Nameless King

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

The horrible jaw was tearing the roots apart while Wain was gradually moving forward. He ripped through layer upon layer until he reached the last of it, the thickest roots even a Dragon could not penetrate as it took several attacks to do so.

The energy of his jaw had already run out, but Wain didn't worry he just with a calm look stepped forward, plunging the tip of his sword into the center of the last barrier.

Hundreds of massive splinters flew aside, some colliding with Wain's face, but they just bounced aside, unable to wound him.

"Here we go..." Wain passed through the last barrier as he saw the seed that seemed to tremble with fear of imminent death.

Virion tried to protect the seed using more energy, but it was unsuccessful. The only one who could change the situation was Death Phantom, but he just stood there as if he didn't want his fight to be hindered by any roots.

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

The jaws on his sword opened wide as the pupil of the eye on guard narrowed when Gladius sank into the seed, piercing it completely. Wain's attack was so strong that the sword pierced even the wall on which the seed was secured as that wall was fortified by the ash threads of Gael's.

"Damn... Single-point attacks are always stronger than mass attacks, but I didn't think he could do it..." Gael muttered while in disbelief, "I don't underestimate him, but isn't he too strong for the Fourth Chronicle?"

"Hah, this guy used the full potential of his sword, at least as much as possible." Alucard said with an excited smile on his face while his bloodshot eyes watched every detail of the battle.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Wain swung his sword as space trembled. The jaws roared furiously again, and a powerful stream of energy burst forth from Wain. At the same moment, the seed ripped itself apart as many cracks appeared in the wall.

"No way..." Gael muttered while in disbelief.

Whoooooooooosh.

Wain pulled out his sword and with a calm look looked directly at Gael, then behind him, the wall collapsed with several ashy threads.

"Hahahahahaha!" Alucard burst out laughing as his voice spread for miles like thunder, shaking the space, "Fourth Chronicle one was able to destroy Transcendence Stage one's threads! Gael, it looks like you've been resting too long! Hahahahahaha!"

Gael didn't answer anything, he just looked at Wain and with a slight smile on his face nodded as if accepting his achievement.

'Wain... You shouldn't lose such valuable material,' Abyss Artist said with a sly smile on his face.

'Hmm? What are you talking about?" Wain tilted his head while in confusion.

'I'm talking about the roots. Soon they'll be gone since you destroyed the core, but we can use them to get a small amount of energy. Usually, it's impossible to absorb artifacts without special means, but given the uniqueness of your Beyond and my abilities... we can do it.' Abyss Artist uttered as his eyes sparkled.

Whoooooooooooosh.

The seal on Wain's left palm turned into an Abyss Brush as Wain swung it. At that moment he had no control over his left hand as the Abyss Artist temporarily took control like a phantom inhabiting his body.

Abyss Artist quickly drew some kind of creature with a small body but a massive head, however, this creature had no eyes or mouth, as if Abyss Artist left this part unfinished on purpose.

'Fine, now it is your turn.' Abyss Artist said cryptically, but somehow Wain understood him immediately.

'Hah, sometimes I think you understand how my power works better than I do.' Wain grinned as he touched the monster with the tip of his finger.

'Well, you have no idea how much meaning is hidden behind your words.' Abyss Artist whispered before disappearing.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Wain channeled energy into the monster as changes began to occur with it. A massive jaw and one eye with black vertical pupils like a predator appeared on the monster's head.

"Very well, now go ahead. I need to get as much energy as possible in time!" Wain exclaimed with an outstretched arm.

The monster shuddered and, like a hellhound, pounced on the hundreds of pieces of roots lying on the ground. After a while, they should have dried up and completely disappeared, but given the monster's speed, it wouldn't take him more than a minute to devour them all.

"Bastard! How dare you use my artifact to get stronger!" Virion exclaimed with a furious look as the veins on his forehead swelled.

"Hahahahaha, so what? I know you won't attack me, those roots aren't worth wasting your energy, so just stand there and watch me devour your precious artifact!" Wain said with a mocking smirk on his face while pointing at Virion.

Virion frowned even harder, but he didn't do anything. He was too smart to go along with Wain's provocations, however, he was still mad as hell about it.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The monster quickly swallowed the roots as through the seal on its back the energy was transmitted to Wain. It wasn't much compared to the total amount he spent, but it was comparable to several massive Ascendant Rating Souls.

Death Phantom had been watching the monsters all along like on a curious animal. He loved the way the monster jumped from side to side, devouring parts of the roots.

Whoooooooooosh.

Suddenly the silhouette of the Death Phantom dissipated as he appeared beside the monster. Death Phantom tilted his head, then his white eyes dimmed slightly as though he were bored.

"No!" Wain exclaimed as he reached out his hand, trying to save the monster.

Death Phantom's silhouette blurred as in a heartbeat the situation changed completely. The white scythe blade plunged into the monster, so fast that only a few people realized what had happened. Then, Death Phantom leaned his head toward the monster as his mouth began to open, and dark smoke erupted from it.