Chapter 254

Anyone capable of shattering a nest that had been fed with two million souls—no matter how you looked at it—had to have some real skill.

Kanzaki Rei did not underestimate him.

His perception locked entirely onto the opponent, while the invisible defenses around his body were pushed to their absolute limit. If anything abnormal occurred, every layer of defense would erupt instantly.

His leg came crashing down—

The opponent raised his war spear with both hands to block!

Boom!

His legs sank into the ground.

The earth fractured.

Inside a high-tier nest, the terrain was far more durable than in the real world. Even the rocks and soil were fundamentally different.

If a low-level class holder managed to enter such a nest, even digging dirt could fetch a considerable price.

So—he blocked it.

Of course. If he couldn’t even withstand a probing attack, entering this nest would’ve been suicide.

"Why did you attack me?"

An ice-forged war spear materialized in Kanzaki Rei’s right hand!

Boom!

Heavenly Vault Style — Third Form: Phantom Strike

No magic.

Pure combat technique.

In an instant, countless black shadow-holes pierced through the opponent’s body—but instead of collapsing, his form unraveled like a ribbon of darkness, wrapping toward Kanzaki Rei.

At the same moment his kick had landed—

Kanzaki Rei had already acquired the opponent’s information.

"Executor of Naraka — Ezi"Creator: Ordered Shadow

Ordered Shadow...

As he read the creator’s name, Kanzaki Rei perceived, in some distant darkness, a mass of pure black shadow.

That shadow split—

Again and again—

Forming humanoid shapes, beast-like forms, even elven silhouettes.

This being itself...

Was shadow.

Even as he questioned him, Kanzaki Rei gave him no time to answer.

In an instant—

He cut through the encroaching shadows from all directions!

But the moment his spear passed through—

Shh-shh-shh-shh—

The shadows were not severed.

Instead—

They clung to his weapon.

Like trying to cut a shadow with a blade—

There was no substance to strike.

The darkness wrapped around, threaded through, and passed beyond.

From every direction, the shadows closed in on him—

About to bind him completely.

...Shadows, huh.

Fine.

The tip of Kanzaki Rei’s spear shifted—

The ice weapon transformed instantly into a radiant spear overflowing with pure holy light.

"Luminous World-Purging Sacred Spear"

A sacred relic he had taken into custody from the Church of Light.

He could feel it—

Shock.

The opponent hadn’t expected that someone wielding an ice spear could casually switch to a holy artifact.

Then—

Karmic Sin-Burning Style

Whoosh!

Sacred flames erupted!

They blazed across Kanzaki Rei’s body and spear.

The flames surged against the incoming shadows—

Instantly engulfing them.

The moment he switched combat styles—

Golden radiance burst from his body, as if he were no longer human but something divine.

His black pupils turned into radiant gold.

Karmic Sin-Burning Style — Sixth Form: Holy Scorching Cataclysm

Clang!

He drove the spear downward!

From his position—

A vast radius of ground ignited in pure golden light!

Boom!

In the next instant—

Golden holy flames surged skyward!

Whoosh!

Both Kanzaki Rei and the mysterious man were completely engulfed.

Darkness burned.

Sin was purified.

Within the inferno, Kanzaki Rei shone brighter and brighter—

Golden-white phantom wings even manifested behind him.

Within the overwhelming blaze—

A sphere of shadow could be seen.

Compressing.

Condensing.

Spinning at high speed!

Zzzzt!

Its rapid rotation resisted the holy flames.

"Pure light!"

"You’re a successor of Juya!"

From within the darkness came a mix of fury and confusion.

"Stop! This is a misunderstanding!"

Kanzaki Rei’s voice was cold.

"You tell me to stop, and I stop?"

"A misunderstanding... You mean if you had killed me first, we’d just call it even?"

Bang!

The moment he finished speaking—

The shadow sphere launched like a spring-loaded beast!

A spear thrust shot forward—

Reaching him in an instant!

"...Still hasn’t learned."

Kanzaki Rei shook his spear violently and unleashed a sweeping strike!

Boom!

Karmic Sin-Burning Style — Second Form: Sin-Cleansing Severance (LV: 401)

Just one swing—

A vast, sacred, and pure slash erupted!

Under Kanzaki Rei’s execution, this combat style was even stronger than the version taught to him.

Combat techniques could be surpassed.

Yet unlike magic, each style carried the imprint of its creator—

So even after surpassing it, Kanzaki Rei retained its original name.

The shadow lunged toward him—

But within the ascending holy flames—

It melted rapidly—

Like snow under a blazing sun.

His strike collided with it—

Bang!

The shadow exploded on impact!

Shattering like drifting ash!

Kanzaki Rei stood beneath the heavens—

Sacred.

Untouchable.

At last—

He withdrew his power.

The holy flames dissipated.

In his free hand, he formed a spear of light—

Clang!

He threw it.

It pinned the shadow fragments in place!

Sizzle—

White smoke rose.

The sound resembled flesh being seared.

Kanzaki Rei landed and walked forward.

The opponent wasn’t dead—

But now—

His life or death rested entirely on Kanzaki Rei’s will.

"You..."

"You’re sent by Juya?!"

"What are you trying to do?!"

Kanzaki Rei replied coldly:

"Is that how someone about to die should speak?"

"If you don’t want to die, tell me why you’re here—and why you attacked me."

"If you do—"

"I don’t mind granting your wish."

His voice pressed down with quiet force.

A subtle aura spread—

Fear.

Malice.

The dread of death approaching.

Boom—!

Thunder roared across the sky.

Like war drums striking directly against the soul—

Amplifying fear to its extreme.

Fear of death—

Was universal.

Not everyone possessed the courage to face it.

Living wasn’t meant for being killed by someone else.

In a moment of rage, conviction might drive one to embrace death.

But when reduced to a captive—

Given a chance to live—

Fear magnified.

Again and again.

A simple question:

Answer—and maybe live.Refuse—and die.

For most, that threat worked.

But—

Kanzaki Rei wasn’t sure if it would work on something like this.

A being made of shadow—

Perhaps death meant nothing to it.

A tense silence fell.

"...Fine. I’ll tell you."

Oh?

He relented.

"I thought you’d be loyal to the shadows to the end."

"The darkness is going to war with the insect nests."

"I am the vanguard."

"I was ordered to purge sixth-tier nests. When you appeared, I assumed you were a monster."

"Your aura is... unclear. Neither human, nor shadow, nor monster."

...Ah.

If that was the case—

It really was a misunderstanding.

With God-Tier · Unsolvable Enigma active, his identity was indeed impossible to discern.

Thinking about it—

If he encountered something ambiguous in a nest...

He’d probably kill it on sight too.

Still—

This guy attacked first.

And lost.

Serves him right.

Kanzaki Rei pulled out the holy spear.

The opponent’s body began to recover—

Slowly.

Unlike Kanzaki Rei, who could regenerate instantly, his restoration was sluggish.

He returned to the form of a black-haired man—

But unstable.

As if he might shatter at any moment.

"You are Juya’s successor?"

"...Mm."

Kanzaki Rei didn’t deny it.

He wanted to see what the man would say.

After all—

The information wouldn’t leave this place anyway.

And being Juya’s successor here...

What did that imply?

"The Church of Light... is also planning to act against the nests?"

"...Mm."

"The insect nests?"

"...Mm."

"Why?"

"No reason."

"If we intervene, what will you do?"

Ezi spoke in a low voice:

"The Church of Darkness and the Church of Light maintain close relations. If you assist us, we would welcome it."

"But... I’ve heard nothing about your church preparing for war."

"If war breaks out... it will spread across countless realms."

"Insect calamities will invade everywhere. No place will be spared."

"I don’t understand why your stance has been so uncertain."

A war of this scale—and he knew nothing?

"I only recently learned of your plans."

"You’ve been preparing for a long time?"

Ezi narrowed his eyes.

"If an ordinary person didn’t know, I’d understand."

"But you? A successor of Juya?"

Kanzaki Rei sneered.

"The will of gods is not for you or me to interpret."

"If I don’t know, then I don’t know."

"Do you expect me to question Lord Juya’s intent?"

Ezi fell silent.

...True.

Divine intent was beyond them.

Perhaps even ignorance—

Was intentional.

"Still," Kanzaki Rei continued, "since Lord Juya sent me here, these matters must already be accounted for."

"Tell me everything."

"I’ll return, pray, and await divine revelation."

"Perhaps... a holy war will be declared."

Ezi nodded faintly.

"Perhaps meeting you here was also part of Lord Naraka’s design..."

"This is no longer a secret among the higher ranks."

"I’ll tell you what I know."

"...Hopefully fewer lives will be lost."

Huh.

Didn’t expect him to be sentimental.

"Make it quick. I have other tasks."

Time was limited.

High drop rates only lasted three days.

He wasn’t about to waste hours listening.

"...Understood."

And yet—

He began:

"At the dawn of creation, chaos birthed light and darkness—light ascended, darkness descended—"

Kanzaki Rei’s fist clenched instantly.

...I said keep it short.

You’re starting from the creation of the world?

...

Two hours later—

Kanzaki Rei finally finished listening, teeth clenched.

In summary:

The insect nests were expanding endlessly, invading parts of the Abyss.

Their spread had encroached upon the domain of darkness.

So the Church of Darkness planned to retaliate—

And eradicate the nests completely.

But other churches refused to assist.

Seeing it as not their problem.

The Heavenly Realm wasn’t affected.

No major conflicts existed.

So they stayed out.

A few sentences.

That’s all it took.

And yet—

He spent two hours.

"...Finished?" Kanzaki Rei asked darkly.

"...There’s more. About the western Moonsea battlefront—"

"No."

"That’s enough."

Two hours of rambling about history, military layouts, power distributions—

Useful information, perhaps.

But unbearably tedious.

"I have tasks. I’m leaving."

He turned away.

He didn’t kill him.

Behind him—

Ezi let out a long breath.

Sweat trickled down.

That pressure...

It felt like death at any moment.

Why was his killing intent so overwhelming...?

Still—

He survived.

Ezi turned to look at the devastated nest.

Then—

Exhaled again.

That monster just now...

Truly terrifying.

It nearly killed me.

Could it have been a legendary sixth-tier, six-mutation creature?

...Close.

Too close.

Good thing I was stronger.

I forced it to retreat.

What kind of monster was that?

...

After leaving—

Kanzaki Rei checked the rankings.

Third place—

Had changed.

No longer Gul.

Now—

It was Yelia.

150,000 points.

She had climbed to third.

150,000...

Even if each sixth-tier monster gave 100 points—

That meant 1,500 kills.

In just two hours...

Impressive.

Did she encounter some opportunity as well?

Further down—

Others had scores in the thousands.

Under normal conditions, finding a sixth-tier dungeon was already rare.

Yet now—

Everyone was advancing rapidly.

All except—

Kumironi.

Still at 0.

"...Whatever."

He shook his head.

Too much time wasted.

If this continued—

Others might catch up.

He entered another insect nest dungeon.

Sacrificed 100,000 souls.

Stepped inside.

This time—

He observed carefully.

No outsiders.

Good.

Behind him—

The Purified White Tree emerged.

Rustle—

A white wave of destruction spread outward.

In a single breath—

The entire map was erased.