Episode 927 The Glory of the Dead (14)
Although Mauler held a transcendentalist ideology that despised the weak who could not reach transcendence, he was by no means a foolish strongman who relied solely on power and used violence as a weapon without even thinking.
On the contrary, he is rational, unlike his appearance.
I finished my preliminary research on the figures to watch out for a long time ago. I have a thorough understanding of the personalities of the transcendents who have reigned over this continent.
Indren Piercia Rate currently maintains an attitude close to that of a bystander, but he does step forward directly when necessary, as is the case now.He is an objectively moderate transcendent being. Unless they are his enemy, he is not belligerent enough to check the situation first rather than take action, even if an opponent suddenly turns their back during a fight.
and.
Vendie Kaenar upholds a single belief and advocates for common-sense justice.He cuts down villains who selfishly harm innocent weaklings and wreak havoc on the continent, even if they are transcendent beings like Sandir Faen; however, he has no reason to be hostile as long as his standards are not challenged.
That is why Mauler paid no attention to the two Transcendents and targeted Adrian.Indren was a decent opponent, but compared to that arrogant young Transcendent, the Heavenly Sword bastard, he certainly wouldn’t be as satisfying to beat to death.
Boom!
The sparks from the clash between the lightsaber and the gauntlet were swallowed by the darkness. Mauler, having slammed his fist into the wall with a brute force, advanced forward and raised his arm.Fragments of the labyrinth surged toward Adrian, bursting with a piercing sound.
Kagagagagagang!
Adrian deflected all the projectiles with his signature sword speed and spun in the air. His figure landed at the edge of the stairs and vanished.
Even though they should have been careful as it was their first time in this space, the two ran all over the area, completely absorbed in their murderous intent toward each other.
Dozens of sword and fist strikes crossed paths.
Mauler deflected the lightsaber soaring down his gauntlet toward his neck with his shoulder, and Adrian crouched low to evade the strike.Immediately afterward, at a very precise moment, Mauler’s kick struck.
Boom!
Adrian soared up in a defensive stance and slammed into the ceiling.
I can see everything, you rat.
As Mauler reflexively turned his face, a vertical sword mark appeared on his cheek.It was shallow, but a drop of blood formed.
Adrian, who had suddenly kicked off the ceiling and come down, spat out saliva mixed with blood.
“Did you see this too? You pig.”“Shut up.”
Strongness – Shocking
Mauler performed his technique, veins bulging on the back of his hand. Adrian instantly pulled back his lightsaber and fired off a massive sword energy.
new moon
The purple crescent moon and the light blue martial arts clashed, engaging in close combat. The energy exploded. Adrian closed the distance.
Face, temples, jaw.
Since there was no gap for the blade to penetrate, he struck Mauler’s face repeatedly from the front with his knee, elbow, and hilt.Mauler grabbed the blade of the lightsaber and threw it far away with all his might.
Adrian, having executed a breakfall, slid to land and was about to charge again. Just then, Bendie spread his arms to the side to stop him.
“Don’t stop me.”“Let’s do that later.”“That would be best.”
They have already entered a large community.
As Bendie and Indren turned their heads following the gaze, they saw quite a few mummies. Giant Mummy Knights. They were larger than any they had encountered so far.
[Destiny shall be rebuilt.]
Mauler nervously turned around and bent his fingers.
What’s with these bastards again?
* * *
Each life undergoes its own death, andeach death becomes its own life again.
The world will repeat an unchanging beginning and end forever, imprisoning everything, so that no one will dare to enjoy pure freedom.
However, if all beings living in that world were unaware of repetition and lived the same life anew every time… … .
Is the world a prison? Or a paradise of freedom?
* * *
Verden was conscious of his surroundings.
This is the island’s underground.
I had heard reports about it before proceeding with the exploration of the unknown island’s interior… and indeed, it was an ancient ruin whose age and origins were impossible to determine.It felt similar to the ruins I had encountered in the Desert of Silence, but it did not appear to be a product of the mythical age where ancient gods actually existed.
It is highly likely that it was created between the Great Divergence where the ancient gods went extinct and the Battle of ‘Your’ Destiny.
After all, a global war wouldn’t have broken out immediately after it had already started.Perhaps the island itself holds an era of peace in the gaps between wars. Seeing it that way sparks my interest. If I had the time, I would have loved to leisurely explore the island.
Anyway.
Verden then observed the monsters that had suddenly attacked him.
They are neither skeletons nor decayed corpses. They aredried-up mummies.These undead, a type distinct from conventional ones, wield swords like knights. Their very appearance reveals traces of the ages.
“Is it a native island variant? But there is something unpleasant about it… … .”
Verden crushed Mira’s sword and activated his magic circuit. Without a moment’s conversation, the surrounding Mira knights thrust their swords in unison.
Circulation is the only answer.
Crackling sound!
Madou
The moment dark red lightning flashed in succession, the mummies’ bodies were pulverized. Not a single piece of corpse remained, nor was even dust stirred up.The existence of the mummies, whom the exploration team had failed to kill despite their every attempt, was annihilated.
[The circulation… … is severed? The end. Death. Ah… … .]
The last mummy knight, whose sword had been destroyed, recoiled and let out a scream.
[Aaaaaaaah!!!!! Our fate!!!!!!]
In an instant, the mummy charged like a beast, piercing through its armor and torso. The dry corpse collapsed from the destruction that erupted from within.
[Don’t… steal… my… fate… .]
The sound scatters.
Verden spoke in an unintelligible language… but for some reason, his tone sounded closer to pleading than anger. It bothered me, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.Given the intense hostility he displayed without a single word, the enemy was clear. And what mattered was not some grotesque mummy, but the first servant.
Verden felt the link to the [Observer of the Horizon], which had summoned his existence to the unknown island, rapidly fading.Since it had caused the phenomenon, it was sealing itself away again, just as it had in the past. Unless the time limit passed, it was now nothing more than an antique.
Before that, Verden estimated around when Adrian had activated the bracelet.
It hasn’t been long since the [Horizon Observer] designated this zone. I thought Adrian would recognize me directly as an observer, but it seems the situation isn’t favorable. If we hurry, we might be able to meet.
Although nothing else felt different, Adrian must have headed to the basement under the stairs.
The ominous feeling is bothersome.
Bwaak───
Holding [Interis], Verden plunged into the darkness where he didn’t know what lay there. Even after finishing his revenge on the Bohemian Magic Tower, he could not stop.
Into another wonder and the unknown.
Verden’s magic did not allow rest.At least not yet.
“……!”
At that moment, the appearance of the stairs leading to the bottom of the island began to change rapidly. Before I could react, the unsettling darkness became transparent, and a bright light enveloped everything. AsI naturally stepped onto the treads, the underground labyrinth vanished without a trace.
Instead, a ‘grassland’ unfolded.
It was a landscape completely different from the primordial land where the main body of the World Tree was located. A flat plain with almost no hills. In the middle of it stood a small lake.
The wind does not blow.The lake, completely devoid of ripples, reflects the sky like a mirror.
Horsepower Detect
Verden was now accustomed to such situations, so he immediately set out to search. After all, every single instance of space shifting was caused by a different entity.Casting his gaze toward the lake in the meadow, Verden recognized a stranger.
“Who is it?”“To think you didn’t even show a shred of panic, you are quite calm.”
The rippling lake.
Destroyer of Fate.
A human form composed of dazzling ‘light’ manifested in the center of the lake.
* * *
A being made of light… … .
Judging by the fact that they are bringing up fate from our first meeting, they must be connected to ‘you’. I couldn’t be certain, but there was exactly one identity I could guess.
Humanity gathered around the light.
One of the figures engraved on Molgarn’s future mural flashed through my mind.
God of the Desert.Ancient King.Giant.Host.
Judging by experience so far, that light that summoned Verden into this alternate dimension must be an Apostle of Fate.In other words, this means that this island and the underground labyrinth are also places connected to fate.
As if sensing Verden’s thoughts, Light lightly waved his hand.
There is no need to be so wary. An opportunity arose, and I have merely come to have a brief conversation as the apostle closest to ‘you’.
In other words… … does that mean you are ‘your’ closest aide?
One cannot read a sense of presence apart from the truth.
Verden moved his lips, staring intently at the light without blinking. He had not just insufficient information about his opponent to make a rash move; there was absolutely none.
Did you make the procession because of the resurrection of the old king?
Light let out a faint laugh and rambled on about other things instead of answering.
“The wheel of destiny has collapsed, and the threads of fate, its remnants, are being severed. A world that has ultimately reverted to the primeval age. An uncertain future, where nothing is predetermined, has unfolded before all.”
The light is stained.
“Are you satisfied with this?”“What do you mean?”“Just as freedom is not unconditional good, fate is not necessarily evil. You will deeply realize it someday when you come to understand the reason for fate. No matter how much it runs counter to the ideals of the Transcendent.”
The lake rippled briefly.
Even as an Apostle, I cannot speak carelessly as I am currently bound by taboos; however, I will mention one thing within the bounds of not crossing the boundary. Fate is not a concept that is compulsory to everyone.
Verden paused.
Those who voluntarily abandoned all freedom and chose destiny, despite recognizing the binding force of fate. The concept of destiny deprived us of the right to choose, yet paradoxically, destiny was born from choice.
Light with outstretched arms.
Fate was created by the needs of the majority.
Verden loathed the fate that arbitrarily determined the lives of everyone, including himself. He could not accept the fate of the unofficial test subjects.The Circle of Reversal was the embodiment of his will to reject his given destiny.
However, to think that the majority had cast aside the freedom to shape their own lives and chosen fate… Verden could not understand this decision, so he had no choice but to listen to the words of Light, who called himself an Apostle. After all,there must be a justifiable reason for each person’s choice.
“If you want to hear a little more detail, come closer.”
As Verden inadvertently tried to take a step, his senses vibrated reflexively. Biiiiiiiii. An unknown ringing in his ears shook his eardrums.At the same time, Verden’s body perceived a subtle twisting in this place.
This is… … .
The fictional space where I had encountered the fanatical old man in Gargant, and the Gray Dragon—the prison of defeated soldiers where the primordial dragon was sealed.Looking back, it was very similar to the feeling I had after escaping from there.
Time discrepancy.
The time spent here flows differently from reality.
Whoosh!
Immediately, Verden amplified his magical power to the extreme, revealing the colors of the sorcery. He concentrated destruction to shatter the very structure of space.
“So your goal was to buy time using the information as bait, so that I wouldn’t be able to prevent the resurrection of the Old King.”“You are tricky. To see through this distorted space-time with that level of mastery… Ah.”
The light showed a reaction as if it had realized something.
“Is that so? I wondered where you had disappeared to, but you were right by the side of the Destroyer of Fate.”“What?”“To think you would receive the attention of ‘Time.’ I never expected this. It has been a long time since I felt this way… Throughout all of time, you are the first person since Oldark to have flustered me so many times. I have no choice but to end our conversation here. However, I will deliver one last message.”
The form of the light gradually faded.
“Destroyer of Fate, this is a message from ‘you,’ who have opened your eyes, even if only slightly.”“……!!”“Once fate is rebuilt, the opportunity to choose will open again for everyone, and the moment you understand fate, two choices will be presented.”
The light asserted.
“Verden, we can be together.”
Verden wore a blank expression at the proposal, which sounded as if he were forming an alliance. It was bewildering. There was no other way to describe it.
Please give this matter careful consideration. Then, I will see you again in the future after my seal is broken.
In the split second the formed Thunderclap flashed, the Apostle vanished completely. Only Verden remained, emitting a dark red light amidst the tranquil meadows and lakes.
I really don’t know what’s going on.
Even if Verden tried to accept it, he could not understand the situation just before. He shook his head. He could think about that later.He had to return.He could not tolerate an ending where he failed to prevent the resurrection of the old king.
Destruction Thunder
Verden personally struck the meadow with crimson lightning, causing it to explode. The intense thunder tore through the world, and the concept of destruction permeated it.
Kugugugugugu… … !!
Splitting meadows.Lakes and skies stained with destruction.
Eventually, as the entire space collapsed into pieces, Verden returned to reality with an immense presence spreading in all directions.
Upon sensing the space, it appears to be a cavity located somewhere beneath the stairs.
However, there are many signs of life.
As I looked around, I saw familiar faces. They all looked at Verden with stunned expressions.
Adrian, who was facing numerous giant mummy knights, said
“My Lord…?”“I’m a little late.”
Adrian, Indren, Mauler, Master.
Verden looked at the four Transcendents one by one, then gazed beyond the Mummy Knights. He could feel the morale. The nerves of all the Transcendents were fixed on one side.
“Crossing continents, now it’s just this far…”
The first servant, Draven Lemarque, showed endless murderous intent.
“I’m sick and tired of this, Verden.”“Don’t worry. That won’t happen anymore.”
Verden affirmed.
Because I’m going to die soon.
