Episode 889 Sixth (2)
About 330 years ago, Aerodon, who roamed the Demon Realm, was killed by the first Demon King.However, just before dying, he abandoned his body and escaped with only his soul, inhabiting a part of the heart that had been separated in advance, and was able to be resurrected in the modern era.
The first Demon King left Aerodon’s soul alone. Aerodon said that it seemed to desire only his noble body.
Why on earth is this here…?
The first Demon King thought that since he could create weapons using dragons as material, he might one day discover something made of a Sky Dragon.
Still, I never imagined I would find it on a sky island, and even from the captain of the Ark.
Clues from the past.
Verden leaned his face closer and observed the Eye of the World. Come to think of it, the abilities of the Watcher of the World and Aerodon were almost identical.
One who watches the world.
A sky dragon that can see everything under the sky.
‘… … I see.’
Verden shivered at the sensation that the puzzle in his mind was partially falling into place. He recalled what the first Demon King had experimented with previously.
It was created in this facility using the hide and scales of a dragon personally killed by Ainber’s main body as the main components. The goal was to use ‘Dragon Power’ as an artifact, but as you can see, it ultimately failed. Furthermore, its evolved performance did not match what the main body had envisioned.
It is said that experiments to instrumentalize the dragon’s supernatural abilities were conducted at the Golem Research Facility.Although the process did not exist even in the administrator’s memory, the result remained as a failed experiment known as the evolved artifact [Einber].
I do not know exactly when [Einber] was created, but I can make a guess. It has been about 470 years since the first Demon King last visited the Golem Research Facility, so it must have been even earlier than that.
It was a time nearly 150 years before the date the Sky Dragon was killed… … For the First Demon King, that is more than enough time to overturn past failures.Even if the subject of the experiment is preposterous by common sense standards.
Say it again.
The research was successful.
The first Demon King has already become able to reproduce the characteristics of a dragon, just as the Sky Dragon’s unique power was conveyed to Daricia through the eyes of the world.Verden and Daricia.The one who obtained the failure and the one who inherited the success have gathered in one place.
“Um… Verden?”
Verden snapped out of his thoughts at Daricia’s voice, which was filled with bewilderment.
I understand your desire to observe the eyes of the world, but still, aren’t you a bit too close?
She shyly averted her gaze slightly.
Breath touched the skin.
Verden cautiously stepped back, letting go of the world’s eyes.
“I apologize. I did it unintentionally.”“It is alright. There are very few artifacts that use the entire dragon’s eye as their material like this. It is perfectly natural to be curious. I would like to give you some time to examine it, but unless the next successor is chosen, I cannot remove this necklace.”
She could show the eyes of the world if she maintained the same distance as before, but that was too shy for Darcia.She covered her chest as much as possible while pretending to caress the eyes of the world with both hands.
“Ahem, so what I mean is that each captain must possess something unique that is passed down to their successor. On the Ark, we call it a ‘Relic.’ You, who will become the sixth captain, must also have your own Relic. However, there is a problem here. The fact that you are the predecessor and the first captain.”
Naturally, Verden has no relic to inherit. The position of Sixth Captain was merely a title that was supposed to exist in the past.Furthermore, the captaincy envisioned at that time was changed to match Verden’s status and achievements.
“Therefore, you have a duty to choose a new relic. Here in Exodium.”“What is the procedure?”“You simply need to select a single item from the Ark’s vault. Whether it is an artifact or anything else. It will remain your symbol forever as long as humanity does not perish, so choose carefully. Hehe, though I’m sure you’ll handle it well on your own even without me telling you.”
A slender index finger, white enough to show tiny blood vessels, was raised.
But before that, we have to go through a procedure. Because I haven’t met you yet.
Daricia spoke in a whisper.
“The superior.”“……!”
Finally, the time had come to face the leader of the current Ark. It was exactly what he had hoped for. Verden had more than one question to ask the superior.
“Shall we go see him right away?”“I have something to ask you.”
Verden looked directly at her.
“Where did the Watcher of the First World get the Eye of the World?”
Valion Freya, Gluttony’s first fang and the slayer of calamity, waged a civil war on the Ark and stole Gluttony’s organs.This was approximately 300 years ago.Such a Valion knew nothing of the Ark, nor did he know of the Watcher of the World. After all, he claimed there were only four captains at the time.
in other words…….
It is highly likely that the Ark adopted the Ark as its base around 300 years ago. It is also possible that the Watcher of the World was born at that time.If so, how did the Eye of the World, crafted from a Sky Dragon, end up on the Ark?
Was it in the Ark from the beginning?Was it delivered by someone else’s hands?
Whatever it is, the First Demon King’s intention must be hidden within. After all, the gap between when the Sky Dragon died and when the Ark discovered the Ark is only 30 years.
Daricia answered willingly.
“Originally, the Eye of this world was an object possessed by the One above. However, since He was not the worthy one Himself, He sought out a suitable one and transferred ownership to them; this marked the beginning of the Fifth Captain, the Watcher of the World.”
With this, Verden became convinced.
The current leader of the Ark, who has lived for over three centuries, has a connection with the first Demon King.
Like the Provider.
Perhaps as a collaborator of the first Demon King.
* * *
Before heading to the Desert of Silence to look for Legrit, Verden had once gone to the venue via the Exodium’s corridor.It was a high-altitude area accessible only with the captain’s permission.
Verden and Daricia stepped to a level one step higher than that chairman.
The summit of Exodium.The apex of the Ark.A sublime space known as the realm of the Lefragium Magic Tower—perhaps even higher than the highest mountain range across the continent.
“…….”
Verden, having climbed the last flight of stairs, cast his gaze toward the wide-open outside.
On the continent, it gets brighter the higher you go toward the sky, but in Ark, it was the opposite. Verden, farther from the land of the sky island, actually drew closer to darkness.
It was the darkness of the universe.
I felt as though I were standing alone in the middle of an endlessly vast and empty world. Daricia was standing one step below Verden.
“When I was young, there were times when I would suddenly look up at the sky and just zone out. I used to wonder what those brilliant stars were. What lay in that dark place? Did people live there, too? I used to have such thoughts. Then, I would get scared in advance, fearing that the darkness would swallow me up. Now, it is just a fond memory.”
Daricia leaned against the railing.
“My guidance ends here. Above this point, the world’s eyes do not reach. If you go further, others will guide you.”“…….”
Verden looked at the hallway leading somewhere, then turned his head back.
“ah.”
Verden readily reached out and helped Daricia down one flight of stairs. The two were two steps away from the top floor.She smiled shyly and pulled her lips away.
“Did you notice?”“Yeah.”
The height permitted to Daricia is two steps below the summit. If she crosses that point, she becomes blind, unable to see even an inch ahead.This was the limit of the world’s vision.Nevertheless, whenever Daricia came here, she always left just the last step untouched. It was to test the Watcher’s ability.
Of course, the view remained the same.
Daricia had still never seen the universe she had seen in her childhood again.
“Thanks for guiding me.”“You’re welcome.”
And so, Verden climbed the summit of the sky island alone, without a care. Daricia stood there and listened to the sound of receding footsteps.
“doll.”
* * *
As I walked down the hallway just as Darcia had said, guides appeared.
“The man who defeated Gluttony’s fifth fang has slain the God of the Desert. I thought it was time to put my life in order, but the world still has many things that surprise me.”“I do not think you are at the age to put your life in order.”“I am human, after all. If we consider myself transcendents, I am about the same age as you.”
Elder Ren Balhag.Elder Sheorn Kernoden.
The former was wearing his usual pitch-black uniform and white gloves, while the latter was clad in a dark green robe befitting the master of the library.They took their places side by side diagonally to the left and right of Verden and walked ahead.
Elder Sheorn said.
“I’ve heard that you already handle spatial perception and control with great skill. I knew it, given your style. To be honest, though, you are much faster than I expected.”“Thanks to you, that has been very helpful.”“Those are truly rewarding words. With a little more learning, ‘Transcendent of Space’ will soon become a fitting title for you. I look forward to seeing you.”
Elder Sheorn was ready to impart the ultimate concept of spatial magic at any time once Verden’s spatial magic reached a certain level.If Verden could only master that realm, there would never be many rivals for him throughout history.
Elder Ren Balhag laughed heartily.
“It feels like just yesterday you were lamenting the lack of talent to properly teach spatial magic. Now you have a real smile on your face. I also wish Locke would grow up quickly and master the essence of martial arts.”“Locke’s growth has been accelerating recently, so there is no need to worry.”“I hope so. Anyway, to hear such encouragement from you… it feels quite unfamiliar.”
The conversation between the two was remarkably gentle.As expected of the Elders of the Ark.Their character was truly on a different level compared to the elders Verden had met when he was a worker.
Eventually, I arrived at the end of the hallway.
An old man covered in scars stood in front of the firmly closed door.His body was like a tattered rag.
The third elder of the Ark… … Is it that elder from Gluttony?
Their gazes crossed.
The third elder looked at Verden silently, then soon opened the door himself. Bang! The presence of the superior could be felt from inside the somewhat dark interior.
The third elder stepped aside as far as possible.
Elder Ren Balhag and Elder Sheorn also moved away from Verden and retreated toward the wall.
Soon, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
Come in.
Entry was permitted.
Verden advanced without hesitation. To face the leader of the Ark, the monster that Gluttony’s first fang had evaluated.In this way, he crossed the boundary and entered the space where the Higher One existed.
……at the same time.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Exodium recognized Verden’s magic power and presence.
* * *
The magical power that traveled down via the Exodium flowed into somewhere underground in the Ark that even the Ark did not know about.
A quiet, unknown space.
Magical power began to flow there, and the surroundings were dyed blue. Then, the magical power gradually began to concentrate into the streamlined tube at the center.The following ancient characters were clearly engraved on the lower part of the tube.
Entity name, Gamma.
