Fitran's sword trembled—Excalibur. No longer gleaming with the pure elegance of yesteryear, it was now marred by cracks that glowed a blood-red, reflecting an anger long suppressed.
In the air, a circle of magic, shaped like a blood moon eclipse, began to form, pulsing subtly behind Fitran. An ancient symbol rotated slowly, resembling a seal of fate marked by wounds and suffering.
The surrounding air turned cold—but not just any cold. This was a penetrating chill that seeped into the bones, reminding anyone who felt it that they stood on the brink of death for something that could not be saved.
Fitran jumped high into the air, his body gleaming in a horrifying shade of deep red. Fresh blood still flowing from his wounds floated around him, merging with the glint of his sharp sword.
As he slashed, the entire battlefield was cloaked in red, as if the sky itself felt the surge of his rage.
This slash was not just about destruction… but also about binding every ounce of pain.
The enemies struck by his attack did not die immediately; instead, they would experience all the emotional and physical wounds that Fitran had endured, all within a single excruciating moment.
"Feel this… this is not just my power. It is also my suffering."
"Blood Eclipse Slash," Fitran uttered.
Crash! Crash! The sound of collapsing walls echoed throughout the space, as if the walls themselves were groaning in pain. Fitran was certain that Elbert was still alive, even though his attack should have been powerful enough to stop everything. Dust and debris swirled around, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and uncertainty.
"Hmm," Fitran murmured, gazing at the hole left by Elbert's body. Once again, he carefully heightened his sharp aura, bracing himself for the possibility of a counterattack from that mysterious opponent.
Suddenly, a resonating laugh emerged from the darkness,
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
With a limping gait, Elbert stepped out from the shadows of the night, though his body was severely wounded by deep slashes. Strangely, not a single drop of blood flowed from him. Fitran was taken aback by the sight of Elbert's insides; something shocking and unimaginable. His vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, seemed to be absent, as if erased from existence, leaving behind a terrifying void.
"What have you done?" Fitran asked, struggling hard to shake off the ominous aura surrounding him, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear surging in his chest.
"As you can see, this is the final form of zombification, eternal life, the Devil of Zero," Elbert replied confidently, as if he had just reached the pinnacle of immortality.
"Devil of Zero?" Fitran echoed, bewildered and astonished by the term.
The Devil of Zero is a terrifying designation for humans who have sacrificed all their limbs in pursuit of eternal life. In their quest for immortality, the followers of this path willingly forfeit their vital organs, believing that in doing so, they have severed all ties with the Creator. In their view, this transformation elevates them to the status of invincible gods, beings who cannot be defeated by anyone. However, defeating such beings is a formidable challenge; even when their heads are severed from their bodies, they can still survive, for their souls have been sold to a demon. The only way to defeat them is to destroy the demon that made this abhorrent pact.
"Yes! During our fight earlier, I deliberately stayed still to test how long I could endure. The results were quite satisfying; your strongest attacks didn't affect me at all," Elbert said confidently, his eyes flashing with burning ambition. "With this power, I can conquer the world."
"Huh," interrupted Fitran, his expression conveying profound boredom. "Don't make such a dull joke. Conquering the world, you say? Is it possible that everyone dreams of reaching this peak ambition? That's just a child's fantasy, ignorant of reality," Fitran mocked sarcastically, his voice echoing as if challenging the blatant foolishness.
That remark seemed to touch Elbert's pride; he felt insulted by someone whose age was barely half of his own, the stigma of insult materializing between two remarkably different generations.
"What did you say?" Elbert replied, his voice trembling with irritation, as if he couldn't believe that statement.
"Should I repeat it?" Fitran asked, a sharp mocking tone lacing his words, belittling Elbert with a cynical gaze from his youthful face.
"Unforgivable!" Elbert felt his blood boiling, frustration coursing through him. "Spirit Collection!" he shouted with fiery determination, and in an instant, all the corpses scattered around him seemed to be drawn into his body, merging perfectly and healing all the inflicted wounds, despite the earlier claim of his immortal form.
However, time was not on Fitran's side; he couldn't afford to wait for Elbert to recover. In the blink of an eye, he launched a preemptive strike, stepping forward with confidence.
Boing!
Fitran jumped into the air, his body soaring gracefully like an arrow released from its bow, ready to attack.
"Magic circle ... Dunkle Flamme Drachen," Fitran pronounced the incantation firmly, directing the flow of his magical energy with precision towards Elbert, his eyes gleaming with burning ambition.
From within the enagram circle, the head of a black dragon emerged, roaring as it tore through the air towards Elbert's still weak and未fully recovered body. With a terrifying roar echoing around, black flames consumed everything in the room. The flames, blazing with extraordinary intensity, licked and burned the surrounding items within seconds, turning everything to ash without a trace. However, amidst the inferno, Fitran's thoughts wandered with doubt; he did not see Elbert's body charred in the sea of flames. Was he already dead? The question crossed his mind, even though his hopes did not entirely align with the terrifying reality awaiting him.
Hahahahahhahaha ...!
Suddenly, emerging from the shadows of roaring flames, Elbert appeared, revealing a terrifying smile etched on his face.
"Bloody rain," Elbert said with a sarcastic tone, his wicked grin adding to the horror of the moment.
Hahahahahhahaha ...!
A horrifying mass of blood transformed into millions of sharp little needles, raining down on Fitran with extraordinary force. Although he had no time to dodge, Fitran quickly managed to protect himself using the power of Aegis. However, the pressure from the millions of blood needles was overwhelming, causing him to be slammed to the floor with a sound that echoed in this chaotic space.
Bruagh....!
Hahahahahhahaha ...!
"Die, Fitran," Elbert declared confidently, his face shining with fiery ambition. He concentrated all his energy into a single point, as if the world around him faded away, leaving only him and his adversary.
"Spirit Explosion!" Elbert shouted, his voice booming with command and enthusiasm, shaking the tense atmosphere.
Boom ! .... Blegar...!
Hahahahahhahaha ...!
Suddenly, flames erupted fiercely, dancing in the darkness, poised to annihilate.
Crackle ... crackle .... crackle ... crackle .... crackle
The yellow-red fire surged around, swiftly consuming the black flames, creating a wave of energy that engulfed the entire room in an instant. In the fiery glow, Fitran rose with renewed spirit, his gaze reflecting unwavering courage, as if he were a challenger of fate.
"Totem ... Phoenix," Fitran uttered, his voice trembling yet firm, wielding the fighting spirit within him like a sword shining in the darkness.
Elbert was utterly astonished, his eyes wide open as he watched the extraordinary event unfold before him. To summon a spirit animal, a sacred and respectful ritual from the village of Ytterby is usually required. Additionally, possessing a Yttrium stone is essential to invoke a totem. However, Elbert felt heartbroken when he realized that the precious stone was not in Fitran's possession. What amazed and stunned him the most was the appearance of the phoenix totem—a legendary creature from the gamma—symbolizing immortality and immense power. Its presence warmed the atmosphere around them with a mystical aura that was both captivating and intimidating.
"Who are you really?" Elbert asked, his voice filled with deep curiosity, as if every word that escaped his lips vibrated with tension. In his mind, he already had an answer, and the urge to hear an explanation directly from Fitran burned strongly within him—he would not let anything stand in his way to obtain the information he so desperately sought, even if it meant betraying his own friend to uncover the hidden power behind this mystery.
Fitran fell silent, directing a piercing gaze toward Elbert that reflected his uncertainty. He ignored the questions spilling from his friend's lips, as if they were merely hollow echoes amidst the chaos. For Fitran, revealing his true identity seemed insignificant, a secret buried deep within the shadows of his soul—yet...
"Could it be that you are ...
Fitran countered with a fierce declaration, "Night Severance."
With a horizontal slash that tore through the very light itself, it left a dark scar in the air, as if ripping apart the night sky. Any form of radiant magic crossing its path was extinguished instantly, as if absorbed by the encompassing darkness. The swirling ink-black tendrils resembled cracks in the night sky, obliterating any enhancement magic Elbert had until there was nothing left.
Fitran did not relent,
"Dusk Fang."
His strike was swift, akin to the strike of a shadowy serpent. This attack emerged from the enemy's shadow, not directly from his sword. A sudden, dark purple flash shaped like fangs intersected unexpectedly. Black blood oozed from Elbert's body, leaving him astonished at the sight of his own blood despite the absence of all his organs.
"Ultimate Skill ...
"Tenebris Lumen — Eternal Dark Light."
Fitran swung Excalibur, the legendary sword now infused with the power of the Void, creating a roaring energy aura around him. His slash tore through dimensions, slicing through the dark shadows that enveloped the battlefield and purifying the darkness itself like light sweeping away dust. The enemies were not only wounded by the lethal strike; they were confronted with their true selves, compelled to gaze upon their distorted and corrupted souls.
Suddenly, a female demon with long, shimmering black hair emerged from the darkness, surrounding herself with a frighteningly mysterious aura.
"Are the requirements sufficient?" Fitran asked, his voice filled with tension amidst the oppressive atmosphere.
"Indeed, my love," replied the mysterious figure, her soft voice enveloping the space with a magical glow that heightened the ambiance of dread.
"You have sufficiently wounded his soul. This dark magic is designed to destroy souls, making it easier for me to devour it," the girl said, her voice gentle yet laced with an intimidating threat.
Magic that does not originate from the world of humans, elves, or demons. It is born from the putrid depths of the Seventh Dimension, where trapped souls are chewed and spat out in the form of larvae of sin, signaling a darkness that is deep and terrifying. Beelzebub is not merely a name—it is a colony of consciousness, billions of creatures intertwined in a singular will, which is:
To corrupt everything sacred, transforming every light into eternal darkness.
"Beelzebub," the girl said.
Then, with a piercing gaze that scrutinized, Fitran glanced towards Elbert, as if searching for answers from the depths of his opponent's soul.
"Do you know why I haven't killed you even after using my ultimate magic several times? Because I desire your power," Fitran declared, who, it turned out, was bound by a contract with Beelzebub, the creature of darkness known for its cunning and terrifying strength.
Elbert was half-dead with fear; he couldn't even call Mammon for help, trapped in a situation where the strength he usually relied on was absent.
"Devourer's Doctrine"
"Ultimate Skill The Ninth Stomach," Fitran said.
A huge mouth opened in the air, shaped like a black spiral that seemed to lack a foundation, moving slowly like the breath of a giant creature in slumber.
In the midst of the darkness, there were nine dim circles of light, resembling a glowing, transparent abdomen, arranged in a strange order, indicating what was being "digested" by that immense power.
Inside, a soft wail resembling the whispers of a starving child echoed, repeating in thousands of languages that traversed the cosmos, embodying a profound longing and emptiness.
In that space, the atmosphere turned ominous; the air became dry, colors faded to nearly invisible hues, and even the existing sounds felt distant and muted, as if the outside world had vanished without a trace.
Elbert then disappeared, engulfed by the fog of silence that enveloped the room, consumed by the shadows vibrating in the air. With each passing second, his figure faded until there was nothing left, like footprints disappearing in the sand after being washed away by waves.
"Whatever you possess... will become mine. Your entire existence—your frail body, your trembling soul, and the hidden power within you. Even your deepest fears—I will devour them until nothing remains," Fitran declared as Beelzebub held him tightly from behind.
"The Summoning Ritual: 'Covenant of Filth,'" Beelzebub intoned, his voice echoing through the darkness of the night.
The horrifying blood circle, remnants of decaying zombie corpses, began to shimmer with dark energy, opening a portal to Beelzebub's lair. From this gap, hundreds of thousands of flies, maggots, and larvae surged forth, quickly sweeping away the fallen zombie remains, devouring every trace that lingered with terrifying force.