◈ Episode 454. Darkness Falls (3)
I moved back and forth between reality and the Arcana Continent, pursuing my investigation into the strange.
In other words, I did not neglect the news that reached my ears.
And then I returned.
[You are entering the top floor of the Space-Time Social Hall.]
I needed time.
Time to cool my complicated head. After I had so earnestly warned Jesse to stay away from high society, here I was, catching my breath in the Space-Time Social Hall.
‘It seems even your mouth has nothing to say.’
Click.
Instead of making excuses, I took out a teacup.
As always, I filled the cup and steeped a green tea bag.
Even as I waited, my mind did not stop.
‘What a damn mess of a situation.’
The Transcendent, Oxidin.
Having seized Liu Ojunchun’s [Tyrant] crown, he was rampaging in magnificent fashion. It was as expected. Even when he had only been on the level of a player, Liu Ojunchun’s influence had easily surpassed the limits of a player.
‘Whether it was his own ability or his class ability.’
In any case, it was true that he had held a great power like China, a population of over a billion, in the palm of his hand and toyed with it as he pleased. And now that [Tyrant] ability had fallen into the hands of a Transcendent.
The four families, the heads of the households, had reported.
—“Oxidin has tamed a Great Beast.”
Great Beast.
It referred to the monsters that had survived on the Arcana Continent, which had been reduced to ruins. They were creatures that not only demons, but even Demon Kings, could not easily touch.
Naturally, they were ultra-high-level monsters whose levels started at a minimum of 1,000.
—“Among them, there were even Great Beasts that even we did not know of. We believe they may be creatures handed down only as legends from the distant past. For example... something like a Titan.”
Among them were monsters that had been deleted after being swallowed by an ominous sign back when Arcana had been nothing more than a game.
Indeed, he was like a fish in water.
‘Liu Ojunchun was troublesome enough.’
Oxidin was one step worse. In truth, even after witnessing Oxidin’s forces, the heads of the four families were not intimidated in the slightest. To the point that they declared they would wage war against Oxidin if I merely gave the order.
However.
“It would be best to avoid unnecessary turmoil.”
War was always accompanied by sacrifice.
To the point that even the four families had to brace themselves for war.
Oxidin had already secured a large force.
Even if what was currently known was nothing more than his legion of Great Beasts.
‘Just as he recruited the Transcendents.’
There was a high possibility that he had built alliances with other forces beneath the surface.
It meant he had become too large a force to simply trample down one-sidedly.
Some might think that his roots had to be torn out before that force grew even larger.
But the situation did not permit it.
Oxidin was, in the end, nothing more than a stone that had rolled in from elsewhere.
“For emotions born of war become the power of demons.”
My archenemy was, after all, the demons.
Behemoth’s Maw had begun moving once again. According to Gunner, the dwarf pilot monitoring Behemoth’s Maw, its movements were unusual.
Its throat was undulating ceaselessly, as if.
‘As if it is holding back nausea.’
Perhaps the Demon World was already packed full of demon-type monsters.
However, it was still too early to be surprised.
Because bad news had also arrived from the Iron Castle.
—“Commander-in-Chief, we have detected an Evil Dragon.”
Two Evil Dragons at the same time.
The method of purifying an Evil Dragon was simple.
The highest-tier healing magic, 『Proof of Equivalent Exchange』.
One had only to sacrifice one’s life and purify the evil fruit the dragons had swallowed.
‘Well, offering up my life isn’t hard for me.’
Because I had the title, [Last Adventurer].
However, the cooldown was the problem. A full 24 hours in real time. If I purified one Evil Dragon, I could not even think of setting foot on the Arcana Continent for four days in Arcana Continent time.
I knew my place well.
Because I knew my place.
I could also guess the aftermath that would arise from my absence.
Four days.
At a time when, from Behemoth’s Maw,
demons might pour out at any moment, four days...
Nor was this a problem confined to the Arcana Continent.
Breaking news was pouring in from reality in real time as well.
The Evil Eyes of the Ten Thrones that had appeared in reality.
It was likely because of the status abnormality [Corruption] they had caused.
Dmitri of the Shining Guild had died in battle.
It was the first time since the Cataclysm that a top-ranked player had died not inside a rift, but in the middle of a city. They said Dmitri had held back the demon even while his own life or death was uncertain.
—“...Thanks to him, we were able to escape.”
Because Dmitri bought them time.
No greater casualties had occurred.
The senior mages who had been outside the tower had slain the half-blood demon.
I recited.
“Dmitri Malcolm, I will not forget your pride.”
And I must not forget the citizens’ interviews either.
—“The demon clearly asked about Lee Hoyeol...!”
It was not surprising.
Just as I had questions about the Demon World.
How many things must the high-ranking Demon Kings be curious about in reality?
Just as I was wary of you.
It was only natural that you, too, would be wary of me and throw questions my way.
Only, your method was wrong.
A chilling voice flowed out.
“And yet I had been willing to deign to exchange words with you.”
Click.
At that point, I set down the teacup.
Truly, I hated to admit it, but.
Honestly, in this moment, I was not certain what judgment I should make.
‘...Damn it.’
It did not end with the problems mentioned above.
The Primordial Evil, the Seven Deadly Sins’ Pride, and finally Raymond Sean.
Lying in wait.
There was more than one force looking for an opportunity.
In such a situation, I found myself asking a question.
‘...Have I truly been making the best decisions all this time?’
If I had made slightly wiser decisions.
Would Elder Mage Senios not have had to enter eternal rest?
Would Harkon not have lost both his legs?
Would the Emperor of the Empire have remained safe?
Would the players, including Dmitri, have been able to survive?
As expected, perhaps “I” was not enough.
As I said, knowing my place was my specialty.
That was why I, Lee Hoyeol, had not overlooked it.
The reason I had survived and struggled until now.
Was all thanks to Granfell.
So.
Now was the time to make a decision.
I looked at the message.
[Understanding of Darkness (Curse): Greatly increases affinity with suitable magic power. However, you must face the past that serves as the source of that suitable magic power.
- Current affinity with suitable magic power: 40%]
[I Alone Am Supreme Above and Below Heaven (40%): A once-in-a-lifetime genius who blasphemes even the goddess. The talent of Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo is displayed.]
While building up forty percent understanding.
Even if I had learned next to nothing about Granfell.
I could feel it.
The higher the understanding and proficiency rose.
The stronger Granfell’s presence became.
‘If I were to compare it, it would mean I am getting closer to [Blackening].’
Perhaps I had been afraid.
But now, you see.
There was something I feared more than blackening.
Yes. The price that would be brought about by my, Lee Hoyeol’s, misjudgment.
‘Haven’t I said it many times?’
Somehow, the burdens I had shouldered had become many, too many to handle. No matter how I thought about it, there seemed to be only “one person” in the world capable of carrying such burdens.
So I activated [Understanding of Darkness].
Ssssss.
Suitable magic power surged up.
As I was enveloped by that suitable magic power, suddenly, an afterimage flashed past.
Uraia, the rotten shaman swallowed by suitable magic power.
The truth that Granfell was not as merciful as I had thought.
However.
‘Even if everyone in the world says so.’
At the very least, shouldn’t I say otherwise?
I believe.
Even if he is not merciful.
That lofty pride will never break.
No, even if it does break.
‘Because I can change it.’
The effect of Understanding of Darkness does not end with merely witnessing Granfell’s past. It means I can intervene in Granfell’s cruel past and, through the butterfly effect, change even reality.
So no matter what kind of past you have hidden.
No matter how terrible a past it may be.
It’s all right, Granfell.
Because I, who have experienced a cringe-worthy past more than anyone else, know best.
That, in the end, time solves everything.
‘I will not give up on you.’
At last, a message flickered.
[Entering the curse, ‘Understanding of Darkness’.]
*
On the ground, the Holy War Allied Forces.
In the sky, the Iron Castle.
Even by an objective evaluation, their fighting strength was considerable.
“What a fucking shitty situation.”
“Even if the situation is like this, couldn’t you at least soften your language a little?”
“...?”
“That’s right, unni! You should have some dignity now too!”
“Man, this situation is fucking beautiful.”
“...Is that right?”
Leonie checked the message that had been flickering for a while now.
[The Evil Dragon, ‘Swamp Wyvern, Exiles’, appears.]
Leonie, Hisagi, and Nam Taemin had once charged at the Evil Dragon Yunaxus, who had no proper wings and was restraining his malice to an extreme degree, and had ended up indebted to the Magic Tower for quite some time.
And yet.
There was not just one Evil Dragon of an entirely different dimension.
When she raised her head, a shape was approaching the Iron Castle.
[The Evil Dragon, ‘Storm Dragon, Kassandworth’, appears.]
In the end, Leonie failed to soften her language.
“This is fucking insane. We were already about to die from just one, and now there are two? Seriously, do it in moderation, you crazy bastards. Whether it’s the Arcana Continent or reality, please just fuck around on one side!!”
They had received news from reality, including Dmitri’s death.
It was already a situation that left her throat tight because it did not feel like someone else’s story.
And in the middle of that, not one Evil Dragon, but two had popped out.
Bzzzt.
The complicated mechanical device the dwarves had distributed.
To put it simply.
Chainwalker’s voice came through the radio.
—“This was not in the predictions.”
“I know, Chainwalker-nim.”
—“According to the plan, we were supposed to focus our firepower on the one rolling around in the swamp. To think another Evil Dragon would barge in. Was it called the Storm Dragon? Indeed, it is difficult even to keep our balance.”
Nam Taemin raised his greatsword and replied.
“For now, we have no choice but to each take care of one!”
The Evil Dragon subjugation.
The original plan had already gone awry.
Because the one who would put an end to the Evil Dragon subjugation.
Had to be Hoyeol, who could purify the Evil Dragon.
Hisagi calmly revised the plan.
“With the Commander-in-Chief absent right now, we have no means to purify the Evil Dragons. Depending on the situation, we may have no choice but to hunt the Evil Dragons.”
Schreig drew his rapier and added.
“The Swamp Wyvern, Exiles, has already turned one small village into a wasteland. As for the casualties that have occurred... at a rough estimate, they will easily exceed a hundred.”
“What about the one in the sky?”
“We haven’t confirmed it, but if it’s true that it can create storms...”
Rumble.
The eerie air added weight to Schreig’s words.
“It could kill dozens of times that number.”
The saying that a frog dies from a stone thrown thoughtlessly came to mind.
In the distant past, the Arcana Continent had been shaken by the dragons’ playfulness; that had been clearly written in the magic books that recorded the course of the Dragon-Demon War. If such dragons became Evil Dragons and rampaged solely for malice.
‘Just what exactly will happen?’
It was just as Hisagi bit his lip.
“H-Here it comes!! First pattern!!”
Kwa-kwa-kwang.
“...Fuck!”
“The earth shattered?”
“Everyone, recover the wounded!”
There was no exploratory battle.
From the very first attack, its power was beyond daring to imagine.
Once again, they realized.
Yunaxus.
He had been an immeasurably benevolent and great Elder Dragon.
“There’s no way we can manage like this.”
Drip.
Nam Taemin stopped the bleeding from his torn cheek and rose to his feet. The Swamp Wyvern, Exiles. It had merely rolled its body once, and yet the entire area had been smashed beyond recognition.
“...Kuhuk.”
Some members of the Holy War Allied Forces were barely breathing.
Others, buried under the rubble and sprawled out,
were players with neither breath nor movement.
Grit.
[Activating the skill, ‘Berserk’.]
At the same time as it activated, [Wildness] was amplified to an extreme degree.
Nam Taemin had become able to control Berserk. Was that why? The state of the battle appeared all the more coldly to him. As if the leader of a pack of beasts were grasping the battlefield. And Nam Taemin’s wildness was warning him.
‘Even if we win.’
Their allies could not avoid suffering devastating damage.
Nam Taemin thought.
What judgment would the Commander-in-Chief make in this situation?
One thing was certain.
“I’ll take it.”
“What?”
He would surely have shouldered everything alone.
Of course, he himself did not have that kind of ability.
Nam Taemin added.
“I’ll draw aggro.”
“Are you insane?”
“That’s far too dangerous.”
The role of drawing aggro belonged, after all, to tanks with overwhelming defense. But no matter how high a tank’s defense was, could they withstand that blow?
“If I can’t block it, I just have to dodge it.”
“!!!”
He would tank by evasion. He knew better than anyone how dreamlike that sounded, because he had talked about it several times with his brother Cheolmin.
‘If hyung heard this, he’d faint.’
But he had to do it.
Because that was the only way.
Moreover, the battle had already begun.
There was no room to reconcile their differing opinions.
Bang.
Nam Taemin struck the ground with his greatsword.
His body sprang upward from the recoil.
It was the moment he was rushing at fierce speed toward the wyvern in the swamp.
......
Thud.
The Evil Dragon’s enormous head was severed and fell.
At the same time.
In the sky, the Storm Dragon, Kassandworth, began to plummet.
Everything happened in an instant.
An event that occurred when a silver flash shone.
When he turned his head, there was a figure fluttering in midair.
A splendid and antique attire.
Long, flowing silver hair.
But what was most unfamiliar above all.
Nam Taemin’s nose twitched.
“...Hoyeol-ssi?”
Was the unfamiliar scent wafting from the man who bore Hoyeol’s appearance.