Chapter 1411: Paradise Lost (22)

KWWAAAAAGAGAGAGAGAG!!!!!

From the skies above Yeongheo Palace, where nothing could be seen, a terrifying pressure that seemed to crush the very soul descended.

Though it possessed neither form nor will, it was a transcendent spiritual pressure that brought everything to its knees by its mere presence.

“Hah, hah…!!”

“Kuh…!!”

The members holding on inside the sealing chamber gasped for breath, their faces turning pale in an instant.

This wasn’t a power born of transcendent spellcraft or abilities, nor did it contain any specific will-thought.

No thought, no concept. There was simply a colossal force on the other side, crushing everything by its mere arrival.

A storm of spiritual pressure that had suddenly seized this spacetime.

There wasn’t even time to ponder who had come to Paradise Lost.

“It’s coming…!!”

KWAAAAAAAH!!!!

The sky of Paradise Lost, stained black with demonic magic, split vertically, and from beyond, a magnificent procession revealed itself.

A golden carriage raced across the sky, a majestic sight as it descended from the far reaches above, piercing through Paradise Lost to reach Yeongheo Palace.

Centered around the carriage, adorned with decorations so splendid they stung the eyes, otherworldly attendants lined up, their flags and banners fluttering.

Holding the three crests symbolizing the Three Grand Dukes high above the carriage, they descended elegantly, treading on empty air toward the ground.

Ooooooh!!!!

Was this how a celestial delegation would descend to meet a king of the earth?

Was this how the first envoy from an extradimensional army would appear after discovering this world?

An afterimage of contradiction—so magnificent it was impossible for human eyes to comprehend, yet so grotesquely distorted it defied understanding.

The moment the fallen demigods of the Imperial Palace truly sent their presence down to the Ascendant’s Paradise Lost.

As if reacting to the spiritual pressure of the demigods descending from above, Paradise Lost began to tremble violently.

“Kuh, ack…!!!”

KUGUGUGUGUGU!!!!!

The entirety of the ruined Yeongheo Palace shook violently, the earth splitting as colossal Spell-Word Stones shot up one after another.

They rose from below Paradise Lost, surrounding Yeongheo Palace and forming a shape like a grand altar.

At the center of the massive altar, built by stacking layers of the newly appeared Spell-Word Stones.

Within a ghastly violet glow, ‘something’ made entirely of Spell-Words rose to its feet.

Jjeojeok, jjeojeojeok…!!!

Chzhzhzh■zhzhk!!!

Noise crackled, and vision distorted, smeared with monochrome static.

Even when looking directly at it, the naked eye could not capture its precise form.

It was as if its shape had already been altered beyond what human senses could perceive.

All one could discern was that an endlessly bizarre and hideous mass was taking form, using those Spell-Words as its flesh.

A third form, using neither the true body nor the Incarnation Body of Paradise Lost’s master.

“This, this… is impossible…”

Hylaea’s voice trembled as she looked upon Jinwa’s incarnate form.

“How… how can a human reach such a form…!!”

“Hylaea, get a grip!!”

Was Jinwa’s form appearing differently to Hylaea, who possessed the Talent for Duality?

Soryu’s urgent voice came through the communication network, but Lennok couldn’t spare it much attention.

The carriage of the Three Grand Dukes, tearing through the sky of Paradise Lost and descending upon Yeongheo Palace.

The fallen Ascendant, embracing Yeongheo Palace with her Spell-Word Stones and looking up from the ground.

This was the moment those who had stood at the apex of the central city, Ars Nova, met again, transcending decades.

Kkiriririk…!!!

The cephalopod-like, otherworldly attendants carrying flags and banners landed in the center of the ruined Yeongheo Palace.

Spreading their slimy legs and tentacles in all directions, they prostrated themselves as if in worship.

Upon them, the beautifully distorted golden carriage landed softly, without a sound.

Ujik. Deudeudeuk-

As if to prevent even the wheels of the sky-faring carriage from touching the defiled ground.

The carriage came to a slow stop, trampling and crushing the attendants, splattering viscous fluid.

After a brief silence, the carriage door opened, and someone stepped out.

Thump.

A bizarrely tall man, clad in a magnificent dragon robe that dragged beneath his feet.

“That’s…”

If the concept of asymmetry were molded into a human form and given life, would it look like this?

Three heads with elongated necks were attached to his right shoulder, and behind his right shoulder blade, three wings shimmered.

In contrast to his left side, which had no arms, his right side had six arms, strangely tangled and swaying.

A monster of three heads and six arms, indescribably grotesque, as if all its limbs were attached only to its right side.

“…”

Squish, squish.

Every time the man in the dragon robe took a step, the otherworldly attendants beneath his feet were crushed, scattering slime.

Without hesitation, the man walked toward the center of the ruined Yeongheo Palace, following the path of splattered slime.

The bizarrely elongated three heads and the six arms swaying from within the dragon robe gently caressed the air.

Hwoooo…!!!

After a not-so-brief silence, the man’s steps halted before the Spell-Word Stone that had risen in the center of Yeongheo Palace.

The two beings, far beyond human, awakened their consciousness for the first time and faced each other.

…

A silence so cold and still it raised goosebumps.

The one who spoke first was the master of Paradise Lost.

[O U T S I D E R]

Calling the man with a terribly distorted Spell-Word, she spoke.

[Y O U R U G L Y H A B I T O F F O C U S I N G O N S E L F - P R E S E R V A T I O N I S A S D I S G U S T I N G A S E V E R]

“…”

[H A V E Y O U L O S T E V E N T H E G U T S T O C O M E I N P E R S O N T O S E T T L E A C O N T R A C T D E C A D E S I N T H E M A K I N G]

Jinwa’s Spell-Word erupted with undisguised displeasure and unrestrained power.

Each time a Spell-Word was uttered, the entirety of Yeongheo Palace shook violently as if in an earthquake.

But the three-headed man remained unshaken by the Ascendant’s words.

“Grand General, your indifference to the Empire’s etiquette remains unchanged.”

“This one’s visit as a herald is, in itself, a sign of respect for you.”

“It is a consideration to ensure there are no disagreements from our superiors in this transaction. For a mere commoner…”

The three heads opened their mouths simultaneously, expressing their intentions in different ways.

A dignified, deep voice. An empty, hollow telepathic message. A seething, wicked whisper.

Though three different wills echoed in this space at once, the difference between them was distinct enough to be clearly discernible.

He was a monster from whom grotesqueness flowed just by standing still and speaking normally.

But Jinwa, finding the man’s attitude even more displeasing, spoke with a chilling killing intent.

[A L O W L Y H E R A L D D A R E S T O B E S O C H A T T Y]

“Is that so? For your information, this body is a vessel once used by the Grand Duke of Yeongheo.”

The three-headed man leisurely caressed his own body with his six arms.

“It is the corpse of a Transcendent who was once listed as a Grand General. As it is a vessel the Grand Duke coveted long ago, it should not disappoint you.”

“Our superiors went to great lengths to match the stature of this occasion, so do not complain needlessly. If anything, the responsibility for this situation lies with you, does it not?”

All sorts of dangerous and fatal information flowed from the three heads speaking simultaneously in real-time.

However, Lennok focused not only on their presence but also on the content of the Spell-Word Jinwa had spat out.

A herald of the Three Grand Dukes. A chilling roar that implied they had not come in person.

Could it be that the Three Grand Dukes had sent a herald to represent them for this transaction instead of coming themselves?

If they intended to consider it a personal visit from the Grand Duke himself simply because they sent the body he once used.

“It was merely a necessary decision because the time of Paradise Lost was rewound once.”

“Technically, is it not your fault for failing to manage your own courtyard before a momentous transaction?”

“How can we be certain you wouldn’t rewind time and nullify the contract if things went south?”

As expected, the Three Grand Dukes were aware that the time in Paradise Lost had been rewound.

It seemed that was why they had sent a herald to Yeongheo Palace to handle the transaction instead of descending themselves.

Furthermore, the body the herald was using seemed to be a vessel exceptional enough to be compared to an Ascendant.

Its form, far beyond human, was proof that their words were true.

[D O Y O U I N T E N D T O P L A Y W I T H W O R D S I N F R O N T O F M E A S P E L L - W O R D U S E R]

But upon hearing their reply, Jinwa spoke with a chillingly cold smile.

[D O Y O U T H I N K I A M U N A W A R E T H A T T H E G R A N D C H A N C E L L O R M A D E A C O N T R A C T W I T H T H E H E A D O F T H E B L A C K E D I C T A T R U L Y P A T H E T I C T R I C K]

“…”

[T H E R E A S O N Y O U C O V E T T H A T M A N ’ S L E G A C Y M U S T B E B E C A U S E Y O U N E E D T H E C A U S A L I T Y O F T H A T M A S S O F B L O O D]

Jinwa’s telepathic message, engraved in the air like text, was steeped in a cold and terrifying malice.

[D O H Y P O C R I T E S L I K E Y O U D R E A M O F A P A T H E T I C I N C A R N A T I O N N O W]

“Commoner. To settle in Yeongheo Palace and still ask the obvious.”

The large, three-headed man calling himself the herald of the Three Grand Dukes shook his heads.

“Our noble superiors desire the Head of the Black Edict for more than just his body.”

“Are you asking even though you know it is because of the [Original Sin] borne by the Black Edict’s bloodline?”

[…]

“If you had searched the mausoleum of the Corpse Emperor enshrined in Yeongheo Palace, you couldn’t possibly be unaware of this. Or perhaps…”

The head on the right glanced toward Jinwa’s pool and its eyes curved into crescents.

“Surely, you couldn’t have dragged Paradise Lost all the way to Yeongheo Palace and still not found it?”

BWOOOOM!!!

The moment those words left its mouth, the head on the right exploded.

It was blown to pieces where it stood, scattering bodily fluids and brains.

But the herald neither retaliated nor stepped back despite the sudden attack.

The moment he lightly tapped the staff he was holding, the exploded head was restored to its original form, as if time had reversed.

Jjeojeojeojeop…!!!

Flesh and bone reattached themselves to the giraffe-like long neck, regenerating in an instant.

A restoration that had not just transcended but completely departed from humanity, far beyond common sense.

Did the master of Paradise Lost see even that as a discourtesy unfit for a guest?

Kririk!!

On the forehead of the regenerated right head, a violet Spell-Word was carved dozens of times over, constructing meaning.

Faithfully following the meaning of the Spell-Word, it began to crack, shatter, crush, and destroy the head.

[EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE][EXPLODE]

Squish!

PABABABABABABAK!!!!

The right head, carved with the Spell-Word, exploded, and then reversed time to regenerate again.

The bizarre sight of the herald repeatedly exploding in a shower of fluid and brains, only to regenerate in real-time.

Yet, amidst it all, the middle and left heads showed no reaction to the other one being crushed.

They simply looked up at the Ascendant with gazes that were at once indifferent and menacing, and got to the point.

“Grand General. You promised to hand over the legacy and remains left by the Head of the Black Edict.”

“Our noble superiors will receive the legacy, and in return, they will help a commoner like you see His Majesty.”

The two intact heads looked up at the Ascendant, their eyes gleaming.

“Was that not the contract we made, sworn upon the cabinet’s imperial edict?”

“Does a lowly commoner intend to break the contract now?”

The herald’s explanation came in different voices and tones, at once persuading, interrogating, and urging Jinwa.

But inside Yeongheo Palace’s audience chamber, Lennok’s expression hardened as he listened to the conversation.

‘Don’t tell me, Jinwa made a contract with the Three Grand Dukes… just to meet the Emperor in person?’

[A C O N T R A C T Y O U S A Y]

The Ascendant scoffed.

[P R O M I S E S A R E M A D E B E T W E E N B E I N G S O F E Q U A L S T A T U R E]

“…”

[H O W D A R E Y O U S P E A K O F P R O M I S E S W I T H O U T E V E N S H O W I N G Y O U R F A C E S]

Kuuuuooo…!!!

As Jinwa began to draw upon her power, the Spell-Word Stones that had risen around Yeongheo Palace emitted an ominous glow.

A pale, faded violet light shone in all directions, casting a gloomy shroud over the world.

[A L O W L Y I N S E C T D A R E S T O F O R C E A P R O M I S E U P O N M E]

Jinwa whispered, looking down at the herald of the Three Grand Dukes.

[M U S T I K I L L T H E H E R A L D M Y S E L F F O R Y O U T O S H O W Y O U R F A C E S]

The Ascendant’s will-thought began to dominate Yeongheo Palace, erupting with unconcealed, chilling killing intent.

But the herald of the Three Grand Dukes showed no fear or caution at the sight.

He simply let out a low sigh and slowly waved his six hands with a deliberate gesture.

“I don’t know how many times I must repeat the same explanation.”

“The ideas and justifications of a commoner are all the same.”

“We will see the goods first. Where is the Head of the Black Edict?”

“This is bad…!!”

Soryu bit his lip, his face ashen, and averted his gaze.

“They intend to verify the legacy right here. The sealing chamber is in danger!!!”

Jinwa had no intention of conducting a normal transaction, but that didn’t mean she was ignoring the herald’s presence.

If the herald’s stature had truly not met her standards, she would have torn its soul apart with a Spell-Word on the spot.

That asymmetric Transcendent of three heads and six arms was proof that it was a being powerful enough that even an Ascendant couldn’t ignore it.

Therefore, if the herald tried to inspect the legacy right here and now, there was no stopping it.

“The Nether King’s legacy? What’s its status?”

“No, we still need more time to extract it!! At this rate, they’ll find us!!”

“Dammit…!!!”

The reason for the conflict between Jinwa and the herald was, ultimately, to obtain the legacy left by Myeong.

Naturally, the transaction between the two Transcendent beings was highly likely to proceed with the verification of the legacy.

They didn’t seem to have noticed the interior of Yeongheo Palace yet, but it wouldn’t be long before they realized the members were hiding here.

If they were discovered to be spiriting away the legacy, it wouldn’t be strange to make enemies of both the Ascendant and the herald simultaneously.

A far more dangerous and fatal situation than being discovered by Jinwa alone—the worst-case scenario, exceeding all expectations.

But unlike the panicked members, Lennok remained calm as he watched.

Instead, he turned without hesitation and headed toward the sealing chamber’s door.

“Keep working. Finish as quickly as possible.”

The others watched in bewilderment as Lennok walked past them.

“Adamant Thunder…?!!”

“I’ll buy some time over here.”

KUGUGUGUGUGU!!!!!

The Ascendant, perched atop the Spell-Word Stone, raised her magic, and the herald of the Three Grand Dukes, hands clasped, lifted his heads.

The moment the two monsters, having transcended human form, focused their wills on each other in the center of Yeongheo Palace as if about to clash.

Fwip!!

The gazes of the two monsters swiveled simultaneously toward Lennok as he stepped out from the sealing chamber’s door.

The pressure of three heads and a violet glare bearing down on him from above at almost the same time.

The demigods sent gazes mixed with contempt and disgust toward the bug that had suddenly crawled out.

But Lennok walked forward, enduring the terrifying sensation with his entire body.

No explanation or words were needed.

Simply standing in an impossible place beforehand and watching them would be enough.

He knew from the previous regression that they would surely realize it.

The black ring pulsed, spreading black cracks, and the moment Lennok raised his gaze with a blank expression.

HWAAAK!!!

The authority of the Ascendant and the herald that had filled all of Paradise Lost vanished as if washed away.

An instinctual reaction, as if they had retracted their power the moment they recognized Lennok’s existence.

[I T C A N N O T B E]

“…How.”

Suddenly, the two demigods who had descended upon the center of Yeongheo Palace were staring at Lennok in disbelief.

[I M P O S S I B L E]

“How… are Your Grace here.”

The Ascendant’s Spell-Word twisted horribly, and the herald’s three heads spat out the same words in unison.

The Transcendent with three heads and six arms stared blankly down at Lennok, then turned, moving as if possessed.

KUUUUUUNG!!!!

Slowly, it knelt on one knee and bowed its head.