Chapter 1067: Shadow of the Star (13)
Immediately after opening the spatial rift leading to Kundara, the Harvester Spell Master appeared with a roaring Water Dragon.
Whoosh!
The boundary between the Spacetime of the Other Side and the Deep Sea Domain chaotically intertwined, blurring the surrounding scenery.
Waves and mist distorted all around, blurring all senses like a faint illusion.
“I wondered how you managed to defeat Alohan in the Deep Sea Domain and track me down…”
Lennok’s gaze, fixed on the Harvester Spell Master standing before him and the Water God Dragon King roaring in the distance, deepened.
“You didn’t defeat Alohan to get here, did you? You pushed his Water God Spellcraft into a rampage, forcefully overturning the surrounding space?”
Lennok’s location had been exposed immediately after Alohan, wielding his magic, crashed nearby.
Yet, the presence of the roaring Water Dragon was undeniably ominous, while the Harvester Spell Master’s body was covered in blood.
The state of the two was contradictory for the Harvester Spell Master to have defeated Alohan and arrived.
From the series of circumstances, Lennok realized that the Spell Master had manipulated Alohan into forcibly smashing up the surroundings.
“While Van was enjoying himself in the Deep Sea Domain, I wasn’t idly sitting by either.”
The Harvester Spell Master said nonchalantly.
“As Water God Spellcraft, which controls currents, is certainly a tricky ability to contend with, I borrowed a forbidden art just in case.”
As he ran his hand down his blood-soaked forearm, thick blood dripped down his arm.
The Harvester Spell Master, massaging his forearm as if squeezing out his whole body to extract blood, spoke with a weary expression.
“The effect is certainly potent, but my senses are dulled, making it hard to concentrate… It’s truly something I wouldn’t want to do twice.”
“A forbidden art, you say.”
Lennok’s eyes gleamed with a cold expression.
“Are you referring to the Corpse Ghost Spellcraft you directly injected into your own body?”
“…”
The countless wounds etched onto the Harvester Spell Master’s body were proof that he had sustained innumerable attacks in the Deep Sea Domain.
It felt strange that he was even moving, with his entire body looking like a tattered rag.
Lennok recognized that this unnatural feeling was not an illusion but the result of the Corpse Ghost Spellcraft.
“To move perfectly fine despite such injuries, you’ve remade your body into a Corpse Ghost.”
“Yes, but you don’t need to worry.”
The Spell Master offered a wry smile.
“If the Corpse Ghost Transformation isn’t complete, there’s a way to revert it. It’s not a big deal, is it?”
“…”
“I did my best for this journey, but I didn’t expect Van to break his promise to me.”
Drip, drip…!!
The Harvester Spell Master, raising his dripping hands to sweep back his hair, spoke.
“I believe I warned you about that several times…”
His tattooed skin was densely covered with all sorts of cuts and bruises, his face grotesquely distorted.
But the Spell Master’s eyes, visible through the wounds, gleamed with an unprecedented sinister light.
“You’ve finally opened the gate to Kundara by yourself.”
“I appreciate the Order Alliance’s consideration, but after traveling through the Other Side, it seems I can manage alone.”
Lennok chuckled, crossing his arms.
“It’s a pity we couldn’t go together, but with the Eight Great Dragon Kings looking for you, isn’t it hard to ignore them?”
“…Hoo. Is that so?”
The Spell Master grinned, his face streaked with blood.
“In that case, would you be able to show me once more, right here, how you opened the path to Kundara?”
“…”
“My understanding is limited, and my knowledge shallow, so I truly can’t even guess how you touched the Veil.”
Indeed, the Harvester Spell Master had not seen the moment Lennok used the Celestial Spellcraft’s Miniature Garden.
He had twisted the Veil by opening the Miniature Garden, and immediately after closing it, the Spell Master had found Lennok.
But because his senses were dulled by transforming his own body into a Corpse Ghost, he hadn’t been able to witness it.
Convinced of this, Lennok smiled and shook his head.
“Well. I don’t really know either.”
“Excuse me?”
“Things just worked out. I was lucky.”
“…”
The Spell Master stared at Lennok with an unreadable expression, then tilted his head slightly.
“Do you really think that makes sense right now?”
“Of course.”
Lennok said, pointing to the spatial rift behind him that led to Kundara.
“The result you’re talking about is right here, isn’t it?”
“…”
By the time Lennok had opened the path to Kundara, the Spell Master must have been certain that Lennok possessed Celestial Spellcraft.
However, that fact was merely something the Harvester Spell Master had suspected even before guiding Lennok.
The Harvester Spell Master had accompanied Lennok to personally witness and confirm the Celestial Spellcraft with his own eyes.
But that crucial moment, the Spell Master had ultimately missed while dealing with Alohan.
The Harvester Spell Master, who had been silent, spoke.
“I was mistaken.”
Snip, snip!!
As he placed his hand on his blood-soaked garments, the wet sleeves and fabric were neatly cut away.
The Harvester Spell Master, who had cut his sleeves to free his arms, said with a smiling expression.
“I didn’t realize the Arch-Wizard, said to be mad for blood, enjoyed sophistry so much. I’m disappointed.”
“It’s nothing compared to the excuses the Order Alliance has spouted in front of me.”
Lennok replied calmly.
“You tested me in the Spacetime of the Other Side under the pretense of guidance, and now you expect a favorable answer?”
“…”
“I’m still interested in the Alliance Leader’s proposal. I’m willing to cooperate regarding the ‘hunt’ he mentioned.”
Lennok, turning on the splashing water beneath his feet, said.
“But with things as they are, how much can I really trust your Alliance?”
“…”
Lennok sneered at the silent Harvester Spell Master.
“At the very least, I can’t cooperate until I’ve spoken directly with the Alliance Leader himself about this situation. That’s all.”
“I am a blade that moves according to the will entrusted to me by the Alliance Leader.”
The Harvester Spell Master replied.
“Regardless of what Van thinks, or what outcome you desire, I merely carry out his message.”
“…”
“Very well. If Van truly intends to refuse the chalice offered by the Alliance Leader—”
The Harvester Spell Master, smearing his own blood over his tattooed forearm, tilted his head back.
“Then I suppose I have no choice but to become the penalty drink for Van.”
“…”
“The secrets Van hides. The existence of a spellcraft you didn’t inform the Alliance Leader about. The reason only you could twist the Veil.”
The Harvester Spell Master’s gaze turned chilling.
“I will confirm it right here, right now.”
“Still lost in vain delusions, are we?”
Lennok pointed a finger at the sky.
“The Eight Great Dragon Kings of the Deep Sea Domain. You weren’t properly fighting them from the start to find me, were you?”
“…”
No matter how strong the Harvester Spell Master’s combat power, defeating Alohan in the Deep Sea Domain in such a short time was impossible.
And if the Harvester Spell Master had somehow caused Alohan’s Water God Spellcraft to rampage and lose control—
“Over here, Alohan.”
Kiiiing!!
As Lennok burst mana from his fingertips, he simultaneously dissolved his hidden presence.
At the same time, the Water Dragon, rampaging and roaring in the mist, glared fiercely in the direction where the Harvester Spell Master stood.
As Lennok raised his mana, seeing the massive body of the Water Dragon plunging towards them with terrifying speed.
[Ooooooh!!!!]
KWAANG!!!
The massive Water Dragon slammed its head into the mist-shrouded canyon, and the canyon began to collapse.
Shattered rock and thickets rapidly fell down the canyon’s cliff.
Yet, in that indiscriminate attack, neither Lennok nor the Harvester Spell Master suffered a single scratch.
They had simply climbed onto the Water Dragon’s body, which was embedded in the canyon, pressing themselves firmly against its blue scales.
Crackle!!
[Overpowering Thunder: Blossom]
Electricity spun from Lennok’s fingertips, blossoming like a blue flower and exploding towards the Harvester Spell Master.
Immediately after a flash of lightning gleamed through the collapsing canyon, a brilliant blue magical light pierced through the mist.
It collided with the Cleaving Cut unleashed by the Harvester Spell Master in mid-air, scattering into fragments.
Tzzzzang!!
“Over here!!!”
Simultaneously, from all directions of the misty canyon, superhumans of the Water God Clan, with gills, rushed forward like arrows.
The Water God Clan members deftly navigated the steep cliffs, manipulating water currents as they ran.
“Capture the Short-lived Being spellcaster. Assist Lord Alohan!!”
“We must kill the Alliance here and reclaim the Ruyi Orb!!”
While the Starfish had bought them time against the Water God Clan, even that had its limits.
Even that monster would have found it difficult to conceal the direction or location of a mana-flooded canyon.
Boom!!
Dozens of Water God Clan members simultaneously dropped down, as if to encircle Lennok and the Harvester Spell Master atop the Water Dragon.
Compressed water currents, spear blades, and Cleaving Cuts intersected and revolved complexly amidst the collapsing canyon.
Kagagagak!!!
Upon the violently shaking body of the Water Dragon, the Spell Master elegantly turned to evade the gleaming lightning.
He instantly closed the distance, leaning his body as if to put his back to Lennok, then accelerated in a flash and vanished.
“My Harvester Spellcraft (刈荷術式) is the power to sever that which is carried.”
The Harvester Spell Master, tilting his head towards Lennok, whispered in a low voice.
“But because of that, the spellcraft’s activation must always use ‘the karma I have received’ as its power source.”
“A trick…!!”
A Curse-Word (呪言) that forcibly amplified the spellcraft’s power by elaborating on its nature.
To the Harvester Spellcraft, characterized by having no prelude, he forcibly added a prelude by imbuing it with incantation and a Curse-Word.
An incantation that added a Curse-Word to sever an unseen, intangible entity, just as when he had cut the Veil.
Lennok wouldn’t give him the chance to activate the spellcraft.
Lennok, turning with a cold expression, raised his mana and unleashed a barrage of Flickers.
Lennok’s hand, wreathed in thick lightning, deflected all the gleaming Cleaving Cuts from every direction and ruthlessly struck the Spell Master’s solar plexus.
Paaang!!!
“Khhh…!!”
A chilling lightning strike pierced the Spell Master, who had easily evaded the Water God Clan’s currents and spear blades, and even Alohan’s rampage.
Immediately after, the Spell Master’s body sharply contorted at a right angle, his face twisting in horrific agony.
Just one hit, and it felt as if all his internal organs were twisting.
Even the Harvester Spell Master, having undergone Corpse Ghost Transformation, felt an excruciating pain as if his nerves were severed and his soul fragmented.
[Cleaving Cut (斬切)]
Kagagak!!
Even as he profusely vomited blood, he desperately activated his Severing Spellcraft, unleashing a Cleaving Cut and pushing Lennok back.
Even in his dazed state, the Harvester Spell Master instinctively swung a Cleaving Cut, reacting to create distance.
‘His technique is one thing, but with a Corpse Ghost-transformed body, his durability is absurd.’
Lennok gazed down at the twitching Harvester Spell Master with a cold stare.
The canyon collapsed and transformed chaotically as Alohan and the Water God Clan members rampaged in turns.
They were somehow holding Lennok back amidst the relentless, indiscriminate assault.
His formidable artistry showed no flaws, from the power of his Cleaving Cuts and spellcraft deployment to his movement, reactions, and body control.
[First Glimpse (一覺)]
KWAANG!!!
The moment Lennok formed a hand seal with his right hand, an immense amount of lightning burst forth from behind his shoulder as if exploding.
[Sky-Piercing Thunderbreak (穿雷崩)]
The vast currents covering the steep cliff bent at his gesture, instantly transforming into colossal lightning stakes.
As the lightning plunged into his entire body, the Spell Master gritted his teeth with a pained expression and spoke.
“Because it’s a power that forges the damage I’ve personally received and borne into a blade to unleash it…!!”
Flash!!
Before he could finish speaking, the Sky-Piercing Thunderbreak’s lightning bolt diagonally struck the Harvester Spell Master’s entire body.
At that moment, Saint-tier magic, among lightning magic, that reached the pinnacle of pure output, descended upon the Spacetime of the Other Side.
The brilliant blue Lightning Radiance drew a colossal circle, striking powerful lightning bolts all around the canyon.
Kugwagwagwagwa!!!
The entire canyon violently shook, vaporizing both mist and earth without distinction.
Following the trajectory of the Sky-Piercing Thunderbreak’s strike, deep scars remained in the canyon, forming a cavern.
At the end of the newly formed cavern, the Harvester Spell Master stood, swaying precariously.
“—My deficiencies are completed as a blade acting on authority, a miracle.”
“…”
At his feet lay a mangled Water God Clan member, holding a trident.
“Cough…!! You bastard…!!”
“So it’s a power that directly converts all received damage into the fuel for your spellcraft.”
Lennok asked, staring at the Harvester Spell Master with a stern expression.
“That’s also why you could cut the Veil with that spellcraft.”
Harvester Spellcraft was the power to unleash all damage inflicted upon oneself as a Cleaving Cut.
The Harvester Spell Master had gathered all the damage inflicted upon his body and unleashed a Cleaving Cut to counter the Sky-Piercing Thunderbreak’s magic.
As the damage from Alohan and the assault from the Water God Clan had been immense.
The Spell Master, too, had been able to create a Cleaving Cut capable of protecting himself from the Sky-Piercing Thunderbreak’s firepower.
“It’s time.”
The Spell Master smiled, pointing to the spatial rift located above the canyon.
“The path to Kundara that Van opened will soon close.”
“…”
“If you truly wish to go to Outer Tribulation City, you’ll have to twist the Veil using your ‘method’ once more.”
Even if the Veil was twisted using Celestial Spellcraft, the spell’s effect wouldn’t last forever.
That’s why the Harvester Spell Master had been stalling for time against Lennok, waiting for the spatial rift to close.
He wasn’t merely saying this to secure circumstantial evidence of Lennok’s Celestial Spellcraft.
The Harvester Spell Master’s obsession seemed to demand that he must see the Celestial Spellcraft with his own two eyes.
Was that the condition to move the Alliance Leader residing in the Glass Garden?
“Indeed.”
But even after his thoughts reached that point, Lennok immediately reached into his pocket.
“But aren’t you missing something?”
“Excuse me?”
Lennok asked.
“You didn’t cut the Veil and open the path just for me, did you?”
“…Could it be?”
Olivera Ron Maize was nowhere to be seen.
The moment the Harvester Spell Master realized this fact, the expression vanished from his face.
[Adamant. I found it.]
Thump!!
Olivera, clad in a flamboyant robe, appeared from the opposite side of the collapsing canyon.
In her hand, the Corpse Ghost Spell Master, with a pale complexion, was struggling, held by the scruff of his neck.
“Whoa, whoaaaaat…!!”
[Hiding on the border of the Deep Sea Domain, it took even my Mystic Eye a while to find you.]
Olivera, her Mystic Eye glowing beyond her veil, looked at the Corpse Ghost Spell Master and said with a hint of a smile.
[What a bother.]
“Heh, heheh…”
The Corpse Ghost Spell Master glanced nervously at Olivera, forcing an awkward smile.
“I, I thought I hid pretty well, b-but how did you know…?”
[I’ll give you three.]
Olivera’s Mystic Eye narrowed.
[Drop that bug who calls himself the Alliance Leader’s blade down the cliff, right now.]
“W-we… we traveled together, even if just for a short while, didn’t we…?”
[Two.]
Seeing Olivera, who was sharp as a knife, the Corpse Ghost Spell Master tried desperately to defuse the situation.
“Y-yes, I’ll, I’ll talk to the Harvester Spell Master, so, so please calm down for now…”
[One.]
“Whoa!!”
The moment Olivera gripped the Corpse Ghost Spell Master by the scruff of his neck and stretched her hand towards the bottom of the canyon.
The pale and terrified Corpse Ghost Spell Master squeezed his eyes shut and began to incant a spellcraft.
“…Oh dear.”
At that moment, the Harvester Spell Master’s body began to move towards the cliff according to the will of the Corpse Ghost Spell Master.
The Harvester Spell Master, turning his stiff neck, asked Lennok.
“Were you targeting the Corpse Ghost Spell Master, not me, from the very beginning?”
“I’ve been thinking about it since the moment the Corpse Ghost Spell Master disappeared.”
Lennok replied, looking at the Harvester Spell Master with his arms crossed.
“There had to be a reason why you, who didn’t care about the Corpse Ghost Spell Master’s life or death, hid him.”
“…”
Because he had transformed his body into a Corpse Ghost using Corpse Ghost Spellcraft, he was inevitably affected by the manipulation of Corpse Ghost Spellcraft.
That’s why Lennok had Olivera locate the hidden Corpse Ghost Spell Master.
Olivera, possessing the Seven Debts Jewels Mystic Eye, was an ability user who could see through the Other Side of the Veil.
Lennok knew that if he could secure the Corpse Ghost Spell Master, he could control the Harvester Spell Master, who had become a Corpse Ghost.
Whoosh!!!
The Harvester Spell Master slowly walked and stood at the edge of the swaying cliff.
Below the cliff of the canyon, so deep and misty that its bottom was invisible.
It was a spacetime close to an Imaginary Dimension, existing within the Other Side of the Veil.
What existed below the cliff, or whether one could survive the fall, only the one falling would know.
“I won’t kill you with my own hands right here.”
Lennok said, looking at the Spell Master’s back.
“I’m still interested in the matter of the Second Apostle. But if it comes to this, the Alliance Leader will understand my answer.”
“…”
“If you want something, don’t use trivial pretexts; you’ll have to ask me directly.”
Lennok shook his head with a cold expression.
“I have no desire to cooperate with your plans if you hide in the Glass Garden and rely on others’ hands.”
“I, I see…”
The Harvester Spell Master, looking down into the misty canyon below, turned his head with a strained expression.
“However, this won’t be the end.”
“…”
“Whatever Van seeks in Outer Tribulation City, someday, without fail—”
[You talk too much.]
Whoosh!!
The Harvester Spell Master’s words could not continue any further.
As Olivera raised her hand, the Corpse Ghost Spell Master squeezed his eyes shut and manipulated his spellcraft.
The Harvester Spell Master’s body fell into the misty canyon below.
“W-whoa…!”
As the pale and terrified Corpse Ghost Spell Master crumpled to the ground, Olivera pointed at her.
[What do you intend to do with this Corpse Ghost?]
“As I said, I won’t kill him.”
Lennok replied.
“From my perspective, I still want to leave room for cooperation with the Alliance. There’s no need to completely cut ties with them just yet.”
[You say that after throwing the Harvester Spell Master down a cliff.]
“He possesses spellcraft that converts received damage into Cleaving Cuts. And having become a Corpse Ghost, it’s hard to kill him by ordinary means.”
Lennok chuckled at Olivera’s blunt remark.
“Given the limited time, I simply chose the first method that came to mind.”
[…]
“Let’s move.”
Saying so, Lennok pointed to the spatial rift he had opened using the Miniature Garden.
“Now it’s really time to go to Outer Tribulation City.”
[…Hmm.]
Olivera let out a cold sigh and sharply turned her steps.
Leaving Olivera heading towards the spatial rift, Lennok turned back to the Corpse Ghost Spell Master.
“The Order Alliance Leader seems to have a very high regard for the potential of your spellcraft.”
“Th-that’s…”
“If, by some chance, your spellcraft falls into the cult’s hands, something irreversible would happen.”
“…”
“I thought about killing you right here so you could never recover…”
Lennok narrowed his eyes, looking at the cowering Corpse Ghost Spell Master.
“It would be difficult. If you’re capable of turning your own body into a Corpse Ghost, you must have contingency plans to revive somewhere else.”
“…”
Saying so, Lennok turned to follow Olivera, who had vanished beyond the gate.
CRACK!!
The canyon cliff beneath his feet split open with a crack, and the Harvester Spell Master, covered in dust, burst out.
“Hah hah…!!!”
Dududududu!!!
The Spell Master’s form leapt up, severing the falling dirt and rocks with Cleaving Cuts, and climbing over the debris.
The Harvester Spell Master, eyes gleaming, ascended the cliff by stepping on the debris with incredible speed.
“Not yet…!!!”
“…”
The Spell Master, wreathed in utterly ominous dead thoughts, extended his hand towards Lennok.
Had he severed all falling fragments after being thrown down the cliff and climbed back up?
It would be understandable if he had used the Alliance Leader’s ‘Authority’ etched onto his body even after being controlled by the Corpse Ghost Spellcraft.
Lennok, knowing this, calmly reached into his pocket.
“A Corpse Ghost is an entity existing on the boundary between life and death, only processable through Corpse Ghost Spellcraft.”
Lennok, pulling out the Compassion of the Archangel, pointed it at the Harvester Spell Master and spoke.
“And as Corpse Ghost Transformation progresses, it becomes closer to inanimate matter than a living being.”
“Excuse me?”
“Didn’t you yourself say earlier that the Corpse Ghost Transformation was progressing?”
Lennok chuckled.
Just as he had forcibly moved the Corpse Ghost Spell Master using the Compassion of the Archangel when he attacked the Overmind.
Because in that short time, a much easier method had become available for dealing with the Harvester Spell Master, whose Corpse Ghost Transformation was progressing.
“Now you too are caught by the Compassion of the Archangel’s targeting.”
Kiiiing!!
There was no reply.
As the Compassion of the Archangel activated, the Corpse Ghost Spell Master’s body was forcibly spatially transferred.
This time, he was dropped right into the middle of the canyon’s mist, with nowhere to catch himself.
“Aaaaaah!!!”
The Harvester Spell Master’s screams faded into the distance. Lennok walked past the dumbfounded Corpse Ghost Spell Master and stepped towards the gate to Kundara.