Chapter 243
'… … ?'
Hanbit was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected the Blue Moon Bird, who detested the World Tree, to intervene at all.
Given that they had expressed their refusal just moments ago, this sudden change was full of questions.
*Drrrr-*
Just then, a tremor arose from the tree trunk where the Blue Moon Bird's foot was embedded.
And a unique sensation enveloped his body.
It was the pure power of transference, completely different from before.
*Whoosh-!*
The scene changed in an instant, without giving him time to even sense the change.
What his gaze fell upon was a small garden where sunlight streamed through the leaves.
“…….”
A beautiful woman with light green hair sat atop a vine.
Discomfort was clearly palpable in her furrowed brow.
“…Is that the World Tree?”
“To be precise, it is one of the forms of the World Tree.”
The Blue Moon Bird answered calmly to Charlotte’s wide-eyed question.
Her cold gaze remained fixed on the World Tree.
—Wow.
—Is this for real?
"-I have become a fan of the World Tree starting today.
" "-World Tree, my light, my salt, my sun… … .
" "-But why are you trying to kill me?
" "-Your personality seems to be a complete mess."
Viewers reacted with surprise at the appearance that stood out the first thing.
'I knew it was her.'
Hanbit, who had anticipated the woman's arrival, let out a sigh inwardly.
It was a look that belonged to the most difficult category of the World Tree's personality.
Normally, it was a situation where one should have fled the moment they met.
That is, if it weren't for the massive variable of the Blue Moon Bird.
"I didn't expect you to make a move."
The World Tree opened its mouth, its gaze fixed on the Blue Moon Bird.
Meeting its gaze, the mythical creature held its head up and spoke.
"That was my intention. If it weren't for your disgusting behavior."
"Are you still holding onto the past? At that point, it is hypocrisy."
"Hypocrisy is probably right rather than the World Tree disregarding life."
Even though the conversation was conducted without raising one's voice, a sharp clash of emotions could be felt.
Although the two had lived in the same realm for a long time, they were now worse than strangers.
Should I say the cause was the difference in values that arose between the primordial beings? *
Swoosh*
—the vines moved slowly with the gesture of the World Tree.
She approached where Hanbit was.
“Human, you are alive thanks to that mythical beast steeped in hypocrisy. Hand over the lost branch and vanish.”
The emotionless command pierced her ears clearly.
However, she had no intention of leaving the branch behind and disappearing like this.
“I cannot simply give it to you.”
“I am not giving you a chance to choose. If you speak one more time, I will take the mana filling your body and use it as nourishment.”
“If you give me what I desire, I will gladly give it to you.”
“Fine, then go to your death.” *
Whoosh*!
Along with the World Tree’s voice, a green light surged from the surroundings.
*Flap*!
The Blue Moon Bird quickly spread its wings to protect Hanbit.
But before that, a mysterious voice rang out.
“That won’t do.”
*Whoosh*!
Just then, a human figure appeared along with the wind enveloping the body.
It was Aerial, the Supreme Wind Spirit.
“…Aerial.”
The World Tree, having murmured the name, frowned once again.
The fact that primordial beings had gathered here felt surreal.
"-Spirit Descent.
" "-What kind of combination is this?
" "-The Mythical Beast and the Spirit are on the Black Dragon's side. Hahaha.
" "-Look how reliable the guardian is.
" "Long time no see? Ah, do you dislike me because I'm a hypocrite too?"
Aerial grinned and stood beside Hanbit.
Seeing this, the World Tree let out a voice laced with annoyance.
"Useless waste is meaningless."
Although it was only a fraction of their power, facing a top-tier Spirit was no easy task.
Moreover, clashing with a fully grown Mythical Beast standing there would be a loss.
"Say what you desire, human."
The World Tree spoke with a cold gaze.
At those long-awaited words, Hanbit voiced what he truly desired.
"Yes. I wish to receive the World Tree's Flower."
"…What?"
Upon hearing those words, the World Tree's eyes widened.
The World Tree's Flower, which had bloomed exactly two times from the very beginning until now.
At that moment, only one existed.
“Did you go so far as to say that?”
The World Tree thought it had heard information about flowers from the mythical beasts and spirits.
Considering the events in the other world, it wasn’t exactly wrong.
“Flowers are out of the question. Speak of something else.”
“It must be a flower.”
“I cannot give my mana crystal to a wretched fellow like you…”
Whoosh!
In an instant, the sun-drenched sky was dyed in golden flames.
It looked as if the sun itself had flown in.
-?
-What is this?
-Why is the sky that color?
-??
The chat window was also filled with questions due to the sudden situation.
However, everyone present sensed an ominous power.
“Go outside.”
*Swoosh*
—A sensation of teleportation enveloped their bodies along with the voice of the World Tree.
Having emerged outside, they stood before a thick tree trunk.
“Do not move.”
Just then, a man’s voice, mixed with noise, was heard from above.
-?
-Who is it?
-It’s not the Adult Faction kids again, is it?
-Let’s give them the Diligent Player Award.
-LOL
The viewers guessed that the uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared was a player.
And their prediction turned out to be exactly right.
“Black Dragon, I have a strange feeling.”
Charlotte, gripping the hilt of her sword tightly, spoke while gazing at the sky.
Whoosh—
Flames and an intense radiance emanated from a body clad in pure white armor.
It looked as if the sun had been personified.
'Odin has every reason to be concerned.'
The secret message received was that a player from the Great Temple might be on the move.
Although the minimum threshold was unknown, it did not apply to the man standing there now.
Hanbit zoomed in on the screen and captured his name tag on camera.
[Sirius]
-Huh?
-??
-Isn't he Rank 1?
-But he's part of the Holy Body Faction?
-This is cheating;
The Rank 1 player belonging to the Holy Body Faction.
He, whose face and everything else had never been revealed, had now appeared here.
This was certainly an unexpected situation.
“Is that… really a human?”
“If he isn’t blind, that is.”
The Blue Moon Bird and the World Tree sensed something unusual just from the energy they felt.
"Too many things are mixed together. It seems there are even demons among them."
Ariel offered a slightly different opinion.
The term "demon" was not used metaphorically. It was
a being from the underground that had actually appeared in a specific, unreleased walkthrough.
However, the expression "mixed up" was difficult to understand.
'Something feels unstable.'
Half of Sirius's body appeared blurry. He
wondered if it was due to the armor and flames, but it was different.
"Black Dragon."
Just then, Sirius, who had been quietly looking down, spoke up.
"It is time to confirm the consequences of your death. Cast aside futile resistance and accept your fate." It was a statement
that sounded like a divine revelation.
To Hanbit, who had experienced death 55 times, thrusting the word "fate" at him was preposterous.
"Fate my ass. I'll die easily…"
Whoosh—
In an instant, golden flames bloomed before his eyes and swallowed his voice.
At the same time, a golden blade began to touch the skin of his neck.
It was literally a situation where death had cast a shadow.
But.
Crunch—!
A black rift that appeared in the gap blocked the attack.
Whoosh—!
Charlotte, having pulled Hanbit in, lunged at the enemy in a crisscrossing motion.
Whoosh—!
The rift that split along Sirius's position continued at tremendous speed.
Even in such a situation, Sirius's expression did not change in the slightest.
Whoosh!
His body, which had seemed to be retreating, was once again engulfed in flames and vanished.
Ta-da! Hanbit,
having surged forward with a single gale-like flash, approached Charlotte.
The multicolored sword was swung wildly toward the empty air.
Crash!
Along with a sharp noise, the golden sword and the figure of Sirius appeared.
However, the result was not good.
“Ugh!”
Crash!
The power imbued with the flames of the sun pressed down hard on Hanbit and slammed him into the ground.
Crash!
His body was pushed deeper and deeper, shattering the terrain.
The sword he gripped with both hands dug into his chest, on the verge of shattering his flesh.
Whoosh!
Just then, a massive wave surged forward accompanied by a silvery-blue shimmer.
Quadru-!
The intensely flying attack struck Sirius's body and blasted him away.
He certainly thought so.
Whoosh!
Sirius's body, which had not moved a muscle, was perfectly fine.
It was merely that the golden flames blooming around them swallowed the Blue Moon Bird's attack.
"Black Dragon!"
Whoosh— !
Charlotte, having flown in once again, surged forward, cleaving through space.
This time, Sirius made his move.
"Get away."
Clang—!
Crash—!
A tremendous roar followed in succession as the figure vanished like a flashing light.
Quadru-
In the meantime, Hanbit, having shattered the terrain using the wind, regained the freedom of his body.
"My power isn't reaching you. Run away immediately."
Ariel's voice echoed in his head.
But there was no need to run.
Whoosh—!
Quickly slipping outside, he surveyed the surroundings.
Charlotte and the Blue Moon Bird, who had faced Sirius, appeared to have just collapsed.
Although neither of them were in good condition to begin with, the power of the Rank 1 was immense.
It was a relief that at least there was no murderous intent, so their lives were not taken.
Whoosh—!
Hanbit unleashed a blade of wind toward Sirius's back.
Whoosh—!
The wind scattered, mixing with the rising flames.
It was an instant for Sirius to vanish in a blink.
Ta-da!
Quickly pushing off, Hanbit headed with all his might toward the trunk of the World Tree.
The green-haired woman who had long since disappeared showed no intention of intervening.
"I told you it was futile resistance."
Whoosh!
A curtain of golden flames appeared out of nowhere.
Standing in the center, Sirius approached slowly.
The fact that he was not burning despite clearly touching the tree seemed to be a characteristic of his power.
Swoosh—
Just then, a pendant hanging around Sirius's neck caught his eye.
The mysterious golden structure was an object Hanbit recognized as well.
'A Holy Relic, indeed.'
The five Holy Relics said to have been with the Holy Kingdom since its inception.
One of them was the Pendant of the Sun.
Naturally, it had undergone various modifications, but it was impossible for a user to appear at a time like this.
"I won't take the dropped gold and items. I'll let this go too."
Grow!
Sirius trapped the celestial fox that had emerged from his bosom and was growling inside a small curtain of flames.
"Should I clap and thank you?"
Although he felt no particular emotion at Sirius's indifferent words, he deliberately threw out a sarcastic remark.
*Thud*
—Hanbit leaned his back against the trunk of the World Tree.
“Finish this quickly.”
*Whoosh*—!
Sirius, holding his sword, walked a little closer.
And the moment he stood directly in front of Hanbit.
*Thud*—!
He plunged the golden sword into his chest.
The blade dug deep into the surface of the trunk, embedding itself so close
that Sirius’s face came right up.
“Good decision.”
Sirius, believing he had accepted death, slowly nodded.
Watching this, Hanbit smirked.
“Yeah, it is a good decision.”
*Thud*—!
The branch clutched in his left hand swung.
It struck Sirius hard in the nape of his neck.
“Did you think you were just going to die?”
*Crack*—!
A vine began to bloom from the nape of Sirius where the branch was embedded.
In an instant, it spread to the trunk of the World Tree and began to assimilate.
“…Excellent wit.”
Even as his body was being consumed, he did not waver.
At the same time, a fierce flame shot up from the sword embedded in Hanbit's chest.
Whoosh!
Intense heat enveloped his entire body.
It instantly emitted the smoke of death.
Ding-
[You have died.]
A message appeared along with a screen tinged with gray.
But that was not the end of it.
[Dream Resurrection Orb confirmed.]
[Would you like to use the orb? (Yes/No)]
The resurrection orb he had received from Odin.
It seemed that here, one could make a choice even while already dead.
Hanbit moved his arm, which had turned translucent, and reached for the button.
But then.
Zzzzzzz!
Suddenly, the message before his eyes blurred, and static began to appear.
Then, a strange message followed.
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
[ERROR]
… … .
'What… … .'
The errors that had begun to appear covered the screen.
And when those letters scattered as if shattering.
[Moving to ???]
The scenery changed with another message.
