Chapter 1477: Hunting the First Apostle (11)

After confirming Maorn as a traitor and ousting him, the group immediately followed the Preservation Spell Master.

“This is the ritual site chosen for the Leader’s descent, [Crystal Canyon].”

“Crystal Canyon…”

Kuggugugu…!!!

A canyon of blue light where everything in sight was covered in transparent crystals.

A mystical scene spread out in all directions, as if blue crystals had melted and flowed down before solidifying and stopping in place.

A beautiful, secret vista, so stunning that even seeing it with one’s own eyes made one doubt if it truly existed in reality. Is this what it would feel like if an entire canyon were covered in jewels?

While the other collaborators were admiring the seemingly endless canyon, Lennok spoke.

“All the raw crystals making up the canyon are top-grade catalysts. Is that why the Order Alliance Leader’s descent is taking place here?”

“A Grand Mage would recognize it at a glance. That’s right. The descent ritual has already begun on the inside.”

The sight of a giant crystal tower, seemingly carved from the transparent crystals located inside the canyon.

A unique structure, not built by erecting a ritual site, but by carving it without removing the canyon’s crystals.

Inside the multi-storied tower, many spellcasters had gathered, forming a circular magic circle and chanting their spellcraft.

Kuooo…!!!

Not only did they use The Nest as a decoy to begin the restoration of the Great Connection first, but they had also already initiated the Leader’s descent?

They had called collaborators to aid the Alliance, yet they had finished most of the process without actually relying on them.

Despite the Guido Cult’s full-scale interference, they had managed to get this far, and to think they would use the entire Crystal Canyon, a place of astronomical value, as a catalyst. It was a renewed realization of just how outstanding the Alliance’s mobility and financial power were.

Upon entering, just as the Preservation Spell Master had said, he could see that the descent ritual had already begun.

The center of the tower, where the most elite spellcasters, selected through the Alliance’s strict standards, were gathered and focused.

Atop thousands of intricately drawn magic circles. The naked corpse of a man lay enshrined in a blood-filled bathtub.

“That is…”

“It’s the Incarnation Body the Leader will use to descend into reality.”

Standing next to Lennok, Kalion’s eyes gleamed sharply.

“I was wondering what method such a Transcendent would use to descend into reality… So the Alliance is also using an Incarnation Body in the end?”

“We deploy Celestial Spellcraft to spread a Miniature Garden across the entire Crystal Canyon, adjusting the environment here to be as close to the Glass Garden as possible.”

The Preservation Spell Master said without a change in expression.

“However, even with all preparations complete, it’s true that the Leader requires a suitable ‘vessel’ to move. I won’t deny that.”

“…”

“The vessel prepared by the Alliance is the body of a Grand Sorcerer who died long ago in the war against the Guido Cult. It is not an Incarnation Body created by the Alliance through killing or sacrifice.”

After saying that, the Preservation Spell Master looked back at the group.

“Once the Miniature Garden is complete through Celestial Spellcraft, the Leader will descend. At the same time, the Guido Cult will immediately notice this location.”

“Well, there’s no way to hide the descent of such a being into reality.”

“Therefore, ensure all preparations are finished before then. I will inform you of a few changes regarding that.”

Now that it was confirmed that information had been leaked to the Guido Cult, it was necessary to slightly alter the previously agreed-upon arrangements.

The Eccentric Monk and Lennok, the strongest present, would take the front and rear of the Crystal Tower, respectively, while the others would block the ridges around the canyon.

An elaborate formation with overlapping lines of defense, maintaining enough distance to not interfere with each other, yet ensuring the tower wouldn’t be immediately attacked if one side was breached.

After finishing the final discussion, Lennok and the Fairy Conjunction Master immediately moved toward the rear entrance of the Crystal Tower.

“Let’s finish the conversation we couldn’t earlier.”

As soon as the two were alone, Lennok spoke up immediately.

It was because there was one piece of information among what the Fairy Conjunction Master had told Lennok earlier that was particularly hard to ignore.

“The Second Apostle’s ‘main body’? What does that mean?”

“The First Apostle is the most outstanding among all Apostles. He is free from the madness and leaves absolutely no presence or trace.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master said.

“There’s a story that this ability is possible because the Second Apostle’s main body exists separately. I tried to confirm that at The Nest.”

“…”

“As The Nest was being attacked, I moved the Great Connection’s terminal to another location and, at the same time, checked all the magical power existing outside The Nest.”

After a brief pause, the Fairy Conjunction Master turned her gaze beyond the canyon.

“And I realized that an alien source of mana, incomparable to any other Apostle, was lurking to the west.”

“The Second Apostle’s main body really exists… and it was watching The Nest directly?”

It was the first time he’d heard of it, but it wasn’t an entirely baseless story.

If the Second Apostle had been focusing all his attention on The Nest to meet Lennok, it was possible the Fairy Conjunction Master could have discovered his other traces.

After all, the story the First Apostle wanted to tell Lennok held significant meaning for both Lennok and the Second Apostle.

“I can’t be certain, but I registered the mana I saw with the Great Connection. If that mana starts to move, we should be able to pinpoint its location immediately within this Crystal Canyon.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master said this while summoning a small fairy to her fingertip and stroking it.

“The environment of the Miniature Garden spread throughout the Crystal Canyon via Celestial Spellcraft is getting closer to the Leader’s Glass Garden in real time. In a place where the Leader’s gaze reaches, not even the First Apostle will be able to move freely.”

“It means we can at least prevent the Second Apostle from suddenly appearing inside the Crystal Tower.”

Just being able to pinpoint the Second Apostle’s location would be a great help in preparing for any anomalies.

It seemed the Fairy Conjunction Master wanted to inform Lennok of this before starting the preparations in earnest.

“If we can protect the Crystal Tower while monitoring the Second Apostle’s position in real time, buying time itself shouldn’t be difficult. However…”

Glancing behind him, Lennok muttered.

“I don’t know the exact extent of the Eccentric Monk’s capabilities, who’s in charge of the canyon’s main entrance.”

“Huh? But the Eccentric Monk killed Maorn in a single blow.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master asked back with a bewildered expression.

“I met Maorn a few times back when he was leading Larabelli’s delegation. He was a jerk, but his skills were undeniable. And he killed a druid like that in one blow.”

“Instantly killing a Level 8 Transcendent is something that would require a considerable effort even for me.”

Lennok walked past the Fairy Conjunction Master.

“I’ve done it a few times, but it’s certainly a troublesome task. The Eccentric Monk crushed that druid to death in one go without any such process.”

“…”

“Unless the Eccentric Monk is overwhelmingly stronger than an Ascendant, there must be a condition. It won’t matter if he can use it freely in this war, but—”

“Regarding that, benefactor, you need not worry.”

As if in response to his words, an utterly dry reply came from behind.

A monk in worn robes, hands pressed together in prayer, was suddenly standing there, watching Lennok.

The Eccentric Monk, who had been meditating without speaking to anyone until now, had readily initiated a conversation with Lennok.

Startled by his sudden appearance, the Fairy Conjunction Master flinched and stepped back beside Lennok.

“Wait, why are you…”

“When monstrous spirits run rampant and the logic of all creation becomes muddled, this humble monk is here to restore balance.”

Ignoring the Spell Master’s reaction, the Eccentric Monk, with his eyes closed, spoke to Lennok in a hoarse, cracking voice.

“My power is not an expression of personal emotion, but a process of practicing the principle of impermanence in the secular world.”

“Restoring balance… I see what you mean.”

Lennok turned to the Eccentric Monk and asked.

“Does that mean you were able to kill Maorn in a single blow because you used your power under the condition of restoring a specific balance?”

“That half-human, half-beast sentient being harmed an innocent to prove his own innocence…”

Watching the monk trail off and quietly press his hands together, Lennok recalled the memory from The Nest.

Indeed, Maorn, accused of being a traitor, had resisted and kicked a spellcaster, leaving them in a near-death state. Come to think of it, the Eccentric Monk had stepped in right after that.

“You stepped in and punished him because the druid broke the precept against killing? Interesting.”

Lennok laughed as he looked at the Eccentric Monk.

“Judging the sins of others doesn’t seem like something a monk seeking nirvana would do.”

“That is why this humble monk had to leave the temple where I lived my entire life and seek a new law…”

The Eccentric Monk replied quietly, his eyes still closed.

“Accumulating merit to reach nirvana, and accumulating karma to fall into the abyss—that is the principle of reincarnation… However, there are those who ignore this and plunge the world into misery.”

“…”

“This humble monk merely seeks out those who defy reincarnation to become gods, and restores the proper balance.”

Does he mean he joined the war against the Guido Cult to kill those who try to become gods?

Indeed, a cult that serves myriad gods would be the most suitable target for the Eccentric Monk to eliminate.

The Eccentric Monk pressed his hands together toward Lennok and turned away without even waiting for a reply.

The monk’s figure, heading for the front of the Crystal Tower he was assigned to, walking with infinitely slow steps as if on a pilgrimage.

The Fairy Conjunction Master, who had been watching from the side, shook her head with a fed-up expression.

“I’d heard stories, but he’s really not in his right mind… Do you have to be that crazy to become that strong?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

He ignored the Fairy Conjunction Master, who was blatantly staring at him as she asked, and walked on.

He stood alone at the rear entrance of the Crystal Tower, which covered one side of the canyon, and surveyed his surroundings.

The width alone was at least several dozen meters, looking absurdly vast for Lennok to stand there by himself.

“When the war begins, the Guido Cult will unconditionally target this Crystal Tower first.”

The Fairy Conjunction Master said quietly, looking up at the cloudy sky.

“They’ll try to stop the Leader’s descent even more than the restoration of the Great Connection.”

“Don’t worry.”

Lennok said, raising his mana.

“I’ve already made various preparations for this occasion.”

“Betagron.”

“Ah, it was you.”

Betagron, who had been typing away on his laptop, glanced at Lennok.

“The work will be finished in a moment, so could you wait a bit?”

“…What is all this?”

Clank!!

Vroooom—

Steel beams slammed down, erecting pillars, while mechanical arms and robots moved ceaselessly, assembling a factory.

A production line was being built around a conveyor belt, churning out mechanical devices of unknown purpose.

While Lennok’s gaze was captivated by the bizarre sight, like a new factory being set up next to the Crystal Tower, Betagron spoke.

“It’s a plant. A production facility for assembling the war machines I use.”

“…So you’re an inventor. You don’t carry your weapons with you. Do you produce and use war machines whenever you need them?”

“Did you think this old man would fight with all sorts of wondrous martial arts or spellcraft like other Transcendents?”

Betagron said, sounding rather incredulous.

“I hadn’t even thrown a punch until 10 years ago. I only started making weapons because I found a reason to fight the Guido Cult in my old age. Compared to other Transcendents, my combat abilities are pathetic.”

“…”

“Anyway, the defense line will be complete soon, so just wait. The terrain around the canyon has a lot of elevation changes, so it seems we can build a pretty good position.”

Kuggugugugu!!!

A huge cannon barrel, its assembly finished in the plant, was carried outside and firmly fixed into the ground.

A self-propelled gun, towering on a hill, tilted at an angle, was assembled with its engine and began to charge.

A charging gauge appeared next to the cannon barrel and began to emit a faint blue light.

In the blink of an eye, over dozens of large artillery pieces were lined up in an orderly fashion before Betagron.

“Good. The Star-Linking Siege Cannons are complete. With these, we won’t be lacking firepower in the war against those Guido Cult bastards.”

Betagron, patting a cannon barrel with satisfaction, grinned and stood up.

“Last time, I completely destroyed one of the Guido Cult’s branches with just these siege cannons. Do you know how thrilling it is to finish off the ones who couldn’t take it and ran out with a satellite bombardment?”

“Come to think of it, you said you have satellites all over the continent? You must be quite the tycoon.”

“Launching satellites into low orbit doesn’t cost that much. If you think of them as disposable consumables, the burden is actually less.”

Betagron said, looking at Lennok.

“By the way, weren’t you in charge of the path to the Crystal Tower’s rear entrance? Seeing you here, you must have finished your work already.”

“I finished all the necessary preparations before I even arrived at the Alliance’s location.”

Lennok answered calmly.

“As long as I deploy it on time, it will work on its own, so it doesn’t matter.”

“You’re saying you’re even faster than me, who builds a frontline by constructing a production plant? Wizards…”

Betagron grumbled as if annoyed and glanced up at Lennok.

“So what is it you want to say? You must have come here because you have something to talk about.”

“The task of rooting out the traitor. Don’t you think it was a bit sloppy for the Alliance to handle it themselves?”

“…Huh?”

As if hearing something unexpected, Betagron stopped in his tracks, grunted, and then answered.

“Hmm… I’m not sure if their response was sloppy. Wasn’t it because the clues the Alliance had weren’t enough to confirm the identity of the mole?”

“…”

Contrary to what the Preservation Spell Master said, the clues the Alliance secured weren’t enough to confirm the mole. It seems they were bluffing to flush out the traitor.

“It’s certain the druid was trying to do something suspicious. But it was never properly revealed whether he was truly colluding with the Guido Cult.”

Lennok’s eyes glinted sharply as he looked at Betagron.

“He couldn’t have avoided his fate once he resisted so excessively, but it wouldn’t be strange if there was another informant, just in case.”

“Well, no need to worry. As long as you and the Eccentric Monk are here, things will work out somehow. Even if there is another traitor, I think they’ve entrusted things to you two.”

The old man shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s a shame the druid couldn’t create a forest around the canyon… but look at that.”

Lennok also knew what Betagron was trying to say.

Because right now, behind the Eccentric Monk who sat cross-legged alone in front of the Crystal Tower’s main entrance, a unbelievably huge statue of a Buddha had appeared.

Kuoooo…!!!!

A Buddha statue of such enormous size that it easily surpassed most skyscrapers.

Is that the Incarnation Body wielded by the Eccentric Monk, the Incarnation Spellcaster who will go down in history—a being who has reached the pinnacle of Avatara?

Even Lennok, who had seen many spellcasters, had never once witnessed an Incarnation Body so colossal and brimming with such immense power.

That was likely the true form of the power that had crushed and killed a lower-ranking Apostle of the Guido Cult and Maorn in a single blow.

It was instantly understandable why the Eccentric Monk, despite his withered body, was called the Transcendent with the continent’s greatest physical strength.

If an Incarnation Body like that were to block the Crystal Tower’s main entrance, no Apostle would be able to break through easily.

Even if there were another traitor, with Lennok and the Eccentric Monk present, any anomaly could be prevented.

Lennok didn’t think that judgment was wrong either, but—

“Even taking that into account, it’s a fact that the Order Alliance’s response seemed strangely rushed.”

“Hm?”

“There is still… a secret the Alliance hasn’t spoken of.”

Lennok crossed his arms, and as he raised his gaze, his eyes shone coldly.

“Then I have no choice but to make my own minimal preparations.”

Fwooo…!!

A wilderness where the wind blew.

Lennok was sitting on the edge of the Crystal Canyon, where a sandstorm was blowing, looking down at the ground below.

The main force of the Order Alliance, encamped and waiting around the canyon. Dozens of flagships floating in the sky.

He could feel the Transcendents waiting in various locations, quietly scattering their Magical Perception in all directions.

The tense air felt as if everyone had completed their minimal preparations for the coming event and were waiting for the right moment.

It had been true since his freelance days, but Lennok had always quite welcomed this kind of atmosphere and time.

When the sharply charged air brushed past his skin, he could feel his Magical Perception stand on end and his mind spinning tautly.

The speed of his thoughts would accelerate madly, and he would freely contemplate the past he had lived through, the present, and the future.

The days when he would distinguish between what he could and couldn’t do, eliminating the impossible as he dreamed of tomorrow.

Then and now, what supported Lennok was the memory of when he first fell into this world, knowing nothing.

Just as Lennok slowly rose to his feet, feeling as if he had returned to that time after a long while.

[Spellcraft connection complete. Commencing reconstruction process. Accessing the Great Connection.]

The Preservation Spell Master’s heavy voice echoed throughout the canyon.

[Activating Celestial Spellcraft. Deploying Miniature Garden.]

[Adjusting internal environment. Glass Garden synchronization complete.]

[The Leader will now descend.]

Fwaat!!

At that moment, a pillar of blindingly blue light fell from the sky and struck the Crystal Canyon.

A form of light, so clear it could be seen from the horizon, yet containing a transcendent amount of information.

A radiance so clear that it could undoubtedly be noticed not just in this world, but even from beyond the Outer Sea.

Kuggwagwagwagwagwa!!!!!!

Centered on the Crystal Tower, the pillar of light descended, brightly illuminating the darkened canyon.

The Crystal Canyon, which had been nearing night, was reflected by the light and became as bright as day, every single pebble clearly visible.

The entire canyon shone like a giant lightbulb, madly emitting light and scattering it in all directions in a brilliant display.

And so, the Guido Cult would have immediately noticed this location as well.

“…They’re here.”

Kuggugugugu…!!!!

From beyond the sandstorm-swept wilderness, he could feel all sorts of sinister presences approaching at high speed.

A pale halo flashed, and the Guido Cult’s pure white missionary ships were the first to appear in the sky.

Below them, Knights of Rectitude, holding the Guido Cult’s banners high as if before a holy war, marched forward.

Priests offering ceaseless prayers followed behind them, and grotesque beasts guarded their flanks.

At the rearmost of the army that was approaching, filling the horizon in the blink of an eye—

“Wait, there’s something there!!!”

“No way, that girl is…!”

A massive altar, looking as if carved from a magnificent palace, was there.

Figures presumed to be Guido Cult believers carried the altar, which spanned dozens of meters, on their shoulders as they walked.

As a mystical song flowed out, a young girl in ornate holy vestments opened her eyes atop the altar.

“Sanctuary Declaration.”

Kwaaaaaaaaang!!!!!

As a pillar of pale light soared up, it collided head-on with the pillar of blue light falling from the sky.

A spiritual presence that declared a sanctuary across the entire Crystal Canyon, while simultaneously blocking the spirituality of the Leader descending upon the Miniature Garden.

At the same time, the urgent shouts of the Alliance’s spellcasters burst through the communication network.

Chzzk—

[The Celestial Spellcraft’s chant has been severed!!! Miniature Garden synchronization error occurred!!]

[The restoration ritual has been interrupted!! If we don’t do something right now…!!]

[This can’t be, are you saying the Guido Cult has a psychic powerful enough to interfere with the ritual!!!]

[Impossible!! Not even an Archbishop could—]

“Adamant Thunder…!!”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

Fwaat!!

As soon as he heard the words of the Fairy Conjunction Master, who had appeared across space, Lennok straightened his body.

“What the Valefor Magic Tower Lord said was true. I had my doubts, but…”

The talent of a priestess who could interfere with the Great Connection’s restoration ritual with her mere presence.

A transcendent psychic who could single-handedly declare and maintain a sanctuary across an entire battlefield.

The existence of a clone, said to possess the greatest talent among all priests in the Guido Cult’s history.

Looking at the girl standing on the altar, Lennok immediately raised his mana.

“The Guido Cult’s new Priestess has made a move herself. It seems they’re truly determined this time.”

Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!

There was no answer.

As the Great Connection’s restoration ritual was temporarily halted, the main forces of the Guido Cult and the Order Alliance clashed head-on.

Centered on the Crystal Canyon, the two largest forces on the Central Front began to engage in earnest.