Chapter 208
Crackle- Creak-!
The ground touched by Crowley's hand turned into liquid.
It began to melt away, unable to withstand the strong acidity.
"This can't be..."
Elester sighed as he watched the sight.
Because it was no different from the majesty Crowley had shown 40 years ago.
When walking, when fighting, even when exhaling.
He continuously spewed out poison.
Confirming that his power remained the same, Elester had no choice but to despair.
-Kwaaak!
-Sp-Spare me...!
People melted like water.
Even renowned heroes couldn't avoid it.
The sight of people crawling on the ground, begging for their lives, was still vivid.
As if it was right in front of his eyes!
"Teacher! Get a hold of yourself!"
Elester abruptly raised his head.
Lucia and Adonis were standing in front of him.
Only then could Elester come to his senses.
Shaking off the ghosts of the past and returning to the present.
Seeing that, Adonis felt nothing but complicated.
"Elester, I'm sorry. If I hadn't been caught up in his words and kept moving..."
Would the outcome have been different?
As Adonis hung his head, Lucia immediately spoke up.
"Let's retreat for now. It's not too late to assign blame later. That mister is coming too."
Boom!!
Caron, who had flown from somewhere, landed next to them.
"Eek! Is this a human or a monster?"
It was natural for Lucia to be startled.
Because Caron was covered in blood from head to toe.
"What about Volkan? Did you kill him?"
"...I let him get away. I'm sorry."
"Get treatment first. You'll die like that."
Caron hastily poured holy water and potions. It wasn't a situation where he could tend to each wound one by one.
'That cowardly bastard... Running away.'
Volkan was on the opposite side of where Caron was advancing, destroying the bones there and hiding among them.
He even installed new bones in the direction Caron was coming from.
'The intensity was relatively weak, and I only needed to advance 1m more, but...'
The possibility that Volkan had prepared another defense method couldn't be ruled out.
Above all, now that Crowley had been resurrected, further fighting was reckless.
Crowley's hand reaching out would be much faster than the speed at which he advanced 1m.
'I have to avenge the rats, but...'
If he died here, it would be the same as losing the chance for revenge forever.
That's why Caron quickly decided to retreat and arrived at where Elester, Adonis, and Lucia were.
"Alright, let's fall back then. I'll take care of Teacher. You two, please take care of the people outside."
The four of them kicked the ground and left the palace.
In fact, it was embarrassing to even call it a palace now.
The roof was wide open as if it had never existed in the first place, and the pillars were missing here and there like missing teeth.
It looked no different from ruins.
And in those ruins, there was one person shouting a victory cry.
"You've finally risen! Kekeke! 3 years! It was a long time of patience!"
1 second, 5 minutes, a day, a few months.
The time required for undead transformation varied in proportion to the power one had in life.
'Of course, the most important thing is the caster's ability. Since I've been granted authority, there's no doubt about my ability, but...'
The power of a Legion Commander was an extraordinary power.
Perhaps that's why it took the longest time among the undead transformations Volkan had done so far.
'But even this is the period shortened by pouring in magic stones, artifacts, and the lives of Black Mages.'
That's not all.
At this time when the end was near, didn't the Empire almost nullify the efforts made so far?
But at this moment, the preparation for the undead transformation of the Legion Commander was complete.
"Rise! Rise again as my minion!"
Crowley slowly began to rise.
The gigantic skeleton, large enough to cast a shadow over the palace, followed Volkan's command.
"Hahahahaha!!"
It was when Volkan was shouting a victory cry.
Clatter-.
"Hmm?"
Something fell on Volkan's head with a thud.
Volkan, who picked it up, narrowed his eyes. It was the object he was most familiar with.
'A bone?'
Were there unnecessary bones attached to Crowley's body?
It might be. This was a place with so many bones that he could kick them.
It was at that very moment.
Plop- Plop-.
"...?"
Clatter clatter- Clatter clatter clatter!!
Looking at the sky, Volkan couldn't help but be startled.
Because numerous bones were falling.
Moreover, those bones...
'Crowley is... shattering?'
While blankly staring, Crowley's huge rib bone fell off with a thud.
Volkan immediately activated Bone Armor to protect his body.
Boom-! Rumble rumble rumble!
After a roar that shook the earth.
What greeted Volkan, who had escaped from the Bone Armor, was a cloud of dust that made his throat itch.
And the shattered skull of the 5th Legion Commander Crowley.
"..."
At the same time, an unknown force whispered to him.
Calling him a 'lowly being'.
Volkan, who had been granted the authority of a necromancer. He could converse with souls.
That's right. The one who insulted him by calling him a 'lowly being' was none other than.
"Crowley... How dare you...!"
Legion Commander Crowley.
The authority of a necromancer that Volkan possessed could be said to be the 'power to dominate souls'.
It was a cheating power, but perhaps because of that, the accompanying conditions were not easy either.
First, to enable undead transformation, he had to possess at least 50% of the deceased's bones.
The closer to 100%, the more they could use their power from when they were alive.
Collecting bones. This was the first step to proceed with undead transformation.
'Next, the time for conversing with the soul is given.'
The other party is given the 'time to choose'.
Whether to fight as Volkan's soldier or to continue their eternal rest.
Most souls naturally choose 'eternal rest'.
But Volkan had one privilege.
The privilege to ignore the soul's choice and forcibly make them his soldier.
'I can forcibly bind souls weaker than me.'
Currently, Volkan could 'force' up to 6-star knights. He couldn't force those above that.
By the way, all those called heroes in the past refused to become soldiers.
At this point, one question may arise.
If he could only forcibly bind souls up to 6-star knights, why did he attempt to resurrect past heroes and the Legion Commander?
There was a bit of expectation for their 'choice', but 'compatibility' was a bigger factor.
Compatibility.
If the other party's thoughts or attributes were similar, it was possible to bind their soul.
No matter how strong the being, if the compatibility was good, an opportunity was given to forcibly bind their soul.
'I thought it would be possible for Crowley because of that, but...'
He was rejected. The insult of being called a 'lowly being' was an extra.
'It's like wasting 3 years.'
In fact, there was one big penalty to the authority Volkan possessed.
The opportunity for 'choice' was only given once.
The moment the authority was exercised, there were only two choices for the other party.
Become Volkan's soldier or attain nirvana and have their soul perish.
It was one of the two.
That's right. Crowley chose death, and a moment ago, Crowley's soul had entered complete eternal rest.
It meant that no matter how much he grew his power in the future, the opportunity to make Crowley his soldier had disappeared forever.
"You're saying you don't want to be controlled by a mere human...?"
Volkan gnashed his teeth.
But he soon regained his composure. Because it was partly his fault that he lost Crowley's soul.
'I was too hasty.'
Thinking that he could gain a strong power in a short time, he ended up being reckless.
He gambled on 'compatibility'.
'I should have increased my power and looked far into the future...'
Volkan clenched his fist tightly.
After all, power was everything. Either way, he had to increase his power.
*
Rumble-!
The first thing Adonis did after escaping from the palace was to clean up the battlefield.
As Adonis began to rampage, the subjugation force slumped down.
"Phew... We survived."
"Is it over? It was a tough fight."
Elester, Caron, and Lucia, who arrived following Adonis.
Lucia quickly scanned the battlefield. And...
"Nanny! Sylvia!"
She could find the two of them. The two who were like family to her.
"You were alive. Thank goodness."
"It's thanks to Nanny. Thank you for taking care of me."
"I see. Nanny worked really hard too."
"Hoho, I demand compensation. Marriage with Zero. I think that would be enough."
"What are you saying! Why would I marry him!"
Sylvia tilted her head.
"Zero? Do you have someone you're dating?"
"We're not in that kind of relationship. And if I date him, I'd have to go to jail before marriage, you know?"
"He's a criminal? I knew you had unique tastes, but... Well, it's okay. I'm a woman who knows how to respect my friend's tastes."
"That's not it... He's young. Fifteen years old. He just entered the academy!"
"...Fifteen?"
Sylvia, who had been in a daze for a moment while analyzing Lucia's words.
She soon began to make a fuss.
"Oh my, oh my my! Lucia, you... were more capable than I thought?"
"What?"
"A younger man. And not just younger, but younger than a decade gap...! If this isn't being capable, then what is!"
"Ah, no! It's not like that! I have no interest at all! Not even a bit in that guy..."
Lucia, who briefly recalled Zero's appearance.
Soon, she recalled all sorts of incidents(?) that had happened with him.
Recalling the incident where her chest was cut and the memory of him wearing the academy uniform, she couldn't help but blush slightly.
Seeing that, Sylvia narrowed her eyes.
"Oh my my! Look at that? It seems like you like him even just thinking about him?"
"I-I'm just embarrassed!"
"That's the same thing. Tell me a bit. Are you hiding it even from me, your best friend? I'll be upset?"
"Ah, really! It's not like that!"
It was when Lucia was about to refute.
"Retreat! Take care of the injured and leave this place immediately!"
Caron's retreat order.
The storm swept through the battlefield that had been quieting down again.
"The fight isn't over yet?"
"And retreat... Could it be..."
Boom!!
Suddenly, a huge sound echoed from the palace, and something slowly rose.
It was a gigantic skeleton. Everyone saw through its identity at once.
"C-Crowley!?"
"He's alive!"
"T-Take care of the injured! Recovery can wait!"
The retreat preparation was completed in an instant.
It was the moment the subjugation force was leaving the battlefield.
Clatter clatter-! Rumble rumble rumble-!
Crowley collapsed. The thick demonic energy that had been suffocating was also gone without a trace.
"Wh-What? Why is that happening?"
"Could it be a trap? It must be a trap to lure us in!"
Crackle-!
Adonis flew into the sky.
Confirming the situation of the palace from above, he headed towards Caron.
"Not only the demonic energy but also the inverted pentagram disappeared."
"Did we succeed in interfering?"
"I'm not sure. Elester, what do you think?"
Perhaps because Crowley had collapsed.
Elester's reason was clearer than ever.
"Rather than that... it seems to have failed."
"Failed?"
"He probably tried to overpower a force he couldn't. After all, a Legion Commander... especially one who treated humans like insects, wouldn't follow a human's command."
Elester clearly remembered.
The sight of Legion Commander Crowley trampling on humans, treating them like ants.
"Hmm~ Was that so? Then there's no reason to retreat now?"
Rumble-!
Adonis immediately flew towards the palace. Elester and Lucia followed him.
"Wait here for a while. The skeletons aren't rising, but just in case. Be thoroughly vigilant of the surroundings."
As Caron said, the skeletons that had been continuously rising stopped their actions.
They stopped resurrecting after Adonis's attack.
It was the best news for the subjugation force.
Caron also immediately left for the palace. Hidden in the shadows, he could see.
Volkan, wearing a robe.
He was currently confronting Elester, Adonis, and Lucia.
"Are you done playing with your toys?"
"..."
"I don't know what happened, but one thing is certain. We won."
Lucia's declaration of victory.
Perhaps because he couldn't refute those words. Volkan showed no reaction.
"How about surrendering? Then I'll at least spare your life. I can't guarantee your arms and legs though. Some mister is very angry. But if you surrender now, he might leave you with one?"
"...Lucia, that's enough. Don't we sound like villains?"
"This much is just a joke these days? You're definitely an old man."
"A time when cutting off arms and legs is a joke. I'll pass on such an era."
It was when Lucia pouted her lips.
Her face was dyed vermilion. Because the sunset had set in the sky.
The battle that started in the early dawn.
As if to announce its end, the sunset was burning more beautifully than ever.
Looking at the sunset, Volkan suddenly recalled a memory.
The memory of the day he lost her, who was his everything.
"...I lost interest."
"I'm sure you did."
"Don't misunderstand. If I had mobilized all my power from the beginning, you would already be dead."
"Look at that. He's spouting lines like a villain. We're the righteous ones, right?"
Elester and Volkan sighed simultaneously.
"I'm sorry. I apologize. Please understand, as it's because of a great wound I received in the past."
"...It's beyond the level of understanding. And I also suffered a great wound. Because of the Empire you guys love so much."
"How can we understand if you don't tell us what happened? Even if what you say is true, we can't tolerate praising demons, killing people, and causing chaos on the continent."
"Doesn't seem like something the person who has killed the most people should say. Elester, between the number of people you've killed on the battlefield and the number I've killed. Who do you think has killed more?"
"Just because someone else has committed a greater sin doesn't mean your small sin disappears. And I'm atoning in my own way."
"...It seems further conversation is meaningless. Yes, it's better to do it according to the laws of this world."
The winner takes all. The victor becomes justice.
The one who survives in the end, the one who steps on others and rises.
Becomes the righteous one!
Rumble rumble rumble-!
As soon as Volkan's mana began to fluctuate, Adonis threw his spear.
Clang!
The mana-infused spear was deflected with frustrating ease.
Everyone had no choice but to widen their eyes. The bones that had sprung up from the ground.
Not only because of the demonic energy but also because of their enormous size.
'And what's with that grotesque structure? It's like the wings of a bird...'
Crack- Crackle-.
The ground began to split. Everyone avoided the spot and surrounded Volkan at the same time.
In a matter of seconds, the ground completely split, and something sprang up, smashing the palace that had barely maintained its form.
Roaaaaar-!!!
Although the dust rose, it couldn't hide the gigantic figure.
It was such a huge being.
And soon, everyone realized what that being was.
"A dragon..."
The peculiar point was that it was a dragon made entirely of bones.
There was no flesh or scales anywhere.
"It's a Bone Dragon. I made it into a soche using the dragon that died during the Great War."
"The Black Dragon Drakan...!"
"You seem to know a lot. Well, it's natural since you fought back then..."
The Black Dragon Drakan.
40 years ago, when Crowley descended, it was the dragon that sided with them for fun.
Although surpassing a Nine-Star Knight in power, due to a good compatibility, it had been successfully turned into a soldier within three months.
"There are other bodies as well... but I've already secreted them away to a safe place."
"Trying to run away! When do you ever stop preaching about the laws of this world!"
"My battlefield isn't here. Well, you probably know that."
Indeed, the place where Volkan's powers could be best utilized was where there were many people.
The capitals of countries, large cities, and battlefields would allow him to fully exert his power.
Volkan was a clever man.
Elester, Adonis, Caron, Lucia.
All could be called heroes without any exaggeration. He did not want to risk his life fighting them.
If Crowley hadn't been at this battlefield, he would have sorted things out and fled long ago.
"Then, I'll see you at the next battlefield. Of course..."
If you're still alive by then.
Whoosh.
As Volkan leapt down from the pillar, a bone wyvern that had flown in from somewhere positioned itself under his feet.
And so, Volkan fled.
Leaving behind one dreadful disaster.
--TL Notes--
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