Sir Claude was still holding his sword, but his expression had changed. This was no longer just a confrontation; it had become something else… something more complex.
"Your maga…" he said in a low voice, watching the energy flowing before him. "It's completely unfamiliar… blood-powered maga?"
Egologia, who stood before him with a smile, muttered in his mind.
'Unfamiliar?' Then he laughed mockingly. 'Does that mean my maga… is unparalleled?'
'Perhaps Life 1 is bearing fruit…'
Then Egologia finally spoke coldly:
"Now, I'll put an end to this chaos, Sir."
The giant blood vortex began to fade gradually. The dark light that had filled the atmosphere grew dim, and the gravity that had been pulling everything in began to ease.
The rocks that had been torn from the ground stopped flying, the air that had been violently drawn toward the vortex returned to normal, and the scattered dust began to settle back on the ground.
Sir Claude felt the change… the pressure that had been crushing his chest began to lessen. It was like a heavy cloud suddenly removed from the horizon. But even as the power faded, he didn't relent… he didn't allow himself to relax.
"I think with some compromises, we can finally talk."
"Talk? About what?"
"My demands, of course."
"Demands? How dare you speak this way to someone of higher rank?"
He wasn't fazed, simply shrugging indifferently. "My demands are very simple… First: Keep this secret between us. No one should know what I can do."
Sir Claude didn't respond, but he began to lower his sword.
"As for the second demand… it's to let me join the guard under your command."
Sir Claude narrowed his eyes, his tone sharper: "Join the guard?"
"Exactly. This way, you'll ensure no chaos occurs, and I'll ensure my demands are met under my own supervision."
For Egologia, this was a sanctuary and an irreplaceable opportunity—joining something that would allow him to interact with this new world quickly and understand it gradually. It was a precious opportunity… one he couldn't afford to waste.
Silence fell for a moment.
"You want me to consider all this?"
"Of course, we're logical minds, aren't we? And I've given you all… my chips."
"…Chips?"
Egologia suddenly stopped, as if he realized he'd let slip a word that didn't belong in this world. "Ah, nothing… forget that word."
He was growing stranger with every word he spoke.
"Egologia… who are you, really?"
A tone of caution he couldn't hide, and he added. "A matter like this… I won't break my promise to the kingdom. I won't bear the consequences."
Egologia, still standing confidently, laughed lightly.
"How many times have I told you… there are no consequences." He said it while spreading his arms, explaining something obvious. "In fact, you can dance with joy now… since a strong member like me is under your care."
Then he tilted his head slightly and added with a biting tone:
"Or are you afraid I'll take your place?"
In the next moment, a terrifying force pressed down, making the ground beneath him groan under the immense weight. It was as if another gravitational force had appeared, pressing down on Egologia mercilessly.
'This Th-iis what!?? pressure?…' Egologia muttered, his knees beginning to buckle under the force. 'Did I anger him?'
Sir Claude took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with a deadly look. "You've crossed the line, young man…" he said in a low voice, but it carried a dignity that threatened to shatter the air itself. "I'll show you fear itself."
Egologia, despite the overwhelming pressure that was almost crushing the ground beneath him, didn't lose his defiant smile.
'This shit pressure…'
He whispered to himself.
'What's the name of this maga? Since there are multiple types in Zero, there's no doubt this is one of them…'
He spoke: "Are you trying to start a fight now?! Damn it, what's wrong with you?!"
Sir Claude smiled darkly. "Yeah o-h…it be exactly."
At that moment, a silver glow began to rise around his body, and maga began to condense around him, wrapping around his arms like molten metal solidifying at an insane speed.
In moments, his arms were completely covered in a layer of silver metal, reflecting the light with a terrifying sharpness.
[Maga - Titanium]
Egologia stared at him, his eyes shining with astonishment. "Titanium?!"
He didn't have time to fully process it, because Sir Claude raised his fist… and from the tips of his fingers, sharp blades emerged, gleaming like knives sharpened in the heart of hell itself.
"These abilities…" Egologia whispered, watching. 'He's physically strong… defense and offense at close range… extremely effective.'
At that moment, a precise description of what he was seeing flashed through his mind.
'A metal beast…'
But Sir Claude didn't give him time to think further. He charged at him with devastating speed, raising his titanium-coated fist, ready to crush everything in his path!
"Bastard." Egologia raised his hands, and crimson threads shot out like wild snakes, writhing in the air before lunging toward Claude.
Claude, as he charged, didn't even raise an eyebrow. The moment the threads touched him, the response was…
BOOM!!
The titanium fist shattered the crimson storm, like a cannon blasting a flock of birds! The threads scattered like torn fabric shreds.
The threads grew fiercer, faster, like hundreds of arrows being fired at once, entangled, surrounding, with no escape.
But Claude… was advancing!
Crush! Crush! Crush! Crush!
His fists flew, crushing swarm after swarm…
Egologia bit his lip. He hadn't expected such raw power… but that's what made him smile.
"Damn it!"
In a quick motion, he retreated backward, "Let's see how you handle this!"
Waving his hand, he summoned the radiant sword from the blood circle, gripping it with both hands, then charged like an arrow!
But…
Claude's fist was there, waiting for him.
BOOOOM!!
His entire body shook under the force of the clash between his blade and the strike. He felt his bones almost shattering under the pressure, but he didn't fall. He gripped the sword tightly and tried to push harder… but…
Claude's second fist was coming.
"Damn it!"
He felt it before he saw it. He knew… he wouldn't be able to dodge it.
"Bastard!"
In that moment, a crimson crystalline shield formed from his chest, absorbing part of the blow… but it wasn't enough.
CRAAAAACK!!
The pressure shattered the shield like glass, and his body was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground with a force that scattered crimson gravel. Then he was kicked, once, twice, before he ended up sprawled on his back, gasping…
Pain wracked every part of him. His chest was bleeding, his bones screaming…