Though Morpheus had bisected Voban, he knew the Campione wasn't dead.
Voban possessed a unique Authority.
Black Dragon of the Underworld.
Usurped from Inanna, the ancient Mesopotamian earth goddess.
His soul could separate from his body, transforming into a thirty-meter-long black dragon.
This spiritual dragon could overpower other divine beasts single-handedly.
Its maw unleashed flames powerful enough to incinerate most substances.
By performing a death-evoking ritual, Voban could rip out his heart, moving through the underworld to the boundary of life and death.
The dragon-snake's immortality ensured his soul's indestructibility, allowing his body to regenerate even if destroyed.
If his human body was reduced to ash, he could expend vast amounts of curse power to revive fully, though it wouldn't recover for one to two months.
In this false-death state, his body was defenseless, making the Authority's primary use protective.
Thus, when Morpheus cleaved Voban's body, his soul emerged, immediately activating this Authority.
"Open, gates of the underworld. I shall enter the domain of Ereshkigal, sister of the earth mother, queen of the underworld, and transcend life and death. Witness… the resurrection of Inanna, the dragon-snake underworld king!"
His soul transformed into a massive black dragon, spewing flames hotter than the sun's surface at Morpheus.
Morpheus didn't flinch. With a flick of his finger, he unleashed another invisible slash, bisecting the flames.
The fire fell around him, igniting the ground, threatening to consume the mountain.
The mikos on the platform sweated profusely, their loose robes clinging to their bodies, revealing their figures.
Truth be told, most of these mikos had stunning physiques—curvaceous, save for a few who were less endowed.
Morpheus exhaled, unleashing a gust of wind and frost that instantly extinguished the flames.
Seeing this, Voban's dragon form charged again.
But before it could reach Morpheus, it was sliced apart by hundreds of invisible slashes.
The dragon was reduced to uniform fragments.
Yet its immortality allowed it to regenerate from its soul state.
Morpheus, undeterred, summoned Hellfire, a flame targeting souls—perfect for Voban's current state.
Voban wasn't foolish. Seeing the Hellfire, he knew the fight was lost. With a deafening roar, he fled toward the sky.
"Trying to run? Nothing's that easy," Morpheus said.
He snapped his fingers, and a massive barrier enveloped the dragon.
A technique Morpheus had learned from Masamori Sumimura's group at the Dark Tournament.
Highly convenient.
Trapped, Voban couldn't escape. Morpheus transformed the Hellfire into a spear and hurled it.
Whoosh!
The spear vanished midair, reappearing inside the barrier, piercing the dragon.
The Hellfire ravaged Voban's soul, eliciting agonized screams.
AAAAAAAAH!
Soon, his soul was burned to ash.
Thus, the oldest Campione, Marquis Voban, met his end.
After dealing with Voban, Morpheus turned to Hachiman, who was using healing magic to mend his wounds, slowly rising.
Morpheus nodded approvingly, dispelled the barrier, and said, "Next time you fight, don't hold back like an idiot. Always finish the job. That's crucial."
Had Hachiman not shown mercy and pursued Voban relentlessly, he wouldn't have been counterattacked.
The boy was too green.
Hachiman smiled awkwardly, nodding. "I'll remember, Lord Morpheus."
This lesson was profound. Without Morpheus's intervention, the consequences would've been dire.
Morpheus trusted Hachiman wouldn't repeat the mistake.
"You're awake. I'll leave this to you. I'm off."
With a wave, Morpheus teleported away, vanishing.
He left Hachiman alone with the stunned mikos.
…
Days later, news of Voban's death spread worldwide, shocking countless people.
Even more surprising? The one who killed him wasn't a Campione.
It was an unknown figure, sparking global curiosity.
Campiones were near-invincible. How could one be killed?
Who was this mysterious person?
Many were intrigued by Morpheus, but few dared approach him. His strength in defeating Voban proved he could crush others just as easily.
Until they knew his temperament, few risked contact.
Soon, information about Morpheus surfaced.
Especially among Japan's government elite.
His profile was simple: an ordinary student who suddenly gained immense power.
It sounded like a Campione's origin story.
Most Campiones started as ordinary people, ascending overnight by slaying a god.
Yet Morpheus wasn't a Campione, which was baffling.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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