched, but such a minor injury would heal soon enough. With a fierce shout, I prepared to rush in and shred bl**d Shadow to pieces when suddenly, I heard a gross writhing noise behind me.
!
I couldn’t turn back in time. The offensive I had built up to throw forward instantaneously switched to the back. My blue arm swung out, conjuring dozens of fireballs that howled through the air toward the shadow behind me.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!
A series of explosions reverberated overhead, countless pursuing tentacles obliterated by dark fire. Flesh and bl**d rained everywhere, but more tentacles continued to breach the fiery assault, rushing in from all directions!
“d*mn…”
I urged my Chaotic Power, my blue arms transforming again into thrashing meat grinders, swirling with dense black mist, churning the oncoming tide of tentacles into a meat slurry. Dark armor coalesced around me once again as crimson droplets fell like rain from the upheaved scarlet canopy, with Dead Smoke raging, spreading in the stench, and crazily devouring everything.
Clang-clang-clang—
Suddenly, I heard the sound of chains again.
Not good!
Whoosh—
Wind howled in my ears, and I was worn out dealing with the unending tentacles, barely able to react. The next moment, I felt a sudden tightness around my waist, accompanied by the sound of rattling chains. The fiery red links had wrapped me up tightly, with sizzling sounds emanating from my armor, and then I was abruptly yanked up, flung away.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The winds roared as countless tentacles blurred and receded from my vision. I was flung high into the air, only to come crashing down heavily onto something hard.
“Cough!”
I couldn’t suppress a light cough.
That hit was rough, but with my armor’s protection, it wasn’t so painful. Struggling to get back up, I was yanked into the air again as bl**d Shadow gripped the handle of the scythe tightly, rotating me in mid-air several times. Its burst-open head reformed just in time for me to see my rapidly spinning, blurred surroundings, raising my gaze toward the higher gray sky.
It wanted to toss me…
Out of the Light Barrier’s range…
Realizing this, I began to struggle violently mid-air, my massive blue arm gripping the chain around my waist, ignoring the searing pain as I pulled with all my might, causing the chains to creak in an obnoxious manner. Thick Dead Smoke spewed out from me, swirling toward the split scythe. But in the next instant, I suddenly halted all movement.
“Gray… Captain…”
If I did this, Captain Gray would be utterly destroyed in my hands…
Time seemed to slow in that moment.
[Your great scythe is here!]
In the haze, I recalled the massive forge in the Central Workshop, along with the faces of Father and Uncle Pagos.
[This is a cursed weapon… Pepé says, try it out.]
[So cool! Really, so cool!]
[As long as you like it…]
[The thirteenth moon blade of the Central Workshop officially born. As per tradition, the user must name it.]
[Captain Gray.]
In some time long past, the girl lit by firelight on one half of her face gently caressed the pitch-black scythe in her arms, her eyes sparkling with indescribable joy and tenderness.
[This will be your name…]
From now on, this is who you are…
The reason I named you this is that I hope you can silently protect that naïve little girl like the Captain Gray in stories until she grows up. I wanted you to accompany her until the very end…
But eventually…
It was that little girl who slowly grew distant from you…
I’m sorry, Captain Gray…
I don’t want to hurt you…
Really, I don’t want to…
Thud thud.
Suddenly, I heard my own heartbeat.
Thud thud…
The sound was deep and resonant, like drumming, coming from my chest or perhaps as if the chains around my waist were beating.
This is…
In that instant, scarlet patterns wandered around my body, glowing brightly, climbing up the chains tightly wrapped around my waist, the fiery glow flickering, breathing in sync with the red flames burning along the chains.
In the next moment, the chains seemed to come alive.
Clang-clang-clang—
Time slowly revved back up. The chains constricted around my waist as if endowed with life, twisting like a snake, and suddenly released me, hurling me toward bl**d Shadow’s location!
Captain Gray…
Are you helping me…
“Ha!”
I couldn’t help but beam with joy.
“Roar—!!”
Ahead of me, that bizarre creature was rapidly closing the distance, reacting swiftly as I flew toward it. It let out a roar, raising its hand firmly gripping the scythe’s handle, seemingly trying to counter my surprise attack. But the handle flickered with red flames, almost as if it suddenly started resisting; the writhing, fine tentacles emitted mournful cries under the fiery assault, thrashing madly.
bl**d Shadow’s grip loosened.
Captain Gray’s handle slid from its palm, and I snatched it up in a flash.
Crack-crack-crack—
The sound of gears echoed once more.
“d*e.”
Clang!
With a piercing shriek, the fiery red chains were yanked back entirely, and the massive scythe reshaped itself in my grasp, its warm blade suddenly vibrating, the handle’s patterns glowing, the sinister edge bursting forth with dazzling red light, a peculiar sensation pulsing from Captain Gray, as if it were tied to my very bloodline.
You are mine…
You’ll protect me, guard all that I cherish…
Buzz!
As if sensing my inner words, the tremor from the scythe intensified.
I gripped the returned Captain Gray tightly, like clutching a part of my own body, filled with uncontainable excitement, and slashed down at the disgusting creature before me!
Whoosh—
An incredible gale burst forth, the fire-red blade slicing through bl**d Shadow’s body, cleaving towards the divine spine, creating a loud boom. Suddenly, the bl**d Shadow froze, and as I landed, its form shattered, transforming back into countless twisted, thick worms that scattered across the ground.
…Done!
