Episode 1128 Backstory (1)
It was before the Ternetia Federation’s gate was closed—when the punitive expedition led by Adrian began a full-scale clash with the Empire’s Lachdion.
* * *
Verden traversed the Kingdom of Maren while concealing his existence with
[Einber]’s unique ability, which manifests when a certain speed is exceeded, adds a certain amount of acceleration each time a ray of light overlaps.
It was a performance that had existed since Verden first acquired [Einber].
There must be a city around here.
After confirming his victory at Lake Pendren and
Even so, no signs of life could be detected nearby.
The sky became even closer to achromatic.
As Verden heightened his vision to search for the lingering scent of magic or traces of the Evil Dragon, he saw the city of ‘Develt,’ which he had seen on the continent map.
There is no room to enter or exit through the city gates.
─────────Boom!
It immediately veered sharply and landed in the middle of the city. Since it had barely slowed down, a strong gust of air belatedly swept through the square.Only the landing site was significantly split, and the impact force was not strong enough to injure a human.
Verden narrowed his eyes.
‘poison.’
A low-lying fog hung over the entirety of Develt. Although transparent, his blue eyes perceived the fine particles floating in the air.His body, having inhaled them, determined that they were the deadliest of poisons.
This is an extreme poison of a level that cannot exist naturally. Enough to have poisoned the old me.
Verden is immune to all poisons thanks to [Einber]’s
There was only one person who poisoned Verden.
The dry sun god───Ishur.
Only the power possessed by the Seventh Apostle of Destiny neutralized Verden’s anti-poison properties. Of course, it wouldn’t work now that he has reached the 8th Rank and attained divine status.
In any case, the fact that a poisonous fog threatening even a transcendent being is spreading means that the culprit affecting the city possesses power equivalent to ‘your’ authority.
Verden discovered traces of the evil dragon Nekbael.
It is heavy for a particle, so it is not pushed away by ordinary winds. There was nothing outside the city walls. Does that mean the poison was generated somewhere in the city?
If the massive body of the Four Dragons had attacked, Develt should have been half-destroyed by now, but it remains strangely intact. Furthermore, there are no traces of citizens melted away by the poisonous mist.
The streets of Develt were seriously clean.
“…….”
Verden observed the square closely, then soon cast his gaze toward a corner.He could see a drain leading to the sewer.
Kwaaaaang!
He tore off a section of the square with
The sewer passage was dry.
A faint stench lingered, but it was different from that of ordinary filth. It was a dry yet unpleasant odor, as if decaying organic matter had dried up.
Terrain Manipulation
Verden opened the Infinite Magic Path and began to pull out the sewers as if extracting the kernel of a fruit. Eighth-rank earth magic transformed the small city.
Kugugugugugugu… … !!!!
Due to the anomaly in the Kingdom of Maren, living creatures cannot be detected, but the shape of the terrain can be perceived by spreading magical power.The city was expanded without any damage, taking into account the possibility that someone might be hiding in the sewers.
As the city walls broke into several pieces, the scale of the De Belt expanded, and the square grew several times larger, causing the center of the sewer to rise above ground.It was a sight that looked as if a massive structure had suddenly been created.Next, it was split in half to reveal the cross-section of the sewer clearly.
The giant, heteromorphic creature that had been hiding deep in the darkness squirmed as it caught the sunlight.
Is it a spirit?
The atmosphere of corruption spread in an instant.
It has absorbed all the moisture in Develt.
What was in Develt’s sewers was a water spirit, but its form was quite different from the one seen in the Great Forest.It spewed venom, and the light resembling clear river water was stained with a murky color. Its very essence had been contaminated, causing it to lose its original form.
[… … !… … !!]
As soon as the corrupted water spirit recognized Verden, it attacked with a flash of intense murderous intent. It was the same enraged reaction as Blue, the spirit encountered with the adventurer party Manha in the Kingdom of Estiria.
The spirit stone is completely contaminated and cannot be revived.
A stream of fire flickered from Verden’s hand as he dismantled the rotten torrent rushing right up to his eyes.
Hwayeon’s Backflow
The intense heat, capable of burning even water, swallowed only the aura of deadly poison. Thick venom exploded violently, yet it could not escape the flames.In an instant, the contaminated spirit stone was left all alone and fell downwards.
Thump.
As the spirit vanished, the remains presumed to be those of the citizens of Develt were clearly revealed. Most of them had melted away and dried out, having lost all their moisture, but a very small number still retained some traces of their former forms.
Among them, a withered arm was touching the wall of the sewer, and a message hurriedly written in blood on it caught my eye.
The rain washes away impurity, andthe wind carries purity;worshipthe breeding ground of death and salvation.
“……The style of a prophet.”
Verden met various prophets. Prophets classified as genius seers, such as Aisha and the wandering Munadim, were also residing within his domain.Their ambiguous language, which seemed to hint at the future or existence, was familiar.
Develdt’s blood oath appeared to have been written by a fortune teller-like prophet who had attained enlightenment before his death. His last words pointed to an ancient king, or the Four Dragons, or perhaps both.
I didn’t find it strange that the prophet left behind content related to the Apostle of Destiny. After all, all prophets are, in the first place, byproducts of a hypothetical future created by the Wheel of Fortune.
The probability is low, but it’s better than nothing.
Whoosh.
Verden picked up the corrupted spirit stone and created various magic circles. He separated the energy residing in the spirit stone and combined it with a magic stone summoned from the subspace. Ashe placed the corrupted magic stone into the compass, the magical needle began to spin.
Original [Black Hour’s Compass].
An artificial artifact that recognized the toxic magical power detected such a reaction.
Roughly northeast, perhaps?
[The Compass of the Black Hour] is an artifact that amplifies magical power to find a wizard, but if there are multiple beings with the same energy, it points to the one closest among them.
There might be a Dragon of Death to the northeast right now, but instead of the Dragon, there could be a being influenced by it, like this corrupted spirit.We might end up taking a long detour rather than blindly advancing. It might actually be better to just head straight to the Four Gates of the Ternetia Federation.
However, Verden decided to track the traces of the clues in this place where intuition does not work. After all, a wizard must base their judgment on evidence.The choice to leave everything to luck is made only when all available means have completely disappeared.
Verden left Develt. He crossed the Kingdom of Maren without encountering anyone. Sadly, he could not find a single survivor.
A corroded city where the undead wander aimlessly.A city as silent as Develt.… … .
Only tragedy was repeated.
The heavy silence born of war seemed to whisper to Verden,asking if he could truly bear what lay beyond.
‘shut up.’
* * *
Not long after the battle with the Four Dragons began, the entire Kingdom of Maren was enveloped in silence.A scene unfolded that looked as if the whole country had died.
Dragon Roar.
An intangible shockwave exploded and blew away the entire Brikal Mountains.
Kwa-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!
Bantoleon, struck squarely, used the lightning strike like a rake to scrape the ground. Blood flowed from his eyes and nose as he barely managed to bring himself to the brakes.Blood foam rose from his mouth, but instead, he curled the corners of his mouth as if suddenly snapping back to reality.
“Ugh… that’s spicy.”
Vantoreon let out a thunderous roar. The realm of the
A pillar of lightning fell with an explosive flash, crushing Nekbael. Its dark green scales heated up in the intense heat, which was fundamentally different from fire.As soon as the magic wore off, Andes charged and bit its neck.
[─────────!]
The power and resistance of the reinforced Bone Dragon, constructed at the Darkwarton Magic Tower using dragon bones from various parts, were comparable to those of a living adult dragon.Additionally, a horde of undead from the realm of vengeful spirits, summoned by the magic
Boom!
Nekbael, briefly lifted up, was crushed.
[Don’t worry about me!]
That’s obvious!
Vantoreon fired a chain of lightning rotating at the speed of light.
Thunder Wheel
The lightning strike surged in the blink of an eye, absorbing the power of the surrounding area. Crackle! It struck the Andes and the Serpent Dragon, spinning like a hamster wheel.Under the immense firepower, the natural environment within a radius of several hundred meters gradually turned to ashes.
[Do you think you’ve become a dragon just because a soul inhabits that mere bone?]
[Ugh…!]
[A vermin that has lost even transcendence.]
Nekbael extended his claws to shatter the Brain Ring and lifted Andes’s neck. The undead following Andes were nearly annihilated.Making the struggle of strength seem futile, Andes was thrown toward where Vantoreon was.
Nekbael roared.
As the thunderclouds covering the sky partially shifted, rain began to fall. A torrential downpour of decay and pollution—no, it was too intense to be called a downpour.Countless dark green raindrops lashed down, turning the earth into a wasteland.
Whoosh──────
Andes countered with the Commander’s Curtain and two wings, and Bantoreon with lightning, but judging that they could not endure it, they immediately retreated.
“……Heh.”
Strong toxicity remained in the parts touched by raindrops, undermining resistance.
“They say rain falls when the Blue Dragon roars. It certainly lives up to the legend. If we had known he could use such abilities 800 years ago, would even half of us still be here?”
[To think there are three more dragons like that.]
“It is no wonder they have been called the strongest race, born with transcendence, since ancient times. The Four Great Ancient Dragons are the pinnacle of such dragons, so it is only normal for them to perform at this level. Well, they are just a tiny bit stronger than I expected, but… after all, even the Azure Dragon died and was reborn as the Evil Dragon.”
Nekbael pursued them.
“If I’ve died once, why can’t I die a second time?”
The ancient transcendent beings clashed their magical powers against each other as if they had been waiting.
Boom!
Bantoreon and Andes were flung to the left and right respectively, and Nekbael, having accelerated in earnest, passed between them.
Mission accomplished.
Lured Nekbael into the trap.
“Let’s see what the Magic Towers have prepared.”“You worked hard luring them in.”
Indren Piercia Reit, who had been concealed by the Magic Tower’s artifact, revealed himself. Nekbael shattered the ground, froze, and turned his head. Thedragon eyes, which embodied death, and the gaze of the transcendent being known as the Control Emperor met.
[The lower life form struggles.]
Seeing it up close, I can’t even manage a wry laugh. I’ve never seen such a formidable presence in the realm of a single entity. Even if it had multiple lives, it wouldn’t be enough to stand against it alone.
Having finished preparing, Indren pointed forward with the staff he held in both hands.
“Yes, so this is an alliance for that purpose.”
The magical power of the Transcendent Being stirred, revealing the hidden procession of towers one after another. One on the left and one on the right formed a set.Multiple sets of these were embedded in the ground, spaced several kilometers apart, thus forming a kind of passageway.
The flow of order.
Nerkaliph
The unique magic
thud.
Nekbael began to be pushed back. Even with overwhelming power, he could not break the pressure of control. The towers prepared by the high-ranking mages of the Artisan Magic Tower, led by Feldianne, shone brightly to support Indren.
Kugugugugugugugu… … !!
The staff trembled violently. Theground shook.Nekbael bared his fangs, crouched low, and took a step forward, as if personally proving just how different the level of resistance an ancient dragon possesses truly is.
however.
If there had been a possibility of failure, such a trap would not have been planned. This is understandable, given that the Outer Elder of the Artisan Magic Tower is a being who seeks stability.
“──────!”
Indren’s battle cry echoed across the heavens and earth, and a torrent of magic surged. Nekbael was pushed back, but soon moved away from the ground, losing a great deal of friction.
The order formed by the towers began to drive Nekbael into a predetermined path.
* * *
Feldianne Pearcia Reit looked down at the area that would become the battlefield with her hands clasped behind her back. She had finished her immediate task and needed rest for the next.Of course, since that magical strength would be completely ineffective in the battle against the Four Dragons, there was no room for intervention.
“Nekbael is coming this way. Hohoho, as expected of our ancestor.”
Feldianne let out a neutral laugh.
“Now, no matter what variables arise, the plan will remain unchanged, won’t it, Provident?”“Variables are meaningless.”
The conversation between Deus and Feldianne was not heard by anyone.
Summon the Citadel using Nekbael.
Verden attempts to achieve both short-term and long-term goals. He volunteers for sacrifice, but ultimately, it is nothing but recklessness.
It is rational to seize the upper hand through a certain process rather than a near-perfect yet unstable victory, and therefore, it is the right choice.
That’s right.
They were drawing a different picture with Verden.
As the Last Resistor desires.
* * *
At the same time───the massive city, Gargant.
Hishril Del Roharun grasped the war situation through international newspapers personally delivered by Clinton, who was Isabella’s coachman in the past.
“They’re doing quite well. That’s unexpected.”
Hisril smiled while resting his chin on his hand.
It will probably be a mudslinging fight in the end.
Although he had never seen the military might of the former king, let alone the Xerion Empire, Hisril also possessed a certain expertise in warfare.His notoriety for reigniting the interspecies war—which was on the verge of a truce 300 years ago, and staining the continent with blood with even greater hatred—was by no means a coincidence.
Even with my eyes closed, I can picture it.The mountain of corpses that even victory cannot cover up.
Slurp.
Hisril sat leisurely by the window of a modern inn room, savoring her coffee. It didn’t suit Delharun’s Blood Empress to be so at ease while a global war was in full swing, but it couldn’t be helped.
Honestly, it still takes a long time for the injury I sustained from Verden to heal.
If my other equipment had been excellent as well as my sword, I could have fought more properly.
I never imagined I could defeat Verden. After all, Verden was revealing his full power while simultaneously hiding another.
“…Freedom by force? As expected, it’s preposterous.”
She let out a hollow laugh at the ideal Verden had mentioned and picked up an international newspaper she hadn’t read yet. She was secretly looking for news about Adrian.
It was then.
“…….”
There was no sound of the door opening, but only a faint presence could be felt.Hisril pretended not to notice, then instantly snatched the sword leaning against the wall, lowered his body, and held the blade to the uninvited guest’s neck.
“For a thief, his skills are decent—”
Upon recognizing her opponent, Hisril paused, unable to finish her sentence. The tip of her sword trembled faintly. There were likely few beings in the entire continent, or even in all of history, capable of flustering her to this extent.
“That face… and this aura… the one I felt back then when I made the deal for resurrection with Draven through [Animus]…? H-No way.”
The transcendent being’s intuition came into play.
“I was wondering why Draven specifically chose me and that old man as the targets for the deal. The Four Gates deal was just an excuse; the real goal was to resurrect us. It wasn’t Draven, but you.”
Hisril uttered the name he had encountered only in history books.
“Am I right? The First Demon King.”
