Little Tyrant Doesn't Want to Meet with a Bad End Chapter 666.1: The Despairing Truth (1)

Lukas Ackermann, branded humanity's greatest traitor, stood as Roel's ultimate rival in the contest for Sia’s Scepter.

Though this marked their initial encounter, a deep-seated enmity had long existed between them. Even when Roel was a mere nobody, Lukas had already warned Lilian away from him. The reason eluded him then, but it was now crystal clear.

To the unperceptive eye, Lukas appeared entirely human. Yet, through the unique lens of the Crown Origin Attribute, Roel discerned a man veiled in a subtle darkness. At his core pulsed a peculiar 'second heart,' relentlessly drawing in mana.

With each beat of this aberrant organ, a wave of madness emanated from him.

“Is this the source of your apprehension towards me, Lukas Ackermann?” Roel inquired.

“…” Lukas remained silent.

His fingers tightened their hold on the scepter before him, his countenance devoid of any discernible fear. Nevertheless, his 'second heart' began to convulse violently, a stark indication of his imminent action.

Observing this, Roel decided further discourse was futile. He recognized the 'second heart' for what it truly was: a Fallen Brand, undeniable evidence of Lukas's treacherous alliance with the Fallens. This brand was the very means by which he had reached this place, coveting Sia’s Scepter.

The grim reality was undeniable; Roel saw no point in prolonging this exchange. Lukas was an adversary who had to be eliminated, and beyond these walls, soldiers were locked in a desperate struggle against the encroaching Fallens.

He refused to squander even a moment on an undeserving foe. His body began to shimmer as he marshaled his mana, preparing for a decisive strike.

Abruptly, Lukas broke the silence. “Remnant of the Ardes clan, do you not fear damaging this sacred scepter with your combat?”

“Its resilience surpasses your assumptions. Forged by Charles and Carolyn, a desperate gambit to gain time, I presume? Meaning you too have only recently arrived?”

“…” Lukas offered no reply.

This silence confirmed Roel's assessment of the unfolding situation.

Lukas may have reached the imperial capital before them, but his efforts to harness the scepter's mana were apparently faltering, likely due to his lack of true Fallen lineage. Even so, any prolonged period for Lukas to practice his craft would only see his power grow.

Therefore, Roel resolved to conclude this confrontation swiftly.

Conversely, Lukas was far from comfortable with the turn of events. While his power had undoubtedly amplified from absorbing the scepter's mana, he harbored no confidence in facing a scion of the Kingmaker Clan.

Had Roel been delayed by a few days, even if it wasn't sufficient time to fully master the scepter's unfathomable power, it should have been enough for Lukas to ascend as humanity's strongest. Alas, such hypothetical scenarios held no place in reality.

“Grandar!” Roel’s command echoed, and a colossal skeletal titan materialized from the Abyss.

Sensing the inevitability of battle, Lukas narrowed his eyes, his form being enveloped by vast expanses of black fog. Utilizing his Fallen Brand as a conduit, he steadily drew forth the millennia of mana sequestered within Sia’s Scepter, his own power surging in response.

He tore open a rift in space, unleashing over a thousand enchanted blades that streaked forth like a meteor shower.

These myriad swords materialized with such proximity that even Grandar struggled to mount an adequate defense. Yet, Roel remained undeterred.

He channeled potent mana into his Crown’s Stones, unleashing six distinct elemental forces into the vicinity. These ranged from an overwhelming torrent of searing lava and a frost aura that warped the fabric of space itself, to a pale yellow wind capable of atomizing the incoming blades.

The sheer destructive force of the Six Calamities annihilated the hail of magical swords.

“Your capabilities bear a resemblance to Charles’, yet a significant divergence exists,” Roel observed, his gaze fixed on Lukas after neutralizing the initial assault. “Your power leans more towards spatial manipulation. You lack the mastery to truly command these weapons, nor can you replicate legendary armaments from bygone eras.”

“Indeed, but that is of no consequence now. I wield the ultimate weapon,” Lukas retorted, his grip tightening around Sia’s Scepter.

An immense wave of mana churned around him, expanding outwards. He channeled this formidable energy into his Kingdom Origin Attribute, and for the very first time, Sia’s Scepter blazed with light, transforming into a weapon fit for human hands.

Roel felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

Sia’s Scepter was a potent symbol of Sia's dominion, historically enshrined within a sacred temple. It was only ever raised during times of great conflict, prompting first-generation gods from across their domains to pledge their unwavering allegiance as fierce protectors of Sia.

What should have been a divine instrument meant to quell evil had tragically been perverted into a tool for the Fallens.

Divine avatars, manifestations of the gods who had once served Sia, materialized from the radiant glow of Sia’s Scepter. However, warped by the Savior’s descent into madness, these figures were devoid of their inherent justice and wisdom. They moved like unthinking zombies, yet their formidable power was undeniable.

While these divine avatars were shadows of their true potential, they still commanded the might of Origin Level 1 transcendents. As their numbers swelled, the combined pressure became almost unbearable for Roel to endure.

The ancient gods with whom Roel had formed contracts sensed the familiar divine auras, drawing their attention to the unfolding events beyond their realm.

“What… is this…” Edavia murmured, stunned.

“This is dire! You must withdraw immediately!” Peytra urged.

Roel, however, remained resolute. His gaze swept over the approaching adversaries and then to the oppressive, pitch-black ceiling above. He understood that retreat was not an option for himself or for humanity. It was a fight for survival.

Lukas had initiated his full assault from the outset, finding his absorption of the Savior’s mana progressing too slowly. His desperation mounted; he needed to either vanquish Roel or force his withdrawal to secure the time required to achieve godhood.

Should Roel retreat now, it was highly probable he would be no match for Lukas in a future encounter. Consequently, Roel resolved to confront and defeat Lukas in this very moment.

Meanwhile, Lukas continued to summon more divine avatars through Sia’s Scepter. These avatars pulsed in unison, their combined powers weaving together to form a colossal spell.

“It’s a Divine Forbidden Spell! You absolutely cannot let them finish it!” Peytra shrieked in alarm.

Roel’s eyes widened at the mention of a ‘Divine Forbidden Spell’. He knew immediate action was paramount; failure meant utter annihilation.

Divine Forbidden Spells represented a superior echelon of army spells, necessitating the coordinated channeling of multiple deities to execute. Such incantations were devastatingly potent, capable of eradicating entire races. If the divine avatars succeeded in completing their spell, not only Roel but also his allies fighting in the heavens above would be erased from existence.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Roel unleashed the totality of his power. His Crown Origin Attribute blazed with an unparalleled intensity, the Stones of his Crown emitting resplendent lights that converged into a singular, powerful luminescence. His dark hair lengthened, shifting to a stark white, while his eyes ignited with golden flames.

The immense power of Sia-fication surged through Roel, suffusing Grandar’s colossal form and enshrouding the skeletal titan in a sacred radiance.

“A Divine Forbidden Spell? Impressive, but it’s quite foolish of you to think you can simply cast me aside, Lukas. After trampling over countless innocent lives, do you truly believe I would permit your escape from judgment and allow you to achieve your aim?” Roel scoffed, his voice laced with seething fury.

From his very inception, Lukas Ackermann had been bestowed with humanity’s highest privileges. He had reaped every benefit of his existence as a human, yet he harbored no remorse in betraying his own kind. He had slaughtered his devoted subjects merely to facilitate his teleportation to the imperial capital. And now, he sought to pilfer humanity’s last bastion of hope for his own selfish ambitions.

Lukas’s transgressions were beyond absolution. Nothing in existence could cleanse him of his sins. Thus, his demise was an absolute necessity.

The power of the Divine Forbidden Spell continued to build, its energy swelling ominously.

Concealed within his shroud of black mist, Lukas remained indifferent to Roel’s presence. The divine avatars formed a protective cordon around him, their lips moving in arcane chants as they funneled all their mana into a singular, devastating spell.

In stark contrast, Grandar’s immense frame had transformed into a resplendent white. A fragment of a crown descended from the heavens, settling upon his head and solidifying into a golden diadem. A tranquil, sunset-drenched plain materialized within the Abyss, from which countless colossal warriors unleashed defiant roars directed at Lukas.

Grandar then raised his head, his gaze fixed upon the approaching divine avatars. With unwavering resolve, he launched his fist forward.

Simultaneously, the Divine Forbidden Spell, meticulously channeled by the divine avatars, erupted in a blinding flash of primordial light that instantly consumed the entire Abyss. This was a spell drawing upon the collective might of the twelve original chief gods, known by the name ‘Absolute Judgment’.

Absolute Judgment stood as one of the paramount spells of the ancient epoch and was regarded as the genesis of all army spells. The verdict rendered by the twelve chief gods commanded absolute compliance from all beings.

Even a divine being would have been utterly annihilated in the face of Absolute Judgment.

Yet, Roel faced the approaching Absolute Judgment with an unshakeable calm, unfazed by its terrifying might. Regardless of its power, this was merely a diminished manifestation cast by a group of false gods. A true deity like Grandar would never succumb to such a force.

The surge of primordial light cascaded violently towards Grandar, akin to a tempestuous torrent seeking to dislodge an unyielding boulder. However, one who had vanquished even the supreme Savior in ages past would never bow to a mere assembly of counterfeit deities.

With devastating lightning and flames concentrated at the fore of his fist, Grandar finally released his punch, unleashing a catastrophic force that tore through even the primordial light. The divine avatars initially thought little of the Giant Sovereign, who had only come into existence countless years after their era, but shock and horror filled their faces now that they were faced with his fist of absolute might. Lukas, who stood amidst the divine avatars’ protection, couldn’t believe what was happening, but it was too late for him to do anything. With his almighty strength brought to greater heights through Roel’s enhancements, Grandar tore through the Divine Forbidden Spell and reduced all of the summoned divine avatars to dust. An explosion broke out in the underground temple. The surroundings shook, and dust fell from the ceiling. With the disintegration of the divine avatars, the light of Sia’s Scepter dimmed. Lukas kneeled on the ground with a pale face, having overexerted himself. “It’s over now,” Roel calmly proclaimed. He raised his hand to slay the overambitious emperor once and for all, but just as he was about to make his move, there was a sudden change in the situation. “How disappointing. You hardly lasted more than a moment,” a voice suddenly echoed in the Abyss. For the first time, Lukas’ impassiveness shattered to reveal a look of disbelief. Through the Crown Origin Attribute, Roel noticed a hint of instability in Lukas’ Fallen Brand. Without any warning, the Savior’s mana suddenly gushed out of Lukas’ body, and along with it, a familiar figure came into view. Roel immediately heightened his vigilance. It was his long-time nemesis—the Collector.