Chapter 187
Erich read the composure on Albrecht's face.
'He must have something he's relying on. What could it be?'
Even Erich couldn't fathom the source of Albrecht's confidence.
But it couldn't be that Albrecht acted like this relying only on his personal might.
Albrecht was well aware of Erich's strength—he knew Erich was powerful enough to face the Lord of the Dead.
That must have been why Albrecht told Erich where to find the Lord of the Dead.
Yet, even though Erich had come here to challenge him, Albrecht remained perfectly at ease, which suggested he had planned something of his own.
As Erich's thoughts reached that point, Albrecht's sword flashed.
Its speed was so immense, even Erich couldn't fully discern its trajectory.
—Kiiiik!
Erich's sword and Albrecht's sword clashed, creating sparks. Albrecht glanced over at Erich's blade and then spoke.
"... That's a good sword. I intended to cut right through it, you know."
A mocking smile played on Albrecht's lips. For some reason, Erich felt a chill run down his spine.
At the same time, he pushed the Albrecht in front of him away and swept his sword in a wide arc toward his rear.
—Kaaang!
A clear, ringing sound of steel colliding echoed out.
Erich realized that the Albrecht who had been in front of him had suddenly moved behind him.
If not for his instincts, he would likely have been struck from behind.
'... Is this his ability?'
The natural talent granted to Swordmasters who've reached the peak.
Apparently, Albrecht's ability was to deceive the eyes.
That ability, while not overwhelming or able to split mountains, was more than threatening enough in a duel.
'As expected of a wily old monster who's lived so long.'
He had always concealed his strength from so many, and yet could use it with such menace in actual combat—perhaps Albrecht's strength was greater than anyone imagined.
Soon after, Albrecht and Erich collided. Their swords twisted, each targeting the other's vital points.
'... This is threatening.'
Albrecht's swordsmanship was deadly.
Even Erich, who had fought countless battles before and after his return, found it dazzling and practical.
The sword's trajectory bent like a snake, frequently deflecting Erich's attacks and brushing dangerously close to his body.
And furthermore—
—Whoosh!—
Flames erupted from Erich and surged at Albrecht, but Albrecht evaded with ease, appearing to Erich's left, right, or even behind as if nothing had happened.
Until now, Erich had always overwhelmed his opponents. Whether lich or Death Fear, almost none could face him with swordsmanship alone.
But now, Albrecht was unsettling even Erich with nothing but an exchange of pure swordplay.
Albrecht's sword was always unpredictable and deadly.
With every exchange, he managed to defend against Erich's attack and retaliate in the same motion, displaying remarkable technique.
"... Damn it!"
Behind him, Erich could sense Frederick and Barnes measuring the distance.
They meant to join the fight, but the aura radiating from the two combatants kept them at bay—approaching was unthinkable.
—Kwaaaduduk!—
Even a missed attack from Albrecht's sword had the force to cleave the earth and shatter rocks.
Approaching carelessly could have deadly consequences.
And then—
—Swish!—
Albrecht's eyes darted quickly. A short sword grazed his jaw—King, who had been seeking his chance, had entered the fray.
Erich didn't miss the opportunity King created.
In that brief instant, he swung his sword infused with golden aura.
He couldn't pour too much strength into it in such a short moment, but it was more than enough to kill a man.
—Kwaaang!—
Albrecht blocked the attack, raising his sword and steadying his stance, but despite blocking it, he was pushed back several meters.
Moreover, the robe that had covered him was now in tatters from the explosion.
Yet, through the smoke rising from his whole body, Albrecht faintly curled his lips.
"Impressive. If you couldn't wield that power, you could never have defeated Death Fear."
"... As far as I know, only two exist who can wield this power—me and the Lord of the Dead. So...."
Erich's narrowed his eyes. In the scarlet radiance of his gaze, he saw something unmistakably.
In the moment Albrecht blocked the attack, he glimpsed, just for an instant—the divine ritual.
The 'sword of light' was Erich's ultimate skill, so overwhelming that even Ungrim could not be sure of victory against it.
Yet, Albrecht had blocked that attack—somehow.
And he had done it with a skill in the same category as Erich's.
Albrecht seemed to know what Erich was about to say. He waved his sword leisurely.
"Are you curious how I can wield such power?"
The power Albrecht used was certainly different.
While it, too, contained the divine ritual, the quality of the power felt different.
'It's neither Incensus's, nor the power of the Lord of the Dead.'
Albrecht was wielding a third divine ritual. Erich needed to understand how he used that power.
So Erich slowly raised his hand, to signal King—who was preparing a surprise attack—to hold back.
"If I ask, will you answer?"
"I don't see why not. If you're to defeat the Lord of the Dead, you need to understand this power, after all."
Albrecht only smiled slyly and continued.
"You already possess all the information needed to understand this power. But you likely haven't accepted it because you believe those entities are 'gods'."
By 'those entities,' Albrecht surely meant Incensus and the Lord of the Dead. Even so, Erich was unsettled.
'The Lord of the Dead, maybe—but Incensus isn't a god?'
If he thought about it, that made sense.
Incensus was revered as the god of humans, but if the Lord of the Dead used a similar power, did that make him a god too?
Erich had never considered that.
Erich himself had named this ritual the 'divine ritual' without thinking.
He called it thus with reverence for the power—but ultimately, he named it so because it had been bestowed by Incensus, whom he thought of as a god.
Yet Albrecht was now denying that belief outright.
They are not gods, he was saying.
Erich asked back.
"... If that isn't godly power, then what is it?"
"I told you, you already have all the information. Incensus, the Lord of the Dead, and others—aren't there other beings who wield such power?"
Erich's gaze shifted. What was Albrecht suggesting? In that moment, something flashed through Erich's mind.
'... Dragon?'
Of course, Erich had never seen a dragon use such power, nor was it recorded anywhere.
Dragons were creatures of legend.
But the reason 'dragon' came to mind at that moment was simple.
When the Lord of the Dead sought to regain his strength, the being he absorbed was a dragon.
If the Lord of the Dead's power was just 'power', it wouldn't have to be a dragon—a mage or shaman would suffice to replenish his might.
But the Lord of the Dead had to absorb a dragon's power. That meant there was a reason he could only restore his power with a dragon.
The corners of Albrecht's eyes twitched. He must have realized that Erich had uncovered his true meaning.
"Do you understand now, Erich? They aren't gods. They're just beings who've stolen the power of noble creatures."
"... That..."
Erich said no more. He couldn't think of a retort. Albrecht's words only added more to contemplate.
'... If this so-called god's power originates from dragons, then the pieces fit.'
The Lord of the Dead had been sealed long ago, and the power used for that seal was none other than the power of dragons.
And Incensus, other than sending Erich to the past and granting him power, had not intervened in any other way.
If their power wasn't truly their own, but borrowed from dragons, then it also made sense that Incensus couldn't interfere more than once in the beginning.
Above all, unlike the Lord of the Dead—who roamed about consuming dragon power—Incensus had not shown himself at all.
Albrecht began to walk toward Erich slowly, speaking in a gentle, persuasive tone.
"Do you see it now? In the past, there were plenty who received 'divine' power. But now, you can't find any."
"... Is that because Incensus can no longer absorb dragon power?"
"I knew you'd catch on quickly. You really are favored by Incensus."
Albrecht's words wormed their way into Erich's ears like honeyed poison. The doubts Erich once had were slowly being resolved.
Erich let out a thoughtful hum and replied.
"So, your goal is to become an absolute being like them. Isn't that it?"
"That's why we have no reason to fight one another. I pursued the Lord of the Dead to obtain his power—and now, all my preparations are complete."
For an instant, greed flickered through Albrecht's eyes, otherwise calm. Erich did not miss this.
'... I see, his objective is clear now.'
But even with his objective clear, joining forces was out of the question for a deeper reason.
'If, before I returned, Albrecht had obtained this power and become what he claimed—there would have been no conquest of the Empire as before.'
Albrecht, unlike the Lord of the Dead, had only ever used his wits for self-preservation.
Such a man had no reason to annihilate the Empire or destroy the living.
Yet, the invasion of the Empire by the dead had undoubtedly occurred before Erich's return.
From this, it was clear—Albrecht had 'failed' before the return.
And what that meant was only one thing.
—Chaaaak!—
Erich's sword flashed. Along its arc, a golden shimmer gleamed.
Albrecht's eyes, their wrist half-severed from the sudden attack, were filled with shock.
Erich snapped coldly at him.
"Your plan will fail. There's no reason for me to play along with a plan doomed to fail."
In that instant, Albrecht's face hardened. He no longer smiled. Instead, twisted fury filled his expression.
"... Fool. You insist on complicating things."
Erich stared directly at Albrecht. An enormous energy was pouring out of him—it felt like facing the Lord of the Dead himself.
—Kwaaduduk.
It wasn't just Erich who could sense this power; the rocks nearby crumbled, the scenery behind him distorted under the torrent of energy.
Erich steadied his sword, and with his other hand, drew the sword of light. Now, it didn't matter if he killed this man—he'd already heard everything he needed to from Albrecht.
Having listened to all that Albrecht had to say, Erich's resolve only grew firmer.
He would kill Albrecht and drive out the Lord of the Dead. That was the sole way to save what remained of humanity.