Chapter 144


    <em>Fwiiirl!</em>


    Agony whined at the ck Knight after returning to him.


    <em>[It hurts! Im in pain!]</em>


    ...Quiet.


    The ck Knight scowled as he looked at Seols Twin Knights.


    <em>Clench</em>


    [The ck Knight has entered the 1st Stage of Soaring Moonlight, Crescent Moon.]


    <em>Glooow</em>


    Careful! Prepare yourselves, everyone! shouted Chameli.


    A momentter, the confrontation between the ck Knight and the ck Pilgrims ignited.


    <em>BOOOOOOOM!</em>


    [The ck Knights Agony used Echo of Carnage.]


    [Each time Agony is stopped in its path, inflict 50% of the mitigated attack''s damage to the surrounding area.]


    Krgh


    Karuna sessfully defended against the ck Knight''s attack with Breath, but was still staggered back from the reverb.


    Karen seized the opportunity to dart to the ck Knight''s side and thrust with re.


    <em>aaare!</em>


    <em>aaaang!</em>


    [Forced Breakthrough activates.]


    [50% of the original damage is inflicted.]


    <em>aaare</em>


    Krgh!


    Both sides took turnsunching attacks at each other.


    Now!


    [Sacred Ground activates.]


    [The ground burns with divine energy.]


    [Allies receive increased health regeneration. Enemies receive 50% healing reduction.]


    <em>Fssssss</em>


    The ck Knight tapped into more power to break free from this troubling situation.


    [The ck Knight has entered the 2nd Stage of Moonlight Surge, Half Moon.]


    Haaaaaaah!


    <em>Craaaackle!</em>


    Agony began gathering a dark energy.


    Dodge it! shouted Seol.


    [The ck Knight used Moonlight sh.]


    Since they never expected the ck Knight to unleash a Moonlight sh while only in the Half Moon stage, they were unprepared. Instead of facing it together, they all focused on their own safety.


    <em>BOOOOOOM!</em>


    The ck shockwave tore through thend, cutting down every tree in its path.


    Dust billowed, and the people who had dodged to the floor slowly rose to their feet.


    Is everyone okay?


    Are there any injured?


    Luckily, it seemed like no one was injured.


    ...No one was hurt?


    Seol had kept his eyes trained on the ck Knight but lost sight of him when the dust kicked up. He quickly realized that something had urred during that brief moment he couldn''t see him.


    <em>Woosh</em>


    And like always, his hunch was right.


    Hes gone! Damn it He ran away!


    Th-the horses


    Chameli swiftly attempted to pursue the ck Knight with the pilgrims. However, what unfolded next was unexpected.


    The horses we tied to the trees theyre all dead


    He aimed for the horses in that short opening?!


    We have to hurry The ck Knight is clearly headed to Illia!


    Seol thought for a moment before speaking up.


    Ill chase after him first.


    Its too dangerous! Going alone is


    We have no other options. Pleasee join me as soon as possible.


    Hold on


    Seol swiftly ran toward Illia before Chameli could even respond.


    <em>Fft!</em>


    We cant waste time.


    They were currently in Illias vicinity.


    And as vicinity implied, the distance was only a thirty-minute walk for most people.


    In this case, however, this worked to their detriment.


    With the ck Knights speed, he would arrive in Illia within five minutes.


    I have to catch up to him no matter what.


    If Seol couldn''t catch up to the ck Knight soon, Illia would be engulfed in a sea of blood tonight.


    * * *


    <em>[Im smart! I was smart, right?]</em>


    ......


    <em>[Give me blood already! Theyre dangerous! Ill take care of them, so give me blood!]</em>


    ......


    <em>[The blood from those horses wasnt enough! Human blood! I like human blood!]</em>


    <em>Ffft!</em>


    <em>Ffft!</em>


    The ck Knight continued to rey the situation in his head as he hurried along.


    How did he get so strong so quickly?


    The growth rate of the fragments master was abnormally fast.


    Perhaps that was precisely why Karen was drawn to him as her master.


    Also, the ck Knight understood that while he could prolong the battle, he would ultimately be defeated by his opponent had he kept going.


    But that doesnt matter Ill fight him again after I fill Agonys stomach here.


    Agony wasnt a demon sword for no reason. By absorbing blood, it gained power corresponding to the amount of blood it had absorbed.


    First, Ill supply myself with blood from the guards here.


    However, the ck Knight''s schemes went off track from the very start.


    Theres no guards?


    <em>[Strange! Its strange!]</em>


    Right now, the ck Knight stood at Illias western gate.


    The ck Knight, expecting a significant number of guards typical of an entrance of arge city, was shocked by their absence.


    In fact, there wasnt even a single guard there.


    <em>[What should we do?! What do we do?! Im hungry!]</em>


    Shut up! Ill feed you until youre full.


    <em>Craaaaaackle</em>


    [The ck Knight used Moonlight sh.]


    <em>Boooooom!</em>


    <em>Crack!</em>


    The wave of ck energy shattered a portion of the gate and prated inside.


    Were going in!


    <em>[Okay! Alright!]</em>


    <em>Ffft!</em>


    The ck Knight entered the city, nning to kill whoever entered his sight.


    However


    ......


    Illia was divided into four quadrants, each aligned with one of the cardinal directions. In fact, there were even walls within, furtherpartmentalizing the city.


    However, the western district that the ck Knight had entered, had all of its lights turned off.


    <em>[No ones here! I dont hear breathing!]</em>


    What the hell is


    <em>Rustle.</em>


    The ck Knight heard a presence behind him. From the direction of the gate he broke down.


    Youre so damn fast Couldnt you have just waited for me?


    ...Are you behind this?


    Hold on, let me catch my breath.


    Even Seol hadn''t expected the entire western district to bepletely deserted. He figured the pilgrims who left earlier to notify the earl in Illia were likely behind this.


    But that doesnt matter right now.


    Because the city was shrouded in darkness, he easily spotted the people standing atop the walls dividing the quadrants.


    As Seol focused on them even more, he was able to make out some silhouettes.


    That group is probably transferees who came to watch... and is that Earl Brispin over there?


    A loud hum emanated from the walls.


    Despite the considerable distance, Earl Brispin''s voice began to transmit from there, likely facilitated by some sort of magical device.


    So youre the bloodthirsty monster that has been running wild.


    ......


    "I will not allow you to take even a single drop of my citizens'' blood. You will pay the price for your sins and vanish from Illia.


    ...The price? For my sins?


    Precisely. You


    Hah Hahaha


    Why are youughing?


    Hahahahahahaha! The price for my sins pfft yeah


    [The ck Knight has entered the 3rd Stage of Moonlight Surge, Full Moon.]


    <em>Craaaaaaaaackle!</em>


    Wh-what is that strength?!


    "Please, step behind us, Earl Brispin! Let others handle this. We must make our escape quickly


    The ck Knights energy grewrger andrger.


    So, who is going to make me pay the price?


    "S-Seize him! Bring him to his knees before me! In fact I''ll even allow you to kill him! I shall bestow a substantial reward upon whoever makes him pay the price!"


    As Earl Brispin finished his sentence, a message was delivered to every transferee in Illia.


    [A powerful deterrent nearby activates.]


    [Your break temporarily ends.]


    [Your next Adventure has been substituted with a Sudden Adventure.]


    [You begin your next Adventure.]


    [Your 20th Adventure is starting.]


    [Adventure 20. City Blockade]


    [Adventure 20. City Blockade


    Earl Brispin, the lord of Illia, has ordered a citywide lockdown.


    As a result, the western district of Illia has transformed into arge trap, designed to apprehend a notorious murderer active in the vicinity.


    However, this is not the time forcency.


    If you fail to defeat him, his sword will dismantle the trap, enabling him to massacre everyone in Illia.


    Objective: Subdue the ck Knight


    Caution. This Adventure is very dangerous.


    Caution. This Adventure can change at a moments notice.


    Caution. This Adventure takes ce in Illia.


    Remaining Time [N/A]]


    ...No!


    Seol started to feel uneasy, a nagging worry growing at the back of his mind.


    As he expected, transferees began leaping over the walls and flooding in.


    Whats going on? The ck Knight?


    Is this why they locked down the western district today?


    Look at how many people there are. Damn


    Get him!


    Its him, right? The dude in the ck armor?


    Whos that next to him, though?


    Who cares?! Just kill the ck Knight!


    Seol began to shout at them.


    No! Donte any closer!!!


    Hah! Are you seriously trying to monopolize the rew


    <em>Ffft!</em>


    The ck Knight swiftly cut down the first transferee that arrived in the western district.


    Ho


    <em>Slice! Thud</em>


    Agonyughed as it was dyed in blood.


    <em>[Hahahaha! Tasty! Its tasty!]</em>


    The transferees heard the maniacalughter of a sword, followed by the thud of a transferee''s head hitting the floor.


    Kyaaaaaa!


    R-Run away!


    Open the gates!


    However, the ck Knight was faster.


    As the ck Knight quickly dashed to cut down the transferees who had crossed over the wall


    <em>aaang!</em>


    <em>Fsss</em>


    Karuna deflected the ck Knights sword.


    Krgh


    Dont get in my way!


    N-Now! Everyone, run away!


    Monster


    As the transferees fled in panic, Seol swiftly pursued the ck Knight.


    Seol raised his leg in a strange stance. It was a stance he had practiced countless times in the Labyrinth of Penance.


    <em>Baaaaam!</em>


    Seols kicknded squarely on the ck Knights shoulders.


    [Insight activates.]


    [Hope Devourer consumes the impact.]


    [Hope Devourer is slightly full.]


    [Hope Devourer digests a portion of the impact.]


    Urgh


    [Awakening! You awaken a new skill.]


    [You awaken Kick the Sky, Kick the Ground.]


    [One of two skills will activate.]


    [Debauchee''s Movements activates.]


    [Dodge rate increases by 10%. uracy increases by 5%.]


    <em>Bam!</em>


    <em>Baaam!</em>


    Seol ran at the ck Knight, unleashing a flurry of attacks.


    He continued until the ck Knight had no choice but to focus solely on him.


    W-We lived!


    Wh-who is that?


    Its the gent! Im sure its him!


    What? The gent?


    You idiots! Stop talking and run!


    <em>Cruuuush!</em>


    Seol moved like a wild animal.


    Thanks to Karuna and Karen expertly blocking the ck Knights attacks, Seol could concentrate solely on the offensive.


    <em>Baaaam!</em>


    Urgh


    With two improvements, Seol no longer felt like he was punching mud when he struck the ck Knight. It feltpletely different from before.


    Its working!


    <em>Bam!</em>


    <em>Bam!</em>


    <em>Bam!</em>


    [Insight activates.]


    [Hope Devourer consumes the impact.]


    [Hope Devourer is slightly full.]


    [Hope Devourer digests a portion of the impact.]


    Ill feed you until your stomach pops.


    <em>[Danger! Its dangerous!]</em>


    Dont look down on me!


    <em>Baaam!</em>


    Krgh


    <em>Cruuush!</em>


    The force of the ck Knight''s attack sent Seol flying through a wooden building, causing dust to kick up.


    As the ck Knight leaped in, attempting to finish Seol, two swords interposed themselves, blocking Agony''s path.


    <em>aaaang!</em>


    <em>Scraaape</em>


    Rage boiled within the ck Knight''s heart.


    Seeing Karen and Karuna blocking his path ignited an uncontroble rage within him.


    <em>Clench!</em>


    The ck Knight''s energy began to writhe and grow ominously.


    <em>[Hahahaha! Yeah! Throw away your senses! Leave it to me!]</em>


    Ill kill you allllllll!


    <em>Fwooosh!</em>


    Watch out!


    <em>Baaam!</em>


    Seol burst through the wall of a building, striking the ck Knight.


    <em>Baaam!</em>


    The ck Knight staggered back and took a moment.


    Seol furrowed his brows.


    What was that? That energy just now


    <em>Ripple</em>


    The ck Knight stumbled as he got to his feet.


    Ill kill everyone.


    <em>Glooooow</em>


    [The ck Knight has entered the 3rd Stage of Moonlight Surge, Blood Moon.]


    What is that?


    Agony slowly crept into the ck Knights body.


    <em>[Hehehe! Let me in! Ill kill everyone again! Just like always! All you have to do is close your eyes for a second!]</em>


    <em>Tear</em>


    The ck Knights body slowly began growing.


    <em>Rip Tear</em>


    The ck Knight had grown red andrge, towering over Seol. His heavy armor expanded with him,pletely covering his erged form.


    <em>tter</em>


    The ck Knight opened his mouth.


    However, it was no longer his voice. It was Agonys.


    <strong><em>[Ill kill everyone.]</em></strong>


    [Hope Devourer''s damage capacity increases massively.]


    [Agony is materialized.]


    A ghostly presence emanated from the ck Knight''s body.


    <em>Fwoosh</em>


    [The ck Knight used Exceptional Skill: The Dark Side of the Moon.]


    [Physical strength is improved massively in exchange for your sanity.]


    [You no longer thirst for blood.]


    It was clear that Seol was now weaker than the ck Knight. He seemed much more powerful than before.


    However, Seol''s smile only grew wider after Agonypletely devoured the ck Knight.


    Then, with augh, he spoke.


    ...Youve just made a big mistake.