Chapter 1334: Engineered Transcendence (12)
“We stand on the boundary between the Third and Fourth.”
How much did Dadam know when she greeted Lennok with those words the moment she saw him?
“……”
Whoosh…!!
The heart of the great forest, bathed in sunlight as if time had stopped.
A woman with light-green hair sat in a cradle of an ancient tree, gazing at him with unfocused eyes.
A bright robe adorned with leaf-shaped patterns. Skin so white it was almost transparent, to the point of pallor.
Pointed ears protruding from her hair, and a hollow presence devoid of any will or emotion.
But the moment Lennok saw the woman seated in the center of that colossal tree cradle, he knew instinctively.
Ascendant Dadam.
One of the mere ten or so Ascendants remaining in the present era, and a Seeker from the Outer Lei Clan, not human.
A Transcendent from the Outer Lei Clan who had come from the outer continent, a being who had long lived in seclusion since the Empire’s fall.
A great Transcendent who had gained qualification and the right to challenge the next stage. She was undoubtedly the one sitting there.
‘I can barely sense any will or mental image…’
Lennok thought, meeting Dadam’s hollow eyes.
‘They said her mind had entered the realm of plants; she’s already half no longer a living being. Her very existence is assimilated with nature.’
It wasn’t merely that she was hiding emotions or will; her very presence was closer to a scarce, inorganic substance.
In some ways, her hollow presence was more corpse-like than the Grand General’s remains Lennok had faced in the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors.
Not simply having reached a state of ‘clear mirror, still water’ after pursuing enlightenment for a long time, but rather having become the lake itself.
Perhaps, fitting her unusual epithet ‘Dadam’ (Tea), her mind had emptied itself of all distracting thoughts, like a clear teacup.
At that point, Lennok was convinced that the Ascendant before him was an incredibly powerful individual.
He had vaguely thought that, due to rumors of her mind being plant-like or her long seclusion, she might not be a particularly strong Transcendent in combat.
But his opponent was a genuine challenger who had reached Level 9 in a living body. In terms of status, she was undoubtedly comparable to Heavenly Sight, Jindun, or Pyeonram.
‘Since she has no mind, psychological warfare or stratagems would be mostly useless. If I have to face her, is it a battle decided solely by the superiority of pure spellcraft or authority?’
Dadam was not an Ascendant benevolent toward humans, unlike Heavenly Sight.
Her presence in Vulcan today was certainly not for the city’s safety or for humans.
He had to move while considering the worst-case scenario: a battle erupting right here.
The problem was that Dadam was, quite literally, a Transcendent devoid of will or emotion.
A monster who had achieved transcendence through archery, capable of embedding Ideological Domains into her arrows.
If he had to fight an Ascendant who had discarded all distracting thoughts, what means should he choose?
“……”
An overwhelming silence, deafening in its stillness, continued endlessly.
Dadam, seated in the tree cradle, remained silent after her single utterance, even though she was aware of Lennok’s presence.
Lennok, too, stared deeply at Dadam, wordlessly.
‘Until I understand Dadam’s true intentions, I don’t want to make the first move. All I can do is prepare to choose the battlefield…’
The moment she mentioned the Third and Fourth, it was clear that the Ascendant of the Outer Lei Clan knew something about Lennok.
However, he still couldn’t grasp why Dadam had approached him first, or what she thought of him.
After finishing the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors incident, he had rested in Vulcan, recovering at least minimal mana and will-thought.
He couldn’t fight for long, but if necessary, he could engage in combat immediately.
What troubled him was that his opponent was a perfectly living Ascendant herself.
One of the truly existing Ascendants. One of the few Transcendent beings who had gained the qualification to challenge this closed world.
How far could the current Lennok push himself against a living Level 9 Ascendant?
Feeling a growing, vague torment in his heart, more than danger or caution.
The moment Lennok, with an expressionless face, took a slow step and wiggled his fingers.
“The tales my subordinates told me were not wrong.”
Dadam opened her eyes halfway and spoke again.
A voice as clear and pure as a bell, making it impossible to guess her age.
Yet, her tone was low and overbearing, like that of an ancient elder.
“Are you pondering a fight with me even as you pursue enlightenment? Truly, you possess a blood-soaked heart.”
“……”
“You don’t seem broken enough yet to confuse means and ends, but it wouldn’t be strange if you were close.”
Dadam slowly opened her eyes and gazed at Lennok with emerald eyes, clear as jewels.
“It is truly strange that a Transcendent like you still remains in this era.”
“……Strange, you say. I think that’s a remark I should be making, not you.”
Lennok slowly retracted his hand and tilted his head.
Only after facing Dadam closely could he understand what kind of being she currently was.
Conversely, because of that, he couldn’t understand this moment when Dadam initiated conversation.
“You seem to have purged all will and emotion from your inner self, yet how can you converse with me so normally?”
“……”
“In fact, it wouldn’t be strange if you had completely lost the ability to communicate. It’s an unusual thing to be able to talk to a plant.”
Given that she had emptied her will and emotions, it wouldn’t be strange if Dadam didn’t even perceive Lennok in the first place.
If one considered her a plant in human form sitting there, it would be natural for communication to be impossible.
That’s why Lennok, upon seeing Dadam, didn’t even attempt to talk to her; instead, he prepared for a fight.
He never imagined Dadam would initiate a conversation so nonchalantly.
Even at this very moment, there was almost no will or emotion emanating from Dadam’s inner self.
How could she, despite that, speak to Lennok so normally?
Beyond simply initiating conversation, Dadam’s words sounded more like a regular person than an Ascendant.
But Dadam’s subsequent reply subtly transcended Lennok’s assumptions and predictions.
“I infinitely split and divided my consciousness along timelines and summoned the consciousness of my past self, where emotions still remained.”
“……What?”
“By borrowing ‘me’ from a past timeline, I can communicate with others, regardless of what I am now.”
Dadam stated calmly in her uniquely clear, childlike voice.
“You, as a human, should know what kind of qualification the name ‘Ascendant’ permits.”
“……”
He knew.
The transcendent art of infinitely splitting, dividing, and partitioning one’s consciousness, permitted only to Ascendants.
Lennok, too, understood how absurd it was the moment he conversed with Jindun in the Hanghasa Labyrinth.
But he never imagined Dadam would use that art to pull out her ‘past self,’ not her current self, to attempt a conversation with him.
It was closer to using the remnants of a past consciousness, memories, rather than her true self.
Yet, with just that, the Ascendant before him, having shed all will and distracting thoughts, was communicating normally with Lennok.
Was it because she was completely empty, allowing her to fill herself with something that used to be her, or was Dadam’s path to enlightenment inherently designed that way?
Either way, it was undoubtedly a manifestation of self that Lennok had not seen in other Ascendants.
“A self before you completely lost emotions or a mind…”
Lennok asked.
“Is it truly acceptable for a past self, existing before you changed, to represent your current self?”
“Yes. Of course. Hundreds of years from now, I will still be myself, and thousands of years from now, I will still be myself.”
Dadam spoke slowly.
“I am the sum of all the choices and changes I have made. Even if I no longer exist within them, it’s still the same.”
“……”
“At least, without such resolve, how could one claim to have earned the qualification to challenge?”
“Is that so…”
Lennok silently mulled over Dadam’s reply, then gave a bitter smile and nodded.
“Your words alone make it clear that you are a complete Ascendant existing in this world.”
Even after transforming to be akin to a plant, even after emptying her mind, she didn’t resort to trickery or coercion to maintain herself.
She simply used her own enlightenment and abilities to effortlessly fill and compensate for what was lacking.
There was no monstrosity or bizarreness of human sacrifice, unethical forbidden magic, or the exploitation of twists and contradictions in her.
Lennok realized that this very fact was proof that she was a complete Level 9 Ascendant.
“If one possesses eyes that perceive reason, words are unnecessary.”
As if pleased by Lennok’s answer, Dadam’s voice softened slightly.
“Seeing that you understand my words without difficulty, you must be one of the more intelligent Transcendent beings.”
“You speak as if that fact itself is strange.”
“Isn’t it obvious? Even when the Imperial Palace was intact, there were many foolish individuals among the Ascendants.”
Dadam tilted her head, resting her chin on one hand.
“No, to be precise, I should say there were only those who believed only what they wanted to believe… those who reached that height were already incapable of accepting other possibilities or answers.”
“……”
“That’s why I tried to keep my distance from those who cooperated with the Imperial Palace or accepted the title of Grand General. Because I believed that even if they discussed transcendence by following the Emperor, the end would ultimately be catastrophe.”
“So, after everything is over, do you wish to boast that your prediction was correct?”
“You are a truly interesting human.”
Dadam smiled at Lennok’s calm retort.
An artificial smile, forced onto a face devoid of all emotion.
The moment Lennok realized it was her habit to mimic even a fragment of the emotions she once held, Dadam spoke.
“Just hearing that tells me you’ve met other Ascendants besides me. Perhaps conversations like today’s have already occurred countless times within you.”
“……”
“You must have heard the secrets of this world, despaired, and harbored doubts about our existence.”
As if effortlessly peering into Lennok’s thoughts, Dadam asked, almost singing.
“Do you believe that the qualification for ascension in this closed world is meaningless?”
“……Perhaps.”
A breathtaking silence.
Lennok spoke, passing over the frozen presences of Dylan and Evelyn, who seemed to have stopped even breathing.
“But I also understand that it is the minimum qualification required to discuss the next stage in this world.”
“……”
“Regardless of what I think, nothing can begin without standing at the starting line.”
Lennok raised his gaze.
“If the end is predetermined, then I at least wish to choose when to begin myself.”
Dadam’s message was unlike that of a great Seeker who pursued enlightenment.
But Lennok, after speaking with Dadam for a short while, was convinced that she was a true Ascendant.
Out of respect for a qualified Seeker, and to answer the path of enlightenment she revealed, he spoke.
“How absurd.”
Dadam, who had been staring intently at Lennok’s face, tilted her head.
“Has a human like you only been born now, at the twilight of the Golden Age, as everything fades?”
“……”
“Indeed. Do you seek meaning even in choices yet unmade? If there had been a being like you before…”
Dadam murmured, then slowly closed and opened her eyes.
“But now, it is a regret without any meaning.”
“I don’t expect my answer to earn your empathy.”
Lennok rubbed his neck with one hand and asked.
“Let’s get to the point. I heard you came to this city because of an Ascension Relic located somewhere in Vulcan.”
“……”
“Given that you’re already an Ascendant, it seems unlikely you’d be seeking the relic for qualification now. What is it you want?”
Dadam did not answer Lennok.
The tree cradle bathed in sunlight. Dadam blinked her green eyes, and her gaze slowly turned to Lennok’s side.
Meeting Evelyn’s frozen gaze, Dadam quietly asked.
“A half-blood of the Outer Lei Clan. I can tell easily from your eyes.”
“……”
“My kin possess bodies as light as the wind, yet their hearts are cruelly heavy and exclusive.”
Dadam slowly tilted her head.
“You must have gone through many things to live among humans in this city.”
“……That is…”
For a moment, Evelyn hesitated to answer.
Was it because she didn’t understand Dadam’s intention, or because she didn’t want to answer the question?
“My hardships… are not really difficulties compared to those who are truly weak and destitute.”
Evelyn trailed off, then asked.
“What is it you wish to know from me?”
“To have transcended hierarchy despite having only a faint trace of your kin’s blood is proof that your innate talent itself is excellent.”
Dadam said, resting her chin on her hands between the branches of the cradle.
“You have a natural aptitude. If you wish, I will teach you my archery.”
“……Pardon?”
“Immortal Body. The same goes for you.”
Dadam turned her gaze towards Dylan, leaving a stunned Evelyn behind.
“You have been swallowed by others’ malice and become something other than human. If you wish, I can care for your existence with my authority.”
“……”
“There’s no need to overthink it. I’m simply paying the price in advance for a favor I’m about to ask.”
“Ascendant. I don’t understand what you’ve been trying to say all this time.”
Lennok asked with an expressionless face.
“I am asking why you came to Vulcan to find the Ascension Relic. What is this act?”
Regardless of Dadam being a complete Ascendant, there must have been a clear purpose for her to visit Vulcan at this time.
If a Transcendent who had entered the realm of plants was moving directly, then a powerful causality or motivation must exist.
If she suddenly showed such goodwill to Lennok’s party, it was natural that there would be a price.
Naturally, Lennok had no intention of letting this situation unfold without his understanding.
“If you won’t answer, I’ll have no choice but to infer the reason myself.”
Crack…!!
As he stretched out a finger, drawing electricity from the air, and raised his hand to grasp it, ready to unleash it at any moment.
“The reason for wishing to hear your wishes first is not complicated.”
Dadam slowly turned her gaze and met Lennok’s eyes.
“I came to this city not to obtain the Ascension Relic… but to destroy it. In that process, paying a price is inevitable.”
“……To destroy the Ascension Relic?”
So Dadam’s reason for coming to Vulcan immediately after the collapse of the Four Archangel Demonic Mirrors was not to acquire the Ascension Relic hidden somewhere in Vulcan, but, on the contrary, to destroy it.
But even more incomprehensible was Dadam’s answer that she would pay a price to destroy the Ascension Relic.
Lennok frowned, stopping the hand that was about to conjure lightning from the air.
“I don’t understand. Why would you pay us the price for destroying the relic?”
Why would she pay Lennok and his party for destroying the Ascension Relic?
And why in the form of directly imparting her own authority and abilities?
Her peculiar attitude of naturally offering payment first made it impossible to dismiss this situation lightly.
Could Ormeon’s offer to Lennok, mentioning the Ascension Relic, also be related to this moment?
Dadam’s purpose in coming to Vulcan. Her reason for wanting to destroy the Ascension Relic. This moment of offering payment.
Questions cascaded, quickly complicating Lennok’s mind.
“Why, you ask? That question is truly ironic.”
The next moment, Dadam’s reply washed away all those thoughts, leaving his mind empty.
“The Ascension Relic was originally unearthed for Kaiser Bajour’s ascension… it was a setup prepared for the so-called Pseudo-Eclipse. In that case, wouldn’t that relic naturally belong to you, who won the war?”