The player is playing like a god, but their cheat code is Aatrox.

Chapter 174

Kieran knew his disciple all too well.

His ambition is no less than anyone else's, and his mind is more intricate than a spider web. He will use every resource at his disposal and betray everyone he can betray, all to achieve his own goals.

But Kieran wasn't worried that Karl wouldn't cooperate, because although their goals differed, their general direction was basically the same.

What Karl wanted was the truth, the ultimate mystery behind the void, the key to transcending this low-dimensional universe;

Kieran wanted to correct fate, to get everything back on track, and to make the universe run smoothly according to his predetermined path.

The two roads have different destinations, but they start from the same point.

Merge with the void, and control the universe.

So Kieran presented a condition that Karl couldn't refuse: Rhaast.

Finding Laaste is not easy.

Kieran expended tremendous effort, repeatedly searching for Darkin energy fluctuations in the void. His soul was nearly crushed by the void turbulence before he finally found Rhaast in a dark corner of the universe.

Then, he used his remaining strength to create a cage deep within Karl's consciousness, helping his most prized disciple suppress the tyrannical Darkin.

Originally, the match between Karl and Laaste was at best a 50/50 affair.

As time goes on, Laast's bloodlust will gradually take over.

But with Kieran's intervention, the scales tipped completely in Karl's favor.

Most of Laast's power was forcibly extracted, and the remaining fragments of his consciousness could only cower deep in the pupil of Karl's right eye, making him a truly incompetent husband.

Death with a scythe

They match quite well, don't they?

Tsukasa Kadoya glanced at Varus, then at Karl.

I'm finding this story increasingly interesting...

Suddenly, Karl, Cangyu, and Varus all looked in the same direction at the same time.

The next second, three streaks of light pierced the sky and landed steadily not far from them.

It was Yaheng, Ge Xiaolun, and Cheng Yaowen.

"Everyone's here, which saves me the trouble of looking for them."

Aheng's gaze slowly swept over Karl and Varus, pausing for a moment when it finally landed on Cang Yu.

Ge Xiaolun and Cheng Yaowen stood silently to the side, their scarlet armor gleaming coldly in the crimson sunlight.

A slight smile appeared on Karl's lips as he praised:

"Indeed, everyone is here, which saves me the trouble of looking for them."

As soon as he said that, everyone's eyes turned to him.

Does Karl have some other trick up his sleeve?

Cang Yu frowned.

Facing the focused gazes of the crowd, Karl simply smiled faintly, then fixed his gaze firmly on Cang Yu:

"I'm filled with curiosity about you... What kind of power does you possess?"

Cang Yu rolled his eyes: "You think I have to tell you just because you ask me? Who do you think you are?"

"interesting."

Karl wasn't angry; instead, his smile deepened, a near-morbid pleasure appearing on his half-human, half-ghost face.

"It seems you do have a bad temper, but..." A sickly smile appeared on Karl's face.

"Soon, you'll be a better behaved."

Cang Yu was so angry he laughed:

"Heh, you don't think you can swagger in front of me just because you've gained the power of the Darkin, do you?"

Karl simply smiled faintly:

"Why don't you try and see?"

Cang Yu laughed upon hearing this: "Alright, since you're so confident... then I'll show you what a true Darkborn is like."

A smile played on his lips as he shouted:

"Aatrox!"

"what!"

Aatrox let out a hoarse roar, and dark red blood mist surged out of Cang Yu's body, sweeping over his entire body like a caged beast breaking free of its cage.

His figure shifted rapidly within the blood mist.

Its body grew to nearly three meters tall, its dark red muscles bulging like lava, and its surface covered with dense, blood-red lines, each pulsating with a bloodthirsty frenzy.

Huge, blood-red wings suddenly unfurled from behind, their tips tearing through the air with a sharp screech.

A pair of scarlet eyes lit up in the blood mist, and deep within their pupils burned a destructive fire that had been suppressed for far too long and was finally being released.

Aatrox lowered his head, his scarlet eyes locking onto Karl in front of him, a ferocious grin spreading across his face that almost reached his ears.

His voice rolled out from deep in his throat, hoarse, low, and filled with undisguised excitement and savagery:

"Hahaha, the long-awaited freedom!"

Aatrox looked at Karl with disdain in his eyes.

"These insignificant ants, having gained a meager amount of power through despicable means, dare to challenge true gods!"

Then, Aatrox's tone was disdainful.

"I never imagined my people would be so weak, Rhaast, you have disappointed me greatly."

These words were clearly directed at Laast within Karl's body.

Aatrox was the first to break this brief silence.

The Darkin Greatsword materialized in his palm, its crimson patterns pulsating wildly as if alive.

"I have come to grant you liberation!"

After saying this, Aatrox stomped his feet, creating a huge dent in the ground.

He hurtled toward Karl like a dark red meteorite, his greatsword drawing an arc in the air powerful enough to cleave mountains.

"Well done." Karl clasped his hands together and then suddenly separated them, drawing a jet-black scythe from the void.

The scythe's blade is dark purple, and its surface is densely covered with void runes. At the end of the hilt is embedded a fragment of a Darkin core that is slowly pulsating.

Aatrox chuckled softly as he kneaded Laaphili's body with one hand.

"Looks like Death really does deserve a scythe, don't you think, puppy?"

Laafili remained silent, feeling only immense shame.

The greatsword and scythe collided violently, and the point of impact exploded into a shockwave of dark red and dark purple energy, overturning the ground within hundreds of meters.

Tsukasa Kadoya and Kaito exchanged a glance, then silently retreated to a distance to watch the battle.

"Is that all the strength you have? Where did all of Laaste's power go after you absorbed it? Was it excreted?"

Aatrox grinned wildly, raising his greatsword once more. This time, his strikes were faster and more powerful than before.

Carl did not answer.

He simply drew an arc in the air with his scythe, and the energy from the collapsing void condensed at the tip of the blade into a constantly rotating dark purple sphere of light.

The ball of light flew toward Aatrox, and the instant it touched his armor, it suddenly expanded into an ever-growing void vortex, attempting to devour him.

However, Aatrox merely let out a wild laugh, and with a single strike, his greatsword cleaved the void vortex in two.

The remaining void energy slid across the sides of the sword, leaving a few shallow white marks on his Darkin armor, without even causing a crack.

"Ha, the mere collapse force of a low-dimensional universe dares to swagger before me? Let me show you the true power of the Darkin!"

Aatrox plunged his greatsword into the ground, and crimson blood magic spread wildly outwards from him, turning the entire battlefield into a crimson inferno.

(PS: My new book has just launched and has already surpassed 10 words. If you're interested, you can check it out.)

(New Book Synopsis: During the Tianhe Battle, when the Taotie descended, the Super Soldier Company, fighting for the first time, rushed into battle. The Galactic Force began recording its last words. Lena was about to be struck by the God-Slaying Spear when a roar rang out, "Demacia!" The next second, a tall figure wielding a giant sword blocked Lena's path. "Long time no see, Big Sister." "Rose? It's been a long time since anyone called me that. I'd rather you call me Demon Queen, Katarina." "Deno is no longer the Deno I know. As a prince, I will end him with my own hands." "Justice... No matter which world you're in, you're always so obsessive, sister..." Not only that, but also: "Lin, once again, I will create a world with you!" "My name is Pineapple Snow. Give me a small goal, let me kill this guy!" "You have seriously disrupted the timeline. As an agent of the Interstellar Federation, I, Big Monster, will definitely bring you to justice!")

(P.S.: This is not included in the 4000 words of the main text, so don't worry.)