I Aggressively Stack Steel of the Heart in the Knight Order

Chapter 197: Chapter 162: Great Chaos

"Someone from the Ash Guard? Heh heh... how nostalgic. It makes me want to rip out your heart."

Corroded by the power of the Dark Abyss, the surface of Dane’s Imperial Knight’s Broadsword was covered in crimson filth that resembled blood vessels. A massive Demon’s Eye was embedded in the guard of its hilt.

This former champion of the Imperial Arena, the one-time spiritual leader of the Dark Star Battle Group, was now utterly transformed.

Twisted Demon’s Horns could be faintly seen on his head. His mouth was filled with sharp fangs, and bone spurs jutted out from his jaw, piercing through the skin.

His gaze passed over Matthias to stare fixedly at Reinhardt, jealousy and fury surging through his veins.

’Why did a worthless insect like him deserve the blessing of the supreme Avernus? He had paid such a high price, even slaughtering a million Mortal Soldiers, all just to please that entity. And yet, he still hadn’t earned the right to become a Fear Knight.’

The memory of that day—of the look Death Butcher Dortmund had given him, filled with contempt and disdain as if he were a clown—still made him seethe with rage.

’An idiot who only knows how to slaughter Mortals wants to become a Fear Knight? Heh heh...’

Dane opened his mouth slightly. His hot breath carried the sulfurous stench of the Dark Abyss, and a bestial growl rumbled in his throat.

He had sensed Reinhardt the moment he arrived—the aura of a Divine Chosen Knight blessed by Avernus. But he hadn’t dared to act rashly, intimidated by the powerful Wizard in Grand Lord Kles’s service.

But now, the astronomical bounty offered by Grand Lord Kles suited his purposes perfectly.

He would kill this pathetic insect and prove his strength to the supreme Avernus!

Yet from the moment he attempted to weigh the pros and cons of battle with logic and self-interest, he was fated to be unworthy of joining the Fear Knights.

Because for a Fear Knight...

The meaning of battle is battle!

Slaughtering the strong and claiming victory after victory is the greatest reward.

Matthias’s fists were clenched tight, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at Dane. It was because of traitors like him! They had forever branded the Seventh Group Army and the Death Battle Group with the mark of betrayal!

It was an immense disgrace they could never wash away!

Even if his strength was far inferior to Dane’s, even if he had already left the Ash Guard, even if his personal power was insignificant.

But for Matthias, who had once been a proud member of the Death Battle Group...

Even if it cost him his life, he would kill this damned traitor!

And wash the disgrace from the Death Battle Group and the Seventh Group Army!

Agate no longer concealed his Knight Power. With a distinct mechanical CLICK, the prosthetic on his back and the Extraordinary Armament·Thermite Beam Array completely merged into one.

Like a killing machine, he dual-wielded two Knight’s Broadswords. Six gun barrels, capable of melting anything with high-temperature rays, jutted from his shoulders. A rocket-propulsion-style mechanical flight pack formed on his back, drastically increasing his mobility on the battlefield.

A battle was imminent!

A faint Abyssal Flame ignited in Dane’s pupils. Empowered by his Destruction Force Field, each step he took at full sprint covered ten meters, making it look as though he were flying just above the ground.

His furious roar, like a crack of thunder, reverberated through the entrance of the tomb.

"An insect like you is completely unworthy of such power—! Die!"

Though Logan was also a Four-star Earth Knight, his power and oppressive presence were nothing compared to this former Imperial Arena champion known as Slaughterer Dane!

His Destructive Suppression, like a reverse tide, instantly flooded the entire tomb entrance!

Immense pressure bore down on the mind of every Transcendent present.

It felt as if a great stone were crushing their chests, a noose tightening around their necks. Even the Extraordinary Power within their bodies grew sluggish and unresponsive.

At that moment, everyone present was aghast at Dane’s terrifying Knight Power, the color draining from their faces!

A Knight from one of the Empire’s Elite Battle Groups, now blessed with Demon Power—his strength was beyond what mere Wandering Mages and Free Knights could possibly imagine!

Even the powerful Wizard currently opening the tomb couldn’t help but give Dane a second glance.

Meanwhile, Florant, who had just managed to catch his breath after escaping the Oreno Family’s encirclement, shot a venomous glance at Kles’s people and Reinhardt. He thought resentfully, ’I’ll let you off the hook for today. If I didn’t have urgent business to handle, this... this wouldn’t be over!’

Florant then closed his eyes slightly, trying to pinpoint Irenia’s exact location.

’That cunning woman isn’t here. Her Death Star Bloodline must contain inherited knowledge about Kemola. Rather than fight these absurdly powerful monsters over the Ancient Black Box, it’s better to trail Irenia and see what she can find.’

For Florant to have secured a firm position under Lord Anatol with such unremarkable power, he naturally had his own merits.

Long before they had arrived in Kemola, he had secretly placed a Spiritual Energy tracking mark on Irenia to prevent her from escaping his control.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Florant feigned a messy retreat. He made it look as though he was giving up on the fight for the Ancient Black Box, but in reality, he was preparing to find the ever-elusive Irenia within the tomb complex.

’As for those students of his, what did it matter to him whether they lived or died?’

His attempt to flee alone, however, quickly caught the attention of the students who were desperately holding out against the Oreno Family’s onslaught.

"Lord Florant! You can’t do this!"

"You bastard! You’re the one who started this, and you’re actually..."

"Florant! I should have known you were a despicable son of a bitch! I... AHHH—! My hand, my hand!"

The leader of the Oreno Family contingent was a powerful Four-star Earth Knight. He snorted coldly and signaled for his men to show no mercy.

Just as Dane’s Knight’s Broadsword was about to slash down on Reinhardt, a colossal giant sword—one no smaller than the Black Cutter and forged entirely from flowing, crimson blood—appeared and insolently blocked his path.

It was the figure of a tall but emaciated man, who looked as if he had wasted away from disease.

His pale hair hung loose, stirring as if in an unfelt wind.

His spreading Knightly Aura stirred the scarce subterranean light, causing it to flicker erratically. The aura carried with it a morbid, twisted quality, like the silent terror that accompanies a spreading plague.

Threads of foul-smelling blood unfurled behind his back like twisted Angel’s Wings, dripping a highly corrosive liquid that made white smoke rise from the ground.

"Heh heh heh..."

The low laugh was exceptionally cold. The stooped figure blocking Slaughterer Dane slowly raised his head to meet his eyes. A crooked smile touched his lips as he spoke. "Slaughterer Dane. I thought you’d hide in the shadows like a rat, never daring to show your face again."