### Chapter 380
31 top-tier demon erosion creatures.
They’re all intelligent beings.
But their intelligence isn’t like that of humans.
The focus of these top-tier demons’ developed intellect is simply about how to kill intruders.
Because of that, all their abilities are geared toward snatching away the lives of intruders.
The top-tier demon, the Nightmare King, raised his hand towards the sky.
And soon, dark black mist thickened around him.
The wizards frantically unleashed various spells,
but the Nightmare King’s mist was only temporarily held back by the magic, swallowing everyone almost immediately.
Those trapped in the Nightmare King’s dark mist constantly replay their most terrifying nightmares.
There was no way to block the black mist that pierced through their auras.
As Icarus fell into the Nightmare King’s black fog,
Fwoooosh!
The black mist suddenly began to get sucked into somewhere.
“Extreme?”
The Nightmare King was taken aback at the sight.
He shouted something in the demon language repeatedly, but it all meant nothing.
The black mist was simply sucked away, vanishing without a trace.
Bang!
In that instant, one of the top-tier demons who trusted the black mist found himself split in half by Valok’s sword, rolling on the ground.
As expected of a top-tier demon, he didn’t die just yet, but he had to sacrifice one of his lives.
The other top-tier demons were no different.
Each one of them was beset by the humans they aimed to attack, overwhelming them with counter-attacks.
It was as if they knew from the very start that the black mist would disappear.
This can be seen from the mages who panicked at first.
They quickly gathered themselves and adjusted their spells’ targets to the top-tier demons.
“Likebar!”
Aslan’s fire magic exploded onto one top-tier demon.
And then Charlotte dashed in, slicing through the suffering top-tier demon engulfed in flames.
The Nightmare King was greatly flustered.
The battlefield had turned this way largely because of his actions.
And in the Nightmare King’s eyes, one person stood out.
There was a man with dark blue hair.
When he locked eyes with the Nightmare King, he cracked a sinister smile.
His name was Kraush Balheim.
The curses directed toward him were merely the power of world erosion supplied to Kraush.
Having devoured all the black mist, Kraush assumed a stance, signaling his satisfaction.
Then, he transformed all that black mist into an aura and conjured up white flames.
Kraush’s sword slashed towards the Nightmare King.
Annihilation Erosion (滅火浸蝕)
Single Style (一式)
Flame Sword Draw (滅火抜剣)
The white slash, on a dimensionally different level from before, flew toward the Nightmare King.
The Nightmare King was horrified and waved his staff to erect a wall of black nightmares.
But the white slash pierced through this as well, coming at the Nightmare King.
Trying to dodge the incoming white slash as the wall was erected, the Nightmare King could not escape entirely.
As a result, white flames clung to the Nightmare King, burning him alive.
“Gyaaaaa!”
The aura was extremely toxic to world erosion creatures.
The flames burned with extreme toxicity.
Consequently, the Nightmare King felt a searing sensation like he had never experienced in his life.
Now, even the Flame Sword Draw was unleashing outrageous power in Kraush’s hands.
The worldly powers he had consumed over the past two years had all become Kraush’s strength.
And just like that, Kraush’s form vanished.
He had pierced through all the top-tier demons and, before he knew it, reached the Nightmare King.
The speed granted by the Excel he wielded.
Kraush’s hair, now pure white, fluttered as he got close.
Having traversed the Golden Region for nearly two years,
he could now command his mystical output with utter freedom.
And that meant,
the top-tier demon erosion creatures could no longer prevent Kraush.
“You had five lives, huh?”
Kraush buried his sword deep into the core of the white-burning Nightmare King.
“Bring four more.”
With that, the Nightmare King was turned into ashes in an instant.
Kraush easily shoved over the burning ashes of the Nightmare King.
That sight shocked the other top-tier demon erosion creatures.
The Nightmare King was a fellow top-tier demon.
To see such a being killed in the blink of an eye by someone not yet in their twenties?
It was an unbelievable sight.
And for Icarus, this spectacle was enough to boost their morale sky-high.
Kraush, despite denying that he was yet fit to be the Supreme Sword, was the only one who could showcase such overwhelming power.
Now even the esteemed Ten Great Lords had to concede some ground to him.
Thus, everyone who encountered Kraush agrees.
Even if his strength had absorbed the worst seeds, there was no one else suited for the title of Supreme Sword like him.
The white flames Kraush displayed in the Golden Region became a beacon of hope leading the world alliance, Icarus.
“Woooooah!”
The knights of Icarus erupted in a burst of morale-boosting cheers.
In contrast, the top-tier demons began to wane.
These top-tier demons, who thought they would reign in the Demonic Bastion their whole lives, faced their demise at the moment they invaded another world.
*
The resistance of the top-tier demons was fierce.
Initially, their morale dipped a bit, but soon they fought tooth and nail.
However, it was still insufficient to stop Icarus with Valok and Kraush around.
Of course, not everyone made it out alive.
There were casualties and injuries among Icarus as well.
No matter how much they trained or gained experience,
there were bound to be sacrifices in the fiery battlegrounds of the Golden Region.
The loss of companions is painful.
Within Icarus, many had forged their bonds through the trials of the Golden Region.
To witness such bonds severed in an instant was undoubtedly a grievous blow.
Yet many of them swallowed their rage and rose up.
They decided that the day they would release their pent-up anger would be when they completed their mission in the Golden Region.
Icarus needed to move forward.
Thanks to their realization that they were the hope of the world.
Hope should not bend.
All had learned this from observing Kraush standing at the forefront of Icarus.
When they saw him traverse the Golden Region until just before his collapse, even a new mindset would bloom.
Therefore, they would not despair.
Not until Kraush, leading them at the front, crumbled.
Bang!
As Valok smashed down the gates of the Demonic Bastion, he walked forward slowly.
Following closely behind was Kraush.
Kraush’s keen instincts warned him.
Inside this demonic realm,
there was an overwhelming presence that made his arms tingle.
‘The Demon Emperor.’
The master of the Demonic Bastion lay somewhere within.
Soon enough, the members of Icarus began to enter the demonic realm too.
Most of them started to fortify the Demonic Bastion instead.
They were preparing to face the demon erosion creatures that would swarm in while Kraush began to steal the worst seed.
Of course, this was only possible after defeating the Demon Emperor.
But no one doubted Kraush and Valok’s victory.
That’s only natural.
The moment those two were defeated, no one would be able to proceed deeper into the Demonic Bastion.
Thus, they resolved to think only of victory.
“From now on, we’ll move with a small team as mentioned earlier.”
Valok casually tossed a piece of wall snack into his mouth and made the announcement.
Kraush, who was watching him quietly, felt a peculiar feeling.
‘Seeing my father munch on wall snacks makes him seem a bit more relatable now.’
Though Valok was a demigod, he was still human.
When energy is spent, it must be replenished.
Kraush also snacked on snacks and water ahead of time.
It was going to be a long fight from here on out.
“Guardian Sword, Swordmaster, former King, Lilish Balheim, Charlotte Balheim, Majus, Maria Arakazm, and Haring Lagrain. This is our team.”
Of course, Kraush was included in that list.
“Haring, please keep a close eye on Kraush from the side.”
In the meantime, Karandis had spoken to Haring.
Haring’s invisibility was a great help in dire situations.
That’s why she made a request for Haring to stay close to Kraush.
“Okay, don’t worry. I’ll protect Kraush with my life.”
Haring nodded enthusiastically, tightening her grip.
“No, you must return safely as well.”
In that moment, Bianca corrected Haring’s words.
Haring turned to look at Bianca.
Initially, there was a sense of awkwardness between Haring and Bianca.
They were practically rivals at first.
But as time passed, they became familiar and understood each other’s shared feelings.
Since Bianca was the first to approve of Haring, she knew how deep Haring’s feelings for Kraush ran.
That’s why Bianca could say it.
Both Kraush and Haring must return safely.
“Okay.”
Upon hearing Bianca’s words, Haring nodded earnestly, a touch moved.
Watching the scene, Kraush scratched his cheek as Aslan came closer and nudged him.
“Are you happy watching your girls?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Don’t be shy now.”
Aslan said that and lightly patted his shoulder.
“Kraush, after this Demonic Bastion, I’m joining the Magician King.”
This was already known information, so Kraush nodded quietly.
Abella had a record of threatening the entire Golden Region with massive magic.
And to prevent such incidents, the Magician King was traveling around the world, using magic.
Alongside her were Kekkeshis and the Magician King’s daughter, Bioiren.
They had been traveling the world together, casting her unique barrier that she had honed over time.
“That madman is annoying, but I owe you a debt.”
Bioiren said as she followed the Magician King.
She willingly teamed up with her former enemy, the Magician King, to repay the debt owed to Kraush.
After finishing up in the Golden Region, Aslan intended to aid the Magician King and Bioiren.
After all, he had researched ancient magic with the Magician King.
“You’ve always helped me.”
Having come to owe Aslan a lot, when he said that, Aslan gave a short smile.
“Kraush, my life was saved because of you.”
Aslan reminisced about their first meeting with a brief message.
“You can owe me as much as you want for what you’ve given me.”
Kraush smiled.
What a good guy.
“Come back safe.”
He nodded at Kraush and moved towards the group gathered around Valok.
Haring followed closely beside him.
Kraush glanced back over his shoulder.
Bianca watched Kraush with clenched hands, nodding her head.
Her gesture was filled with a meaning of wishing him well.
Responding with a nod, Kraush advanced alongside the gathered members.
Step step—
As they stepped into the Demonic Bastion, the sound of high heels could be heard from afar.
Then, through the dense darkness that settled within the Demonic Bastion, a man appeared.
A man in formal attire with long black hair that hung to the ground and elegantly closed eyes.
As soon as he slowly opened his eyes, a grotesque scene with dozens of eyes was revealed.
“Prepare for battle!”
Upon Valok’s command, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Today, they would topple the Demon Emperor Arkgoal and shut the gates of the Demonic Bastion.
