Chapter 1313: The Grand General’s Mausoleum (11)
Whoosh!!!
In the heart of the burial chamber, where hot winds scattered.
Lennok, who had tossed aside the ash-covered bodies of the two Transcendent beings, slowly exhaled with his head bowed.
Thump!
“Huu…”
With each deep breath, the array device continuously expelled his overheated body temperature.
Boiling heat spread around him like a haze, blurring his vision.
“How could….”
Aileen, watching him with a stunned expression, murmured.
“Without even deploying a Domain… you killed both an Apostle and a Spell Master simultaneously?”
This wasn’t the first time Lennok had engaged in a three-way battle against a Grand Spell Master and a Seventh Apostle.
He had once defeated two Transcendent beings at the entrance to the Demonic Realm, but that was the result of a clever tactic: forcibly combining and overloading the Spell Master’s and Apostle’s Domains.
Having suffered severe damage from an unexpected spellcraft, both the Grand Spell Master and the Seventh Apostle must have come prepared this time.
It was highly likely they had anticipated and prepared for a second confrontation like this since the start of the Mausoleum conquest.
Yet, in this second battle, Lennok neither deployed his Domain nor used the same spellcraft twice.
He had merely entered the Spell Master’s and Apostle’s Domains alone, where they had sought to kill him, annihilated them both, and then exited the Domain.
A bizarre outcome: simultaneously confronting and crushing the Order Alliance Grand Spell Master and the Guido Cult’s highest-ranking Apostle through sheer power.
Aileen, even standing on his side, found it difficult to grasp that such transcendent combat power truly existed.
“When we fought at the entrance to the Demonic Realm, the Yeonri Spell Master’s and the Seventh Apostle’s Domains clashed, neutralizing each other’s abilities.”
Lennok, exhaling a puff of smoke, answered slowly and turned.
“Such a thing doesn’t happen merely by Domains overlapping. That fact itself was proof that the Spell Master’s and Apostle’s abilities were powers of a special nature… an indication that their abilities utilized the very properties or rules of the Domain.”
“…”
“Such abilities often require difficult costs or conditions, but in return, they can overturn power disparities or elemental compatibility. The Grand Spell Master and the Seventh Apostle likely didn’t avoid fighting me precisely because of their confidence in that aspect.”
Lennok walked past Aileen, who was staring blankly at the corpses, and said.
“So, I knew what I needed to prepare for if we fought again.”
“From the moment you acquired the Singularity Reactor’s core… you were already looking that far ahead.”
“I wasn’t certain. This method is, after all, merely an unstable expedient.”
Lennok replied, slowly tilting his head.
“But as long as I had the actual Singularity Reactor in my hands, I believed things would work out. I’ve been quite lucky in many ways.”
The Crimson Star System was the pinnacle of amplification spellcraft, where Lennok processed the ‘Spark’ he acquired into a Mana Core to use as its power source.
For each star within the system, Lennok had to process it directly into a core for it to orbit and coexist perfectly within the Crimson Star System.
Using the Singularity Reactor’s core as the Ninth Star without processing it was merely an expedient to forcibly draw in such a culmination, not the formal method for completing the Crimson Star System.
Because it was a temporarily created power, even the Ninth Star’s form was limited to an image borrowed from the most potent flame Lennok knew.
Yet, that alone was more than enough to kill the Grand Spell Master and the Seventh Apostle, rendering their recovery impossible.
‘It will be difficult to achieve the pinnacle of the Flame-Heat System as quickly as the Lightning Magic System. But there’s significance in having forcibly reached the Ninth, even if through an expedient.’
Although he used an expedient, if he could temporarily wield the Crimson Star System’s Ninth Star, he would soon be able to create it himself.
For now, that much significance was enough.
“…That’s not a result that can be explained by ‘luck’.”
But Aileen gave a wry smile at Lennok’s words and rose from her spot.
“The Seventh Apostle and the Grand Spell Master tried to win with their Domains because they must have concluded they had no chance in a close-quarters fight without them.”
“…”
“Honestly, I still don’t understand. How can a Transcendent with such immense power be so cautious and rational…?”
Aileen, her expression complicated, murmured as she gazed at the Spell Master’s and Apostle’s bodies.
“It wouldn’t be strange if you had gone mad or viewed others as insects by now, yet you meticulously choose the moment to use such power.”
“Do you think it’s strange?”
“No. It’s just…”
Aileen slowly turned her gaze, her eyes settling calmly.
“As far as I know, only a handful of Transcendent beings, those who hold an entire continent under their feet, can do that.”
“…”
“You’ve already reached the threshold of that. And yet, unlike them, if you remain free, unbound by any causality…”
Aileen closed her eyes, having said that much.
“You were never meant to be a part of The Agency from the start.”
Perhaps she had known from the beginning.
The Apostle-Slayer who cast aside the Watcher’s burden and left the Eyes of Blue. The Grand Mage who kicked away a Legion Commander position and clashed with Deadrise.
One who inherited Jindun’s Barrier Spellcraft yet did not bear his name. One who, despite being favored by the Lighthouse Keeper, refused to be bound anywhere.
Perhaps such freedom could not be contained within an organization like The Agency.
“Well… I don’t usually move while weighing so many meanings. I dislike complicated things.”
But Lennok shook his head, looking at Aileen’s face.
“Whether I’m affiliated or bound somewhere doesn’t matter. Such facades or shackles wouldn’t be able to affect me anyway.”
“Martinez. That’s…”
“Let’s move.”
Kwoooooosh!!!!!
In the deepest part of the vast burial chamber, where hot winds raged.
The Grand General of Brilliance’s body, enshrined on thousands of hands, constantly pulsed, submerged in the Outer God’s corrupted will-thought.
A spectacle of being forcibly offered in the Sacrificial Ritual, consumed as a medium to draw the Outer God into the Demonic Realm.
From its center, the figure of ‘someone’ desperately reached out black-stained hands towards them.
Lennok’s expression sobered as he watched the Outer God’s will settle upon the Grand General’s corpse.
“The Outer God is waiting.”
“…”
Ahh…
Stepping onto the altar made of corpses, he slowly ascended, one cautious step at a time.
With each step, the hands forming the floor curled up, grasping Lennok’s shoes with a chilling sensation.
But Lennok ignored the sensation and approached the Grand General, who lay at the center of the altar.
Ahh… Ahhhh…
With each step, waves of black hands flowing down the altar trembled as if moved, slowly extending towards him.
Unable to directly touch the approaching Lennok, they seemed to encircle and embrace his vicinity.
They touched the void beyond perception, as if handling an extremely delicate and fragile glass ornament.
I’ve been waiting…
For a very, long time… I’ve waited…
“Hah…”
Aileen, watching the scene, was speechless, exhaling a choked breath.
“What in the… how could this be….”
A strange sight: an Outer God descended from beyond the Outer Sea, seeming to revere Lennok’s presence with utmost devotion.
A bizarre phenomenon that Aileen, born in Ars Nova and having fought for a long time on the Central Front, had never witnessed before.
Even Lennok, standing amidst that rapture, didn’t seem surprised, merely gazing up at the black hands.
“I thought I’d understand if I got closer… but this won’t do.”
Lennok, silently watching the black hands circling him, spoke.
“It seems I’ll need some medium to exchange intentions with it.”
The Outer God could not perceive Lennok’s presence, as he possessed Targeted Resistance.
Even at this moment, it merely filled the entire burial chamber with its senses, indirectly perceiving Lennok where its senses could not directly reach him.
Nor did Lennok intend to hastily drop his Targeted Resistance before this inscrutable god.
He needed a catalyst that was neither his own magic nor will-thought, yet capable of communicating with the Outer God.
The solution was not far away.
“Martinez.”
Shwing—
Aileen rolled up her sleeve, placed a blade against her forearm, and cut.
She caught her True Blood as it flowed into an empty magazine, filled it, and tossed it to Lennok.
Click-clack!!
Aileen nodded as Lennok barely caught the magazine.
“Tell me if it’s not enough. As long as I don’t faint, I can give you enough ink.”
“…Aileen.”
“With a top-grade catalyst like a noble’s True Blood, even an Outer God should be able to recognize who is writing the message.”
Aileen smiled weakly, her face pale.
“Persuade it well and send it back. You can do it, right?”
“…”
She had lost so much blood during the Mausoleum conquest attempt that it might already be close to a lethal amount.
Was Aileen’s decision to discern what Lennok needed and offer her True Blood truly the right one in such a state?
But Lennok did not ask Aileen if she was okay, nor did he utter the obvious words telling her to take care of herself first.
Just as Aileen asked nothing while watching Lennok cherished by the Outer God, Lennok simply respected her judgment.
For now, he merely had to focus on using this catalyst, given by Aileen at the cost of her lifespan, with utmost caution.
Splat.
Lennok, having made up his mind, dipped his finger in the blue blood and slowly dropped it onto the altar.
The drops of blood stopped in mid-air, slowly forming characters according to Lennok’s will-thought.
= Name.
Oh, ohhh…
As if sensing the arrangement of True Blood suspended in the air, the black hands coiling around Lennok trembled.
It’s here… It’s here…
It… answered me…
“…”
The Outer God’s reaction was overly sensitive, making it impossible to receive a normal answer.
An utterly bizarre reaction, not merely favorable to Lennok, but seemingly overwhelmed with emotion.
Yet, Lennok remembered that something similar had happened before.
The gaze of Demise, which had tried to peek at Lennok’s existence whenever it had the chance from beyond the Outer Sea.
The days it had frantically called out to Lennok, searching for him, trying to confirm his presence even a little.
The great gods of that sea, whom he had avoided, considering them unapproachable Transcendent beings, monsters steeped in desire.
After a long time, had he finally reached a point where he could attempt even simple communication with them?
‘I must be careful.’
Lennok suppressed his excitement and checked the remaining True Blood Aileen had given him.
Aileen had said she would give more blood if it wasn’t enough, but a rough calculation of the blood she had already lost suggested she had likely already surpassed her limits.
He couldn’t let the opportunity she risked her life to provide be wasted due to his misjudgment or greed.
Only the necessary questions. Starting with what was most crucial to ask.
The order was thus determined.
= The reason all Outer Gods descend at the time of Demise.
Demise…
Reason…
Question…?
Had it only just now understood that Lennok was questioning it?
The movements of the black hands coiling everywhere suddenly slowed.
As if it needed a long time to comprehend the action.
As if converting and interpreting a mode of thought that didn’t exist for an Outer God into human concepts.
It’s the last… story…
Slowly, the flowing black hands responded.
This world, the last…
This world, the first…
The first and the last… together… are beautiful…
A long journey… ending…
“…”
As expected, about half of the Outer God’s answer was completely incomprehensible.
All he could understand was that this world might be the last in the entire universe.
A cruel truth he vaguely knew, yet which became more despairing the more he thought about it.
He forcibly stopped his thoughts and immediately recalled the next question he needed to ask.
What was important in this situation, after all—
= Interruption of the Sacrificial Ritual. The Grand General of Brilliance’s body.
Promise…
Price…
I’ve been waiting…
However, even after reading the keywords Lennok presented, the Outer God murmured incomprehensible words.
As if it didn’t grasp the concept of questions and answers, as if it didn’t know what to say.
It merely repeated its murmured words like an echo, slowly re-evaluating their meaning.
For a long time… I’ve been waiting…
I was waiting…
= What are you waiting for?
What I’m waiting, for…
…
The silence lengthened.
The black hands that had been gently caressing Lennok receded, and even the vibration of the burial chamber momentarily quieted.
At that ominous reaction, Lennok instinctively drew up his magic, and Aileen held her breath. At that very moment.
The black hands slowly inclined their will and swayed.
In the instant Lennok vaguely understood that it was akin to a head-tilt.
What I’m waiting for…
Is you…
The words the Outer God slowly whispered were utterly unexpected, even in this incomprehensible exchange.
…From beyond…
You… are waiting…
“…Waiting.”
For a moment, Lennok murmured, forgetting even the current situation.
“Me…?”
A long journey… ending…
The last… moment…
Suddenly, the Outer God’s faint whispers abruptly ceased.
An utterly ominous silence. The air grew sharp and taut.
As if re-evaluating the meaning of its own words, the black hands slowly swelled in place.
…
…
…I, am
Snap.
An ominous tearing sound, as if something was breaking within the black hands, reverberated.
A sense of unease, as if the Outer God’s will, which had been communicating with Lennok, was itself distorting and splitting apart.
Simultaneously, grotesque, hive-like growths began to sprout on the surface of the black hands.
…Ah
A faint death rattle.
An immense shriek that eclipsed the previous whispers by thousands of times.
■■■■■■■■■■■—
KWAOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Suddenly, the black hands covering the altar around Lennok thrashed wildly and exploded.
As if overwhelmed by immeasurable pain, seemingly losing its mind.
Forgetting even communication, it unleashed a monstrous roar, an inarticulate bellow.
“…!!!!”
“Martinez!!!”
The black hands flailing everywhere violently ripped apart the altar, and from the impact, Lennok plummeted.
Aileen, utterly aghast, barely managed to rush over and catch Lennok’s falling body.
“Snap out of it!!!”
“…It’s fine. This isn’t a problem from my side.”
Lennok, his face pale, lifted his gaze to the sky.
“The halted Sacrificial Ritual has begun again. Someone has intervened and started tampering with the ritual.”
“That’s impossible…!!”
The Outer God, descended via the Grand General’s corpse, had deliberately refrained from proceeding with the ritual for Lennok’s sake.
But with someone’s intervention, the Sacrificial Ritual resumed, and the empowered Outer God’s will was now ceaselessly overflowing.
And Lennok had an idea of who could accomplish such a feat within this burial chamber.
“A being who, though unqualified to preside over the Sacrificial Ritual, can still intervene in it.”
Lennok turned his gaze towards the back of the burial chamber with a cold expression.
“The individual capable of doing something like this was determined from the start.”
[…Ahaha.]
A snickering whisper was heard.
[You’re much sharper than the rumors say, Martinez.]
Whoooosh!!!!
Pale light warped into a circle, rising as a small halo.
From amidst the crumbled debris, a corpse clad in the cult’s ceremonial robes slowly walked out.
The corpse of a priest, embracing its own head with both hands, walked forward, its body headless.
[I heard you were so loyal you were foolish, but seeing you in person, it seems that’s not entirely true.]
“…No way.”
Aileen’s expression stiffened as she realized the corpse was holding Molton Cardinal’s head.
But Lennok, unperturbed by the Cardinal’s corpse, slowly drew up his magic.
Through the Corrupted Golden Rule, a golden melody spread across Lennok’s vision.
The Severed Plane of Causality hung densely around the Cardinal’s corpse, broken and fragmented.
Molton Cardinal’s life and causality had long since been severed and extinguished.
If so, then the one moving his body instead was, of course—
[Pleasure to meet you, Apostle-Slayer.]
The moment the Cardinal’s head opened its lips, a sharp female voice echoed.
[I am the caretaker of the pigs you’ve diligently been slaughtering. You know that without me having to tell you, don’t you?]}
“…Ureka Naydree.”
Ureka Naydree, the 11th Priestess of the Guido Cult.
The heretic who, after succeeding Seina as Priestess, had been trampling upon the cult’s order and hierarchy.
The cult’s Priestess, who had been ceaselessly spreading chaos across the continent starting with Anathema’s corruption, had finally appeared in the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors.
And she did so by using the corpse of the Cardinal, who had hated the Priestess enough to reveal the cult’s plans to Lennok, as her vessel.
Ureka burst into sharp laughter.
[I don’t think we need formal introductions, Cheonbeon. You and I both know perfectly well who the other is.]
“I knew you would intervene somehow once the situation was twisted by Yaksha’s involvement.”
Lennok said with an impassive face.
“But I didn’t expect you to even recycle a Cardinal’s corpse. Are you really that attached to things you’ve used and discarded?”
[Heh heh, from the way you’re babbling, it seems you’ve heard a bit about me. Surprised I didn’t use the Seventh Apostle as a vessel?]
The corpse’s fingers, holding the Cardinal’s head, moved to stretch its lips wide.
Through Molton Cardinal’s head, now twisted into a grotesque smile, the Priestess spoke mockingly.
[As you, who massacred the cult’s Far Eastern Branch, would know well, there are many utterly narrow-minded fools in the cult, enough to make you want to kill them. This old man was one of them.]
“…”
[Fools who are so intoxicated with serving Him that they can’t even distinguish what truly benefits the cult. I knew from the start that such imbeciles dared to find me contemptible… so I decided to use them.]
The Priestess said leisurely.
[As insurance, to wield these Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors according to my will.]
“Insurance…?”
At that moment, Aileen realized why the Priestess had appeared, moving the Cardinal’s corpse.
The 11th Priestess was neither so idle nor benevolent as to personally descend in response to Lennok’s call.
Rather, her nature was to manipulate situations to her liking, preferring to use and discard even Apostles as mere pawns.
If so, then the Priestess’s appearance at this very moment was also—
“You thought the Cardinal’s body was more suitable as a vessel to intervene in the Sacrificial Ritual.”
Lennok slowly turned his body.
“From the start, you intended to forcibly intervene in the ritual and use it as a sacrifice for the Pontiff’s incarnation.”
[If this vermin in the Cardinal’s guise revealed the cult’s grand plan to you, then you know what I want, don’t you?]
The Priestess said leisurely.
[However, watching what that Yaksha fellow was doing, I realized there was no need for me to stop the Sacrificial Ritual.]
“No need…?”
[I intended to test if the Grand General’s body could serve as His vessel, but if something far more magnificent is possible, why hesitate?]
Splosh!!
The moment the corpse, which had dropped the Cardinal’s head at its feet, brought its hands together as if in prayer.
Around the Priestess, a pale magic circle exploded outwards, covering the burial chamber.
A formidable sight: pale holy light devoured not only the burial chamber but also the Sacrificial Ritual itself.
[As one who serves causality, I cannot miss this opportunity, with the Outer God’s will descended so close to this world.]
Amidst the overflowing light, the Priestess whispered softly.
[I will completely overlay the Incarnation Ritual, prepared for His advent, onto this Sacrificial Ritual.]
Kwaaaaah!!!!
Suddenly, the Outer God’s will-thought falling towards the Grand General began to slowly change.
The hunger that had intended to completely devour the Grand General’s body faded, and a much more sinister will-thought settled upon this world.
It was not devouring the Grand General of Brilliance, but rather, an even greater presence seemed to descend upon his body.
Oooooooooh—!!!!
[I call forth the god with the emblem He bestowed, and act on the god’s will with the promise He left behind.]
Amidst the raging holy light, the Priestess grinned.
[If the incarnation succeeds like this, the Outer God’s will shall inhabit the Grand General’s body, and He will be reborn as a new being. What could be more magnificent than that?]
“That’s impossible, that’s…!!”
[No, it’s possible. He has already done it once before.]
The Priestess’s eyes, as she looked back at the Grand General’s body, turned cold.
[If He gathered His First Apostle in such a way, then I can do it too, can’t I?]