Chapter 186: Seafloor Ruins (4)

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Was it to absorb the Divinity that he had entered this ruin?

At Kylos’s question, Carl let out a faint chuckle.

“If that’s the case, would you allow yourself to be absorbed willingly?”

“That depended on what you did. Whether you passed my trial, met the standard, or had a matching goal.”

“What are the standard and the goal?”

“Are you trying to take the difficult path?”

Kylos sipped his tea and continued speaking.

“As for the standard, that’s unfortunate. You still don’t meet my expectations. It’s impressive for an ordinary human to have absorbed Divinity—but no, I suppose you can’t be called an ordinary human anymore. Regardless, it’s not enough to meet the standard. And as for my goal…”

A deep smile curled at his lips.

“It’s just the same—you’ll never reach it. Unless you hand over your body to me, there’s no way you could achieve it on your own.”

“You talk too much.”

Carl likewise lifted his teacup and emptied it in one go.

The contents were ordinary black tea.

From the beginning, no matter how potent the poison used, it could never affect Carl, who had mastered the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

It was an expression of his confidence in his own power.

“What is the trial?”

“Finally, an answer I like.”

Kylos snapped his fingers.

Then, a small mirror rose and rippled in the air in front of them.

Reflected within it were the members of the party inside the ruins, organizing the treasure piled up outside and continuing their investigation.

“One person.”

“……”

“Just one. You must kill one member of your party.”

Carl gently caressed the empty teacup.

He was trying to interpret the intent behind the trial Kylos had set.

But Kylos simply laughed casually and pointed inside the mirror, as if there were no deeper meaning.

“I, too, possessing Divinity, am a lifeform. To gain one, it’s the way of the world to give one up. If we include the Divinity from the Tohochu region, I’d want two lives offered, but that fool caused that one, so asking that would be too much.”

Kylos looked at Carl with shining eyes.

“So just offer one life. Then, I will let myself be absorbed by you without resistance.”

“……Hah.”

Carl let out a short laugh.

It was truly an easy task.

A member of NOX? A cadet from Bavaria?

Offering one of them up as a sacrifice to Kylos was easier than breathing.

‘Precisely because it’s easy, I must not do it.’

But Carl had no intention of doing so.

There was no such thing as an easy trial in this world.

That’s why it was called a trial—and resisting such temptations was part of the trial itself.

If one gave in to temptation and chose the easy path, they would be devoured by demonic nature in the end.

“Fine.”

Thus, Carl nodded without hesitation.

Just as Kylos was about to speak again with a slightly deeper smile…

Slash─!

A streak of sword energy cut through the table and surged toward him.

Kwahhh!

The tremendous shockwave shook the interior of the corridor.

The Heavenly Thunder Sword, drawn at some point, carved a long mark along one wall.

“Oh dear.”

Kylos, who should have been caught in the path, staggered back in a comically awkward posture.

Yet, not a single scratch could be seen on his entire body.

“I can’t understand it. Isn’t it a simple trial? I can see the hidden cruelty and coldness within you. Someone like you, who has spilled so much blood, should find this an easy task. Or… have you grown that attached to them?”

“Maybe so.”

Carl shrugged and acknowledged Kylos’s words.

It could be that he didn’t want to kill his subordinates, or perhaps he’d grown more fond of the cadets than expected.

But what truly displeased him wasn’t any of that.

Clack.

Carl pointed the Heavenly Thunder Sword at Kylos and spoke.

“My path is mine to decide. I stand here so I won’t be swayed by others. I don’t care about Divinity or whatever else.”

He wouldn’t wield his sword for others—but only for himself.

That was the resolve he’d made upon arriving in Artenia.

That’s why he created NOX, enrolled at the Bayern Academy, and reached this point.

As if mere Divinity could break his stubbornness.

“Hahahaha!!”

Kylos burst into laughter.

“You’re quite twisted too. I’ve seen many madmen in my era, but never anyone as abnormal as you. Well, I suppose you’d have to be that way to even dare absorb Divinity with a human body.”

“……”

Carl narrowed his eyes and observed his opponent.

One thing was certain—this man was stronger than the one he faced in Tohochu.

‘That one back then was tyrannical.’

But Kylos standing before him now was soft, even leisurely.

It was an air that only the truly strong could emanate.

But the fact that Carl could sense it meant he wasn’t being overwhelmed either.

Swish.

Carl let go of the sword in his hand.

The Heavenly Thunder Sword floated gently in the air and aimed itself at Kylos.

“Oh?”

As Kylos tilted his head at the strange feeling emanating from the tip of the sword, a streak of light shot toward him.

Taaang─!

A tremendous noise rang out.

The interior air quivered for a moment, and the impact left a deep imprint on the floor.

Kylos’s form was pushed back three steps from where he stood.

Whish.

Carl retrieved the sword and let out a short breath.

‘Still difficult.’

The Technique of Sword Mastery Over Weapon.

Just below the ultimate level of Heart Sword, Carl had only reached this state near the end of his time as the Unkillable.

But what use would the Technique of Sword Mastery Over Weapon be to an assassin?

At most, it would end with throwing a dagger.

Still, now that he had abandoned being an assassin, the Technique of Sword Mastery Over Weapon could become an excellent offensive tool.

In truth, with Carl’s current level, attempting it directly imposed a significant burden.

It was only because he had once reached that level in the past that he dared to try, but he realized now that he still lacked both the mastery and inner energy to use it fully.

“…What is this?”

Kylos’s brow furrowed.

Though the mastery was lacking, the power was genuine.

Currently, Carl could only maintain the Technique of Sword Mastery Over Weapon for one second.

Still, it was more powerful than most attacks.

“Consider it an honor. This is my first time attempting it since coming here.”

Carl tightened his grip on the Heavenly Thunder Sword and let go of any lingering attachment.

There was no rush to use the technique now—he could wait until he had more inner energy and grew more accustomed to the Sword Mastery.

It was likely unfamiliar martial arts in this world, so it would surely prove useful.

Satisfied with the success of his attempt, he began drawing up the energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

Boom─!

Ash-colored energy ignited.

At the same time, Kylos also extended his hand and drew his sword.

Shhhraaak!

A divine green light surged and formed a cross shape in his grasp.

The blade was longer than his own body, yet Kylos wielded it skillfully as he pointed it at Carl.

“It’ll be quite different from Tohochu. I won’t be such an easy opponent.”

“That’s all the better.”

Whoosh.

The energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art wrapped around the Heavenly Thunder Sword, forming a distinct shape of energy.

Now, the energy and sword were in perfect harmony.

It went beyond mere energy—taking on a form close to the Sword Mastery and exuding a vivid presence.

“It’ll make a good practice round for fighting you later.”

In other words, this fight was nothing more than part of the process.

Just as Kylos’s lips twisted at the implication, Carl’s figure vanished from his spot.

Clang!

He reappeared directly in front.

Kylos easily swung his sword and blocked Carl’s strike.

‘What a strange energy.’

His green-glowing eyes turned toward the ash-colored energy.

A completely balanced, neutral energy—one that leaned neither way.

Even in his own memory, he couldn’t recall seeing such a thing.

He was both surprised and intrigued at how far the future had developed.

Just what kind of being was this man, tearing through his ruins and absorbing Divinity?

‘No, this is better.’

Kylos chuckled inwardly.

Divinity was not something that could be easily absorbed.

If the vessel was insufficient, the Divinity would take over the body instead.

He might be rejoicing in gaining divine power for now, but soon, he would come to realize—

That he harbored poison within himself.

Shhhaaa!

Kylos swung his sword wide.

The green flames trailing its arc surged like waves to engulf Carl.

Swish swish swish.

The Heavenly Thunder Sword, wrapped in energy, swept violently through the air.

With the entire interior being consumed by the attack, there was no room to evade.

Carl was forming a sword barrier to block it.

Unlike barriers formed of mere sword aura, this one, made of energy, had a vastly superior defense.

Green flames rained down upon the barrier of energy.

Kylos’s divine energy tried to infiltrate, coloring the energy of the Primordial Unity Divine Art from within.

But Carl had already absorbed his Divinity, so countering it was not difficult.

“How dare you!”

Seeing the divine energies cancel each other out, Kylos let out a furious shout.

“Do you intend to oppose me using my own power!”

This, above all, was something he could not tolerate.

It was absurd, infuriating—and rage boiled up to the top of his head.

Shhhaaa!

Having completely neutralized Kylos’s flames, Carl casually flicked the Heavenly Thunder Sword and spoke.

“Then how about this.”

Screeeee─!

A high-pitched screech, like a piercing scream, rang out.

The ash-colored energy instantly turned black as thick demonic energy erupted.

The Primordial Unity Divine Art, Bright Heaven Divine Art, and Heavenly Demon Divine Art were all interrelated.

As one art reached a higher state, it acted as a pull to elevate the others as well.

When the Primordial Unity Divine Art had reached a dramatic breakthrough, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, too, had crossed a barrier.

Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.

Several black flames surged from Carl’s back.

The essence of Demonic Flame had manifested through the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Shhhaaa!

Just as Kylos had done, flames from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art poured from Carl.

They blazed even more fiercely, as though they might incinerate the entire interior.

“What an unholy…!”

Feeling the energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art for the first time in his life, Kylos’s fingertips trembled.

It was a chilling energy entirely different from the Primordial Unity Divine Art.

No—it was darker than the demons and deeper than hell itself.

That such an energy could exist in this world—

Kylos changed his mind.

‘No. He’s something worse than a demon. He’s trying to absorb my Divinity to complete the gray of neutrality.’

The Divinity of a divine being was purely sacred.

But once it mixed with something else, its harmony would be twisted.

And if that something was a demonic energy even darker than demons, there was nothing more to say.

—Haaaaa!

Kylos abandoned his physical body and transformed into a spiritual form.

No physical attack could harm him now.

At that moment, Carl’s eyes gleamed as he threw himself into the space where Divinity and Demonic Flame swirled.

Sizzle.

The lingering heat melted his protective energy and burned his body, but Carl didn’t stop as he approached Kylos—

Shhhaaa!

He opened his mouth and sucked in Kylos’s spiritual form.

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