A chill went down my spine, and I lost consciousness for a moment. The blow was like the judgment of God.

　A huge beam of light shot out and passed right by me. What lay beyond was the floor. Or to be more precise, the direction in which the power of death had filled.

　The concentrated light penetrated the sturdy cobblestone without a sound and disappeared.

　It was undoubtedly one of the strongest blows Senri had ever seen.
　The light made a deep crack in the floor. It probably penetrated all the way to the underground labyrinth. The cross-section was so smooth that it was hard to imagine how much blessing could be converted to create such destruction.

　Not even a powerful attack magic could do this. I didn't even get a glimpse of it, but my body is slightly numb from the aftermath.
　If it had been me when I had just become a lower-ranked vampire, the aftermath might have been enough to do me a great deal of damage. Even the current me, who has amassed enough strength to compete with the Demon Lord as an undead, would not be able to withstand it if I received it head-on.

　The old castle vibrated especially loudly. A crack runs through the center of the destruction and spreads out in a flash. My lower half of my body was about to be pulled in, and I hurriedly controlled my strength.

　The sensation of my flesh and bones shrinking is unique, no matter how many times I experience it. My vision flickers with pain, but I can't help it.

　I manage to return to my original form. The world opens up to you. You reach out and evacuate your body from the collapse.

　Ignore the pain. The fight isn't over yet.
　First you must regain your ...... bearings.

　The ceiling falls, the floor collapses, the thick walls are swallowed by the cracks in the earth. It is true that Senri's annihilation was very destructive, but this collapse with just one blow is unnatural.
　Could it have destroyed the infrastructure?　Had it already reached its limits due to old age?　Or was it made that way in the first place?

　But there was no time to think about it. Senri, supported by Lefley and the others near the entrance, managed to endure the tremors.

Senri, run!　I'll be fine!

I'm okay!" "............ Okay.

　The blood still has power. My head may be crushed, but I won't die. I don't care what happens to Lefley and the others, but Razzal and the others will be there.

　And there's still an enemy here.

　Abichord cowered in stunned silence. The body press must have hit him, but there was no itch in his face.
　His consciousness was no longer focused on his surroundings. His eyes, which shone with a blood-like crimson glow, were quietly staring at the target of Senri's attack.

　He catches the "light eater" in flight. He had given it up in the basement, but apparently Senri had retrieved it for him.

　Rich. That was a scary opponent. He would have been a good match, but he couldn't kill him. Difference in skill, experience.

　But we kill him here. No harm done.

　Your body has already reached its limit. Once you fall, you're not sure you can stand again.
　I sharpen my focus, my will to kill. A huge pile of rubble falls between me and Rich.

　I step into it as hard as I can and swing my Light Eater wide.




§ § § §



　The ceiling and the walls collapse. The old castle, which had maintained its shape for so many years after the age of war, collapsed.

　The scene that reminded me of the end of the world was over in a very short time.
　What had made up the castle was swallowed up underground, and all that was left was a huge pile of rubble.

　The ruins of a completely collapsed castle. A large pile of rubble stirs, and Avicord crawls out.
　He checked his surroundings in a daze and staggered to his feet.
　The crimson light in his eye sockets flickered as if he was upset.

　The necromancy gives the dead an immortal body. As he hits the collapsing rubble, his armor is torn, he loses his staff, and - his right arm is gone.

　The vampire attacked with abandon just before the collapse. The blow had penetrated Abyss Code's magical defenses and sent his right arm flying off his shoulder.
　But that wasn't the reason for his agitation.

There is ......

　It was a blow of light that could be compared to that of the Knights of the End that he had fought in the past.
　The countermeasures were in place. The core of the ritual was protected by the many layers of protective wards that the Lord had once put up.

　But the blow easily swallowed them all, obliterating them.

　The ritual had already been activated. A few more minutes and the Lord would have been resurrected.

　Kuro dust flew in the air. The king's castle is the site of the ritual. The collapse of the place means the purpose has been defeated.



"No way. Why would ...... a vampire take the side of a man?

　I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure what to make of it.
　If it weren't for that vampire that nullified all of Abyss Code's magic...


"Undead, you've lost.

"......

　Abicord now realizes that he is surrounded by the voices he heard.

　Three Knights of the Light, the Knights of the End, surrounded Abichord, their holy silver weapons pointed at him.

　One of them is powerful, and two of them are low-level knights. If the blow that was just struck was by these three, they must have improved their skills considerably with the changing times.
　I've been so focused on hiding and resurrecting the king that I haven't done enough research.

"You, ......, Knight of the End .......

　I could feel the emotions that had been diluted by being undead coming back.

　This is anger.
　In the past, when the Knights of the End invaded the castle, Abiquod was ordered to stand by and was not allowed to participate in the battle.
　But if he had been allowed to fight alongside his comrades then, he would have felt the same seething anger that he feels now.

　Abicord's mission was to complete the ritual. Now that it has been thwarted, there is nothing Abichord can do.

　Three opponents. Hateful opponents, but their power is real. We know that the years of sleep have given the Knights of the End new power.
　But as a servant of the Lord of the Shadow, I will not allow you to back down.

　I will destroy them. Even if it means stabbing him in the back. Otherwise, I will not be able to face the king who believed in me and gave me this great mission.

　I raise my hand! I'll explode the magic inside.

　I've lost one of my arms and don't have a wand, but I've gained powerful magic by transcending death, and for Abichord, no matter what kind of Knight of the End, he's only a human.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

This power is--

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. But it's too late.

　I've known the weaknesses of humans for a long time. I will turn a thousand miles in all directions into a land of death.

　Can the Knights of the End of the Age prevent this?

"Photon Delight!


　The female demise knight with the most powerful power shoots out a light.
　But the blow was much weaker than the previous one. There is also a pause. I guess she can't fire that many blows in a row.

　That is the limit of the human species.

　The female knight's expression twisted. The female knight's expression distorts.

　And just as she was about to release her power, Abichord heard a familiar voice in his ear.



I was having a terrible dream.


　The cold voice drowned out his anger in an instant. Abichord could feel his heart pounding as if he had lost it.

　No sign of him. But that was the origin of the void.
　The King of the Abyss. The perfect dead. No sign of that king, the ultimate zero.

　That's why he was feared. The king is the shadow of emptiness.
　And the army that received his power was once called the Shadow Army.

　The Knights of the End move away at once.

　The black dust that had been flying around gathered and took shape. The shape of a small, black skeleton.
　Not by chance. Its eye sockets are clearly watching Abichord and the Demise Knights.


　The ritual was a success after all. In an instant, he's calm.
　Perhaps it was because he hadn't put all his strength into it. His body is weak and far from fully recovered, but the king is not yet dead.

　I was going to stab him in the back, but I can't stay like this. He needs time to build up his strength.

　We must escape at all costs. The demon knight's expression changes.


"Ah ......, my king, we have been expecting you. Forgive me for standing before the enemy.


　Escape is easy. The Abyss Code still has power. Even if it was the three demise knights, I could at least let them go.
　The king's gaze looked at Abichord. It's the only thing that gives me a tremendously strong feeling of joy.



"It was for a good cause,...... ah, the weight of my body, the pain, not bad,...... I feel good.


　Ten years of hiding in the middle of nowhere. I've finally accomplished my mission.

　The demise knight's attention has shifted completely from Abichord to the king. The tables have turned.


　I'm gonna stop the king, even if it means stabbing him in the back. Before he gets his powers back.

　But Abyss Code won't allow it. Turning his back on the king, he glared at the demise knights.

　The old voice seemed to penetrate his body and soul. And the king said.



"But not a complete reincarnation. ...... I'll take your power. The Abyss Code.


　I didn't even have time to understand. The power drained from my mortal body.
　Before I knew it, the Abichord was looking at the ground. His left arm, stretched out in a flash, turned to dust.

　The vast amount of magic power he had stored up disappeared - or rather, was absorbed. His consciousness fades away irresistibly.

　Abichord was created by the King of the Dead. The wedge of death has been freed, but that's only because the ruler has changed.


　On the verge of fading into unconsciousness, the Night Lich, who had lived for a long time, felt a long-forgotten fear of impending death.



§ § § §





　It is the one who goes against the order of this world.
　Total darkness. The King of the Abyss, whose horrible art has freed him from even the wedge of death.

　The Knights of the Apocalypse called him the King of the Dead, the evil sorcerers who reigned over all the living.


　In the blink of an eye, a powerful lich collapses. It happened in the blink of an eye.
　The tattered contents of his robes turned to dust.

　"The return of power. Those who have transcended death through the curse, however, return to dust through the curse.

　Senri's nearly inexhaustible blessing had been temporarily depleted by several attacks. Both Lefley and Nevira had lent their strength to Senri, leaving them with minimal power.


　However, Senri reflexively concentrated his power and released it. The tip of the holy silver sword shines.


　The end knight's instincts were telling him. This undead must be killed here.
　Before it regains its full strength.


"Photon Delight.


　Power drained. The concentrated power is unleashed, the power that brings everything to nothing.

　Epe's work of annihilation, which she had practiced so many times and soaked in blood, worked perfectly even in her exhausted state.


　And just as it was about to swallow the gathering mist, it was deflected.


What?

　The bent light burned the night sky. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

　There were times when it was evaded. It's not impossible that the target could not be destroyed. But this is the first time I've seen it bend.

　An emotionless voice rang out.
　The voice, which had been muffled and fuzzy earlier, was now clearly regaining strength.



"It is said that the Necromancer of the Beginning, through his wisdom and madness, created three different ways to transcend death.


"What?


　I gasp. I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.
　There is not a hint of impatience in his voice.


A fresh man is a blood demon, a wraith is a soul demon, and a skeleton is an earth demon.


　In front of me, a wall that didn't exist until just now has been created. The wall was so polished that you could see his face clearly. Not a single scratch on its surface, despite the fact that it should have received annihilation.

　The wall shattered and crumbled. A dark-haired man emerged from the other side.
　He wore the same robe that Rich had been wearing earlier, and sighed softly.

　Skin devoid of blood. The enormous amount of magic I can feel in his body.
　You can see it in his eyes. The skin, the flesh, the blood, was made of death. But no sign of it leaks out.

　It's as if it's wrapped in a shell too tight.


"That castle was built by ...... me. Huh. ...... Abiquod, you piece of shit. You're not strong enough.

"An earth mage, .......


　Annihilation is a light with destructive power. No mirror can reflect it.

　But this man has done it. And he did it in a fresh state.
　Annihilation is a technique created by a master, unknown to this man. At the very least, it's not something he can deal with in an instant.

　What that fact conveys is overwhelming sense and combat experience.

　The Demon Lord of the False Shadow was destroyed because of his too dangerous power.
　But on the contrary, he survived and fought off his pursuers until he set up his castle in this land.



　Nowadays, with the development of science, the number of sorcerers is decreasing. But that was not the case in the days of the Demon Lord of the False Shadow.
　With the expansion of the Knights of the End, the number of mercenaries is also decreasing. But that wasn't the case in the time of the Demon Lord.


　The passage of time is cruel. Some things progress and some things decline.

　The Demon Lord of the Vanished Shadow looks around. His eyes are as red as blood.
　No one could move. His appearance seemed to be full of openings, but there was a sense of urgency that prevented Senri and the others from attacking carelessly.



It's a good idea to try ....... I'm not sure what to do.



　The ground trembled, and like a tree growing, a spear was created. It is a spear whose handle and blade are all made of jet black.
　The king grasped it with one hand and shook it lightly, pointing the tip of the spear at Senri and blinking his eyes.



I'm sure you've heard of it.