Verdia.
He was an exceptionally strong knight even when he was still human.
However, due to an unjust punishment, he was beheaded and eventually turned into a Dullahan, consumed by vengeance!
And he is also one of the strongest in the Devil King's Army, a Devil King General, even the knight with the best swordsmanship in the Devil King's forces!
Yet, Verdia now holds his head and slowly sinks into the swamp, his eerie gaze fixed on Ethan, Eris, and the fleeing figure of Yunyun!
He...
"How can it end like this——!"
A soaring magical power that shook the castle erupted from Verdia's body!
*CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!*
The steel sword in Verdia's hand slowly shattered, the sword already cut by the Slash now filled with cracks, but...
"Such immense magical power! What is really happening!?"
Eris, who was evacuating from the hall with Ethan, felt the magical power shaking the space and couldn't help but turn to look at Verdia in shock.
Slash!
*SWOOSH!*
Using a powerful sword strike to cut the previously closed hall door in half, Ethan prepared to take Eris and Yunyun away...
However, Verdia had no intention of giving Ethan and the others a chance!
"Limit Breaker Weapon!"
It is a warrior skill that surpasses the limits of a weapon, even sacrificing the weapon's life to gain extraordinary power!
That is what Verdia intended to do! Unleashing all the power of the steel sword in his hand!
*SHUA!*
A polar light that could destroy heaven and earth emerged from the slowly shattering steel sword!
The Bottomless Swamp that nearly filled the entire hall was split in two by the polar light!
Even the hall itself began to tremble from this attack!
And this, just from the residual force of the polar light!
Because, the true target of the polar light was Ethan and the others!
"Damn it! Still hiding such power!?"
Ethan cursed with a grim face, then used Drain Touch to connect Eris and Yunyun's hands, as he prepared to gather the last of their magical power to withstand this attack!
Yunyun's spatial magic couldn't be used in a short time, and Eris also lacked defensive skills, now the only one who could withstand this polar light was Ethan!
"They say Gram, even without being unsealed, has the characteristics of an impenetrable and uncuttable sword..."
Ethan transformed Gram in his hand from a greatsword into a giant shield and planted it in the ground to block the shaking polar light!
"Then, it all depends on you! Gram!"
And at this moment, the polar light that was nearly Verdia's final attack collided with Ethan's Gram!
"AHHHH—!"
The hall door that Ethan had cut in half was obliterated upon contact with the polar light!
Even holding a Divine Treasure, even gathering the last of their combined magical power...
Ethan was still pushed back by the polar light!
However...
Seeing the worried Eris and Yunyun behind him, Ethan quickly stabilized his posture, an inexplicable courage surged within him, his body gained an extraordinary strength!
And at this moment, Gram in his hand also began to glow with a white light!
'Gram! Although I'm not a chuunibyou, please lend me your strength now!'
'I want to... Protect my family!'
*BUZZ!*
The light on Gram's blade seemed to respond to the conviction in Ethan's heart and gradually became brighter, even autonomously absorbing the last of Ethan's magical power!
"GRAM!!!"
*SWOOSH!*
A polar light sword strike far surpassing Verdia's Ultimate Attack cut through the attacking white polar light!
The ease of the cut made one think of a fruit knife slicing through white cheese!
However, this white polar light attack was not just about cutting cheese!
After destroying Verdia's final attack, the white polar light did not stop, it continued to absorb the last remnants of Ethan's magical power!
*Pu-chi!*
"AHHHHH! This is truly the power... of a Divine Treasure...?"
The white polar light sword strike cut Verdia's body in half, causing him to let out a scream of reluctance and confusion!
*BOOM!*
The white polar light sword strike seemed still unsatisfied!
It cut through all the walls behind Verdia, even extending outside the ancient castle!
If there were people outside this ancient castle, they would see the white polar light sword strike cutting the ancient castle from inside out!
This also caused the ancient castle to begin collapsing!
"Ethan! Chris! Please hold my hands! Teleportation!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The second day after Verdia was defeated...
Today, the Axel Adventurer's Guild looked very lively.
Almost all adventurers in Axel gathered at the guild, filling every corner, and looking forward neatly.
There, led by Luna, all the staff of the Adventurer's Guild lined up, facing Ethan, Eris, and Yunyun.
"Adventurers, Ethan-sama, Chris-sama, Yunyun-sama."
As the highest-ranking representative of the Axel Adventurer's Guild at the moment, Luna stepped forward, showing a perfect smile to Ethan, Eris, and Yunyun, then said...
"Congratulations, you have defeated the Devil King General, Dullahan: Verdia, on behalf of Axel and all the people of the Belzerg Kingdom threatened by the Devil King's army, we offer our sincerest gratitude!"
Uttering these words, led by Luna, all the staff of the Adventurer's Guild bowed, giving the greatest respect to Ethan, Eris, and Yunyun.
"WAHHHHHH!"
Almost simultaneously, the Adventurer's Guild erupted with deafening cheers, creating a wave of sound that lifted the surroundings, almost echoing above the Adventurer's Guild.
Amidst such cheers and a grand atmosphere, Yunyun and Eris blushed, seemingly very embarrassed, only Ethan looked at the noisy adventurers with a disdainful gaze.
The reason was none other...
"The drinking party begins! Brothers and sisters!"
"HAHAHAHA! Never thought we could really defeat a Devil King General! I thought it was just a show! No wonder you are the candidates for humanity's heroes! Brothers and sisters, tonight we drink to our heart's content!"
Look, besides eating and drinking for free, what else could these scoundrels do?