Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 152

Chapter 152: The End of Erosion (3)

 

“He certainly runs fast.”

 

Russell clicked his tongue and suppressed the magic power he had raised, swallowing the blood that was rising from his esophagus. He had fought a series of battles, fainted, and then fought again immediately after waking up, leaving his body in shambles.

 

He fainted because of his excessive use of his magic eyes. Even now, the muscles around his eyes were throbbing, and his vision kept blurring and clearing up.

 

However, Russell overcame all of that with his superhuman willpower and confronted the man in the robe. It was uncertain what would have happened if the battle had continued, but the man in the robe suddenly ran away.

 

Judging from the regular magic power that had reached the man just before he ran away, it seemed like he had been called, but the exact reason was unknown.

 

After a brief contemplation, Russell turned around and ran towards Irrucil. Aellasis and Calia were already sitting next to her, examining her in detail.

 

“What happened? How’s my sister?”

 

Calia spoke in a heavy voice, placing her hands on Irrucil’s chest and head.

 

“Too much dark magic has infiltrated her body. The battle between her magic power and the dark magic is ongoing.

 

Russell also kneeled down on one knee and looked at Irrucil’s face. The blood vessels, discolored black, bulged up hideously. It didn’t look like she was in good condition at a glance.

 

Aellasis became tearful and wrapped Irrucil’s left hand with both of her hands.

 

“Irrucil. . . .”

 

Russell looked down at Irrucil with heavy eyes, as well as at the party members. The fierce battle had also left Aellasis and Calia covered in wounds. Everyone needed proper rest and treatment.

 

“Let’s get up first. We need to go back to the village.”

 

He carefully lifted Irrucil before standing up. Calia and Aellasis also moved their heavy bodies.

 

🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷

 

Early dawn.

 

Daisy stood at the entrance of the village, clasping her hands together. From morning until nightfall yesterday, there had been a constant roar from beyond the forest. In addition, lightning bolts occasionally flashed across the sky, making it difficult for the villagers to sleep properly due to anxiety and fear.

 

“I wonder if they’re okay. . . . . .”

 

“They’ll be fine. They’re such strong people.”

 

Her brother, Dave, approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. At that moment, a sound of something breaking came from behind, followed by the sound of galloping hooves shaking the ground.

 

“Huh? What?”

 

“Oh my!”

 

As Dave pulled Daisy to the side, something black passed them and disappeared into the forest. Daisy, who had a blank expression, suddenly came to her senses and said,

 

“T, That just now. . . that’s the horse Russell-nim rode.”

 

“Horse?”

 

Dave was also able to recall the memory soon after. The large body of the black horse resembled that of its owner, Russell. ‘Wasn’t its name Kry?’

 

“Why did it run away all of a sudden?”

 

“It didn’t run away.If it did, it wouldn’t have gone into the forest. I think. . . . .”

 

As Dave was trailing off, the trees and bushes in the forest shook, and Russell and his party appeared with a black shadow. Dave’s face lit up, and he shouted,

 

“Russell-nim!”

 

“Save your greetings for later.”

 

“Yes?”

 

He stopped staring at Russell’s hardened expression. Russell entered the village without delay, carrying Irrucil in his arms. The Dave and Daisy siblings also widened their eyes at the unusual atmosphere.

 

“Go and contact Todd. We’ve got a patient.”

 

“I, I’ll go!”

 

At Russell’s words, Daisy immediately turned around and ran to the house where Todd lived. Dave said,

 

“What happened? Didn’t you resolve it well?”

 

“The interdimensional species that lived in the depths of the forest. . . no, the monster has been dealt with. It was a strange-looking tree, and it was turning beasts into demon beasts.”

 

“Then the one who got hurt. . . . . .?”

 

“It’s not that. . . . . . It’s complicated to explain. I prefer to start the treatment first.”

 

“Ah, I understand.”

 

Todd woke up at dawn but came running without showing any complaints.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“Irrucil is hurt. Can you take a look?”

 

“I understand.”

 

They headed to the church in the center of the village. At dawn, a blue color was slowly spreading out in the east, like a blue watercolor.

 

People who started their work early looked surprised at the group as they went about their tasks. A middle-aged woman going to fetch water, a young man carrying wood on his back, a craftsman finishing the bricks he hadn’t finished yesterday, etc.

 

With their gazes on their backs, they entered the church and closed the door. The church was dark, but blue light was leaking through the glass on both sides of the wall and ceiling.

 

“This way.”

 

Todd cleared the desk of various items, including books, candlesticks, and a small knife for opening paper envelopes, and made room for Irrucil to rest.

 

Russell ran at full speed from the center of the forest, where Kuhelaumto had taken root, and reached the village. And as he approached the village’s vicinity, he called Kry with a whistle so that he could arrive there more quickly.

 

The reason he had rushed like this was because the dark magic that had infiltrated Irrucil’s body was gradually growing stronger and stronger. If this continued, it would not be strange for her life to end at any moment.

 

“This is dark magic. Was the warlock responsible?”

 

“It wasn’t the warlock himself, but it seems like he was related.”

 

Calia and Aellasis informed Russell that the man in the black robe had a connection to Kuhelaumto. Judging from the circumstances, it seemed like the warlock had brought in the heterogenous tree Kuhelaumto through a rift in the other world.

 

“A warlock. . . . . .”

 

Todd, Dave, and Daisy couldn’t hide their surprise. Even ordinary wizards were rare. In addition, a warlock was a being that handled and exploited negative mana, which was a form of negative energy.

 

Negative mana occurs naturally in shadows, old water, cold ravines, or deep forests where sunlight cannot reach.

 

However, the negative mana that warlocks handle does not use such naturally occurring mana. Warlocks utilize more practical techniques, including the release of explosive negative mana and magic power when they push intelligent entities into agony and death. That’s because it’s easier and more convenient.

 

That’s why the presence of warlocks on the continent was perceived as a public threat. The very fact that they obtained magic power by exploiting life itself signified the twisted mindset and intellect of the person who performed it.

 

“Such an evil being. . . . . .”

 

Todd, who had been frowning, soon shook his head and looked down at Irrucil, who was groaning, covered in dark magic.

 

“First, we need to expel this magic power.”

 

“Will you be able to?”

 

“I’ll do my best. I’m a priest, after all. Handon! Please bring me my priestly robes.”

 

The caretaker, who stayed at the church and was in charge of cleaning and management, hurriedly brought Todd’s priestly robes. Todd, who had put on his priestly robes, clasped his hands together. As he began to pray, a reddish light began to emerge from between his palms.

 

Russell did not activate his magic eyes intentionally. For now, he just watched the greenish divine power flowing out of Todd flow into Irrucil.

 

Wow.

 

As expected, divine power, which was the opposite of dark magic, was strong. Irrucil’s complexion, which had been black, gradually brightened. The black blood vessels that had appeared on her face disappeared into her skin, as did the dark magic energy below her neck. However, the situation, which appeared to be improving, did not improve quickly.

 

“Kugh!”

 

Irrucil coughed up a mouthful of red blood. It wasn’t dark blood, but life-filled vital blood. Russell, who was standing right next to her, immediately grabbed her wrist and pushed in his magic in thin threads. He knew what was going on.

 

“Russell-nim?”

 

“Continue pouring in divine power, Todd. The dark magic is making its last stand.”

 

The divine power pushed back the dark magic that had entered Irrucil’s body, causing it to gather and press down on her heart. If the divine power continued to pour in this way, the dark magic would continue to squeeze Irrucil’s heart, eventually bursting it.

 

If Irrucil died, the dark magic, which had invaded another person’s body without its original owner, would scatter and disappear. The dark magic, which was in danger of disappearing, seemed to have its own will as it tried to kill Irrucil, and Russell gritted his teeth and poured in his own magic power.

 

“Right now, the dark magic is trying to burst into Irrucil’s heart. I will first apply magic power to encircle Irrucil’s heart, thereby blocking the dark magic. Meanwhile, Todd should continue to purify the dark magic with divine power, just as before.

 

“No, that. . . . . “

 

‘Is that even possible?’ Todd wondered.

 

“Russell-nim, if your magic power pierces. . .”

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

Todd nodded at Russell’s assertive words. Cold sweat had already formed on his plump cheeks and chin.

 

“Then let’s start again.”

 

At Todd’s signal, Russell finely adjusted his magic power that had reached the vicinity of Irrucil’s heart. His magic power, which had become as thin as a thread, erupted into the dozens and hundreds, enveloping her heart.

 

The magic circuit that had not yet returned to normal appealed to fatigue and pain, but he endured it. If he made a mistake, his older sister would die. Russell could never accept such a situation.

 

! Thump.

 

Russell’s internalized mental image overlayed the surroundings in the form of a domain. Dave and Daisy, as well as Calia and Aellasis, were surprised by the strange phenomenon and stepped back. Only Todd, who was temporarily in contact with God through prayer, was unaware of such a phenomenon and was pouring in divine power.

 

Russell, who had his eyes closed, opened his eyes in Irrucil’s body through magic power. He didn’t actually open his eyes, but he was able to perceive the surrounding objects through his will by incorporating his mental image into his magic power.

 

The phenomenon revealed an improvement in Russell’s sensory ability and control through his magic power, a fact he was unaware of. He only looked at the mass of dark magic wriggling in front of him.

 

As he looked at the mass of dark magic, Russell remembered when he had fainted earlier. In a space where darkness covered all sides like a deep abyss, a giant shadow was trying to enter through a rift beyond the horizon.

 

The dark magic in front of him was now wriggling like a shadow, trying to burn, destroy, and devour Irrucil’s blood vessels, internal organs, muscles, and nerves.

 

It had the will to grow to its own size and eventually take over this small world through unconditional destruction.

 

‘That can’t happen.’ Russell raised his voice firmly and sharply. Soon, he felt a wave of green divine power rushing in from beyond his perception.

 

The dark magic resisted the divine power that was purifying and consuming it and rushed towards Irrucil’s heart. Dozens and hundreds of split tentacles rushed in, with their blades raised at the end.

 

Russell repelled each and every one of those attacks. Thin streams of blood flowed from Russell’s nose and mouth on the outside. He felt a burning pain in his magic circuit, and the remaining magic power swirled through his limbs and seeped into Irrucil’s body through his arms and hands.

 

Nevertheless, the resistance of the dark magic was fierce. Russell realized that if he continued to repel the tentacles one by one, both Irrucil and himself would die. Then there was only one path.

 

“Hm?”

 

It was Todd who noticed the change. He noticed that the momentum of the dark magic was gradually weakening and flowing away somewhere. It had been running wild because all paths were blocked, but as soon as one path opened, it rushed in like crazy.

 

Thinking that it was the only escape route, the dark magic, which had been trying to destroy its host like a parasite, headed straight for Russell.

 

Irrucil’s breathing immediately stabilized as the mass of dark magic moved away from her heart and passed through Russell. However, the flames had now shifted to Russell.

 

“Russell?”

 

Calia, who had been carefully watching the situation, called out to Russell.

 

Russell stood with his eyes closed, receiving the dark magic in his right hand. He felt the evil intent of the dark magic, which was trying to devour all the nerves and muscles in his right hand and make them its own.

 

However, that was also what Russell had intended. Russell, who had kept his eyes closed the whole time, opened them. His indigo eyes contained a sharp gaze, and he stared at his right hand and the dark magic within it.

 

With a roar, an indigo flame burned in his hand.

 

Kyaaaagh━

 

A ghostly scream echoed within Russell’s domain. The sound waves did not escape, so only Russell could hear them.

 

If that sound had escaped, Dave and Daisy would have died instantly, just as if they had heard the screams of a Lace or a Mandragora.

 

With its last death throes, the dark magic completely disappeared. Russell looked at his right hand, which was gradually regaining its color, and thought about the terrible thoughts and malice contained in this dark magic.

 

At least thousands of people would have to be subjected to pain and their lives exploited to give birth to such vicious magic.

 

The crucial factor was that the individual donning that robe was unsalvageable. Russell clenched his fist.

 

Outside, when dawn had fully broken, yellow sunlight poured through the windows and illuminated the church.

 

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