Chapter 133 You'Ll Kill Aaron Gale
About 2 weeks ago, Aaron Gale led 10 members of 'Dark Crow' to the 46th floor's teleportation circle.
[God's Remains Labyrinth] 45th floor, at the summit of the volcano where the guardian Ignitor waited, in the crater area.
Logan Abrams was facing off against the Emperor Dragon alone.
ZZZZZZZIIIINNG!!
As he swung his longsword with his right hand, a massive aura poured in, and the metal let out a scream-like sound.
Finally, with Ignitor emerging from the magma in front of him, Logan raised his sword high――and swung it down.
The Sword Saint Technique skill [Flying Dragon Sever] variation――Overkill [Dragon Slayer Slash]
Right after he swung his sword, the metal sword shattered into pieces, including the hilt.
The aura that drew a sword trail in the air burst forth, transforming into a gigantic blade as it flew forward. It was a collection of floored blades.
The Giant Blade, which had devoured the distance in an instant, collided with Ignitor's body――Dragon Scale, scattering a grand aura of sparks.
The clash was likely only a few seconds.
BOOM!! A heavy, massive sound echoed, and it was clear who had won between [Dragon Slayer Slash] and Dragon Scale.
"GRRROOOOAARRRR!!!"
Ignitor let out a scream of agony, its massive body collapsing onto the crater area's foothold like it had lost its balance.
Upon closer inspection, Ignitor's torso was split in 2 from its shoulder to its tail, a clean cut.
A massive amount of fresh blood spilled out, spreading across the scorching hot foothold, bubbling up with a loud noise. The cross-section of the severed torso was spilling out internal organs, clearly a fatal wound.
But...
"GRRRRR!! GRROOOAAARR!!"
The fallen Ignitor glared at Logan with a venomous gaze, its massive mouth open wide.
A light flickered deep within its mouth.
"Hmph, I aimed for the head, but it seems I missed..."
Despite being bisected, Ignitor wouldn't die.
Even if you spill your guts or get your heart pierced, this dragon's annoying trait is that it can regenerate.
Logan pulled out a new sword from his Storage Ring to replace the one he lost, and while pouring aura into it like he was hammering it in, he said with a nonchalant tone, "Well, no big deal."
Right after that, a torrent of light assaulted Logan.
――Dragon's Breath.
The intense heat and overwhelming energy were so extreme that they no longer looked like flames to human eyes, but rather like light.
In the event of an impact, there wouldn't be a moment to react before being completely obliterated, bones incinerated and body destroyed. However――,
The Sword Saint Technique skill [Sky Drive] variation――Over Skill [Sky Drive Instant]
Just before the Dragon's Breath hit, Logan jumped at an incredible speed, repeating his jumps in mid-air, and moved to a position far above Ignitor's head.
Looking down at Ignitor, who was still breathing fire, Logan suddenly changed direction and plummeted towards the ground.
WHOOSH――!!
The aura already infused in the sword had reached its critical point.
Logan confirmed this with a quick sideways.
The Ignitor, still unaware of Logan's presence, was breathing heavily.
Logan swiftly attacked the Ignitor's head, using the force of his fall to add power to his sword strike.
BOOM!! The impact was so loud that it shook the entire volcano.
Sword Saint Technique skill [Dragon Scale Crusher]variation――Overskill [Dragon Head Crusher].
The tip of the sword glowed with a swollen aura, like a warhammer.
This aura was layered multiple times and wrapped around the sword, which then struck the Ignitor's head. The aura burst out from the back of the sword, forcefully breaking the Dragon Scale and shattering the Ignitor's skull.
The intense shockwave didn't just stop at the Ignitor's head, but spread downwards, creating a radial crack in the ground around the volcanic area.
At the center of it all, Logan used the recoil from the [Dragon Head Crusher] to cancel out his falling momentum and landed on top of the Ignitor's head.
"...Hmm."
As he gazed down at Ignitor's head, its skull shattered, its brain crushed, and its original form lost. He gave a small nod.
The longsword in his hand crumbled into tiny pieces, as if it had fulfilled its duty.
Ignitor didn't show any signs of regeneration or movement. Before long, the magical energy reversal began.
In other words, it was undeniable proof that Ignitor's defeat was complete.
* * *
"I really didn't think you would be able to defeat Ignitor by yourself."
These words were thrown at Logan, who had jumped down from Ignitor's head.
Looking around, he saw 2 figures approaching.
One was the person who had just spoken, a middle-aged man in black attire――Ail Hermit.
"And it was an instant kill, no less!"
Ail said, looking amazed. Logan shook his head with a wry smile.
"Unfortunately, it's debatable whether it was an instant kill or not. I failed to take it down with the first hit, after all."
"Still, it's safe to say that it's an instant kill. you didn't even use 'Nectar' (a strengthening agent), and you still managed to overwhelm Ignitor in its pure state. ...At the very least, you've proven that you have power on par with 'Magus'"
The first part was directed at Logan, and the second part was said to the other person present, by Ail.
As Ail and the others turned around, the last person watching Logan's battle opened their mouth.
"Hmph, is that so?"
It was a girl with a youthful appearance, probably around 17 or 18 years old.
She had long silver hair and sharp, golden eyes that sparkled with beauty.
Despite being dressed in a thin, revealing one-piece dress that seemed out of place for exploring a labyrinth, her outfit was spotless.
Logan bowed his head respectfully to the girl, who gave off an air of arrogance, like a princess.
"I'm glad you're satisfied with my abilities, Lady Ickle."
"...If you can get even stronger with 'Nectar', that would be a great achievement."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
Ickle, with no family name――she was simply Ickle.
Logan forced a smile as he looked at the girl with the somewhat strange name.
It seems I've shown her the minimum necessary power, he thought.
"So, what's with the test again? Trying to see if I'm strong enough or something?"
Logan finally asked the question, as if he'd had enough.
This time, Logan fought Ignitor alone not to show off his power, but to prove his strength to his superior, Ickle, in the secret society Chronosphere.
"I don't trust you, Logan Abrams."
Ickle said with a cold smile.
"Ail, a veteran of Chronosphere, vouched for you and brought you into the organization, but because of your selfishness, we lost the chance to take down the Four Families."
"Hmm."
Logan raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Ickle's accusatory words.
The "selfishness" referred to the fact that Logan had disappeared from the Four Families. to undergo the "Adept" procedure and become stronger.
Indeed, if Logan had stayed in the Four Families., he could have done many things, such as assassinating the head of the Four Families, disrupting the activities of Clan Labyrinth Conquest Team, or even killing some members.
However, having learned various secrets within Chronosphere, Logan could counter Ickle's words.
"That's what you say, but didn't 'Magus' and 'Magister Temple' not want to kill the people of the Four Families for no reason? Besides, our purpose in Chronosphere isn't to destroy the Four Families, is it?"
That's right. Chronosphere's true purpose wasn't to destroy the Four Families or plunge Necronia into chaos. Their ultimate goal was to "open the closed God Realm." Everything else was just a minor detail.
"Shut up. Using the Four Families was an effective way to achieve our goals."
Ickle glared at Logan with disdain, still speaking in a cold tone.
"Since you wasted that opportunity, you'll have to contribute to Chronosphere now that I've given you power."
"That's obvious. However..."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"I think I've already made significant contributions. I've completed many tasks for the organization, and as instructed by 'Magus,' I even brought back direct descendants of Aron and Gridavor. Can't you trust me a bit more?"
"......Well, I suppose I can trust you. But."
Ickle flashed a sly smile.
"――This time, during the Stampede, I'll have you play a role."
"...What role?"
Ickle's smile made Logan feel uneasy.
It seemed like he wasn't trusted at all――more than that, Logan felt like she were suspecting something about him. However, he had always been cautious and careful in his actions within Chronosphere, hiding his inner discomfort and doing his job as instructed. He shouldn't have any reason to be doubted.
Without showing any signs of tension, Logan asked again, but Ickle's response was unexpected.
"You'll kill Aaron Gale."
"......"
He thought for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
"Kill Aaron during the Stampede?"
"That's right."
Logan tilted his head, looking at the cheerful girl nodding in agreement.
"Is that really necessary? We're almost done with the final preparations, right? I don't think it's worth insisting on killing Aaron. Anyway, once the God Realm opens, our goal will be achieved. We should focus on the last task and leave Aaron behind."
"Don't get it wrong, Logan."
Ickle interrupted Logan's counterargument with an air of superiority.
"This is an order from 'Magister Temple'. You don't have the right to refuse."
('Magister Temple'...? What's going on...?)
He had doubts in his mind.
If there's a leader in the secret society Chronosphere, it's undoubtedly 'Magister Temple'.
This secretive organization has been created multiple times, and it's all thanks to the work of 'Magister Temple'. In other words, the purpose of Chronosphere is also the purpose of 'Magister Temple' itself.
From that perspective, there's really no reason to insist on "killing" Aaron at this stage. Everything is already prepared, and it's unlikely that Aaron and the others can do anything about it now. Even if they manage to clear the labyrinth, if they can't move the [God's Remains] from the lowest floor to another location, they can't stop Chronosphere's purpose.
So, if he were to give an order, it wouldn't be to "kill" him, but to "hinder" or "restrain" his movements so he doesn't get in the way at the last moment.
(But either way... it's convenient for us.)
For an instant, his eyes met with Ail's.
While making a difficult face, like he's having trouble understanding what Ickle is saying, Ail's eyes are telling him that everything is okay. It seems like 'Magister Temple' is being cautious around Aaron, but since they've come this far, they have no choice but to do it.
They only get one chance, after all.
It's only on the day of the Stampede, when the [Space Freeze] cast on the [Temple] is lifted, that they'll get their opportunity.
Logan nodded.
"I understand. I'll follow 'Magister Temple's' orders."
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
As the two of them exchanged a brief glance, Ickle pretended not to notice and nodded sincerely, but in her heart, she was sneering coldly.
(Good, let the clowns dance...)
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