Lord of Annihilation

"Stop it."

The gazes of the innumerable corpses immediately left their ruler and turned towards the wave of extinction. Seeing that wave approach ever closer to their ruler's territory, their gazes hardened and their bodies began to move.

The corpses on the land immediately started to run towards the wave uncaring of what or who was in their path. Numerous smaller corpses were immediately crushed by the large ones, while the larger ones were crushed by mountainous ones. 

The ground beneath their feet trembled as tens…no, hundreds of millions of corpses stepped over each other and rushed towards the border of their World. 

While the land creatures caused a stampede on their way towards the border, the aerial creatures had it better. As long as a creature possessed wings and was capable of flight, it soared to the skies and headed towards the borders.

While their appearances varied and the completeness of their corpses differed, it did not matter. 

Their Ruler had given them the order to stop that wave. 

And stop that wave, they shall!

While we wait for the wave to reach Lucius' Boundary and for the corpses to reach the wave, here's a little question.

How does one combat an unstoppable force?

In theory, this wasn't truly possible. In reality, however, there were two ways.

One was to erect an immovable barrier. The force upon meeting this barrier would be hindered and a battle of attrition between which side possessed the greater energy would pursue.

The second, more barbaric approach was to keep throwing objects at the unstoppable force, wasting its energy and expending its momentum. This process was to continue until either the force runs out of…well, force or the objects run out of their numbers.

Why is this discussion relevant?

Well, the attack from Willem can be considered as an unstoppable wave of destruction from a certain perspective. It wouldn't come to an end until it has laid waste to everything that remains on its path and runs out of energy.

Facing this attack, Earnest had decided to use the first method. He constructed a wall of equal energy to the wave, thus nullifying its violence.

Lucius, on the other hand, chose option two. 

In other words, he was planning to throw his army of corpses at the wave of destruction until it ran out of energy.

As for the matter of running out of corpses…need I explain?

This was Lucius' Mental World! 

Everything within was an artificial construct that was created from his Rules and soul power. As such, for as long as Lucius possessed sufficient soul power, he could keep infinitely creating these corpses!

Back to the battlefield…

Just as the Solar Extinction Wave reached the Boundary of Lucius' World and crashed against it, the first corpses also reached the same.

This corpse belonged to a mere human. And if one were to look closely at its decaying countenance, they would realize its identity to belong to an old friend.

It was Luther! (AN: Refer Chapter 3)

This corpse, having a gaping hole on its chest and decaying skin covering its body was the first to reach the wave by virtue of being the closest to the Boundary.

And having reached it first, the corpse, without an ounce of unwillingness or hesitation (not that it could have either of these things), threw itself towards the wave.

Of course, with its meager body and non-existent power, it lasted for less than an instant before evaporating into nothingness.

However, that did not matter since it was just the start.

After Luther's selfless sacrifice, came another…and another…and another… and another…

Endlessly.

The Extinction Solar Wave managed to make it a few inches past Lucius' Boundary before meeting its match in the form of a humungous Titan. This creature, whose body extended hundreds of kilometers into the air, was a juvenile when compared to other members of its kind. 

However, against this meager attack from a lowly Stage 4 entity, it was enough.

The instant that the young Titan crashed against the wave, the wall of blinding, immeasurably hot energy faltered and was being pushed back. For his efforts, the young Titan paid in kind as large chunks of his corpse started to disappear after being burnt by that destructive energy.

However, once again, it did not matter.

For when the Titan faltered, a Dragon replaced him. When the dragon fell, a hundred Giants replaced it. And when the Giants disappeared, innumerable others threw themselves into the flames.

It was a brutal sight, and from where Lucius floated he could see this clearer than any other.

However, there wasn't a trace of empathy within his eyes.

There was only indifference and boredom.

"Move faster," Lucius impatiently mumbled, and a change immediately occurred.

The crimson-colored ground immediately started to bubble, creating red-colored gaseous smoke. This smoke was then absorbed into the bodies of the corpses, immediately enlivening them and increasing their sturdiness.

Now, instead of an instant, the powerless humanoid could last for a millionth of a second. While this did not count for much individually, when the millions of humanoid and other alike creatures were taken into consideration, this time immediately grew.

A single second…three seconds…ten seconds…by the time the timer had hit one full minute, the Solar Extinction Wave which had been held at the borders of Lucius' World was extinguished.

The cost? A few hundred million corpses. 

However, when converted into soul power expenditure, the number came down to a mere 19%.

19% of his soul power to stop a full-powered attack from an entity, who was an entire small realm above him.

Lucius couldn't have had a more resounding victory than this if he tried to.

Bringing his hands together, Lucius softly spoke, "My turn." He then snapped his fingers.

Instantly, the innumerable corpses that stood with their heads slumped at the edges of the border immediately raised their heads and looked at the differently colored World beyond their own. 

Raising their feet, they leaned forward, and firmly put it down into the purplish-green land. And with that very same motion, the monochromatic, colorless world of Lucius expanded by just a little bit and intruded into the purplish-green territory.

In the far distance, Willem, who had been preparing to run away after sending that attack, immediately stopped his flight and held his head. Opening his mouth, he let out an inhuman scream.

"ARGHHH!!!"

Within his head, the very edge of his Mental World, the part which bordered with Lucius', immediately collapsed and disappeared forever. 

In other words, Lucius had crushed his Boundary, overpowered his Rules, and was invading his territory. Were he to succeed in fully invading his territory, Willem's Mental World would collapse and disappear forever, killing him in the process.

"ARGHH!! STOP IT!! STOP IT!!!" 

Assaulted by unimaginable pain, Willem's let out a pig-like squeal. Removing the hands clutching his blood-soaked head, he brought them before his chest and started channeling the next attack.

"PILLARS OF ANNIHILATION! DIE!!" 

Another series of light columns appeared within his World and headed towards Lucius. The destructive energy contained within each of these light columns was only slightly lesser than that previous wave attack.

Just from a single glimpse, it was evident that this attack was one of Willem's trump cards; an attack that would allow him to evenly fight against a Peak-Level Stage 4 existence and even push them back.

Though, it was a little unfortunate. Of all the people in all the Universe, Willem had met with the one person who wielded the 'actual' power of Annihilation.

"Annihilation? What a joke," Lucius openly scoffed upon hearing its name and seeing the attack. 

Extending his hand, he reached into his shadow and pulled out a long, grim-looking scythe. Holding it with both his hands, Lucius glanced at the pillars heading towards him and moved.

"[Fourth Movement: Obliterate]"

The scythe fell and summoned ghosts, each of their bodies chockfull of [Annihilation Energy], headed towards the pillars. Crashing their bodies against these hundreds of kilometers long columns, they exploded and released the energy contained within their bodies.

[Annihilation Energy] spread out in an instant and the columns of light disappeared into nothingness.

In the distance, Willem, having faced another direct loss, threw up another mouthful of blood. The pain inside his head intensified and the feeling of ominousness within his heart suddenly peaked in intensity.

Feeling a wave of energy that absolutely did not belong within the realm of Stage 4, Willem saw an attack that tore the heaven and the earth in its path. 

That was the final sight that Willem saw.