Endless Debt

The swirling snow dust rapidly sweeps across the boundless icefield, the pale Throat of the Abyss moving its bulky body, once again striking towards Bologue. This time, as the Secret Source recedes, it releases its power without restraint, the vile ethereal fluctuations gradually rising, until an ether fire of the Seeker of Glory level ignites.

Undoubtedly, this embodiment of world calamity possesses the power of a Glory Seeker, and in fact, it is even far stronger than a typical Glory Seeker.

Anyone who faces it directly will feel the sinister frenzy originating from the essence of darkness, that pure aura of terror, enough to conquer anyone with a frail mind.

But Bologue is no longer among them.

Bologue stands in place, his hands tightly grasping his weapon, an unnameable fire scorching within, his blood boiling alongside.

"Facing power with composure, dedicated without reserve..."

At this juncture, Bologue resonates with this great spirit, infected, called upon, an indescribable impulse and excitement fills Bologue’s nerves, his breath is fiery, every movement carries immense force.

Gazing at the steadily approaching Throat of the Abyss, Bologue no longer faces it with angry eyes; instead, this time he maintains a look of compassionate smile.

"Since the fracture of reality event, I haven’t felt like this in a long time, Aimou."

Bologue strides forward, marching boldly towards the Throat of the Abyss.

"If previously my slaughter was merely for a simple purpose, to vent my own hatred, now my actions are all for justice."

Resentment Bite is coated with dense ether, a massive output of ether, awakening the dormant crystal core, etheric distortion, transforming into fiercely burning flames with lethal high temperatures, enough to melt anything in the world.

"Yes, for justice, for a greater mission, a greater responsibility."

Bologue recalls the near-pathological obsession in his heart when avenging Adelle.

"I shall be the chosen Savior, the Savior I admit to being. Perhaps I cannot save everyone, but I swear to destroy all my foes."

The Vengeful Saw Axe adheres to Bologue’s palm, straps like snakes climbing his arm, tightening, the sleek axe blade appears stained with blood, becoming mottled and coarse, scarlet rust emerging from nowhere, sharp axe blade cracking.

The cold weapon seems to come alive, numerous refined serrated ax blades overlaying each other, vibrating slightly, synchronizing with Bologue’s heartbeat.

Aimou’s voice echoes in Bologue’s mind, "I will be this justice’s Deputy, Sword Holder."

The Throat of the Abyss roars, disappearing into the Curved Pathway Rift, simultaneously, various rifts emerge all around Bologue. This trick has been used once by the Throat of the Abyss, Bologue is well aware of what will happen next.

Serrated blades interlock, producing piercing abrasive sounds, poised to chop any extending limb into meat morsels, but this time what extends from the rift is not pale arms, but the engulfing mouth of darkness.

"All mine..."

Weird murmurings echo, followed by a tremendous suction released from various rifts, in an instant, Bologue is captured by the suction from different directions, as if multiple invisible hands grab his body, attempting to tear him apart.

The pulling force is so terrifying that first the garments crack into pieces, exposing skin erupting with blood scars resembling growth lines.

"Do you want to eat me that badly?"

Bologue no longer resists the suction but instead voluntarily leaps toward a Curved Pathway Rift.

"Then let you eat your fill!"

Bologue raises the Sword Axe high, masses of ether surround him, before the Sword Axe descends, layers of ethereal shock repeatedly smash into the Curved Pathway Rift, as well as the darkness mouth that opens beneath it.

The Defender’s power fully released, within this ether-filled world, Bologue’s full-force strike easily arouses numerous anomalies, complemented by the blazing flames extending from Resentment Bite.

Like a fiery bird spreading wings, a brilliant incandescent light arc rises, parting like waves, crashing heavily onto that Curved Pathway Rift.

Curved Pathway, which can also be described as space.

Distorting spatial dimensions is an extremely difficult and dangerous task. Even though Alchemy Matrix Technology has developed to this day, scholars still cannot successfully establish stable Curved Path Gates within regions of etheric chaos.

Throat of the Abyss, relying on its world calamity force, can freely create Curved Pathway Rifts, but that doesn’t mean the rifts it opens are absolutely stable.

In the high-energy level collision, a series of crisp shattering sounds resonate within the Ethereal Realm as if sheets of glass are pierced and crushed.

After the flare, Bologue’s full-force strike, combined with the gradually chaotic, turbulent ether within the Ethereal Realm, causes a new circle of rifts to extend from the Curved Pathway Rift.

Utter fragmentation.

Instantly, the Curved Pathway Rift collapses, all falling inward, forming a pitch-black hole, like a collapsing black hole, rapidly sweeping up surrounding ether, until it implodes.

The earth-shattering explosion resounded, its expansive impact flattening the drifting snow dust, completely dispersing the Curved Pathway Rift.

But there was more than just one Curved Pathway Rift here.

A foul, bloodthirsty aura approached from behind, as the Throat of the Abyss extended its bloated, massive body. The Mouth of Darkness, like a shroud, directly enveloped Bologue.

The wind suddenly rose, and the Throat of the Abyss felt something soaring. As the sensation of pain belatedly arrived on its body, several thick limbs lifted into the air as if by magic.

Bologue swiftly turned around, not with anger, but with a faint smile on his face.

Bright Ethereal Radiance illuminated his body surface. Bologue had attempted countless times to cross that limit until he ascended to become a Defender. At this moment, he completely shattered those high walls, gaining absolute freedom over his power.

Extreme Realm·Ethereal Amplification.

The sudden gust extinguished, as the swinging sword axe crushed the shrill echoes. Many rifts opened, countless limbs stretched out attempting to block Bologue, but with Bologue’s laughter, just like a scythe harvesting a wheat field, the malformed arms of the Throat of the Abyss were severed neatly, all sliced, chopped, snapped, or twisted apart.

Nothing could block Bologue, and nothing could stop that death-sentencing sword and axe.

Having absorbed the Blood of Evil, the Vengeful Saw Axe fully awakened, with a heartbeat resonating with Bologue’s emerging from its cold metal.

"Watch out!"

Aimou warned Bologue in his mind. Bologue also became aware of the approaching crisis. He swung the Resentment Bite with all his might, scattering light, and creating a semicircular sea of fire around him to block the creeping tar.

The flames seared the viscous, malevolent substance, producing crackling sounds and filling the air with a stench so overwhelming one couldn’t help but cover their nose and mouth.

The Throat of the Abyss reappeared from the Curved Pathway Rift, but this time its body passed through several such rifts, making it resemble a colossal python coiling through space.

Rarely did it encounter a troublesome opponent like Bologue. More limbs grew from the stumps, rubbing against each other with a rustling sound.

Bologue maintained steady breathing, staying alert to both the Throat of the Abyss and the tar, while also gazing toward the direction where Mammon and Beelzebub had disappeared.

Those two Devils hadn’t left; they were watching him from not far away. Fortunately, these Devils also feared further corrosion by the tar, so they did not initiate an attack on him within the Ethereal Realm and instead let the Throat of the Abyss, as a Deputy, take action.

Just as the Secret Source wouldn’t overly shelter him.

"Do you have any escape routes?" Bologue asked Aimou in his mind.

Even after ascending, Bologue was only a Defender. He might hold out against the Throat of the Abyss in a short skirmish, but over time, he would eventually be defeated.

As the Calamity of this world, the Throat of the Abyss surely had some extreme method, temporarily unable to unleash... just like the Beast of the Herd Bologue had seen in the Abandoned Land.

"Escape route?" Aimou replied with confidence. "That’s exactly why I’m here, isn’t it?"

Long before Bologue’s consciousness awakened, Aimou had prepared an escape plan. She triggered the beacon she carried within her, and this signal barreled through the Ethereal Realm, finally finding the passage opened by the Ascension Ritual, and feeding back into the Material Realm.

Mamo, observing the signal flares lighting up one by one, knew what needed to be done.

"Maintain output power," Mamo instructed Furya and the others. "It’s time to bring them back."

Furya and the others nodded. Some maintained the equipment, while others ran to a winch, from which a thick cable extended into the passage.

Before Aimou left, she not only carried the beacon but also inserted a cable into herself, and as she activated Heart Overlapping Shadow, the cable faded into the void along with her body.

Thus a peculiar phenomenon appeared before Mamo: the cable from the winch remained a visible entity, but upon entering the Ethereal Realm, influenced by Aimou, it completely vanished, yet its presence could still be deduced from the straight tangible cable.

Now, Mamo just had to wait for the complete materialization of the cable.

Seconds later, the cable in the Ethereal Realm condensed from the void into a tangible entity. Mamo knew the time had come, and he shouted.

"Retrieve the cable!"

Furya forcefully pulled down the lever, the motor rapidly spun, the winch turned quickly, creating sparks.

The slack cable instantly became taut, like an infinitely extending Long Spear piercing the depths of the Ethereal Realm.

Mamo tried to stay calm, watching the ever-shifting passage. Suddenly, he laughed to himself at the irony, reflecting on how despite the advanced research, they ultimately relied on such primitive methods.

Primitive, yet simple and efficient.