Chapter 1185: Awakening (16)
BOOM!!!
As rock fragments shattered and flew, flames surged through the gaps.
A colossal, toad-like reptile, its entire body covered in black scales, rampaged wildly.
“Hahahaha! Stop right there, human!!”
BANG BANG BANG!!!
Every time it thrashed its limbs as if swimming on land, shockwaves exploded from the Long-lived Being’s massive body.
The monstrous beast, sliding with incredible speed through the mountain ridges, pursued Lennok.
“For something so clumsy-looking, its mobility is quite impressive.”
Lennok, increasing his speed on the bike, clicked his tongue as he glanced back.
“Is its inherent racial trait specialized in ground manipulation? This is getting annoying.”
A Magnetic Storm they encountered while traveling to participate in the Legion Parade under the alias of Cheonbeon.
An unnamed Long-lived Being from Kundara, who was chasing the Magnetic Storm, destroying mountains like a beast.
But the most astonishing fact was that this very beast was looking for Cheonbeon.
Of all things, it had recognized Lennok through a portrait in a pamphlet issued by Kundara, and was now attacking him.
Therefore, Lennok, not wanting to engage the reptile, had turned to flee, but—
CRASH!!!
A steep rock cliff split in half, and the black Long-lived Being crashed down before him.
Its muscular body, writhing with mana, was proof that its innate quality was fundamentally different from humans.
“Human, I told you I have something to say. Listen to me.”
The Long-lived Being, drooling, looked down at Lennok and grinned.
With glistening eyes, it looked at Lennok’s bike and licked its lips.
“But that fat bike. It’s surprisingly fast. Can I try riding it later, maybe?”
“Sorry, but I have an appointment, and I’m very busy.”
SCREECH!!
Lennok, finally bringing his bike to a halt, retorted.
“I don’t really have anything to say to a beast that chases Magnetic Storms.”
“No, that’s not it. You’re the wizard who directly fought Adamant Thunder, aren’t you?”
The Long-lived Being tilted its head at a bizarre angle.
“Then you’ll have to come with me. I need you.”
“I don’t understand why a Long-lived Being from Kundara would be interested in me.”
Lennok stared at the Long-lived Being with a chilling gaze.
“What happened between Kundara and Adamant Thunder has nothing to do with me. Why are you bringing that up and following me?”
“It does. To me.”
The Long-lived Being grinned.
“Thanks to Adamant Thunder smashing Kundara into ruins, I managed to escape the city in the chaos. So, to me, Adamant Thunder is a lifelong benefactor.”
“…You escaped?”
“Yeah. I just got out and was having fun, but it feels like I’m about to get caught again. So I’ll capture you and make a deal.”
THUD!!
The Long-lived Being, stomping on the shattered rock fragments it had caused, walked out and asked.
“I just want to eat and play, but the other Long-lived Beings keep trying to catch me. I don’t like that.”
“…”
“If I capture the wizard who is at odds with Adamant Thunder, Kundara’s benefactor, won’t they let me go in exchange?”
“You weren’t a Long-lived Being who simply left Kundara normally from the start, were you?”
Lennok, looking up at the Long-lived Being with a cold expression, murmured.
“Were you a prisoner, confined in Kundara’s jail, who escaped during the fall of the Western Front?”
“Not a prisoner. I just like to eat and play, that’s all.”
The Long-lived Being grumbled.
“I just picked up and ate all sorts of interesting things, but those other guys kept bothering me. That’s why I escaped.”
“Oh really?”
Lennok, dismounting his bike, chuckled and averted his gaze.
“Let’s see what was so delicious that you eagerly munched on.”
“Huh?”
VROOOM!!!
At that moment, the bike Lennok had dismounted roared ferociously, its engine revving at full power.
It accelerated explosively from a standstill, ramming into the Long-lived Being’s bulging belly.
The bike, clad in heavy metal armor and increased in weight, rammed into the Long-lived Being’s stomach with full speed, crushing it.
“Ugh…!!!”
The Long-lived Being’s eyes bulged as if to pop out, and then it vomited out all the contents of its stomach.
“BLEAAARGH!!!!”
CLATTER!!!!
Glistening objects, drenched in bodily fluids, poured out and spilled all the way to Lennok’s feet.
Ornaments adorned with lavish decorations. Or various forms of equipment imbued with mana.
Jewels that, even after being in the Long-lived Being’s stomach, were recognizable as valuable items.
Lennok’s expression, which had been impassive as he looked at the Long-lived Being’s vomit, turned incredulous.
“Jewels, ornaments, artifacts… you’ve really gorged yourself on all sorts of valuables.”
“Ugh… it hurts so much…”
“You’ve been picking up and devouring so many expensive things, and you’re acting all wronged?”
Seeing how it was happily chasing the Magnetic Storm, it must be a Long-lived Being with an innate habit of coveting metals and jewels.
If it had been stealing and devouring artifacts and jewels that weren’t its own, it was understandable that such a naive Long-lived Being would be treated as a prisoner.
Lennok asked, looking at the Long-lived Being gasping and weeping sadly.
“Just how many artifacts have you eaten since coming all this way?”
“I-I don’t know… I just picked them up and ate them because they looked delicious.”
The Long-lived Being, shedding a few tears and clutching its stomach, rolled around and turned its head with a wronged expression.
“Human, do you count how many meals you’ve eaten in your entire life!”
BOOM!!!
As the Long-lived Being slammed its fist down, the ground beneath Lennok’s feet cracked and exploded.
The scattered rock formations around them shattered upon impact, and the mountain range was crushed as if bombed.
But Lennok, leaping over the waves of mana and will-thought unleashed by the Long-lived Being, was already standing before it.
“You’re not wrong.”
Lennok murmured, extending his hand towards the Long-lived Being’s head.
“Because I also don’t count every opponent I’ve beaten to a pulp.”
[Ignition Burst (築火)]
A fire-elemental unique magic that detonates compressed flames at point-blank range.
It doesn’t require preheating, but it can only exert its full power at close range, with its potency sharply decreasing with distance.
However, Lennok’s manipulation of fire magic, having begun to wield the Crimson Star System, already freely transcended such magical limitations and definitions.
FLARE!!
With a flick of his finger, flames erupted, condensing and swirling to their extreme within Lennok’s hand.
At an invisible speed, it completely evaporated the Long-lived Being’s left horn.
BOOOOM!!!!
…!!!
The Long-lived Being, momentarily blank-faced, then belatedly understood the situation and stumbled back.
With trembling hands, the Long-lived Being fumbled at the cross-section where half its horn had vanished, letting out a grotesque groan.
“U-Aaaargh…!!!”
“Missed. I intended to knock it out in one go.”
Lennok tilted his head, watching its reaction.
“Is my output control still lacking after using it for the first time in a while? Perhaps I need more real combat experience.”
“W-What… you, human, what the…!!!”
“That’s enough, come closer.”
Lennok slowly took a step, beckoning with his hand.
“First, I’ll stomp on your entire body so you can’t move, then we’ll start again.”
“N-No!!!”
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!!!
The moment the Long-lived Being furiously slammed its hands onto the ground, a colossal rock wall surged up before Lennok.
[Incendiary Orb (炸炎球)]
[Triple Incineration (三衆化) - Repulsion (反撥)]
[Sanguine Line (血化線)]
CRUUUMBLE!!!!
The moment Lennok looked at the surging rock wall and raised his hand, a fan of flames swept over the rock wall and exploded.
Through the hundreds of shattered rock fragments, Lennok and the Long-lived Being’s forms clashed, engaging each other.
CRACK-BOOM!!!
“Gah! Ugh! Gyaaargh!!”
The beast, desperately channeling mana to resist, was unilaterally beaten by the flames Lennok unleashed.
With grotesque screams, it continually vomited out the remaining jewels and artifacts from its stomach, howling.
“True to a Long-lived Being, its innate toughness is quite respectable.”
CRUNCH!!
Lennok, stepping on the scattered rock fragments, climbed onto the Long-lived Being’s back and raised his hand.
“I can probably practice with slightly stronger magic.”
[Firebrand (火炎印)]
[Heavenfall (闡崩)]
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE!!!!
Flames that had been burning the surroundings throughout the engagement, refusing to disappear while Lennok battered the Long-lived Being, gathered above Lennok’s hand.
The rapidly converged flames then formed a colossal fist of fire, striking down upon the Long-lived Being’s head.
The fist, crushing the Long-lived Being, slammed its form into the ground, raising a massive pillar of fire in the heart of the mountain range.
[Heaven-Shattering Bloom (破踐慨禍)]
WHOOOOOSH!!!!
Lennok, walking out from the center of the counter-clockwise swirling pillar of fire, turned his head.
“It feels refreshing to exchange blows with fire magic after a while. I suppose you’re satisfied too, aren’t you?”
“Ugh, uweeeeh…”
HISS!!!
Beneath the pit where the bedrock had melted, the Long-lived Being, body inverted and buried, let out a feeble groan.
But Lennok, looking at the sadly weeping beast, opened his mouth with a cold expression.
“I intentionally didn’t take your consciousness, so you should still be able to speak.”
“W-Why… why…”
“I have some questions about Kundara. Especially regarding the Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council.”
CRACK!
Lennok stomped on the struggling Long-lived Being’s tail, forcing it to turn, and asked.
“Why is the Elder Council, not the Eight Great Dragon Kings, moving outside Kundara? Originally, that role should belong to Dragon-kind.”
“…”
“It’s not just about interacting with the secular world; the Elder Council members themselves have personally pacified the front lines. I’d like to hear the reason.”
FLARE!!
Lennok conjured flames in his hand and waved them before the Long-lived Being’s eyes.
“If you answer well, I’ll spare your life. Though you won’t be in a state to feel pain.”
The fact that the situation in Outer Tribulation City was chaotic enough for a Long-lived Being from Kundara—and a confined prisoner at that—to escape, was understandable.
What Lennok wanted to know was the reason why the Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council, high-ranking True Blood Long-lived Beings who had lived for hundreds of years, were moving simultaneously.
Why were the relatively conservative Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council stepping forward, instead of the more belligerent Eight Great Dragon Kings?
If True Bloods who hadn’t stepped forward until the very moment Outer Tribulation City was shattered were now acting, there must undoubtedly be a significant reason.
‘Each Supreme Committee Member of the Elder Council possesses power comparable to the Eight Great Dragon Kings. In fact, as spellcasters, they might even surpass the Dragon Kings.’
The reason to be wary of high-level spellcasters was that the things they could achieve with their spellcraft were truly diverse.
Since he had met a Long-lived Being he could communicate with, he wanted to obtain that information.
However—
“It, it’s coming…”
“Coming?”
The Long-lived Being flinched, shrinking its body completely, looking not at Lennok but somewhere beyond him.
It was as if it had sensed something unseen in advance and was already gripped by fear.
Just as Lennok frowned at the ominous reaction, the Long-lived Being gasped laboriously.
“No… I’ve been discovered…”
FLASH!
The half of the Long-lived Being’s horn that Lennok had incinerated with Ignition Burst began to regenerate, enveloped in green light.
Its scales, battered and bruised from the one-sided beating, and its body wounds healed at an astonishing speed.
A regeneration speed so incredible that even Lennok, who was channeling mana and observing its state, found it hard to believe.
However, the Long-lived Being, lying on its back before Lennok, trembled with fear as it watched its body recover.
“Don’t come! I was wrong! I admit it!”
“This is…”
The Long-lived Being from Kundara, who considered Adamant Thunder its benefactor and had pursued Cheonbeon.
Although it had devoured expensive artifacts and ornaments, Lennok didn’t consider it dangerous enough to kill on the spot.
He had intended to ask about the Elder Council, then give it a good thrashing so it wouldn’t follow him again, and send it back. He never imagined things would turn out like this.
“This isn’t the precursor to any healing spellcraft or healing artifact I know.”
Lennok murmured, looking at the Long-lived Being’s healing wounds.
“Is it a method that forcibly activates cellular regeneration to heal wounds by force?”
“No, it’s already, watching, here—”
RUUUMBLE…!!!
Dense bushes and tree roots, grown abundantly along the winding mountain range, surged forward.
Every green thing visible to Lennok’s eyes was now in tumultuous motion, not remaining in one place.
Living nature. Beings that had gained life and breathed.
The entire flora and fauna of the mountains vibrated, all ‘moving’ towards Lennok.
WHOOOOOSH!!!!
Above Lennok’s head, tree roots intertwined and rose, forming a colossal arched bridge.
Dense bushes and plants grew luxuriantly, adorning the naturally formed bridge.
A natural yet artificial creation, made solely of life, manipulated into existence.
ROOOOAR!!!!
Thick ancient trees, moving as if they had gained their own will, advanced as colossal tree giants.
Wild wolves, deer, and other beasts, riding on the shoulders of the tree giants, galloped with mystical mana swirling around them.
Ethereal beings and spirits nestled among the bushes and leaves darted everywhere, letting out faint laughter.
The entire nature spread before him moved as a single army, an overwhelming yet bizarre spectacle.
The moment Lennok, with an impassive face, turned his gaze, a pure and clear voice resonated.
“If you are curious about why the Elder Council members are seeking to advance onto the continent, I believe I can provide an answer.”
“…”
On the colossal arched bridge, made of intertwined life.
Someone was looking down at Lennok from the highest point, leading the army of nature.
An antique, pure white ceremonial robe, without a single speck of dust. A figure standing slightly askew, holding a wooden staff.
A white-haired woman with an impassive face, as if devoid of all emotion.
She opened her mouth towards Lennok in an even tone.
“Since Kundara’s fall, the Elder Council has been deliberating which side to take. At the same time, we resolved to handle this grave matter directly at the Supreme Committee level.”
“…You are.”
“Unlike the Eight Great Dragon Kings, who saved many Long-lived Beings during Kundara’s fall and accumulated good karma, our Elder Council was unable to step forward until the situation had settled, due to unavoidable circumstances.”
The woman, looking down at Lennok from the bridge, said.
“Therefore, the Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council have resolved to take responsibility for the negligence during the fall and step forward.”
“Responsibility, you say.”
Lennok countered.
“By saying that, do you mean you are also one of the Supreme Committee Members of the Elder Council?”
“My name is Euphoria Aosel.”
The Long-lived Being, commanding the army of nature, replied.
“I am a Supreme Committee Member of the Elder Council and the Master of Life’s Laws. The owner of the White-Winged Star. The commander of Kundara, tasked with stabilizing and pioneering the Eastern Front.”
“…”
It hadn’t even been a week since he had last seen the Eastern Continent Superhuman Power Ranking.
It wasn’t difficult to recall her name and description from his memory.
[Euphoria Aosel. Level 8 Life Spellcaster. Kundara Elder Council Supreme Committee Member.]
=One of Kundara’s highest-ranking Long-lived Beings, sweeping across the entire continent.
=A commander assigned to the Eastern Front, and a pioneer responsible for opening paths between the two continents.
=Overwhelming life spellcraft incomparable to human species. Unrivaled destructive capabilities.
=A cold and exclusive personality. A typical True Blood not benevolent towards humans.
=Presumed to be one of the very few Primitive Magic users among Long-lived Beings.
A commander in charge of the Eastern Front. An exclusive True Blood, hostile to humans. A Supreme Committee Member of the Elder Council.
However, the epithet that defined her in the Power Ranking was the fact that she was a Level 8 Life Spellcaster.
Literally, a Grand Sorcerer who defined and wielded the vague and comprehensive concept of ‘life’ in the form of spellcraft.
Possessing the life-system spellcraft that Lennok, as a freelancer, had constantly sought out—
“I know who you are. Evan Martinez.”
Euphoria said, looking at Lennok with an impassive face.
“Master of the First Gate. Apostle-Slayer. Successor of Jindun. The rightful heir who halted the Nether King’s Gabihaeng.”
“…”
“And above all, they say you’re the wizard who fought Adamant Thunder and survived.”
Lennok, listening to Euphoria’s even words, quietly channeled his mana.
Within Kundara, Adamant Thunder was known as the wizard who stopped Maleon’s rampage.
As the Long-lived Being had just shown, Kundara’s side was likely as hostile towards Cheonbeon as they were benevolent towards Adamant Thunder.
The fact that Euphoria Aosel, a Supreme Committee Member of the Elder Council, would bring up that fact at this specific moment meant that—
“If it wouldn’t be an imposition, would you accompany me to the Legion Parade?”
“…What?”
“I am on my way to the Legion Parade, having received an invitation. According to the Power Ranking, you too should be traveling to attend the parade.”
Even at Lennok’s momentarily hesitant retort, Euphoria remained impassive.
“It is my first time attending a large-scale human event, so I require assistance. Could we make a trade for your cooperation?”
“…A trade, you say? I don’t know what kind of trade you’re seeking.”
Lennok replied.
“Why is a Long-lived Being, of all things, traveling to attend the Legion Parade?”
“Because I received an offer from The Legion, for the same reason as you.”
Euphoria answered calmly.
“I have taken on the role of the now-vacant 3rd Legion Commander of Deadrise.”