Chapter 436

Zeon’s face twisted in confusion.

“What do you mean, enemy, all of a sudden?”

“Were you sent from Neo Seoul to spy on us?”

“My coming here was not by my will. Your subordinates asked me to accompany them, and I only came along at their request.”

Zeon’s gaze shifted to Uslann, standing behind Riala.

Uslann nodded and spoke.

“What he says is true. We happened to meet because of the Derod incident and traveled together. Since I thought he might help us stop the Black Queen, I allowed him inside.”

“Then how do you explain him being together with the Black Queen? He must’ve tricked his way into El Harun with some scheme.”

“But that—”

“Enough! It’s time you freed yourself from her illusions and saw the truth. He used you, Uslann! Get a grip!”

At Riala’s furious words, Uslann fell silent.

He wanted to argue back, but the atmosphere was far too grim for excuses.

Whatever the circumstances, the fact remained: Zeon had entered together with the Black Queen and stayed at her side.

Worse still—he had failed to recognize the Black Queen and let her in. If he kept defending Zeon now, even his own position would collapse.

At that moment, the subordinates who had kept quiet until now spoke up.

“The Lady is right. He approached us with a plan from the start.”

“Even on the way here, he stayed close to the Black Queen.”

“They didn’t look like mere companions.”

The ones testifying were the other-race members—Corin, Shaping, and Dempleton.

Already holding grudges against Zeon, they poured out their words like venting old resentment.

With their testimony thrown into the mix, the hostility toward Zeon swelled to its peak.

At last, Goldwin, Captain of the Hall of Guardians, broke his silence.

“There’s nothing left to hear. We must eliminate them. That’s the only way to minimize El Harun’s losses.”

“I’ll take full responsibility. Kill them.”

Riala nodded, issuing her command.

Goldwin drew a massive greatsword and strode toward her. Behind him, the awakened warriors of the Hall of Guardians followed.

Hundreds of awakened approached, their murderous aura heavy as a storm cloud. Yet in the face of that crushing pressure, Neria’s stance did not waver in the slightest.

Neria turned to Zeon.

“I regret that you’ve been dragged into this.”

“It’s a little troublesome, yes, but not something you should apologize for. Even without you, they would never have let me walk free.”

Hostility surged at him like a tidal wave.

For no reason but that he stood with Neria, everyone around branded Zeon an enemy and bared their fangs.

Worse—he had revealed himself as a man from Neo Seoul.

To the common folk, Neo Seoul was unknown, but to El Harun’s high command, its movements were of the utmost concern.

For Neo Seoul stood as the pinnacle of human civilization.

Its level of culture and technology was so great that even El Harun had been left astonished.

Especially the fusion of magic and science—something El Harun could not even attempt, let alone rival.

El Harun had tried to catch up, building things like mana particle cannons or crude imitations of automobiles, but compared to Neo Seoul, it was far behind.

If Neo Seoul ever discovered El Harun and chose to invade, there was no guarantee they could fend it off. Thus, El Harun hid itself completely, careful never to be noticed.

And knowing well the deep hostility humans held for other races, they watched Neo Seoul with the greatest vigilance.

Naturally, hostility toward Zeon was inevitable. To their eyes, he was nothing more than a Neo Seoul spy, sent to steal El Harun’s secrets. Their anger flared all the more violently.

Yet even as murderous intent gathered on all sides, Zeon’s expression did not shift in the slightest.

Seeing that composure, Neria tilted her head.

He was too calm.

She knew his abilities were extraordinary, but this was El Harun—the stronghold, the cradle of the other races.

What she had glimpsed of its might through Derod’s memories had been immense.

Even she, the Black Queen, could not guarantee her survival here.

Yet she had come nonetheless—not only for Derod’s revenge, but because she, too, had a burden to resolve.

‘Does he still have powers hidden away?’

The man only grew more enigmatic the longer she watched him.

From their very first meeting, he seemed to have suspected her true identity. And yet, he had spoken with her calmly, without a hint of alarm.

Something no ordinary man could ever do.

‘He’ll handle himself as he sees fit.’

Neria turned her thoughts away from Zeon.

Coming here had been his choice.

She would not take responsibility for the consequences of it.

Just then, Goldwin’s shout rang out.

“Seize the Black Queen!”

“Uwaaaa!”

“Kill her!”

The awakened warriors roared and charged at Neria.

A suffocating killing aura rushed down on her.

The guardians of the Hall all wielded terrifying power, their skills honed against the horrors of the desert.

Kwa-kwang!

A storm of aura strikes and spells surged toward her.

Neria’s reply was simple.

“Scales of Protection!”

In an instant, black light burst from her body, taking the form of a great serpent.

The serpent coiled around her, its body a living barrier.

Kwa-boom!

Every attack hurled her way slammed into the coiled serpent, only to vanish or rebound.

Then Neria gestured.

“Wrath of the Serpent!”

Ssshhhhh!

The massive serpent split into hundreds of writhing shadows and hurled themselves at the charging awakened.

“Grk!”

“Dodge it!”

A few escaped, but many were bitten by the serpents’ fangs.

Screams erupted at once.

“Aaaghhh!”

“Ghhhk!”

“Sp—spare me…!”

The bitten ones writhed on the ground in agony.

Their faces blackened in an instant.

The stronger ones barely managed to force out the invading power with their own abilities, but the weaker were overwhelmed by Neria’s venom, their lives slipping away.

Then, Garanta raised his voice, unleashing his power.

“By divine command—dark power, begone!”

Fwaaaahhh!

A radiant white light burst from his body, enveloping those struck by Neria.

The power of healing ignited, driving out or destroying her venom within them.

Those who had nearly crossed the threshold of death returned, pale as ghosts.

Garanta shouted:

“They are serpents formed of the Black Queen’s aura! Illusions—but wielding power as real as the true. Their bite is instant poison. Beware!”

“Yes, sir!”

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The guardians stammered their thanks, sweat pouring down their faces.

Garanta’s own expression hardened.

Sweat streamed from him like rain.

To others it may have looked simple, but he had poured out all his strength.

A third of his energy gone—in a single move.

‘She’s stronger than the records say.’

The Black Queen bore another name—the Serpent Queen.

One who commanded serpents, wielded their strength, and thought like one.

And this was only the beginning of what she could do.

The records spoke of powers far more horrifying.

He had to remain sharp.

Lest they all be devoured.

Garanta spread his arms wide.

“Blessing of Hamora!”

Fwaahhh!

Holy light poured from him, raining down on the guardians.

Hamora was the god of the Highlanders.

A goddess of compassion and light.

One of Kurayan’s twelve great deities, her power had once been mighty. But she perished trying to halt Kurayan’s fall. No longer did she exist.

The gods were dead. Their priests, bereft of communion, were left powerless.

What remained were only fragments of their former strength.

With such remnants, only small miracles were possible.

But even so, his blessing gave the guardians a spark of courage.

What Garanta thought of as a little—felt like much more to them.

Holy fire lit their hearts anew, and for a moment their strength surged.

A true buff.

For that brief span, they forgot fear.

“Kill her!”

“Uwaaaaa!”

The guardians hurled themselves at Neria once more.

At their head was Goldwin.

Second only to Riala herself, he was El Harun’s strongest fighter.

His greatsword blazed with fierce aura.

The Aura Blade extended, humming with lethal power.

Goldwin leapt high, swinging the massive sword down at Neria.

“Die!”

Gaaang!

The Aura Blade plunged at her with terrifying force.

Taaang!

But with a mere flick of her hand, Neria sent the greatsword flying aside—along with Goldwin himself.

“Grkkhh!”

The impact drove a groan from him, but thanks to Hamora’s blessing, he survived without grievous injury.

Like an unyielding doll, he sprang back up and charged again. His ferocity ignited the spirits of the others.

“Stand with the Captain!”

“Go!”

Hundreds surged forward, throwing aside fear of death.

Neria murmured as she watched.

“What a sight.”

If only the storm of blades wasn’t all aimed at her.

She clicked her tongue and swept her hand outward.

A massive phantom serpent rose, coiling around her.

Ssshhhhk!

It batted away every attack.

“Ughhh!”

“Ghhhk!”

Screams rang as the awakened fell like leaves in the wind.

Neria gestured again.

The serpent split into hundreds, diving at the fallen like missiles.

The instant they struck, they exploded.

Kwa-boom!

“Arghhh!”

“Khkk!”

Those struck shrieked as the serpent-shrapnel clung to them.

Where it touched, flesh melted like it had been doused in acid.

Ssshhhhhh!

Their flesh hissed, white smoke rising.

Meat, muscle, bone—everything dissolved.

In unspeakable agony, they screamed themselves hoarse.

The luckier ones were those whose comrades acted quickly—

“Damn it!”

“Hold still!”

—slicing off the melting limbs to save their lives.

Arms and legs hacked away fell and dissolved into blood in seconds.

The gruesome sight made all who watched tremble.

Those who lost limbs lived.

But those struck on the head or torso had no chance.

Cut it away—they’d die. Leave it alone—they’d die.

“Uwaaaaa!”

“Pl-please…”

Their wails rang out, horrific and raw, as heads and bodies melted away.

Then Riala slashed her sword through the heart of one whose head had begun to dissolve—granting release from torment.

Seeing it, the guardians bit back tears and did the same, cutting down their suffering comrades.

Blood of their allies stained their blades. Their eyes turned bloodshot.

“Never forgive you.”

“Even if I die—I’ll take you with me, Black Queen!”