Digitize: Rebirth of the Silver Death God
Chapter 151: Battling Crooked, An Unknown Helper

Within the core of the Labyrinth of Horrors, inside of a black dome of ominous energies, a startling battle was underway between a disfigured hunchback lifeform and a young silver-haired youth who held onto a menacing green scythe.

With a series of resonant booms, both clashed against each other, causing miniature craters to form in various dark domain areas, whether by odd spells or sharp arcs of blade energy cut from the edge of the youth's weapon.

"Myriad Spector Clones!"

Nero's voice sounded as his body split into three ghostly shadows that assault Crooked from all angles at high speeds. Instantly, the ghostly shadows swiped their scythes, causing a series of baleful arcs of lights to shoot across the void.

Ting-ting-ting!

Following a collection of collision noises as sparks scattered about the field, both figures bounced backward from the air, making a twisting motion as they flipped back and fell on the cracked floor. Upon landing, they slid backward for a meter's distance before regaining their balance.

Crooked, who used his wooden staff that gleamed like metal to parry some of the clone's attacks, jumped backward, narrowly avoiding the surprise attacks from those that flanked him by utilizing his superior speed. His figure occasionally swayed left to right as he danced around Nero's onslaught, which left scars onto the earth, and the dark domain's environment.

One particular baleful ray of light smashed against the black walls that surrounded them, forming a small crack that soon after returning to normal as if no change occurred. However, this little detail didn't sweep past Nero's eyes, forcing his clones to halt as he narrowed his eyes with a thoughtful look on his face.

Suddenly, with a kick of his feet, Crooked pushed himself backward by a distance of a few meters as he stared at Nero.

"Oho, such an excellent technique, but I can sense that your true form is still within the bounds of reality; allow me to show you the true definition of a ghost."

Crooked snickered at this before he decided to respond to Nero's prior onslaught; his figure retreated with his robes flapping wildly due to the rapid winds.

'This feeling... it feels so familiar...'

Nero thought as he stared at the odd energies flowing from Crooked's body; he didn't dare to let his guard down and gripped his scythe even tighter, his ghostly clones spreading out once more, preparing to outmaneuver his enemy.

Nevertheless, despite Nero's swift actions, Crooked reacted even faster. He twirled his staff before pointing it forward to hit the air; a spooky energy flowed from his body, hitting the area that the tip of his staff's faced before created a ripple of power.

"Cursed Souls..."

Crooked's voice sounded through the dark zone as the ripples that spread outwards soon after started to change; they conjured together in multiple areas forming portals soon after, followed by the gut-wrenching cries of odd lifeforms.

Nero stared at the portals with a cold glint in his eyes, others wouldn't be able to see any difference, but due to his glowing Reapers Eyes, he could clearly see a new threat.

A squad of ghosts, garbed in ancient medieval wear with strings binding them to the ominous portals, screamed in pain and anger as if they lost all reason, each glaring at Nero before charging towards each of his clones with incredible speeds.

"Haha, boy, you're skillful, but even skill won't help you against my army of unkillable souls! Get him!"

Crooked said with a victorious laugh, as he stared at Nero with his glowing staff pointed forward as he controlled the souls. He was expecting to see Nero show a look of panic on his face, but soon, he frowned as he saw that Nero remained calm.

'Hmm, what's going on here? Is he capable of fighting my ghosts?'

Crooked was puzzled as to why Nero remained at ease, feeling a bad feeling he wanted to do something for insurance, but it would seem that it was too late.

Nero had a faint smile on his face as he muttered softly, "Sorry to say, but I don't fear ghosts... Bind!"

Following Nero's shout, he held up his arm with his Judgement Cuffs, sending out a series of chains coated by silver magic power.

Instantly, these chains bound each of the ghosts, which continued to squeak and shriek in agony; Nero stared at them with a somewhat pitiful look as he spoke again.

"Return to peace..."

Following his words, his clones rapidly moved and slashed out a series of scythe attacks, which cut apart the strings binding the ghosts. Following this change, the ghosts' eyes that were previously out of reason soon returned to normal.

They gave Nero an appreciative look before glaring at Crooked a moment before they faded into oblivion.

Crooked looked at this with a shocked expression, his face showing a tinge of anger as he recalled how hard it was to gather those lifeforms. He glared at Nero and shouted, "You darn brat, how dare you free my slaves? How did you do it?"

Nero snickered as his clones returned to his main body; he angled himself for battle once more as he replied, "That's none of your business."

"Is it now? Hmph! Since you're like this, then once the master is finished with you, I'll have all of eternity to work out my answers. Slowly, I will break both your mind and your spirit... hehe..."

Crooked said as he glared at Nero, who stood with his style angled at his side, his torso leaned forward with one foot before him, and his other positioned to the side.

He lowered his posture so low that it seemed that his face was moments from touching the floor; he then licked his big ugly lips with a tinge of battle lust in his large and small eyes as he held onto the wooden staff as if it were a sword.

Currently, Nero's silverly magic power was flowing even more abundantly as if he was preparing to unleash even more strength. His eyes were gleaming in a sharp ray as he glared at his enemy while in thought.

'He's a lot more troublesome than I'd thought; his battle experience is vastly superior to myself, as such, even though my strength is a notch above his due to the boost from my equipment, I can't easily defeat him.'

As if someone heard his thoughts, a voice sounded at the core of his mind.

"Correct, you are stronger, but the opponent has more experience; he's likely been alive for many years. The fact that you can fight him is already an incredible feat; besides, this shouldn't be his full strength. If my hunch is correct, he should be more than capable of achieving a power closer to that of a Quasi-Greater Realm."

'What? Are you sure?'

Nero inwardly asked his older self with a stern expression.

Adult Nero remains silent, taking his silence as an answer, Nero showed a grim look on his face, feeling that the situation was only going to grow more troublesome. He glanced towards the side, gazing at the black walls that shrouded them from the outside; his eyes glowed in a greenish light allowing him to see the details on it outside. Still, when he saw the new scene, an image of a young girl that had appeared within the ranks of Elly's group, he showed a look of surprise as he thought to himself.

'This... who is she?'

Adult Nero naturally knew whom he was referring, for he too could see others' soul imprints, staring at the bright soul amongst the others; he couldn't help but show a look of contemplation as he responded.

"It seems you might have chanced upon a powerful helper."

Nero, hearing his older's self's words, made a curious look, but after a short while, he paid no more attention to it, as he knew that the enemy before him was no foe to take lightly. The scene here turning grim once more as the battle continued...