How to Live as a Knight After the Ending-Chapter 540

Whoooong!

Glamhator's scythe was enormous. Its size alone was comparable to a decent-sized building and was swung at a speed that left no afterimage.

Clang!

Osian struck the scythe with his sword imbued with the power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars. He couldn't take it head-on. He had to deflect it somehow.

The scythe's trajectory twisted, and a black crescent moon shot up into the air.

-Crrrrrack.

The blue sky, untouched by the erosion's aftermath, split open. Between the split sky, the black universe was revealed. What would have happened if this had been swung toward the ground? The planet's crust would have been cleanly carved out.

'He really is disgustingly strong.'

His hands tingled. It couldn't be helped. Glamhator was an Outer God. One that ranked just below Taiheo at that. Even that clown underestimated him, so his strength would truly transcend imagination.

No matter that this wasn't his true form and he wasn't showing his proper power. His caliber was greater than any enemy Osian had ever faced.

Shushushushuk! A series of attacks swung at a speed that transcended perception. Perhaps because of their overwhelmingly powerful force, the pitch-black crescent-shaped scythe appeared hazy.

It was like an attack that transcended space. When he came to his senses, the scythe that had been far away was already approaching his neck.

-Clang!

However, Osian deflected it. He wasn't reacting by seeing with his eyes. He knew in advance where the scythe would come and placed his sword there. On top of that, he timed it to put force into his sword, twisting the scythe's trajectory.

[Truly a skill worthy of pride!]

Glamhator seemed endlessly pleased by this. As could be seen from his bellicose manner of speech, he was quite the battle maniac. At first, he had dismissed Osian, but his body heated up when he saw Osian behead even the Black Star General in one strike.

-Shushushushuk.

Black smoke gathered around Glamhator's body, taking the form of countless crescent moons. The crescents flew toward Osian, spinning like boomerangs. Their number easily exceeded several thousand. A sight that filled the entire field of vision. Though they were the same shape, their sizes varied so much that there was no sense of perspective.

'I can't deflect them one by one.'

Osian raised his energy without backing down. The three emblems floating behind his back rotated. The energies of the Sun, Moon, and Stars interlocked, creating a massive wave of radiance around him.

Fwaaah!

A wave of pure white light swept through the black crescents. The crescents couldn't withstand the power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars and trembled before exploding. Thousands of explosions decorated the sky. The smoke was so thick you couldn't see an inch ahead.

Whoong! Breaking through the smoke of the explosions, Glamhator charged in.

Osian drew out one Sun Ring Sword and threw it at the scythe strike that seemed to cleave from top to bottom. The Sun Ring Sword exploded, creating a sphere of light in the air but Glamhator's scythe strike didn't stop and Osian knew that well.

'I don't need to block it. I just need to create the slightest gap.'

Osian dove inside the scythe's range, approaching Glamhator closely. He hid his body in the sphere of light and charged in reverse.

[What!]

It seemed even Glamhator hadn't expected Osian to choose even closer combat. The moment he closed the distance, the light surging from his sword lengthened.

The sword, now hundreds of meters long, aimed for Glamhator's neck. Glamhator didn't just take it lying down either. He raised his hand that wasn't holding the scythe and blocked Osian's sword.

-Crack!

The arm made of smoke was harder than it appeared. But the power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars was strong enough to cut through even that hardness.

Osian's sword dug halfway into Glamhator's forearm. He wanted to put in more force, but the scythe was being pulled back and aimed at Osian's rear. If he continued to apply force and cut the neck, he would be split in half too.

Osian pulled out a shield. The energy of the Sun, Moon, and Stars wrapped around the shield, inflating its size about a hundred times.

Kwang!

The shield and scythe collided. Rumble! The mountains in the surrounding area completely collapsed. Even the outer area of the corrupted capital was pushed back inside the capital by the aftermath of the force.

Osian examined the shield. Not even a scratch. This must be the result of the power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars unfolding much more easily than before.

The same went for the sword. Until before, the blade trembled from containing such tremendous power, but now it was calm like a tranquil lake at dawn. Not even a ripple formed. This meant it could withstand even greater power being infused into it.

'I should express my gratitude to Eldin.'

Of course, that would only be possible after winning this fight.

Osian used the recoil from the explosion to charge at Glamhator again. He raised his half-severed forearm. He seemed to know no pain. Black smoke was rising from the cross-section of the wound.

However, he showed no hesitation. It was because of his confidence that any wound, as long as it didn't lead to death, could somehow be healed.

He kicked the arm that was striking down from above with all his might.

-Kwang!

The forearm swayed and was lifted upward. Aiming for that gap, Osian extended his arm. Crystals condensed from the air created ten Moonlight Blades.

The Moonlight Blades faintly disappeared. Glamhator's eyes rolled busily. Black spikes rose from various parts of his body.

-Pububububung!

The Moonlight Swords intercepted in the air exploded. They scattered white powder and cold air around them. Though they were invisible swords, Glamhator had detected their existence. But he couldn't shoot down all of them. One Moonlight Blade lodged in his nape.

-Crrrrrack.

Glamhator's neck froze pure white. The undulating smoke froze in that very form.

[Kugh! You damned bastard!]

Glamhator put force into his nape. His frozen body rapidly recovered. It could only cause a bit of pain, not a fatal wound. However, what mattered was that he had flinched. Osian's sword aimed for Glamhator's face.

-Slice!

Osian's sword properly entered. The power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars smoothly dug into the mask on his face and carved it in half.

One side of the split mask fell off, revealing his face.

It was shaped like that of a reptile. It was his true appearance hidden by the smoke. Instead of raging, Glamhator regripped his scythe and swung it mercilessly around him. It looked like wild swinging, but Osian felt a chill.

'He's restricting my movements while drawing a trajectory that will surely cut off my breathing.'

Even against an enemy much smaller than himself, his scythe was very precise and fast.

'He's experienced an enormous amount of this kind of close combat.'

Belonging to the Void Legion, as a Star-Shattering General, he must have cut down countless planets. Among those planets, could there really have been no existence like himself?

The fact that Glamhator was here meant he had achieved victory against enemies in countless conquest wars.

Osian drew Sun Ring Swords and shot them, eroded the surroundings hazily with Moonlight Blades, and struck Glamhator's scythe with Starlight Swords.

The powers of the stars, moon, and sun decorated the air, completely nullifying all of Glamhator's attacks.

[Being of the star. You are strong.]

Glamhator, who had put some distance between them, spoke.

[You are far stronger than any planetary being I have beheaded until now. I cannot help but acknowledge it. I have realized why the Primordial Void has set his eyes on this world. The other bastards weren't targeting this place for nothing either.]

"Other bastards, you say. The Red Eternity did come not long ago."

[Kuhaha! You mean that arrogant bastard? I too have heard the news that he retreated after suffering a great blow when he targeted this place!]

The Red Eternity was quite famous even among the Outer Gods. His presence was considerable, and he occupied a territory even on the outside.

That Red Eternity had targeted this world and retreated after being thoroughly beaten. Glamhator could understand the reason.

It was because of this bastard. That arrogant red bastard had been severely beaten by this planetary being. Glamhator had to admit his own limited insight. Who would have thought he would struggle this much!

[Kuhahaha! How delightful! Until now, cutting the necks of planets was just the performance of an assigned mission that brought no emotion whatsoever! But this struggle with you is so enjoyable! If it were up to me, I would want to enjoy this fight for all eternity!]

"I want to finish it quickly though."

[I agree! I too move according to that one's will! If I cannot properly settle things here, nothing would wound my pride more! The other Star-Shattering Generals would mock me. So I too will settle this match right now!]

Glamhator regripped his scythe. The fog flowing from his body intensified. It no longer melted away in the air. The overflowing black fog gradually spread and devoured space. Glamhator's bulk seemed to swell several times in an instant. The already giant creature becoming even more gigantic was absurd.

The power flowing from him intensified. It wasn't a bluff—he truly intended to settle it in one decisive strike.

'In that case, I can't pass this by half-heartedly either.'

Thinking of the battles to come, it was best to reduce power consumption as much as possible. But his opponent was a Star-Shattering General. Even among the Outer Gods, his combat power was among the very best.

Such a being was trying to fight with full power. There was no way he could worry about power conservation or stamina distribution in the face of that.

'Even though it's a clone, it's a clone that has manifested considerable power, so defeating it would deal a significant blow to the main body as well.'

Then he had no choice but to respond in kind.

"I didn't want to use this here. But I have no choice."

Osian exhaled and concentrated his mind. Glamhator's eyes widened. For him, who could now see nothing but black darkness, the only thing that could be distinguished were his red pupils.

The light flowing from behind Osian's back intensified. The three emblems mixed together, creating some new form.

It was something even Glamhator had never seen. But the aura emanating from it, that power. Wasn't that strength just like the one he served?

[Interesting!]

Glamhator cried out boldly. His mountain-like gigantic body charged at Osian.

[For the first and last time, I ask you! What is your name!]

Osian, who had gathered all his energy, spoke as if reciting to Glamhator, who had already approached within striking distance.

"Osian."

[Good! Osian! I, Glamhator, acknowledge you! And...!]

-Slice.

A short, concise sound and Glamhator's words never continued.

The fog crumbled. The enormous energy composing his body shrank and diminished in an instant. His expanded body returned to its original state, and the scythe he held in his hand was cut in half.

"No. Glamhator."

Osian, who had already passed by Glamhator, looked back at him and said.

"I acknowledge you."

Acknowledgment was something the strong bestowed upon the weak. Because Glamhator understood that meaning, he could only chuckle.

Along with the sound of laughter, Glamhator completely disappeared as if evaporating.

Glamhator had completely vanished. But he wasn't dead. What had been killed was only an avatar, a portion of his power.

'Still, seeing how considerable the power was, he must have taken no small blow.'

No matter how much the door had been opened from the inside, even an Outer God of Glamhator's level couldn't come with his true form.

'But it's a matter of time. If left like this, the erosion will widen. As the encroachment progresses, the planet's veil will weaken, and more of their forces will come rushing in.'

Osian looked down. The ground where erosion had already progressed was dyed black. That wasn't all. Due to the erosion's aftermath, mutation had progressed, and black rock-like structures had risen above the plain.

They were destroyed by the fight with Glamhator, but they would be restored again with time.

Osian descended to the ground.

Sssssst! Thud!

As his feet tried to touch the eroded and corrupted ground, the ground screamed. The power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, the energy of the planet, was an opposing force to the eroded ground.

The moment Osian stepped on the ground, a large wave spread widely. That alone caused the contaminated land to die instantly.

-Stagger.

For a moment, the strength almost left his legs but Osian straightened his posture.

'Did I overdo it a bit?'

That power that defeated Glamhator wasn't something to be used here. Originally, it was a kind of ultimate technique that should be used at the most critical moment.

But facing the Star-Shattering General, this was the answer to ending it with minimal damage. As the price, flying any further was too much. He had to conserve his strength as much as possible. Osian gathered his energy and took a step forward.

The scenery passed by. Black cliff-like structures rising here and there. Between them, what appeared to be human forms could be sparsely seen.

As if desperately running to escape from that contamination, or desperately reaching out their hands begging to be saved. Bizarre forms that had been swept up by the contamination in those very poses, becoming one with the black rock.

Those were actually people. Precisely, they had been people.

They must have been citizens of the Baienrus Kingdom. When the contamination started and the erosion spread, they would have fled. But the erosion's speed was fast, and ordinary people couldn't escape. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

That result was exactly this.

'Truly, the scene of an apocalypse.'

Beyond the Plain of Destruction, black structures could be seen rising sharply like mountains. They were still continuously changing. The ground rumbled and roared as massive thorn-like rocks shot up.

Around them, tentacle-like heat haze undulated.

The capital had become hell. And that hell was alive, trying to devour the world of the living.