Episode 1068 Essence (2)
Akhand Lineage Tain Xerion.
A born transcendent being.
Root was entangled with humans and, unlike the awakened transcendents, could not escape racial limitations, but he overcame that weakness with the ritual of immortality.
Non-existent homeostasis becomes immortality.The lifespan limits and aging rate of ordinary humans become eternal youth.
He became immortal and perfect.
No matter what transcendent being comes, they cannot stop the greatest conqueror. All continents shall burn. Even if the world organizes a coalition again, only more ashes will pile up.The Lord of Death will use this false sky as a cornerstone to build a true world.
An immortal world where the boundary between the living and the dead has disappeared, where the body and soul are indistinguishable, and where the soul does not suffer, is within reach.
Lunesica was genuinely happy.
Naturally, she had absolutely no regrets. Her 800 years of devotion had finally come to light, and the sacrifice she had made alongside Draven, even to the point of losing her life, had paid off. Evenif she were to fade away without seeing the end, the ideal would be realized. She was satisfied. Her very essence, too, was that of a resistor and a transcendent being.
and.
‘what’s this.’
The psychological shock Lunesica received was also something she had to endure because she was a transcendent being.
Even if Akhand burns the entire world, an immortal world will not come. As I said earlier, the utopia Akhand desires is cruelly the exact opposite of the ideology pursued by the Glory of the Dead.
───What would happen if the Glory of the Dead found out the truth about Arkhand like this?
The memory Verden had edited to capture only the essentials was projected onto the retina within Lunesica. Draven. A soul? Draven’s soul is speaking passionately.Its loyalty to His Majesty has transformed into blatant hatred, expressing its rage.
───Recreate my magic to prove your legitimacy, and ascend as the leader of the Glory of the Dead. And, ‘enlighten’ the ignorant servants.
There was no trace of hostility in Draven’s gaze as he looked at Verden. Instead, he held a faith that was originally directed toward His Majesty Akand—no, a faith even more intense than that.
───Show Lunesica the Magic of Destiny and whisper my message along with the truth. If you do so, Lunesica will accept you as her leader.
Draven’s soul asserted.
I have no doubt that the world I desire exists in the utopia you pursue.
It was directed at Verden, but it sounded as if it were spoken to Lunesica. Whispering the truth through Draven’s last words, it urged for a new faith.
With that, the brief memory cleared.
I will ask again.
Verden withdrew his hand from Lunesica’s forehead and asked again.
“Do you trust Akand?”“……Hmph.”
Regrettably, Lunesica, who had pioneered the Spiritual Bond—a magical path that connects and binds souls—could not turn a blind eye to this reality.The soul of Draven seen in Verden’s memories was not fake. And, Draven handed everything over to Verden.
Why is that?
The reason was obvious.In fact, that was the only option.
There was only one way for Draven Lemarque to betray his loyalty.
His Majesty deceived us.
Lunesica felt like she knew what Draven was thinking when he realized the truth. She could clearly picture in her mind how he must have reacted.
“His eyes….”
It was the moment Yurion spoke up.
The mirror is cracked.
Lunesica reflected in the mirror was also shattered.
“Aaaa
Ungroomed fingernails mercilessly scratched at the skin. Flesh was torn off. The handkerchief Yurion had handed over was stained with blood in an instant.
The moment he realized Akand’s lies, the price for walking a path contrary to his ideals arrived. Having accumulated irreversible karma for so long, the shock poured out as a scream.
I tried to avoid mental anguish through physical pain.
The weakened body was crumbling from the mere struggle, but it was woefully insufficient. A slender thumb caught on the right eyeball.
“I will stop it.”“No.”
Verden stretched out his arm and blocked Bendie’s path.
Just watch.
Lunesica swung her hand up with all her might like a madman.An eyeball was torn open.Screams and slashing continued.
Because Verden was firmly stopping them, Bendie and Yurion had to watch the horrific sight of Lunesica destroying herself.
In just a few tens of seconds, everything around turned red.
Lunesica collapsed.
Turning her back on Verden, she rested her head on the floor stained with her own blood. Her grief subsided, but her despair only deepened.There was no need to strain to examine her inner self. Luneska’s mind had collapsed.
Blood splattered onto Verden’s face as well. Nevertheless, he did not even blink and simply looked down at her, who was like a doll with its strings cut.
“Tsk, what a spectacle.”
Yurion clicked his tongue. He didn’t know what on earth had been done, but no matter who the opponent was, he didn’t like this kind of torture.
“It is certainly the first time I have seen a Transcendent’s mind completely shattered. But what does this have to do with the Transcendent’s essence? Is it meant to warn us that we, too, can end up like this if we pursue our ideals wrongly?”“That is likely not the only intention of the Divine.”“Still, it is just as unsettling. Why didn’t you just kill him before his mind was completely destroyed?”
Yurion believed that Verden had revealed he had inherited the glory of the corpse in order to crush Lunesica from head to toe. Her karma was such that even a thousand slashes would not be enough.
This was a natural flow of thought.
From Yurion’s perspective, Lunesica had reached a state where recovery was no longer possible. It seemed the only information they had gleaned was the fact that a transcendent being, who boasted of homeostasis, could be damaged to this extent.
It was then.
“Yurion, if you took the wrong path, what would you do?”“What? Well… I’d go back and find the way again.”“That is the nature of the Transcendents. Whether it is a delusion or whatever, they move in the exact opposite direction of their ideals; even if they regret it later, they never stop in their tracks.”
Verden casually wiped Lunesica’s blood from his cheek.
Ideals do not change. If the direction is wrong, simply find the correct direction.
Lunesica touched the blood-stained prison.
That is our essence.
Lunesica slowly rose and sat back down in the chair. She looked hideous. There was hardly a single unscathed spot, as if she had been mutilated by a beast.
“I understand the situation. I also got what Draven wanted to tell me.”
Lunesica stretched fully, rested her chin on her hand, and smiled.She looked completely different from just moments ago.
Yurion flinched.
“I… I’m perfectly fine.”
I instinctively felt that his consciousness had completely broken down beyond repair, and it was as if he had transformed into a different person.
Still, I want to hear it directly from your own mouth.
Lunesica revealed a thick murderous intent.
“Arkhand, can you kill me?”“……!!”
She no longer called the old king His Majesty.
The second servant who had resurrected the old king instead turned hostility toward the object of his loyalty. It was not ordinary hostility. It was as deep as hatred.
In the strange atmosphere where an enemy threatening the continent suddenly turned into an ally, Bendie and Yurion’s gazes naturally turned to Verden.
“Of course.”“That’s a refreshing answer.”
Lunesica reached out her hand. Verden handed her a potion. Her crushed eye did not return to normal, but flesh grew back into the other dirty, shallow wounds.
“I will strike at Akand’s arrogance and cause internal division within the Xerion Empire… Well, if successful, there would be no more effective stratagem. The problem is how I can return to being Akand’s close confidant so naturally, without arousing any suspicion.”
She asked Verden as she usually did to Draven.
“What is the specific plan, Director?”
The memory shared by Verden was a summary that only included the important scenes, so Lunesica did not yet know how it would divide the Empire.
“If you escape, the World Alliance will face chaos from the very beginning of the war. As the Leader of the World Alliance, I will lose a significant amount of control. Therefore, releasing you is the worst of the worst options.”“Hmm.”“Boosting the Alliance’s morale and ensuring that Akhand does not suspect anything. To grant you freedom, we must achieve both. At this point, Draven and I reached the same conclusion.”
Verden placed his hands together on his knees.
“Luneshka, die without regret.”
If the body is a hindrance, simply discard it.The soul is the only answer.
* * *
“…….”“…….”
Bendie and Yurion left the dungeon with faces still heavy with bewilderment.Even upon reflection, the sight of Verden and Lunesica, who had killed each other, discussing a plan to change the course of the war was beyond the realm of comprehension.
“It is unclear how much internal rift Lunesica might cause, but this move will undoubtedly be fatal to Akhand. Of course, the priority is to secure at least a minimal advantage in the war so that the main forces can reach Akhand.”
Verden came up to the surface last.
“I thought you would have a lot of questions, but you’ve been quiet for a while. If there are no questions, let’s disperse.”“It’s not that I don’t have any questions; it’s just that this is absurd.”
Yurion held his hips and lifted his chin. The sky, with white clouds floating between the structures of the ancient ruins, was reflected in his eyes.
“So, to roughly summarize… it turns out the former king pursued a world contrary to the ideals sought by the Glory of the Dead. That was the cause, leading you to become the new leader of the Glory of the Dead through Draven’s soul, and Lunesica accepted that. And now, Lunesica plans to enter the Empire, enlighten the resurrected Glory of the Dead, and make them betray the former king, is that correct?”“That is accurate.”“I was wondering why you were so late for the summit; so you were preparing for something like this. It’s an unexpected turn of events, but I’ve accepted it anyway. Well… it’s a situation where I have no choice but to accept it.”
Instead of questioning every detail, Yurion went along with the current led by Verden.
“I understand why Verden was so determined to become the leader of the World Alliance. And why he is so tenacious in trying to bring the exclusive Ruas Theocracy under his command.”
If Verden does not command the Alliance, it becomes difficult to fully utilize the available resources. Persuading the Luas Church or the command structure would itself be a chore and a waste.Considering the risk of information leakage and efficiency, the purpose and rationale for Verden absolutely having to stand at the top of the World Alliance were all too obvious.
Bendie said.
“I mentioned earlier that the continent is facing external enemies.”
Verden had said that at this Transcendent Alliance headquarters after clashing with the Empress in the southern part of the Eastern Continent and rescuing Adrian.The people present at that time were Vendie and Yurion.
Is that external enemy related to the essence of the Transcendental One shown through Lunesika?
Bendie pointed out the core of the story.
Verden nodded.
“Transcendents instinctively resist external forces because they pursue their own ideals. If it stands in the way of their ideals, they will never yield, even if it means death.”“Because that is what a transcendent is.”“If chaos descends where it is impossible to distinguish friend from foe, remember my words.”
Verden locked the prison door.
The only ones we can entrust our backs to are those who have awakened on their own.
The awakened one meant a transcendent being, and the one who awakened on their own meant a transcendent being who excluded the divine being of the Holy Kingdom who became a transcendent being through a divine artifact.
“Understood.“I’ll keep that in mind for now.”
The two transcendent beings took those words seriously.
After a brief more back-and-forth conversation, the three transcendents dispersed.
Verden was spending time near the prison when he noticed that another entrance had opened. Gharun, with some blood on his fist, walked over while gulping down his drink.
“Did you hit him?”“He was spouting nonsense, so I smacked his mouth. Just as you said, he really is a crazy dwarf. But as expected, his talent was real.”
Gharun kept taking sips from the bottle for no reason, even though he wasn’t thirsty.
Verden crossed his arms.
“So you see him as useful.”“……He’s not without value.”“Then I’ll leave Grimmel’s new recruit to you.”
Gharun frowned.
“Entrust it to me? What a hassle. If that bastard gets released, I’m going to go crazy. Just execute him.”“That’s up to you to decide.”
Verden handed over the power of life and death over Grimmel to Gharun as if it were flowing water. He lightly patted Gharun’s shoulder and walked away.
Gharun stared at the retreating figure.
“You rascal, acting all you want.”
If I had my way, I would smash Grimmel’s head completely with a hammer. Grimmel was a bastard who openly insulted his dwarf spirit.If it were the old G’harun, he would have killed him the moment he saw him without even saying a word.
However, the situation has changed a little.
Gharun pondered.
Whether to continue living by valuing tradition as before, no matter what anyone says, or to protect those around me even if it means compromising my beliefs.
Will Gharun’s integrity continue to hold meaning in a world reduced to rubble?
“……I don’t know what affection is.”
Gharun could not give an answer yet, so he postponed his response with alcohol.
* * *
Glory of the Corpse───Viola of the Skeleton.
“……Is that Arrain over there?”
The messenger of the ancient king arrived in the ownerless land.
