Episode 1118 The Weight of the Sacrifice (1)
The total number of casualties in the Pendren Suppression Corps was close to 20%, and the number of injured was approaching 40%. Only 27% of the fleet was immediately operational.Due to the intense operation, the power system was overheating, and safety was at risk unless maintenance was performed.
A large number of national-level forces failed to return. The Archbishop died, as did the Elders of the Magic Tower. Many powerful figures and top-tier adventurers from various nations were also killed in action.
The total power loss is more than what the numbers show…
Judging solely by the loss rate, doctrinally speaking, it is annihilation-level damage.
Still, I won.And so I survived.
As Verden secretly moved Tearel onto the deck, the entire legion reacted violently upon discovering her. The Adventurer’s Guild was particularly so.Tearel’s companions hurriedly carried her to the infirmary. Nerga hid within Tearel’s skin, thoroughly concealing his presence.
Fortunately, the seriously injured, including the Aspect of Eon and the Lord of the Empire, showed improvement in their treatment. The Archbishop of Silver did not cease praying for those exposed to Sarkanon’s deception, neglecting his own safety.
After the Four Gates were closed, the anomalous creatures scattered throughout Lake Pendren also disappeared. Given that the situation differs from Delharun, this is likely a characteristic of the Four Gates here.
Of course, it was undeniably a relief… but Verden was not satisfied with that.
Soul Tree.
It is said that the first Demon King conducted extensive research in the Great Forest, imbued the Soul Tree with the characteristics of the World Tree, and then used it to construct a semi-permanent power source.
Verden has traveled the world and encountered the Soul Tree many times.
In the Principality of Liviant.In the Black Volcanic Zone.In the Four Gates.
Ironically, the Soul Tree was found on both sides of Fate and Resistance.Just what on earth is that tree?
* * *
The Soul Tree that appeared in the Principality of Liviant had not yet finished growing, so it lacked any particularly impressive features… but it was not the individual from the volcanic region.
Ughmar, a dwarf who was the clan leader of the Black Volcano and was praised as the Golden Anvil.Under the command of the first Demon King, he offered the Black Volcano itself as nourishment for the Soul Tree, and as a result, the Black Volcano met its destruction.Ughmar unexpectedly became one with the Soul Tree and lived for hundreds of years, until he was discovered by Verden and his party and met his end at the hands of G’harun’s Hammer.
The first Demon King created a certain ‘concept’ using the Soul Tree and Ugumar.
Several hundred years before the Black Volcanic Zone completely collapsed, the First Demon King was in the Great Forest. There, he created Beta and researched a semi-permanent power source together with Beta.During this research process, evidence was found indicating an attempt to expand the aberrant nature of the Soul Tree, which ‘absorbs’ nutrients.
The hypothesis that ‘that concept’ is the power source of the current 10 Great Magic Towers is the most likely…
Verden looked down at the quiet Lake Pendren.
As the Gate of Death was closed, all the aberrant beings vanished. With the disappearance of the Soul Tree of Death that enveloped the Gate’s source, they were erased without a trace.
This is a characteristic of the Soul Tree.
White eyes.
The Soul Tree is an entity capable of summoning and controlling absorbed life forms as it pleases. They all possess white skin and eyes stained white.
The anomalous creature at Lake Pendren had eyes quite different from those white ones, but judging by the circumstances, it was evident that it had its roots in the Soul Tree within the Four Gates.To put it in adventurer terms, it was a variant or subspecies of the Soul Tree.
“The First Demon King sought to imbue the Soul Tree with the characteristics of the World Tree, and he clearly succeeded. Then, does that mean I, who am often mistaken for the World Tree… can also exhibit such aberrant abilities?”
Although he found no other realizations even after immersing himself in his inner self, Verden could not help but remain conscious of the Soul Tree’s peculiarity.It was a special entity deeply connected to fate and resistance, too special to simply ignore.
How on earth did the First Demon King improve the Soul Tree to be able to display such diverse forms? How much nourishment can it absorb?
Since there was not enough information, it just kept idling.
Should I plant a Soul Tree later?
If you hire the entire Adventurer’s Guild, you might be able to find Soul Trees that haven’t grown yet, but in reality, it is a hopeless endeavor.
Verden left Lake Pendren behind, unable to shake off the unpleasant aftertaste.
The destination was the central continent.
I operated the communication device time and time again, but I could not connect with the other party. I lost contact with everyone who was supposed to face the Evil Dragon Necbael.
* * *
The Kingdom of Valdera in the Western Continent───Rascabel Village.
Although there was almost no direct damage from the Blood-Crying Plague that swept across the entire continent, it was harder than usual to find signs of human activity in the villages.
It was due to the World Union’s evacuation order.
Although the village of Lascavelle was large enough to rival a town in size and thus had a large population, it was classified as a village rather than a town.
The walls surrounding the village are nothing more than mere stone fences compared to proper castle walls. Because they are vulnerable to invasions by the magical undead, they could not be selected as an evacuation site, so the villagers had to relocate to a nearby city.
Of course, not everyone did.Regrettably.Evacuation is a recommendation, not a mandate. There are no sanctions for non-compliance. The World Alliance was not in a position to forcibly drag away those who refused to evacuate.
A significant number of those who chose to remain were elderly.
“A world war? Tsk tsk, there’s a limit to how much nonsense you can spout. Didn’t the Plague of Crying Blood never even show its face in the end? Huh! All that happened was a food shortage caused by baseless rumors!”“The house and the farm are all mine! What if someone snatches them away while I’m gone!”“I’ve gotten old enough. Hmph, my wife left a long time ago, so what’s the point of living on like this any longer…?”“Going to another city would just be like taking the place of other young people for nothing. I’ll stay in my hometown.”
Having never experienced even a small war, they could not dare to imagine a war spanning the entire continent. Because they could not imagine it, they did not believe it.Their reasons for refusing to evacuate varied, ranging from distrust and greed to sacrifice and resignation.
There were also young people who sympathized with such elderly people.
The young men strolled through the quiet village of Lascabel as if it were their own. They filled their bellies with the possessions left behind by the evacuees.The alcohol was delicious, and the day was enjoyable.Tension would have escalated if the undead had appeared, but Lascabel was strangely peaceful.
Gulp, gulp.
The man gulped down an ale while sitting in a corner of the pub where there was no bartender. His friend also tasted the drink and wiped his lips with his sleeve.
“Are you still acting like this because of the orphanage? Stop it. Honestly, it couldn’t have been helped. The Blood-Crying Plague didn’t reach this village, but the food shortage was real.”“…….”“If we hadn’t kicked the orphanage out, the atmosphere in the village would have been even more grim. To the point where it wouldn’t have been surprising if someone had died. Damn it, the road I walked every day was so scary.”
My friend filled the glass.
“They say some powerful wizards came and moved the entire orphanage. They even said they greeted Headmistress Myla very politely. They must be living way better than us, right? So stop shaking it off. Anyone would think you were the one who kicked them out.”“I just stood by.”“Everyone did. Everyone.”
My friend stood up while chewing on the snacks. As the alcohol kicked in, his eyelids grew heavy. He needs to sleep when he is pleasantly tipsy to end the day comfortably.
“I’m telling you, we’re quite carefree. While strange rumors are circulating in other regions about people disappearing without a trace, here we are, just drinking and having fun… Heh, fuck. I stayed because of the house, but maybe I should have just evacuated.”
My friend scratched his head and left the pub, saying, “I’m going first.”
The man did not take his mouth off the beer.
I’m sorry, Director.
The man was from the Lascabel Orphanage.
I know better than anyone what a wonderful person Director Myla is.I can still vividly picture her weeping uncontrollably when two orphans secretly left behind their ransom money to become workers at the Magic Tower.It was because of her that I, too, was able to live like everyone else. Old Man Wallick, who often showed me magic when I was young, also frequently helped out at the orphanage.
However, when a food shortage actually struck the village, they turned their backs on the director and the old man.
When the people screamed at him to return what he had donated so far, the man did not step forward. He knew that if he fell out of favor in the village, things would become difficult.Forgetting even gratitude out of a desire to suffer a loss, he is truly a deceitful creature.
Will I ever be able to apologize?
I heard that he left for the Central Continent, so I probably won’t be able to meet him again. Not just any country, but another continent. For a man who is nothing more than an ordinary citizen, it is a journey he cannot handle, either financially or emotionally.
Even so…
The man was left with a deep resentment for not being able to say a single word of apology. He emptied a few more bottles of ale and staggered out of the pub.
The street had grown dark before I knew it.
“…….”
The hem of my friend’s clothes, stained with bright red blood, hangs on the building wall. The old man, who day after day used to denounce baseless rumors threatening the village of Lascabel, was torn to shreds while held captive by something.The people who had been traveling with the old man were missing their heads and parts of their bodies.
No sound was heard.
The stench of blood, which I had failed to detect because I was drunk, belatedly stimulated my sense of smell.
A dark rift that had formed in the center of the village of Lascabel stared at him. It swallowed the old man, shattered into pieces in the void, and fell silent.
It was the commander of the empire.
They were the advance party that had opened the Gate of Death at Lake Pendren, but the man had no way of knowing that. He blinked and immediately stepped back.With the effects of the alcohol wearing off completely, he began to flee desperately.
Countless arms squeezed through the crack.
The commander never remained inactive since the war began. He was quietly stirring up trouble outside the intelligence reach of the World Alliance.
“Director! Director Myla! I’m sorry, please spare me! Please spare me! I won’t do it again! Again! Ah, Director! Old man! I hate this……! I hate it! I hate itttttttt! Ah! Aaaah! Aaaah! Aga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-ga, ga-kke-ga-ga-ga.”
Eventually, everyone who decided to stay in the village of Lascabel disappeared. Not only that, but the entire village vanished from the continent.
The 5th Commander of the Xerion Empire headed to the Arnak Empire.
* * *
Central Continent───Ternetia Federation.
After the main forces of the Imperial and Allied armies clashed, the flow of the battle accelerated by the minute, far from slowing down. There was no time to look after the dead.Stepping over the corpses of comrades reduced to ashes by magic, they continued to press forward. Even shedding tears for them was a luxury at this moment.
“The Gate is finally in sight!”“Advance!! Advance!!!!!!!”“Join the advance unit immediately!”
Thanks to the giant tree on the elf side that made a path, I was barely able to break through the number of undead that overwhelmed the ant colony and make it inside.
Arbor’s living tree gradually took over the undead territory, partially erasing the shield of morale, and airship bombardments fell through the gap.
Kwagwagwagwagwagwagwang!
The Lord of the Legion representing the Arnark Empire stood at the very front. The undead were ground to pieces by the thunderous swings of his axe, and finally, the main force reached the Gate of Death.
Waaah─────!
Following the road, countless soldiers entered the gate without hesitation.
‘Manha’, a party of Mithril-grade adventurers, also joined the ranks. They were the ones who had previously undertaken a subjugation quest with Verden in the Kingdom of Estiria.
Leader, Skald.Shield Warrior, Vermin.Cleric, Cadian.Archer, Rubina.
and.
Even Gelton Rodney, the wizard who was taught multiple continuity theory by Verden.
Most of them lost parts of their bodies while Grommel Gromfar was blowing up the city, but thanks to Eon’s golem prosthetic body, they were able to dare to participate in the battle.
Our adventure might end here.
It is a battlefield where even those stronger than Gelton are swept away like fallen leaves. You might be struck by high-level magic and killed right now.
‘but…….’
Gelton, watching from afar as Verden (the spiritual entity of Ignacia) was in action, overcame his fear and instead charged toward death. Hewas like a moth drawn to a flame, but that was precisely the essence of a wizard and an adventurer.
“Waaaaaaah!”
Gelton also shouted. Soon after, he entered the gate with his companions. The sensation of a soul-like fluttering immediately vanished.
The interior was a battlefield even more intense than the exterior.
Gelton struggled to adapt to the atmosphere somehow, then suddenly turned his gaze forward. There was a large empty space in the area filled with the undead.In it stood the Allied Forces, facing a fearsome undead knight. At that moment, a purple energy exploded, capturing everyone’s attention.
Adrian imbued his light sword with transcendence.
Series
A world-splitting slash exploded.
