Bro, I'm not an Undead!

A stare down was continuing behind the spiral grove doors, Sause vigilantly eyeing the remains of Fulgardt.

Many thoughts sprawled within his mind. He wanted to investigate the door and try to find out anything significant but the skeleton before him didn’t back down.

It continuously held him down, blocking him off each time he showed the faintest intent to move over to another position.

There was a way to bypass this, but it would probably flop because the method to do so would lead to Fulgardt killing his investment, Benzard.

Just like when Sause had told Benzard and Reon to kill Skullius, Fulgardt’s remains stopping Reon’s blade when it was about to decapitate Skullius afterwards, it became evident that this corpse reacted vigorously to stronger energy signatures within its range.

Sause, who had subdued his powers the whole time had let loose in order to attract Fulgardt’s attention and to allow Benzard and Reon to kill Skullius.

Unfortunately, that hadn’t gone as he thought it would.

His prized investment had almost died along with his primary pawn. If he hadn’t sacrificed a huge chunk of his powers to make Benzard stronger through the link they shared through the class he had given the man…

The thought caused the naked giant to grind his teeth, showing a fierce agitation. He gave a wary glance to the large claymore that was in Fulgardt’s hand, gusts of darkness like smoke leaking from it.

‘That young challenger…’ he thought, his gaze shifting to Fulgardt’s arm where strange flesh was creeping up to a stop at the chest. ‘Fulgardt really was looking for a successor to his power but had a failsafe in case it took too long. Endless challengers being given a portion of his power for free only to cultivate it and lose it to Fulgardt when it had grown within them.’

It was such a tragic concept. No matter how long it took, Fulgardt was willing to go through with it._.

Given how much time had passed, it seemed like the process wasn’t so simple. Was it even possible to bring one from the dead?

‘I’m not sure if those that die in the Labyrinth in general have the power sapped and given back to Fulgardt too or if its only those that manage to reach this place. <Sigh>. What’s the use in thinking about this?’

Sause transitioned to thinking about how to deal with Skullius instead of hypothesising over something he clearly wouldn’t learn of fully in the short run.

‘Killing him as I intended would be ideal as he is an anomaly.’

Sause thought back to how such a weak human had reached a place where powerful experts failed, even gaining the protection of Fulgardt from his compulsion earlier.

This made Sause want to kill him so badly yet…

Sause’s eyes gazed at the bloody remains of Reon and he grimaced.

‘Since my other plan was not successful, I’ll need that boy’s Key to escape this place. Tsk, back to square one.’

The figure of Benzard stood by the doors, a resolute look planted on his face. He didn’t forget the fear he had experienced when Skullius had used [Pseudo Evil Veneration]!

How Reon had died so easily!

How he had even been gotten the better of when he was using Full Body Aura!

Was this weak Foundation Stage human actually strong the whole time? That didn’t make sense!

That darkness that spewed from Skullius’ mouth was definitely the same as the darkness he had been using after he passed through that strange dark and light path!

Still, he couldn’t do something so incredible with it even after those tough battles.

Benzard squeezed the swords hilt as he awaited for Skullius to come out.

Even if Skullius gained Fulgardt’s power, as a lower level being, he would probably not be able to use it or defend if attacked the moment he set foot out of the spiral groves door.

‘Come on, I’m strong! I can’t falter now. I just have to withstand this for a bit longer. How can I be afraid of a Foundation Stage boy with what I can do now? I just need to get this over with,’ Benzard thought , pushing away the remnants of shock within him.

He turned to Sause who was pinned down by Fulgardt and recalled what he had been told after Skullius entered.

He was to remain vigilant and wait for Skullius to come out.

It had been a quite a while since Skullius vanished into the door. No one knew when he would appear or if he would.

Perhaps there was another trial inside that he had fallen prey to.

That was a good assumption but unfortunately…

GURRR!

Suddenly, the large spiral groves doors began to open up!

They made a rumbling noise that signalled the return of a certain being, their image as they opened as if of reverence to the one who exited.

Thick bursts of [Evil Darkness] and [Just Light] jutted out, blinding everyone from the view of the new being that would shock the world!

Sause frowned as he saw doors opening. The scene made him reconsider what he had to do with this being who wasn’t yet visible.

This marvellous grandeur must mean that the young challenger had succeeded.

But what on earth had he gained for such a procession to laid for him?

TNK! TNK! TNK!

CLINK! CLINK!

Heavy metallic footsteps and heavy chain clashes were heard, with Benzard being the first one to see the unclear image of an individual that came from the door, leaving the veil of the two elements.

Then… this figure came into view, Benzard noticing the tall structure and four bursts of light that came from his face!

….!

“What…. what..” Benzard’s expression turned unsightly when he saw fully the head of this creature… and its thick, domineering armour that made him tremble.

“Hmmmm…” Sause hummed out loud with a deep frown of disgust while Fulgardt’s remains turned to Skullius expressionlessly (obviously) but didn’t show much of reaction.

A bald skeleton with four sockets that spewed a bright flame, small sparks appearing on its skull from time to time walked out for all to see.

A slightly bulky armour adorned its body, looking like a cross between a scale mail and full plate armour. A beautiful bluish black pervaded on its surface, a shiny silver insignia visible on the chest plate of a rather ominous horned demon face with three eyes and an unrealistic grin.

The shoulder pieces and knee caps were of the same design, except being like carefully crafted heads of the insignia with beams of light coming from the demon’s eyes!

The touch that made this armour even more extravagant was the long, black chains that wrapped around the it in an strange, disorderly fashion.

They had small, but numerous bright blue runes etched over each one of their segments.

Benzard couldn’t help but stare at the grinning demon etched to the skeletons armour, each passing second making him feel like the demon’s face would jump out and devour him!

He questioned this odd occurrence with a sweaty face.

Where was that guy who had entered just now?

Just what had happened in there?!

“What’s an undead doing?!” he barked, his hands never loosening their grip over his sword.

Skullius head tilted to the side as he heard Benzard’s words.

“Heh…. Bro..” Skullius said with an eerie deep voice.

“I’m not an undead.”