Chapter 1066: Shadow of the Star (12)

The moment Alohan’s fury poured with full force upon the Harvester Spell Master.

At the boundary of the Deep Sea Domain, where water surged, two monsters moved simultaneously.

Whoosh!!

In the instant Alohan’s colossal body, transformed into a Water Dragon, swung its tail at an invisible speed.

The Harvester Spell Master’s body was sent flying beyond the waves, scattering shockwaves.

KWA-AAANG!!!

“Kugh…!!”

It crashed through the waterways located in the heart of the Deep Sea Domain multiple times, unleashing a heavy roar.

An eerie shockwave, its sound clear enough to be heard even in the extreme environment of crushing water pressure.

But Alohan did not stop after repelling the Harvester Spell Master with a single movement.

[I won’t let you escape…!!!]

Towards the direction where the Harvester Spell Master vanished, the colossal Water Dragon bent and extended its body, accelerating.

Kugugugu!!!

The Water Dragon, stomping on the surging waves and leaping high, rotated its colossal body in the middle of the sea.

The blue scales covering its entire body glowed with an ethereal radiance, reflecting the sea like a mirror.

Each time the Water Dragon’s body rotated within the sea, the surrounding currents accelerated, vibrating the waterways.

“Well, I certainly took a solid hit.”

KWA-AAAA…!!

The Harvester Spell Master, soaked in water and blood, lay amidst the surging waves and gave a bitter laugh.

“To draw in one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings in such a short time… isn’t this far beyond mere improvisation?”

Immediately after entering the other side of the veil, the Harvester Spell Master had relentlessly tried to test whether Lennok possessed Celestial Spellcraft.

Vanishing first into the spacetime of the other side to test Lennok’s method of finding a path was also part of that.

But he had never imagined that Lennok would find the Deep Sea Domain of one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings and engage in an Obaekro match with him.

Much less that he would not only achieve an overwhelming victory against Alohan, but also redirect Alohan’s fury towards the Spell Master.

The Harvester Spell Master realized, immediately after the anomaly occurred, that this entire situation was Lennok’s intended outcome.

[You were burdening an innocent with the crime of severing the veil and disturbing the spacetime of the other side.]

Kugugugu!!!

Alohan, looking down at the Harvester Spell Master with reptilian pupils, said coldly.

[Even seeing the strange characters carved into your body, it was clear that you were the culprit who touched the veil.]

“……”

[How dare a mere filthy blade damage the Shadow of the Star?]

KWA-R-R-REUNG!!!

The surrounding water pressure intensified further, heavily pressing down on the Harvester Spell Master’s body.

Water pressure strong enough to crush and kill him long ago, had he not taken special precautions before entering the Deep Sea Domain.

[As the protector of Kundara’s waters, I will drown you beneath my Deep Sea Domain.]

‘I can’t fight one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings while distracted. This is troublesome.’

The Harvester Spell Master’s gaze, fixed on the Water Dragon floating in the Deep Sea Domain, turned cold for a moment.

‘If things continue like this, it will be hard to ascertain what Adamant Thunder is doing. Was he aiming for this moment from the start?’

The Eight Great Dragon Kings, guardians of Kundara’s borders, are transcendent Long-lived Beings who have lived for hundreds of years.

Each of them has surpassed their rank to establish their own Domain and protect the rules of Outer Tribulation City.

No matter how outstanding their abilities, in their Domains, one is inevitably forced to fight at a disadvantage.

“There’s no other choice.”

The Harvester Spell Master sighed, stood on the surging waves, and began to loosen his body.

As Alohan’s reason for wanting to kill the Harvester Spell Master was clear, avoiding the situation through dialogue was impossible.

However, if the Harvester Spell Master fought Alohan in this Deep Sea Domain, he would also lose Lennok.

If Lennok used Celestial Spellcraft to enter Kundara during this opening, everything he had done until now would be for naught.

Having received the Alliance Leader’s message, he had to prevent that situation at all costs.

“Do you know why, among the other capable Spell Masters of the Order Alliance, I am the one to act on the Alliance Leader’s will?”

CRACK!!

As he raised the arm carved with ancient script, the water in the air split sharply in two.

The Spell Master, having confirmed how much the power of his slash was reduced within the Domain, stepped forward while drawing up mana.

“It is because I can manifest the ‘Innate Ability’ the Alliance Leader granted me in its purest form.”

[You mean, like you ‘severed’ the veil and disturbed the spacetime of the other side?]

“I am a blade without a hilt, and a scabbard without a blade.”

The Harvester Spell Master smiled.

“Due to my inherent lack, I have, conversely, gained the privilege to act as an agent for his power.”

The Spell Master, extending his hand towards the Water Dragon riding the tsunami, spoke.

There was still a way to deal with that raging Dragon King without losing Lennok.

The Spell Master tilted his head back.

“Come. I shall entertain you for a while.”

KWA-GWA-GWA-GWANG!!!

Immediately after the enraged Alohan rammed into the Harvester Spell Master, the entire Deep Sea Domain shook violently.

The Harvester Spell Master, struck by the Dragon King’s preemptive attack and sent flying, and Alohan, accelerating his body as if bouncing after him.

The surging waterways in the Deep Sea Domain exploded beyond its boundaries, spilling into all directions of the Foggy Path.

The spacetime of the other side, where no specific coordinates exist.

The power of the Water God Dragon King, forcibly drenching the Foggy Path—close to an imaginary dimension—with water and imposing its environment.

“First, I succeeded in making Alohan and the Harvester Spell Master fight.”

Swa-aaaah!!!!

Lennok, alternately looking at the raindrops falling overhead and the waterways flowing beneath his feet, turned his head.

“So far, things have gone as planned. Let’s move.”

[I thought it was strange how docilely you left the Deep Sea Domain after winning the Obaekro game…]

Olivera asked, as if dumbfounded.

[You intended to use one of the Eight Great Dragon Kings in this way from the start. Were you waiting for this moment?]

“According to your explanation, the Harvester Spell Master would have been watching our arrival at the Deep Sea Domain from somewhere.”

Lennok said that, picked up the Ruyi Orb, and walked on.

“But if I didn’t fight Alohan, I figured he would be waiting nearby, if only to find out what had happened.”

[……]

“At this point, it wasn’t hard to properly inform Alohan who his true target for anger was.”

The Harvester Spell Master would have observed Lennok entering the Deep Sea Domain, but he couldn’t have known what was happening inside.

Because if a Domain itself is composed of an extreme environment, like the Deep Sea Domain, it’s difficult to see inside from outside its boundaries.

However, from the unfolding circumstances and the flow of mana, he would have understood that Lennok and Alohan had not fought.

If by chance Alohan allowed Lennok into Kundara, it would greatly conflict with the Harvester Spell Master’s objective.

That’s why Lennok thought it highly likely that the Harvester Spell Master would be waiting for him near the Deep Sea Domain.

“Let’s hurry. Now is our chance, with the Harvester Spell Master tied up by Alohan.”

Lennok gestured to Olivera.

“I’ll use Celestial Spellcraft right now to open a path to Kundara.”

[You intend to deploy the Miniature Garden outside the Deep Sea Domain.]

“Once Alohan truly begins to fight, due to the nature of Water God Spellcraft, which manipulates all sea currents, the entire Deep Sea Domain will quake.”

Lennok said, walking on the surging waterways above the Foggy Path.

“No matter how keen the Spell Master’s senses are, it will be difficult for him to notice my spellcraft operation while fighting Alohan within the Domain.”

[……]

“All that’s left is to deploy Celestial Spellcraft and find a place that can directly touch the [veil]—”

Lennok, who had been speaking, suddenly fell silent.

Splash!!

Lennok, turning around through the overflowing water, lowered his gaze.

“Unfortunately, it seems the other members of the Water God Clan didn’t think so.”

The waterways flowing over the boundary of the Deep Sea Domain.

Riding the currents that filled the Foggy Path, fish-men with gills had already surrounded Lennok.

Long-lived Beings, each holding wicked long weapons and artifacts, gazed at him with expressionless faces.

“I thought the matter was settled once Alohan accepted my proposal.”

Lennok slowly tilted his head, looking at them.

“Do you have some complaint with me regarding that?”

“Not everything Lord Alohan decides is solely for his own sake.”

KOONG!!

A grim-faced middle-aged man replied, extending a muscular arm that looked ready to burst.

“Sometimes, even if it means going against his will, there are times when we must act for his sake.”

Dozens of water streams entwined and rotated complexly between the prongs of the trident in his hand.

High-ranking Long-lived Beings of the Water God Clan, serving under Alohan, master of the Deep Sea Domain.

Had the strong individuals who remained inactive during the Obaekro game now belatedly stepped forward?

Why had they, who hadn’t intervened even as Alohan’s pride was being shattered, come after Lennok now?

Lennok already had a faint idea.

Lennok, holding up the Ruyi Orb in his hand, asked.

“Do you want this back?”

“……”

The atmosphere grew sharp and tense.

A thick, viscous killing intent seemed to pierce him, as if it would explode the moment he touched it.

But Lennok clearly felt the fish-men’s gazes momentarily drift towards the Ruyi Orb.

“Your Dragon King has accepted the outcome, yet you still cling to his lifespan.”

Lennok smiled.

“To want to reclaim your wager after a fair match—isn’t that rather dirty for the ways of Long-lived Beings?”

“Even though you possess the skill to face Lord Alohan head-on, you continued to exploit him.”

The man’s gaze turned cold.

“With hands stained with the blood of druids massacred outside the veil, you touched nothing in this Deep Sea Domain.”

“……”

Unlike Alohan, the man knew what Lennok had done on the Western Front.

Were not all Long-lived Beings of Kundara uninterested in outside news?

The moment Lennok momentarily tilted his head at that unexpected answer.

“Infamy from beyond the Western Front and erratic behavior. Yet, spellcraft and spirit power so exceptional as to be unfathomable.”

CLANK!!

The man, aiming his water-wreathed trident at Lennok, spoke.

“The choice to foist that rogue upon Lord Alohan… I do not believe it was truly for his sake.”

“……”

“Short-lived species have a destiny assigned to them.”

The fish-men’s eyes turned stern in an instant.

“No matter how brilliant a Grand Spell Master, stealing Lord Alohan’s time will not be tolerated.”

“I see.”

Sizzle!!

Lennok, raising a finger, rotated his mana and let out a wry chuckle.

“For that reason, there’s no need to hold back.”

“Seize him!!”

As Lennok drew up mana, Water God Clan members rushed him from all directions.

Fish-men, each gripping sharp spearheads and wreathed in rotating currents, accelerated.

Their speed, rushing over the waterways, was incomparably faster than Lennok’s, but it could not surpass lightning.

The moment Lennok, having condensed lightning in his hand, held it and dropped it into the waterways beneath his feet.

Lightning Radiance flashed in the water, and hundreds of branching lightning bolts electrocuted the fish-men’s entire bodies.

[Sense-Flow Electro-Domain]

Buzz-zzzt!!!

“K-UAAAGH!!”

“Grr-grr-grrrk…!!!”

The fish-men, their bodies stiffened, foamed at the mouth and collapsed on the spot.

Long-lived Beings, eyes rolled back, shoulders trembling, buried their heads in the shallow water.

The roars of the Water God Clan echoed resoundingly throughout the Foggy Path.

“A spellcaster of the short-lived species has attacked the Deep Sea Domain!!”

“All Water God Clan members, prepare for battle!!”

“Reclaim the Ruyi Orb. Surround the nearby spacetime without fail!!”

The incessant turbulence of ocean currents since Alohan and the Harvester Spell Master clashed. The mighty storm of mana exploding without pause.

Hundreds of superhuman Water God Clan members were rapidly encircling various parts of the Foggy Path.

He hadn’t expected the Water God Clan to intervene to reclaim the Ruyi Orb, but he couldn’t simply ignore them and leave.

To use Celestial Spellcraft, he either had to deal with all the Water God Clan members or have someone buy him time.

The moment Lennok exchanged glances with Olivera and drew up his mana.

The Starfish perched on his shoulder let out a satisfied sigh.

=The irresistible scent of blood and desire… always so sweet, no matter where I smell it.

“……”

=Indeed, following you today was a wise choice. It will be a memorable experience in many ways.

Saying that, the Starfish floated up from Lennok’s shoulder and bobbed in the water.

The Starfish’s form swelled like a balloon, then stood upright on one side of the Foggy Path.

=Go on ahead. I will block the path.

“……You.”

=I will draw their attention so the Water God Clan cannot find you.

The Starfish glanced back at Lennok and nodded as if in greeting.

=It was enjoyable, though brief.

“You seemed to have some acquaintance with Alohan, so why are you taking my side at this point?”

The alien beast that appeared due to the Penteract, demanding Lennok’s genetic information.

Yet, contrary to expectations for a being that had mutated the entire Headro Warlords into monsters, it was quite friendly and polite.

And finally, to personally step forward and offer to buy Lennok time—was there any reason for it to show Lennok such favor?

=It’s due to interest and curiosity about what is still unknown, more than what is already known.

The Starfish replied.

=I believe your genetic information, which I have not yet obtained, is more valuable than the entire Water God Clan led by the Eight Great Dragon Kings.

“I already answered that part, didn’t I?”

Lennok replied firmly.

“No matter what happens, I have no intention of handing over my cells or genetic information. You’re thinking needlessly.”

=That’s quite alright. What I desire doesn’t necessarily require you to be alive to obtain.

The Starfish smiled.

=If we continue this connection, won’t a moment eventually come when your permission is no longer needed?

“That’s quite… an interesting thing to say.”

Lennok, immediately understanding the meaning of those words, gave a cold smile.

“You’re watching me like this, waiting until the moment I eventually die?”

=Oh dear. Doesn’t that sound too barbaric when you put it like that?

The Starfish acted coyly.

=I’ve simply chosen a long-term, macroscopic investment strategy that respects our mutual points of compromise.

“……”

=However, if you lose your life today on the other side of the veil, it will be difficult for us to collect your genetic material. Wouldn’t it?

It didn’t matter if the target was alive or dead, so it had no intention of asking for Lennok’s permission in the first place.

Even the reason for helping Lennok now was that it would be difficult to collect his genetic information if Lennok were to die in the spacetime of the other side.

The moment Lennok once again realized that this bizarre and friendly Starfish was not a being of this world.

=So, when you pass away, please do so outside the veil, and kindly leave your body as intact as possible.

The seven-fingered Starfish raised its index finger as if saluting Lennok.

=Until next time, may we meet closer to your demise.

“……”

With those words, the Starfish swelled its body and vanished beyond the Foggy Path.

[A heteromorphic being that suited your infamy quite well, yet you’re being so cold.]

Olivera sneered beside Lennok.

[If you had played your cards right, it might have become your loyal pet.]

“The alien beast said it would buy time, so there’s no reason to deal with the Water God Clan anymore.”

Lennok, neatly ignoring Olivera’s words, moved on and said.

“First, let’s get far from the Deep Sea Domain. I’ve spotted a good location nearby.”

He departed from the boundary where the Deep Sea Domain, where the Harvester Spell Master and Alohan were fighting, overlapped with the Foggy Path.

Lennok, having reached a canyon where the thick fog thinned, quickly surveyed his surroundings.

The spacetime located on the other side of the veil.

A rugged environment with foggy mountain ranges, cliffs, and canyons nestled between them.

But here, even from within the other side of the veil, he could directly contact the veil itself again.

The most suitable environment for Lennok, who needed to twist the veil directly to find a path to Kundara.

“Huu…”

Even at this moment, Alohan and the Harvester Spell Master were clashing, making the Domain shake in a dizzying situation.

Though utterly chaotic, Lennok calmly took a deep breath to concentrate.

“Olivera.”

[I know without you saying it.]

Olivera, tidying her robe and turning around, crossed her arms and looked up.

[I’ll stand guard. Begin.]

Instead of replying, Lennok slightly lowered his head, clasped both hands together, and let them hang loosely.

He didn’t even form a simple hand seal, simply concentrating in a posture where his entire body was as relaxed as possible.

Goooooh…!!

The Celestial Spellcraft of Chicheon, an Ascendant from the Old World, was literally the power to control the movements of the heavens.

But Celestial Spellcraft was not nullified in a space where the sky was invisible or absent.

If there was no sky, it created one, and if there was no world beneath the sky, it manifested even that world as a model.

The [Miniature Garden], close to the origin of the Domain, which concretizes the environment the spellcaster desires and directly manifests it in reality.

The moment he assembled the mana within his body with his will-thought, manifesting it with a firm internal image.

“Spellcraft initiation.”

Jjeo-eong!!!

Centered on Lennok, the mist covering the sky was forcefully pushed back, and space began to be restructured anew.

It created an opening within the dense mist on the other side, inserting a new space between them.

The moment a vacuum-state Miniature Garden, devoid of water and air, unfolded beneath Lennok’s feet.

Rustle-ssst…!!

Underfoot, bushes grew, and overhead, a starry night sky appeared.

The Celestial Spellcraft he had practiced with Claris Richellen in Vulcan.

The Miniature Garden, mimicking the environment of the Central Front’s border zone, rotated circularly, unfurling a vast celestial sphere.

KWO-OH-OH-OH!!!!

Above the sky of the boundless, distant canyon, a jarring scene unfolded: a night sky and grassland.

“Huu…!!”

Lennok, letting out a labored sigh, immediately pulled out the Veil Fragment from within his pocket.

A catalyst, brought from the first gateway, to synchronize the Miniature Garden’s veil with the real veil.

He took out the Veil Fragment, shining like stardust, and scattered it over the Miniature Garden.

PA-AAAAHT!!!

At that moment, a dazzling silver veil appeared above the Miniature Garden’s celestial sphere and began to flutter.

The instant the veil catalyst was scattered onto the Miniature Garden, the real veil and the Miniature Garden’s veil began to assimilate.

“……Here I go.”

Lennok, closing his eyes and concentrating, slowly raised his clasped hands.

The moment he slowly brought his hands together, then pulled them apart, rotating them in different directions.

Scre-e-e-ech…!!!

Following the direction of his rotating hands, the Miniature Garden’s celestial sphere slowly began to turn.

Each time the Miniature Garden’s night sky rotated, the Model Veil spread above it rotated along with it.

Each time the Model Veil rotated, the misty spacetime draped over the canyon’s sky also slowly swayed.

A rough noise, as if space itself was twisting and creaking, echoed, and the Deep Sea Domain vibrated violently.

The Model Veil and the real veil, and the spacetime of the other side directly touching the veil, sequentially twisted.

The moment the veil was twisted open according to a specific orbital cycle that Claris had ‘adjusted’.

PA-AAAAHT!!!!

At the edge of the boundary where the Miniature Garden and reality overlapped, a gate began to open with a brilliant white radiance.

A majestic canyon stretching endlessly. Colossal rocks rising like dragon heads.

Beyond the brilliant white spatial rift, the silhouette of a colossal city unfolded, impossible for human senses to fully perceive.

Outer Tribulation City, Kundara.

The city of Long-lived Beings, who had hidden from destruction.

Lennok realized he had finally confronted the city’s scenery with his own eyes and held his breath.

The moment he was about to immediately retrieve Celestial Spellcraft and close the Miniature Garden to erase his tracks.

From beyond the mist, a colossal Water Dragon plummeted at incredible speed, crashing down before Lennok.

KWA-AAAAANG!!!!

“……!!!”

[Grr-r-r-ung…!!!!]

The Water Dragon, roaring fiercely, explosively rotated the waterways in all directions, dispelling the mist.

The existence of the Miniature Garden, which Lennok had hidden using the techniques of Water God Spellcraft and the mist.

Immediately after Lennok realized it had revealed itself above the canyon for a fleeting moment.

“Ah, I finally found it.”

The Harvester Spell Master’s voice echoed from behind him.

The Harvester Spell Master, his entire body bloody as if cut by knives, grinned at him.

“You finally, directly opened the path to Kundara.”