"This, what is this...?"
Artherion, unlike earlier when he had attacked in a frenzy, was now completely dazed.
The appearance Ghislain had just shown was identical to that of the adversary he knew.
There couldn't be two adversaries. Yet, how could the appearance of the adversary manifest in two people at the same time?
"You bastard! What kind of sorcery is this?!"
Artherion roared. However, he was so flustered that he failed to properly register his opponent closing in on him.
In an instant, Ghislain approached and slashed Artherion's body.
Slash!
"Graaaah!"
Artherion's chest was cut deeper than ever before. Ghislain immediately stopped the amplification and retreated after the successful strike.
He had grown accustomed to the power of five cores. With increased recovery ability, he could now maintain the 5th stage for a considerable duration.
However, using amplification through Dark was still hard to endure. That overwhelming power couldn't be used continuously. Overexerting would lead to collapse.
Crack.
Even after using it just once, his legs were already beginning to falter. Still, thanks to the considerable amount of mana he had expended thus far, he could endure the amplification this time.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Following Ghislain's attack, the superhumans all charged in and resumed their attack.
Artherion was steadily pushed back, wounded repeatedly. Though he tried to counterattack, his precision from earlier was long gone.
It wasn't just exhaustion. His mind was filled with confusion.
'Why? Why are there two adversaries?'
The power Ghislain had briefly shown was undoubtedly the adversary's. His appearance was also too similar.
In the first place, only members of the Salvation Church used such black energy.
'Was I deceived?'
Erenes had definitely met this man. If that were the case, she couldn't have failed to notice that energy. It would've been obvious during battle.
And yet, she just let it slide? That made no sense.
"No, that can't be it. There must be a reason Erenes overlooked it."
For a moment, he suspected Erenes of betrayal, but he quickly dismissed the thought.
Erenes despised the Salvation Church more than anyone and could never ally with them.
As Artherion continued to falter, he focused again when Ghislain reactivated his amplification.
'It's different.'
Though the appearance was astonishingly similar, the energy felt slightly off. Like Erenes, he sensed no malice in that energy.
Only an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
But it still didn't make sense. That kind of energy couldn't be obtained through ordinary means. While different from the adversary's, it undeniably felt like black energy.
"Its origin... is the same as the Salvation Church. It carries the energy of the Demon God."
Erenes must have known that too. If she overlooked it, there must have been a reason, but Artherion couldn't figure it out.
In truth, his confusion stemmed from being unaware of Dark's existence, unlike Erenes.
Even she had suspected something but assumed Dark to be another type of spirit and moved on. Being an elf sensitive to spirit energy, she couldn't be entirely certain.
Despite Erenes's strength, her ability to sense the Demon God's energy was inherently weaker than that of a dragon.
Artherion, too, recalled the hypothesis Erenes had considered.
'Could it be... that he acquired that?'
That entity had been sealed along with the adversary. If the adversary appeared, that entity could also reappear.
And now, the adversary was here.
Since Ghislain's amplified state lasted only briefly, Artherion struggled to fully grasp it. Yet, the energy he sensed lingered in his mind.
'Just what...'
It was as if the adversary had split into two.
Then, who was the real adversary?
Even if an ordinary human acquired that entity, they couldn't wield black energy so effortlessly. Only the adversary could fully harness its power.
Artherion couldn't determine who the adversary was.
Until now, he had focused his attacks solely on Yulian. But—
'What if this Ghislain is the adversary?'
It was an absurd possibility based on what he knew, but he couldn't dismiss it entirely.
The problem was that he was far too exhausted.
The humans had meticulously prepared to fight him. If only he could freely use magic, he wouldn't have been cornered like this.
'If I can't be certain, I must kill them both. But... it's impossible right now.'
Roaaar!
Artherion couldn't accept it. How could he, a mighty dragon, be driven back like this?
But he wasn't foolish enough to lose sight of reality. At this rate, he really could die.
'I have to escape.'
He couldn't die here. He had to kill the adversary—no matter what.
Right now, he could escape. He was nearly out of strength, but if he used what remained, fleeing wouldn't be difficult.
He already knew who the adversary was. While it wasn't clear which one it was, he could simply kill them both later.
Though his pride was deeply wounded... he had to retreat for the sake of a greater cause.
'You will never have another chance like this!'
He would abandon his pride and fight cunningly. He'd ambush and annihilate the humans' forces one by one.
From now on, the humans would live in terror, never knowing when he might appear.
"Rrgh... Just you wait."
Flap!
Artherion spread his wings wide to escape.
Once he flew far away, they wouldn't be able to catch him.
Then, Artherion's mind was suddenly engulfed in black mist again.
And a voice resonated.
—...Come find me.
Thud!
The voice struck his consciousness with an overwhelming force.
"Urgh!"
Something—something was invading his mind. Artherion realized something had gone terribly wrong.
But it was already too late. His mind was consumed by the black mist in an instant.
Kaaaahhhh!
Artherion raised his head high toward the sky and roared. His eyes were once again filled with determination and murderous intent.
How could he, the strongest being, flee from these insect-like humans?!
"Rrrgh... I will kill them all..."
Such humiliation was unacceptable. He had to kill the adversary and the remaining humans here, no matter what.
Artherion, eyes burning with madness, launched another attack.
'Kill the adversary!'
His mind was consumed by a singular desire—to kill the adversary at all costs.
He had been caught off guard by the humans' meticulous preparations. His life was going to end here.
So he had to kill at least one of them before he died. The rest could be left to Erenes.
She was a cautious and calculating elf, the most elven yet the least elven of them all.
She would take care of the remaining adversary.
Kaaaahhhh!
Artherion abandoned his survival instinct and charged recklessly.
The more he did, the more openings he revealed. Artherion's body was now drenched in blood.
The dragon's formidable spirit and body were gradually collapsing.
The superhumans all swarmed him, relentlessly attacking. They instinctively knew they had to end this now.
'There won't be a second chance.'
'He tried to run earlier.'
'If we let him go, we're all dead.'
If Artherion escaped, the continent was doomed. The methods they used today wouldn't work a second time. Victory would be impossible.
It seemed his pride as a dragon had made him change his mind. That arrogance meant they had to push themselves to the limit and kill him here.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
Everyone fought with everything they had. Bones broke, flesh tore, but they pressed on, relying on divine power.
Even with their mana drained, they continued swinging their weapons desperately.
Artherion's body was shredded and battered, his wings barely able to stretch out.
Kaaaahhhh!
Artherion also fought with all his might. With what little mana remained, he repeatedly attempted low-circle spells.
The mages in the fortress dispelled them, coughing up blood from the effort.
Both sides knew it—the end of this battle was near.
Thud!
Artherion's massive body staggered and fell to one side. Yet he still lashed out with his tail and claws in desperation.
The superhumans attacking him could barely stand themselves. Their arms and legs trembled, refusing to move properly.
Kaor had already collapsed, gasping for breath.
Even divine healing had its limits. The priests' holy power was almost depleted, and the backlash from transferring it left their bodies in ruins.
Even Parniel, known for her incredible stamina, briefly lost grip of her mace.
"Phew!"
Only Ghislain and Yulian remained standing, albeit unsteadily.
It wasn't because they had more endurance than Parniel.
Parniel had fought head-on, taking the brunt of the attacks. Her reckless defense allowed them to drive Artherion into a corner more quickly.
Ghislain knew it was time to finish this. He had to use his final move.
Kaaaahhhh!
Thud!
Artherion slammed his tail down again but couldn't continue the assault, revealing an opening.
Ghislain gripped his sword tightly and spoke.
"Yulian."
"...Yeah."
BOOM!
The two of them mustered the last of their strength and charged at Artherion.
Fwoooosh!
Ghislain's body was once again enveloped in black mist. He had only used it briefly during attacks, but this would be the last time. He had no energy left to spare.
So he poured his willpower into the strike, bending the flow of the world to ensure his attack succeeded.
Vwoooooom!
Time slowed. The space entered Ghislain's domain of will.
Artherion weakly raised his claws. Though he recognized Ghislain's domain, he could no longer move as before.
As Ghislain thrust his sword toward Artherion's dragon heart with all his might—
'Huh?'
A faint ripple brushed Ghislain's senses.
Within the slowed flow of time, something unfamiliar stirred.
'What is that?'
It was an unknown presence. He couldn't see it, but he could feel it.
This space belonged to him and the world. Nothing could move against its flow without being noticed.
Yet, something seeped continuously from Artherion's wounds.
BOOM!
Ghislain's sword finally pierced through Artherion's dragon heart.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
'It's moving.'
The presence slithered like a snake. It wasn't normal energy—no ordinary force could elude his sight.
Ghislain slowly turned toward where it was heading.
'...Yulian?'
It was moving toward Yulian.
Ghislain tried to call out to him, to warn him that something was approaching.
But he froze when he saw Yulian's face.
Yulian's eyes were also following the presence, watching as it burrowed into his body without resistance.
'Yulian, you...'
Yulian slowly turned his head.
His gaze wasn't fixed on the dying Artherion.
It was elsewhere.
In the fractured flow of time, the eyes of the two men met.