Episode 1179 The Sixth Apostle (6)
Whom shall I save,and whom shall I abandon?
Great salvation is meaningless if it is not fair and just.
So they killed them equally.
* * *
Akand leans against the wall and calms the greatly twisted energy of death within his body. Unless he defeats Verden’s magic, which is attempting to penetrate beyond the body into the soul, he cannot reach the audience chamber.
Window of Extinction:
Without waiting for him, a pitch-black flash burst through the building.
It is frighteningly persistent.
Verden will never stop unless Akand is eliminated.Just like death chasing life.The Apostle of Death (Rest) is finally facing the destiny that has come to him.
‘at las…….’
If I lay down my sword here, I won’t have to kill anyone anymore.The task will be finished.The next world will be for those who remain.
It’s just not right now.
Season: Seventh Formation – Regios
Kwagwagwagwagwa!
As it collided with the concentrated energy extending from the Dragon Sword, the flames subsided, and [Interis], which had become one with the concept of annihilation, rotated in the air.
widely.
In an instant, Verden retrieved his staff and delivered a massive diagonal slash to Akand’s upper body. A dark red light bloomed from the spear wound and exploded along with a thunderclap.
In the meantime, Akand swung his dragon sword backward instead of forward and slammed it into the ground. He stabilized himself so he wouldn’t be blown away and responded with a wave of evil energy.
Season: Sixth Form – Obkel
Dozens of buildings on the sky island in a straight line were shattered into pieces,but without even a moment to enter a lull, Verden broke through space, smashing the surrounding debris and devastating the area.
The Power of Rest
At that moment, the Sky Island was in turmoil, and the city center of the Imperial Capital moved and swallowed Verden.
The Citadel is the form of power granted by ‘you’.
It was a complete space in itself that no rift allowed, so it could not be escaped even by
Next up is Bendy.
Akand immediately drew a horizontal line.
Tshaaaak!
Bendie’s legs, flanks, and shoulder lines were split as the blade grazed them. At the same time, the ultimate sword [Isilr] pierced Akand’s heart.
Akhand’s resistance fell short of his previous standing due to the continuous war of attrition, and this was the result of the conceptual information reaching Vendie that an attacker would also have to sacrifice their life to inflict a fatal wound on Akhand.
The two people crossed paths and passed each other.
Card click.
Bendie supported his body with his knees and continued to aim his sword at Akand.
The 3rd Commander───Apocalypse of Death───fought a life-or-death battle with Necranon, continued to lead the charge on the battlefields of the southern Eastern Continent, and now even the Old King.
Although my body felt heavy with fatigue, the fact that I could still move as much as I did in my prime was thanks to my transcendent mental strength and homeostasis.
It is an unfinished sword.
Akand pressed his hand against his chest as blood gushed out from his heart.
“What is this sword for?”“It is a sword to slay the unjust.”
Bendie concentrated his energy on the blade.
“I don’t know what you are trying to do, but former King, you have lost.”“It may look that way.”
Akhand laughed softly and lowered his hand. The bleeding in his heart stopped. His two eyes, taken away by Hisril, were flickering with the light of power.
“Vendier Caenar, if you pursue righteousness, the day will come when you wield that sword, perfected only after agony. But today is not yours.”
Crack, the ground beneath my feet suddenly collapsed.
“……!”
Countless long arms of the undead stretched out from the underground and struck Bendie. He tried to shake them off, but undead that had fallen from the building blocked his escape route.Corrupted bones covered his entire body.A swarm of high-ranking undead from the Citadel dragged Bendie into the deep darkness in an instant.
This is my stage.
Akand thus eliminated his pursuers and sped across the island once again.
Kwagwagwagwagwang───!
Dozens of flying boats surrounding the Citadel bombard the city center in succession.Huge chains, reminiscent of large-scale siege weapons, slashed through the air like whips, but they missed the curtains spread out on some of the flying boats.
The Ark’s Fleet.
As the forces of the World Alliance Fleet and the Ark combined, complete air superiority was seized.The undead of the Citadel could only scream before being brutally blown up. A succession of magical bombardments raining down from high altitudes followed, eventually overtaking Arkhand’s path through its flank.
Crunch crunch!
He sprang out of the explosion and slid forward toward the Imperial City. He had manipulated the Citadel to form a barrier around part of the city, but he knew better than anyone that its fall was now only a matter of time.
New presences have been added to the battleground.
Eon’s army led by Liam Arrain.
The forces of Adrian, Ersetia, Leonhardt, Vantoreon, Serendia, and others who faced off at the Scalum Fault Gorge also joined here.
The Demon Realm Suppression Corps also arrived.
The fear of the demons went berserk the moment they saw the evil dragon Nekbael and lunged at him. Regrit, Acetro, Meia, and Isabella crossed space.
‘And this presence… … must be the leader of the Ark.’
Not only that, but beings that provoke the true nature of the Apostles were also approaching the battlefield.I let out a wry laugh. It was only after we had come this close that I realized what the one-eyed giant was that had driven the Fourth Commander into such a corner.
To think he was an Apostle of Verden.
To think that a god who had only recently awakened to divinity would create an apostle.I underestimated Verden.
Thump!
Small, meteor-like objects dropped from the airship landed all over the Citadel.
Kiiing!
Eon’s Golem Unit.
Alpha, mounted on the giant Beta, attempted to capture the Citadel with a small single eye gleaming.Adrian, Isabella, Regrit, and Acetro advanced, escorting them. They had pursued them after learning that Verden was heading toward the Citadel.
They are indeed people worth keeping by your side.
Akand stomped his feet hard enough to shake the ground and leaped over the outer wall. He arrived at the Imperial City. He landed in the outer corridor.
But… where is Luneska?
The whereabouts of the Transcendents of the Glory of the Dead could not be detected. It was highly likely that they were dealing with the World Alliance in an isolated space.While the other Transcendents might be different, Lunesica would not have acted passively in a situation like this. Wherever she was, she would buy us time, even if only for a moment…
Signs?
Akand twisted his waist. The bio-blade slid down the face of the dragon sword, and he spun his body in place to thrust his elbow.
Boom!
Balion crossed his arms to defend. The moment his foot, which had been floating in the air, touched the ground again, he unleashed an offensive with a scream.
Kagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagang!
At the end of a sudden hand-to-hand fight, Gluttony’s claws, comparable to the finest metal, were broken. Crunch! A punch from Arkand pierced Valion’s solar plexus.Immediately afterward, a blade regenerated in the blink of an eye dug under Arkand’s jaw.
Whoosh!
A vertical sword mark appeared in Akand’s left eye from his cheek to his forehead, and Balion kicked his thigh to immediately create distance.The hole, through which the inhuman internal organ structure was clearly visible, was quickly filled.
“Once upon a time, king…”
Valion Freya clutched his forehead with one hand and called out to him. His rough fingertips dug past his skin and into his bone.His eyes, a mixture of fear and extreme confusion, glared at Akhand as if to kill him.
“Answer me……! What is this…… this knowledge…… this, this book……!!”“……[Book of Destiny].”
Akand slowly lowered his sword upon seeing the book Balion was holding.
“Fate has chosen you.”“What… *Groan*… *Ahhhh*…!”“You don’t seem qualified to be an Apostle, yet your mind didn’t break even after encountering the Gospel. Perhaps it is the result of Verden severing even the threads of destiny.”
Akand turned away without engaging him.
“I hope you make a choice you won’t regret.”“W-wait…… Aaaaaaaah……!”
Valion staggered and let out a low scream, overwhelmed by excruciating pain that felt like his brain was being sliced apart, the thought of the apocalypse swirling in his head, and extreme suicidal impulses. Leavinghim behind, Arkhand passed through the outer corridor and finally entered the sanctuary of the Citadel.
Now, we must prepare for the final resistance and decisive battle.
Befitting a great war… … .
Boom.
The audience chamber of the Sixth Apostle was opened.
“…….”
Akhand looked around the interior from his spot, then stepped inside. A moment later, the main gate closed. He cast his gaze toward his throne.Beneath the throne lay a table, a map, and objects scattered about.
“Lunesica Anternoa.”“His Majesty Akhand Linigea Tain Xerion.”
The second servant sitting on the throne said.
Soul Harvester – Lunesika Anternoa.Master of Amri – Nakhtel.Sanctuary of the Corrupted – Tiazra Morton.Rumorer – Rucaria – Ignacia (Fragment).
Four transcendent beings welcomed the old king without paying proper respects.
“As a servant who has devoted loyalty to Your Majesty for the past 800 years, I ask this. Please answer with sincerity.”“Speak.”“Will Your Majesty establish an immortal world?”
The immortal world.The purpose of the glory of the dead.The long-held wish of Draben and Lunesika that the departed souls not suffer.
Akand let out a hollow laugh and shrugged his shoulders, then soon burst into loud laughter.
“I… truly underestimated Verden. To think that while I trusted in my own dominance and became arrogant, I would sow the seeds of division like this. Just like ‘you.’”“Answer.”“The immortal world will be completed.”
At Akhand’s answer, Nakhtel and Tiazra’s expressions brightened for a moment. They hoped that Lunesica was wrong this time, and that the great Old King had not betrayed the glory of the dead.
Into an eternal cycle.
An immortal world of cycles.
I couldn’t tell what it meant… but at least it wasn’t what was promised in the glory of the dead.
Faith was betrayed.Loyalty was not rewarded.
“……Is that so?”
Lunesica rose from the throne. She felt a rage emanating from her servants that overwhelmed despair. Her entire magical circuits were activated.As the magic of the Transcendents opened, the true form of the audience chamber, which had been concealed from Arkhand, was revealed.
The altar used to resurrect the ancient king with six body parts on the island of the Hiaremar Inland Sea—the Heart Soul Restoration Ritual—was already in operation.Upon it lay not only various super-level magic spells but also a massive ensemble of undead.
Paat.
In the void, the parchments containing 7th-rank magic, secretly crafted by Eon, unfolded all at once.
The unique scroll technique of Glory of the Dead, created using memories received from Draven.The reason it had not been used on the battlefield until now was that there was a possibility that the relationship between Glory of the Dead and Verden would be discovered by Akhand.
Finally, I gathered even the power of the desire to manipulate souls—[Animus].
I’ll speak on behalf of Draven.
Lunesica shed cold tears of blood. Nothing remained after 800 years of loyalty. The Xerion Empire was not a place for them in the first place.
Pay the price for lies.
Declaration of treason.
It was formed by gathering and fusing tens of thousands of undead summoned from ancient ritual sites scattered across the continent, instantly splitting and multiplying to engulf the audience chamber.Their super-heavy magic, projected through the altar, surged toward the master of the audience chamber.
Lunesica’s death force, solely for the purpose of slaying the Old King, which cannot even dare to be compared to the combined super-level magic of the Glory of the Dead unleashed on the Foltein Plains.
──────────────────!
Akand instinctively sensed that he could not avoid it and charged headlong to suppress the rebellion.
Rest: Standingless
With full power.
* * *
The Citadel’s massive gate collapsed miserably, destroyed along with the space itself. The mere proximity of the forces shattered the corridors, and cracks ran through the entire hallway.
Verden’s blue eyes, tracking Akand’s presence, shone in the darkness.
The place he headed for… …is it the audience chamber?
Combining the general structure and traces of the imperial castle, it seemed highly likely. Perhaps due to the nature of the Citadel, I could not immediately sense Arkhand’s presence, so I advanced cautiously yet swiftly.
As I passed through the silent space, someone with no lower body lay in the middle of the hallway.
Ruminant Rucaria.
Transcendent of the Glory of the Dead.
Did the internal division caused by Lunesica work? Anyway, that’s it. Now, if I just follow the bloodstains from the corpse, Akand should come out.
At that moment, Lecaria, who had fallen over, spoke.
“No… you were much stronger than I heard. I never imagined you’d fight back.”“…Ignacia?”
Verden stopped in his tracks in surprise and examined Rucaria, whose upper body was all that remained. He could clearly feel Ignacia’s voice and presence.
“Why are you here… Besides, that body.”“I borrowed the body of a guy I personally captured on the Eastern Continent for a while. It wasn’t a human experiment, and since I’m keeping his soul separately, I haven’t violated his dignity, have I?”
You said you captured Rucaria?I didn’t hear that.
“Did you omit the report?”“I’m better than you, who pretended to execute Lunesica while secretly plotting internal division, aren’t I? Ah, since you’re the Alliance Leader, I guess it doesn’t matter if you do as you please? Well, anyway.”
The gaze of Rucaria, imbued with Ignacia’s spirit, began to gradually fade.The homeostasis of the body was completely destroyed.
“I tried to infiltrate the Citadel but got caught by Luneska, though she actually opened the way for me? I don’t know the full story, but since they said they were rebelling, I thought it would be fun to tag along. Hahaha, I guess you could say she willingly made room for me because she knows we’re close.”
Verden realized it once again.Ignacia is a crazy bitch.
Still, the trap worked quite well.
She nudged Verden.
“Go finish it…….”
Rucaria’s physical body died. Ignacia’s spirit must have returned to its main body. Verden closed the corpse’s eyes and walked the path of blood.
Thump, thump… … .
The destroyed main gate of the audience chamber.
Naktel was hanging on the threshold with more than half of his body ruptured.It was undeniably instant death.As I passed him, I saw one of the four soul fragments of the deceased Lunesica. Tiazra was unconscious, his body in shambles, wrapping around Lunesica in that state.
“……Verden.”
Akand, who had trampled them by force, sat on the throne of the Apostles and welcomed Verden.He was missing his left arm.His body had reached its limit after enduring numerous battlefields and even a complete rebellion.
“It seems you used Draven’s soul to appease the Glory of the Dead… though the process is of no concern. I commend your scheme. My empire is divided.”“Why did you choose this place as a tomb?”“Because this audience chamber is the closest place to ‘you’ in the Citadel.”
Akand said in a low voice.
“Apocalypse.”
Thump.
The power of the Sixth Apostle pulsated.
The Milky Way Stone, which was stored in Verden’s subspace and stolen from Xerion Imperial Castle by former criminals after the war ended, was forcibly summoned outside.
This is… … .
The Milky Way embedded in the stone rotated and spread like paint, enveloping the surroundings.
The stars that adorned the universe twinkled briefly and then cleared away like mist. The Milky Way vanished. A face of a lifeless continent replaced the space of the audience chamber.
Verden reacted calmly.
“A ruined world. This is the landscape you showed us at the pre-war conference… What is your ulterior motive in repeating the same scene after coming all the way here?”“Back then, I said this. That this is your world, defeated in the war… But, Verden, the truth is not so.”“…What?”“This is the future we were originally meant to face.”
Akhand shattered the throne. At the same time, he manifested the power of rest. Wielding the Dragon Sword, he displayed a resolve more determined than ever.
“Here, no energy will leak out to the continent. Therefore, unleash your divine power.”“……!!”“And, kill me. If you win, I will teach you one taboo regarding fate.”
Akand asserted.
My mission.
