Another Kind of Darkness

"It seemed their peace wasn't holding up too well."

Huai Shi withdrew his gaze in disappointment.

When Gusin's corpse fell from the sky in pieces, it erupted with a thunderous crash.

Before it even hit the ground, countless brilliant flowers rapidly grew from the swiftly decaying remains. As the fragments shattered, innumerable pure white iris petals scattered through the air, their hazy sweetness turning blood and war alike into something dreamlike.

"Truly beautiful."

Hercules, who had been lowering his head to sharpen his sword, looked up and sighed in admiration. "For a warrior, having such a beautiful place as one's final resting place isn't bad at all."

"Great Siming...?"

Gara nodded in understanding, showing no anger over the temporary setback.

A struggle of this degree did not even qualify as an appetizer to him.

It was merely a warm-up.

Like a host who delighted in holding banquets.

As the eternal follower of the King of Withered, before every banquet began, Gara would painstakingly inquire into every guest's preferences and dietary restrictions. He tirelessly prepared every detail, from chairs and tapestries to lighting, music, and tableware, before finally serving the most important course.

Then, he would savor death to his heart's content.

After hosting one banquet, he would immediately begin preparations for the next. In a place like hell, death was never in short supply, and neither were successes or failures.

What he lacked were interesting guests.

Such as the being before him now—the enemy he had to face.

It had been a long time since he had felt such delight. Like a child opening a treasure chest, he could keep digging up new toys without end.

"This is truly interesting!"

Gara bared his teeth in a savage grin, raised his Scythe Blade once more, and gave the order. "Since the