"A fragment of the Death Goddess's divine miracle?"
The moment Kurose Akira learned that slaying the Death Omen Beast in its nighttime form could yield a trace of the Death Goddess's divine power, his interest was instantly piqued.
But even so, caution lingered in his mind. He remained deeply wary of the creature's strength.
"Defeating a Death Omen Beast won't be easy…" Kurose Akira muttered to himself, carefully considering his options. If there was one thing he refused to do, it was fight a battle without confidence in victory.
Even if he summoned Kanlutia and the others, it still wouldn't guarantee an easy win.
Unless he had at least an eighty percent chance of success, he wouldn't take the risk.
"That's simple~" Mira Orei said with a light laugh, offering her suggestion. "The Death Omen Beast draws its power from the yin energy of the night. It fears sunlight even more than vampires do."
"Fears sunlight?"
Kurose Akira's eyes flickered—an idea forming almost instantly.
"That's right~" Mira continued. "And your spatial magic can be very useful here. Its weakness is extremely obvious—right on its back."
"There's a cyan-blue core there. That's where it gathers yin energy. Destroy that, and it'll become utterly vulnerable."
"I see…"
Kurose Akira nodded thoughtfully. If what Mira said was true, then his chances of victory were indeed promising.
Still, after weighing everything carefully, he concluded that their current lineup alone couldn't guarantee success.
So, without hesitation, he summoned the night-owl vampire—Kanlutia.
"Hey! Brat! Why'd you wake this Progenitor up!?"
The moment Kanlutia appeared, she crossed her arms arrogantly and glared at Kurose Akira.
Despite being a creature of the night, she spent twenty-three out of twenty-four hours asleep. If he hadn't dragged her out, she'd still be lying comfortably in her coffin.
"I've got a job for you."
Kurose Akira explained calmly.
"A job? What kind of job…?"
Kanlutia muttered, her gaze drifting lazily—until it landed on Petyko.
A subtle smile curled at the corner of her lips.
At the same time, Petyko was studying Kanlutia just as closely. She could immediately tell—the other girl was also a vampire.
And the density of her bloodline… far surpassed her own.
"You are…?"
Petyko stared unblinkingly at the floating figure before her, a trace of instinctive reverence rising from the familiar scent of blood.
Kanlutia sneered, planting her hands on her hips.
"A mere vampire dares look at me like that? Kneel when you stand before your Progenitor!"
Thud!
"Ow!"
Before she could finish, Kurose Akira's fist came crashing down on her head.
"What was that for!?"
"Can you act serious for once? This is not the time," he snapped, glaring at her. He didn't summon her just so she could bully her juniors.
"This is a matter within my race! None of your business!" Kanlutia huffed, clutching her head.
"Oh? Want to say that again?"
"…Tch!"
Under Kurose Akira's oppressive authority, Kanlutia could only grit her teeth and fall silent.
"Alright. Everyone's here—time to move."
He clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Move? I thought we were waiting until dawn?" Azkman asked, confused.
The others shared the same bewilderment, unable to understand his intention.
"No. We're taking it down head-on."
"Head-on!?"
Shock rippled through the group.
"Yes." Kurose Akira nodded. "Don't worry. I'm confident we can kill it."
"You're sure? If you're that confident…"
Honglian hoisted her flaming greatsword onto her shoulder. "Then I'll take that risk with you."
"I am." His tone was firm. "But you and Azkman need to lead the elves to safety. Leave the hunt to us."
"…I see."
Honglian glanced around at the others, conflicted.
She wanted to fight—but the safety of her people came first.
"…Alright. I know what to do."
She nodded decisively.
"Good. Everyone get ready," Kurose Akira instructed. "The moment we engage the beast, you make your escape to the Elven border."
"Understood!"
The elves began moving immediately.
As they stepped out of their hiding place, Loserine leaned closer and murmured,
"There's a scent of death on them."
"…I noticed."
Kurose Akira gave a slight nod. Among the elves, one carried an unmistakable trace of death.
The reason was unclear—but it was something to be wary of.
Still, now wasn't the time to deal with it.
"Keep an eye on that elf," he told Loserine quietly.
"Understood."
She nodded—then immediately locked her gaze onto the target.
"…I said discreetly."
Kurose Akira grabbed her cheeks and turned her head.
"Oh. Right."
…
Soon, they reached the location of the Death Omen Beast.
A broken bridge stretched before them, a raging river roaring below, cutting off their path.
Fortunately, one of the elves specialized in wind magic—enough to carry them across the gap.
The only obstacles…
Were the Death Omen Beast standing guard—
And the hundreds of skeleton soldiers surrounding it.
"That's the place. Once we cross the bridge, we can break free from the undead army and reach the Elven border," Honglian explained.
"But with that thing there, crossing under its watch is impossible!" an elf said anxiously.
"Just be ready. Wait for my signal."
Kurose Akira didn't answer further. His eyes were locked onto the beast.
It was massive—its body pitch black like coal, shaped like a monstrous ox. Tangled fur dragged across the ground like rotting vines.
On its back sat a cyan-blue crystal, pulsing faintly—devouring moonlight, radiating something deeply unnatural.
[Death Omen Beast (Epic)]Level: 80 ( ? / 72000 )Race: ?Strength: ? / Agility: ? / Magic: ? / Constitution: ?Growth: 10 (All attributes +10 per level)Skills: (Expand)Trait: [Follower of the Death Goddess]
"…Level 80."
Kurose Akira fell silent for a moment, then spoke,
"Stick to the plan. Don't act recklessly."
"Got it!" Petyko replied.
"Yeah, yeah! Let's get started already, human!" Kanlutia snapped impatiently.
"Begin."
The instant the command fell—
Everyone moved.
Petyko took the lead, transforming into a streak of crimson light. Blood-red swords materialized around her, orbiting as she shot toward the beast.
"ROOOAAAR!"
The Death Omen Beast bellowed skyward, and in response, pitch-black matter erupted around its body—twisting space like a miniature black hole.
"So damn loud!"
Before the roar even finished—
Kanlutia's blood magic had already activated.
A flicker of red shimmered in the sky—
And in the next instant, a colossal blood-red spear appeared, suspended high above.
Kanlutia stood balanced atop its tip, arms crossed, her sharp fangs gleaming under the moonlight.
"Die."
The spear dropped.
Like divine judgment.
It pierced straight through the beast's body.
"GRAAAAAH!"
A shriek of agony tore from its throat—but almost immediately, cyan-blue light spread from its core, restoring the damage.
"So that's its power source…"
Kurose Akira's gaze sharpened, locking onto the glowing crystal on its back.
But getting close wasn't easy.
Skeleton soldiers still surrounded it.
"Loserine—your turn!"
"Understood."
With a single beat of her wings, she launched forward.
Soul-wings unfurled behind her, glowing with an ethereal blue under the moonlight.
The moment she entered the battlefield, every undead turned toward her.
But for a veteran knight like her—
Their attacks meant nothing.
She moved like a butterfly through death, her oath-bound blade cutting down skeletons with every swing.
"She's incredible…"
The elves stared in awe.
These three…
Were monsters.
"…They're the strongest in their guild, after all."
Honglian muttered, glancing between Loserine and Kanlutia.
Her expression grew complicated.
Just a month ago, Kurose Akira's guild had been far behind theirs.
Back then, Loserine and the others were only level thirty or forty.
But now—
They were nearly on par with Petyko.
"…Unbelievable…"
Azkman shared the same stunned expression.
"Die, die, DIE! Hahahahaha!"
Kanlutia laughed wildly, unleashing wave after wave of blood magic, battering the beast.
Under her relentless assault, the Death Omen Beast was forced entirely onto the defensive.
It couldn't reach her in the sky—only ordering skeletal archers to fire.
But those arrows?
Useless.
Forced back, the beast shifted its massive body, trying to find cover.
And in that moment—
Kurose Akira moved.
His body ignited in crimson as his half-dragon transformation activated, streaking forward like a meteor.
The beast noticed him instantly.
Perhaps because of the sunlight he carried—
It completely ignored Kanlutia's attacks and lunged straight for him.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! (｀)Ψ"
Furious, Kanlutia intensified her assault.
A hundred-meter blood spear formed and crashed down—
But even then, the beast didn't care.
It endured the strike, tearing away part of its own body, preserving only the section containing its core—
And charged straight at Kurose Akira.
"…So it does feel threatened."
A smile curled across his lips.
Only what it feared…
Could truly kill it.
"ROOOAAAR!"
The beast surged forward, its massive form blotting out half the sky.
Over twenty meters tall, covered in filth and tangled fur—it radiated overwhelming pressure.
Its maw opened wide—
A black void, ready to devour him whole.
"Trying to eat me?"
Kurose Akira smirked coldly.
"Too bad."
He vanished.
The beast froze.
…Where did he go?
And in the next instant—
He was already on its back.
Standing directly atop the glowing cyan core.
"This ends now."
Golden sunlight burst from his palm.
For the first time—
Fear.
The beast thrashed wildly, trying to throw him off.
Too late.
His hand slammed down.
Cracks exploded across the core's surface, golden light tearing through it.
"GRAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The beast's scream shook the battlefield.
"Move!"
Kurose Akira shouted, sending the signal.
"Go! Move!"
Honglian led the charge, guiding the elves across the broken bridge.
The beast—
Could only watch.
Its entire focus was now on him.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Its body swelled grotesquely.
The core blazed.
Energy gathered—violent, scorching.
"…Self-destruct!?"
Kurose Akira's expression darkened.
"Fall back! Now!"
Loserine and the others retreated immediately.
But just as Kurose Akira prepared to escape—
His expression changed.
"…What?"
Spatial Shift—
Failed.
Something…
Was sealing his power.
"Death Law! Damn it!"
Mira Orei's voice rang out urgently.
"It summoned a projection of the Death Goddess!"
"It's locking your abilities—trying to drag you down with it!"
…
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