Chapter 731: White-Clad Sakatsuki - Phase Two
The black light that tore through the air was blocked by the raised blade.
"Hmph." The attacker let out a disdainful snort, flapped his wings, and forced Anna back before continuing his advance.
Yet in the next moment, he crashed into a sapphire prism.
As the young man curled his fingers, another gate opened along the ground, and the Baal Lahmu that had attempted a sneak attack shot out like a bullet, plunging unexpectedly into the earth before vanishing in a spray of dirt.
Just like that, the ambush was effortlessly dismantled.
"Nice work, Sakatsuki." Fujimaru's back was drenched in cold sweat—he had only just managed to draw his Class Card, let alone counterattack. "Seems you were right. This trip was never going to be smooth."
Still, at least I'm not alone.
With that thought, Fujimaru turned his gaze to the white-clad young man standing before him—not particularly burly, yet radiating an overwhelming sense of security.
The white-haired general from their first meeting, the miracle-working mage who had fought against the Beast, and now the very embodiment of Uruk's greatest combat strength.
With Sakatsuki here, no matter what dangers came their way, they could be easily dispelled.
"Hey, Fujimaru." Just as he was brimming with confidence, Sakatsuki suddenly turned to him, his tone serious:
"Maybe we should just run."
"Eh?!"
The next instant, furious black light upheaved the earth, joining another falling meteor from the night sky as they closed in from above and below.
What was suffocating was the unmistakable divine aura emanating from them—genuine god-level power!
It was as if Apollo were charging in his chariot, Poseidon swinging his trident; as if Jupiter hurled down thunderbolts, Mars cast his spear… The combined full-force assault of two chief deities could obliterate an entire city-state in an instant!
"Merlin!"
"Leave it to me. I'll handle it like a dream." A sword appeared in Merlin's hand, and as he swung it, pink petals scattered like a curtain, obscuring the Baal Lahmu's vision.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted. Even the divinely reinforced earth caved in, forming a massive crater. The two floating monsters at its center turned—only to find their targets already a kilometer away.
[SET (Load)]
[Caster, Charles Babbage]
"Henshin (Transform)!"
Once more, the solemn mechanical battle armor was donned. Fujimaru stared at the two grotesque creatures, his expression grim:
"What in the world… are these things…?"
[Ready——Fight!!!]
Like the trigger of a starting pistol being pulled, there was no need for further dialogue. The Baal Lahmu flapped their wings and lunged again—but the moment Sakatsuki raised his hand, they saw yet another pink flower bloom.
"[I am the bone of my sword]"
The moment the True Name was invoked, the very atmosphere trembled.
The bronze shield that had shone brilliantly in the Trojan War rolled back through countless ages, its radiance reignited in the Age of Gods. With two resounding thuds, the Baal Lahmu shattered six layers of barriers in succession—only to grind to a halt against the final line of defense.
Under Sakatsuki's full projection, his creation had become nearly identical to the original, even surpassing it in some aspects.
Yet it still couldn't last long against an attack from a chief deity.
"Now's our chance—go!" He maintained his magical energy output while turning his head to Fujimaru, who was already gripping the Axe of Marduk. "I won't hold out for much longer."
Fujimaru pressed his lips together, clearly reluctant. But the doctor's frantic voice blared from his communicator, warning him of the enemy's danger. Anna, trembling as she clutched her war scythe, and the chrysanthemum shield cracking under pressure left him with only one choice.
"Then I'm counting on you, Sakatsuki!"
There was no dramatic back-and-forth of "You go!" "No, I won't!" Once the Master made his decision, the team moved like the wind. In mere seconds, the four of them had sprinted hundreds of meters, nearly escaping Eridu.
But as ghostly blue flames erupted in layers, a deadly inferno suddenly blocked their path. The mysterious figure in a black robe and skeletal mask reappeared before them, making their faces pale.
The enemy who had once wreaked havoc in Uruk's palace—the one no one could stop—had arrived.
And it wasn't over.
A golden sun rose in the night sky as the ruler of Eridu stepped forward on blazing light, her expression icy. She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the robed figure.
Two more chief deities.
Under the suffocating pressure, Fujimaru nearly choked. At that moment, Jaguar Warrior let out a startled cry:
"Quetzalcoatl?! You didn't leave?! And you even set up an ambush?! So this morning's spar was just a trick?!"
A trick?
Quetzalcoatl was already in a foul mood. She shot Jaguar Warrior a venomous glare.
I specifically told you this morning that those two Baal Lahmus were coming—so you could warn the Master not to act today and wait until they were gone!
And what did you do? Let the Master charge in like a dumb deer?!
Damn it, just DIE already!
Fueled by frustration toward the airheaded idiot, Quetzalcoatl struck first. With a yelp, Jaguar Warrior was grabbed by the shoulder and hurled toward the temple, where the two immediately clashed in a flurry of blows.
At the same time, the robed figure moved.
[SET (LOAD)]
[Shielder·Data Lost]
The Round Table's shield stood firm against the robed figure's unremarkable fist. Fujimaru grunted—even with the enhancements from his mechanical armor, the impact drove him into the ground, his head spinning.
"You're buffed, now go!" Merlin wasted no time casting reinforcement spells. One after another, glowing enhancements flickered over Fujimaru's body. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up against the robed figure's crushing punches, the sound of metal straining under pressure.
Then—a flash of cold steel!
Under Fujimaru's cover, the petite Anna appeared like a ghost. With a swift motion, she swung her scythe straight at the robed figure's neck.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed outward. Anna's face twisted in pain, her small hand going numb—her scythe nearly flew from her grip.
Hard. Too hard.
It was like striking not flesh, but solid steel.
The robed figure remained expressionless. Slowly, deliberately, it raised its fist—and struck.
"Whoa!" This time, even Merlin's magecraft proved ineffective. With the force of a bursting dam, Fujimaru was sent flying backward—one hand still desperately clutching Marduk's Axe—leaving Anna standing alone, staring blankly at the black-robed figure before her.
Her expression was dazed, pitiful, and utterly helpless.
But the bone-masked figure in black robes knew nothing of mercy. As the atmosphere swirled violently in his grasp, he threw another devastating punch!
"The night is silent, my shadow envelops the world!"
With the invocation of mystery, hazy spiritrons spilled from the darkness, coalescing into the form of a faceless giant. Its massive arms stretched out, enveloping little Anna in their protective embrace.
The fist struck the giant's back, yet the robed figure staggered—his blow had landed on empty air.
As if his target had leaped into another dimension entirely!
"Thanks, Sakatsuki!" Fujimaru turned back in relief, only to freeze in shock.
Despite lending a hand, Sakatsuki was far from unscathed—in fact, he was in terrible shape.
One of his arms hung limp at his side, broken beyond use.
His chest bore several gaping wounds, charred black, so severe that not even blood could seep out.
The brutal mana drain from his struggle against the two Baal Lahmu left him dizzy and disoriented, his movements sluggish, like a bird teetering on the verge of collapse mid-flight.
Yet, even now, he stubbornly held onto the two Baal Lahmu, refusing to let them break free and threaten Fujimaru and the others.
But did the Baal Lahmu care for his efforts?
"Tch, tch. You're just a counterfeit of that guy. We were only playing with you—did you really think you could stop us?"
With that taunt, one of the Baal Lahmu abruptly broke away, diving toward Fujimaru and the others like a bomber. Dark energy surged along its wings, radiating destruction.
A sharp, stinging sensation shot through their nerves. Fujimaru and Anna exchanged glances, their anxiety impossible to hide.
A single mysterious black-robed figure had already pushed them to their limits. If another god-tier combatant joined the fray… victory was impossible!
"Die!" The Baal Lahmu sneered as it closed in on Fujimaru.
Then—it plunged into a cerulean prism once more.
High above, a beam of black light lanced down with pinpoint accuracy, striking the other Baal Lahmu and drawing an enraged roar from its throat!
"You're not leaving." Sakatsuki gazed at the two monsters now back before him. Despite his pallid complexion, his smile remained as gentle as a spring breeze. "Who said a counterfeit can't surpass the original? Play with me a little longer."
"Play? You're already on death's door, yet you still dare to boast?!" The Baal Lahmu, incensed by his mockery, flared its wings and shot forward like an arrow, piercing straight through the young man's body. "You're nothing compared to him!"
"True." Blood seeped out, staining his pristine white robes. Sakatsuki lowered his gaze, his smile unchanging, not even bothering to wipe the blood from his face.
"But in front of me… what right do you mongrels have to bark?"
Lifting his eyes, he glared at the Baal Lahmu with unbridled arrogance, each word driving into their hearts like nails.
"Every version of me… will become your worst nightmare!"
In an instant, platinum-hued magical light coiled and intertwined, soaring toward the heavens like a colossal growing tree!
Amidst the endless shimmering radiance, the two Baal Lahmus felt only an overwhelming wave of malevolence crashing toward them.
It was as though their previous attacks had merely depleted one health bar of the boss.
And now—the boss had entered its second phase!
"Come—" Sakatsuki's pristine white robes became adorned with golden patterns as he spread his arms wide. Though his aura hadn't changed, an unbridled arrogance suddenly erupted from him as he grinned ferociously at the two Baal Lahmus.
"Feel my scorn and contempt."