Chapter 1195: Military Parade (9)
Clank!!
As Lennok entered the hospital room, soldiers emerged from all directions of the ward.
Their unfamiliar uniforms bore the insignia of the 3rd Legion on their chests. The soldiers, with cold expressions, watched Lennok, their hands gripping all kinds of firearms.
They were fully armed, their mana pushed to its limit, observing Lennok’s every move.
Not only the officer who guided Lennok and Enel, but even the medical staff in the ward, stiffened their expressions at their chilling intensity.
“P-please, not during treatment……”
As soon as Lennok stepped into the ward, a torrent of murderous intent and gazes poured down on him.
It was a surge of emotion from the 3rd Legion soldiers, assigned to escort Lieutenant General Robert Loveride.
“For an escort mission protecting a general, they don’t seem keen on hiding their emotions, do they?”
But Lennok didn’t bat an eye at the murderous intent of the soldiers glaring at him from behind.
“If you bring such individuals as escorts, wouldn’t the life that was barely revived be wasted?”
“This…!”
“Puhahaha! That’s not wrong.”
Just as the soldiers, veins bulging in their necks, tightened their grip on their guns, Robert Loveride burst into laughter.
The Lieutenant General stroked his scar-disfigured jaw, then raised a hand to the soldiers.
“My 3rd Legion Assault Unit are not warriors meant for such missions. It’s inevitable that they might seem immature in your eyes.”
“Commander…!”
“Jesse. Stand back.”
Robert Loveride stopped the soldiers with a resolute gaze.
“This is not a man you can face. He is a guest whom I must greet personally to match his standing.”
“Nearly 30% of the 3rd Legion’s Assault Unit was annihilated by this wizard…!”
The soldier, called Jesse, said with a distorted expression.
“We lost countless comrades. Are you telling us to let it go here?”
“It was done for the Legion.”
Robert Loveride said in a firm voice.
“It was a dedication to a greater cause, and if it failed, that’s the end of it. Or were you serving the Legion for some other purpose?”
“… …”
“The death of subordinates is sad and tragic, but if it moved this man to join the Legion, then it was not meaningless.”
The Lieutenant General gazed intently at Lennok and said in a resolute tone.
“Originally, even my death should have been a reason to move this man. Yet, I am alive to see his face, so I feel ashamed.”
“You bathed in a lava pit and still haven’t come to your senses.”
Lennok shook his head with an unenthusiastic expression.
“So, how did you survive there? According to Mirva, I thought not even your corpse was recovered.”
In the battle against Robert Loveride, Lennok had used the Hellfire Illusion Palace to forcibly rampage his Miniature Universe.
Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe, Cheondun (遷鈍), was an enhancement ability that explosively increased its power by adding weight according to his will-thought.
Therefore, at the point his Miniature Universe went out of control, Robert Loveride should have been unable to withstand his own weight and plunged into the lava beneath the ground.
No matter how excellent a superhuman, one cannot endure eternally in lava, so he should have become mere blood, leaving no corpse behind.
But Robert Loveride, though covered in burns, was visibly alive and appeared before Lennok.
“It was because of the Miniature Universe you made rampage.”
The Lieutenant General said leisurely, lying on the bed.
“I don’t know the specific details myself, but my Miniature Universe is not originally a power based on a Root Mindscape or achievement.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“It’s closer to the enlightenment received from a great warrior, truly worthy of being called a War God, a pinnacle of power that even I, loyal to the Legion, was captivated by.”
Robert Loveride averted his gaze.
“That’s why the Miniature Universe you rampaged couldn’t completely destroy my Root Mindscape, allowing me to regain consciousness at an earlier time.”
“… …”
It was a somewhat difficult answer, but Lennok had no trouble understanding what Robert Loveride was trying to say.
In summary, because the Lieutenant General’s Miniature Universe was not an ability based on his own Root Mindscape, his Mindscape wasn’t destroyed even when the Miniature Universe ran wild.
And that was possible because his Miniature Universe was the remnant of enlightenment passed down from someone else.
He wondered if a person of Level 8, a Legion Commander no less, was spouting absurdities, but since he himself had returned alive, it couldn’t be entirely denied.
There was no one to help the Lieutenant General plunged into the lava, so he wouldn’t have been able to save his life without acting himself.
“I’ve never thought my hand was so lax that I couldn’t properly ensure a kill.”
Lennok slowly wiggled his finger.
“Then, should I settle the fight we had back then, even now?”
Clank!!
This time, the soldiers aimed their guns at Lennok’s back and placed their fingers on the triggers.
“Kyaaak!!”
“W-wait!! Just a moment!!”
The medical staff, their faces pale, stammered and retreated.
As non-superhumans, even the mana swirling in this room would be hard for them to endure.
But Lennok paid no mind to the medical staff or the soldiers, looking only at the former 3rd Legion Commander.
It was a terrible coincidence that Euphoria Aosel’s patient happened to be Lieutenant General Robert Loveride.
Yet, everyone understood that at this point, the battle from back then had to be concluded.
“Firebrand. You truly see me as an idiot.”
But Robert Loveride laughed heartily, unconcerned by Lennok’s sharp question.
“I may be earnest, but I am not foolish. Did I seem like a commander so dim-witted that I couldn’t admit I lost that fight?”
“… …”
“I cannot lie and say I have no regrets about that day’s battle. It is true I owe a debt to my deceased subordinates. But!”
Robert Loveride stared at Lennok with an intense gaze.
“For a powerful wizard like you to join the Legion holds meaning that transcends all grudges and causality.”
“… …”
“This is a step forward, bringing the Legion closer to its stated cause than ever before. For that, even the pain of defeat and resentment must be endured.”
The Lieutenant General’s voice was utterly resolute, as if trying to sever the 3rd Legion’s lingering attachments right then and there.
“That is what it means to be loyal to the Legion and dedicate one’s life.”
“You’re still making arbitrary assumptions and drawing conclusions. Have you learned nothing after dying once and coming back to life?”
Lennok sneered.
“The reason you lost that fight was because you arbitrarily judged and assessed my abilities. If you haven’t realized that, the outcome would be the same no matter how many times we fought again.”
“Perhaps.”
Robert Loveride grinned, still lying on the bed.
“So, are you thinking of killing me again, even now?”
“… …”
“If you wish, I would gladly offer this wretched life of mine again. It was yours anyway the moment I lost the fight.”
“Commander!”
Ignoring the voices of the soldiers shouting behind him, Lennok fell into thought.
That Robert Loveride was alive was unexpected, but it was merely due to a secret held by his Miniature Universe that Lennok was unaware of.
The Lieutenant General’s existence was neither a significant threat to Lennok, nor had any dangerous secrets been exposed that would necessitate killing him.
At most, he had revealed the true abilities of the Hellfire Illusion Palace in the process of dealing with him.
Instead of killing him here, it would be better to leave him to Euphoria and focus on his original objective.
“Euphoria.”
“Is it finally over?”
Euphoria, who had been observing the situation beside Lennok, said with an expressionless face.
“It’s hard to understand the belligerence of Short-lived Beings. Are you contemplating a reason to cut him down, even though your opponent has conceded?”
“No. There’s no need to kill this man again. I’ll leave the Lieutenant General’s disposition to you.”
“Unlike Short-lived Beings, I do not enjoy pointless waste of time.”
Having said that, Euphoria stood before the hospital bed where Robert Loveride lay.
“Let’s begin immediately.”
“Ah, so you’re the ‘healing spellcaster’ that headquarters invited.”
Robert Loveride looked up at Euphoria and chuckled.
“I heard I temporarily handed over the position of 3rd Legion Commander for my smooth treatment. Was being a Legion Commander manageable?”
“I’ve answered several times, but I have no interest in leading the forces of Short-lived Beings.”
Euphoria said with an expressionless face.
“I merely took on the Commander’s position temporarily to omit complex procedures during the treatment process. It will be meaningless once the deal is concluded.”
So, Euphoria receiving the 3rd Legion Commander position was itself a kind of arrangement for Robert Loveride’s treatment.
Looking back now, he could guess how the deal between Euphoria and headquarters had proceeded.
“Well, if they went to such lengths to bring you, there’s no need to doubt your skill.”
The Lieutenant General wiggled his finger and said.
“I look forward to it. I’m completely burned and crushed, you see, so vague healing spellcraft won’t have much effect……”
“I know.”
Euphoria cut off Robert Loveride and said.
“All the nerves in his body are crushed, and due to the concentrated heat within his body, his temperature isn’t decreasing, causing his cells to melt.”
“… …”
“His metabolism has stopped, so injecting nutrients through IV is the limit. Even then, he’s probably forcing his collapsing body to hold on using will-thought.”
Euphoria looked down at the Lieutenant General with an indifferent gaze and tilted her head.
“It must be getting difficult to maintain consciousness. If you have any last words, I’ll listen.”
“…If you know that much, there’s no reason to delay further.”
The smile on Robert Loveride’s lips faded slightly.
“This is your last chance. If you fail, there won’t be time to find another method. So, whether it’s Life Spellcraft or healing spellcraft, can you please decide quickly? Whether I should live or die, I’d like to decide soon and rest.”
“Unfortunately, the deal with Legion Command is not to inter you in a grave.”
Euphoria raised her hands and said.
“You may decide the matter of life and death yourself after the treatment is complete.”
At the moment her hands lightly clenched and unclenched above Robert Loveride’s upper body.
Robert Loveride’s upper body split open, revealing his muscles, nerves, and organs.
Whoosh!!
A gruesome cross-section where blood vessels were crushed, preventing even blood from flowing. A heart barely maintaining its shape between twisted ribs.
Robert Loveride’s eyebrows twitched instantly, and the soldiers standing around the ward gasped.
“W-what in the world!!!”
“When using Life Spellcraft on others, you must delicately adjust the spellcraft’s efficiency.”
Euphoria rolled up her sleeves behind the astonished medical staff.
“In severe cases like this, you must completely incise the body and use spellcraft to maximize efficiency.”
“… …”
“I am explaining this to you, Evan Martinez.”
Euphoria turned her gaze to Lennok, slowly raising her mana.
“From now on, I will use Life Spellcraft to treat this Short-lived Being, so observe it with your own eyes.”
An 8-level Life Spellcaster whose lineage was difficult to find anywhere on the continent.
This was the sole opportunity to confirm whether Lennok’s vitality or lifespan could be replenished by Life Spellcraft, specifically at the moment she focused on healing a human using a form of Primitive Magic akin to ancient mystery.
Nodding, Lennok approached. Simultaneously, Euphoria closed her eyes and raised both hands.
Paaaat!!!
As Euphoria clasped her hands together, a green ripple rotated around her.
“Creation Harmonization Technique (昌生調術) Inner Method (內法).”
Primitive Magic (原始魔法): Creation Harmonization Technique (昌生調術)
Eight Forms (八種) - Inner Method (內法)
[Stay Life (留生)]
Paaaaaah!!!!
A green light erupted from Euphoria’s hands, instantly filling the hospital room.
A warm glow filled the entire top floor of the ward, extending even outside.
In the dazzling warmth that made even observers close their eyes for a moment, Lennok watched Euphoria.
It wasn’t that Lennok lacked the ability to heal his body, like the healing Spark he took from the Blaiver Magic Tower Lord.
What Lennok truly desired was the ability itself to manipulate living beings or directly interfere with biological information.
Through that, he sought to confirm if his lifespan could be directly or indirectly altered.
For that, he would have to observe the moment Euphoria used her Life Spellcraft and steal the core of the spellcraft.
Chiiiiiik!!!
Wherever Euphoria’s hand passed, Robert Loveride’s entire body melted, and immediately afterward, new flesh sprouted.
The disfigured skin, organs, blood vessels, nerves, and visceral muscles, all were touched and made targets of the spellcraft.
‘She isn’t simply using Life Spellcraft to heal the body.’
Lennok, watching from the side, fell into thought.
‘She’s not repairing the cell tissue melted by high temperatures, but completely killing it once, then regenerating it with spellcraft.’
Life Spellcraft was a miracle activated upon living beings.
Its power extended from manipulating the movement of life to forcibly triggering cell death and regeneration.
Euphoria was killing Robert Loveride by causing cell death, then regenerating him entirely to repair his damaged body.
‘Indeed, this way, even someone on the verge of death could be forcibly revived. But…’
Lennok understood the principle by which Euphoria treated Robert Loveride, but learning the spellcraft was a different matter entirely.
Moreover, if that spellcraft was not ordinary magic but Primitive Magic, the difficulty was self-evident.
It was something that couldn’t even be attempted without observing the movements of will-thought and mana, and discerning the fundamental principles of the spellcraft.
Lennok heightened his consciousness, pushing his magical senses to their limit, observing everything happening in the ward.
Above Robert Loveride’s chest, where Euphoria was using Life Spellcraft.
The moment he focused on the healing incision, Lennok felt a strong sense of déjà vu and paused.
‘…This is.’
It wasn’t from Euphoria’s Life Spellcraft, but an incongruity he felt from the injured, bleeding Robert Loveride.
The 3rd Legion Commander’s inner Miniature Universe, who had lost consciousness sometime during the procedure, was reacting to Lennok.
Kiiiiiiing…!!!
The identity and foundation that make up a human being. The mental image that makes one exist as oneself.
A warrior who uses their body as a weapon also possesses a Root Mindscape, even if they don’t directly project it into reality.
Lennok had raised his consciousness to observe the Life Spellcraft and had inadvertently peered into Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe.
This was likely because Lennok had once directly caused Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe to rampage with his own spellcraft a long time ago.
At that time, the memories and will-thought that had overflowed from Robert Loveride’s mind, now, after a long time, flowed back into Lennok.
Paaaat!!
Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe, Cheondun (遷鈍).
The moment he peered into the foundation of the Miniature Universe that expanded mass and added weight, Lennok could see someone’s back beyond it.
[This is the last deal with the Legion, you worm.]
An endlessly sprawling battlefield. A blood-soaked giant body. Oily, glistening black scales.
The figure of a giant standing atop countless corpses of soldiers.
The moment he realized that this was the identity of the War God engraved in Robert Loveride’s Root Mindscape.
“Evan Martinez.”
As his vision darkened, Euphoria, with an expressionless face, stood before him.
“The treatment is finished. After about a week of recuperation and starting rehabilitation, living a normal life shouldn’t be difficult.”
“… …”
“You seemed quite focused. Were you satisfied with the results of observing my spellcraft?”
Lennok finally came to his senses and looked around the chaotic hospital room.
Robert Loveride, eyes closed in sleep, was being transferred on the hospital bed.
Medical staff moved busily, checking his condition, and 3rd Legion soldiers called for backup to escort him.
Relief and joy for the Lieutenant General. Wariness and hostility towards Lennok intersected and clashed in the space.
But even amidst this, Lennok was still staring blankly at the unconscious Robert Loveride.
Euphoria, finally realizing Lennok’s unusual reaction, tilted her head.
“Can you hear me now?”
“…No.”
After a long pause, Lennok answered.
“It’s different from what I expected… but it helped.”
“That’s good. I’ve already received information about the second patient to be treated. Let’s move immediately.”
Euphoria finally nodded and turned away.
“The Legion Commander Appointment Ceremony is scheduled to begin soon, with the entire Legion watching.”
Lennok gazed intently at Euphoria’s back as she followed the officer’s guidance.
More precisely, he watched Robert Loveride’s figure, moving away in a different direction than her.
The Miniature Universe, Cheondun (遷鈍), used by Robert Loveride.
The Lieutenant General had said it was enlightenment received from a War God who had reached the pinnacle of power, and the reason he had returned alive.
A completely unexpected identity of the Miniature Universe, encountered at the end of a seemingly casual answer from Lennok.
Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe, Cheondun (遷鈍), was a power derived from Croken Asylus.
“… …”
When Lennok met Croken in Yorta, he had summoned Kashuin, the Archangel of the Old World, to fight alongside him against Croken.
At that time, Kashuin had revered and scorned Croken, calling him the monster of Cheondun (天遁), but Lennok had not understood those words.
But absurdly, after a long time, Lennok was able to find a connection between those two memories.
Cheondun (遷鈍) and Cheondun (天遁).
If Robert Loveride’s Miniature Universe, which had a different meaning but the same name, was a remnant of enlightenment received from Croken.
If that ability, which expanded mass and added weight with will-thought, was related to Croken’s nearly inviolable durability.
If the reason Robert Loveride returned alive, despite Lennok making his Miniature Universe rampage, lay there.
“Commander. There’s something I need to tell you before the Legion Commander Appointment Ceremony begins.”
“…Yes. I’ll listen on the way.”
Lennok was roused from his thoughts by Enel’s words and began to move.
A great warrior, called a War God even by the Lieutenant General loyal to the Legion, and revered as the pinnacle of power.
Bearing countless curses on his entire body, an innate strength that stepped back one pace from its origin.
Either way, it was clear that the concept of Cheondun was related to Croken Asylus.
Ethan Bajour’s direct travel and documentation in Yorta.
Croken’s direct involvement in destroying the Memorial Tower and erasing all its traces.
Events from other timelines that were vaguely remembered might, in fact, be intertwined.
The Legion knows something about Croken Asylus’s identity and origin.
It seemed a new objective for investigation had emerged for this Military Parade.