Reborn As A Ghost: Time To Build My Undead Army!-Chapter 1743: The Power Of Olympus’ Artifacts
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"I have to say, your strength is commendable, hero," Lucifer said, spreading his arms as his entire body blazed with powerful Aura. "But it’s not enough..."
"Haaa... I know," Diomedes replied with a faint smile. He held a Sand Hourglass in his right hand and a miniature Golden Door in his left. "That’s why... I won’t hesitate anymore!"
FLAAASH!
Diomedes infused divine power into both "Wedding Gifts." They unleashed a powerful phenomenon, warping space and even time itself.
"{Chronos Hourglass of Calamity}! {Helios’ Primordial Sun’s Door}!"
TRUUUM!
The door expanded into a gigantic golden gate. It swung open to reveal a massive sun glowing with blinding intensity. Its sunlight radiated such deadly brilliance that even Lucifer felt his skin burning in agony.
"This damned sensation... the same as when we fought Baldr, that bastard—no, this is far worse!"
Lucifer retreated swiftly, only to feel something strange. He had become tremendously slow. Time itself fractured into countless shards, trapping him within.
"I-I can’t... move through time?! What’s going on?! These artifacts are utterly insane!"
Diomedes advanced slowly, pointing his sword at Lucifer’s neck, ready to decapitate him with overwhelming Divine Power.
"I shall sever your head. And if that somehow fails, your body will burn to ashes regardless!"
The power of the Primordial Sun beyond the Golden Door surged into his sword as he swung downward.
"Damn it! Aaarrgh!"
Lucifer roared in frustration. His Aura exploded, shattering the fractured time and space. White Void Flames gathered around his neck.
SLAAASH!
The sword halted just short. The White Void Flames distorted space and time further, affecting even Diomedes.
"What?!"
Lucifer himself could hardly believe it. He was beginning to grasp the true nature of his flames.
They were not merely a stronger form of holy flames.
Born from White Void, they could warp space and influence the flow of time itself.
To a limited extent.
But that was enough.
"ENOUGH! I WILL SLAY YOU, DRAGON!"
Diomedes roared in fury, swinging his sword again.
CLAAASH!
The blade struck not Lucifer, but Maria’s Sword Soul Heart. It sliced the weapon apart before the strike could land.
"M-My sword...!"
Diomedes stared in shock as his indestructible blade fell from his grasp, severed not by a physical weapon but by Maria’s very soul.
His face twisted with even greater rage.
"YOUUUUU!!!"
The two "Wedding Gifts" reacted instantly, surging toward Maria.
From within the Golden Door, the Primordial Sun trembled. A gigantic hand of blazing plasma emerged, pursuing her.
Meanwhile, the Sands of Time from the Hourglass of Calamity fused into a tremendous titan.
"Huh, those are some fancy toys... I hope you don’t mind if I break them!"
Maria focused intently as the artifacts attacked.
Her eyes closed for a split second.
{Spectral Ghostly Fist Art: Sixth Form – Nightmare Soul Heart}
A black sphere materialized before her.
She grasped it with her right hand.
{Spectral Ghostly Fist Art: Seventh Form – Spectral Nightmare Embodiment}!
The sphere reshaped into a sand hourglass—one formed like half a heart.
Overflowing with Nightmare and Dream Ki, this embodiment channeled the power of someone Maria once represented in Azure Star, the savior of the Nightmare world.
Though she couldn’t replicate its full might, the Time Power within was more than sufficient.
TRUUUM!
The Spectral Nightmare Embodiment clashed against the Chronos Hourglass of Calamity—Time against Time.
The Sand Titan resisted briefly but ultimately crumbled under the pressure of an equal force, corrupted further by Nightmares.
At the same moment, Maria sliced through the gigantic plasma hand and split the Golden Door itself with her Sword Soul Heart.
Maximum output.
SLAAASH!
BOOOM!
Both artifacts exploded under the overwhelming force of Maria’s power and Martial Arts.
To Diomedes’ despair, his Wedding Gifts shattered, their effects completely negated.
"Any last words, hero?"
Maria pointed her Sword Soul Heart at his neck.
Diomedes’ expression softened into a faint smile.
"It was a good fight..."
He accepted his fate.
Maria prepared to behead him.
"No! Wait!"
The Sunlight Blade Damsel rushed forward, standing protectively in front of her future husband, shielding him from the blade.
"Please... please kill me instead! But spare the man I love!"
Tears streamed down her face as she begged Maria for mercy.
"Xiao...!"
Diomedes stared in shock.
"..."
Maria paused, observing the scene.
The couple could not fathom what passed through her mind.
Her gaze took in the young woman’s determination and the man’s despairing eyes fixed on his beloved.
SLASH!
Maria swung her sword without hesitation.
Silence fell.
Xiao and Diomedes’ heads remained attached.
Only a few strands of hair drifted to the ground. Maria’s Sword Soul Heart vanished.
She closed her eyes and flew away, muttering to herself.
"Hm? I missed? Well, I don’t care anymore. What a bunch of boring idiots. If they’re so afraid of dying, they should stay out of my way. Goodbye."
Maria didn’t spare them another glance, leaving them unharmed.
She had spared them.
Xiao and Diomedes stood frozen in shock.
They had truly believed their heads would roll.
"She spared us...?" Diomedes whispered.
"Dear!" Xiao cried, throwing her arms around her future husband.
"Xiao..." Diomedes wept as well, holding her tightly, unwilling to let go. "But why? Why did she spare me? I thought... I thought she was a heartless monster."
"Maybe she isn’t as heartless..." Xiao smiled through her tears. "She also spared my entire family..."
"I... I see..." Diomedes fell silent, watching Maria reunite with her companions. She smiled, laughed, and celebrated with them. "It’s my loss... I cannot face my grandfather anymore. I have brought him nothing but shame."
As he looked down, Xiao suddenly slapped his face.
"X-Xiao?!"
She glared at him furiously through her tears.
"Idiot! Why does that even matter?! Shame?! Honor?! None of it matters if we had died!" she cried. "She gave us a second chance... to live together. We... we don’t have to keep fighting."
Diomedes gently held her hands, realizing the truth in her words. "Oh, my beautiful Xiao... thank you for opening my eyes. You’re right. None of it matters... as long as I have you here with me..."
From a distance, Maria glanced back and rolled her eyes.
She had warned them before.
If they wished to live together, they should stay out of their way.
She would show no mercy if they interfered again.
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