Chapter 28: Preservation (3/3)

Colin stood in a standoff against the "Black Knight," whose incomplete mythical creature form loomed before him. Behind him, the five others closed their eyes and fumbled their way into a turn, only opening them once they were certain they would not catch sight of the "Black Knight."

Without a word of melodrama, they turned and fled. In a battle between demigods, their presence would be nothing more than a burden. To "stay and fight side-by-side" would be the height of stupidity. In such circumstances, even a child freshly graduated from school in the City of Silver would know what to do.

Facing the "Black Knight" as it rapidly closed the distance, Colin first swung his sword, creating a translucent, golden-yellow barrier to separate them. He then drove one blade into the ground, pulled out a potion vial, bit the cap off, and poured the liquid onto his other sword. Tossing the bottle aside, he pulled up the first sword, drove the second one into the ground, and repeated the process. He ensured that at least one blade remained in his hand at all times, so that if the barrier were shattered while he was applying his "buffs," he would not be forced to fight bare-handed.

Throughout these movements, he kept his head slightly turned, never looking directly at the creature's head, relying only on his peripheral vision to track its every move. Although he was a demigod, he could not gaze directly upon a mythical creature—even an incomplete one—without entering his own incomplete state.

Regrettably, he only had time to enchant his greatsword before the barrier shattered and the "Black Knight's" massive head squeezed into the corridor, which was far too cramped for its size.

Colin raised his pair of greatswords and struck them together with a heavy clang, producing a resonant echo like a great bell. A wave of gold and crimson energy erupted from him, forming a new barrier that encased both man and monster. While a "Guardian" like Stiak could only manifest a "Shield of Guardianship" on his hands, a "Demon Hunter"—the advanced form of a "Guardian"—could use such a shield to construct an entire dueling arena.

Golden radiance, the symbol of "Dawn," flooded the "arena," and its "walls" acted like mirrors, reflecting the golden light. The light acted like shackles, binding the "Black Knight" and slowing its movements. This was the extraordinary ability of a "Dawn Knight," which exerted a powerful suppression on the "Black Knight," a creature prone to the authority of "Depravity."

*Demon Hunter versus Black Knight—the advantage is mine.*

Discarding all pretense of chivalry, Colin struck first now that his opponent was restrained. He was no longer a Dawn Knight, so there was no need to fight a fair duel.

A crescent-shaped slash from the crimson greatsword in his right hand transformed into a red hound mid-air, pouncing forward to tear at the tentacles deep within the "Black Knight," while Colin himself danced between them, wielding both swords to assist. Every swing of the golden greatsword in his left hand detonated golden lightning, while every swing of the crimson greatsword in his right unleashed a crimson hound.

Within seconds, the arena meant for a "fair duel" had devolved into an all-out brawl.

Yet, Colin felt a primal instinct that something was wrong. The opponent was too weak. Even under suppression, it should not have been this incapable of retaliation.

As his greatsword fell and split the monster's head, Colin watched in horror as it transformed into the shadow that had previously been stripped from Berg.

This was the extraordinary ability of a "Parasite." This "Black Knight" had "herded" the soul of a "Parasite." It had "depraved" Berg's shadow, allowing it to use the "herded" Parasite to inhabit the monster's fleshy, hollow shell, thereby stealing its identity. Meanwhile, the true body—having lost its identity and power—had withered into a pile of rotten meat, slithering through the walls of flesh and remaining outside the "arena." This was the trap the creature had set while Colin was busy applying his "buffs."

Even acting on mere instinct, a "Black Knight" that had herded a "Parasite" naturally gained the traits of a "Trickster." It would never stand idly by while Colin empowered himself; instead, it had turned that very process against him.

Stealing from oneself—an old tradition of a Thief.

Colin whipped his head around. Outside the arena, as the shadow-Berg died, the stolen identity and power returned to the original, and an eye on the wall burst open as a massive head squeezed out of the socket.

Colin wanted to intervene; he wanted to recall the "Shield of Guardianship" that formed the arena. But he realized he couldn't do it within seconds. The Black Knight had not only herded a Parasite, but also a Corruptor. After Colin built the walls of the arena, the Corruptor's ability, in accordance with Colin's own subconscious will, had sealed him off from the outside world. Though the Corruptor was only Sequence 6, Colin now had to contend with his own will at that time. No one knew better than he did just how resolute his own will was.

He swung violently at the golden barrier, carving cracks into it. If he unleashed his incomplete mythical creature form, he could break free from this cage instantly, but he could not. Not only would the people outside be unable to withstand the corruption of two incomplete mythical creatures, but he was also responsible for the other citizens of the City of Silver. He could not abandon his reason here and transform into a mindless monster.

He roared and hacked, veins bulging on his body as his muscles strained against his armor, making it creak.

Stiak the Guardian and Ors the Mouse made a decisive choice to hold the rear, allowing the others to evacuate. They chose to sacrifice the "Guardian," who held the most extraordinary characteristics, and the less useful "Dream Stealer," to protect the rare "Appraiser" and the vital "Psychoanalyst."

Ors, known as "The Mouse," closed his eyes and attempted to steal the "pollution," but the next second, his right hand twisted, swelled, and exploded, turning into a pile of worm-like flesh. He was merely a Dream Stealer; when parts of his body spiraled out of control, they would not dissipate into Time Worms, but rather turn into grotesque strips of flesh.

Stiak the Guardian fared slightly better. Casting aside his shield, he closed his eyes and lunged forward, driving his greatsword into the "Black Knight's" eye and pinning it to the wall of flesh. Because Ors had briefly stolen the "pollution," Stiak avoided losing control from the close proximity to the mythical creature. But he was soon forced to retreat, as Ors had not even been able to hold on for a second.

Colin’s throat was already raw from screaming. He smashed his left hand down, shattering the barrier amidst a flash of lightning, and hurled his black greatsword to pierce the "Black Knight."

However, the "Black Knight" clearly had no intention of playing along; it dissolved into a mass of gore and fled in the opposite direction of Colin—the same direction in which Anthony and the Bergs were escaping.

The exertion of his full-power strikes had left Colin slightly winded, but he forced himself to charge in pursuit.

As he took a step, he suddenly felt his body grow heavy. He was unable to move, as if the surrounding air had solidified. Fortunately, the "Black Knight" not far away had also been brought to a standstill, unable to advance an inch.

The surrounding environment took on a new hue—not the gold of a "Dawn Knight," but a thick, heavy amber.

Colin felt his consciousness being pulled upward, soaring to an infinite height. He looked down to see tiny, glittering specks of light—what he believed to be the "stars" described only in fairy tales.

His gaze continued to ascend, and in the infinite distance, he saw a one-eyed, amber-colored stone giant holding a heavy hammer.