"How is it possible that a man who should be dead is still alive…"
The Abyssal King stared at Zion in disbelief. It didn’t matter that Zion had revived; killing him again wouldn’t be difficult. Even if Zion absorbed his magic, the result would be the same. However, what he couldn’t comprehend was how his magic had vanished in an instant.
"You…"
"I'm sorry. It was my fault," Zion murmured, warily watching the Abyssal King. Many things must have happened while he conversed with Exceed Rain. Hanette likely stayed by his side, refusing to let him go.
"Do you even know what you did wrong?"
"I shouldn’t have gone alone; I should have stayed with my sister."
"Keep going."
"I made my sister worry."
"And?"
"I caused trouble for my comrades."
"More."
"My actions disrupted the battle and probably caused many soldiers to die."
"That's not true. More people lived because of you than died. Keep going."
"I almost died without marrying my sister."
Hanette, about to press him further, closed her mouth. His honest answer left no room for further questioning. Though she could find more reasons to argue, now was not the time.
"I’ll let it go for now… but you’ll have to explain later. Understand?"
"I understand."
"Ha…"
Hanette gently pushed Zion’s arm away. He wasn’t weak enough to fall, and he could still fend off the Abyssal King’s attacks. The unexpected situation had simply startled her.
‘Persistent humans. Why don’t they retreat?’
The Abyssal King surveyed his surroundings. Several strong humans had gathered. Five Magic Sword wielders, two others without Magic Swords, and dozens of knights. Even after sacrificing so much life energy to grow stronger, the humans were still holding on.
‘His magic has changed.’
The Abyssal King couldn’t take his eyes off Zion. Among the strong, Zion’s magic felt the most threatening. It must be related to how his spell was nullified.
‘Why is he hesitating?’
Instinctively, the Abyssal King knew he shouldn’t engage Zion. The moment their swords clashed, he would face defeat. A vast, deep abyss seemed to waver before him.
‘It can’t be. I can’t lose.’
The Abyssal King released his magic, raising the Earth Magic Sword. He had gained power beyond limits, and even the humans couldn’t stop him. Not even their king could defeat him now.
‘I’ll kill him first.’
The Abyssal King targeted Zion, driving the Earth Magic Sword into the ground. Enrite and Caden charged, while Balz shot arrows swiftly. Oz and Seran created wind and electric currents with their Magic Swords. Zion and Hanette, however, remained still, watching.
"Why aren't we attacking? We should help them," Hanette urged.
"I'm not skilled at handling this power. I can’t protect everyone else, only you," Zion calmly replied, pointing his sword. He instinctively understood the power he had gained from Exceed Rain’s awakening. It was both an instinct and an awareness, signifying his assimilation with the darkness.
"What happened?"
"I’ll explain later. Stay close to me."
"I wasn’t planning on leaving anyway," Hanette responded, gathering her magic. She feared that distancing herself from Zion would mean never seeing him again. Though she wanted to hold his hand, the ongoing battle prevented it.
‘Why aren’t they moving?’
Enrite glanced at Zion while retreating quickly. Earlier, he seemed on the brink of death, but now he had fully recovered. Zion should be fighting alongside them or escaping with Hanette.
‘Can he fight alone?’
Meeting Zion’s eyes, Enrite saw calmness and clarity. Zion must have survived death and awakened Exceed Rain.
‘...I can’t feel Exceed Rain.’
Enrite realized this late and looked at Exceed Rain. The shape had slightly changed, but it was still recognizable as Exceed Rain. However, it only felt like a Magic Sword; the sinister, ominous magic was absent.
‘This Magic Sword holds darkness but is different from Exceed Rain.’
Exceed Rain’s darkness was deep and overwhelming. But this new darkness was pure and expansive. Despite its awakening, Exceed Rain’s core attributes hadn’t changed fundamentally. Yet, its darkness had.
‘Could it be…’
Enrite looked at the Abyssal King, understanding something. If Exceed Rain’s darkness was touching light, it meant it was balanced with another source. This meant it could contain both light and darkness.
‘I've never used such a Magic Sword before…’
Magic Sword users and Setinos Quasar fought the Abyssal King. Enrite could join, but new darkness might harm others. Moreover, the situation was too urgent for verbal explanations.
‘Should I trust Zion Laird?’
Despite his thoughts, Enrite moved instinctively. He always trusted Zion, though he would have to scold him later for recklessly going alone.
‘I must clear the area.’
Enrite channeled magic into El Tesoykve, advancing on the Abyssal King. He created a silver wall, separating the Abyssal King from their allies.
"White, what are you doing?"
"Fall back! The Lychness leader needs space!"
"Do you want to make the resurrected fight again?"
"I’ll stay with him this time! So…"
"Roar!"
The Abyssal King shattered the wall, swinging the Earth Magic Sword. Everyone dodged the attack, but gaps appeared. The Abyssal King charged towards Zion and Hanette.
"White!"
"I’m going ahead!"
"Trust the Lychness leader!"
Three Setinos Quasars moved quickly, chasing the Abyssal King. They aimed to attack, but Zion and Hanette stood in the way. A mistake could injure them.
"You! Want to take more of my power?"
The Abyssal King, engulfed in flames, drove the Earth Magic Sword into the ground. Hanette stayed close to Zion, creating more flames. She believed she could protect Zion by staying close.
"…I don't need it."
Zion blocked the Abyssal King’s strike with one hand. Though it seemed he was being pushed back, he suddenly stopped. The Abyssal King, unable to comprehend, applied more force. But the Earth Magic Sword couldn’t move, and Zion’s sword pushed forward.
"What did you do?"
"I told you before. Your darkness doesn’t reach me."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
The Abyssal King endured the attacks from behind, striking again. Zion met his strike lightly.
"Roar…"
The Abyssal King’s hands trembled as he stared at Zion. Zion, with a detached look, quietly pushed back the Earth Magic Sword. The Abyssal King couldn’t understand, pouring more magic into his sword.
"Why? Why are you holding firm?"
Despite the Abyssal King’s efforts, Zion’s sword didn’t waver. He didn’t seem to absorb the magic or use much strength. How had Zion become so strong after reviving?
"Is it over?"
Zion watched the Abyssal King for a while before speaking. He had let the Abyssal King attack to test his new Magic Sword. Having grasped its power, he knew it was time to defeat the Abyssal King.
"Do you think it’s over?"
The Abyssal King covered his broken armor with dark energy, restoring it. Despite the attacks, he could quickly recover. He had grown stronger, but his existence couldn’t be erased.
"……."
Zion glanced at his allies, then swung his sword lightly. The Abyssal King’s body tilted and flew away. The allies, shocked, turned their gaze to Zion.
"Your darkness… can hold nothing."
Zion stretched his right shoulder, reaching out. He infused his sword with darkness, deepening its navy blue hue. This darkness was his but mixed with the Abyssal King’s.
"Be engulfed by your own darkness."
Zion slowly and gracefully spread the darkness. Navy blue lines extended from his blade, shooting forward. The Abyssal King, regaining his senses, faced the overwhelming force.
"This won’t kill me!"
The Abyssal King channeled magic into the Earth Magic Sword, striking. The navy blue sword energy met the Earth Magic Sword but couldn’t advance. Zion, glancing away from the Abyssal King, lowered his sword slightly.
"It’s over."
"It’s not over yet. The Abyssal King is still alive."
"…He will die soon. When he’s gone, the monsters will retreat."
Zion answered calmly, looking at Exceed Rain. The Abyssal King couldn’t handle Exceed Rain’s darkness or his own. The sword energy would take the remaining darkness from the Abyssal King.
"Roar…"
The Abyssal King, puzzled, poured more magic. He tried to cut through the sword energy, but the blade wouldn’t penetrate. It felt like the sword energy was consuming his entire being.
"What have you done…"
The navy blue sword energy began to change. Small light fragments appeared, multiplying and embedding themselves in the energy. The fragments brightened, radiating brilliant colors.
"This is… my power…"
The navy blue energy sliced through the Earth Magic Sword, cutting the Abyssal King. His armor split in two, rolling on the ground. The Earth Magic Sword regained its original color, free from the Abyssal King. The shadow knights and undead soldiers sensed the Abyssal King’s demise and began to retreat. Strong undead needed a central figure to command them, and with him gone, the structure collapsed.
"…He’s dead?"
"Yeah…"
"Wow…"
"Unbelievable."
Zion stood in silence, listening to them. In his hand was the vast, true darkness. It could embrace not just darkness but light as well, existing beyond this world.
'The Holy Sword Exceed Rain…'