Chapter 142 - Second Coming of a Legend (5)

When Azell was free of Reygus, the situation on the battlefield quickly changed.

Before he went to save Laura, Azell had already swept the battlefield near his allies. He had already caused massive damage to his enemies. Kairen, Leticia, Yuren and the Guardian Shadows had been fighting an even battle when Azell performed a surprise attack. The Dragon Demon King worshippers were mowed down like rotten sheaves of wheat.

However, their advantage lasted only a moment.

Go-oh-oh-oh-oh……!

In a flash, everyone's attention was gathered at one location.

Something that surpassed common sense was occuring.

Balseru, who was covered in dirt, was taken aback.

"It is changing magical energy into Dragon Demon magic…..!"

It was as he said. Reygus' magical energy was changing into Dragon Demon magic.

This was supposed to be impossible. Dragon Demon magic was the power of the living. Despite Reygus being a 1st generation Dragon Demon, it was an Undead. Its lost Dragon Demon magic should have been unrecoverable.

In front of the shocked Balseru, Reygus' armor started to change. The ominous black armor and the Soul Hammer was being bleached white. Its helmet had been open as its skull had been on display. However, a mask dropped down, and the helmet started changing into the shape of a Dragon's head.

<Hoo-ooooooooh……!>

The sound of a long breath was heard coming from within Reygus' helmet. 이It was already dead, so it was only making the noise. However, as if responding to the sound, a black current of air exited.

The amassing of incredible amount of magical energy was in preparation for this change. It took some time to max out his magical energy. It had needed time to complete its transformation.

Reygus had faced some trouble, because it faced Balseru, who was the natural enemy of the Undead. However, that was no longer true now.

Balseru broke out in cold sweat.

"…what nonsense."

After its transformation, the power of Balseru's eyes didn't work against it. The suppressed power returned with a vengeance, and Balseru could feel a pressure that made it hard for him to breathe. Currently, the amount of Dragon Demon magic exceeded the amount Reygus had possessed in life.

<Well, it is time to wrap this up!>

Reygus activated its Dragon Demon magic as it charged forward. A gust arose behind its path.

Kwahng!

Rho tried to get in its way, but it was in vain. Reygus reacted much faster by ramming its body into Rho, and it brought down its Soul Hammer..

<Kah-ahhhhhhk……!>

Rho let out a scream.

Most of the time Undead did not feel pain. However, Reygus' Dragon weapon was called the Soul Hammer. As its name indicated, it had the power to break souls. There was physical damage from being hit by the Soul Hammer, but exquisite pain and shock was felt by Rho. It felt as if its soul was being ripped into pieces.

Too-doo-doo-doong!

The Undead magician Phi shot thunder towards Reygus. Reygus hadn't retrieved its hammer yet, so it had to take the attack with its body. It was pushed backwards.

Soon, a blue flame erupted around Reygus' body. The blue flames didn't emit physical heat, but it pushed back the thunder spell. Reygus originally had powerful defensive magic layered around it, but this flame had the power to cancel magic.

Kwahng!

Accompanying the sound of an explosion, half of Phi's body was destroyed. When Reygus ran in, Phi focused on its defensive magic as it retreated. However, Reygus' blue flames canceled out the barrier before it rushed towards Phi.

<Koo-ahk……!>

As expected, the Undead felt a pain it had never felt before after becoming an Undead. Still, Phi managed to point its unbroken arm towards Reygus.

Puh-uhng!

A thunderbolt exploded on Reygus' head. It sent Reygus flying, but it immediately righted itself. Reygus laughed.

<Koo-hahaha! You are quite tenacious! I thought you would have forgotten about how pain felt as an Undead! I thought you would become distracted by even a small amount of pain!>

Phi grinded its teeth. If it was just physical damage, it could recover in an instant even with such heavy damage. However, the Soul Hammer possessed the power to damage souls, so the recovery of its body had slowed significantly.

Reygus let out a cheerful laugh.

<I've heard that phrase quite often. Well, it is time for you brats to return to your graves.>

Rho was barely able to stand up. It spoke sharp words towards Reygus.

Balseru, who was behind them, spoke.

"Phi. Rho."

<Speak.>

The Undead magician Rho didn't turn around as it gave a reply.

"I'm sorry. You guys will have to die for me."

<I'm already dead, so what's the point of asking me to die?>

Phi also muttered his words.

Reygus looked on with interest. It didn't ask Balseru about the meaning behind his words. Reygus really acted in a manner consistent with how he spoke.

If he could squeeze out some kind of hidden card from his opponents, he would willingly wait for them even if it could endanger it.

Balseru's eyes emitted light. This light transferred over to Phi and Rho.

<Ooh-ahhhhhhhhhh!>

Phi and Rho le out a scream. Their bodies were quickly restored as their magical energy exploded upwards.

Reygus' eyes shone.

<Ho-oh! Is this a hidden card that can only be used as a suicidial attack?>

It was as Reygus had said. Phi and Rho's magical energy had increased to twice its size, but that was the catch. They would be destroyed as cost for using this power.

Moreover, they wouldn't last long against Reygus even in this state.

-Are you running away by yourself while you leave your comrades to die?

Balseru was running full tilt, and he let out a bitter laugh at Azell's angry words.

It was as his words implied. He had overclocked the power of Phi and Rho. They were used as sacrifices so he could escape. While he escaped the battlefield, Phi and Rho was about to be destroyed at any moment now..

Balseru answered him.

"I'll be following after them soon. However, I cannot die right now. For now... I'll have to remove myself to rule out the probability of my death."

-What nonsense are you talking about?

"You will find out soon, hero Azell Karzark."

After his words ended, Balseru's presence vanished. Azell grinded his teeth when Balseru hid himself like a ghost.

A heavy sound rang out in front of him.

Koong!

The ground shook. The rising cloud of dust dispersed as Reygus' enormous white body approached him.

Phi and Rho's fallen forms were next to it. The two had met their end. Their consciousness could no longer be felt. When the magical energy within their body dispersed, their skeleton would break down and disperse.

<Hmm. I was very angry before, but I feel thankful now.>

"What nonsense are you talking?"

"Do you not realize that you are close to being alone now?"

It was as he said.

Balseru and the two Undead hadn't occupied Reygus for long. However, the outcome of the battle was determined during that brief time period. The Dragon Demon king worshippers were truly cornered thanks to Azell's active role in battle.

Reygus looked at his surrounding.

<Jeez. Whether it is the past or now, it's the same.>

During the Dragon Demon war, Reygus ignored what was going on in his surrounding as he fought like a berserker. His battle style was basically like a hurricane sweeping through the battlefield. This was why his allies didn't fight with him, and the commanders had to take his quirk into consideration when coming up with battle tactics.

Basically, Reygus did whatever it pleased, so it was familiar with the situation where its allies were on a brink of defeat.

<I'll have to hold out until our reinforcements come.>

"I'll end this before that occurs."

A delighted laughter flowed out from Reygus' helmet. The two legendary figures once again clashed.

The Undead do not tire. They weren't bound by a body's structural limit like the range of motion of joints. On top of all of that, their ability increased as their magical energy increased.

Still, the Undead form of Reygus was weaker than its previous living form, because it had a crucial weakness.

Basically, Reygus had lost its Dragon Demon magic.

Even if the quantity of magical energy was about the same as before, Reygus was a Dragon Arts practitioner. The loss of the Dragon Demon magic was too big of a loss. Even if it was an expert, there was a limit as to how much of an adjustment it could make to its fighting style. There was a clear ceiling even if Reygus trained diligently.

However, Reygus had used some unknowable method to regain its Dragon Demon magic, and it was stronger than when it was alive.

Azell realized this fact from just a single exchange of blows.

From the beginning, Azell had overextended himself to produce a power that his vessel couldn't contain. Even if he was adept at controlling the effects with his techniques, he couldn't completely erase all the backlash. As time passed, the burden on his body increased, and his movements slowed.

On the other hand, Reygus didn't suffer from such problems.

No, it had become much stronger after its transformation.

"Koohk!"

Azell was busy expanding the number of his clones. Azell groaned as he backed off. However, Reygus used Instantaneous Movement to track him down, and it swung its hammer at terrifying speed.

Too-hahk!

His stance was half broken, so Azell couldn't block the attack. However, the Dragon Majin immediately turned into light to hit the Soul Hammer from the side.

Then…..

Kwahng! Kwah-kwahng!

Azell's clones hit Reygus with consecutive attacks when his defense faltered. Each clone used every magical energy they possessed to hit Reygus, but it barely took any damage. It only retreated haltingly, and its armor remained unbroken.

This continued on like this for a while.

If one was just counting the number of attacks one got in, Azell was winning in an overwhelming fashion. Azell hadn't taken a hit yet. On the other hand, Reygus was being hit countless of times as it was sent flying.

It wasn't as if Reygus was inexperienced in terms of technique. It moved like a heavy tank, so its style looked unrefined. However, its techniques and perception was top notch. Above all else, this style was impossible to pull off if one didn't have a sturdy body. This was true whether in life or death.

Azell's techniques shone against such an opponent. No matter what it did Azell could turn away its defense to create an opportunity. Azell repeatedly applied his attacks.

However, technique wasn't the only factor that determined the victory or defeat of a battle.

"You are getting beaten like a drum, yet you speak such bold words.."

Azell glared at it as he bluffed.

In comparison to Azell during the Dragon Demon war…

To be precise, his techniques and senses had increased significantly compared to the Azell before Reygus' death. The Sky Splitter also had evolved to a much superior form of Dragon weapon.

Of course, his body was much stronger than his past self.

He had increased his physical ability, and the vessel to hold his magical energy was much larger.

However, he had to burden himself to raise his magical energy to a level comparable to his prior self. However, the clincher was the fact the his pool of Dragon Demon magic was too shallow, so his techniques were less effective.

Reygus felt regret this point. After waking up in this era, he had met his favorite and most enjoyable opponent, yet Azell wasn't at full strength yet.

Suddenly, Azell stopped as he put on a baffled expression on his face.

It was because Reygus had stopped attacking to speak.

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