Chapter 229: Chapter 229

“Surrender. If not… I’ll kill you.”

Ian aimed his royal sword at Leon’s neck, but Leon merely smiled.

“Really, this is quite amusing. Truly entertaining.”

Despite being drenched in blood, Leon beamed as if nothing were wrong. Ian frowned at the sight.

“You killed your own men with your own hands. What’s so funny about that?”

It was only natural for Ian to say this; he had witnessed it firsthand.

‘The moment Leon waved his hand, all the subordinates charging toward him exploded.’

Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, the result of Leon’s own actions. The only one who remained unscathed was Ian.

‘Thankfully, I managed to block it just in time with the cloak. Otherwise, I’d be drenched in blood too.’

It seemed to be asking for praise for reacting so quickly. Ian gently patted the cloak.

‘Well done. But that’s not the issue right now.’

Ian shifted his gaze forward—toward the enemy before him. Leon’s blood-soaked eyes were changing.

“Really, I don’t get it. Why is it that things always go wrong because of you?”

Leon glanced at the pool of blood where his subordinates had once stood.

“They were foolish. But they were necessary for relocating this place. Now they are just a pool of blood.”

“And you’re the one who turned them into that.”

“Ah, I know. Even if they were stupid, who would’ve thought they’d turn on their master?”

“Turn on you? Who did?”

Ian’s voice was filled with disbelief.

“You killed those who were desperate to earn your favor, and that’s how you talk about them?”

“I have no use for disobedient dogs who ignore their master’s orders. Naturally, they had to die.”

“Unbelievable… You really can’t be reasoned with.”

Ian shook his head and raised his sword.

“If words won’t reach you, then fists will.”

A fierce killing intent surged within him, as if he were ready to charge at any moment. However, Ian didn’t rush forward. Instead, he quietly whispered to the helmet of the First King.

‘What are that guy’s abilities?’

[Greed steals the abilities of enemies, and Lust breaks the enemy’s will to attack.]

‘But just a moment ago, people’s bodies exploded. Could it be another one of the Seven Sins?’

The helmet pondered for a moment. While other Seven Sins had abilities that resulted in similar outcomes, there was no power capable of causing such destruction with mere gestures and without physical contact.

[To think so many bodies could explode from just one motion… and no bombs were planted beforehand.]

Still, there was one possible explanation.

[Past wielders of Greed and Lust never displayed this kind of power. However… I suspect it may be Lust.]

The helmet was serious. Originally, the power of Lust affected the opponent’s mind. It was never supposed to cause such overwhelming destruction. If that were the case…

[The body affects emotion, and emotion affects the body. If Greed is used to amplify Lust…]

‘Then if the mind collapses, the body will shatter as well?’

[Exactly. That’s why you’re unharmed.]

Ian’s mind was protected by Faith and the Seven Virtues, which allowed him to endure Lust’s influence. But that wasn’t the main issue now.

[Be careful! He’s moving!]

Leon elegantly reached out his hand toward Ian, mimicking the very motion he had made when he killed his subordinates moments earlier. At that instant…

A powerful wave, thick with a strange scent, surged toward Ian. For a moment, his legs buckled.

His eyes lost focus. Leon no longer looked like a half-brother—or even an enemy. Ian’s vision narrowed, as if he were falling in love.

[Snap out of it, Ian!]

The helmet’s voice cut through the fog in his mind. Ian’s gaze trembled. He quickly slashed his own leg with the royal sword.

Blood gushed out. But the sharp pain brought him back to reality.

He gasped for air. Though only moments had passed, the fatigue felt like he’d endured an eternity. Ian wiped away his cold sweat.

“So this is Lust… That was dangerous.”

He had assumed his protection was enough.

‘I never imagined it could break through Faith and the Seven Virtues… and manipulate my heart.’

More accurately, he had been consumed by a sudden, irrational urge to follow Leon—to the point that he’d lowered his own mental defenses. If the helmet hadn’t intervened, he might have given in completely.

“So the earlier, weaker attack… was it a trap? To make me let my guard down?”

At his words, Leon smirked.

“Would I really need tricks like that… for someone like you?”

“But you did survive. Let’s see how you handle this.”

Leon crossed his arms and raised his head arrogantly. In that moment, Lust within him ignited—stronger than ever before.

It was like fire. A radiant light erupted from Leon, filling the underground passage that had long been cloaked in darkness. The helmet shouted urgently:

[This is dangerous! Get out of there—now!]

Even with the protection of Faith and the Seven Virtues, this might be too much.

[I… I exist to serve… that person…]

Even the helmet, a mere object, trembled in its resolve. Its voice faltered, as though it was ready to abandon Ian and recognize Leon as its new master.

Ian plunged the royal sword into the ground. In an instant, a powerful shockwave radiated outward, blocking the force emanating from Leon. However, this was merely a temporary fix.

“You think that’ll stop me?” Leon sneered.

With a fierce gaze, Leon intensified his power. The force grew so strong that even the royal sword could barely withstand it. At that moment, the sword trembled, but Ian’s resolve ignited even further.

“That’s only true if I stay still.”

Ian’s entire body shook violently. Unlike Leon, who radiated brightly with the power of Lust, Ian was now cloaked in dark flames. In that moment, the Lust rushing toward Ian suddenly shifted.

Leon flinched. The overpowering Lust targeting Ian scattered in all directions. But it wasn’t over.

“Let’s see how you taste your own medicine!”

Gripping the royal sword tightly, Ian unleashed a powerful burst of energy. The Lust that had once surged toward him now reversed course—rushing straight back at Leon.

Leon tried to block the returning energy, but his body began to glow red-hot. The Lust within him spiraled out of control, as if he were being consumed by his own power. Gritting his teeth, he barely managed to suppress it.

“Did you not see what happened to your own men?”

“Impressive, little brother.”

Leon’s eyebrows twitched. Jealousy, like Lust, was a power that manipulated others’ emotions.

‘But unlike Lust, which acts as a one-way force, Jealousy can redirect that emotion elsewhere.’

It was a power that should have belonged to Leon long ago, but he had never claimed it. Nevertheless, he knew that this power would ultimately become his. So, Leon concealed his greed and responded.

“My power doesn’t end there.”

New light surged from Leon’s body. It was Greed. Gaping maws, like ravenous jaws that consumed everything except themselves, emerged into view.

The maws hovering near Leon charged toward Ian. Ian raised his hand as well.

A giant black dragon surged into the air, clashing with the devouring maws. The impact rang out like the sky was being torn apart, forcing both Ian and Leon to fall back slightly—an evenly matched battle between two monstrous forces.

The giant black dragon bit into the maws.

Some of the maws that had evaded the attacks attached themselves to the black dragon’s body and sank their teeth into him. It was a peculiar relationship of eating and being eaten. Although the black dragon seemed to have the upper hand at first, the tide of battle suddenly turned in favor of the maws.

The maws began devouring the parts of the dragon it couldn’t protect in time. The black dragon had no choice but to howl in pain from the attacks.

As the maws consumed the black dragon, they grew larger. It was as if they were absorbing the power of the black dragon, increasing in both size and number. But the black dragon didn’t just sit back and take it.

It was no ordinary dragon. True to its name, Fury, the more it was attacked, the larger the black dragon became. It almost seemed enraged by its opponent’s petty tricks. The now even more powerful black dragon clashed with the maws. As they continued to devour each other, neither side showed any signs of stopping. Leon twisted his lips into a smirk.

“This… won’t end easily.”

That was only natural. The powers Ian and Leon wielded—the Seven Sins—were locked in a cycle, each countering the other.

‘Lust is blocked by Jealousy, and Greed cannot stop Fury.’

But the reverse also held true.

“Jealousy can’t fully erase Lust. Fury can’t completely destroy Greed,” Leon said calmly.

In the end, it was a battle that would endlessly repeat. They couldn’t deliver lethal blows to each other. But Ian simply smiled.

“Maybe. But dragging it out works in my favor.”

“Because I’m not the only one here!”

At Ian’s cry, Galon and Nathan rushed in from behind.

“We’ve arrived, my lord!”

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The two quickly stood behind Ian. Even though a fierce battle of power was ongoing, the two knights knew they could win if they caught their opponent off guard. But they weren’t alone.

“Do you think the Second Prince’s army outside is just sitting around? By now, they’ve likely set explosives above!”

“No matter how powerful the Seven Sins are, you’re not escaping this place.”

At Ian’s words, Leon frowned.

“That would apply to you as well, wouldn’t it?”

Ian had already escaped once through the underground passage using the power of Fury. Unlike Greed, which fed on others’ strength, Fury had a physical form—capable of breaking through anything, no matter how deeply it was buried. Leon sighed.

“You really do ruin all my plans.”

“If you know that, why not just surrender? Let’s end this pointless fight.”

Despite the ongoing clash between Greed and Fury behind him, Ian stepped forward slowly. The royal sword in his hand gleamed sharply, as if it could pierce Leon at any moment. But Leon shook his head.

“I refuse. I still have unfinished business.”

He stomped his foot against the ground.

At his words, a woman emerged from his shadow.

Her body quickly shifted, transforming into a black oval. Through it, a blizzard-ravaged mountain came into view—a portal straight out of legend. Ian shouted in urgency.

“You’re running away, Leon?”

“Running away? That doesn’t suit me. Let’s just say… there are more important matters than you.”

“That’s what losers always say!”

“It’s not an excuse. Soon, the Seven Sins will become one. It’s an inevitability no one can stop.”

“And when that time comes, you’ll offer that power to me yourself.”

Leon slowly walked toward the portal. Ian raised the royal sword, ready to throw it. But before he could—

“Still, it’d be pathetic to leave without saying goodbye. Let me offer you a parting gift.”

Leon’s gaze shifted to the two knights behind Ian.

Galon instantly blocked the incoming energy with his Invincibility. But Nathan wasn’t as fortunate.

He took the full brunt of Lust’s power. Ian was startled and tried to rush over to him, but…

“Until next time, little brother. Though next time… will likely be your end.”

Leon vanished through the portal.

“Prince… Ian. I will kill you!”

Nathan charged at Ian, eyes blazing with murderous rage. He was not simply someone tainted by Lust; he was a person truly consumed by rage.

“I gave you my loyalty… and you said I was neither your right hand nor your left! After everything I did for you—after everything—I’ll never forgive you!”

Galon tried to intercept him, but Nathan activated Swiftness and slipped past him, closing in on Ian.

Ian let out a tired sigh and raised the royal sword.

“Sir Nathan, you really…”

He spoke calmly as Nathan charged.

“You are definitely neither my right hand… nor my left.”

Those were the magic words.

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