Chapter 150: Your Sword Pierces My Chest (7k)
The violent explosion created a massive amount of dust and sand, forming storm clouds of dirt and grit in the sky. Despite it being the sunniest part of the afternoon, the mushroom cloud of dust and smoke obscured the daylight, casting Camelot into a dim, gloomy twilight, as if it were night. It was precisely like the “nuclear winter” that countless scholars in Shaya’s previous life had speculated about.
Beneath the night sky, on the land of Camelot. Crimson patterns were slowly spreading across the giant, pitch-black mecha. Crystal formations resembling rubies were corrupting the undead metal, originating from the burning magic furnace core, staining the entire Black Knight mecha with a bizarre bloodiness. Though it appeared to be only the size of a fist, perfectly embeddable in the chest, the magic furnace core contained twisted spatial rifts. It was connected to another sub-dimension.
…
Within the sub-dimension brought by the magic furnace core.
Crimson halos slowly diffused from the Star Chalice, carrying ripples of divine consciousness. “I didn’t completely annihilate? I still retain my complete consciousness?” “I survived that Golden Elf’s fingertip strike?” Crimson Moon’s divine consciousness fluctuated violently, filled with disbelief. As an ancient god who had survived since the First Era, no one, no, no god understood the value of “Divine Annihilation Finger” better than He. It was a technique that surpassed all concepts like divine arts, special abilities, and authority; it itself embodied the meaning of the word “destruction.”
“It seems that dimensional banishment across several eras has also significantly weakened that Golden Elf’s strength.” “Otherwise, that finger would never have simply annihilated my divine power and divine kingdom in the Astral Realm, causing me to fall to the Prime Material Plane.”
With a slight mental movement, He scanned his surroundings. Crimson Moon’s thoughts became active once more. He could feel that he was in a sub-dimension created by humans. He could even distinctly feel the mental power and soul of the owner of this sub-dimension, lingering within it, extremely close to Him, capable of launching an attack at any moment. That mental power was strong and very special, but Crimson Moon could perceive that its essence was still only at the Sixth Ring Titled level, not Legendary.
Currently, although He had lost all divine power and divine body above the Astral Realm, his divinity and authority remained. Relying on his essence as a true god, he might have some difficulty facing the mental power of a Legendary expert, but corrupting and invading a Sixth Ring cultivator would be effortless. This was an opportunity delivered to his doorstep, a body for him to make a comeback and rise again.
“I presume it’s some foolish individual who couldn’t resist the temptation of devouring the Star Chalice to reach godhood in one step and wanted to claim the chalice for themselves.” “What a pity… You haven’t even set foot in the Legendary realm; even if the opportunity to become a god were placed before you, you would ultimately only become someone else’s stepping stone.” “I shall take your body.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Crimson Moon prepared to activate his divine status as a true god to infect the body of the person coveting the Star Chalice and transform them into his dependent and blood servant. Just as he had corrupted those Blood Race Princes and those few Legendary Knights of the Round Table before.
However, such a thought had only just flashed through Crimson Moon’s divine consciousness. The next instant. Crimson Moon’s divine consciousness began to tremble slightly. He felt something vast and magnificent, a mystery, erupting from behind him. Unlike the previous nuclear explosion. If the previous explosion was merely a burst of pure energy, then what was born behind him at this moment was a true star. Not an unrestrained, uncontrollable, disordered collapse that could only be released in an instant.
Black rings diffused outwards, stabilizing the huge form within them. Not pursuing an instant burst, but a continuously burning, true sun.
The next moment. Crimson Moon sensed a great attraction pulling him, plunging towards that vast and magnificent origin of mystery. A few breaths later. The immense sunwheel, laden with endless light and heat, engulfed that blood-colored Star Chalice. Everything that once belonged to the ancient god “Crimson Moon,” all his mysteries, authorities, and divinity, were transformed into the purest fuel within that eternally burning star, supplying the star’s combustion within the stellar core. And all concepts related to this ancient god, born from the Abyss since the beginning of the First Era, officially became a thing of the past.
…
Around the Black Knight mecha, the continuously encroaching, spreading crimson crystal formations suddenly halted for a moment. The next moment, all the crimson crystals dimmed simultaneously and then shattered. And almost at the same time, within the Black Knight mecha’s magic furnace core, the original blood-colored radiance was suddenly replaced by a bright white light. The engine roared, and the bursting radiance surged. The radiance pierced through the post-nuclear explosion dust and radiation clouds, illuminating the dim, yellowish sky above Camelot.
Shaya slightly extended his hand, and the pitch-black undead metal transformed into a dagger within the mecha’s cockpit. Shaya gripped the dagger and cut his little finger. Feeling the wound, which did not heal as quickly as before but flowed with dark red blood, only stopping after applying healing medicine, Shaya couldn’t help but smile faintly. “It seems I can finally say goodbye to Crimson Moon.”
Based on the principle of “fusion and fission of spiritual particles,” Shaya had conceived two sets of mechanical constructs long ago. Furthermore, for years, he and Solun had invested a great deal of effort, resources, and money into them. Finally, those grand concepts and blueprints had now materialized into reality.
The first was the “Tsar Bomba” he used to make all of Camelot suffer, which, in his previous life’s terms, was a “hydrogen bomb” or a “nuclear explosion.” Abandoning all constraints and control, it pursued only maximum destructive power, annihilating Crimson Moon’s divine kingdom and all of Camelot in a single blow, also providing an opportunity for his Shī Jiang to act in the Astral Realm.
The second was the magic furnace core at the heart of the Black Knight mecha, which was now emitting fierce stellar flames, supplying immense magic power to the entire mecha, powering the machine. Shaya named this new furnace core, which far surpassed traditional steam magic furnace cores, “Simulated Star·Solar Furnace.” It corresponded to the principles of stellar operation, or more directly, to what is known as “controlled fusion.”
The most difficult aspect of dealing with true gods was their immortality. Even if they fell, as long as their divinity remained, they could return from the Deep Astral Realm in the distant future. However, at this moment. After being devoured by the Solar Furnace, which simulated the principles of stellar operation, and turned into fuel within the stellar core. The former “Crimson Moon” was no longer merely “fallen,” but was erased from the Multiverse at the conceptual level.
[Congratulations on meeting the conditions for title upgrade]
[Your title “Blasphemer (Purple)” has been upgraded to “God Slayer (Golden)”]
[God Slayer (Abyss)]
[Rarity: Gold (Cannot be upgraded)]
[Title Holder: Shaya Egut]
[This is not blasphemy, nor a simple defeat.]
[You have, in truth, killed the very concept of an ancient god in this world.]
[Title Attribute 1: When wearing this title, you and your familiars deal 500% special attack damage to enemies with divinity.]
[Title Attribute 2: When wearing this title, you will be regarded as the greatest mortal enemy by true gods of the Abyss faction, mythical creatures, cult leaders, and fanatics.]
[Remark: In the history of the Western Continent, though rare, there have been instances of defeating divine avatars and blaspheming against gods.]
[However, from the complete disappearance of the Divine Era in the Second Era until the end of the Divine Era in the Third Era, you are the only one to have slain a god.]
[This is the supreme heroic feat of order-aligned beings, and it is also a deep wound etched on the stone tablet of the Abyss. This hatred will not fade with time, and it is eternal.]
…
“Finally, it’s done.” Shaya’s gaze lingered on the brilliant golden God Slayer title and the “500% Divine Special Attack” text in the attribute panel. As the furnace core’s output surged, the entire Black Knight mecha, composed of the undead metal “Dragon Serpent Mercury,” trembled, wanting to vent the overflowing magic power. Then, Shaya slowly directed his mental power towards that solitary throne. More accurately, towards the slender figure holding the Holy Sword.
“Only this way can I have the qualification to stand before you.” “Your Highness.” Shaya couldn’t help but smile and equip the “God Slayer” title. From beginning to end, whether it was the hints given by Augustina, Sylvia, and his Shī Jiang, or Shaya’s own perception, they all clearly told him one truth. That compared to Crimson Moon, the cowardly ancient god who was severely wounded at the end of the First Era, still hadn’t recovered, and had no will to fight, the crimson empress before him was the opponent who required more attention and was more difficult to deal with.
Lingering in the world for nearly a thousand years, Isadorella’s strength and status could no longer be measured by a simple Throne. Not only did she possess the Holy Sword, but as the master of the Phantom Zone, she received immense bonuses every moment here. Within this Phantom Zone, neither Augustina nor Sylvia were her opponents; even merely delaying her would require their utmost effort. Shaya, piloting the first-generation Black Knight, might be able to contend with ordinary Legendary experts, but in the face of Isadorella’s full-powered, enraged assault, he might not even be able to withstand a single blow. Only now, with the stacked 500% special attack from “God Slayer” and the Solar Furnace burning the Star Chalice to increase the mecha’s output several times over, did Shaya possess the qualification to stand before this King of the Phantom Zone.
But even that was merely a qualification. With the fall of Crimson Moon, Shaya had also lost his so-called Undying Body. Before an enraged Throne, a single mistake could cost him his life. However, even so. Shaya’s actions showed no hesitation. He walked step by step towards the highest level of the damaged imperial palace. The mecha made clanking sounds, leaving huge indentations on the land where metal lava had not yet cooled. Finally, he stood outside the doors of the Hall of Thrones. Then, Shaya pointed the pitch-black sword in the mecha’s hand diagonally at the silent maiden before him. His mental energy probed, and the feedback was a starkly opposite, icy concept. Not the Second Princess, who hailed from the royal family but vowed to purge the rebels and make the Freista Empire great again. Nor the King of Knights, who was valiant on the battlefield but unexpectedly showed compassion for the people off the battlefield, admired and praised by thousands. Just as Sylvia had guessed, standing before him was a stranger whose original face he could no longer recognize. She was the aloof, god-like King of the Phantom Zone. Therefore— “King.” Shaya spoke softly. “I have come to ask you to die.”
…
Boom!
Golden sword light suddenly flashed, piercing through the magnificent metal walls. The Hall of Thrones, built from the hardest steel, capable of withstanding the full power of a Titled expert, was now like tofu, cut apart by the sharp sword light. And this was merely the aftershock. As the target of the Golden Sword, the pitch-black mecha was almost instantly blasted out of the Hall of Thrones, drifting in the distance above the ashes and ruins.
Without any superfluous dialogue. The battle erupted the moment Shaya drew his sword. This was perhaps the most glorious battle to have ever erupted on the land belonging to Escarnia. Even the battle for the succession of the New King and the Old King between Vortigern and the King of Knights not long ago could not compare. If one were to look up from the ground, this decisive battle would appear as mere thunderclaps in the sky, lightning made of steel flashing incessantly, illuminating the gaps between the dark clouds. It was like the primordial ancient dragons from before the First Era, shuttling between the dark clouds, spewing lightning.
It was a pity that within this Phantom Zone, independent of history, the last two spectators had already left. And even the mythical creatures in the Astral Realm could only peer through the river of time at the Phantom Zone, which was erupting with brilliant light and anomalies, but could not see the full picture within. One was the King of the Phantom Zone wielding the Holy Sword, and the other was Shaya, who, at the cost of burning a true god’s complete Star Chalice, had temporarily gained power far beyond his current status, exceeding his limits. Every collision between the two was the annihilation of myriad magic and mass, high-speed air currents cutting through the irradiated dust and smoke that permeated the skies of Escarnia after the nuclear explosion, sometimes at super-high temperatures, sometimes at super-low temperatures.
On several occasions when their battles neared the ground, the hot, not-yet-solidified lava rivers were split, revealing massive ravines that pierced the earth. Sometimes their battles were in the distant sky, and the primal layers filled with radioactive dust were breached by the collision of immense magic flows, only to be filled back by surging clouds a few breaths later.
The domain of Camelot had become too small for a Throne and Shaya, who had temporarily entered the Throne’s realm. Thus, their battlefield in the distant sky shifted from above Camelot to encompass the entire territory of Escarnia. From the towns and villages around Camelot, to the small village on the border where Isadorella had once drawn the Sword in the Stone for the chosen king, and then to the former Dawn Holy See’s grand cathedral, which had been evacuated due to negotiations and was now desolate and empty.
Finally, their battlefield. Fell in the Valley of Termination, thousands of miles away from Camelot. The thick dark clouds suddenly shattered, and in the distant sky, two figures, one black and one golden, collided like meteors, then bounced apart again. Shaya descended into the depths of the familiar, immense canyon. The pitch-black greatsword formed from undead metal in his hand dissipated, scattering into countless fingernail-sized fragments, becoming a black meteor shower under the dim sky. Shaya barely controlled the Black Knight’s mecha, leaping from the huge crater created by the landing impact. But even this single action had exhausted him to his fullest, and he knelt on the ground.
All over his body, the Black Knight mecha, originally in perfect condition, now had countless massive, shattered gaps. Blood poured out from them, spilling onto the ground. As a mecha built from the undead metal “Dragon Serpent Mercury,” the Black Knight should have possessed infinite self-healing capabilities. However, at this moment, faint golden light lingered on those gaps, preventing the flowing undead metal from repairing them. The superior mystery of the Holy Sword had overwhelmed the mystery of the undead metal “Dragon Serpent Mercury,” so each slash of the Holy Sword left irreparable wounds on the Black Knight’s mecha. Even the magic furnace core “Simulated Star·Solar Furnace,” which spewed brilliant stellar light, now had several huge scratches, and its radiance, originally like daylight, had dimmed considerably, no longer possessing its full output.
*Cough*
Shaya coughed, swallowing the bloody taste in his mouth along with the fragments of broken internal organs. This was an expected outcome. His true self was merely a Beast Tamer of Titled level, who hadn’t even reached Legendary yet. Even with a mecha powered by controlled nuclear fusion technology, and temporary buffs from burning the Star Chalice and special attack attributes, he could only temporarily contend with the opponent. This was not Shaya’s own power, after all. He could handle weaker opponents, but when truly facing an opponent who had achieved ultimate power through their own means, it was only a matter of time before he was defeated with power boosted by this patchwork of temporary enhancements.
On the other side of the Valley of Termination. The solitary figure shrouded in golden radiance slowly descended. Isadorella looked down indifferently at the battle-damaged, kneeling pitch-black mecha before her. Through the gaps in the mecha, one could vaguely see the slender figure in red clouds and a black robe, wearing a swirling mask. In fact, their battle had lasted so long because this King of the Phantom Zone had held back. The reason for holding back was naturally because the figure before her bore such a striking resemblance to Cain in Isadorella’s memory.
However— The faint expectation that welled up in her heart ultimately turned into cold reality. Isadorella’s crimson beautiful eyes lowered, a flicker of unconcealable ripple passing through them. “You… are not him.” “You are not Cain.” For the first time, her indifferent, cold words carried sadness and loss. Although the young man in the mecha before her, in terms of the mecha he piloted, his attire, appearance, subtle details of his physique, and even his voice, was extremely similar to Cain from back then. It couldn’t even be said to be similar; it could be said to be identical. However, after a brief exchange of blows, she could discern the stark difference between the two.
That figure, repeatedly recalled, beautified, and replayed in Isadorella’s thousand years of longing, was so heroic. In her memories, the first time they met, Cain fearlessly blocked the tide of monsters besieging the city. In every subsequent battle, he always took the lead, as if he never cared about his injuries or safety. He was the embodiment of the two virtues of “bravery” and “sacrifice” among the eight virtues of a knight, inspiring the demoralized allied forces in countless desperate situations with the title of the Ever-Victorious King. Later, he single-handedly held off Vortigern’s half and several Legendary figures like the Blood Race Prince outside the Valley of Termination. He was willing to pay the price of his life for it. That heroic figure was the original intention that Isadorella cherished, something she sought to reclaim even if it meant building a Phantom Zone.
But at this moment, from him, Isadorella could not detect the slightest familiar memory from back then. He was cautious, he was cunning. He never traded blows, but instead used the most despicable and insidious moves to win battles. Even if he found an opportunity, he wouldn’t rush headlong into it but would carefully set traps and use tactics, trying to maintain control of the overall situation and think thrice before acting. This fighting style was the complete opposite of the Black Knight Cain from back then. The young man before her was not Cain.
Since his thoughts, personality, spirit, and way of thinking, and even his soul were no longer present… then even if his abilities and body were the same, it would be meaningless. Just as Merlin had said, this was merely desecrating Cain’s body and soul with necromancy. The undead creature born from this, even with the same body, was merely a blasphemy against Cain from back then.
However, facing the questioning of this King of the Phantom Zone before her, Shaya merely nodded slightly. “Yes, I am not Cain at all.” “That perfect, heroic Cain, who was willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good so that the dawn could illuminate the darkness, never actually existed.” “The real me is just someone who likes to think thrice before acting. To put it nicely, I’m cautious; to put it harshly, I’m a cowardly, life-preserving scoundrel.” “I was never that righteous either. Those serious, righteous words were just my way of speaking to improve my favorability. In reality, I have no resolve to sacrifice the small for the greater good.”
Shaya’s words were plain but without any hesitation. “Relying on that so-called Undying Body, I created a perfect, brilliant, and righteous persona. When that Undying Body dissipated, that shameful persona would naturally vanish in the sunlight, with nowhere to hide.” His face was pale as he spoke, word by word. “To put it bluntly, I’m just a despicable online scammer.” “Using something that wasn’t mine to create a perfect online male god persona, and then deceiving both a woman’s money and her feelings, causing her to do irreparable foolish things.” “Any normal person with a sound mind would likely scorn such an online dating fraudster, wouldn’t they?” Shaya couldn’t help but smile. As he spoke, he controlled the Black Knight’s mecha and slowly raised his greatsword.
“And now, I’m greedily trying to destroy that woman’s industry, to destroy her life’s efforts and heart’s blood.” “Thinking about it now, I really do seem like a destined major villain.” Shaya’s gaze narrowed. In the center of the damaged Black Knight mecha, the now-dimmed Solar Furnace began to roar again. It unleashed an incomparably brilliant, fiercely hot white light, even stronger than at the beginning. The entire Black Knight mecha glowed with a crimson light, intensely hot, with buzzing sounds, as if it would disintegrate at any moment.
[Overload]
This was a skill activated at the cost of depleting the magic furnace core’s lifespan. If the battle was not resolved within thirty seconds, the magic furnace core and the Black Knight mecha would crumble and disintegrate on their own, even without the opponent’s intervention. “Since that’s the case, then let me do what a major villain should do.” “King—” Shaya held the reconstituted pitch-black greatsword and pointed it straight at the maiden before him. [Blood Burn] activated. All the remaining mental power in Shaya’s soul burned along with it, transforming into azure flames around the Black Knight mecha. “Either block this sword, or be killed by me.”
…
Persona? Online dating scammer? Isadorella silently repeated these unfamiliar words in her mind. Did he mean that he had usurped Cain’s body with necromancy and read the memories of his soul, which was why he was so similar to Cain? However, soon, feeling the immense aura suddenly rising from within the pitch-black mecha, Isadorella’s expression couldn’t help but sharpen. She could feel that this was his final strike. And also, a desperate attack that burned all his remaining mental power and strength. Facing such a suicidal attack, even she at this moment had to be cautious. The Golden Sword was raised high, and immense power gathered at the sword’s edge.
The next moment. She saw the mecha transform into a pitch-black meteor, charging straight at her with an unstoppable aura. Block this blow, and then take him back to the royal capital to inquire in detail how he replicated Cain’s body. Although Camelot had turned into ruins and even Crimson Moon had fallen, Isadorella was not too concerned about it. With Crimson Moon’s reference, she had already touched the divine realm through her own power. Even though Crimson Moon had fallen, she could still live forever. And as long as she remained, the Phantom Zone would continue to exist. Camelot, those ancient phantoms, could all be reshaped sooner or later. Thinking this, Isadorella’s Holy Sword erupted with a sharp radiance and slashed towards the charging pitch-black meteor.
One breath later. Isadorella suddenly felt her hands go empty. She saw the pitch-black “undead metal” Dragon Serpent Mercury spontaneously disperse, and the mecha, whose defense had given her some trouble, simply vanished. And within the mecha, the slender figure in the red cloud and black robe actually lowered the metal greatsword in his hand. Then, abandoning all resistance, he willingly met Isadorella’s Holy Sword, which could pierce through refined gold. Isadorella’s eyes suddenly constricted, but it was too late.
*Thwack.*
The sharp Holy Sword pierced through the slender body. It emerged from the other side, blooming a seductive blood flower in the desolate canyon. *Clang.* The swirling mask shattered along with the slash, turning into scattered fragments. Revealing the face of the black-haired, black-eyed youth beneath the mask.
Recommend a friend’s book.
“The Klo Empire’s Inquisitionary Court offers a warm reminder: to identify cultists of evil gods, pay attention to the following three characteristics:
First, there are unknown markings on the body that resemble the emblem of an evil god.
Second, they have irregular whereabouts and often associate with suspicious individuals.
Third, they possess strange religious artifacts and engage in abnormal prayers.”
After Lucius obtained the Inquisitionary Court’s popular science pamphlet, he unexpectedly discovered that his wife had been diagnosed as a cultist of an evil god.
“Blood-colored markings on her back and wrists, often disappearing for days at a time, and sometimes masked figures would suddenly enter our study to kowtow to her and call her ‘Your Excellency’…” “I even found a blood-stained ritual dagger and a statue of unknown origin in the study!”
“Oh no, she really seems to be a cultist of an evil god!”
Lucius decided to eavesdrop on his wife’s prayer ritual.
“Respected Lord of Fear, Hand of Cruelty, King of the Dark Night, great lord who governs violence, terror, slaughter, and the night, your most loyal follower prays to you…”
Lucius breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the prayer.
“So she believes in me. That’s nothing to worry about.”
