CHAPTER 61: ORB OF DESTRUCTION.

Seeing the scene in front of him, Isaac couldn’t help but frown just a bit. The advantage he thought he had was now vanishing right before his eyes.

Two things worried him in that moment.

The first were the two people who were, for some reason, choosing to side with Ash—someone who could potentially be linked to the Devil King.

Then secondly, there was Ash himself. Isaac barely understood where he had been or what he had been through.

Isaac might be strong, but even he would think twice about going hand-to-hand with Ash right now.

He remembered all too well how the Devil King had suddenly popped up after he and the group killed Ash. He recalled the dark figure clutching Ash’s head, his body carried with a single hand.

There was no mistaking that sight. That was indeed the Devil King standing there at the time.

Not to mention, the exact words the Devil King uttered were still etched into his mind.

"I would end you all, but that is the luxury I will leave for your betrayed friend. Go to sleep knowing one day he will come for your heads."

That was definitely a threat. And now, coincidentally, Ash was standing right here, looking for the very revenge they feared he would come for.

"Dammit, just what deal did you sign with the Devil King, huh? No wait, you actually think you can beat me, don’t you? Is that it? Fine. I didn’t get the chance to kill you back then, but I sure as hell won’t miss the opportunity now."

Ash didn’t care for whatever nonsense Isaac was sprouting. It didn’t matter to him.

All that mattered was finally fighting and killing Isaac. That was the only thing he truly cared for.

Ash slashed his blade to the side once more, and then he leaned forward, hinting that he was about to charge with all he had.

Seeing this, Isaac frowned even more, gripping the handles of his twin short blades, ready to send an attack of his own.

"Raising a blade to a member of the Hero’s party... You might have come back to life somehow, but I will take you right ba—"

Ash charged forward, his blade slicing dangerously close to Isaac’s throat.

Luckily, Isaac was able to react in time, raising his own blade to stop the attack from slicing his neck clean before he leaped back to get some space.

Mid-air, he wondered how Ash was able to move so terrifyingly fast. Not to mention, Ash was already chasing him again, even before Isaac had fully landed.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Ash was right in front of him, landing a straight punch to Isaac’s gut that sent him flying and tumbling to the ground like a ragdoll.

The remaining two who sought to interfere were immediately drawn to attention by Echidna and Kelvin, keeping them at bay.

"Get up. We are not done yet." Ash stalked toward Isaac, watching intently as he was struggling to stand. "You are part of the Hero’s party. Surely this isn’t all you’ve got."

Frowning intensely, Isaac managed to stand, locking gazes with Ash.

How was this bastard looking down on him? This bastard?

"Don’t fucking think you’ve won just because you landed a single hit, you damn bastard!"

Slash!

Isaac sent a powerful strike with his blade, sending energy speeding toward Ash.

Ash flash-stepped to the side, dodging the first strike. When the second came, he used his blade to slash it, shattering the attack like glass.

Not even a second later, Isaac had closed the distance, a vicious grin on his face as he reached for Ash’s face with the tip of his blade.

Ash was able to tilt his face to dodge the attack, but another blade slice was already heading toward him from the opposite side.

Clank!

He blocked it with his silver blade, which then left his other side open—a side Isaac was more than happy to exploit.

He grabbed Ash by the throat and yelled, "Gotcha!"

Immediately, Ash felt a weird sensation seeping into the pores of his neck and then straight into his body.

Cautious, he kicked Isaac in the gut and then sliced off his arm before leaping back to get his own space.

Isaac stumbled back, looking at the blood dripping from his now-severed arm that Ash had so cruelly cut off in the blink of an eye.

"I gotta hand it to you, Ash. You have grown pretty strong. You actually landed a hit on me. Is this another one of the Devil King’s powers?"

Ash placed his palm over the dark spot that had grown on the side of his neck, he could feel the hard strange texture spreading all around the nape of his neck.

Whatever Isaac did, it was slowly taking effect.

Not only was Ash’s vision starting to blur, but he was barely able to lift his blade.

"Haha, looks like it’s working already. I’m surprised you haven’t collapsed to your knees. See, here’s the thing: I can transfer a toxin to anything, capable of taking down even the strongest of beings. It’s only a matter of time before you collapse as well."

"I mean, I didn’t infect you with too much, so I don’t doubt you’ll still be able to move around a bit. That said, while you are busy getting worse from my toxin..."

Squelch!

Isaac’s arm grew back.

"...I will have regenerated back to zero damage."

Ash was quiet for a while. He could feel his dark energy stirring inside him, trying to fight the toxins attempting to take over.

’Isaac is a Hero at the end of the day, which is why I am not surprised he is able to pull something like this. In fact, I remember exactly how his power works. Death Clock. As long as he is able to transfer his toxin to something, he can’t die; he will keep coming back to life. That said, there is a drawback...’

Ash slowly dropped his hand from his neck.

’He can only come back to life ten times before he needs to transfer his toxins to something new. If I can kill him ten times before he can make another move, then this battle is as good as done. Isaac is strong. I’ll need more than what I currently have.’

He closed his eyes. "Come to me, Raphael."

Isaac’s shock grew when a dark portal suddenly appeared behind Ash. Out of it stepped a woman dressed in a black dress, with long pink hair and a dragon tail.

She knelt behind Ash, her head bowed in respect.

Worst of all, Isaac could feel the massive amount of energy surging from her body, similar to what he felt that day—the day the Devil King showed himself to them.

But this was a woman.

"Master, you summoned me. I am surprised you know I could materialize in the new world. Do you need me to dispatch this human?"

"No. Become my weapon."

Before she could even understand what was happening, Ash had reached into her chest, his entire hand seeping into the red portal that opened there.

Raphael had a proud look on her face, her red cheeks showing she was trying hard to hold the urge to moan as her master’s hand delved deep inside her chest.

From within, he pulled out a dark orb, leaving Raphael panting excitedly on the ground.

Ash, getting the weapon he needed with his skill, slowly turned away.

[Congratulations on using the Slave God skill on your slave Raphael.]

[The Orb of Destruction, born from the will of your slave to destroy all that crosses your path. It boosts the amount of demonic energy you can emit tenfold.]

’Good enough.’

Ash released the orb into the air, and it split into multiple smaller orbs, each dancing around him.

Then he turned his attention back to Isaac.

"Are you done with your little party trick?" Isaac sneered, though the intensity in his eyes betrayed his attempt at casual dismissal. The toxic spot on Ash’s neck was still there, but the dark energy surrounding Ash seemed to be actively battling it, glowing brighter with the appearance of the new orbs.

Ash’s voice was low, resonating with new power. "Your words don’t cover up the fear seeping through your mind. Do not be mistaken. One of us is going to die here. Either you kill me, or I erase you from existence. Permanently."

The orbs suddenly coalesced together, forming a single, larger, pulsing sphere of absolute darkness that floated above Ash’s outstretched hand. The demonic energy radiating from him skyrocketed, making the very air heavy and oppressive.

"Don’t get cocky!" Isaac shouted, charging forward with a speed that belied his recent injury. He brought his twin blades down in a crisscross pattern, aiming for a decapitating blow.

Ash didn’t move.

Bash!

He landed a straight punch on Isaac’s face, shattering his jaw upon impact.