Crow Men (Part 2)

Chris's Deep Chaos Rhythm was an advanced application of the Breathing Method. Living creatures were strongly connected to their respective Rhythms; problems in the body would manifest through Rhythm, and if that Rhythm was disturbed, it would likewise affect the body.

Chris's Deep Chaos Rhythm used deep breaths to implant certain Rhythms deep within his opponent's body, then used the Rhythm of his exhalation to stir those implanted Rhythms. In an instant, it disrupted the opponent's Rhythm, causing their bodily functions to fall out of sync.

A living creature's internal organs were exquisitely delicate in certain respects. With his life Rhythm thrown into disorder, Nozades's attack had instead affected his own internal organs first. The Sub-Dragon had been the same.

A Sub-Dragon's body far surpassed that of a human, and protected by its dragon scales, mortal weapons could not harm it at all. It had been hailed as a creature humanity could never defeat, yet Chris had still used Deep Chaos Rhythm to make the Sub-Dragon defeat itself.

"With the force behind Nozades's punch back then, his internal organs should already have been on the verge of shattering. By all reason, he should have been completely unable to fight." Chris found Nozades's current actions difficult to comprehend.

There was no madness in his expression. The black lines across his body gathered around his mouth, and Chris roughly understood what he intended to do. Those things were a gift to Crow Men, but deadly poison to Chris.

"For his body to have endured this long is already astonishing. If he injects those black stripes that gave him such powerful physical qualities into my body again, he will undoubtedly die—and he knows that." Looking into Nozades's exceptionally clear eyes, Chris found it ever more unbelievable.

"Negary, this Evil Spirit... what kind of magic does he possess?" Chris forcibly used Rhythm Gold to strengthen the defenses of his legs. In Nozades's ruined state, he could not possibly bite through them, yet even so, he did not give up, still exhausting the last of his strength.

Nozades's gaze was immensely resolute. He understood the consequences of what he was doing, but he was not afraid. Lord Negary's power sustained him.

Scenes from the past appeared before Nozades. He had been among the first to accept Lord Negary's gift and become a Crow Man. Back then, he had still been lost. His years of wandering had made him understand the limits of his own talent.

Perhaps he had a bit of cleverness, perhaps he had a streak of ruthlessness. Among humans, he could barely be called outstanding. Yet the more so it was, the more clearly he recognized his own inadequacies. There were limits within him that he could never break through.

It was not only him; everyone else was the same. Even heroes—natural legendary rangers like Chris—had their own limits. That was what Nozades believed, and so he had felt powerless and lost.

Until he met that great lord. When he understood Lord Negary's greatness, he found the true beacon of his life.

"You chose to spread the Black Crow Pathogen throughout your body. A very interesting idea." Lord Negary had said at the time, "You understand your own strengths and weaknesses very well, and you also understand your own limits. That is excellent. I think I have great need for a trait like yours as well."

"Only by understanding one's limits can one break those limits and become stronger. Are you willing to become this trait of mine?"

Facing Negary's outstretched hand, Nozades could not refuse. Since he could not break through his own limits, then he would follow an existence truly capable of breaking through its own limits and become a part of it.

Perhaps Lord Negary still had shortcomings of his own now, but... Nozades showed his final smile. But one day, Lord Negary would break through humanity's limits, even break through the limits of higher levels, and become a truly perfect existence!!

The others surely believed the same, didn't they? Lord Negary was not merely the leader they followed. He was also the ideal for which they could strive, for which they could devote everything!

"So, Lord Negary, whether it be my soul, my emotions, or my traits, take them all if they are of use to you. You will surely ascend the highest throne, and we are willing to become the steps beneath your feet!!" Nozades unleashed the last of his seemingly futile strength as death descended upon him.

The Rhythm of life slowly faded from Nozades's body. Willpower could decide many things at many times, but it was not omnipotent. At the very least, a mere human, no matter how unyielding his will, could not alter objective laws.

Yet the Rhythm born of that will deeply shocked Chris and left him even more perplexed—perplexed by Nozades, and by Negary.

"You seem very confused." A voice rang out. A Crow Man in black robes leaped down from the roof of a house and landed not far from Chris. "If he had not done that, after being defeated by you, his faith might very well have wavered. Then he would have lost the qualifications to become a step. That is something Crow Men cannot tolerate. Were it me, I would have done the same."

"A step? Are you here to intercept me too?" Chris drew a deep breath and prepared for battle. Judging from the shape beneath the other party's black robes, this Crow Man was a woman. Women had weaknesses to a certain extent; it was information that needed to be considered in battle.

"You could put it that way. But before that, I have something else to do." The Crow Man removed her hood, revealing an ordinary woman's face. She extended her right hand toward Chris. In her palm, she held a bottle filled with rippling black liquid.

"Here, Crow Man Dessa, on behalf of the great Negary, extends an invitation to Mr. Chris." The Crow Man spoke solemnly. "May I ask whether Mr. Chris is willing to become one of the Crow Men?"

"Please do not refuse just yet, Mr. Chris." Dessa said with a smile. "You know the condition of your own body. Become a Crow Man and accept Lord Negary's gift. He can heal the hidden injuries within you. Otherwise, I fear Mr. Chris does not have many years left to live."

"I don't think you need to continue. Just as you have your faith, I have things that I must uphold." Chris rejected Dessa's invitation without hesitation.

Of course, he knew the state of his own body. The life of an adventurer was far less beautiful than people imagined. Though those adventures could indeed elevate a person, the damage they inflicted upon the body was unavoidable.

After all these years of adventuring, if not for the Breathing Method's regulation, his body would have collapsed long ago. He might have been a legendary ranger, but legendary rangers were still human, and legendary rangers could also die.

Chris had long since prepared himself to give his life, just like that person back then.

Chapter Two. Please save this, vote with recommendation tickets, and add it to your book lists.