SLAM—!
His thick, heavy palms collided with a sound like muffled thunder. But at the same time, it was accompanied by a faint, discordant noise.
SCHLICK—!
Two of his fingers had been severed by Bloodhound's Fang before the palms could close. They tumbled through the air, blood arcing like curved rainbows.
Nidhogg shot out from between the fingers like an arrow and landed on open ground beyond the palms.
Wyald's strike had missed. He looked at his severed fingers, but smiled indifferently. He picked them up, clicked them into place twice, and pressed them against the stump.
Instantly, Nidhogg heard a sizzling sound at the wound, as if oil had been poured on fire.
Moments later, the two fingers were reattached, looking as flexible as if they had never been cut.
Nidhogg retreated, increasing the distance. He pulled out his Flask and drained the last of his Crimson and Cerulean Tears into his mouth.
For the foreseeable future, he would have no more of these reserves.
Wyald lowered his long arms, fixed his burning gaze on Nidhogg, and finally took a step into the sea of fire.
"You can't escape... Ah?!"
FWOOSH—!
Suddenly, a projectile burst from behind Wyald, striking him in the back like a sling stone!
After the projectile shook off the flames licking his body, his true identity was revealed.
It was Ingvall the Lost Knight!
He had already dealt with over a dozen Black Dog Knights and had only now received Nidhogg's summons, rushing to assist.
Riding his whirling cyclone, he had launched himself from within the fire and landed on Wyald's back like a cannonball!
His halberd's axe blade also slashed fiercely at Wyald's head!
CRACK—!
The back of Wyald's head was hard, but it was still severely cut by Ingvall. A deep gash was carved, and the halberd's axe blade became almost completely lodged in his skull!
If this had been any other Apostle, such a blow might have been fatal.
But after a howl of pain, Wyald angrily raised one long arm, grabbed Ingvall entirely, tore him loose, and crushed him in his palm.
The damage Ingvall had inflicted couldn't make Wyald die—couldn't even stop his movements!
Such was Wyald's incomparably strong vitality.
Whether a cut to the head or a pierced throat—these traditional vital points, even if severely struck, wouldn't kill him as long as he had a single breath left.
If he suffered severe wounds, he could continue moving after recovery, the wounds healing and restoring themselves.
In short, only by extinguishing Wyald's life force with nearly overwhelming power, like Zodd's, could one truly finish him.
Ingvall's blow had indeed caused some damage, but it wasn't fatal. Even the huge wound on the back of his head was slowly regenerating and healing.
Wyald held this spirit body, radiating white light, in his hand. The rage from the sudden attack burned in his chest.
He gripped Ingvall tightly, raised his long arm, turned slightly, and hurled Ingvall like a stone at Nidhogg!
FWOOSH—!
The flung knight broke the sound barrier with such speed that it even tore through the wall of fire, leaving a blazing red trajectory, heading straight for Nidhogg!
In an instant, the human projectile was upon him!
The moment Nidhogg saw Wyald move, he had guessed what he was trying to do. So, without hesitation, he leaped aside and rolled away!
It was precisely because of his decisiveness that he wasn't hit head-on by the human projectile!
CRASH—!
Ingvall, used as a projectile, punched through one house after another, leaving neat, gaping holes!
Immediately afterward, the remaining structures of those houses, unable to bear the strain, collapsed one by one.
At the same time, the light that had scattered and vanished from Ingvall also flew toward Nidhogg like a firefly, confirming that Ingvall had perished in that strike.
THUD. THUD. THUD—!
At that moment, a dull pounding began. The entire earth shook. The surrounding flames trembled as if in concert, sending up a sky full of sparks.
Nidhogg looked up and saw a stunning sight.
Wyald was striding toward him. When he was still dozens of meters away, his entire massive body leaped and kicked at Nidhogg, both legs together!
A dropkick... wrestling moves?!
Nidhogg had to leap aside and roll again!
CRASH—!
Wyald used his momentum and his own weight to smash a huge crater into the ground at his landing point!
But he didn't stop. He bent one long arm and drove his elbow toward Nidhogg, who was still rolling away!
This time, the speed was abnormal. Nidhogg couldn't dodge. So he swung Bloodhound's Fang, carving a sword arc and striking Wyald's elbow!
He used the momentum to rebound and, with a loud crash, was hurled away from the elbow!
Wyald's eyes narrowed. He spun and reached out with his other hand to grab Nidhogg as he hit the ground!
This time, Nidhogg decisively activated Bloodhound's Step.
Gripping Bloodhound's Fang and his Lordsworn's Greatsword, he charged straight at the palm Wyald extended!
Wyald was delighted—whether by the human body or the beast's maw, he smiled!
If he keeps jumping around like that, it'll be a problem. But if he can't restrain himself, takes the initiative to deliver himself to my door, and lets me catch him... then it's over!
This guy is still too young!
His thick, massive hand closed like a suddenly snapping trap!
But in the next moment, Wyald was shocked to realize his palm was empty. He had caught nothing!
FWOOSH—!
With Bloodhound's Step, Nidhogg seized the sole opportunity. He passed through Wyald's fingers like lightning and landed on his long, hairy arm.
SCHLICK—!
He raised his Lordsworn's Greatsword and Bloodhound's Fang, slashing like a whirlwind. He carved into Wyald's long arm, continuously slicing through his flesh, racing through the rising blood spray!
Wyald's eyes widened. His regenerative ability was powerful, but this was not harmless.
"GRAAAH—!"
He roared frantically, twisted sideways, and the large mouth on his chest suddenly opened its fangs and bit at Nidhogg!
At the same time, from deep within that bloody maw, a spiny, thick, tendril-like stalk suddenly shot out, like a venomous snake hidden in a cave, also stabbing at Nidhogg!
This spiny, thick stalk lunged first. It thrust its point directly at Nidhogg in midair!
Nidhogg wished he had another point of leverage in the air.
He decisively swung Bloodhound's Fang, and with a swift strike, severed the tip of the spiny stalk. At the same time, using the inertia, he leaped in another direction, evading the bloody maw's bite!
THUD—!
The severed spiny stalk crashed to the ground. It began to twitch and writhe convulsively!