Chapter 601

Chapter 223 The Divine War Part Ten

Even though it has changed its appearance now.

The twisted, scorched long handle, with the once crescent-shaped hook at the end, had broken off, leaving behind jagged and strange teeth-like edges. In contrast, on the black blade, those parts that were burned and deformed during the battle in Alareth City were now gone, the notches vanished, making the scythe blade even sharper.

Sinister crimson patterns spread from the completely black blade to the handle, emitting flickering, blazing light. Sparkling red glimmers continuously drifted from the large scythe, giving the impression that the entire scythe had been thrown into molten lava, undergoing long and intense heat treatment from head to toe, and was just taken out. I could feel the lingering heat radiating from the scythe.

It has completely changed its appearance.

It became more vicious, hideous, and ferocious, like a legendary divine artifact with fire attribute attacks that would cut down all evil spirits. However, I still recognized it instantly—it was my Captain Gray.

…You dare steal my Captain Gray!

Clang—

The green arm was suddenly pushed aside. The writhing figure swung the scythe, aiming to chop down on me. I was extremely angry, staring straight ahead without flinching. With the other giant hand, I grabbed the slashing blade with my fingers curled into claws!

Squeak—

Sharp nails scraped across the blade, producing an earsplitting grinding sound. The astonishing grip strength of the giant hand stopped the descending blade, holding it tightly within my palm. The cold gleam of the blade was only a few centimeters away from my palm, but no matter how hard the blood shadow strained, it couldn’t move it an inch further.

“Hmph.”

I snorted coldly, ready to snatch back Captain Gray when suddenly, scarlet flames surged up from the scythe.

!

In an instant, a strong sense of crisis swept through my body.

Before my brain could react, my body instinctively dodged. The giant hand released its grip, my steps turned abruptly, and I quickly sidestepped to avoid the direction the blade was aimed at. A sharp whistling sound was heard as a scorching wave hit my face. The intense light flashed from the edge of the scythe, almost brushing past my nose, moving at a speed too fast for the eye to catch, flying out of my sight in an instant.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

If I hadn’t managed to dodge…

A trace of fear welled up in my heart. That flame blade, carrying the force to sever everything, nearly split me in half. And despite my eyes’ ability to capture details, I couldn’t even make out its shape…

My mind started to race rapidly, and naturally, my movements didn’t stop. As I dodged the flame blade, I slightly bent my knees and leaped two meters into the air. In mid-air, I swung the green arm, striking a fist towards the blood shadow’s face, devoid of any features but covered with fine tentacles.

Puff!

Thick dark blood exploded before my eyes, severed tentacles flew everywhere. The blood shadow’s head was blown apart by my punch, but it seemed unaffected. Before I could retract my fist, it swung the scythe again, aiming to cut me in half!

Damn…

Its movements were very quick.

But my reaction was even faster. “Bang,” I shattered the ice platform that suddenly appeared beneath my feet, retreating several meters in the air to dodge the sweeping blade. I landed steadily after a somersault, ready to counterattack when I heard a familiar gear turning sound from the scythe. The sharp blade suddenly transformed into a nearly three-meter-long spear, its tip glowing with crimson light, rushing towards me with a howling wind!

Clang clang clang—

The moment the scorching blade pierced from the blood shadow’s hand, the black handle broke off piece by piece, accompanied by the clear sound of chains clinking. The range of the spear attack suddenly extended, and the thrusting speed instantly accelerated. The tip of the blade arrived in front of me in an instant. My pupils dilated, and I barely managed to turn my head. The blade whizzed past my ear, cutting through several strands of flying white hair, drawing a thin line of blood.

Close call…

My heart was pounding violently.

Clack!

The next moment, the blade that had already swept past me made another sound.

!

Being so familiar with Captain Gray, I naturally knew what that slight sound meant. Without looking, I knew the blade had turned into a hook-sickle behind me and would be pulled back by the blood shadow in the next instant, slicing off my head.

In a flash, I suddenly stretched out my right arm, grabbing the burning red chain with the giant clawed hand and yanking it forcefully. The blood shadow staggered, losing balance, unable to launch another attack. The blade crashed to the ground behind me.

Ha!

Want to fight me with my own weapon…

I sneered inwardly, preparing to use my left arm to grab again, completely reclaiming Captain Gray from the blood shadow. But the right palm of the green arm, which was tightly gripping the chain, suddenly felt an unbearable burning pain. Smoke began to rise from my palm.

“Ah!”

Unable to hold back, I cried out in pain, releasing my grip involuntarily.

So hot…

Captain Gray really had been imbued with the power of the karmic fire. It was incredibly powerful, to the point where it felt scorching hot…

Suddenly, I felt betrayed.

As if a brother who had fought alongside me and trusted me had betrayed me at a critical moment, using the enemy’s power to block my path. This feeling made me angrier and more anxious.

Since my battle with Teresa in the royal city, my strength had surpassed ordinary human understanding. There was never a moment when I felt Captain Gray to be such a challenge. While part of it was due to the karmic fire’s power, it might also have been because, after being entangled by tentacles, I was accidentally dragged into a divine egg, bathed in divine blood, and eventually transformed into this form. Regardless, I was truly annoyed.

Why are you serving such a thing…

“Captain Gray—!”

The palm of the green arm was likely already burned, but such minor injuries would heal quickly. I shouted angrily, ready to charge forward and tear the blood shadow to pieces when suddenly,

The nauseating sound of writhing came from behind.

!

There was no time to turn around. The attack that had been poised and aimed forward instantly turned towards the back. A blue arm swung, condensing over a dozen fireballs that whistled towards the sky behind.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

Explosions rang out overhead, shattering countless pursuing vascular tentacles with black flames. Flesh and blood scattered in all directions, but more tentacles still broke through the burning inferno, curling in from all sides towards me!

“Damn…”

I fully activated the chaotic power. The two blue arms transformed again into whirling meat grinders, swirling with thick black fog, turning the surging tentacles into a mass of bloody pulp. The dark armor reformed around my body, dark red blood drops like a heavy rain, falling from the crimson sky torn open by the surge. The deadly smoke spread recklessly in the stench, greedily devouring everything.

Clang! Clang! Clang! …

Suddenly, I heard the sound of chains being swung again.

Damn!

Whoosh—

The wind howled in my ears. I was exhausted from dealing with an endless stream of tentacles and didn’t have time to react. In the next moment, I felt my waist suddenly tighten. With a “clatter,” the chain pulled me tight, and red-hot chains tightly bound me. The scorching sound came from the armor, then my body was abruptly pulled up and thrown aside.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—

The wind roared. Countless tentacles blurred and receded from my sight. I was flung high into the air, and then “boom!” I crashed heavily onto hard bones.

“Cough!”

I couldn’t help but cough lightly.

This fall was indeed heavy, but with the protection of the armor, it wasn’t really painful. Struggling to get up, I was immediately pulled up again. Blood Shadow gripped the knife handle, swinging me in circles in mid-air. My smashed head grew back, and as I rapidly moved, I looked up at the gray sky.

It wants to throw me…

Out of the light barrier…

Realizing this, I began to struggle fiercely in mid-air. The huge blue arm grabbed the chain wrapped around my waist, ignoring the burning pain, pulling with all its might, making the chain creak with a bone-chilling sound. Dense dead smoke surged from within my body, steaming towards the severed knife handle. But in the next instant, I suddenly stopped all movement.

“Captain Gray…”

If I really did this, Captain Gray would be completely destroyed by me…

Time seemed to slow down at this moment.

[Your scythe has arrived!]

In a daze, I recalled the massive bellows in the central workshop, remembered my father’s and Uncle Pagos’ faces.

[This is a trick weapon… Come on, Pepe, give it a try.]

[Wow, amazing! Really, so amazing!]

[I’m glad you like it…]

[The thirteenth crescent blade of the central workshop is officially born. According to custom, the user must name it.]

[Captain Gray.]

At some point in the past, a girl whose face was half-illuminated by the firelight gently stroked the black scythe in her arms, her eyes gleaming with indescribable joy and tenderness.

[You’ll be called this…]

From now on, this will be your name…

The reason I gave you this name is because I hope you can protect that naive little girl just like Captain Gray in the story, until she grows up. I hope you can stay with her until the end…

But later…

Actually, it was that little girl who gradually distanced herself from you…

I’m sorry, Captain Gray…

I don’t want to hurt you…

Really don’t want to…

Thump-thump.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of my heart beating.

Thump-thump…

That sound was deep and heavy, like a drum, seeming to come from my chest, or perhaps from the chain wrapped around my waist.

This is…

In this instant, crimson patterns crawled and spread across my entire body, emitting bright light, climbing up the chain tightly wrapped around my waist. The intense light flickered on and off like breathing, gradually synchronizing with the red glow burning on the chain.

In the next moment, the chain seemed to come alive.

Clang! Clang! Clang! …

Time slowed down and then resumed, the chain around my waist writhing like a snake, suddenly releasing me and throwing me towards Blood Shadow’s position!

Captain Gray…

Are you helping me?

“Haha!”

I couldn’t help but show a wild joy.

“Roar—!!!”

In front of my vision, the bizarre thing rapidly closed the distance. It reacted quickly, roaring as soon as I flew past, lifting the scythe handle in its hand, seemingly trying to counterattack unexpectedly. However, the handle burst into red flames, as if suddenly resisting, the wriggling fine tentacles screamed in agony under the burning flames, twisting wildly.

Blood Shadow’s hand loosened.

The handle of Captain Gray slipped from its palm, then I grabbed it.

Click-click-click-click—

The sound of gears turning started again.

“Die.”

Ding!

With a shrill sound, the red chains were fully retracted. The black giant scythe reformed in my hand, the warm scythe blade trembling slightly, the handle pattern spreading, the ferocious blade bursting with dazzling red light. An inexplicable feeling of connection surged from Captain Gray.

You are mine…

You must protect me, protect everything I want to protect…

Buzz!

As if sensing the words in my heart, the vibration from the scythe became even stronger.

Holding back Captain Gray, which had returned, I held it as if it were part of my own body, with a fervent, indescribable excitement, I slashed at the disgusting creature before me!

Whizz—

An astonishing wind howl swept past my eyes. The red flying blade pierced through Blood Shadow’s body, cutting towards the spine of its divine form, producing a tremendous roar. That Blood Shadow suddenly stopped moving. As I landed, its body scattered with a clatter, turning back into countless twisted large worms, scattering on the ground.

…Done.