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Chapter 315: Necronovix, the Four Lords of Hell (4)

“Hm.”

Ketal smiled, gripping his shoulder, and realigned his dislocated bones.

His shoulder had popped out from the sheer force.

“A black hole… You can create something like that, huh?”

He muttered with satisfaction, marveling at the collection of intense gravity that even light could not escape—a force so strong it had been recreated with black magic.

It was powerful.

Very powerful.

Escaping from it left him with several wounds on his body; if it had lasted any longer, things could have turned dangerous.

Though the wounds were from releasing his aura to escape, sacrificing his bodily defenses, the fact that it even left marks on his body was remarkable.

“Amazing. You have my admiration,”

Ketal said, genuinely impressed by Necronovix’s strength.

But Necronovix was in no position to accept any praise.

His eyes were quivering.

The energy coming from Ketal’s aura—it was warped and twisted, yet he could recognize its essence.

[…Abomination… Is it inside you?]

“So, if I draw it out with aura, it can be perceived, be it by god or demon. Otherwise, it remains hidden.”

Ketal murmured as if he had just made a new discovery.

His words turned Necronovix’s doubt into certainty.

[…Why is that… inside you?]

Abomination indeed resided within Ketal.

It had surfaced into the world, taking the form of aura.

As Necronovix silently observed it, he let out a groan.

[…It’s under control. This means you weren’t devoured by it; instead, you devoured Abomination.]

The tremble in Necronovix’s eyes slowly subsided.

[You’ve completely absorbed Abomination that used to be sealed within your axe. That’s why there was only a shell left in it.]

Necronovix was shocked at the realization that this monstrous entity now belonged to Ketal.

The creature, seemingly insulted by its subjugation, gave an annoyed huff.

[Tsk. Such irritating scrutiny. This is why I hate coming out.]

“Oh? So that’s why you’ve been so quiet.”

Ketal chuckled.

Despite facing a formidable foe in Necronovix, Abomination had been eerily silent.

It made sense now—it didn’t want to show its current state.

Being devoured and controlled would indeed be a blow to its pride; it had no reason to announce such a state to others.

[I have no interest in conversing with a mere child. But… it’s intriguing to see you again. It’s been a long time, Necronovix, young one of Hell.]

[…It has been a while. To think I’d hear your voice again… I never thought it would happen twice.]

[Enough chit-chat, young one. That darkness you wielded just now.]

The darkness Necronovix had used to try and kill Ketal as he escaped the black hole.

[That… you’re imitating my power, aren’t you? It’s crude and shallow, but passable. Then again, my power would seem remarkable to you young ones.]

[…Well, isn’t that something.]

Having analyzed the situation, Necronovix chuckled bitterly.

[Your mystery is mingled with Abomination’s essence. That’s why you could wound the true self… How on earth?]

Why in the world was this creature lying dormant inside Ketal?

Ketal shrugged his shoulders.

“I have no reason to answer that.”

[Of course not… but this is troubling.]

Necronovix narrowed his eyes.

Ketal’s aura still flickered around his axe.

He hadn’t been able to control it so steadily when he faced Materia.

This meant he was growing accustomed to controlling Abomination.

“We’ll end the discussion here,”

Ketal declared, kicking off and advancing with his axe.

Necronovix brandished his power.

Boom!

But all of it was shattered by Ketal’s aura.

[Damn it.]

Necronovix chuckled bitterly.

Abomination had been right.

The dark magic he wielded merely mimicked the creature’s powers.

Necronovix had become captivated by its ability to destroy all things, spending every waking moment since his imprisonment in Hell to emulate it finally.

It was, without a doubt, an impressive feat.

Mastering dark magic to imitate an alien power—this was certainly worthy of the title “founder of dark magic.”

But his opponent was not one he could defeat.

A mere imitation could never overcome the real thing.

Necronovix had lost his most crucial card.

[My power is reaching its limits. I may not achieve my goal elsewhere, either. This is not good… truly.]

Necronovix murmured, observing the dwindling power within him.

[But I won’t go quietly.]

Darkness surged forward, targeting Ketal’s entire body.

* * *

The Dwarven Sanctum.

A distant mountain range on its outskirts.

Boom!

There, Necronovix was being pushed back relentlessly.

[Black flames rise, devouring the world.]

Black flames consumed everything in their path.

If they continued, they would advance to burn down the entire world.

Ketal charged forward through the burning world.

Necronovix barely dodged his swinging axe.

Swish!

But he didn’t avoid it entirely; a deep gash appeared on his arm.

Ketal grinned in satisfaction.

“Finally, I landed a blow!”

[…]

Necronovix silently gazed at his wound.

A wound created by aura.

It had even cut into his true self.

[It’s certain now.]

Necronovix collected himself, drawing more power.

Demonic energy erupted, engulfing the space.

Ketal laughed, gripping his axe.

Rumble!

Neither side could easily bring down the other, and the battle raged on.

[Hey.]

Abomination, which had been silent, spoke.

[I’ll cooperate. Kill him.]

“Weren’t you refusing to cooperate with me?”

[I told you. I enjoy killing foolish young ones who mistakenly believe themselves strong. That one’s worthy enough for me to intervene.]

The creature’s voice was excited, and the mystery within him pulsed as if eager to fight.

[He dared imitate my power. It’s crude and clumsy, but impressive. And so very pitiful. I’d like to crush him with my own hands to show him the difference in our abilities.]

With the aid of the Abomination, defeating Necronovix wouldn’t be too difficult.

However, Ketal shook his head.

“No. I won’t do that.”

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[…What?]

The Abomination\'s voice betrayed its shock, as though it hadn’t expected rejection.

[Why not?]

After a brief moment of surprise, the Abomination reached a conclusion.

[…Wait a second. Don’t tell me you think it’s a waste to kill that thing here?]

The Abomination had been inside Ketal for a long time.

It understood his longing for fantastical battles better than anyone.

Ketal, it suspected, might believe it would be a shame to kill a demon of such immense power.

That’s why he wasn’t using the Abomination’s strength.

But Ketal shook his head again.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not that crazy.”

[You’re crazy, just in a different way.]

“I said I’m not.”

Ketal smirked.

“Is this really Necronovix’s full power?”

[…]

The Abomination fell silent.

Ketal narrowed his eyes.

“It seems too weak.”

One of the Four Lords of Hell.

A demon said to surpass even the gods.

Could something of that caliber really only muster this level of power?

Even with Ketal holding a natural advantage, it didn’t make sense.

“More than that, it seems like it’s stalling, dragging out the fight. Almost as if it wants to observe more of my abilities.”

Necronovix wasn’t fighting as though its life depended on it.

Rather, it seemed intent on analyzing Ketal’s strength.

If that was the case, there was no reason for Ketal to reveal his full hand either.

It was a logical conclusion.

But the Abomination remained skeptical.

[…Is that really your only reason? It’s not that you’re reluctant to kill it?]

“It’s not,”

Ketal replied firmly.

[Hmm.]

Despite Ketal’s insistence, the Abomination didn’t seem convinced.

Ketal pulled a wry face.

“Unbelievable. I’m doing my best to protect the surface world, you know.”

Normally, people would accept such statements from Ketal without question.

But the Abomination had been with him too long.

It understood his innermost thoughts better than anyone.

[And in doing so, you’re also fulfilling your own desires, aren’t you?]

“…”

Ketal couldn’t deny it.

It wasn’t wrong, after all.

“You know me too well. It’s something to consider.”

He sighed and leapt forward, deciding to keep his strength concealed.

His aura-coated axe pressed Necronovix harder.

[Hmm.]

It turned out to be the right call.

When Ketal didn’t show more power beyond imbuing his axe with aura, Necronovix’s eyes narrowed.

[…Nothing out of the ordinary. Is he holding back, or is this truly all he has?]

Necronovix wanted to gauge more but was nearing its limits.

It clicked its tongue in frustration.

[An oversight.]

The fight against Ketal had drained it too much, leaving other tasks unfinished.

[For now, this will have to do. Let’s end it.]

Darkness erupted from Necronovix, surging toward Ketal like a feral beast.

“Hmm.”

A stronger attack than anything before.

That meant it would leave an opening if Ketal could break through.

Ketal steadied himself and charged, swinging his axe to cleave through the darkness. Without stopping, he lunged straight at Necronovix.

And then—

Slash.

Necronovix’s head was severed.

Ketal’s eyes widened.

“Hmm?”

The decapitated body crumpled to the ground, then dissolved into shadowy mist shortly after.

And with that, it was over.

Necronovix’s presence vanished completely.

“Did I kill it? …No. No, I didn’t.”

Before Ketal had even struck the final blow, Necronovix’s presence had already begun to fade.

It felt as though the puppet’s strings had been cut.

“What’s going on?”

Ketal frowned.

Meanwhile, at the Elven Sanctuary—

“Eeek!”

“Gahh!”

The air echoed with cries of anguish.

Countless elves and spirits charged at their foe, sacrificing their lives in vain.

“No!”

The High Elf Queen, Karine, screamed and unleashed her power.

Gales of wind hurtled toward their enemy.

But—

[Hmm.]

With a simple flick of the fingers, the wind was utterly erased.

Ignisia wasn’t idle either.

She gathered all her strength and invoked draconic incantations.

But to no avail.

The spells fizzled out against Necronovix without leaving a scratch.

Despite the elves’ desperate attempts, even their most powerful assaults barely slowed Necronovix down.

Their energy was depleting rapidly, as were the lives of the elves.

“Argh!”

Karine looked skyward in despair.

“Oh, Spirit Lord! Please, aid us!”

The sacred ground of the elves, home to the World Tree, was under siege by a great evil. Surely the Spirit Lord would intervene.

But there was no response.

The divine connection was eerily silent, as though forcibly severed.

With no hope of divine intervention, despair crept onto their faces.

Ignisia stepped forward decisively.

“Karine, stand back.”

“Ignisia?”

Ignisia bared her teeth as her Dragon Heart surged with immense power.

Karine’s eyes widened in horror.

“Wait! Ignisia!”

She realized what Ignisia intended.

The Dragon Heart was being primed for a self-destructive explosion to take Necronovix down with it.

“It’s a long shot, but—!”

Better to go out fighting than surrender.

Just as Ignisia braced herself to charge—

[Hmm.]

Necronovix stopped moving.

Startled, Ignisia hesitated.

“W-What?”

[…They’ve pushed me too far over there. This is my limit. I wanted to burn the World Tree, but—]

Necronovix clicked its tongue.

[No matter. I’ll return another time.]

With those words, Necronovix’s form began to dissipate, as though melting under sunlight.

“…What the?”

“Did we win?”

In the midst of the destruction, the elves stared blankly at the spot where Necronovix had vanished.

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