Damn Reincarnation

ce.
An endless burst of Dark Power surged out from the door.

Kwaaaah!

The Death Knight’s sword became engulfed in Dark Power.
The overwhelming power caused the sword’s pommel and the blade to disintegrate.
Even so, the Death Knight was still holding onto a sword.
It was a weapon formed from crystals that were formed from the pure, destructive waves of Dark power.

The weapon emanated a pressure incomparable to before.
Eugene’s lips twisted into a sneer as he stored the Annihilation Hammer into the cloak.

He chose Altair, the brilliant Holy Sword.
Even though the curtain of darkness covered the Footprint of the God of the Land, the Death Knight’s Dark Power dyed his surroundings a deeper shade of darkness.
The sword of Dark Power was black, while Eugene’s Holy Sword shone brilliantly.

Eugene slowly raised the sword while activating the White Flame Formula.
The six Stars shone brilliantly, and a purple flame enveloped the light of the Holy Sword.

Once again, Eugene concentrated his efforts, tapping into the Dragonic family ’s clandestine technique, the Empty Sword.
Sword-force converged, gradually layering upon itself.
As Eugene achieved the overlapping of three layers, dark spots emerged within the undulating waves enveloping the Holy Sword.
The Holy Sword trembled as if on the verge of splintering, a testament to the immense power amassed within its very being.

‘What is that?’

Shock filled the Death Knight’s eyes as he stared down.
That technique did not belong to Hamel, so did it come from Vermouth or the Lionheart family? He couldn’t clearly identify it, but he knew it was incredibly dangerous.
The Death Knight wasn’t certain if he would be capable of containing such massive power, but it was currently flowing in an incredibly sophisticated path throughout the sword.
He couldn’t spot any wastage of power either.
It was a perfect technique.

“…Haha!” The Death Knight couldn’t help but laugh when he saw the Empty Sword.
The hatred he harbored for Vermouth’s descendants, the anger he felt for having his techniques stolen, as well as the resulting malice he felt for Eugene — all of it became rather faint.
Joy filled him for the first time after becoming a Death Knight, causing him to laugh.

A Hamel-like smile graced the Death Knight ’s face as he let out a chuckle, simultaneously bringing his sword down with force.
A sinister black line materialized from the heavens, descending upon Eugene with the potential to cleave the world in two.

The Holy Sword was raised shoulder-high, and the superimposed layers had stabilized.
All Eugene had to do was swing the sword, and he had no reason not to.
He didn’t like how the Death Knight was giggling.

He hated that the bastard dared to utter hatred for Anise, Sienna, Molon, and Vermouth with his face, his body, and his voice.
Eugene felt malice towards the fact that the Death Knight laughed as if really believing that it was Hamel.

‘Once more.’

Eugene ’s scowl intensified as he channeled his mana into the Empty Sword.
Previously, black spots had burst forth, enveloping the flame and turning it entirely black with three overlapping layers.
However, the current situation diverged.
With the addition of another layer to the Empty Sword, the black spots spread rather than erupt.
The transformation rendered the flame wholly black, surpassing mere coloration.
The Holy Sword became shrouded in flames that possessed a menacing aura capable of captivating one ’s soul with a single glance.

Moments before the Death Knight ’s sword connected with Eugene, he swiftly swung his own blade.
In the past, his strike would have decapitated the enemy before it even reached them.
But circumstances had changed.
Since Eugene had achieved four layers of the Empty Sword, all the surrounding ”power ” began to decelerate.
Even the Death Knight ’s sword, forged from Dark Power, succumbed to the influence exerted by Eugene ’s technique.

Since the Empty Sword slowed down the sword of Dark Power, its swing wasn’t too late.
The force contained within it exploded, and darkness quivered.
The Death Knight’s sword dispersed and disappeared upon making contact with the Empty Sword.
It was Eugene’s sword, not the Death Knight’s sword, that ended up cleaving the world into two.

‘Death.’

It was the only thought that dominated his mind.
The black flame did not dwindle despite having extinguished his Dark Power.
The Death Knight immediately pushed himself backward while placing his left hand over his heart.
He could not afford to hesitate.

‘I’m going to die.’

What could he do in this situation?

Could he beat his opponent even if he used Ignition?

Could he be allowed to die here?

His artificial memories became infused with the reality of the current situation.
The artificial personality he was given developed a will.
He could not find a way to overcome the current crisis in his memories.
Right now, the Death Knight did not have Anise, Sienna, Molon, or Vermouth by his side.

He had to get through this on his own.
Although he had already died once, he could not afford to die again.
He still had so much he had to achieve.

He bent his fingers and dug into his heart.
He felt his unbeating heart with the tip of his fingers.
The door of Dark Power existed instead of Cores, and although it was already open, it wasn’t enough.
The Death Knight twisted and tore open the gate with his own hands.

Ignition.

As the door expanded, an outpouring of Dark Power surged forth.
In that precise instant, a burst of illumination pierced through the Death Knight ’s mind.
His sense of self expanded in tandem with the enlarged door.

The Death Knight’s movements changed.
He forced into existence another sword formed from Dark Power.
Although his power had been great before, it could not compare to the power he exuded now after using Ignition.

The violent surge of Dark Power gave him a weapon, and at this moment, he threw away his pride as Hamel.
He only had one desire — and it was to survive.
He could not die.

The fortified sword of Dark Power intercepted the advance of the Empty Sword.
The Death Knight ’s heart, though devoid of a pulse, trembled as if on the verge of shattering into fragments.
The Dark Power, gushing forth from the shattered door, consumed the Death Knight ’s body in its scorching flames.
Amidst the crimson and ebony inferno, the Death Knight locked eyes with Eugene, the two adversaries meeting in a riveting gaze.

Eugene’s lips twisted into a scowl.
He whispered under his breath while staring at his old face, “Bastard.”

The Wing of Prominence blazed fiercely behind his back.
Since their initial encounter, he had refrained from leaping through space.
It was to ensure that he could kill the bastard by beating him in his perceived area of expertise.
Ignition? A bastard like you? The simmering anger caused Eugene to place his hand on his heart, but he quickly regained his composure.

He didn’t need to use Ignition.
Against that bastard? What for? He had no intention of using Ignition to kill the Death Knight.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

He synchronized himself with the fluttering feathers.
Instead of causing his heart and Cores to run rampant, he chose to replace Ignition with Prominence.

He was being pushed back.

For a slight moment, the enormous pool of Dark Power, which threatened to disintegrate the Death Knight’s body, had prevented the advance of the Empty Sword, providing the Death Knight with a slight advantage.

‘I won.’

The Death Knight thought momentarily, but it never turned into a conviction.
Instead, his optimistic thought was immediately denied.
Eugene’s power was amplified by Prominence, and it completely wasted the Death Knight’s Dark Power.

The curtain of darkness was lifted for a moment.
Eugene’s sword had lacerated the entire space occupied by the curtain.
The Death Knight could think no thoughts at that moment.

It was only aware of the harsh reality.

Devoid of Dark Power and with his sword shattered, the Death Knight faced a grim reality.
Eugene ’s blade had pierced through his body, rendering him not just wounded but utterly extinguished.
The lower half of the Death Knight ’s form was no more, consumed by the devouring flames of the very same inferno that brought about his demise.
The wound inflicted upon him was undeniably fatal.

“…..”

The Death Knight opened his mouth unknowingly.
However, no words came.
He could not say anything, even though numerous thoughts swirled around in his mind.

“I….” He was left with a series of questions.
The Death Knight barely managed to speak, “I… lost? To you?”

Eugene stood in front of him.
The Death Knight reached for Eugene while bleeding Dark Power.
The gesture felt almost desperate, and Eugene reached out in the same way as if to respond.

Unlike the Death Knight’s helplessly floundering hand, a flame of mana burned inside Eugene’s steady palm.
Prominence’s feather combined with the flame, creating a miniature sun.
Black spots spread on the surface of the sun and turned it black.

‘Ah.’

Eclipse swallowed the Death Knight’s hand.
At the same time, the Holy Sword pierced his heart.

“This is….”

His heart was destroyed, and Eclipse started to devour what was left of him.
The Death Knight couldn’t help but laugh at the sight.

“I can’t beat you.”

Such were his last words before Eclipse made an ash of his remaining flesh.
Eugene muttered while glaring at the dispersing ashes.
“Of course you can’t, you bastard.”

The Death Knight had been a ghost of the past and a fake one to boot.
If Eugene struggled to vanquish such an opponent, then all the moments he had invested in this existence would have amounted to naught.

Eugene lowered the Holy Sword with a snort.