A precise and concise slash.
The Black Tide creature before Derick was entirely severed.
The surrounding Black Tide creatures attempted to pounce on Derick, but warriors from Castrum Kremnos had already launched their attacks.
In an instant, a large swath of these Black Tide creatures was cleared.
Everyone from Castrum Kremnos was filled with fighting spirit; after the initial contact, their powerful battle intent erupted.
The Black Tide creatures' frontline was instantly torn open by the warriors of Castrum Kremnos.
"Forward! Follow me, forward!"
Derick brandished his sword and advanced.
The Kremnos warriors followed him in unison, forming a battle line, and bit by bit, they widened the breach in the Black Tide creatures' ranks.
"Kill!"
Derick and the Kremnos warriors were in a constant slaughter.
Many Black Tide creatures perished, but a considerable number of Castrum Kremnos warriors also fell on the battlefield.
Many among the Kremnos warriors hadn't participated in battle for years.
Even with continuous training, a real battlefield was an entirely different matter.
No longer accustomed to war, they died upon their return to this battlefield.
Krateros watched this scene with a heavy heart, but seeing the smiles on their faces as they died, he found solace.
Though they hadn't returned to their homeland, they knew they were on the path home.
The direction in which they fell was all towards Castrum Kremnos.
We cannot make it, but our kinsmen can carry us back to our homeland.
Return home!
Behind Mydei, the Kremnos warriors who hadn't gone forward saw the situation and wanted to rush over.
But this time, Mydei firmly stopped them.
"Battle spirit born from a moment of anger cannot last. You've already missed your chance; you cannot take another step forward. Watch this battle closely and burn today into your memories," Mydei said.
Hearing Mydei's words, these Kremnos warriors halted, merely continuing to watch the battle before them.
Watching those heroic Kremnos warriors die amidst the Black Tide creatures.
The number of Kremnos warriors around Derick dwindled, but those who remained grew increasingly valiant.
Initially, they had merely formed ranks to resist the Black Tide creatures.
But as the battle progressed, their movements became more proactive, and some highly skilled warriors even charged into the midst of the Black Tide creatures, commencing a frenzied slaughter.
"They are increasing their strength through battle," Tribbie murmured to herself, observing the scene.
Cipher asked, puzzled, "Are their skills improving?"
"No, this is the blessing and protection of Nikador, the Titan of Discord." Castorice shook her head, pointing towards Derick at the very front.
"Look at Derick. His current state is just like Nikador who once incited discord. He's sheltering the followers behind him."
"It's true! Derry-O, that fellow, is also gradually enhancing his aura along with the battle," Cipher said, taking a closer look, and discovered that Derick's presence was indeed growing stronger as the fight wore on.
Though the energy within his body hadn't increased, the aura Derick exuded was steadily intensifying.
"He is gradually understanding Discord," Mydei interjected.
His gaze towards Derick was very complex.
Derick felt his hands become light and airy; the Blade of Scourge in his grip felt as light as a feather.
He swung it random, thoroughly integrating Nikador's previous techniques into his hands.
The fighting spirit of the Kremnos warriors behind him gradually surged.
Amidst their slaughter and combat, Derick slowly began to comprehend the power of Discord.
Every cell in his body was becoming belligerent.
And it wasn't war for war's sake, but the spirit of protecting those behind him.
"I... understand now!"
Derick raised the Blade of Scourge high, swinging it forward.
The Blade of Scourge extended to a hundred meters long.
The colossal sword fell.
All the Black Tide creatures in front of Derick were turned to ash.
The Kremnos warriors, seeing Derick's strike, were stunned speechless.
At the same time, a deep sense of pride filled their hearts.
They knew very well that the attack just now contained not only Derick's power but also the battle intent they had gained from the fight.
This sword strike from Derick, which opened the path to Castrum Kremnos, was the result of their collective struggle.
All the Black Tide creatures vanished.
The Blade of Scourge in Derick's hand returned to its greatsword size.
Derick gripped the sword with both hands, faced forward, and continued to shout:
"Move out! The road ahead to Castrum Kremnos is clear. Gather the bodies of the fallen, carry them with us to Castrum Kremnos!"
The Kremnos warriors shouldered their fallen comrades.
Their bodies had to return to their homeland.
Krateros had also sustained considerable injuries.
Derick asked him, "How are you? Can you still move?"
"Even if I only have my head left, I'll lick my way to Castrum Kremnos with my tongue," Krateros replied with a laugh.
"That won't be necessary. Just wait and watch my fight later."
"Mm."
Krateros nodded.
Derick strode forward, the warriors following closely behind.
Their battle intent materialized, forming a long dragon that protected everyone around them.
Walking on the road to Castrum Kremnos, no other enemies came to attack them, to obstruct their path to the city.
Or rather, enemies had tried to obstruct them.
But in this overwhelming aura, they were directly crushed to dust.
What enemies? I thought they were speed bumps.
The all arrived at Castrum Kremnos.
Looking at the dilapidated and collapsed Castrum Kremnos, Derick had expected the Kremnos warriors to show disappointment.
Just as he was about to turn back and comfort them, Derick noticed that from Krateros down to the most common Kremnos warrior, none showed any hint of disappointment.
Many knelt on the ground, shedding tears.
They had been away from this city for too, too long, so long that they had forgotten its appearance.
But now, upon seeing Castrum Kremnos, even if only ruins remained, they could sketch out the image of their former homes in their minds.
The children of the Kremnos warriors had never seen this place.
They asked curiously, "Is this... our Castrum Kremnos?"
"Yes, this is our Castrum Kremnos. You must grow up quickly, become strong quickly, and then guard this city."
Their parents beside them stroked their heads, their eyes red.
These parents, for the sake of their children, had given up the chance to fight earlier.
They felt that even if Castrum Kremnos was open again, they would have no chance to return.
But their children were still young; they still had many opportunities.
Krateros said enthusiastically, "Fortunately, I learned some forging skills from the Great Artificer. They'll be perfect for rebuilding these structures. If Castrum Kremnos is destroyed, we'll rebuild it, stone by stone."
"That's no simple task. It looks like you'll all be busy from now on," Derick said with a smile.
"Indeed, we'll probably be very busy," Krateros nodded with a smile.
Then, he turned his head to look towards the depths of Castrum Kremnos, at a staircase that had appeared out of thin air, leading upwards, and the platform at its top.
He said to Derick, "Now, I can only wish you victory in battle."
The other Kremnos warriors also stopped their tears and many offered Derick their blessings for victory.
Cipher waved from a distance.
"Derry-O, you better win this for me!"
"Go, Little Derry!" Tribbie jumped, trying to get Derick to see her.
"Victory!"
Mydei only shouted these two words to Derick.
"It seems the Kremnos warriors' dictionary does have some words in it after all," Derick thought to himself upon hearing Mydei.
Finally, Derick's gaze fell upon Castorice.
Castorice said nothing, merely giving Derick an encouraging look.
An encouragement that reached straight to the heart.
Derick tightened his grip on the Blade of Scourge and walked towards the steps.
With each step, his aura grew stronger.
Bearing the blessings of so many, he felt he could overcome any powerful foe.
...
Walking on the steps, Derick clearly felt they weren't solid.
To be precise, they felt more like a condensation of spirit.
"The composition of Amphoreus is truly wondrous," Derick thought, then stepped onto the platform at the top of the stairs.
This place, too, was constructed from spiritual power.
Derick looked around, feeling it was quite similar to Nikador's arena from before.
And opposite Derick stood the warrior he had sensed earlier, wearing a helmet and holding a spear.
"Nikador?"
Derick spoke to Him.
He didn't speak, merely nodding silently.
The spear in His hand rose, pointing at the Blade of Scourge in Derick's hand.
"Take my spear, or I shall take your sword."
"Then it seems I'll have to learn how to use a spear when I get back," Derick said, planting his feet on the ground, and swung his greatsword down at Nikador.
Nikador stepped forward with his left foot, his right leg slightly bent, the spear shaft angled towards the ground, using the ground to block Derick's downward hack.
With a dull thud, Derick's figure landed backwards on the ground.
After landing, Derick didn't pause; instead, his body dipped low as he slashed diagonally towards Nikador.
The sword, already whistling through the air, swept out with the might of all the blessings, becoming unstoppable.
Nikador quickly leaned back, the spear shaft held vertically before his chest at the last possible moment.
Amidst a 'clang', He used the impact to slide back three steps, his boots dragging two long marks on the hard ground.
"Next, it's my turn!"
Nikador's retreating figure suddenly lunged forward.
The spear in his hand transformed into a silver flash of lightning, its tip rapidly quivering, thrusting towards Derick's throat, heart, and knees.
Seeing this, Derick quickly retreated, the broad sword-body protecting his vitals like a shield.
His stature became an advantage at this moment; Nikador's spear thrusts all landed on the body of the Blade of Scourge.
The Blade of Scourge and the Spear of Retribution clashed, sending out a shower of sparks.
Nikador's spear continuously struck, intent on forcing Derick to the edge of the platform.
Just as Derick was about to be knocked off, he thrust his greatsword downwards forcefully, stepping onto the blade.
Nikador was still striking Derick's greatsword.
Derick seized this opportunity to leap behind Him.
He reached out an arm, wrapped it around His neck, and executed a shoulder throw.
The spear also fell to one side.
Derick and Nikador were both bare-handed.
Derick pressed Nikador's shoulders with both hands and delivered a knee strike to His chest.
Nikador reacted, smashing his steel helmet towards Derick's shin.
Derick dodged, rushed to the Blade of Scourge, picked it up, and slashed at Nikador.
Nikador, after rolling a few times on the ground, picked up the Spear of Retribution and clashed with Derick's Blade of Scourge.
The two once again engaged in a new round of combat.
Derick and Nikador exchanged several hundred blows without a clear winner.
If this were a real battle, Derick could have won long ago relying on his immortality.
But in this spiritual battle with Nikador, Derick knew that if he relied on his immortality, everything would be meaningless.
He would not be accepted by the Coreflame of Discord.
Once again, he clashed with Nikador's spear.
"How can I win?"
Derick wondered.
His combat skills and so on all came from Nikador; one could say they were cut from the same cloth.
Taught by the same master, how could he break His moves?
If they continued fighting like this, a victor might not be decided even after thousands of exchanges.
Unless there was another means of attack.
Nikador charged forward, and Derick parried with a two-handed sword swing.
Nikador, as was his habit, held his spear horizontally, intending to continue suppressing Derick's greatsword.
Both were extremely close, Nikador's entire attention focused on his hands and Derick's greatsword.
At this moment, a sharp blade suddenly appeared pressed against Derick's arm.
The sudden thrust of the blade caught Nikador off guard.
After His arm was pierced, Derick pushed Him away, then raised his greatsword and thrust straight at His chest, directly impaling it.
Derick's No. 2 clone had absorbed the body of an Antimatter Legion Voidranger.
He hadn't dared to use this earlier because Nikador would have reacted.
Only when both their attentions were entirely focused on their weapons could he execute this surprise attack.
The greatsword pierced Nikador's spiritual body.
He was now motionless.
And in Derick's mind, a deep, resonant voice emerged.
"You have defeated me. From now on, the Coreflame of the Titan of Discord is yours. It's fortunate you passed this trial, or I really couldn't have held on much longer."
"What is this situation?"
Derick knew that in the game, it was with the help of the Titan of Time that Nikador's spirit was found.
Without the Titan of Time now, what exactly was going on?
"Before I was eroded, I separated my sanity. I thought I might be able to return with the help of that sanity in the future, but I never expected my other parts to be devoured by some unknown existence."
Derick remained silent.
These were all things he had accomplished by manipulating his clones.
But even facing the soon-to-disappear Nikador, Derick wouldn't speak of these matters.
"Fortunately, for some unknown reason, you possess the power of Discord, and it's very potent. You can try to reignite my Coreflame. However, because I existed, although your body's energy was sufficient, you couldn't ignite the Coreflame."
"Now that you've defeated me, you can finally ignite the Coreflame of Castrum Kremnos."
_____
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