**Chapter Thirty-Four: The King of the Void Shadow ⑨**
The onslaught was truly like a black storm.
The Vampire’s physical strength was further enhanced by the Blessing, amplifying the capabilities of the Eclipse Knight. The long spear, wielded with reckless abandon from that formidable physical form, made it exceedingly difficult for the Eclipse Knight to counter. While a sword could be parried, a spear posed a different challenge altogether. Though the attacks lacked finesse, their sheer unpredictability made them hard to defend against.
The movements of the Yuan Mage were almost beast-like, yet they were undeniably backed by solid experience. Even if they were a Mage, and even without formal training, overwhelming physical prowess could surpass all else.
Even so, the foot Yuan exploded with Blessing, allowing for a swift retreat. If close combat was unfavorable, then attacking from a distance was the simplest solution. In an instant, Rufuri and Nebira converged on Senri’s Yuan, ready to intercept the spear. The moment they concentrated their power into their swords, the King of the Void Shadow laughed.
“I know your tricks well…”
Gathering the Light of Blessing instantly, he unleashed it. Though it was not as flashy as Annihilation, the Purification Light, which would surely deal damage to the Immortal, was met with an unexpected barrier.
A wall of Earth materialized, and the Light dissipated effortlessly.
Unless transformed into destructive energy like Annihilation, the Light of Blessing lacked the capacity for destruction. Rufuri, flanking on either side, released Purification Light as a deterrent, while Nebira charged in with a mace. In response to the simultaneous assault, the King of the Void Shadow stepped back.
Crystals erupted from the ground with great force. The polished black crystals reflected the Light, absorbing the impact of Nebira’s mace.
—Strong. Experienced in battle.
The power of Blessing could obliterate N/A Doro with a mere touch and ward off miasma, but it could not erase or defend against tangible objects. Moreover, the King was casting spells while on the move.
At that moment, the King of the Void Shadow glanced down at his palm. The crystals shattered.
“How… could the physical body of Blood’s Demonic Nature be so weak? The power of death… is lacking.”
It was hard to believe such words.
After all, this was the very opponent that the Order of the Final Knights had once annihilated with their full might. The original dead king had no subordinates at his side. It was clear he was not at his best.
And yet, the King of the Void Shadow planted his spear into the ground, a quiet smile gracing his lips.
“But what a thrill this is—it’s been so long since I felt this tension. This blood-boiling, life-hating emotion.”
That voice resonated with—joy. An indescribable joy. There was no denying that the Dark King had been resurrected.
This Vampire was pureblood. Unlike End. Moreover, perhaps due to the echoes of his previous life, he exuded no presence whatsoever.
Senri bit his lip.
A Vampire that bore the form of a person yet lacked the aura of death. If he were to escape, the damage would be catastrophic. Without a doubt—he was an enemy of all life.
The magical power possessed by the powerful N/A Doro was incomparable to that of a living human. The Vampire before him was running on fumes. Likely, he had been interrupted mid-ritual by End, leaving him less than fully prepared.
He was probably not even a true Vampire. A true Vampire would never refrain from using their powerful Special Abilities.
“Well then, I shall drain your blood dry and quench this unbearable thirst.”
The King of the Void Shadow laughed. Striking the ground with his spear, massive stakes erupted from the earth, charging toward them.
—
The ferocity of the assault was akin to a tempest. Among the N/A Doro Senri had faced thus far, this was undoubtedly top-tier, and the matchup was exceedingly unfavorable.
Blessing was a versatile energy, but even within it, there were areas of strength and weakness.
Blessing excelled in Purification and healing. However, it struggled against Destruction and defense against mass attacks.
The ground heaved like a tsunami, and a torrent of rubble rained down upon them. Rufuri’s expansive Light shield was easily crushed, preventing Nebira and Senri from advancing.
“N/A… damn it!”
This was not merely a matter of technique. This was overwhelming Destruction permitted only to the strong deceased.
The King of the Void Shadow attacked from behind the debris, which stood tall like living objects. Senri deflected the strike with his sword, dodging the rubble raining down from above. Even with a physical body enhanced by Blessing, a massive attack would leave him vulnerable.
“Weak, weak indeed, N/A! A mere Eclipse Knight is all you are!”
The relentless thrusts and ambushes were impossible to counter without the enhanced perception granted by Blessing. In a split second, countless crystal stakes were shot at Rufuri, who had tried to reposition himself inconspicuously. The King of the Void Shadow laughed with excitement.
“Hahaha! If you don’t concentrate, you won’t be able to unleash your big attacks, N/A!!”
His eyes sparkled with the joy of battle. The attacks were crude, but they were not something one could handle casually.
The very earth was on the side of the Vampire before them.
The range of his attacks was far too wide. Though the King was not at full strength, there was no way an N/A Doro could win a war of attrition against him. To defeat this powerful King before their eyes, three people were far too few.
At this rate, they would be overwhelmed. If they retreated, he would pursue them relentlessly. Resolving himself, Senri stepped forward. His thrust left sound in its wake. A flurry of strikes descended upon him like lightning, accompanied by the onslaught of debris.
He sharpened his focus, evading the thrusts with minimal movement. What he could not dodge, he deflected with his sword. Debris pierced Senri’s body, but he did not retreat.
The Eclipse Knight was also an expert in recovery. What was necessary was—Resolve. As long as he had Resolve, he could move forward. His blood-red eyes widened for the first time.
“O-oh!”
With all his might, he deflected the wildly swung spear. A strike that no human could withstand sent a strong jolt coursing through his bones. Yet, Senri smiled.
If it had been the Senri of before, deflecting such an attack would have been impossible. Now, he managed to redirect the blow thanks to the frequent mock battles he had with End.
“Hah, so you dare to laugh here, N/A! Eclipse Knight, N/A!”
And then, Senri stepped in.
The spear’s advantage lay in its reach. However, that was also its weakness.
If he could get in close, the sword would have the upper hand.
The King of the Void Shadow was mere inches away. He poured the power of Blessing into his sword. The blade shimmered with a strong Light, and his blood-like eyes narrowed.
He raised his sword and stepped forward.
At that moment, walls appeared on either side of the King of the Void Shadow.
“N/A!?”
“Hahahaha! Did you think I wouldn’t notice, N/A?!”
A vial of holy water thrown by Nebira from a blind spot shattered against the wall of Earth. Holy water was the Vampire’s weakness. But it was meaningless if it did not hit.
It was a perfect ambush. However, he noticed it. The King of the Void Shadow caught Senri’s descending sword with the shaft of his spear. A hard impact reverberated, but the shock of having the ambush evaded was even greater.
The King of the Void Shadow shouted.
“Do you think a bluff will work, N/A?! Your sword lacks the intent to kill, N/A!”
“N/A!!”
It was a failure. Debris grazed his cheek, and blood splattered. He masked the sharp pain with fighting spirit.
He had let his guard down. It was not that he had held back. But undeniably, there had been no life behind that strike.
Because he had allies—Eclipse Knights were trained to ensure victory.
He had been seen through. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since they had coordinated.
Regret flashed through his mind, but there was no time to dwell on it. The spear and sword clashed, creating a fierce shower of sparks. Yet, the blade barely grazed the King’s skin.
“Hahaha! Good, good sound and color, N/A! When was the last time I fought like this, N/A!”
The King of the Void Shadow was undoubtedly wearing down as well. Yet, that maniacal laughter showed no signs of stopping. Blood splattered, but his mind remained cool.
“Senri, for now, fall back, N/A!”
Rufuri’s voice echoed from afar. But Senri had resolved himself to face death. He concentrated, pushing thoughts of survival from his mind, focusing solely on annihilation. He deflected blades and debris purely on instinct. The expression of the King of the Void Shadow shifted.
It was not as great a difference as it appeared. The gap between them was minimal. However, if time passed, that gap would only widen.
He pressed forward. This was the turning point. Light dispels Darkness. With a single strike, a chance of victory would arise. For the first time, Senri roared.
“HAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
“N/A!?”
He charged forward recklessly. In response, the King of the Void Shadow took a step back.
He retreated with a speed that seemed to defy gravity. The King of the Void Shadow’s eyes widened as he stepped back several meters.
“Impossible… I, being… pressured?!”
“N/A…”
On either side of the nearly collapsing Senri, Rufuri and Nebira stepped in to support him.
What was necessary was an opening. He still retained consciousness.
And then—Senri leaped.
The movement technique granted by Blessing. “Light Wings.” Supported by Rufuri and Nebira, he soared dozens of meters into the air in an instant.
Flying through Blessing was an advanced technique. Humans were not meant to fly.
It required preparation and could not be used in high-speed combat, but gaining air superiority was immensely advantageous. The King of the Void Shadow appeared as a mere speck far below. The power of the earth-bound King could not be exerted in the sky.
“Senri, go for it.”
“N/A…”
Now, I will squeeze out every last ounce of my life. Rufuri and Nebira are barely hanging on as well. On top of that, they are unable to assist me since they are focusing on flight.
An energy that feels inexhaustible concentrates into my sword. I become a single blade.
The power that prevented the Void Shadow King from unleashing Annihilation. In battle, I had never once used that mirror crystal. My opponent is exhausted. This technique shouldn’t be one that can be used continuously.
No— it doesn’t matter if it can be used repeatedly. If it can be used continuously, then it will just keep unleashing Annihilation until death.
And then, at the very moment I tried to unleash my power—the hill where the Void Shadow King stood crumbled and expanded.
“Can you handle this, little girl? Not even a single one of my sufficient lives remains, and yet you dare to challenge me!”
“N/A!?”
The ground trembles. Rocks shift, and what emerges is—a gigantic arm. The overwhelming magical power reaches the heavens in an instant.
A massive palm made of crystal casts a shadow over Senri.
There’s no doubt about it. This is the final blow. For both my opponent and me, the next strike will be the last.
The immense mass descends. Yet, I do not feel panic.
Taking a deep breath, I concentrate my strength. I hear a voice—coming from the back of the hand. I gently raise my sword upward. I can no longer feel my hand. However, it does not tremble.
And then, Senri silently apologized within his heart for the final time.
“End, I’m sorry.”
Was that an apology for what had transpired?
And then, the light was unleashed.
§ § §
Rocks and crystals rain down upon the earth. The thunderous sound shook the world, echoing for a while. The ground trembled as if in lament, and then abruptly came to a halt.
Moonlight illuminated the wasteland. The trees that had flourished around were swallowed by the earth, and the ancient castle that had stood for countless years was now devoid of any shadow.
Three figures swayed as they fell to the ground, collapsing as if crumbling.
The most severely injured was Senri, who had exhausted all his strength, but the other two—Nebira and Rufuri—had almost no power left as well.
Yet, they were alive.
Gazing at the sky, Rufuri let out a hoarse voice.
“We did it… N/A…”
The light of Annihilation that Senri had unleashed had indeed completely obliterated the Void Shadow King’s attack. It had been a close call. Had it not been for that obliteration, Rufuri and the others would have undoubtedly been crushed and lost their lives.
Not even a single finger could be moved. However, Senri was in a worse state. The Blessing, which is the energy of life, is dangerous to exhaust completely, even for a moment. They should be taken to the city as soon as possible, but it seems Nebira is in the same situation. Seeing his fallen comrades beside him, Rufuri managed a wry smile.
The reason Rufuri couldn’t move a single finger was that he had used the Light Wings while conserving just enough strength to send power to Senri. The fact that Nebira was in the same condition meant that his companion had made the same choice. Nebira’s grimace likely indicated that he had realized the same thing.
Even though they were only third-tier, Rufuri and the others were Eclipse Knights. They would recover enough to move after a short rest.
Just as the atmosphere began to relax, a dry voice echoed.
“Hah, hah… what a splendid strike, N/A…”
“!?”
This is absurd—impossible. Senri’s attack should have completely overpowered him.
I cannot sense the presence of the Void Shadow King. Yet, that voice resounded from nowhere, unmistakably his.
“This era’s Eclipse Knights still have some fight left in them.”
A shadow fell over Rufuri and the others. Desperately trying to move their bodies, they found themselves unable to budge at all.
Crimson eyes peered at the three of them. The Void Shadow King’s voice was dry, yet his expression clearly showed exhaustion, though he bore no visible wounds. The Void Shadow King chuckled.
“Ku ku ku… You seem to want to ask why. Eclipse Knights. What was on my hand, what made that sound—was merely a rock golem.”
“N/A…”
I hadn’t noticed at all. No, under normal circumstances, I would have undoubtedly realized it, but there was no room to think in such an extreme situation.
However, the Void Shadow King’s expression darkened at the sight of Rufuri and the others.
“Don’t call it cowardice. I too am displeased. Who would have thought that I would be forced to use Earth in my first battle after reincarnation—”
Senri remained unconscious, not moving an inch. His body wouldn’t respond. The Blessing had been completely depleted.
The limp Senri lay there, and the Void Shadow King extended his arm toward him.
“Take pride in having cornered this Void Shadow King with just three people—and fear not. You shall live on as my blood and flesh for eternity.”
“N/A… damn it…”
Nebira’s voice was filled with anger. Yet, his hand trembled but did not move at all. The blood of the Eclipse Knights flowed with Blessing. Blood infused with the power of Blessing is a potent poison; under normal circumstances, one could not even dream of vampirism.
However, Senri was now completely drained of power, and his Blessing had run dry.
This is no good. I cannot allow him to drink my blood. The power of the king before me is immense. If he regains his strength, it would spell disaster.
A vampire can only absorb the blood of the living. But now, Rufuri and the others couldn’t even manage to commit suicide.
Desperately trying to move their physical bodies, Rufuri and the others saw a fingertip approach Senri. Just as the pale finger was about to touch his neck, its movement suddenly halted.
“What are you…?”
The Void Shadow King raised his face. Standing behind him was—a battered young man. His limbs were broken in unnatural directions, and his body was covered in dirt. There was no light in his eyes, and his white hair quietly reflected the moonlight.
It was a wonder he was still standing. If he were human, he would undoubtedly not survive in such a state.
Yet, this young man was undeniably alive. No, to say he was alive would be incorrect.
He was dead, yet moving.
The sight of a hellish specter made the Void Shadow King stand up sluggishly.
“A vampire… Abiko Doro was fighting… and you’re still alive?”
The Void Shadow King’s legs wavered. However, the young man’s legs were even more unsteady.
His eyes were unfocused, resembling those of a dead person. He showed no reaction to the Void Shadow King’s words.
The Void Shadow King extended his arm and crushed his neck. A wet sound echoed, but the young man didn’t move an inch.
As if witnessing something eerie, the Void Shadow King’s brow furrowed.
“…What? You, what are you? Have you returned from the dead? Why are you moving?”
At those words, the young man finally showed a reaction. His wandering gaze regained focus as he looked at the Void Shadow King.
Deep red eyes held a darkness within them. His arm weakly lifted, resting against the Void Shadow King’s arm that gripped his neck.
His throat, which should have been constricted, moved, and a voice that seemed ready to vanish emerged.
“I am… the King of the Twilight… It hurts… to die… you… are… the Void—”
“N/A? …What is it?”
The Void Shadow King pressed for answers from the clearly half-dead figure. The young man’s eyes widened, and his gaze fell to the ground—more specifically, to the fallen Senri.
Then, with all his strength, he spoke.
“Twilight, Palace.”
“What…?”
His broken limbs made a cracking sound as they returned to their original positions. The fingers that had merely rested now regained strength, gripping the Void Shadow King’s arm. Light returned to his eyes, but the darkness writhing within remained.
The Void Shadow King staggered. His throat was still being crushed, but the next voice that emerged was no longer hoarse.
“I am the King of the Twilight. To surpass and dominate all Darkness, I was named by the Lord.”
What is he saying? Yet, the Void Shadow King’s eyes widened.
“Names are important. That’s why the Lord made it the key. Void Shadow King.”
Even Rufuri, who had lost most of his strength, understood.
As if a shackle had been removed, the aura of death around him rapidly thickened. It was a clear transformation into another existence.
The Void Shadow King’s arm, which had been gripped, cracked with a sound. He tried to step back, but the young man would not let go. Even the strength of a vampire could not move him. Alertness flickered across the Void Shadow King’s expression.
Then, the young man smiled. His blood-red eyes glimmered with a faint golden light—the light of Demonic Nature.
Perhaps sensing that presence, the Void Shadow King’s expression twisted.
The eyes that shone with golden light were a mark of nobility. A vampire noble, one who had absorbed a significant amount of blood from a magical artifact, a fearsome immortal. Just the confirmation of their birth would send warnings throughout the Order of the Final Knights, feared even by their own kin.
“Highborn vampire Noe Blue… impossible. Why, against Abiko Doro—”
“I wanted to delay it as much as possible. I could endure the pain. I longed for the light. Just for a single day—”
His features had not changed. However, his aura was undeniably different. The lifeless appearance of his blood made even Rufuri shudder at its beauty.
Tears of blood flowed from his golden eyes. Perhaps due to his recent mutation. Yet, his voice remained eerily calm.
“But—it’s fine now. You’ve harmed my beloved— I don’t want to use filthy words, but I will kill you.”