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These two are almost on the same level.

If you look closely, Baros is slightly below Laficel in terms of skill, but the difference isn’t significant.

However, while the regressed Baros has no aura to speak of, Laficel possesses a purple battle aura.

Where did she even obtain that aura?

There’s no way a child of just thirteen or so could have gained it through training alone.

And it’s not like her future self brought it back either. Battle aura isn’t something that attaches to the soul.

If that were possible, Baros would have returned to this era with his vast dark aura intact.

The answer is simple.

“It’s the power of the cursed sword.”

The cursed sword Mareda controls its host, slashing down humans and sucking up their blood. It then sends that power back to the host, making them stronger, pushing them to slay more humans.

“It converts the blood into the host’s dark aura.”

In other words, the aura Laficel is currently wielding is all evil energy injected by the cursed sword.

Here’s where her genius comes in—she not only broke free from the cursed sword’s control, but she even transformed that dark aura into her own unique aura.

And she did all of this while in a state of madness.

“Of course, since it’s not a power she cultivated on her own, once it’s used up, she won’t be able to replenish it. But for now, she can use it like her own aura, which is why she’s so powerful.”

Karnak’s explanation made Serati sigh.

She had a pretty good guess about what he was getting at.

So, he’s saying that if Baros could use aura, he could stand a chance against Laficel?

“You’re telling me to let Sir Baros possess my body again, aren’t you?”

For once, her guess was wrong.

“It’s useless.”

Baros shook his head.

Even if he took over Serati’s body, the outcome would be the same.

“The physical gap is just too big.”

Serati bristled.

“Are you saying I’m that weak?”

She found it hard to accept.

No matter how much of a genius her opponent might be to become a Martial King in the future, Laficel was currently just a teenage girl who hadn’t trained much. Meanwhile, Serati was a woman in her twenties who had been training diligently. How could she be any less skilled?

“It’s not that. No matter how used to handling someone else’s body I am, it’s still not better than handling my own.”

“Oh….”

Now she understood.

When it comes to opponents of equal skill, even something as simple as whether you’re wielding a familiar weapon can determine the outcome. If it’s your own body, that goes without saying.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“The young master already told you, the answer is simple.”

With a resigned expression, Baros looked across the basin.

“He’s telling me to sneak over, pick up the cursed sword, and give it a try.”

***

Reflecting on conversation with Serati, Baros stared at the two-handed sword before him.

The cursed sword Mareda was bound by mana chains, emitting a strange, eerie hum.

Hummmmm….

Baros’s face stiffened slightly.

‘Can I handle it?’

But he had no other choice. This cursed sword was his only hope.

Or, to be more precise, it was the only way for him to survive this challenge while still living like a human.

If he intended to live like he had before, there were plenty of other options, of course.

“Alright, let’s do this!”

Resolving himself, Baros reached out his hand.

His thick fingers wrapped around Mareda’s hilt.

Fwoosh!

Black flames erupted, filling his vision. The killing intent and madness surged, threatening to consume his mind.

“Wretched human….”

A thunderous voice echoed in his ears.

“Accept the dominion of darkness!”

And then, a horrifying scream pierced the air.

“Arghhhhhhhh!”

***

Terrifying evil spirits, whose mere touch could snuff out life, roamed the sky.

Shadows of destruction, capable of splitting even rocks, raced across the ground.

“Kyaaaaaa!”

“Graaaah!”

The evil spirits screamed as they continued to swarm.

The entire basin was overflowing with sinister power.

Yet still, Laficel remained unscathed.

“Karnak….”

With a soft murmur, she swung her sword.

The purple aura formed a massive blade that swept across the sky.

Nearly a dozen powerful wraiths—evil spirits so strong that a single one required an entire battalion from the temple—were cut down in one strike.

“Karnak….”

She stepped forward, weaving through the crowd of shadows.

Waves of aura spread in all directions. The light erased the shadows as ripples of radiance shook the ground.

Clearing a path, Laficel leaped forward.

“…Karnak!”

Slashing through the evil spirits, she made a beeline for the necromancer’s neck.

In a panic, Serati raised her sword to block the attack.

“Hah!”

The clash of aura-infused swords sent a jarring shockwave through her entire body.

Serati grimaced in pain.

‘Argh, dammit!’

But this time, she wasn’t sent flying in humiliation.

The armor summoned from Gehenna deployed a shadow shield just in time, absorbing the remaining impact.

Even in her pain, Serati felt a sense of awe.

‘Wow, I actually blocked that….’

It made her realize once again just how powerful necromancy could be.

The problem was, it also made her realize just how terrifyingly strong this girl, Laficel, really was!

“Servant of Hell!”

With a beast-like growl, Laficel extended her left hand.

A purple aura bullet became a flash of light and exploded against Serati’s abdomen.

“Guh, urgh!”

The impact felt like her internal organs had been flipped upside down. Serati coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground again.

“Ugh….”

Even through her groans, she couldn’t help but admire her opponent.

‘So this is what it’s like when an aura master reaches the peak, to be able to project their aura like magic bullets or arrows…’

Thanks to Serati’s efforts, the evil spirits managed to block Laficel’s path once again.

Frustrated that she couldn’t target Karnak, Laficel let out a scream full of rage.

“Arrrgh!”

Her elegant sword dance flowed like that of a goddess, and one by one, the evil spirits melted away.

Even amidst the battle, she seized any opportunity to strike at Karnak.

“Death King!”

A brief gap appeared in the evil spirits’ encirclement. Laficel lunged forward, her aura-imbued sword sweeping through the air.

“Ah!”

This time, Serati couldn’t block in time.

The sword’s lightning-fast slash was aimed precisely at Karnak’s neck.

Serati’s eyes widened in shock.

‘Lord Karnak?’

Fortunately, Karnak’s head didn’t fall.

No blood spilled. It simply vanished without a trace.

It was an illusion.

Suddenly, several Karnaks appeared across the basin, one after another.

“Huff….”

“I almost died….”

“Good thing I prepared….”

Luckily, Laficel was still out of her mind, meaning she was susceptible to illusions.

And if there’s one thing Karnak excels at, it’s illusion magic and bewitching spells!

All of Karnak’s illusions spoke at once.

“Now.”

“All we need to do is wait.”

“Until Baros arrives!”

But the three chattering illusions were quickly cut down by Laficel’s purple aura.

“Karnak….”

Unable to tell which one was real, Laficel came up with a very simple solution.

“I’ll just kill them all!”

Waves of aura blasted out in all directions.

“I am here.”

The destructive shockwaves rippled across the ground, sweeping over every Karnak.

“I am here.”

Explosions resounded everywhere, one after another.

“I am here.”

What was remarkable, however, was that even in her madness, Laficel was careful not to harm the fallen members of the King’s Order. If her aura accidentally veered toward them, she would forcibly change her attack’s direction, ensuring they wouldn’t get caught in the explosion.

Serati couldn’t help but feel impressed.

‘Even in this state, she’s that skilled….’

Though they were enemies, it was hard not to respect her.

What kind of righteous hero must she have been to act like this?

‘Compared to her, this guy….’

Serati glanced over at Karnak with a look of disdain.

The lord of her soul was hiding in the safest place he could find.

Where?

He was crouched behind one of the fallen members of the King’s Order.

He was using the enemy’s kindness to his advantage, treating his ally as a literal meat shield.

“…”

[What? Why? I have to survive too, you know?]

Judging by his flushed face, he was at least aware of how embarrassing his behavior was.

Regardless, the illusion magic was working well on Laficel.

Again and again, her purple aura sword sliced through the illusions, and each time, Karnak conjured new illusions to hold her off.

But it was only a temporary solution. Once his mana ran out, the outcome was inevitable.

Karnak, growing more anxious, muttered to himself as he continued to cast illusions.

‘Come on, Baros, hurry up before I die….’

Serati, desperate herself, asked.

[When is she going to run out of power?]

Karnak had explained that once Laficel used up all the blood-infused aura provided by the cursed sword, she wouldn’t be able to replenish it.

But there was no sign that her power was diminishing at all.

It was baffling.

Hadn’t the entire King’s Order fought in shifts just to wear her down?

[Did we fail to exhaust her strength properly?]

Karnak weakly replied.

[No, this is her exhausted state…]

Her strength had indeed been worn down, she was tired, and her stored aura was depleted.

In reality, she was barely clinging to life, fighting in a near-death state.

[A near-death state, and she’s this strong?]

[Yeah.]

[Damn…]

Despite supposedly being near death, Laficel looked frighteningly alive, rampaging even more wildly. Her aura-imbued sword slashed relentlessly in all directions. Explosions, smoke, evil spirits, and illusions mixed together, creating chaos.

“…Death King!”

Karnak was sweating profusely.

While he had improved his necromantic power considerably compared to before, it still wasn’t that strong. He was running out of strength.

[Is this as far as I can go living like a decent human? Do I need to live like I used to again?]

Serati remarked in disbelief.

[Are you saying you’ve been living decently up until now?]

The scene around them was filled with necromancy, evil spirits everywhere, and dark energy boiling over, making it look like the middle of hell.

‘And yet, he thinks he could get even more wicked?’

Apparently, he could.

[The 1st and 7th battalions are all down.]

These were people who had gathered for the sake of justice and honor. And the 7th Battalion even held deep trust and affection for Karnak.

[If I kill them all and gather their souls, I could take her on…]

[Yes, you’ve been fighting decently until now, for sure.]

Serati couldn’t believe it. Such a vicious idea was something she had never even imagined. It was beyond her comprehension.

To be fair, Karnak had no real intention of doing it either.

[I know, I know. I’m well aware it’s something I shouldn’t do. But if things keep going like this, we have no other options…]

Just then, something unexpected happened.

Laficel’s movements suddenly stopped.

“….”

With a blank expression, she turned her head and quickly moved.

Her small form slid through the darkness in an instant.

At the same time, rain began to fall from the sky.

A rain of sharp, blood-red flashes. Dozens of blood swords rained down in a storm.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst the relentless bombardment, a man revealed himself.

A towering knight, gripping a massive two-handed sword in one hand, with red aura trailing behind him.

“Is everyone still alive? I’m not too late, am I?”

Serati’s face lit up, and she shouted excitedly.

“Sir Baros!”