The eclipse descended, swallowing everything in darkness.
The entire walled city in the valley was consumed by the storm of death. The God Hand had arrived as promised, leaving their sacrificial brands.
The demonic feast had begun.
Blood, howls, weeping, pleas, confusion, despair, hunger and thirst, ecstasy... All the full and chaotic thoughts burst forth at this moment!
In this atmosphere, extremely terrifying and dark for humans, Nidhogg was the first to react.
The golden light emanating from his body, like a shield, reflected the branded meteor that had been released.
Guts had no such protection. On the right side of the back of his head, a sacrificial brand was engraved. Burning flashes of pain shot through him.
He was momentarily bewildered, unable to understand the current situation based on the location of his brand.
Until he saw the countless monsters, like Zodd, appearing all around him, killing within this dark space.
It was a one-sided massacre. The targets of the massacre were the hundreds of Hawk Company members in the distance!
Piercing, biting, poisoning, decapitating, swallowing whole—those mercenaries who had bravely stepped onto the battlefield, unafraid of life and death, were as fragile as children, collapsing and being slaughtered!
Guts saw that his eyes were about to burst. In the blink of an eye, dozens of people had died tragically at the hands of these monsters.
Then he thought of something and looked at the giant hand reaching toward the place of the eclipse.
This was your wish? Griffith, this is your wish? You would... all of us...
"Guts!" Nidhogg shouted almost directly into his ear, waking him. "This is the moment of the Eclipse! Stop dwelling on those who can't be changed! Don't think about what happened!"
Guts was stunned by this.
Yes, this was the Eclipse. This was the very Eclipse Nidhogg had warned him about.
The fate he had thought Griffith could escape—now it was exactly as Nidhogg had said.
Though Nidhogg had asked Guts not to think about what had happened, a strong sense of regret rose in his heart. But he couldn't break free at this moment, so he could only forcibly suppress his emotions.
Nidhogg continued to shout, "Go! The Hawk Company needs you! Casca needs you! They are at their most helpless and desperate moment right now. They are all terrified and suppressed! You have to help them!"
"They need a leader—a leader who charges forward and leads them out alive!"
Guts finally calmed down a little.
For a moment, the thought of climbing the giant hand to awaken Griffith had crossed his mind. But Nidhogg's reminder made him see reality clearly.
If I go to Griffith, then what about the Hawk Company? What about Casca, Pippin, Judeau, and Corkus?
It was a cruel and cold question with a forced choice.
But now, as the de facto acting vice-commander of the Hawk Company, he had to be ruthless and make a decision. He could only choose one!
Guts made his decision inwardly, but he looked toward Zodd and asked, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to deal with Zodd," Nidhogg said. "You have to survive. Hold on, no matter what. My companions will be there soon, and I'll join you! Go!"
Emotionally, Guts didn't want to leave Nidhogg alone to deal with the powerful Zodd. But intellectually, the Hawk Company needed him more.
"Alright. I'm going to Casca and the others!"
Guts raised the Dragonslayer and ran off without looking back.
"We'll survive. You'll survive too. Whether it's the God Hand or the Eclipse brand, we'll settle this score together in the future!"
FWOOSH—!
A group of monsters blocked Guts's only path. But Guts swung the Dragonslayer and cut them down. He only then realized these monsters were so fragile—all of them cleaved in two by him. They weren't nearly as terrifying as Zodd.
He looked at the blood-stained greatsword in his hand, and his heart grew even more hopeful.
Fortunately, Nidhogg had mentioned it to Godo back then, and Godo had indeed forged such a weapon. Otherwise, if it had been his previous greatsword, he feared it would have curled or even broken after cutting down a dozen Apostles.
With this Dragonslayer, Guts had another glimmer of hope for the Hawk Company members to survive this moment of the Eclipse.
Immediately, he ran toward the Hawk Company, surrounded by monsters, and used the Dragonslayer to carve a bloody path.
Nidhogg stayed where he was, alone facing Zodd.
During the exchange with Nidhogg and Guts, Zodd hadn't moved a step from start to finish. He carried his sword on his shoulder, his fierce lion-like eyes fixed on Nidhogg's chest.
On Nidhogg's chest, the golden ring and combination of lines shone brightly.
"I see. Hahaha..." Zodd laughed. "I was wondering why you have a unique aura and enough strength to fight Apostles."
"Seeing the golden light emanating from the brand on your body, and how it reflected the sacrificial brand of the Eclipse, I understand. You are already a sacrifice for another ritual. The moment of the Eclipse naturally has nothing to do with you."
"Also, you can't handle me alone. Those little minions are done for. The man using that greatsword could clearly help you. Instead of wasting time, it would be better to stay here and fight side by side with you."
"You're wrong this time!"
Nidhogg had many hypotheses about his current situation, but he had never spoken of them. He had thought a lot, but he wasn't going to stop like this. He wasn't about to shake his head because of Zodd's words.
He simply silently produced the Spirit Calling Bell.
Jingle—!
Two almost pure white spirits in armor appeared. One crossed his arms and drew the twin swords at his belt. The other also raised his halberd, guarding Nidhogg's side, facing Zodd.
"I'm not going to deal with you alone," Nidhogg said.
Zodd looked at the two threatening "Lost Knights" who had suddenly appeared and couldn't help but be stunned.
BOOM—!
Suddenly, Oleg and Ingvall the Lost Knights were enveloped in a hovering whirlwind. They both gained speed, soared loudly, and together lunged at Zodd!
Oleg spun forward and instantly reached Zodd's eyes. His two swords slashed fiercely across Zodd's chest.
Zodd's eyelids twitched. His sword slashed fiercely, enough to block Oleg's two swords before him and send sparks flying!
At the same time, Ingvall struck from above. The axe blade of his halberd came down, instantly slicing Zodd's thick shoulder. With a crunch, bone was exposed!
Zodd's eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at the two Lost Knights before him. Suddenly, he let out a thunderous roar, and his berserk energy burst forth!
Extending his arms, he actually struck both knights before him and sent them flying!
FWOOSH—!
Zodd had no time to catch his breath, because a curved sword stabbed into his chest as he was striking out. With a thud, it pierced his flesh and was about to pierce his heart!
Even if his heart was pierced, an Apostle like Zodd, capable of regenerating at such speed, couldn't die immediately.
But Zodd still felt the danger. Quickly retreating, he pulled the curved sword from his chest. Blood sprayed. His sword suddenly slashed toward the head of the curved sword's owner, Nidhogg!
"Die!"
Nidhogg executed Bloodhound's Finesse, a circular slash, and backflipped, avoiding the blow Zodd had intended to land.
Zodd swung his sword through the air, momentarily stunned. Then he looked at the wounds on his shoulder and chest, which were rapidly healing and steaming, and laughed. "It seems I still underestimated you. Your methods are endless."
CRASH—!
As soon as Zodd finished speaking, he slammed his feet into the ground and shot toward Nidhogg like a cannonball, instantly closing the distance between them. The sword in his hand struck even faster!
"What about this strike?"
CLANG—!
Nidhogg only took a step back, and Oleg and Ingvall came in from an angle!
The two knights, now his wings, used their swords and halberd to block Zodd's powerful blow!
A tornado erupted. Air blades shot forth. Oleg and Ingvall together rebounded Zodd's sword again, sending Zodd flying backward.
Zodd's thick legs landed on the ground. He slid back a distance and stopped. Before him, three figures charged!
Nidhogg merged with the formation of the Lost Knights Oleg and Ingvall. The curved sword, twin swords, and halberd struck together, like the three musketeers, alternately attacking Zodd, forming an airtight assault!
Both Oleg and Ingvall were extremely fierce and unafraid of death or injury. They attacked desperately with every move.
Combined with the agility of Nidhogg's Bloodhound's Fang, the three's advance momentarily made Zodd feel somewhat suppressed after losing the initiative.
Zodd retreated again and again, gritting his teeth. His body was suddenly covered in scars. Though they healed on their own, the pain did not diminish.
He also counterattacked, but all the damage was taken by Oleg and Ingvall—two tireless, painless spirits. There was no feedback from the fight!
Finally, Zodd decided he could no longer let the three of them control the situation. He snorted, spread the broad wings on his back, and prepared to take flight.
Unexpectedly, the two Lost Knights charged again at that moment—one left, one right. Their twin swords and halberd targeted his wings!
Zodd had to sink like a thousand pounds to avoid the attack of the Lost Knights' swords and halberd.
However, at the same time, Nidhogg's attack and strike followed!
FWOOSH—!
Bloodhound's Fang carved a silver half-arc. The blade was only inches from Zodd's face. Zodd used only reflexes and turned his head to dodge!
CRACK—!
Because Zodd had tilted his head in time to dodge, Nidhogg's strike didn't hit Zodd's head. Instead, it struck one of the massive horns on his head.
The right horn was severed, flew out, and with a clatter, fell to the ground.
Zodd seized the opportunity, spread his wings, launched from the ground, and finally soared into the air, levitating.
He touched the broken horn—one of the twin horns he was proud of, and one of the few parts of his body that could not regenerate. But now it had been cut off by the sword of a young man he was fighting for the first time.
Zodd spread his wings and couldn't help but look down at Nidhogg and the two knights he had summoned.
At this moment, his assessment of Nidhogg rose a bit. Even if Nidhogg didn't have the combat power of the skeleton knight, he could still pose a threat.
Nidhogg looked at Zodd, who could fly, and realized the battle couldn't continue. He put away his combat stance. The two Lost Knights also stood beside him.
The "Immortal" in the sky saw this scene and said in surprise, "What are you doing? Our battle isn't over, is it?"
"Zodd, I think our battle ends here," Nidhogg said. "Your primary target is the skeleton knight, right? He should be breaking in soon."
"Hahaha..." Zodd laughed a little, pointing at his broken horn. "But now, I'm more interested in you. In any case, we're all chasing strength. Why must it be so unpredictable?"
"In that case, why don't we make a bet?" Nidhogg suggested.
"A bet?" Zodd's eyes narrowed slightly. He was a little interested.
"It took me only a few years to go from an ordinary person to someone capable of killing most Apostles, using summoned knights to cut your body and one of your horns."
Hearing this, Zodd couldn't help but be stunned.
"Only a few years"?
He knew very well that the skeleton knight possessed contemporary combat power, but it had taken thousands of years to hone it.
But soon, he understood—or rather, there was no one in the world who understood the situation better than them—the Apostles.
It was precisely through the Beherit and the demon-subduing ritual that these Apostles obtained monster bodies, gained strength, and longevity.
And a leader like Zodd had risen to the top among many Apostles in a short time, even among the fierce and brutal Apostles.
Seeing the glowing brand on Nidhogg's chest, Zodd should have understood.
He had also gained power through inhuman rituals, so naturally, he could have reached this point in a few years.
"What do you want to bet?" After thinking about it, Zodd smiled, becoming more and more interested in Nidhogg.
"I bet that the next time we meet, you will no longer be my match." Nidhogg pointed the tip of Bloodhound's Fang at Oleg and Ingvall. "One of them alone will be enough to defeat you."
Oleg and Ingvall stood solemnly, not lowering their weapons, fearlessly staring at Zodd in the air.
Zodd was stunned again. Then he covered his face with his right hand and laughed for a while.
Then he lowered his right hand and pointed his left at Nidhogg, saying:
"What an arrogant boy! The skeleton knight wouldn't dare make such an agreement! You're not the only one in this world who can constantly improve your strength. I can too! Fine, then let me wait and see!"
"I accept this bet! The next time we meet, I want to fight with all my heart, and at the same time, it will be your death!"
"But before that, try to survive this Eclipse! Otherwise, it's all empty words!"
Zodd restrained his wild laughter. He finally glanced at Nidhogg, fell silent, spread his wings, turned, and flew away.
A flying monster soared up. He smoothly struck it, and its head was smashed to pieces, falling straight to the ground like a lump of mud.
Nidhogg watched Zodd fly away, then watched the surrounding monsters gradually approach after Zodd's departure.
At the same time, the summoning duration for Oleg and Ingvall expired. They dissolved into flashes of dust.
Nidhogg, in no hurry, took a swig of Crimson and Cerulean Tears, then whistled.
Torrent the spirit steed stepped into the light, and Nidhogg mounted.
He glanced at the giant hand beneath the eclipse and dimly saw four silhouettes floating on its fingers. But he didn't intend to rush to cut them down. Instead, he looked at the sea of blood within this storm of death.
Yes, in the short time Nidhogg and Zodd had fought, the entire ground of the other space created by the Eclipse was already full of pools of blood and corpses. It was horrifying to see.
Nidhogg squeezed his horse's flanks. Its hooves stepped into the pools of blood, and it ran like lightning. Seizing the opportunity, he struck with his sword, killing several Apostles who stood in his path.
He walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, searching for any living person.
Suddenly, he heard a scream.
FWOOSH—!
Nidhogg swapped Bloodhound's Fang for a long weapon that could be used mounted—the Golden Halberd. The axe blade of the halberd cut through the bloody film before him and burst into a pit, sinking downward.
The pit was surrounded by a ring of monsters, all looking fierce and terrifying, extremely evil. The pit was one-third filled with the mutilated bodies of Hawk Company mercenaries, like a bowl of crimson meat soup.
Among the many corpses, one living person remained, holding a broken sword, eyes closed, swinging it in panic!
Corkus?!
"Go!" Nidhogg gave a short command, and Torrent charged forward!
Approaching the monsters, they heard the sound of hooves and turned around, baring their fangs, tongues, tentacles, and claws.
If it were an ordinary person, they might be afraid and not dare to step forward. But Nidhogg was used to it. He swung his halberd and swept it!
FWOOSH—!
The Golden Halberd swung fiercely. The monsters piled together were easily split in half like tofu. The parts that flew out were also smashed into a pile of meat foam, flying through the air!
Torrent burst through the torn gap and, with a thud, rushed to Corkus.
Nidhogg turned sideways, grabbed Corkus by the collar, pulled him up with one hand, and seated him behind him.
At the same time, Nidhogg noticed that Corkus had a brand on his head. It was unsurprising. Probably everyone except him had been marked.
Corkus soared up in the whirlwind, not knowing how he had been lifted. With his eyes closed, he screamed in terror on the horse until Nidhogg turned and slapped him across the face.
"Open your eyes! It's me, Nidhogg!"
Only then did Corkus open his eyes.
When he clearly saw that the person before him was indeed Nidhogg, and a living Nidhogg at that, he couldn't help but cry tears of joy and hug him right then and there.
"Great! Nidhogg, you're here to save me! You came to save me! I knew you wouldn't leave me!"
Nidhogg pushed Corkus away and slapped him again, making his cheeks redden before he stopped crying.
"Yes, Corkus, I'm here to save you! But I also need to be guarded by you and Torrent's hooves."
"Take out the crossbow and bolts attached to your belt. Use every means to kill those monsters trying to get close to you and me!"
"Listen to me. I promise you, if you persevere, I will definitely lead you out of this hell!"