Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Chapter 1303: Timely Isolation



Edagon.

Benzard sat next to Sause's large body, his sword across his lap.

He didn't know how long he was supposed to wait and watch over the Giant's body like this. He was already growing tired of it, quite honestly.

Just hours ago, when things started to become strange, with Aigas stripping in drapes of time, Sause had told Benzard that he had to make a little trip and that he'd be leaving his body behind. He had charged Benzard with protecting his body. Apparently, the Giant wasn't too confident about his survivability on this trip of his, and if something were to happen to him, he wanted Benzard close by.

A few minutes after Sause had 'left', Benzard had understood what this trip the Giant mentioned was about.

In one of the drapes of time flitting across Aigas' sky, Benzard had watched as a dragon far larger than the Herald he knew, Jerthrax, spit out a torrent of flame so bright and so pure that he hadn't been able to open his eyes for a while.

Aigas was split between times, and it appeared Sause had gone to remedy the problem. Or so Benzard had thought.

This assumption had sustained Benzard's dutiful self for a while, but not so much now. He wondered if Sause had met a setback so profound that he was still unable to return. Again, Benzard grew tired of waiting.

Edagon was a lonely place.

It hadn't always been that way though.

When Benzard first arrived here, after Sause brought him back from the Labyrinth of the Yoke, there had been many Giants to receive them - many of Sause's kin. They were friendlier than Benzard had initially thought. Because he had received Sause's powers, they treated him as if The were a Giant as well.

Several of the great cities perked on high peaks held sizable numbers of the Giants. Sause and Benzard had dined and wined in each, laughing and chatting with the Giants there.

Benzard had felt that the prospect of life here was beautiful. It was way better than what he had had to endure as a human, as a mercenary. It had been wonderful.

... Until one day, Sause decided to make a round trip around Edagon, killing and devouring the remainder of his kind. He was ruthless. He was ravenous. He left none alive, not even the young ones.

Suddenly, Benzard's view of Edagon had shifted. He had wondered if he was better off here on Edagon, as he had thought before. A part of him had wished Skullius had just killed him in that damned Labyrinth.

Benzard sighed.

From where he sat beside Sause's body, he could see a great chunk of Edagon and its many rises.

The great continent had been healing steadily from Skullius' battle with the Null Devil King, Caxellac. It almost looked as good as... well, as good as it was before that terrible battle. Watching the slow healing process had been one of Benzard's pastimes in the last few days. "Hmm?"

Benzard suddenly felt a sharp sting of caution from his skin. Just as he was wondering what this could be, the entirety of Edagon was bathed in a crimson hue.

...!!!

He was alarmed.

The clouds and skies were dyed in the bleak colour.

How ironic. Benzard would not have thought the colour crimson could frighten him. In this case, however, he had no choice but to fear.

Even before he gazed at the source of the terror, he already knew it was impossible for him to beat.

Up on Edagon's shore, a terrible entity had arrived. It was adorned in a fearsome suit of dark armour, bulky and blocky. Furious deep crimson flames burst from every crevice of the armour, as though attempting to melt it from the inside. The eyes behind the creature's helm were also a bright crimson, smaller flames burning from them threateningly.

A great sword was upon the creature's shoulder, pulsating with waves of power that went beyond the Transcendent grade.

Benzard grit his teeth and crimson lightning raced across his eyes. He recognised the signature of power from this enemy.

It was an undead creature!

'Dammit! Of all times for you to be away, Sause!' he thought.

But Benzard stepped up to face the threat regardless.

He streaked from his position towards the creature, lightning trailing behind him. The closer

he got to this enemy, the more he felt discouraged. He couldn't even fathom how deep its

powers were.

He stopped just shy of a kilometer from the undead creature. It might have looked like a great distance, but Benzard knew it could be crossed in an instant.

Knowing this fact was one thing though.

Benzard's eyes met those of the undead creature.

Suddenly, Benzard felt himself lose balance and fall to the ground. It was so abrupt. For a few moments, he felt no pain. Well, he felt nothing, really.

... Until he saw his legs standing above him, blood spraying from the stump of his waist.

Something had split Benzard in half, something he couldn't comprehend.

Pain and panic finally caught up with Benzard. He gaped and screamed in agony.

He could hardly believe it.

Was this really it?

Blood spilled from his mouth, choking him.

'Sause...' he thought with his second to last dying breath. To think the Giant had seen him fit

as a successor. 'I'm... I'm sorry.'

An armoured hand suddenly pressed on Benzard's chest. In an instant, vitality was restored to his body, and the pain washed away from him. His senses even grew sharp again.

A face Benzard wasn't familiar with appeared above him.

"You must be the guy the boss mentioned," said Kenno as he made sure his Granted Restoration had given Benzard a healthy and complete lower body to complement his torso. "Good thing we arrived just in time."

Benzard was stunned.

The armour the man above him wore was littered with pretty stars and he had a brand on his forehead that spat out strings of yellowish red lightning.

He wasn't alone.

A terrifying humanoid creature, pale and pasty faced, stood in front of them both, gazing beyond at the enemy with the crimson flames.

Araeyn donned a smile.

He seemed rather interested in the enemy before him. He rarely showed excitement.

Kenno walked up to the Apostle's side and gazed at the undead creature.

"You know what it's here for right?" he asked Benzard.

The young man was still perplexed by how his body had been restored so quickly. He hardly cared that he was naked though. He quickly collected himself, stood, and nodded to Kenno's

question.

"Yeah."

Kenno nodded.

"We'll get it away from here," he said and glanced at Araeyn, "for as long as we can. Do it,

Araeyn!"

At once, Kenno, the Apostle and the undead knight vanished from Benzard's sight.

In a forsaken realm - a Null Remnant - an Unlimited Star, a Doom Knight and Skullius' most powerful Apostle stood in a triangular formation.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Araeyn grinned and Null Life Essence burst from him in a crazy torrent. Even against the modified soul of a Deity, he wasn't afraid.

Kenno laughed and his armour churned with great volumes of energy. He brought his hands

together in a sacred gesture.

"I didn't think I would be flirting with death so early in the mission," he said and grinned.

Then...

"Majestic Territory Expulsion...!"