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nEmperor Armor

nThough he had never used it before, he knew from the knowledge he gained that its use came with a steep cost. However, after obtaining Douion, he realized this power could sustain the usage of Emperor Armor.

nThe ability to mend damaged inner consciousness was extraordinary.

nThis form continued to drain his blood rapidly. If his regeneration couldn't keep up, he would lose all his blood in seconds. The Nebula Heart and monster orb continued pumping out a vast amount of best feram, enhancing every cell in his body.

nSouta turned his eyes toward them.

n

"Let's go! This is our final battle!

" Gawain shouted, a broad grin on his face.

nArven and Lensa didn't hesitate as they charged toward Souta at high speed.

nSwoosh!!

nSouta waved his hand, and hundreds of thousands of blood spears emerged from the sea of blood.

n

"He's gotten stronger... We need to reassess his strength,

" Layla muttered as she watched from a distance.

nThe witches observed the dense burst of blood spears. The number of spears was

nastronomical, prompting them to retreat several dozen kilometers away. The sheer power made them feel suffocated.

nWhooosh!

nArven and Lensa attempted to dodge the blood spears while blocking those they couldn't evade. In the next second, Souta was already beside them.

nThey widened their eyes, bracing themselves despite their heavy injuries. However, it was in vain. Taking advantage of their weakened state, Souta swiftly moved his sword.

n

"Die!

"

nWith a fluid motion, Souta passed through them. Space rifted and blood spurted from Arven and Lensa's bodies.

nSouta slightly turned his head.

"They aren't dead?

"

n

"What a monster,

" Gawain commented, observing Souta.

nHe folded space, creating a new layer of space around Arven and Lensa to protect them from Souta's reach. However, Souta sliced through the space.

nSouta kicked through the air, charging at Arven and Lensa. His sword emitted blood-colored lightning.

nWhoosh!

nIn an instant, Arven and Lensa were cleaved in two.

nArven spat a mouthful of blood, his vision blurring as he struggled to feel his body. He glanced at Souta and managed,

"Destroy the Dream Palace, or we'll just keep coming back...

"

nWith those words, his body fragmented and slowly disappeared into thin air.

nThe same fate befell Lensa.

nSouta frowned as he observed them. He noticed something peculiar-when Arven and Lensa vanished, their souls were absent.

nThis realization suggested why they could repeatedly return: their souls were likely bound somewhere within the Dream Palace. This also explained why their strength remained consistent; without destroying their souls, their physical forms would endlessly regenerate. Their current bodies were akin to puppets, perhaps explaining the failures with the human- like golems.

n

"They'll be honored, you know. Arven and Lensa are great knights,

" Gawain remarked solemnly.

nSouta turned towards Gawain, his energy intensifying as he stepped forward.

n

"It's my turn now!

" Gawain raised his sword, grinning widely.

nEight Stance: Crawling Gale Hole!

nA massive swirling wind formed above, behaving like a black hole, sucking in everything in its path. Descending rapidly, it obliterated the blood spears in its wake.

nSwoosh!!

nSouta leaped into the air, tightening his grip on his sword.

nFirst Form: Lifeless Tribulation of the Blood Lightning!

nThe two attacks collided, sending shockwaves through the air. The entire area trembled violently as energy levels surged to new heights.

nBoom!!

nThe lightning and wind surged out, devastating a vast swath of the land. Despite the destruction wrought, the colossal Dream Palace remained standing. It would take more than that to breach its dimensional boundaries.

nEmerging from the explosion, the figures clashed fiercely in the air, generating successive shockwaves.

nBang! Bang! Bang!

nGawain chuckled as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.

n

"Heh, I see your strategy now.

"

nIt had been a while since he'd fought like this, and it thrilled him to his core.

nNinth Stance: Furious Heaven's Cut!

nSouta grimaced in pain as the attack sliced through his body upon execution. Similar to before, but stronger and more numerous, the cuts added to his agony.

nGazing down at Gawain, Souta charged forward, channeling immense energy into his sword.

nWith a swift motion, Souta drew back his sword and aimed it directly at Gawain. In the next moment, he hurled the blade with all his strength.

nThe sword streaked through the air, emanating a crimson light as it tore through the fabric of

nspace.

nBang!

nThe resounding impact reverberated through the surroundings, causing visible cracks to

nappear in the air.

nGawain's eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed Souta's sword pierce through his formidable Ninth Stance. A peculiar blend of dream power and elemental energy surged through the wound, creating a new force that shattered Gawain's defenses.

n

"This... This is a fusion of energies, something beyond my expectations. Hahaha! Fascinating!

" Gawain exclaimed, his voice tinged with both astonishment and admiration.

nThe sword plunged deep into Gawain's abdomen, triggering a violent explosion of blood- colored lightning fueled by Souta's Douion. The intense energy tore through Gawain's body, causing excruciating pain that he stoically endured, accustomed to suffering as an experimental subject.

n

"Now! Finish it! Claim your victory!

" Gawain laughed heartily, spreading his arms wide in acceptance of whatever fate awaited him. Cracks formed on his body, and his blood began to transform into pulsating blood lightning.

nSouta's arms stretched out, releasing tendrils of lightning that spread like a vast spider's web toward the heavens above. His expression tensed with determination as he exerted his full strength to wrench the six holy stakes from their positions.

nThe entire Walpurgis Night trembled under the strain. The power contained within the holy stakes, relics left behind by the Great Matriarch Le Fay Morgan, pulsed and surged with energy that seemed to defy comprehension.

nAcross the land, every living being sensed the profound shifts occurring. The dense dream power in the atmosphere swirled chaotically, hinting at an imminent collapse of this realm. Souta's actions were unraveling the very fabric of Walpurgis Night itself, an event that would leave an indelible mark on its history.

nLayla, Elder Lincy, Elder Reana, and the other witches could only watch helplessly as Souta seized the six holy stakes, a feat that indicated he had surpassed the initial conditions of the game. His recent outburst had caused casualties among the witches, earning him enough points to qualify for this act, but wielding the holy stakes would not be straightforward due to

ntheir immense power.

n

"He's taken the holy stakes... Only those who meet the game's first condition can do that,

" Layla murmured, her voice tinged with resignation.

nThe stakes, originally intended to confront the black sun housing Purity's power, were now in the hands of a being far beyond their control.

n

"Do it...

" Gawain's voice was resigned yet almost reverent as he watched Souta's actions

nunfold.

nThe fate of Walpurgis Night now hinged on Souta's intentions with the holy stakes, a turn of events that seemed to defy the very purpose for which they were crafted.

nSouta gritted his teeth, struggling to harness the power of the holy stakes. With determination etched on his face, he bent his knees and charged towards Gawain, who was

nnearing the end of his strength.

nAs he moved, Souta's form shimmered with a blend of white and red light, intertwining in a complex dance of energy. He collided with Gawain with a resounding impact.

nBang!!

n

"This has been a remarkable experience... I'm grateful to have lived it,

" Gawain uttered with a serene smile, his body beginning to dissipate into thin air, leaving only the vajra sword

nbehind.

nGawain's mortal form succumbed entirely to the overwhelming power of the holy stakes, unable to withstand its force.

nSouta grasped the sword and surged forward with relentless momentum. Concentrating the

nholy stakes before him, he conjured a vortex of potent energy.

nHis destination: the Dream Palace, where Eilan awaited.

nBoom!

nEilan, engrossed in his ritual, snapped his head up in shock.

n

"You can't...

"

nBefore he could finish, Souta drove the sword into his stomach. Eilan convulsed in agony as

nblood lightning surged through him.

nThe Orb of Arcane Seal encircled Souta as the Zero Destruction Zone materialized.

"Y-You!!!

" Eilan felt himself overwhelmed by immense power, his body slowly succumbing

nto its force.

nThe shadows surrounding the Walpurgis Night began to writhe and burst through the ground.

nEilan was already halfway merged with its darkness.

n

"ALICE!!!

" Souta shouted, applying more pressure against Eilan.

n

"ON IT!!

" Alice's voice echoed as she appeared above them.

nWebs encased her limbs, forming a protective barrier against the intense atmospheric

npressure.

n

"Sever it!

" Souta commanded.

nAlice fixed her gaze on Eilan, opening her palm as a golden spear materialized.

n

"Rhongomiant!

"

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