Chapter 204: The Book of Nightmares (3)

Aslak gazed anxiously at the Grand Library. Ever since Karyl and his group had entered, he had been unable to calm his restless mind. It was understandable. Born in Antihum, he had always believed that the Immortal Council was the pinnacle, the ultimate force.

But now, that belief had been completely shattered.

He mercilessly beat up Benedict... Just how strong is that guy?

Of course, Aslak knew that Benedict was boastful and prone to exaggerate things, but he was nonetheless a sorcerer of the Immortal Council. And yet, Karyl had utterly dismantled not just Benedict but everyone around him as well.

I wonder what’s happening inside...

Aslak felt a pang of regret. In just a month, he would be eligible to join the Immortal Council. If Karyl had arrived then, he might have been able to witness firsthand what was occurring within the library.

No, that’s not right.

But he quickly shook his head, trying to regain his composure. What could he possibly do when even the sorcerers of the Immortal Council were in such a state? He barely had any mastery over his own magic.

Creak...

Aslak gripped his wooden staff tightly. Despite knowing the reality, he couldn’t help being captivated by the overwhelming power Karyl had displayed—a force beyond the magic he had believed in all his life.

Gulp—

He realized, perhaps a bit late, that he was enamored with that power. Despite having only seen it once, it had left a profound impression on him.

This is crazy... I’m going crazy...

Even as he thought this, he found himself yearning to see Karyl fight once more—this time, in a battle where Karyl would give his all.

BOOM...!

At that moment, a powerful explosion erupted from the top of the Grand Library, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

“Eek!!”

“Wha— what’s happening?!”

“What’s going on?”

The townspeople around the library screamed in alarm, staring at the building’s shattered roof.

Bang! Bang...!!

Thud! Thud! Crash! THUD!

Debris flew in all directions, ranging from fine dust to massive chunks of stone, posing a significant danger to the townspeople. All of it came from the Grand Library’s structure.

Falling like hailstones, the debris smashed into buildings, causing them to collapse under the weight.

“Th-That place...!”

“Isn’t that where the leader is?!”

“What?!”

The residents of Antihum’s outskirts shouted in fear as they saw the top floor of the Grand Library completely destroyed.

Bang...! Bang...!!

A black mist began to rise from the shattered roof, spreading across the sky like smoke from a chimney.

Rumble—

The mist then swirled into a vortex, and a massive roar echoed from the sky, far louder than any previous sounds.

“...!!”

Aslak’s eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold above Antihum. His wish to see Karyl fight had been granted far sooner than he had expected. Within the swirling mist, he spotted Karyl clashing with a dark figure.

Thump... Thump...

Aslak’s heart was pounding hard as he hid behind the ruins of a partially destroyed building.

Wh-What is that?!

Screams filled the air as chaos erupted, people scattering in panic. Amidst the fleeing crowd, Aslak’s eyes gleamed as he watched Karyl swing his sword against the dark entity.

Zap—!

Boom!

Purple lightning bolts began to strike relentlessly. It wasn’t ordinary lightning; the bolts carried the same ominous feeling as the Dust of the Void, Antihum’s notorious scourge.

But...

Aslak stared up at the massive storm cloud hovering over Antihum, growing in size. If the incoming storm was like the Dust of the Void, it would be catastrophic. Aslak shuddered at the thought.

A Void Speck of that size... I bet not even the leader could stop it...

Aslak had only seen the Dust of the Void once during his guard duties in Antihum. It stood two heads taller than him and had the build of an orc, paralyzing him with fear. If dozens of such entities were to emerge...

Boom, boom...!

BANG...!

However, within that dreadful storm was Karyl. Aslak rubbed his eyes several times, but it really was him.

Moreover...

[Crazy... He is crazy.]

A voice echoed from the storm.

Aslak saw Karyl, unrestrained, brutally assaulting the Dark Spirit. In his eyes, the image of Karyl relentlessly beating the Dark Spirit was vivid and unmistakable.

[Did a human forcibly break the seal of the book...?] Duaat stared at Karyl in disbelief as he spoke.

[I told you, that guy is a monster.]

Ramine’s form seemed to shimmer as if to smile, fully understanding Duaat’s amazement.

“Hmph.”

Karyl glanced around. As the darkness that resembled a battlefield faded and the view of Antihum came into sight, he took a deep breath as if to savor the fresh air.

“It’s certainly better to be out here than cooped up inside, don’t you think?”

His lips curled into a slight smile.

[GRRRRAAAAAHHH!!]

With a colossal roar, sharp blades emerged from both of Duaat’s arms.

CRACK—!

The ground shook as if an earthquake had struck. In an instant, Duaat’s shadow loomed over Karyl, the double blades of the Jamadhar seeking to cleave him.

SLASH!

Just as Duaat descended upon him, Karely barely avoided the strike by rolling forward.

SCRRRKK!

The blades scraped deep into the ground on both sides where Karyl landed. Unfazed, Karyl sprang forward.

Swish!

Ignoring the damage, Karyl kicked off the ground and began to run.

“...!!”

He moved so quickly that not even Aslak, who had been watching him intently, could keep track of his movements. Aslak looked around frantically.

“Raaahh!”

Karyl’s battle cry echoed from afar, and only then did Aslak manage to spot him.

SLASH...! SLASH...!

Karyl ran vertically through the air as if on flat ground, casting Blink spells in rapid succession, seemingly teleporting around Duaat.

[You little rat!]

With a growl, Duaat’s Jamadhar flashed, and a torrent of blades surged toward Karyl.

CRACK!

The overwhelming barrage of strikes surpassed Karyl’s teleportation, sending him tumbling diagonally through the air.

BOOM...!

People watched as Karyl fell from the sky. In an instant, he crashed through the dense foliage and slammed into a three-story hall in the center of the residential area. The building, unable to withstand the impact, collapsed, swallowing Karyl in the rubble.

“Oh my god...”

“Who is that guy?”

“Is he... okay? Did he die?”

The villagers, unaware of Karyl’s identity, looked over with concern at the ruined building.

SSSSSHHH...

Duaat slowly descended to the ground. Aslak felt like his legs were about to give way against the overwhelming dark power. Even though he was hiding behind a building, he felt as if he might collapse from the sheer pressure, his eyes fixed on the wrecked hall.

Was he fighting that... monster?

Though he didn’t know about the Spirit Kings, he could clearly sense the outstanding might of an absolute being.

[HAHAHAHA!] Duaat bellowed in triumph, his chest heaving as he spread his arms wide.

BAM!

But at that moment...

“...?!”

Boom! CRASH—!

From the rubble of the hall, something massive shot out like a cannonball, targeting Duaat. The Spirit King quickly raised his Jamadhar to slash the incoming debris.

[Is that all—]

Duaat’s confident words were cut short as the huge stone wall split in two.

BANG! BANG!

Countless pieces of debris rained down on him. Duaat slashed at them with his Jamadhar, but he failed to deflect every single projectile. Some ended up hitting him, causing the Spirit King to stagger.

Barely managing to fend off the remaining debris with his other blade, Duaat found himself overwhelmed by the sheer number of incoming fragments.

CRASH! CRACK! BOOM...!

As he lost his balance, the barrage of debris struck him in the head, shoulders, waist, and legs.

[Grr—?! Gah!]

Though not fatally injured, Duaat was gradually pushed back by the relentless barrage.

“Huff!”

Karyl steadily walked forward, continuing to hurl debris at Duaat.

“Is that... a human?”

“Impossible...”

The bystanders stared in awe as Karyl hurled boulders of all sizes while closing the distance between him and the immobilized Duaat, their heads turning back and forth to follow the unfolding action.

Thud—!

As Karyl grabbed a piece of debris from the ground and threw it with all his might, he launched himself forward to fly as fast as the fragment—no, even faster.

“Raaaahh!”

Karyl swung Agnel and the Freezing Talon with relentless force.

Sparks flew as the four blades—Duaat’s Jamadhar and Karyl’s two weapons—clashed, illuminating the dark surroundings with brilliant flashes.

Clang! Clang! Thoom!

“Aaahh!”

Aslak collapsed.

THUD!

One of Duaat’s left Jamadhar blades, deflected by Karyl’s attack, pierced the wall of the building where Aslak was hiding.

“...”

On his bottom, Aslak stared at the blade embedded right in front of his crotch.

“I need to be careful. At this rate, I might end up turning Antihum into the ruins I saw back then.”

Karyl looked around. Although the explosion hadn’t been massive, the area darkened as Duaat’s dark energy dispersed. He speculated that this was how Antihum had become a bunch of blackened ruins in his past life.

He then slowly pushed Duaat’s remaining Jamadhar away with his Freezing Talon and pointed his Agnel at the Spirit King’s neck.

“I can’t just ignore what you said earlier. You claim humans are the reason you’ve lost the Great Spirit War?”

Karyl tapped Duaat’s neck with the flat of Agnel’s blade.

Ssshh... Ssssshh...!

Every time the blade imbued with the energy of the Blazing King touched Duaat’s neck, it sizzled, releasing black smoke.

[Huh?!]

Karyl leaned in slowly and proposed, “Alright, how about we have a little chat now?”