Chapter 747: [Final Event] [Blood Moon Festival] [29] John VS Earth

I scanned my surroundings, my gaze taking in the swarm closing in. There were easily a hundred of them—Ante Eden mobs, the same freaks who used to pop up in the game like annoying cockroaches. Except now, standing here in the real world, seeing this many of them gathered in one place and all coming straight for me... yeah, this was on a whole different level.

In the game, they were just described as cultists worshiping some evil counterpart to Eden. But after everything I had learned, I knew better. These weren’t servants of some mysterious villain. They were fanatics devoted to one person: Samael Eveningstar.

I’d heard they’d swarmed the Dorian Capital during the Ante Eden attack. I didn’t see them at the time since I ended up getting dragged into the Garden, but apparently they’d been out in force.

Now, this was my first time seeing so many at once—and unfortunately, all of them were there for me.

Too bad for them, I didn’t have the time or the patience to deal with a cultist buffet today.

I tore my eyes away from the mobs and looked back toward Earth.

As expected, he was standing right next to Ante Eden’s people like he belonged there.

What really annoyed me wasn’t that he joined them. I expected that.

What bothered me was the question gnawing in the back of my mind:

Who the hell brought this bastard into this world?

If Nihil had dragged me and my friends into this place, then someone else must’ve done the same for Earth. And it sure as hell wasn’t Nihil—from what I could tell. That left someone within Ante Eden. Brandon Delavoic? Doubtful. Which meant there was someone else entirely.

But for what? To piss me off?

Because if that was the objective, congratulations—mission accomplished.

"I spared your life back then," I said, letting my purple flames burst outward in a violent explosion. "I won’t this time."

The Ante Eden members instantly activated mana circles, their flimsy shields crackling as they tried to block the heat waves rolling off me.

Earth laughed, flicking a glance at their struggle before looking back at me.

"You’re talking like you can actually kill me now, Nyr. Still full of yourself as always. And as always—you lose in the end."

I stepped forward and launched myself toward him at full speed.

Earth didn’t even flinch. He simply smirked wider and kicked off the ground, his golden, burning wings flaring open behind him as he soared upward.

Of course he could fly. And of course I couldn’t.

So the second my momentum ran out, gravity decided to betray me and tug me downward. But I wasn’t done.

I thrust my hand upward, aiming not at him—but above him.

A mirror materialized out of thin air, shimmering with distortion.

Earth’s expression dropped immediately. He recognized it.

He snarled and threw a punch at the mirror.

I came out of it in that same instant, my fist meeting his.

-BOOOOM!

Purple flames roared against golden ones, the impact shaking the sky itself. Heat and light blasted outward.

I narrowed my eyes. His golden flames... they were growing stronger. Much stronger than when I’d fought him before.

He was controlling them better now.

Was it because of that weird draconic form he’d taken?

Or had the dragon inside him finally decided to cooperate out of hatred for Vysindra?

Some twisted partnership, a harmony I would probably never have with Vysindra.

Either way, his flames—the ones that fed on emotion and weakened the enemy—had become even more vicious.

"I told you," Earth said, grinning like an idiot. "This time, you won’t—"

He cut himself off.

His eyes widened when he saw the white sands wrapping around my arm, swirling like a storm.

"Shut up," I said.

"...!"

The pressure shifted instantly. His flames, once overwhelming, began to get pushed back.

Sensing the danger, Earth panicked and released even more golden fire, detonating it outward to break my advance.

The force shook the air. I had to leap backward, boots dragging across the ground as I skidded to a stop—just in time to dodge a coordinated barrage from the Ante Eden mobs behind me.

Mana circles began igniting in the air one after another, glowing and targeting me.

I lifted my hand, and Trinity Nihil materialized instantly.

"Do you guys seriously not have anything better to do?!" I yelled, sprinting straight toward them with Trinity Nihil coated in roaring purple fire.

The first barrage hit—waves of fire raining down on me.

I slashed once, cleanly cutting through every flame.

Then came a high-pressure jet of water, strong enough to pierce steel.

I sliced through that too, but the moment the water met my flames, steam billowed out violently, engulfing everything in a thick white fog.

I focused, letting my senses sharpen past the blindness.

Through the smoke, I caught several silhouettes rushing toward me from different angles.

I twisted my body and swung Trinity Nihil behind me.

My blade intercepted the enemy’s sword just in time.

I tightened my grip and shoved harder.

-Spurt!

"AGHH!!"

A scream went up as an arm flew into the air, cut clean off.

I stepped back immediately, dodging another blade slicing past my side, then drove my boot into the attacker’s chest.

The cultist flew back like a ragdoll.

But dozens more immediately lunged through the steam.

I swung my sword wildly, purple flames exploding outward. The blazing wave melted their mana circles as fast as they appeared, but their numbers didn’t shrink. Every time one went down, another took his place.

They honestly didn’t care about dying.

Then—I felt a golden flicker behind me.

Without thinking, I spun and swung Trinity Nihil with all my strength.

-BOOOOM!!

The explosion was massive. The remaining smoke vanished instantly as a shockwave tore through it. Purple and golden flames splattered across the charred ground like burning rain.

"Why so much in a hurry, Nyr?"

Earth’s taunting voice rose as our swords clashed.

I glared at him, pushing back.

"What do you want, Jayce? Are you really such a pathetic lowlife that you followed me into another world just to piss me off?"

Earth’s smirk slipped into a sneer.

"I just want to make you pay!"

His golden wings flared open and blasted me with scorching fire.

My purple flames rose instinctively, shielding me.

"For what?" I shot back. "Putting your ass in its place? Honestly, I should’ve killed you back then for what you did to Shayna."

My words caught him off guard. I lunged and punched him clean across the face.

-BAM!

Earth spiraled sideways, but he managed to recover midair, landing heavily.

He raised his sword, gathering a massive sphere of golden fire above his head.

"You should have killed me?" He shouted, veins bulging with anger. "You killed me, bastard!"

Three rings of Vysindra curled around Trinity Nihil as I gripped the hilt tightly and swung downward.

A massive ring-shaped shockwave tore through the battlefield, splitting his golden fireball in half like it was nothing.

"I don’t remember killing you," I said.

Earth froze for a moment, his face darkening.

"But if I did," I added with a shrug, "I don’t regret killing trash."

"NYRRR!!!"

His rage exploded, fueling his flames as he charged me at full speed.

I clicked my tongue, ready to intercept—but suddenly a crimson spark shot through the air.

A dark red projectile slammed straight into Earth’s side.

-BAM!!

His golden flames cushioned the blow, but it clearly hurt. He spun in midair, caught himself with his wings, and landed, wiping blood from his lips.

"I thought you’d never show up," John growled.

He stood there, his entire body wrapped in a cursed crimson glow, glaring at Earth with murderous intent.

"It’s hard when I keep getting pestered," I muttered.

John didn’t look away from Earth. "Go. I’ll deal with him."

"Handle his fan club, too," I added, gesturing toward the Ante Eden mobs before turning. "And make sure to kill that bastard." I said glancing at Earth.

As I moved, John called out.

"Edward."

I glanced back.

His red eyes were serious.

"If you make Layla cry," he said, lowering his tone, "I’ll kill you."

I couldn’t help a small smile. "Yeah. I know."

I kicked off the ground and left.

***

Earth’s eyes immediately snapped toward Amael’s retreating back, rage twisting his expression.

"Where the hell do you think you’re going, Nyr?!"

He lunged after him—only for John to step between them, sword already in motion.

A blinding arc of steel cut through the air.

Earth barely raised his blade in time.

-BOOOOM!!

Golden and red flames detonated between them, scattering debris and dust across the ruined street.

"What do you want this time?!" Earth snarled through the blaze. "You want your ass kicked again, John?! Didn’t you learn the first time?"

"You were lucky last time," John shot back, eyes blazing. "You caught me off guard with that coward’s trick. But this time I’m not falling for your shit."

Earth let out a low, mocking laugh.

"Ohh... so this is about Shayna, huh? Trying to act like an avenger?" His smirk widened. "You should’ve seen her face when she realized it was over."

John’s mana snapped, exploding outward like a volcano ripping open.

"Then I’ll enjoy this." His voice turned cold, stripped of any hesitation. "Especially when you’re the one begging for your life, Jayce."

Mana surged around him in a violent red haze.

Earth scoffed.

"You can’t talk all that crap when you can’t even beat me, John!"

He shot forward—his entire body flaring with golden fire as he blasted across the ground, scorching the air with every step.

-BOOOOM!!

John swung to meet him. Sword clashed with sword, but Earth’s flames erupted violently on impact, sending John skidding backward across the street like a ragdoll. He smashed through a building, disappearing into the collapsing rubble.

"Kill that bastard," Earth ordered sharply.

A group of Ante Eden members had followed Amael, but several lingered near Earth—loyal dogs summoned by him in the first place. At his command they immediately began forming mana circles, layering spell over spell.

Elemental blasts roared outward—wind, fire, lightning, ice—slamming into the destroyed building and blowing it apart entirely.

But Earth’s expression didn’t shift.

He knew John wasn’t dead. Not even close.

"Aghh!!"

A sudden scream tore through the street as one of the Ante Eden members collapsed, a deep, clean slice carved straight across his chest.

John stepped out from behind him—blood-soaked, furious, but alive. Very alive.

The remaining members rushed him, shouting, but John met them head-on.

-BAM!

-BOOOOM!

Explosions echoed across the district, buildings collapsing like cracked shells under the force of their mana and steel.

Earth raised his sword, pointing it at John with a twisted smile.

A massive torrent of golden fire erupted from his blade, roaring straight toward the melee. John caught the movement too late—he hadn’t expected Earth to fire so recklessly, even at his own men.

He swung his sword in a swift arc, cutting through the flames—but Earth was already inside the blaze.

"...!"

John barely managed to pull his blade up in time. Earth’s strike crashed into him like a meteor. The blade carved a vicious gash across John’s chest, and he was hurled across the ground, skidding and tumbling through dirt and shattered stone.

"U–Ugh..." He coughed violently, blood dripping down his chin as he clutched the wound.

When he looked up, Earth was already rushing toward him, a wide, triumphant grin stretching across his face.

"I told you you’d lose pathetically, John!"

But then—Earth froze mid-stride.

Under his feet, etched across the ground, was a massive glowing red circle.

A curse circle.

"Shit—"

Before he could retreat, a violent red light exploded upward.

-BOOOOM!!

Earth instinctively coated his entire body in golden flames, absorbing most of the blast. When the light faded, he staggered out of the smoke. He wasn’t badly injured... but strange red markings streaked across his arms and face like burning veins.

"You’re not the only one who can weaken someone," John said.

Earth’s eyes widened—just in time to see John’s sword flashing toward him with blinding speed.

Earth swung instinctively, barely parrying but the moment their blades connected, a numb shock shot through his arm. He felt his grip weaken, strength draining unnaturally fast. The next instant, John’s blow sent him flying backward like a rabbit smashed by a truck.

"Ughh!!" Earth coughed blood as he hit the ground, staring up in disbelief.

John didn’t slow. He was already on top of him, sword swinging again.

Earth forced his blade up. Metal clashed, sparks erupting. John swung again continuously.

-BOOOOM!!

This time Earth was the one being pushed back, staggering under the weight of blows he couldn’t fully counter.

Earth gritted his teeth, anger twisting across his face. His blazing golden wings flared open behind him—massive, radiant as he snapped them forward like blades of fire, sending a scorching wave straight toward John.

But the flames didn’t land.

They slammed into something invisible—no, not invisible. A ring of cursed symbols, glowing a violent red, hung around John like a barrier made of shadows and malice. The circles devoured Earth’s flames, swallowing the golden light like hungry mouths.

"W–What?!"

Earth’s eyes widened. He had never seen anything like this. Curses were foreign to him—unnatural, unpredictable, the one field he could never fully understand.

Obviously after losing once, John prepared contingencies against Earth.

"Edward was right," he said coldly.

Before Earth could recover from the shock, John rushed in and slashed him across the chest again.

"Ughh!!"

A deep gash opened across Earth’s torso. Instinctively, he lashed out with a vicious kick, striking John exactly on his still-bleeding wound.

John gritted his teeth through the pain but didn’t back down. He burst forward again, blood dripping from his lip yet carrying a faint smile.

"You act strong," John spat, "but you’re just a weak little coward."

Earth froze.

That face.

That tone.

Those words.

It pulled him back—to Paris.

To the night Ephera died.

When Nyr came to him.

To the moment he saw that gaze.

His gaze.

Cold, pulling him into bottomless pool of fear.

A chill ran down Earth’s spine. The memories flashed like nightmares.

He bit his lips so hard blood trickled down his chin.

And then he exploded.

"AAAAHHH!!"

Earth roared, unleashing every last shred of mana. Golden flames erupted violently, scorching the ground, melting the stone beneath him. The wave of heat blasted John backward, burning through the ruah coating his body and tearing away parts of his clothes.

John staggered on one knee, breathing hard, wounded and bleeding—but when he lifted his head, he smiled.

"...!"

Earth’s expression froze.

A shadow stretched on the ground in front of him—one that didn’t belong to John.

Slowly, instinctively, Earth turned.

Behind him loomed a monstrous, gaping head—twice the size of a man—its mouth lined with thorn-like teeth dripping with cursed fire. It looked similar to the creature from their first fight... but this one was far more grotesque. Far more terrifying.

Earth didn’t even have time to raise his weapon.

The creature lunged and engulfed him whole.

-BOOOOOOM!!!

A blinding explosion of red fire detonated outward, ripping the ground apart, leveling everything in a wide radius. Buildings disintegrated. Streets collapsed. Heat washed over everything like the breath of a dying star.

John shielded himself with a barrier of his own flames, holding on until the shockwave passed.

-Thud!

When the explosion finally faded, Earth dropped to the ground like a broken doll.

His mouth hung open in a silent scream.

He was topless—his clothes burned away.

Red burn marks crawled across his chest and face.

One arm was charred down to a crisp, barely recognizable as human.

His golden flames were gone. Completely snuffed out.

John, exhausted and swaying, pushed himself to his feet and forced his legs forward. He had to finish this before the remaining Ante Eden members—who had kept their distance in pure fear—could intervene or help Earth escape.

As John approached, Earth coughed up more blood and forced out a bitter smile.

"A–Ahh... are you happy now? That you got revenge for Shayna?"

John reached him, chest rising and falling, eyes cold and red.

Earth chuckled weakly, despite choking on blood. "It wouldn’t have changed anything... you idiot."

"What?"

Earth snickered, even as his voice broke. "How naive you are. If I didn’t kill her then... someone else would’ve. Everyone around him... is doomed. Sooner or later."

"Are these your final words?" John said, disgust curling on his lips. "Still blaming Edward until the end?"

Earth glared up at him. "You think I’m the villain? Ah... that bastard is the true evil."

"The Game, huh?" John replied without interest. "I played it too. Edward might’ve been the villain there, but here? He’s not a threat anymore because of Nyrel’s memories"

"I... I’m not talking about Edward," Earth growled, lifting his head despite the pain. But John pressed his boot against Earth’s chest, pinning him down.

Earth coughed violently. Blood splattered the dirt. One of his eyes had burned away completely. He looked like a man moments from death—yet he forced the words out anyway.

"I’m talking about Nyrel..." Earth whispered. "He killed Ephera. You have no idea who you’re dealing with... If you let that monster roam free...and gives him free will..."

His remaining eye locked onto John.

"He will do... worse."

John stared at him in silence.

Then, without a word, he raised his sword and drove it straight into Earth’s chest.

Earth’s eyes shot wide.

John pulled his blade free.

The ground trembled as he turned. Around him, Ante Eden members had already begun to surround him.

John tightened his grip.

He wanted to go after Amael.

But right now it seemed he wasn’t going anywhere.