27 Those who pay the darkness and those who illuminate the light (1/2)

Dark Knight Kroki

Who are you!　You!

The masked man yells at me.

I would say that's our line.

Who is this masked man?

'And why can you move within my realm!　Anyone without the blessing of Lord Nargol should be deprived of his power!

I don't think that's what you're saying. It doesn't affect anything.

When I followed the dark magic that created the black fog, I came to a door, and when I entered, I found that Suioji Chiyuki and Todoroki Naomi were trapped.

And the masked man who must have captured them was about to attack Suiji Chiyuki, so I unintentionally saved them.

Those two have already escaped from this room.

I look at this masked man.

Since I am also hiding my face, I must be a suspicious person if others see me, but the man in front of me who wears the eerie mask is also suspicious.

I'm sure this man is the one who created this black fog.

'There was no one like you in the company of the brave men!　Answer me!　Who the hell are you?

Of course, I don't remember being one of Rage's friends, and I don't intend to be.

In fact, I feel bad when I'm treated as one of Rage's friends.

Well, I saved Rage's friends, so it's not surprising that they think so.

But the man in front of me is trying to bring disaster to this country. I don't know what he is, but I'm going to stop him.

I call my armament with magic. The clothes you were wearing before disappear and you take the form of the Dark Knight.

”The Dark Knight!

The masked man's appearance changes.

'Why!　Why are those traitorous minions here!

The masked man says something that bothers me.

'A traitor?　What are you talking about?

I ask the man in the mask.

”Hm, don't say you don't know me!　Of course it must be about Modes, the beloved son and betrayer!

I say as I spit it out.

I'm shocked by the masked man's words.

I haven't heard that story at all. I'll ask Modes when I get back to Nargol.

'And why would a dark knight help a brave woman?　They must be enemies to you, too.

It's not that I was trying to help. It just happened.

'I wasn't trying to help you. You are an enemy of Modes, aren't you? Then you are your own enemy. Do I need a reason to get in the way of my enemy?

Actually, it's to help this country, but let's call it that.

”Hmm, I'll take that as a yes. I don't know how you're scenting this, but if you get in my way, I'll have you dead!

In truth, it could be a coincidence, but when they overlap this much, it feels like an inevitability.

I can feel the flow of magic power from the masked man.

''Don't think that a mere dark knight style can stop this Zarxis, one arm of the god of destruction, Nargol-sama!

The man who called himself Zarxis says something that bothers me. Nargol, the God of Destruction. I've never heard the phrase before.

”Freeze the souls of the dead, prison of the abyss, answer my call!

The temperature in the room dropped rapidly at Zarxis' words.

He knew the magic that Zarxis was about to use.

There is an abyss in this world that even the gods fear, and the souls of the dead who have nowhere to go are trapped in that abyss. This is the so-called afterlife in this world.

And in the depths of the abyss, there is a prison of ice to hold the souls of the dead, it is said.

Zarxys wants to call the ice prison of the underworld. It is the highest level of freezing magic that Lugus taught me.

But you can't defeat yourself with that magic.

''All-consuming dark fire, be my shield!

When you scream, the black flame appears as a barrier.

The ice prison of the underworld and the black flame barrier released by Zarxys collide with each other and disappear.

''Black flame. You can't be sure of that,” he said. So, you're the dark knight Dihalt of the rumor.

The words of the man who called himself Zarxis surprised me. It was a rumor. I don't like to gossip about people, but .......

'I'm surprised you're here, you're good enough to beat the brave man: ...... Orr is out of luck, too.

Zarxys sighs.

I draw my sword myself.

'Is this the end of it, Zarxis?　Then I want you to get rid of the black fog, and I have a lot more questions for you. Can you tell me?

I'd like to ask you some questions about your relationship with Modes, etc. I don't think he'll be able to tell me more quietly than that.

'It's not over yet!　My strongest undead!

Zarxys steps back. Some huge object comes out.

'Is this a ...... dragon?'

What came out was a dragon. If it were big enough, it would rival Glorious. But this is no ordinary dragon. The bones and other parts of the body are exposed.

I've been placed in this room to protect it, a dragon zombie using the body of a fire dragon. You may not be a match for them, but their resistance to fire makes them hard to defeat. I'm going to destroy both the heroes and the country.

I see a dragon that has become a zombie.

'It was originally the same dragon as Glorious: ......

It doesn't feel good that the dragon has died and is still being used without being allowed to rest in peace.

'Go dragon zombies!　Hold the Dark Knight back!

A dragon zombie attacks you by order of Zarxys.

I catch the attack with my body.

Although I'm not blown away, my body is impacted.

''Guh!''

The impact causes me to yell out.

'Good!　Keep the Dark Knight at bay!

Zarxis's laughter.

I didn't care about the laughter, I held the dragon's head down and closed my eyes to focus my attention on it.

I saw something like a black thread in the dragon's consciousness. I send magic power into that thread and cut it off.

'O proud dragon! I have cut the thread that still binds you in death. Rest in peace. ......

When I say this myself, the dragon that became a zombie becomes more mature.

''Nonsense!　You've got a dragon zombie on your hands!

Zarxys lets out a startled cry as he holds himself down by the dragon and is about to leave the room.

The dead dragon roars out.

Then I felt the dead dragon's soul enter me.

'I see ...... you want to stay with yourself.

Of course, if you want to be with yourself, there is no reason to refuse.

The dragon's body is disappearing.

''d*mn! What the hell are you doing?　There was no one like this, not even the God of Elios!

Zarxis's angry voice.

'Eei!　No!　I don't care about Orua!　Let's get out of the way!

Zarxys' body blurs.

'Let him go! Firebind!

He uses the power of the fire dragon that has entered him and tries to catch it with a rope of fire.

However, it disappears before it reaches you a step too late.

''I should have used the transference blockade magic. ......

I regret it. I wanted to ask a lot of questions, but if this happens, I'll have to go back to Nargol and ask Modes.

For now, let's find a way to get rid of the black fog.

I will look for anything that Zarxys may have left behind.

Then I feel a strong flow of magic from somewhere. You go to the direction where you feel the magic and you find a huge magic circle that glows red.

The magic circle is drawn with lines radiating from the center and connecting them, reminiscent of a spider's web.

And from that magic circle, something like a black mist is blowing out.

''Perhaps this is what's calling up the black fog: ......

I'm going to prepare the magic sword and cut through the magic circle.

Then the red light disappears, and the magic power I had felt until then disappears.

''With this, the black fog should be gone.

Shirone the Maiden of Swords

We're screwed ....... You just run away .......

Gallios says with a tight look on his face. We've torn down a few houses and barricaded ourselves in them while we have the strength to do so, but honestly, we may be running out of steam.

'Yes, Lady Syrone. I don't think we'll ever get away with it, but I'm sure you will.

Nimli says.

'You guys ......'

Thanks for the offer, but you can't escape. I can't get my wings out from earlier.

And, somehow, it seems that the whole country is warded to keep us from escaping. We will not be able to escape.

No, I won't run away. And it's okay, everyone, Rage-kun will take care of it!

I have to trust you, Raige.

We'll figure it out. I don't want to end up fighting with Kuroki.

Even at a time like this, I suddenly think of a childhood friend who comes to mind.

He's an everyday person. He wasn't full of excitement like Mr. Rage.

It was boring, to say the least, but there was a calm and warmth to it.

That encourages me in a pinch like now.

I take my sword. I can't end up here!

Guys, just hang on a little longer!

A voice.

The voice causes some of us to crawl and try to move.

I'm lazy too. I can barely swing my sword from earlier.

Some of the freedom fighters are completely immobilized, but I have no choice but to move.

But I have no choice but to move. I'm sure everyone else is trying their best. I can't be the only one to fall.

I raise my sword.

Light!

Suddenly I hear someone's voice.

I feel something warm above my head.

'The black fog is disappearing.'

Looking around me, I could see the black fog fading away.

And above my head was Rage's sun.

When I basked in that light, I could feel my strength rising up.

Now that the black fog has cleared, that light will light up the whole country.

The people who have fallen in the light will rise up.

And with this light, the zombies will also disappear.

It looks like they are safe.

”I knew it, Reiji-kun saved me.

Black haired wise man Chiyuki

I'm sorry, I can't use my powers: ......

Sahoko apologizes to me.

'The genie wouldn't come when he called me. ......

Reno says sadly.

'So ......'

I mutter.

Nao lies unconscious beside me.

I returned to the ground and joined Sahoko and the others.

I asked them to help Nao recover, but Sahoko had lost the use of her powers.

Probably because of this black fog.

It seems that we have to do something about this black fog.

I've only been in this kind of predicament once before, when I met with Dihardt.

Come to think of it, maybe it was just my luck until now.

'Both of you take care of Nao-san, please.

I stand up.

'Where are you going, Chiyuki?'

'I'm going back to the underground passage. I think there's something in there that's creating this black fog.

Unlike the two of you, I can still do magic. So I have to take care of this place.

'You're not safe on your own, Chiyuki-san!　You know who put Nao-chan through this!

Sahoko says.

'There's a man in the basement who's fighting on his own. We have to help him.

”What?

Sahoko and Reno let out a surprised voice.

'There are people fighting ......?　We're all losing power, but we're still ......

Lino and his friends are just too tight.

Sahoko and Reno give me a look of disbelief.