Episode 1134: A Bold Move (2)
Memories of his past life suddenly flashed through Nekbael’s mind. A distant era when the evil gods had fallen and the continent enjoyed a long period of peace and prosperity.Ever since he was a hatchling, his world had been entirely gray, appearing as if it would last forever.
[How dare you.]
Talicia, who had enjoyed a long time alongside the primordial dragon, met a tragic end long ago after being defeated by the red dragon Sarkandra.
Hatred arose, but that was all.
Since Talicia is now nothing more than the evil dragon Nekhbael, whose body and soul have been corrupted by the power of ‘you’ exercised by the Sixth Apostle.
Entangled like a leash in the chains of fate, yet the desire to annihilate everything—whether fate or resistance—is the only thing and the true sincerity.
Nekbael is solely a tool for fate and an embodiment of destruction; although thoughts and emotions exist, he is ultimately nothing more than a meaningless shell.
If that is the case, why am I genuinely seething with rage, feeling as if my internal organs are being torn apart?
Crunch crunch!!!
Although its essence has changed, its foundation remains. It is immutable that Necbael is an ancient dragon born from an intelligent being named Talisia.
[Who do you dare impersonate!!!!!!!!!!!!]
Nekbael could not tolerate Verden treating the greatest gray as if it were his own.
Whoosh──────
Heavy rain poured down.
The sky darkened, and countless raindrops encroached upon the three-dimensional periphery. Visibility was almost completely obscured. The ground slowly melted away in the dark green poison.
Just as the cruel sound of rain was about to fill Verden’s eardrums, the raindrops shifted to one side.
The dragon claws tore through the air.
Just as Talicia can become one with water, Nekhbael can assimilate with turbid water. Every space touched by corrupted water is his domain, so no living creature will be able to escape the wrath of the Evil Dragon.
Crack.
At that moment, Nekbael’s claws gradually receded.
[Finally, even the dragon’s supernatural ability… …!]
Verden thrust forward the shoulder blade of his left shoulder and contested strength with Nekbael.
[Einber] is an evolved artifact originally created experimentally by the first Demon King to reproduce the unique abilities of dragons.
Rob, who had long been a failure, evolved together with Verden based on the power infused by the Gray Dragon, and was reborn as a divine weapon and a masterpiece.
Dragon Scale
Powered by the gray divine energy, [Einber] recreated the dragon’s scales. It rose like a magical veil and protected the main god.
Even the divine power restored all the functions of the Mystic Eyes, which had been temporarily rendered unusable as the price for creating the giant Nerga.
Verden disappeared from Nekbael’s sight.
Holy Arcane: Judgment
[Interis], with its head surrounded by a gray sphere, surged in from the left. The moment it reached Nekhbael’s scales, a divine auspicious light exploded.
In the rift between worlds, Verden fought a fierce battle alongside the demon legion commander Hadras against the Second Apostle—the first king of the human world.
At that time, the First King was unable to use half of his power due to the taboo restrictions imposed by the World Tree in Gargant, and even though he used ‘your’ divine artifact, he was only able to exert 70% of his full power…Nevertheless, after a close battle, Verden barely managed to knock him out of the world.
However, that was when I had just realized the realm of the 8th rank and my divinity.
Upon returning to the continent, Verden refined and optimized his magical realm, adapted to his divine body, and forged an apostle of the gods.As demons born from the rifts of the world prayed toward Verden, his divinity alone had already reached a level indistinguishable from the ancient gods who reigned in primeval times.
Finally, a miracle occurred.
Centered around them, the artificial nature was swept away and turned into flat land. The ground belatedly sank deeply, and the mountain range split into pieces and collapsed.It was truly the hammer of God.The torrential rain that had been pouring down ceaselessly paused for a moment amidst the erupting aftershock.
Thump, thud.
Raindrops began to fall again.The turbulence subsided quickly.
At the scene of massive destruction, Nekbael was supporting the massive body with its head bent to the side and its body tilted at an angle.
It is different from the ancient gods…
The contaminated blood flowing from Nekbael’s face formed a large puddle. His scales ruptured. Pain throbbed his body and soul.
The unique madness residing in divine power.
There is no freedom.It is extremely closed off.
It runs counter to the essence of God, who inevitably reigns as an object of faith.
A corrupted, true god.
The tenacity to abandon even one’s due divine rights for the sake of a single purpose reminded me of ‘you’ whom I had seen in the Battle of Destiny.The type of power Verden exuded was not merely superficially the same as ‘you’.
[To think you would truly follow in ‘your’ footsteps.]
Nekbael turned his head back.
[Do you think there is paradise at the end of it, Destroyer?]
“I have never desired a paradise on earth. I merely wish to keep the world under my power.”
The darkness of the universe descended upon the rain clouds summoned by Nekbael.A cloud of sacredness formed.
Divine Arcane: Nebula
Gray stars illuminated fate.
For my ideals.
It is an ideal precisely because it is an illusion.
Nekbael once again merged with the torrential rain. Verden grasped [Interis] with both hands and moved, leaving behind an ash-colored afterimage.The senses of a different god and the instinct of a dragon captured the opponent’s form.
[Nektur Kalma.]
The vortex that bloomed between Nekbael’s claws took the form of countless wedges, and as it was released, it completely devastated the area within its range.
At the same time, a supernova crashed and shattered the region where Nekbael was located. An eerie flash of light flashed. 666 stars of starlight converged from the nebula.
Miracles and words of courage ran rampant.
─────! ─! ───! ──! ─────!
Verden and Nekbael appeared in an instant in various parts of the world, as if flashing. Then, leaving behind afterimages, they manifested at a distance of several kilometers.
With every collision, structures were destroyed and the terrain was deformed. Large and small wounds multiplied, but neither of them attempted to stop.
thud.
Vast wings pressed down on the space.
Nekbael opened his mouth and gathered the morale pervasive in the surrounding area. A dark green radiance flashed violently from a mass of power far more dense than what had been seen on the island in the Hiaremar Inland Sea.
Breath of sorrow.
The fully manifested breath of the Evil Dragon swept across the false world like a beam of light.
The priority is the isolation of Nekbael.
Verden faced back without dodging. He concentrated divine power into the Orb of [Interis] and once again manifested the dragon’s supernatural ability with [Einber].The moment the colors of death filled his blue eyes, Verden thrust his staff.
So I wear you out first.
God’s gray is not a symbol of pure resurrection, but of rebellion rejecting one’s own destiny.
The Breath of the Heavens
A gray current of light stole the light from the world.
The turbulent waves of power that originated in the distant periphery soon spread throughout the entire three dimensions.
* * *
Kugu… … .
The World United headquarters shook ever so slightly. Sensitive people paused, but after tilting their heads in confusion, they soon returned to their work.It was the same across the continent.This was because the vibration was so faint that it could not be called an earthquake and was easily dismissed as a hallucination.
widely.
Beta posted a timeline of the war so that everyone could easily recognize it.The important turning points were roughly as follows.
1. Ternetia Federation – Foltein Plains: Opening of War.
2. Closure of Delharun Gate (Surprise attack by Old King, 2nd Commander, 4th Commander).
– Due to the Xerion Empire self-destructing the source of the Four Gates, a large number of undead were
3. Take control of the front yard.
– Master: Encounter with the 8th Commander. [Southern Eastern Continent]– Oathbearer: Defeat the 6th Commander. [Southern Eastern Continent]– Master: Battle against the 3rd Commander. [Southern Eastern Continent]
4. Successfully secured the front yard. Weapons evacuation.
5. Closure of the Pendren Gate (Presumed subjugation of the 4th Commander).
– Abnormalities of Lake Pendren: Complete Annihilation.
6. Closure of the Ternetia Federation Gate (Extermination of the 2nd and 9th Commanders)
– A massive undead army from the Ternetian Federation marched north.
7. Kingdom of Maren – Appearance of the Evil Dragon Nekhbael and the Citadel.
– The World Alliance Commander, who
– Transferred somewhere in the Citadel
– The main forces of the Ternetia Federation Suppression Corps return to a large-scale
– Shutdown of the power source of the Arkenad Magic Kingdom.
8. Shutdown begins.
[Timeline post completed.]
He disclosed what had happened in the Kingdom of Maren without concealing it. He judged that everyone needed to know what His Majesty Verden was doing.After all, no one would know unless he told them. Ignorance inevitably leads to suspicion, distrust, and division.
[Alpha, what are the plans for establishing a defensive line?]
[… … Confirm. Share.]
Alpha reacted just a little late, but it was not a big deal.
Beta received a flat map. The new defense system completed by Alpha was drawn on the map, with several annotations attached next to it.
Beta quickly verified and understood this.
Alpha had been staring at the bulletin board. He focused on the part stating that His Majesty Verden and the Evil Dragon Nekbael had completely withdrawn from the battlefield.
Freedom through power.Sacrifice.Responsibility.
Alpha understands His Majesty Verden. The ideals Verden desires, the beliefs based on those ideals, and the desperate self-sacrifice to realize those beliefs.And the warmth with which he cares for the golems abandoned by their Creator.
Alpha can do anything for His Majesty Verden.
However, I had that thought.
What should be done if assisting His Majesty Verden in achieving his ideals actually puts him in extreme danger?If His Majesty Verden must continue to push himself to the limit to protect so much, as he does now…
Tolerance. Absolute. Impossible.
Alpha had no intention of losing Verden no matter what happened.
Verden and the world.
If I had to choose only one of the two, it would naturally be His Majesty Verden.Even if His Majesty Verden did not want it.
* * *
Southern part of the Eastern Continent.
The explosions of the magic particle cannons, which had been echoing irregularly right near the gate, finally ceased. The ground, where smoke rose into the air, was filled with the remains of the undead army.
Yurion Hairos rested his sword on his shoulder and let out a light breath.
“Phew, finally secured it.”
After securing the front yard of the Four Gates at the end of their advance, the 1st and 2nd Extermination Corps literally crushed the battlefield with the firepower of modern weaponry.The Oathbreakers, Masters, Popes, and Maulers stood at the forefront and exterminated special-class creatures, the highest-ranking undead, and a large number of corrupted beings who had offered many sacrifices.
And so, finally, I reached the rift of death.
“Tearel and Adrian closed the Gates long ago, but we are just at the starting point. We boasted so much, but now I can’t even lift my head.”
Bendie shrugged his shoulders slightly.
“It can’t be helped. They employed a strategy to swiftly destroy the source body of the Four Gates while holding off their forces from the outside.”
In the southern part of the Eastern Continent, one must guard against the corruption of the mind, so no elements of instability can be left behind. Therefore, since they had to advance while annihilating the undead, it was only natural that it took a long time.
Pope Romanus said.
“Seeing that the commanders haven’t shown up since, a battlefield different from before must be unfolding inside. It looks like it won’t be easy to settle this.”“It just means it’s going to be a long war. Though it will likely end within a few days.”“Even a few days would be a waste.”
Gareth trampled the dead undead. Before the Pendren Gate was captured, he received orders from Verden and
“You guys just follow behind me.”“Haha, you’re not even sure if you die.”
Yurion turned around and faced the Allied Forces.
“Queen Estiria, I entrust the rear to you.”“I will stake my life.”
Silis Riven di Estiria answered firmly. It was not that she trusted herself. After all, she was a mage and a king with significantly less experience and level.However, the fact that she was the only disciple Ignacia had ever taken in granted her the qualification to protect the Four Gates from the outside and guard the rear of the Transcendents.
Yunia took a deep breath.The [Starlight of Dawn] hanging around Cain’s neck trembled.Kalia gripped the rune sword given by Verden and stroked the Dreadmere’s mane.
Alright then.
Yurion turned around again and glared at Samun.
Let’s finish this.
Day 31 of the war.
The Allied Forces, having swept through the conflict zones of the southern Eastern Continent, entered the Gate of Corruption.
* * *
The Iderat Alliance is quite far from the battlefield currently unfolding. Although it is close to the Hiaremar Inland Sea, the Nine Gates were not there.Nor had the hordes of the undead found throughout the continent been seen yet.
Elbrook, located in the northwest of the confederation, was peaceful.
“I heard the shutdown has started.”“A shutdown? What’s that?”“Oh, you ignorant fool. I told you to read the newspaper.”
The guards chatted amongst themselves on the castle wall, which was devoid of blood and corpses.
“A shutdown refers to a situation where
The guard yawned deeply.
“Anyway, that’s the story.”
No matter how much talk there is of a global war, to them it is nothing more than a story from a distant land. This is because there are quite a few cities that have not lost their former peace thanks to the Alliance sacrificing their lives to stop the Xerion Empire.Those who know nothing of war simply go about their daily lives as always.
“huh?”
At that moment, the guard frowned.
I saw something in the distance.It was too far to see clearly, but there was a person.
“Where did I put the telescope?”“Over there.”
I zoomed in on the view using a telescope kept as old equipment, completely devoid of any magic. I could see a pitch-black human figure.
‘article……?’
The unidentified human clad in full armor held a massive sword that gave off a strangely unsettling feeling. Just then, our eyes met through the telescope.
“uh?”
The human leaned forward.Toward the city.Soon, the ground began to shake.
“Huh? Uh…?”“W-what is this, all of a sudden!”
Verden is not staying at Alliance headquarters but is dreaming of an overwhelming victory on the front lines.Given this, how could he possibly just wait around in the Citadel?
Indeed, a monarch should not hesitate to personally attend.
The ancient king who landed on the continent—Arkhand—sprinted alone toward the city of Elbrook.
