Episode 1037
Chapter 249: The First Sortie of the Pluto Clan (4)

Of course, Ban’s voice didn’t fully reach the enemies deep within the Black Sea.

No matter how powerful Ban was, that was physically impossible.

But what could be conveyed was his will.

Like the sharp edge of a blade, that will pierced straight into Nirganth’s mind, who had momentarily paused.

Once again, the Pluto warriors scattered just as before, beginning to erase the dimensional gates at the entrance to the central Black Sea.

With each lightning strike, a dimensional gate vanished.

They would regroup only when just the gate Ban had chosen remained, then move forward.

From the central starting point deeper inside, then back to the entrance, then to the center again.

The dimensional gates were spread out like a haphazard maze.

It was such an inefficient layout that it was hard to believe it was made intentionally for escape.

Ban passed through several gates and finally understood why.

“Sirron Runcandel formed the gates avoiding the areas where his influence was strongest. That’s why it’s so scattered and chaotic.”

Just as Ban had sensed Nirganth’s power from the Black Sea’s outskirts, he could also feel the lingering energy left behind by Sirron.

The traces of Sirron’s power at the entrance, the middle, and the depths of the Black Sea were all from long before he transcended the demonic nature.

A force worn thin by the passage of time.

Yet even that was enough for Ban to grasp the kind of power Sirron possessed before overcoming his demonic nature.

“Truly, the father of the Jin brothers was an extraordinary man.”

“It seems Sirron Runcandel’s mark remains here as well, Warrior Brother.”

“Yes. No matter how much time passes, these traces he left will never disappear.”

“What kind of power does it feel like?”

“It’s the aura of one who has borne the world alone for countless years.”

“Ohhh…”

“I don’t know exactly what it is, but even the Warrior Brothers are impressed.”

“I’d like to cross swords with him at least once.”

Ban was momentarily captivated by the remnants Sirron had left behind.

And that meant he wasn’t as tense as before.

He was more interested in the father of his brothers than the enemy.

Crack, krrk-!

Dimensional gates continued to tear apart.

The Pluto clan had already traversed back and forth between the Black Sea’s entrance, middle, and depths more than a dozen times.

Each time, Sirron’s lingering presence in the Black Sea became more pronounced, and Ban’s newly inscribed lightning energy increased.

In other words, Nirganth was running out of places to go.

Though he too was moving between the gates, the Pluto clan’s encirclement showed no sign of loosening.

Just like when he fled from Sirron a few days ago, he was gripped by the illusion that Ban’s sword was already at his throat.

‘Just like a few days ago…’

Until he met the priestess and high priest of the Solar Faith.

Nirganth was fleeing at full speed to avoid Sirron.

He had come to realize that he could never defeat him, so even if it was pathetic, delaying his destruction was the best he could do.

And now was no different.

The moment he felt Ban’s will to kill him, Nirganth immediately understood.

He was facing an opponent he could never match.

From the moment Sirron transcended his demonic nature, the order and knowledge Nirganth knew had already been shattered.

But he had never imagined he would meet someone like Sirron again so soon.

[Sanna, Luke. You showed me the power left by the God of Gods and told me my future was predetermined. Could this be what you meant?]

At that moment, a pure white dimensional gate opened beside Nirganth.

From it, Sanna and Luke emerged, their expressions calm.

“Nirganth.”

[You have insulted me…]

The moment Nirganth saw their faces, he immediately sensed that the Solar Faith had been plotting something.

And that he had been chosen as a pawn in their plan.

“I’m not without regret, Nirganth, but you had no other choice, did you? Without us, you would have already been captured by Sirron and erased.”

He wanted to tear Sanna apart on the spot.

But the fragment of the Solar God’s power he had received from her refused to allow it.

A great will even the Fifth King of the Black Sea could not reject.

“It’s ironic. Compared to you, Nirganth, mortals—insignificant beings—sometimes manage to overcome the true will of the gods, while immortals never can.”

[What are you scheming?]

“We want the fragment of the Solar God’s power within you to bloom more widely through you, Nirganth. That’s why we helped you escape the Fifth King’s domain, so you could spread that power into the mortal world.”

Sanna had no reason to lie or deceive Nirganth.

From the moment he accepted the Solar God’s power, he had become a slave to the Solar Faith.

Nirganth, who had never directly experienced the Solar God, simply didn’t know.

“Soon, Nirganth, you will meet the Pluto clan here in the depths of the Black Sea. At that moment, the fragment of the Solar God within you will fully bloom.”

Nirganth already felt the fragment vibrating inside him.

This was beyond his own will.

“With that power, you will surely deal deep wounds to the monsters that have threatened you. If luck is on your side, you might even kill them… After the battle, your remains will be left throughout the world, just like your brother Gliek’s.”

The glowing dimensional gate remained open.

Sanna and Luke turned away, preparing to return to the Solar Faith’s subspace.

“Now that you carry the true divine energy, Nirganth, your remains will influence this world even more than Gliek’s did. We will always pray that you become the pure land where the Solar God can be reborn.”

[Hahaha… foolish ones. You are mistaken.]

Just as the Solar Faith members stepped through the gate, Nirganth burst into a dark laugh.

They didn’t look back but heard his words behind them.

[Didn’t you just say it yourself, Sanna? Immortals cannot transcend the true will of the gods, but mortals can. And here, there are two of the most terrible and colossal mortals.]

Nirganth’s form was changing.

Golden crystals sprouted across his massive raven-like body, and his once dark eyes turned golden.

Sanna smiled with satisfaction at the transformation, but Luke felt an inexplicable unease.

[Did you really think you could predict or control them? No. You made a mistake. Using me was easy, but not them… Especially not with just a fragment like this! You will face something you cannot handle. Soon, perhaps even today.]

“…Yes, I’ve heard your last words. Then, good luck, Nirganth.”

The Solar Faith’s dimensional gate closed.

Nirganth stood there for a long time, chuckling quietly.

There was no reason to run anymore.

It was impossible.

Ban stood before him, Sirron behind.

Waiting for Ban’s arrival, Nirganth thought about the fate of himself and his brothers.

Perhaps this was the destiny set for them long ago.

The sound of thunder grew closer.

A roar unlike any heard before in the Black Sea, tens of thousands of thunderclaps trampling and shaking the black earth, engulfed Nirganth.

A heavy tremor spread through the ground, shaking his massive body.

Raising his head, Nirganth saw a brilliant light carving a blue path from afar.

[I thought it would take longer, but you’ve come already.]

“Is that so? I expected you to struggle and try to flee more, so this is good for both of us.”

From the light burning so white it was almost blue, Ban and the Pluto warriors appeared.

Strangely, the moment Nirganth faced Ban directly, a calmness settled over him.

It was a feeling unlike when he first saw Sirron long ago, or when Sirron, having overcome his demonic nature, tried to kill him.

For a long time, to the Fifth Kings of the Black Sea, Sirron was “the brother who must be,” the only means to unite the fallen.

But Ban was simply an unavoidable accident, an unstoppable disaster.

Just as the kings of the Black Sea were to humans.

[Black Sea Fifth King, Nirganth.]

“Ban, Pluto warrior.”

Ban and Nirganth stared at each other for a long moment.

Not to gauge each other’s strength.

Ban was only considering how to handle the Solar God’s power within Nirganth, and Nirganth could only stand still.

“You carry a power that doesn’t suit you. It seems the Solar Faith used you. So… they planned to mix this with your massive spiritual energy and spread it into the mortal world.”

Ban immediately understood the Solar Faith’s plan.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have bound the Solar God’s power to Nirganth like this.

The spiritual energy Nirganth possessed, combined with the fragment of the Solar God, was a force Ban considered enormous.

But it was just a power that was big—nothing more.

“Brothers, while I destroy Nirganth, secure the perimeter. We can’t let even a trace of the Sun God’s chaotic energy or his spirit escape outside.”

“Understood.”

Shing…

Sigmund slowly drew his sword from its sheath.

On the pale, blue blade, Nirganth’s face was etched.

“You have no reason to feel wronged, Nirganth. Those who granted you that power will soon have their heads fall to this very sword.”