The black sun hangs high

Chapter 408 Confrontation
Hughes took Theseus's warning very seriously.

In fact, even if Theseus hadn't given him this warning, Hugh would not have underestimated his opponent.

Because Kzlov looks really strange right now.

Although his face and figure were no different from before, strange light and shadow flickered constantly in his eyes. As Kezlov moved forward, these gloomy, dark mists continued to emerge from his pupils and coiled around his body as if they had come to life.

"Clap!"

The hound leaped nimbly from a carbonized carcass, its spider-like limbs extending from its back tapping the ground in a specific rhythm—a common sign that it was on alert.

Although the court hound managed to evade Krzlov's magical attack using its own abilities, the strange aura emanating from him now posed a real threat to the hound.

Hugh, who has a magical connection with the hound, also receives a general sense of the hound's feelings through this connection.

The oppressive aura emanating from Kzlov was unlike that of ordinary beings in the Dark Abyss.

In the hound's extremely keen senses, the aura of Kzlov had completely surpassed that of the more common Dark Abyss races such as the Dark Abyss Spider. In fact, it could be said that the feeling Kzlov gave the hound was highly similar to that of the strange and dangerous beings within the Dark Abyss Palace.

Then, a word popped into Hugh's mind, and he immediately asked Theseus in his mind: "Chosen by God?"

"Thinking too much."

Theseus denied it, saying, "The Dark Abyss Court is completely different from the so-called gods of Vaan in the past, so it's inappropriate to apply such a concept to them... However, from a certain perspective, he is indeed somewhat similar to the 'Chosen One'... Compared to other believers and their families, he clearly received more from the Dark Abyss Court..."

Before Theseus could finish speaking, Krzlov had already made a new move.

He stopped not far from Hugh, and the dark abyss mist swirling around his body trembled violently twice. Then, under the influence of magic, this strange, dense mist transformed into jet-black chains.

Hughes had seen this kind of chain before.

When he first attended a Black Sun Society gathering and was asked to perform a so-called "blasphemy ritual" on the statue of the goddess of magic, Mel, the chains specifically designed to pierce the goddess of magic looked like this.

Now, these pitch-black chains are gently twisting beside Krzlov, and as they move, the dark green magical glow unique to Krzlov begins to spread towards them.

Soon, this deadly color completely enveloped the chains with their sharp ends, making them look like venomous snakes covered in dark green electric light.

“Mr. Ernst, you haven’t changed at all.”

The voice slowly emanated from Kzlov's mouth. Under the influence of the Dark Abyss magic, his voice became distant and cold, sounding like a terrifying echo coming from the abyss behind the black sun.

"Just like the last time we met, you are still as arrogant and conceited as ever... and you are still able to bring 'surprises' to people."

"Hehe, thank you for the compliment."

Hughes smirked, then gently shook his arm, and the black sword that had been shattered in the previous battle due to a fierce collision with the enemy once again extended from his palm.

With this action, the Karron Touches, which had been largely destroyed by Kzlov's destructive magic, re-emerged from behind Shug. This time, the mist from the Mirror Messenger enveloped all the newly formed Karron Touches, making their outlines blurry and adding a touch of mystery.

“You are different, Mr. Kzlov.”

A mocking smile appeared on Hugh's face: "Based on my observation of you over the past few months, you look much older than when we first met... Is it because the Black Sun Society is too busy with its affairs? Or is it because there are too many useless idiots in your ranks?"

As he spoke, Hugh slowly raised his head, a black mask flashing across his face, followed by the fleeting image of Baron Fiorlando's face.

Kizlov stared intently at Hugh, and even though his eyes were filled with the thick shadows of the abyss, anyone who looked directly at Kizlov could clearly feel his anger.

"The favors and blessings you have received far surpass those of us, yet you show no appreciation for this precious gift... Tell me, how did you obtain them? Was it through deception or plunder?"

"Ha, I don't know either. Maybe I'm just lucky, and those gods like me? After all, I woke up like this. Aren't your prophecies supposed to be all-powerful? Why don't you go back and check them out?"

At this point, Hugh paused, a slightly exaggerated expression suddenly appearing on his face: "Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I almost forgot, your prophet was someone I personally dealt with, but after him, you should have found other people who can make up stories, right?"

"If all else fails, I can write it for you. I guarantee it will be more popular than his... as long as you're willing to pay the royalties."

Before he finished speaking, Hugh suddenly raised his left hand slightly, and the Kalron tentacles on his left side suddenly swirled up. A large amount of Dark Abyss Mist gathered around Hugh with this movement, forming a huge, semi-transparent "shadow shield" together with the writhing Kalron tentacles.

The moment the "shield" was formed, a dark shadow that flew in from the side slammed into it, causing the condensed dark abyss mist to tremble violently.

Hugh didn't even turn his head to look; the Karron Touches, covered in a lot of mist, reacted with incredible speed.

They rapidly contracted, completely dissipating the aftershocks of the destructive magic. Any remaining magical energy was immediately devoured by the twisting touch of Karron.

Having "tasted" its magic, these tentacles seemed to lock onto their target, viciously thrusting out in a specific direction. Crimson blood gushed out of thin air in the flickering light, and a body that had been magically concealed nearby was instantly pierced by Karron's tentacles. Huge holes were mercilessly pierced in his chest and abdomen, and his internal organs and flesh were violently churned into dust.

Kozlov stood there quietly, neither attacking Hugh nor stopping Hugh from killing the Black Sun Society mage.

After the mangled body was flung to the ground by Karron's Touch, Kizlov slowly spoke: "What you said is not wrong. Within the Society, there are also a large number of stupid and unguided parasites... The only thing they possess is loyalty, loyalty to the gods."

“Mr. Ernst, someone like you has always been what the Society has been longing for. Whether or not you are the ‘Son of the Abyss’ mentioned in the prophecy, your mind and abilities can truly lead the Society toward that great vision.”

Hugh squinted at the other party: "What, even now, the Society is still considering the options of persuasion and cooperation?"

"Why not?"

As he spoke, Kizlov let out a low laugh: "Since you already possess the ability to seize the faces and memories of others, then you should also know that behind that great black sun, devouring and fusion are fundamental methods of cooperation..."

As Krzlov spoke, the dark green chains floating beside him began to point in Hugh's direction: "Mr. Ernst, when we first met, you could have personally performed that blasphemous ritual and become an intimate ally with the afterimages and truths left behind by countless gods... Unfortunately, you chose to refuse. Since that's the case, then I will complete that incomplete ritual for you."

Krzlov's voice began to twist, the cold echoes generated by the magical vibrations reverberating through the square: "After seizing your memories and thoughts, I will naturally go to see my naive student... Then, you and Mayer can reunite in that eternal, deep shadow."

As soon as he finished speaking, a blinding light suddenly appeared in the distant sky.

That was a violent explosion caused by the collision of a heavy crystallization shell with a large protective ritual object.

Hugh raised his head slightly and looked at the amazing trails that streaked across the southern night sky, his eyes flickering slightly.

These heavy crystallized shells were clearly not fired from the direction of the Yanhu mine.

Their numbers, power, and residual trajectory all indicate that this round of shelling most likely came from the direction of the Kingdom of Walter. This suggests that the turmoil that occurred on this particular night has been successfully reported to the rear. Moreover, they have actively adjusted their strategies and launched a preemptive strike against the territory of Saint Steel.

One booming sound after another came from afar. Without even looking at Hugh, he knew that a significant portion of these crystal shells must have been aimed at the "key targets" he had marked.

So he stepped forward and said loudly, "Kezlov, just you wait and see!"

“Those so-called ‘fools’ you despise have now begun to unleash their fire on you… They are not weak targets, but messengers who can deliver death to you, and as for me, I am just an ordinary member among them.”

A burst of intense light erupted in the southern sky above Watchtower City. The violent impact tore two small cracks in the city's defensive ritual, and a large amount of magical energy surged in through these cracks, penetrating the circling flock of Azhar birds like sharp blades, leaving two distinct bloody streaks in their wake.

The deafening explosion drowned out the piercing cries of the Atmir giant eagles. These terrifying predators had reached their destination, and the artillery positions set up in the Rock Lake Mine were destined to be destroyed by them.

Sporadic gunshots could still be heard in the streets of Watchtower City. The last remaining members of the Sharp-Beaked Owl Camp had been wiped out by the Black Sun Society with swift and decisive action. Under the siege of a large number of Dark Hounds and Azhar Giant Birds, these mercenaries with limited abilities could only huddle in houses and fortifications and struggle to survive.

In the chaos, the magic within Hugh's body erupted completely.

Time has been delayed long enough, and the rear has already taken the most proactive measures. So, all that's left for him to do is one thing.

With a terrifying roar, the palace hound vanished from the spot.

The next instant, the ferocious beast tore through the shadows with its pincers on its back and sprang out from a pile of broken bricks beside Kezlov, its sharp claws, teeth, and limbs falling from different directions.

Those twisting chains were no ordinary chains.

As vessels of grace bestowed upon their followers by the Dark Abyss Palace, they had already taken action the moment the palace hounds appeared. Dark green lightning coiled around them burst forth toward the palace hounds, while multiple iron chains circled around from the side, preparing to use their sharp ends to pierce through the target.

The figure of the mad rat Sniggy reappeared beside Hugh. Surrounded by a large swarm of Ernst family rats, it took the initiative to approach the Black Sun Society members whose bodies had been deformed. Another group of rats, disregarding their own injuries, pounced on the spellcasters and soldiers who were preparing to use magic to support Kerzlov.

The powerful life force bestowed by the "Walking Forest" began to flow through Hugh's body, and the wound inflicted by Kerzlov began to heal rapidly, while the fatigue caused by the long battle was quickly washed away.

And so, Hugh launched an attack toward Kezlov.

Countless Karron's tentacles swept upwards, entangled with Krzlov's dark green chains, and the two kinds of magic of the same origin began to strangle each other. The terrible shock and the ear-piercing friction tormented the mind and eardrums of everyone in the square.

After repelling yet another attack by the court hounds, Krzlov suddenly launched a swift counterattack. A large number of dark green chains twisted together, instantly annihilating the massive amount of Karron's Touch that was surging towards him. Then, these chains suddenly "bloomed," weaving a huge dark green net right next to Hugh.

However, these terrible chains failed to pierce through.

He casually tossed out a magic book page that had been infused with an excessive amount of Dark Abyss magic by Hughes, and an extremely cold temperature spread out in all directions from the page.

With the support of special magic, the "Frosty Pool," which was originally just a lake-level magic, completely unleashed its full potential. Pale ice grew wildly all around, and several special, deep marks appeared in the azure color.

(End of this chapter)