Chapter 927: Anathema (1)
As Slain’s words ended, the summit attendees began to move to prepare for the ritual.
They separated those who would directly participate in the ritual to gain innate abilities from those who would assist, and negotiated benefits.
The fighting spirit that had permeated the ritual hall had somewhat subsided with the Guileless siding with Lennok.
Perhaps because the other 8-levels also didn’t want to show their full power in front of everyone.
“Then, as promised, I’ll take the Eight Trigram in the southwest.”
“The Eight Trigram in the north. It has a larger capacity compared to other axes of the formation. It’s best if someone capable takes it.”
“It’s regrettable that the Eight Trigram in the west went to Adamant Thunder first. It had the most suitable capacity, so there was a high possibility of good spiritual energy……”
Olinic, Rage, and Tillian. Besides them, those who decided to attend the ritual stepped forward one by one to sort out the situation.
The superhuman giant, and the red-haired man in a mask, who had refused to participate from the start, only occasionally joined the conversation.
Watching them, Lennok could guess why Slain had focused most of the summit’s content on the Manifestation Ritual.
Just by discussing the ritual’s progression and cooperating, interactions between 8-level superhumans, which had been almost non-existent until now, began to occur sporadically.
He must have judged that simply explaining the ritual and urging participation would naturally lead to the summit’s objective: exchange.
‘Slain, was it? I don’t recall hearing the name…….’
With Jenny’s help, he had received lost data from the time of the civil war, but there were far too many powerful individuals whose names weren’t widely known.
Considering the scale of the mega-city, it was impossible to know every superhuman, but a mediator of Slain’s caliber would surely have held an unusual reputation.
It would be easier to get information later from the Guileless or Peshia, with whom he was at least acquainted.
Lennok, who already possessed a formation, needed no other preparations; it would be enough to head to one of the eight axes of the Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Formation.
Just as Lennok was about to leave the ritual hall, a familiar telepathic message reached him from behind.
[The hearing. I found it quite impressive.]
Clank!
A lean man, standing with a rotating metal sphere instead of a head.
Olinic, Cheoknoe, who had already finished negotiating with others, greeted Lennok with a smiling tone.
[You don’t easily kill people, do you? Such a mad declaration can’t be made by just anyone. It was a perfect summary of your ambiguous nature.]
“Did you come to scoff?”
Thud!
At Lennok’s retort, the Guileless, standing beside him, firmly struck his spear down.
At the loud thud, even the other attendees turned their gazes, and Olinic shrugged as if to say it couldn’t be helped.
[It was praise, close to high praise. It’s unfortunate my sincerity didn’t come across.]
“It sounds more like scoffing, bordering on mockery.”
[It’s regrettable about Cheonbeon’s defeat, but I can accept this much. More than anything…….]
Olinic’s expressionless gaze seemed to be directed at the Guileless, who stood beside Lennok.
[Not only did you return Turyeonmun’s Protector in perfect condition, but you’re also making him work like a servant. For a man, that is.]
“……”
Olinic’s words didn’t even try to hide the provocation.
But the Guileless quietly nodded at Olinic’s sneer.
“It’s been a long time, Olinic.”
[Of course it has, Azlan. The last time you met me with a clear mind was a full 25 years ago.]
“……”
[You disparaged and mocked our methods, and scolded that one shouldn’t avoid madness that way. Do you remember?]
Olinic asked in a playful tone.
[So, I wonder if the esteemed Protector has refined his martial arts and attained a noble spirit.]
“I was foolish. Only after the madness reached even my granddaughter could I finally admit I was broken.”
The Guileless said calmly.
“I won’t make excuses. I was wrong. I broke long ago and stopped here.”
[……]
“Even now, my condition hasn’t improved, so I’m keeping my distance from Turyeonmun. To be precise, I’ve merely returned to before it became irreversible.”
Krod Azlan’s escape from madness was possible because Lennok had reverted his mind with Kaiser’s pocket watch.
It wasn’t a fundamental solution, but merely a return to before his condition worsened.
The Guileless would understand that fact better than anyone.
“The place where I should be now is here.”
Krod raised his spear and pointed to Lennok’s side.
“Beside the benefactor who can bring an end, so that I don’t stray again, even if I break beyond return.”
[A benefactor who can bring an end…….]
Olinic’s voice sharpened.
[Are you saying that man can bring you a more perfect resolution than what we spoke of?]
“What more is there to say?”
[……]
The Guileless smiled, and Olinic fell silent.
Olinic, who had been silently watching the Guileless, slowly turned around.
[If you’re content with having more time to regret, then I have nothing more to say to you.]
“Thank you for your concern.”
Olinic didn’t reply to the Guileless’s simple farewell.
Instead, he merely nodded his head as if greeting Lennok and left the ritual hall first.
The Guileless, as if explaining belatedly to Lennok, added, “Lord Olinic is skilled in manipulating metal, and I received help from him long ago due to an old connection. This spear, too, is a weapon forged in Gisusingung’s furnace.”
“I know.”
“……”
“Seeing you pathetic losers comforting each other is truly heartbreaking.”
From behind Lennok, Peshia sneered as if she had witnessed something utterly ridiculous.
“Does it bring you comfort when a failure and a future failure mix and lick each other’s wounds?”
“……Lord Grisbern.”
The Guileless turned to Peshia with a troubled expression and shook his head.
“There’s no need to deny it. You, too, must see a similar outcome reflected through me.”
“Ha! What nonsense.”
“Lord Olinic’s mockery of us wasn’t wrong. Didn’t you and I both harbor the ambition to challenge the heavens with a single spear?”
The Guileless, standing before Peshia, looked up at the sky with his hands clasped behind his back.
“But the human heart couldn’t contain everything in the spear. Just as I did, you too will face a fate where you go mad, unable to even recognize those close to you.”
“That’s a laughable claim. Do you think I’d transcend a hierarchy without even that resolve?”
A sharper sneer formed on Peshia’s lips.
“You pursued power by destroying your mind and hierarchy, and now you wished for a peaceful death? Did you think you could lie in a bed like others and close your eyes with your grandchildren watching?”
“……”
Peshia relentlessly mocked the silent Guileless.
“If you abandon one thing, you should offer something in return. If you desired more than that but didn’t want to give up even one, what is that if not greedy old age, old man?”
“Grisbern. Do I need to make you shut up again, like at the summit?”
As Lennok spoke with an annoyed expression, only then did Peshia fall silent.
Even she apparently didn’t want to be crushed by magic and have her face shoved into the ground like before.
Lennok sighed softly at Peshia’s expression, still glaring at the Guileless without hiding her murderous intent.
“I don’t know how Ethan Bajour managed to leash a mad dog like you. Your speech is so awful, you stab people with your tongue, and it’s a wonder your limbs are still intact.”
“Nothing changes even if someone weaker than me harbors resentment.”
Peshia sneered.
“Did you think weaklings who can’t even protect themselves would have the guts to harm me?”
“So you acted recklessly without knowing your place, got defeated by me, and ended up like this.”
“……”
Peshia, rendered speechless, gritted her teeth.
“If we fight again, the result will be different. Next time, I will never let your magic……”
“It’s time. Let’s move.”
Ignoring her completely, Lennok walked away, followed by the Guileless, who cleared his throat.
They floated up through the wide-open ceiling of the ritual hall and emerged into the dark ruins of the satellite city.
Passing through the streets piled high with white sand, Lennok approached the flight zone where he had acquired the formation.
Peshia, her face flushed red, muttered continuously as she followed behind Lennok.
“And don’t compare yourself to Lord Bajour. In terms of leadership ability, you’re not even close to being in the same—”
“Hold on.”
Just as Peshia’s face crumpled miserably, having been ignored twice.
Lennok stopped and immediately turned his gaze towards a corner of the ruins.
“Someone’s there.”
Thump!!
Immediately after, something massive burst out from atop a collapsed building and approached Lennok at an incredible speed.
Dududududu!!
The form of a mechanical spider, moving its eight legs rapidly and flashing its red eyes.
Just as the Guileless moved to block Lennok’s front, gripping his spear tightly and raising it.
Click!
The mechanical spider’s back opened wide, and someone popped their head out from inside.
“Ah, you were here. I was so worried I wouldn’t find you before the ritual.”
“……”
Lennok confirmed the face of the person who emerged from the mechanical spider’s back and nodded.
“One of the attendees who was at the ritual hall earlier. What is it?”
A small-framed old man. One of the superhumans who had shown interest when Slain explained Anathema’s innate abilities.
He appeared to be a non-combat superhuman, but his aura was considerable, so Lennok remembered him.
At Lennok’s words, the old man nodded with a relieved expression.
“Oshuto Duris. A humble craftsman.”
“……Duris?”
“Oh, it seems you know of us.”
As Lennok questioned him about the familiar name, Oshuto nodded.
“It’s been over 20 years since I retired and handed over the workshop to my son, but I had to attend this summit because of an old connection. It was troublesome.”
“……”
There were many famous workshops on the continent, but only a very few were renowned for artifact production.
The Duris Workshop was one of the elite workshops famous for producing top-tier artifacts used by high-level superhumans.
Wasn’t the Nyx Badge, which Lennok used to erase his presence, also a product of the Duris Workshop?
“Bringing an underling wasn’t allowed, was it?”
Peshia, standing blankly behind, asked in a sharp tone.
“Where did you hide that grotesque mechanical spider?”
“I just made it myself.”
“What?”
Oshuto replied casually to Peshia’s words.
“I used discarded metal and electronic parts from nearby. It wasn’t difficult since the sand mixed in the parts doesn’t damage the equipment.”
“……”
The mechanical spider Oshuto was riding easily exceeded several meters in size, truly a multi-legged combat vehicle comparable to a normal tank.
Especially the mobility it had just shown was extraordinary enough to make even the Guileless momentarily wary.
So he hadn’t secretly brought and hidden such a high-performance vehicle, but had created it right here?
The Guileless also understood the meaning of his words and subtly expressed admiration.
“You must be an exceptionally skilled craftsman.”
“What do you want to say?”
“It’s a bit embarrassing to ask this of you on our first meeting, but would it be possible for me to accompany you during the ritual?”
“What?”
“Watching the summit just now, the atmosphere seemed unusual.”
Oshuto said, clearing his throat awkwardly.
“I’m not saying I don’t covet Anathema’s innate abilities, but it seems more important to return safely from the summit.”
“……”
“Of course, I’m not asking for free. After the summit, I can ask my son to take on an artifact production request from you at the workshop.”
As Lennok didn’t reply, Oshuto subtly added.
“Considering that commissions at the Duris Workshop are all booked with a three-year waiting list, I think it’s not a bad offer.”
It was a rather sudden proposal for someone connected to the summit, but Lennok understood why Oshuto was making it.
He seemed to have felt a considerable threat from the deadly atmosphere that had permeated the attendees throughout the summit.
Was he saying he wanted to remain under Lennok’s protection instead of gaining benefits by directly participating in the ritual?
He was guessing, with his long experience, that the most dangerous time would be during the ritual’s progression.
“……Alright. However, you must stay far away before the ritual begins.”
The compensation was quite generous compared to the proposal.
Since his self-identified status was clear and credible, there was no reason to worry about unnecessary betrayal.
Oshuto immediately agreed.
“I understand. From your perspective, you might think I’d try to tamper with the ritual.”
“Damn it, another useless burden has been added……”
Peshia grumbled, but Lennok ignored her words and immediately led the way with Oshuto.
The mechanical spider Oshuto had built wasn’t just specialized in mobility; it was also good at clearing white sand and ruins.
Thump!!
Kagagagak!!
[By the way, seeing you in such an open space, you’re really young.]
Oshuto, who was operating the mechanical spider and leading the way, said.
[I heard rumors, but I didn’t fully realize it until now. Your talent is truly enviable.]
“That’s not something a workshop Meister should say.”
[I didn’t dream of working in a workshop since I was a child. When I was young, I wanted to be a mercenary traveling the world.]
Oshuto spoke as if recalling old memories.
[Now I know there’s a heaven beyond heaven, but I suppose it’s regret that I couldn’t challenge it.]
“It’s better to keep it as a regret.”
Lennok gestured with his eyes towards the spear users standing on either side.
“There are two examples right here of people who lived as they pleased and got their noses caught by their own karma.”
“Heh heh……”
“……Damn it.”
The Guileless gave a wry smile, and Peshia cursed with a sour expression.
Oshuto, clearing his throat awkwardly, quickly moved the mechanical spider to clear a path.
Thump!!
[We’ve arrived. This must be the western main axis of the formation allocated to you for this Manifestation Ritual.]
The vast flight zone where Lennok had first encountered another superhuman in the satellite city.
Between the runway split by the fight with Habaek and the half-destroyed airport facilities, a pillar of light soared.
The Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Formation surrounding the entire Etanoc satellite city.
One of the axes governing the west among the eight directions of the formation.
[Then, as promised, I’ll wait behind the flight zone for the ritual to begin. I wish you good luck.]
Oshuto disappeared through the passage of the airport facilities, and Lennok turned his gaze to the Guileless and Peshia.
“Peshia. Monitor the outside from the city outskirts. Azlan, I’ll leave Oshuto Duris to you.”
“Are you serious? Why should I do such menial tasks—”
“Do you suspect Master Duris?”
“I don’t think that man is a high-level sorcerer enough to interfere with the ritual or play tricks. However, it’s clear he has another motive for asking for my protection.”
Lennok glanced in the direction Oshuto had disappeared.
“If he intends to use us, he’ll pay a fair price, but we need to be careful.”
“Hmm…… I understand.”
The Guileless nodded and stomped his foot, his figure instantly landing on top of the distant control tower.
Even Peshia, despite her annoyance, moved outside the runway, and only then did Lennok stand before the pillar of light.
“Alright, then……”
Raising the Eight Trigrams Formation that rotated behind him, he slowly stepped into the light.
Upon entering, magic power was consumed, and the formation’s rotation speed increased, while the pillar of light soaring into the sky bent in a long curve, gently traversing the night sky.
Whoosh……!!
The eight pillars of light, surging from across Etanoc, bent against the sky and intersected in the heart of the city.
The focal point of the light, intersecting from eight directions, plunged to the ground, embedding itself into the altar of the ritual hall whose ceiling had opened.
Kuoohhh!!
Lennok, who had emerged from the pillar after completing the hand seals, said to the Guileless.
“The ritual has been initiated. Now we just need to wait for Anathema’s body to manifest on the altar of the ritual hall.”
“……”
“Azlan?”
Even from atop the control tower, he couldn’t have failed to hear, yet no answer came from the Guileless.
Frowning, Lennok immediately used blink to ascend to the control tower.
“……Van. It seems something unexpected has happened.”
Krod Azlan finally turned his gaze, his face subtly hardened.
Fluttering his pure white robe, he watched the area behind the facilities and said, “As you said, I was keeping an eye on Master Duris, but he hasn’t moved an inch from that spot even after the ritual began.”
“……”
The Guileless asked with a serious expression, “Isn’t that completely contrary to the attitude of someone who wanted our protection?”
“……Let’s check.”
Saying so, Lennok headed with the Guileless to the maintenance area behind the airport facilities.
Among the sand-covered parts and scrap metal, the mechanical spider sat with its eight legs folded.
Its red eyes glowed as before, but it showed no reaction even as Lennok approached.
Lennok, raising his magic power, stood directly in front of the mechanical spider and asked, “Life signs?”
“None felt. But that was the case from the moment Master Duris first appeared.”
“It’s a workshop that makes top-tier presence-nullifying artifacts like the Nyx Badge. It’s not strange, but……”
However, it was strange that there was no reaction even with Lennok and the Guileless so close.
Was asking for protection just an excuse, and had he fled, leaving only the mechanical spider behind while the ritual progressed?
Click!
The Guileless, raising his spear, asked, “I can smash that spider’s head right now, if you wish.”
“……No. Wait.”
Lennok narrowed his eyes and slowly approached the mechanical spider.
Silently, he climbed onto the mechanical spider and extended a Magic Scribe to open the control seat.
Click!!
The mechanical spider showed no resistance or movement as the seat opened.
“……”
However, Lennok’s expression, as he looked down into the cockpit, had turned much colder than before.
The Guileless’s expression, upon belatedly checking the inside of the cockpit, also subtly hardened.
“This is……”
Oshuto Duris sat gripping the control stick.
A coin-sized hole was drilled in the forehead of the old man, who had a look of relief on his face, with blood and brain matter oozing out.
At his feet, the narrow cockpit was filled with his bodily fluids, emitting an unspeakable stench of death.
The former master of the Duris Workshop, an 8-level Meister, was dead.
The moment Lennok opened his mouth to say something about it.
“Damn it, Adamant Thunder!!!”
KABOOM!!!
From the other side of the runway, a tremendous roar erupted simultaneously with Peshia’s shrill voice.
“Something’s coming from outside! Get ready!!!”
[Squeal……!!!!]
From beyond the desert of pristine white sand, a bizarre shape undulated like a wave.
Thousands of monsters, seemingly made from clumps of flesh, ran across the desert in hordes, rushing towards the city.
Thousands of monsters racing across the desert with indescribable, bizarre screams.
Monsters seemingly forcibly shaped from clumps of human flesh quickly covered the desert outside the satellite city, approaching the runway area at tremendous speed.
Dududududu!!!
They moved on grotesque forelegs and hindlegs that looked like tangled human hands and feet, swiftly nearing the runway.
[SQUEAL!!!]
[SQUEAL!!]
[GURGLEGURGLE……!!!]
They screamed incessantly, like pigs being slaughtered or people being choked.
Peshia cursed violently and raised her spear.
“These monster bastards aren’t affected by the Siege Barrier. What are they?”
[SQUEAL!!!]
With a light thrust of her spear, she burst a rushing lump-of-flesh monster like a balloon.
POP!!!
Blood and flesh, muscle and bone exploded in a messy tangle, and Peshia was drenched in the fluids.
Completely covered in blood, Peshia licked her lips and grinned.
“They look like shit, but their blood tastes just like humans’. Interesting bastards.”
Whoosh!!
A mere twist and swing of her spear blade generated a gust of wind that instantly pushed back the flesh monsters.
CRACKLE!!
CRUNCH!!
“Now I feel better, goddammit!!!”
Peshia burst into laughter as she crushed and killed dozens of monsters into the runway’s cracks with a single gesture.
“Come on, you maggots. I’ll kill you all myself!!!”
With a shrill roar, horrifying tearing sounds echoed one after another from the other side of the runway.
Watching her from afar, the Guileless tilted his head with a bewildered expression.
“This is uncanny. What in the world is going on…….”
Simultaneously with the initiation of Anathema’s Manifestation Ritual, an 8-level Meister died, and an unknown attack began from the city outskirts.
Furthermore, it was impossible to even guess who murdered the Meister or who was behind the current attack on the satellite city.
While the Guileless pondered the anomalies that had occurred almost simultaneously on both sides of the airport, Lennok reached out his hand towards Oshuto’s corpse and said, “Azlan. You need to go to the ritual hall and deliver the news.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Manifestation Ritual has been initiated, but it needs time to fully complete. We must defend this place at least until Anathema’s body manifests.”
“So you mean I should concentrate on helping you defend this place right now……?”
“No, we need to inform them about who attacked the city. It’s a bigger problem than it seems.”
Lennok bent down and rubbed the thick pool of blood at his feet.
The fight was so fierce that the remains of the flesh monsters Peshia was killing had already flowed this far.
Lennok, gripping a clump of blood with his gloved hand, stared at it with a sunken gaze.
“This is the result of synthesizing living human flesh, leaving only minimal instinct and eliminating intellect. Despite their grotesque appearance, it’s not an easy feat to achieve.”
“……”
The human body and mind are far more fragile than one might think.
Even a slight shock can lead to death, and most organs cease to function and perish the moment their connections are severed.
To synthesize human flesh with different genes and blood types like this and keep them alive requires far more delicate skill and technique.
“If a faction is this adept at tampering with human bodies, isn’t it obvious who the mastermind is?”
Leaving the Guileless with a surprised expression, Lennok turned his gaze towards the city’s outskirts.
“The Cult has intervened. They’ve been watching this place since before the summit began.”