Chapter 574. The Underworld (2)
Translator: Boko
'Oh man, I gotta get this on tape!'
Sephiro turned on film mode, and recorded Kang Oh and Nile's fight against Grande Loxia.
Gravity was much weaker here than it was on Earth or Arth. The higher one was in the air, the weaker its effects would become; at some point, the effects were completely negligible.
The three were fighting within this gravity-less space.
Kang Oh and Nile looked accustomed to using the Cube to maneuver through the air. It goes without saying that Loxia, who'd spent many years here, was adept at using it too.
"Haahp!"
"Chaaht!"
Kang Oh and Nile continuously attacked Loxia. Neither of them held anything back. Plus, the two of them had excellent teamwork.
They would communicate with each other and then follow through.
Even Dukeram, who was once the world's strongest player, wouldn't be able to do anything against their attacks.
However, Grande Loxia was incomparable to Dukeram.
"Good, very good."
Loxia's kind expression didn't waver, even in the midst of their vicious assault.
Strangely, Loxia's movements and his sword weren't all that fast. Despite that, none of Kang Oh or Nile's attacks hit the mark.
'Mm.'
Kang Oh had fought against two Grandmasters before.
The Invincible Swordsman, Valan.
The Devil's Sword, Sraka.
Valan's style was basically one shot, one kill. He was a blade that cut through everything!
Sraka was like a catastrophe; he used the Evil God's power to destroy everything.
Both of them had extremely high attack power.
On the other hand, Loxia was like an impenetrable shield.
Kang Oh had never met someone with such an ironclad defense before.
It made him wonder if his Blood was a magnet.
Although it wasn't their intention, Kang Oh and Nile's swords and gauntlets would naturally come for Loxia's body.
It was a bizarre, yet shocking experience.
It was as if he had unknowingly walked into a spider's web; Kang Oh felt like he was trapped.
Nile was likely thinking the same thing, as his face stiffened.
Then, Loxia said, "How about we stop it here?"
"No."
"I'm not done yet."
Kang Oh and Nile yelled simultaneously.
"Then come at me with your strongest attacks. There's no point in fighting anymore."
"Understood."
"I'm going!"
Two horns sprouted from Nile's head.
Beast Fighter: Gladion!
Gladion was Graden Plain's raid boss. It was a monster that possessed two horns, each with the power of fire and lightning respectively.
Roar!
Crackle!
Huge flames ignited over his left fist, while blue lightning danced across his right one.
"Huaahp!" Nile thrust his fists simultaneously. A shower of fire and lightning made its way to Grande Loxia.
At that moment...
Kang Oh created two cubes and planted his feet. Then, he swung Demon Sword Ubist downwards.
Divide the Sea!
His sword etched a line in the air, which cleaved through space itself! If it hit, then Loxia's body would be vertically bisected.
These were Nile and Kang Oh's most powerful attacks!
Loxia was astounded.
'They really are good!'
He felt as though Kang Oh and Nile would someday become Grandmasters.
As a sign of respect, Loxia responded with his full power. He also used his most powerful attack.
Whir.
A black panther appeared on one end of his snow-white blade, and a white panther appeared on the other end.
Black and White Fang!
His blade unleashed an aura, which transformed into a black and a white panther. The two energies intertwined, and resembled a yin-yang symbol.
If Bart had seen this, then he'd be shocked. To think that light and darkness could harmonize like this!
They say that nuclear fusion is more powerful than nuclear fission. It explained the fundamental difference between Bart and Loxia's strongest attacks.
Rather than force the two opposing elements to clash, Loxia harmonized the two elements, resulting in a much more durable and powerful energy.
Nile's fire and lightning was the first to disappear. Then, the Black and White Fang collided with Kang Oh's Divide the Sea.
Divide the Sea sliced through Loxia's attack.
However, the two pieces wrapped around Kang Oh's attack! It was as if a soft thread was being wrapped around a sharp blade.
Kang Oh was shocked.
To think that Divide the Sea could be blocked!
But he soon realized why.
Black and White Fang hadn't blocked Divide the Sea.
Let's say that that was Valan's Divide the Sea. The situation would be completely different. Loxia's Black and White Fang would've been completely destroyed.
In other words...!
His Divide the Sea was nowhere near Valan's.
'Damn it!' Kang Oh looked furious.
A short while later...
Black and White Fang came flying towards them.
Kang Oh's body felt frigid, as if he were already a corpse.
'How do I avoid this? Do I have to block it instead? Is that even possible?'
As a last act of desperation, Kang Oh got ready to use Ring of Frost, Dragon's Fury, and Abyss Predator.
However, Loxia's attack dispersed at the last minute.
"Good job," Loxia smiled and said.
The battle was over.
* * *
Clap.
Loxia cleared up the air and said, "Now then, let's go and take care of the Soul Eater."
Kang Oh's party followed Loxia.
Now they didn't need to 'swim' through the underworld. Instead, they could use the cubes to maneuver around.
They reached the giant milky way, and could see the river of souls.
However, there was a long structure that resembled a lighthouse right next to it.
"We call that place the Lamp. The guardians take turns and watch over the river of souls from there."
"Are there more guardians?" Sephiro asked.
"I think Khan should be there today," Loxia said.
"Are you referring to the Great King?" Nile asked.
The Great King, Khan.
He was a legendary martial artist that every fighter respected.
In the times of the Altein Empire, there was an event every four years called the Rakan Carnival.
The fighting tournament was the star event. It was here that distinguished gladiators, knights, and swordsmen competed against each other.
Khan was the first and only man who'd ever won in this tournament bare-fisted. After that, he was called the 'God of Fighting'.
"That's right. Khan's fighting style is called Great King."
"Oh my god!" Nile yelled. 'It's Khan!? The God of Fighting!?'
Kang Oh had heard of Khan too. He was a legendary fighter!
"Is Khan a Grandmaster too?" Kang Oh asked.
Loxia nodded his head.
"Are there any other Grandmasters beside you and Mr. Khan?"
"You have to be a Grandmaster in order to become a guardian."
"How many guardians are there?"
"Five including me."
There were 5 Grandmasters here!? Kang Oh almost yelled 'oh my god' like Nile, but barely stopped himself.
"And there are other Grandmasters that aren't guardians in Noah too."
"Didn't you say that your memories slowly fade without a physical body?"
"The stronger the soul, the longer it takes for the memories to fade. Most Grandmasters choose not to enter the river of souls and remain in Noah."
"Mm."
'It's like Grandmaster heaven here.'
"According to the goddess, you guys will return to the continent if you die. If that happens, you won't be able to come back here. So be careful. There are some ill-tempered people here."
"Yes."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Kang Oh's party replied, sporting solemn expressions.
To think that this place was teeming with Grandmasters. The underworld was clearly the most dangerous place in Arth!
It made sense why the Soul Eaters, for all their power, were unable to procure the Resurrection Stone and gain a new body.
Defeating the guardians, which was made up of five of the most powerful Grandmasters, and taking the Resurrection Stone was basically impossible.
Anyhow, Loxia and Kang Oh's party reached the Lamp. Like Noah, the place was affected by gravity.
"What brings you here?" the man asked. He looked extremely young, and had a well-trained body.
He was the God of Fighting, Khan.
Khan looked like he was in his early thirties.
"They're the ones that the goddess told us about." Loxia pointed towards Kang Oh's party.
"Ah, so today's the day. Who is it?" Khan asked, his eyes narrowing sharply.
"It's this one." Loxia pointed at Kang Oh.
"Do you have a sword that can cut souls?" Khan asked.
"Yes."
"Good. If things go well, then we should be able to take out that monster once and for all."
"Monster?"
"A while back, an annoying soul appeared and became a Soul Eater," Loxia said.
"Have you heard of the Mamonas before?" Khan asked.
"Are you referring to the Ruler of the Golden Desert?"
Kang Oh had all sorts of information in his head. The Mamonas was basically on the level of a dragon.
The Empire Guild had defeated it, but they wouldn't have had a chance if not for Serena's Water.
"Yeah. It came here some time ago, and made a huge mess."
The guardians had worked together to defeat it, but they hadn't been able to kill it for good.
"Sometimes, a soul gains a new ability when they become a Soul Eater. The Mamonas gained quite an annoying ability."
"What is it?" Sephiro asked.
"Proliferation."
"Excuse me? Are you saying the Mamonas has split itself into several copies of itself?" Kang Oh asked, astonished.
"Yeah. We've been reducing their numbers, but they're endless," Loxia said.
"Mm."
"That's why we're putting our hopes in you. We believe that your sword should be able to put an end to that monster once and for all," Khan said.
"Cutting it may be less effective than just eating it whole," Kang Oh said.
"What do you mean?"
"A demonic beast, which can consume anything in existence, resides within this soul cutting sword. We can just make it eat the Soul Eater. You see, the demonic beast is capable of breaking this world's rules."
"Hoh, is that so? I can see why the goddess sent you here." Loxia responded favorably, while Khan nodded his head.
"We should be able to get rid of that annoyance this time around."
"It'll probably show up when the Resurrection Stone appears. We'll kill it then," Loxia said.
"Shouldn't we train them up a bit before then?" Khan pointed at Kang Oh's party.
"I already taught them the basics. The guardians will take turns training them."
"That one looks like a Fighter to me. I'll take him under my wing." Khan pointed at Nile.
"It's an honor!" Nile immediately replied.
"Relax, it's nothing so special." Khan grinned.
"Are there any souls that became Soul Eaters today?" Loxia asked.
"Not yet."
"I wanted them to fight a Soul Eater today, so... Let's wait a little bit."
Kang Oh and Asu looked out the window side-by-side.
The river of souls, which resembled the milky way, could be seen up close. It was as if they could reach out and touch it.
Countless glittering stars were drawn to one side, and there was also a long procession of souls with faint human shapes among them.
Various colored memories were drawn out of these bodies, manifesting as spheres of light. These spheres were sucked into the nearby stars.
It was a mysterious, yet marvelous spectacle.
Kang Oh was once again surprised by Arth, no, the world itself.
He was experiencing something he'd never be able to experience in real life.
"I don't know how to describe it. I don't think 'beautiful' will cut it!" Asu said faintly, leaning her head against Kang Oh's shoulder.
"You don't need to say anything. Just remember what it looks like in your heart," Kang Oh smiled and said."
"I guess that works." Asu smiled back.
Then...
The procession of souls suddenly stopped.
What's going on?
"Looks like a Soul Eater has appeared," Loxia said.
"Follow me," Khan said, and led them to the source.
Everyone headed for the river of souls. A short while later, they could see what had caused the commotion.
It was a giant silhouette!
There stood a Soul Eater, which grabbed onto souls with its two long arms, and ate them with its gaping, snake-like mouth.
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