◈ Episode 479. Innate Evil (1)
The eastern Arcana Continent.
Players who had discerned the prototype rifts revealed themselves.
Nam Taemin, Hisagi, Leoni.
The atmosphere of the trio was markedly different from before.
Marcello observed the three and spoke.
"The seeds His Grace sowed are bearing fruit."
They would move organically depending on the situation.
Just as planned at the Holy War Allied Forces' meeting.
Marcello, the Tower Master, had been surveying the situation.
The reason he had headed to the eastern continent was simple.
It was because he had judged it to be the most vulnerable to the Grand Monster's advance.
But at this rate...
"His Grace trusted their potential from early on. Yet I ended up underestimating their capabilities. As expected, it is His Grace, not I, who deserves the seat of Tower Master...."
In the moment Marcello was unintentionally reflecting.
Guoooo.
Mana swelled beside him.
Soon, a black form revealed itself.
It was Matisse Din Carl, Senior of the Black Demonic Arts.
"You have come, Tower Master."
"Senior Matisse."
"My, this is truly astonishing."
Matisse, who rarely showed emotional agitation.
Even he couldn't help but be surprised by the scene unfolding before him. Even he, who had devoted himself to the exploration of the Mystery at the Chief's orders, had spent considerable time breaking through the incomplete rifts.
"To think they would see through the trap faster than I."
A whopping three adventurers had returned to the battlefield before him and were blocking the Grand Monster's path. Marcello raised his mana and asked Matisse:
"I was surprised as well. However, if one considers that the Chief's care is finally beginning to bear fruit, it is nothing to wonder about. So, Senior Matisse, what was the landscape like inside the rift?"
At the same time, Matisse's mana surged in kind.
"I came to understand why the former Elder Wizard, Sir Yugwid, disappeared. Leaving aside strength or manifestation power, it was a rift where one could not even proceed without an understanding of 'Mystery.'"
Labyrinths, rifts, marvels, adequate levels, and so on...
Matisse had been able to discern the rifts because he was well-versed in the system of the Arcana Continent Chronicle. It was thanks to possessing a level of knowledge not much different from the players.
"Then...."
Marcello made a judgment.
At this moment, the Arcanians caught in the rifts.
Among them, those who could discern the rifts through their own power.
Would likely not even number ten.
Therefore, the best course of action was clear.
"First, we must eliminate the cause and think afterward."
The cause that had altered the field and generated the rifts.
He would slay the Grand Monsters—them.
Marcello, the Tower Master of the present era.
And from the past.
Matisse, who had once competed with him for the Chief's seat, joined him in a combined attack.
Kwakwakwakwang!
[The Grand Monster, 'Specter of Lunarim,' is afflicted with 'Stun.']
Thanks to that, a welcome message appeared.
"!!!"
However, Nam Taemin, Hisagi, and Leoni.
Rather than rejoice, the three responded with action.
It was more instinct than intention. 'I must not forget this feeling.' The sensation of entering the domain of Mystery.
They had to make this sensation last as long as possible.
They felt it needed to be etched into their flesh.
Only then would the door of Mystery not close again.
Thud.
Their judgment was correct.
No matter how grand a monster it was.
The Tower Master and Senior of the Magic Tower.
And it could not withstand the combined assault of the three who had surpassed the wall.
"Hurk."
"Huu."
"Ah, shit."
There was no need to ask who had struck first.
The three Guild Masters of the Grand Alliance were barely catching their breath when the Grand Monster fell, and their vision flickered.
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
...
Then, the field that had changed according to the natural order of the Arcana Continent Chronicle began to restore itself.
What that meant was simple—they hadn't even had the leisure to check how many levels they had risen.
A noise rang out from the empty air.
...
Grind.
"...Hey, wait?!"
Like gears. The prototype rifts, formed by the interlocking of the altered field, began to collapse just as they were—like a machine breaking down when its gears slipped.
Crash!
Dimensional fragments shot up in every direction.
And through those gaps.
Those who had been fighting desperately inside the rifts poured out.
"Sis...? What, did you save us?!"
"Shut up. It's not over yet."
"What? Why so sweet? Sis, have you grown up?!"
Anyway, this was...
"Just shut it."
Leoni swallowed the rising curse words and surveyed her surroundings.
Ryan Hart Knights, the Goddess Church...
Judging by their blank expressions.
They must have been through something no less rough than she had.
Leoni delivered only the essentials, concisely.
"Injured, fall back! There are still three of them left!"
That's right.
Three Grand Monsters still remained.
Not all of the prototype rifts had collapsed either.
Nor had all of the Holy War Allied Forces escaped.
Nam Taemin looked around and shrugged.
His older brother, Nam Cheolmin, was nowhere to be seen.
"Looks like we'll have to struggle a bit more, hyung?"
'Well, I got out, so hyung should be managing just fine.'
'By the way...' Nam Taemin's gaze turned toward a familiar face.
A man kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily.
It was Rox, Guild Master of Shining.
Nam Taemin pouted slightly to himself.
'...Huh, I'm worried.'
Honestly, they hadn't had many points of contact. Shining and Gaon weren't particularly close. Still, perhaps it was because they had faced each other since the days when Arcana was just a game.
"You alright, Rox?"
Nam Taemin extended his hand to Rox.
"..."
Rox looked at the hand Nam Taemin offered.
He already looked like he had been through several fierce battles.
But the result had been different from his own. 'Did he take it down?' A massive wound remained on the Grand Monster's corpse.
There was no doubt.
It was clearly a wound left by the greatsword Nam Taemin wielded.
Rox averted his gaze and accepted Nam Taemin's support.
"Thanks. Must have been rough."
"Well, kinda?"
"Did you escape the prototype rift on your own?"
"Yeah, I got lucky."
"...Is that so."
Even as a Barbarian, he could tell which way the wind blew.
Hisagi, that thick-headed snake.
That bastard probably rubbed Rox the wrong way, but...
Nam Taemin had no such intention.
Dmitri's death.
That had been quite a shock to Nam Taemin as well.
However, Nam Taemin didn't offer condolences.
Because he knew that sometimes comfort could become a wound.
Instead, Nam Taemin shifted the focus.
"Hey. That Chihuahua—... I mean, you probably heard Leoni, our respectable Guild Master of the Grand Alliance, shouting. There are still three Grand Monsters left. You should get patched up and join us."
...Sss.
No matter what.
These kinds of caring words were something his brother should be saying, not him.
Nam Taemin forced himself to continue.
"Just your presence alone will be a great help to our allies."
"I will."
Rox answered shortly, and Nam Taemin left.
Only then did Rox grasp the overall situation.
He gazed at the three remaining Grand Monsters, just as Nam Taemin had said.
He spoke to himself.
To think he'd look so powerless with a monster before him.
This was bad for his pride, Rox.
"...Damn it."
A bitter smile hung on his lips.
*The tide of battle flowed favorably for the Holy War Allied Forces.
Victory reports had come even from the east, which could be called the most vulnerable.
Of course, the south where Hoyeol was located, and the north as well, needed no particular mention.
Dragon Knight. 'Is it because they don't ride dragons, but serve them, that they're called Dragon Knights?' Skal thought, placing the hatchling, Prozenax, on his shoulder.
'In contrast, the Commander-in-Chief...' Dragon Lord.
The intense class name lingered in his mind, but he had no time to think deeply.
Three Grand Monsters were falling.
"As expected, you are qualified to call yourselves Claudia's kin."
To receive the recognition of the Dragon, King of All Things.
Considering the way Prozenax spoke, they were indeed kin.
He could truly feel how incredible Hoyeol's soldiers were.
Especially the Red-Eyed tribe, Dun. 'It's no exaggeration to call them a warrior race.'
Their combat power was at an unbelievable level. Their strength was so monstrous that the hilts of the weapons they swung would break first. Of course, that made his eardrums hurt, but...
"T-Those barbarians, they don't know the value of money...!!"
"Please endure, Lord Garmonde."
"Attendant, how can I endure?! This is exactly why I didn't want to get involved with those barbarians! Those ignorant Red Eyes. Do they even know how many gold coins go into making one weapon, destroying them like that...!!"
Of course, the audacity of Garmonde, the head of the Diamond Merchants, to hurl such abuse at those monsters was also unbelievable. Skal swallowed his surprise and asked:
"More importantly, the west is fine, isn't it?"
"No particular threats were seen. Though I did see merchants evacuating."
"...Merchants, you say."
Could they be merchants returning to Antonium to avoid the Grand Monsters?
Anyway, since it was none other than Prozenax who said so.
It seemed he didn't need to worry too much.
Skal looked at the peaceful Antonium.
"Then for now, the urgent fire has been put out."
*Someone might ask in bewilderment.
Weren't the Grand Monsters merely a diversion? Hadn't the real ones already entered Antonium and spilled blood? With the full strength of the Transcendents, couldn't they seize the empty Antonium in the blink of an eye?
It was a valid point.
The lingering will of Liu Aojunchun dwelling within Oxydin had set foot in Antonium.
Not a bloodless entry, but a bloodstained one.
In a manner befitting a Tyrant, he called forth a storm of blood and announced his presence.
It was a kind of provocation and hostage-taking.
It was an act to tarnish the standing of Lee Hoyeol, who was close to omnipotence. The lingering will of Liu Aojunchun calculated. By now, wouldn't the news have reached Lee Hoyeol's ears?
Yet he had not intervened.
Oxydin's body, along with the abilities of the accompanying Transcendents, was sufficient. The Child of Lightning—with just a few thunderbolts from that boy, it wouldn't be strange for half of Antonium's residents to turn to ashes.
'The moment you left Antonium.'
The victor was already decided, Lee Hoyeol.
I have succeeded in taking the people of Antonium hostage.
If you are who I know, you cannot ignore these people.
It was the moment he declared victory.
Clomp.
Someone stood before Liu Aojunchun.
A face Liu Aojunchun could never forget.
One of the five stars who had been his limbs in the past.
One of the Five Stars.
It was Bai Xinglun.
However.
"Stand aside."
The past was merely the past.
What the lingering will of Liu Aojunchun desired was the imperial throne.
Not some subject who had been defeated, surrendered, and changed his heart.
Click.
The Warrior of the Sunrise guarding his side.
The moment his Sunrise Blade attempted to leave its sheath again.
A message appeared in Bai Xinglun's vision.
[□□ □□ □□□ □□, □□□ □□□□ □□□□□.]
For some reason.
A message he couldn't read a single word of.
At the same time, his senses began to blur.
No, it wasn't just Bai Xinglun.
Thanks to the lingering will of Liu Aojunchun overlapping with him.
Oxydin, who was being treated as a player.
The same message was reflected in his vision.
The meaning was simple.
[『Mystery』]
Mere entry into the domain of Mystery.
A being that could not be understood in the slightest.
Had appeared in Antonium at this moment.
"Beyond expectations."
No, from the very beginning, he had been watching the entire situation in Antonium.
Of course, it was not Hoyeol.
That splendid appearance was by no means inferior to Hoyeol's.
But the air he exuded was different.
"I, the ruler of the western Demon Realm, acknowledge your malice."
The ruler of the western Demon Realm.
The Demon King of the Ninth Throne, the Noble Paimon.
He conveyed his voice through his avatar.
"However, human."
"...!"
At this moment, the lingering will of Liu Aojunchun.
Felt a power that could not be resisted.
Even with Oxydin's body, he could not resist.
Neither the Tyrant's skill.
Nor Oxydin's abilities.
Nor even the Mystery worked—an absolute sense of helplessness.
That's right.
A high-ranking Demon King.
And among them, Paimon was precisely such a being.
"I do not entertain those without decorum. Even if it is a high-ranking Demon King like myself, there are no exceptions. Yet, curiosity has arisen toward you."
Paimon's eyes flashed.
"How is it that you were born a human, remain a human, and yet have fallen into a depravity more hideous than a demon's? I am truly intrigued."
He would have liked to preserve and observe him.
But alas, he could not cause any more commotion.
The more commotion he caused.
"The more matters you will have to attend to."
That was precisely why Paimon had manifested in Antonium by expending a precious avatar. Paimon did not wish to see him—Hoyeol—have his ankle caught.
"Because of you, our meeting cannot be delayed, can it?"
The more variables arose.
The more the Arcana Continent fell into chaos.
The more Hoyeol's entry into the Demon Realm would be delayed.
Liu Aojunchun, realizing Paimon's intention, was appalled.
'...For such a trivial reason?'
For such a worthless promise, I...
Must the will of I, Liu Aojunchun, be broken?
Merely because of the prior agreement you made with Lee Hoyeol?
Because of just that?
Are you saying I am worth less than a mere promise...?
Clink.
Instead of answering, Paimon picked up a teacup.
He clinked his cup toward the empty air.
Without paying any heed to Liu Aojunchun's despairing gaze, he uttered:
"Rest assured, I shall protect Antonium, my dear."
The red black tea swirled within the teacup.