Life Number 0-Chapter 44 - 6

Sir Claude was still gripping his sword, but his expression had changed.

This was no longer just a confrontation—it had become something else... something far more complex.

"Your Maga..." he said in a low voice, watching the energy flowing before him. "It’s completely unfamiliar... Blood Maga?"

Egologia, who stood before him with a smile, muttered in his mind.

"Unfamiliar?" Then he laughed mockingly. "Does that mean my Maga... is one of a kind?"

"Perhaps Life 1 is finally bearing fruit..."

Then Egologia finally spoke coldly:

"Now, I’ll put an end to this chaos, Sir."

The giant blood vortex began to fade gradually.

The dim light that had filled the atmosphere grew faint, and the gravity that had been pulling everything began to weaken.

The rocks that had been torn from the ground stopped flying, the air that had been violently drawn toward the vortex returned to normal, and the scattered dust began to settle back on the ground.

Sir Claude felt the change... the pressure that had been crushing his chest began to ease. It was like a heavy cloud suddenly removed from the horizon.

But even as the power faded, he didn’t relent... he didn’t allow himself to relax.

"I think with some compromises, we can finally talk."

"Talk? About what?"

"My demands, of course."

"Demands? How dare you speak this way to someone of higher rank?"

He wasn’t fazed, merely shrugging indifferently.

"My demands are very simple... First: keep this secret between us. No one should know what I can do."

Sir Claude didn’t respond, but he began to lower his sword.

"As for the second demand... it’s that you take me into the guard under your command."

Sir Claude narrowed his eyes, his tone sharper: "Join the guard?"

"Exactly. This way, you’ll ensure no chaos occurs, and I’ll ensure my demands are met under my own supervision."

Silence fell for a moment.

"You want me to consider all this?"

"Of course, we’re logical minds, aren’t we? And I’ve given you all... my cards."

"...Your cards?"

Egologia suddenly stopped, as if he realized he’d let slip a word that didn’t belong in this world. "Ah, nothing... forget that word."

He was growing stranger with every word he spoke.

"Egologia... who are you, really?"

A tone of caution he couldn’t hide. "A matter like this... I won’t break my promise to the kingdom over it. I won’t bear the consequences."

Egologia, still standing confidently, laughed with a faint sneer.

"How many times have I told you... there are no consequences." He said it while spreading his arms, explaining something obvious. "In fact, you can dance with joy now... since a strong member like me is under your care."

Then he tilted his head slightly and added with a biting tone:

"Or are you afraid I’ll take your place?"

In the next moment, a terrifying force pressed down, making the ground beneath him groan under the immense weight. It was as if another gravitational force had appeared, mercilessly pressing down on Egologia.

"This pressure..." Egologia muttered, his knees buckling under the force. "Did I anger him?"

Sir Claude took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with a deadly look.

"You’ve overstepped your bounds, young man..."

he said in a low voice that carried a threatening authority. "I’ll show you fear itself."

Egologia, despite the crushing pressure that was almost shattering the ground beneath him, didn’t lose his defiant smile.

"This pressure..."

He whispered to himself.

"What’s the name of this Maga? Since there are multiple types in 0, this must be one of them..."

Then suddenly, he exclaimed: "Are you trying to start a fight now?! Damn it, what’s wrong with you?!"

Sir Claude smiled darkly. "Yes... let it be so."

At that moment, a silver glow surrounded his body, and Maga began to condense around him, wrapping around his arms like molten metal hardening at an insane speed.

In moments, his arms were completely covered in a layer of silver metal, reflecting the light with a terrifying sharpness.

"Maga - Titanium."

Egologia stared at him, his eyes gleaming with astonishment. "Titanium?!"

He didn’t have time to fully process it, because Sir Claude raised his fist... and from the tips of his fingers, sharp blades emerged, gleaming like knives forged in the heart of hell itself.

"These abilities..." Egologia whispered, watching. "He’s physically strong... defense and offense at close range... extremely effective."

At that moment, a precise description of what he was seeing flashed through his mind.

"A metal beast..."

But Sir Claude didn’t give him time to think further, as he charged at him with devastating speed, raising his titanium-coated fist, ready to crush everything in his path!

"Bastard." Egologia raised his hands, crimson threads shooting out like wild snakes, writhing in the air before lunging at Claude.

Claude, charging forward, didn’t even raise an eyebrow. The moment the threads touched him, the response was...

BOOOM!!!

A titanium fist shattered through the crimson storm, like a cannon blasting through a flock of birds! The threads scattered like torn fabric...

Crush! Crush! Crush! Crush!

The threads became fiercer, faster, like hundreds of arrows being fired at once, entangled, surrounding, with no escape.

But Claude... kept advancing!

His fists flew, crushing them one after another...

Egologia bit his lip, he hadn’t expected such raw power... but that’s what made him smile.

"Damn it!"

In a quick motion, he retreated backward, "Let’s see how you handle this!"

Waving his hand to summon the radiant sword from the blood circle, he gripped it with both hands, then charged like an arrow!

But...

Claude’s fist was there, waiting for him.

BOOOO!!!M

Guh!

His entire body shook under the force of the blow, his bones almost shattering under the pressure, but he didn’t fall. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

He gripped the sword tightly, trying to push forward... but...

Claude’s second fist was coming.

"FUCK This!"

He felt it before he saw it, he knew... he wouldn’t be able to dodge it.

"Damn!"

In that moment, a crimson crystalline shield formed from his chest, absorbing part of the blow... but it wasn’t enough.

Crack!

The pressure shattered the shield like glass, and his body was sent flying through the air, crashing into the ground with a force that scattered crimson gravel, then kicked once, twice, before he ended up sprawled on his back, gasping...

Pain wracked every part of him, his chest bleeding, his bones screaming...

He lifted his head slowly, his teeth chattering, and smiled... despite the blood filling his mouth.

"You’re killing me... what’s gotten into you?! If it weren’t for that shield, I’d be a corpse now!"

Claude showed no expression, he didn’t care what Egologia said.

"You’re already dying..."

He raised his head, looking at him with cold eyes.

"You’re not that strong at all."

Egologia laughed, spitting blood on the ground, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Who said I was strong?"

Then he muttered with a mocking smile:

"I’m just... clever, you bastard."

Claude didn’t respond, only gave him another look, as if reevaluating him.

And suddenly...

"What’s happening here?! Sir!"

Claude turned to find Frank standing at the edge, staring at the scene with wide eyes, watching Egologia, who could barely stand, but still smiled with that arrogant look.

Frank looked at his commander, then at Egologia, then said in a voice full of doubt:

"You! Sir Claude... I trusted your judgment..."

Claude didn’t turn to him, keeping his eyes on Egologia, then said in a calm voice, but one that carried finality:

"Oh, Frank... this person.... He’s challenging my promise now...."

Then he added, without hesitation:

"He’ll join us...!"