Karnak, Monarch of Death

"Not bad, Karnak Zestrad." Leoslav forced himself to calm his breathing. "You've managed to corner me this far."

At this point, there was only one option left for him. What was the worst possible outcome he faced now? Using the Anti-Time-Space Transcender? Ruining Tesranach's plans? No, that wasn't the worst possible outcome. It was something else entirely.

The worst possible outcome was if he lost here and the enemy got their hands on the Anti-Time-Space transgender. I can't let that happen.

What meaning did the future have if he lost the present while thinking of it? Resolute, Leoslav reached his remaining hand into his robes. "Tesranach, I will accept the punishment later!"

His five fingers gripped the pitch-black cube tightly, and a blinding light enveloped his entire body. The massive halo of light grew larger and larger, consuming not only Leoslav but also the surrounding darkness as it expanded.

A gloomy voice slipped between the lips of the corrupted pope. "Light, burn this body and let your authority descend. Incarnation of Divinity, Black Star."

***

A giant of light, over five meters tall, revealed itself between the buildings, straightening its back as it unleashed a strange, resonant roar in all directions. It was the bellow of something no longer human.

Leven furrowed his brow. It looked oddly familiar. "Ah, that... Isn't that what Jedex used?"

Karnak nodded. "Yeah, that's it."

It was the highest miracle the Popes of the Seven Goddesses' could invoke, offering their entire being to manifest the goddess's power on earth through Incarnation of Divinity. And it had even fused with darkness, transforming into a new sorcery, just as Jedex's Black Sun had originally been Incarnation of Divinity, Red Sun.

"You could say it's the dark version of the original," commented Karnak.

Above Karnak's calm face, a voice filled with authority echoed. "Karnak..."

The aftershocks of the dreadful power surged like waves. It was a force that seemed ready to crush the entire area with just its voice. Indeed, the nearby citizens of Astlin were cowering in fear beneath their beds.

Yet, Leven did not freeze like he had in the past. Is it because I've seen this once before? It doesn't feel as hopeless as it did back then.

Well, he had become far stronger since then. Back when they faced Jedex, Leven had only been of the red-tier. But now, he had risen to the purple-tier, a full two tiers higher.

Still, it certainly doesn't look easy.

Tensing, Leven raised his sword. "What now? Are we going to run around like last time?"

Karnak stepped forward. "I'll handle it."

As he reached into his robes, Karnak chuckled broadly. "Things are a little different this time, aren't they?"

As its target approached, the giant of light opened its mouth wide. Light from all directions gathered, forming an enormous sphere, like starlight converging into a single point. Then, in an instant, it transformed into a colossal pillar that crashed down toward Karnak.

At the overwhelming force bearing down on them, Leven flinched in alarm. "L-Lord Karnak!"

Karnak pulled something from within his robes, thrusting it forward to meet the oncoming brilliance. He held a black cube, the Anti-Time-Space Transcender, in his outstretched hand.

Power clashed with power. A transparent darkness like obsidian illuminated the city with radiant light. The Anti-Time-Space Transcender disassembled into five pieces, just as it had when they faced Elezar and Dreltein.

The five fragments melded into his right hand, encasing his fingers in a flickering gauntlet of darkness. With a sly grin, Karnak laughed. "Thanks for opening it for me, saves me the trouble of unsealing it."

Thanks to the overwhelming authority contained within the Black Star, he once again managed to grasp death with a living body. "And now, I owe you a hefty return gift."

An intangible wave struck the giant of light. The massive figure, over five meters tall, staggered from the single blow, letting out a groan. Karnak was not wielding necromancy, but chaos mana.

When he had dealt with Elezar and Dreltein, Karnak had taken the risk of using necromancy, but there was no need for that now. Leoslav was far lower in rank and power compared to the two, and he was alone.

"I can handle this well enough just playing the mage."

The giant of light hesitated, as if stunned by the unexpected impact. Karnak used that opening to continue his incantation. It was the highest-tier element summoning spell, equivalent to the ninth circle. "Come forth, Fel Lestheria!"

***

The ground melted and flowed as a massive lava colossus surged into the air. The giant set its surroundings ablaze merely by existing, spreading dreadful heat in every direction. The ultimate spirit, an embodiment of nature itself, let out a roar of flame.

The giant of light swung its arms as it charged at the elemental titan, and the two titans collided and began to brawl. It might have appeared slow to smaller beings, but in truth, their speed was monstrous. Each time they struck each other, explosions erupted and erupted again.

As with Jedex, the giant of light had no critical points or weaknesses. No matter how much it was cut, pierced, or struck with spells, its body would swiftly regenerate. Its reservoir of authority was simply too vast.

But this also meant that if one could deplete that reservoir of authority itself, it could be defeated with relative ease! With a roar, the elemental titan slammed down on the giant of light's shoulder. The entire shoulder was blown off, sending fragments of light scattering everywhere.

Fel Lestheria possessed such terrifying strength that it could shatter the giant's body in a single blow.

Karnak muttered as if it were only natural. "Spirit magic inherently wields power beyond its circle."

Even a seventh circle spirit giant could exhibit power comparable to an average ninth circle spell. Then what about a ninth circle elemental titan? It could rival even a tenth circle spell.

Karnak muttered, "At least, as long as it's obedient."

And at this moment, the elemental titan was listening to Karnak very well. "Crush it!"

It struck, struck again, and struck yet again. It stomped, pounded, and crushed. There was no need for martial techniques. What need did light and lava have for human skills? They simply charged and slammed into each other like beasts.

In the end, the giant of light fell to its knees. Its body, composed of light, gradually dissolved into the air and began to disappear. The vast authority that had formed the giant scattered in vain in all directions.

Leven clicked his tongue. "Unbelievable, to take it down so easily..."

Thinking back to the struggle they had gone through to take down Jedex made it feel almost anticlimactic.

Yet, Karnak did not lower his guard. Now comes the real part.

Focusing his mind, he invoked necromancy, carefully controlling his power as he extended the hand of darkness toward Leoslav's soul.

He had gained sufficient proficiency in this method while tearing apart Dreltein's soul. He had also thoroughly studied Tesranach's techniques. "This is it!"

He succeeded. Leoslav's soul slipped cleanly into his grasp. The giant of light fully disappeared from the world.

Looking down at his right hand, now veiled in darkness, Karnak smiled with satisfaction. "Finally, I've secured a decent one."

***

There, too, another giant of light was rampaging in Astlin City's government building.

"You will regret this!" It was Relfiana, having unleashed Alium's Incarnation of Divinity, the Black Moon. "How dare you force me to commit such sin!"

She knew nothing of Leoslav's situation. While necromancy and divine magic had means for long-distance communication, they were by no means techniques one could afford to use while battling an enemy face-to-face.

Thus, upon seeing Leoslav flee, she could only think, He's gone to bring reinforcements from the walls!

In that case, all she had to do was endure until help arrived. The problem was that Serati's group was formidable, making it difficult to face them head-on. Moreover, to use Incarnation of Divinity, the Black Moon, she needed to borrow the power of the Anti-Time-Space Transcender.

Relfiana made a quick judgment. Since Leoslav also has the cube, it should be fine if I use mine, too.

It was a grave misunderstanding, but regardless, she ended up using the forbidden power. And this was the result. The giant of light continuously emitted flashes as it tore through the city, beams of destructive light raining down on Serati's group like a storm.

Yet, it failed to inflict any real damage. Each of them calmly evaded the barrage while countering with precision. Damn it! Why are they dodging so easily?

Karnak's group had once struggled against Jedex's Black Sun, but those days were long past. The group's average strength had increased drastically since then. There was Drel, flimsy yet still a silver knight. There was Lapicel, young in age but already a purple knight. There was Serati, who, though at the blue-tier, wielded power that even surpassed the purple-tier.

And then there was Milia. She was just Milia. Leaving the last aside, the first three were formidable foes, even for Relfiana as the Black Moon.

Silver aura blades continued to fly toward her, and purple and blue auras followed right after. She was growing weary. She was being pushed back. Yet, despite her gasping breaths, Relfiana held on stubbornly.

Just a little longer, just a little longer, and—

Leoslav will return with reinforcements!

Sadly, her hopes were not to be fulfilled. Instead of the awaited Leoslav, it was Karnak's group that appeared over the rooftops.

Karnak approached Serati's group, greeting them with a calm smile. "Well done, everyone."

The giant of light let out a flustered groan. "Y-You bastards..."

Leven's eyes widened in surprise. "It can talk?"

When Jedex and Leoslav had used Incarnation of Divinity, their intelligence had dropped to that of beasts.

Varos shrugged as if it was nothing. "She always did. It differs depending on the pope."

Not all popes who used Incarnation of Divinity turned into rampaging, mindless giants of light. Some, like Relfiana, retained their sanity, though their power was weaker as a result.

As Karnak's group drew closer, the giant of light, Relfiana, fell into confusion. Leoslav was defeated? How?

The answer soon became clear. The answer to her question was barreling toward her with its burning fist raised. It was the elemental titan, Fel Lestheria.

***

Relfiana, the fallen pope of the moon who had ravaged the empire with overwhelming force, was now being ravaged in turn by overwhelming violence.

Her body of light shattered, melted, and was smashed apart. Relfiana had already spent a great deal of her strength dealing with Serati's group. Confronted now with the elemental titan, she stood no chance.

She made her decision. I must avoid the worst possible outcome!

Abandoning her living body in this era was a painful choice. However, if her soul survived, she could one day resurrect using the body of the dead.

Tesranach, take me!

Just as Relfiana's soul was about to leave her body and drift into the darkness, suddenly, dozens of black hands reached out from beyond the darkness. W-What is this?!

Dozens, hundreds of hands seized her arms, legs, and entire body, dragging her down. Forcibly anchored to this era, she let out a piercing scream.

As Relfiana plummeted into the abyss, a cold voice, one that could freeze even the soul, echoed faintly in her ears.

"Good. With this, I've secured both."