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A ten-zhang-tall false image materialized instantly behind Abdon from the swirling black mist. This serpent-headed, human-bodied figure had inverted pupils that glowed crimson and radiated an eerie, terrifying aura.
Hiss!
In the black mist, a scarlet serpent's tongue flickered out.
Rojen and the others observing the battle from the doorway simultaneously felt a bone-chilling cold as if an unseen presence were staring them down.
Five breaths later, countless snake-like creatures slithered out of the cracks in the walls of the King's Great Hall. The sheer density of the writhing mass sent shivers down their spines. In the blink of an eye, the snakes overran the entire hall, swarming toward the two Animal Path clones.
"Do you think this will work?" Deva Path sneered. "The darkness you've fallen into is nothing compared to mine!"
Ssss!
The snake-like creatures hissed and flicked their tongues as they attacked the two clones.
Animal Path leaped into the air, darting toward Abdon. Equally swift on the ground, Deva Path charged forward, ignoring the sea of snakes beneath his feet.
"Snakes Raid!"
At that moment, Abdon's vertical pupils narrowed to slits as he roared.
A black beam of magic erupted from the staff in his right hand and flashed across the hall in an instant.
Hiss!
The serpentine roar echoed through the palace, sending all the snake-class beings into a frenzy.
"Oh my God!" Robin shrieked in terror, clutching the Lordling beside her tightly.
Rojen's pupils constricted as he transferred his consciousness to his two clones.
Visibly, the snake-class creatures scattered across the palace floor began to converge rapidly, drawn together by some mysterious force. They coalesced into a colossal serpent, roughly one meter thick and over sixty meters long. This serpentine behemoth, composed entirely of writhing snakes with a crimson tongue that flicked menacingly, sent shivers down the spines of all who witnessed it. Most bizarrely, the composite serpent shuddered violently before transforming into a single, colossal serpent of flesh and scales.
Hiss!
The giant snake opened its maw and let out a deafening hiss. It slithered behind Deva Path and Animal Path in a matter of moments.
"Take this!" Abdon roared with laughter, his magic staff flicking incessantly.
Xiū xiū xiū xiū!
A stream of light shot forth and struck the rapidly approaching Animal Path, instantly sending it flying.
The Deva Path's expression remained cold as he manipulated his repulsive force, shattering each magic attack.
Meanwhile, the two clones transmitted information, causing Rojen's face to grow increasingly grim.
"Abdon's casual strikes are utterly terrifying!"
In the Otherworld Kingdom, Rojen experienced the full might of Abdon's magic firsthand.
One could say that Abdon's casual flick of the finger unleashed a cannon blast. Unlike a cannon blast, however, it was far faster—nearly instantaneous.
Hiss!
At that same moment, the giant snake launched its own assault on the pair.
Its tail lashed out and struck the Animal Path, which had already been hit by a magic ball. The Animal Path was sent flying once again.
Meanwhile, the Deva Path bore the full brunt of Abdon's elemental magic. Flames, torrents of water, and massive stone blocks rained down, continuously shattering the palace grounds. Each attack covered an area nearly a hundred meters in diameter, making evasion extremely difficult.
Leaping and sprinting, the Deva Path launched his attack.
"Shinra Tensei!"
A repulsive force erupted, shattering every approaching attack within a radius of several hundred meters.
Simultaneously, he raised his right hand.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
Gravitational force seized Abdon, freezing him in place as his face contorted in shock.
Snap!
In an instant, Deva Path had Abdon in his grasp.
"Monster Fist!"
Armament Haki surged over his other arm, coating it in hardened black energy. He unleashed a devastating punch.
Bang!
The punch landed squarely in Abdon's abdomen, doubling him over. Five ribs snapped, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Hiss!
Just then, the giant snake lunged down from above, its jaws gaping wide.
The Deva Path dodged with a swift knee movement, throwing Abdon aside.
Cough, cough, cough!
Abdon coughed violently, spewing blood with each breath.
Deva Path's punch had shattered his internal organs, leaving him critically wounded.
But in the next instant, as he muttered an eerie incantation, his injuries began to heal at an unnatural rate.
Five breaths later, he stood upright again, fully healed.
"What kind of magic is this?!" Rojen exclaimed, his mind reeling.
Such bizarre magic... Can it heal injuries this quickly?
"It's black magic!"
Behind him, Salo and the others had arrived.
"Abdon has been studying black magic for nearly a century," Salo said grimly. "He's mastered every known black magic spell, and he's even developed a terrifying forbidden spell!"
"A forbidden spell?" Rojen stared in disbelief. "Could those novels from my previous life actually be true?"
"Exactly. He's cruel and indifferent, caring nothing for the lives of the common people in the kingdom. Over the years, countless babies and children have disappeared—he's the one behind it all!"
"If black magic were purely about magic itself, it wouldn't be so terrifying. What makes it truly horrifying is his ability to use human lives as fuel for his training."
"Driven by such madness, he has gained a terrifying power!"
Salo took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"Are you saying his magic is trained using human lives?" Rojen asked.
"Yes! Specifically, the lives of newborn infants!" Salo's face twisted with revulsion.
"Ah!" Robin clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with shock.
Truthfully, Robin wasn't the only one horrified. Rojen's heart ached with unbearable pain, too.
No matter how cold or numb they are, humans retain some vestige of humanity. But Abdon... he probably doesn't consider himself human anymore.
"That bastard!" Rojen cursed angrily.
"To destroy him, your strength alone is far from enough," Asi declared.
"We must combine our efforts to annihilate him completely!" Torons added coldly.
Rojen glanced at the group, then chuckled softly.
"Forget it. Just do me one favor: watch over my companions. Besides, taking him down would secure my claim to the throne!"
Everyone froze, puzzled.
But, in the next moment, as Rojen strode deeper into the palace, they understood.
Rojen intended to face Abdon alone.
"A king must possess a king's strength. The timing is perfect to show you all what I'm capable of!"
Rojen's voice echoed from afar. In the blink of an eye, he had reached the Giant Snake.
The sixty-meter-long Giant Snake was a terrifying sight. Rojen moved swiftly along its back, his footsteps relentless. Simultaneously, a flash of crimson and tomoe patterns flickered in his eyes, transforming into concentric rings of intricate markings.
At that moment, the three bodies achieved complete visual synchronization, becoming one.
Boom!
The giant snake lashed its tail, sending the animal path clone flying. At the same time, the Deva Path clone was caught in Abdon's magical sniper fire.
Clang!
Rojen moved with lightning speed, reaching the giant snake's vital point in an instant. Seven Stars was suddenly drawn from its sheath.
"Beast, die!"
The longsword shot forth, flashing several sword flowers into the air. With a devastating surge of sword energy, Seven Stars pierced the giant snake's vital point.
Pfft!
Blood splattered as the Sword Energy swiftly decapitated the giant snake.
"Energy transfer!"
Immediately, Rojen's One Qi, Three Revolutions technique activated, converting the magic power in his body into chakra.
At that moment, Deva Path's Shinra Tensei entered its cooldown period. He jerked his head up, leaped backward, and rapidly formed hand seals.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
In a single breath, he unleashed three ninjutsu techniques. Fueled by his Kage-level chakra reserves, the techniques surged with immense power and instantly collided with Abdon's magic.
(End Of This Chapter)