Chapter 947: The Prohibition (2)
“A Forbidden Armament of the Central City?”
A forbidden weapon, processed and created by sacrificing humans.
At Slain’s words that Ars Nova’s Forbidden Armament was sealed in Anathema’s residence, the atmosphere among those present grew heavy.
The fact that equipment made in the Central City, not primarily by the Cult, was hidden in Vulcan.
Judging by the reactions around, not many other superhumans seemed to know about it.
“Such a dangerous weapon, of all places, near Vulcan.”
“Most weapons and artifacts made in Ars Nova should have been lost…”
“I’m hearing for the first time that Anathema was hiding such an armament.”
“That would be the case. It’s a fact only a very small number of involved individuals stumbled upon near the end of the civil war.”
Slain replied.
“It’s presumed to be an artifact Anathema himself brought from the Central. It was only known among those who associated with him during his lifetime.”
“…The fact that it’s a weapon made through human sacrifice troubles me.”
Evelyn, glaring askance at Slain with her arms crossed, asked.
“You’re not trying to hand over ownership of the Forbidden Armament to Van, and then use that fact as a weakness, are you?”
“A weakness?”
As soon as Slain heard Evelyn’s words, he retorted as if he couldn’t understand.
“How could giving a Forbidden Armament to a wizard with such a unique reputation as Adamant Thunder be a weakness?”
“…”
“It’s rare to find a high-level wizard so free from public perception. Rather, it must be an offer with absolutely no downside for him.”
It was such a logically coherent rebuttal that even Evelyn was momentarily speechless.
“Anathema’s residence has been buried and left untouched for decades since the civil war. Without the subterranean coordinate record, it would be difficult to even locate it properly.”
As Slain raised his hand, the sound of wings flapping echoed.
Simultaneously, a black feather fluttered down from above Lennok’s head.
“I’ve recorded information about the security and sealing barrier placed on the mansion there.”
“…A record.”
It wasn’t an ordinary bird’s feather, but a medium designed to transmit a specific will-thought.
The moment Lennok carefully grasped the fluttering feather above his head, ensuring he didn’t fumble.
[Wizard. Listen without showing it.]
Slain’s telepathic message echoed in Lennok’s mind.
[There’s still a Cult informant among the summit attendees.]
“…”
As Lennok remained silent, Slain naturally turned his gaze to the others.
“The reason I intend to decide on this matter immediately is because I believe there is no need to inform the Elder Council of this fact.”
[After Anathema’s manifestation, the Apostle Transformation process was abnormally fast. This is the result of someone participating in the manifestation ritual tampering.]
Slain explained the reason to the other attendees aloud, while simultaneously continuing his telepathic message to Lennok.
It was so natural that even Lennok wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t been holding the feather and receiving his will-thought.
“No need to inform the Elder Council?”
“Even after Kaiser’s project failed, the Elder Council has refrained from action. That’s because they are extremely wary of The Prohibition created through the project.”
[Even with the Cult’s Priestess herself intervening, it’s unnatural for all Level 8s to show such lukewarm reactions.]
Slain replied.
“Therefore, it’s true that the Elder Council is more likely to try to seize Anathema’s causality now that Anathema has died.”
[I tried to find the informant by dealing with the Apostles outside the city, but the Priestess’s scrutiny was thorough. She also knew I had noticed.]
“I see.”
Habaek, realizing Slain’s intention, nodded.
“Are you saying you’ll hand Anathema’s corpse and assets over to Adamant Thunder to curb the Elder Council’s intervention?”
“Adamant Thunder is Vulcan’s sole Magic Tower Lord. He holds a special position, having received direct authority to establish a Magic Tower from the City Council Senate.”
[Except for you, who directly killed an Apostle, everyone else is somewhat suspected. Even I can’t be immediately cleared from the list of suspects.]
Slain, staring intently at Lennok, said.
“Considering what he has done in this city, neither side would dare to object to Adamant Thunder’s decision.”
[But I have a clue.]
“…”
Considering the notoriety and special position Lennok had built as Adamant Thunder, the Elder Council would not move rashly.
Slain had assumed this from the beginning and intended to hand over all assets under Anathema’s name to Lennok.
Was this matter so urgent that he’d rather choose Lennok as a second-best option than let it fall into the Elder Council’s hands?
Seeing Lennok lost in thought, Slain said.
“If you don’t like it, you can refuse at any time. I have no intention of forcing it upon you.”
“…”
“The maintenance forces will arrive shortly.”
Evelyn, glancing at her wrist, said.
“Slain Onyx and Rage Mist will be escorted to the Central District as is. Any last words?”
“It’s difficult to conclude all the issues that arose during this summit here. But I will state this clearly.”
Slain calmly met the gaze of the attendees watching him.
“Just as we couldn’t foresee Anathema’s betrayal and corruption, the next events must also be left to individual judgment.”
“…”
“Whether you ignored, participated in, or even stood by during the Cult’s intervention in this summit… I will take responsibility for all of it and resolve it through negotiations with the city government.”
Slain, raising his red eyes, spoke softly.
“However, for the future distribution of abilities and merits, all those gathered here must attend the summit again.”
Although things had gone awry from the start of the summit, there were still many unresolved matters.
The Cult’s attack, the partial destruction of the satellite city, Anathema’s death.
The Eight Innate Abilities that should have been granted to the attendees through Anathema’s manifestation.
The negotiation for the recreation of The Veil, which was originally supposed to be discussed at the summit, would also need to be resumed.
The other attendees, perhaps thinking the same, did not express any objection to Slain’s words.
“Once it’s resolved and a date is set, I will inform you of the new location.”
Slain turned to Evelyn without hesitation.
“Let’s go.”
“…”
Evelyn, standing behind Rage and Slain with her arms crossed, shrugged at Lennok.
In the distance, the procession of the maintenance forces began to appear beyond the white sand desert horizon.
Lennok, watching Slain’s back as he silently walked through the ruins, spoke.
“You proposed the recreation of The Veil, yet you’re the least obsessed with it.”
“…”
“You’re delaying things that could be concluded right now, giving various reasons.”
Lennok’s sunken eyes stared, as if piercing through Slain’s expressionless face.
“You don’t want a means to protect Vulcan. You just want an excuse.”
Lennok asked.
“Do you intend to establish a new defense line against the Cult now?”
“While the Cult was wantonly performing human sacrifices, the distinction between the Spirit World and the material world disappeared long ago.”
[The Three Great Family Heads of the Hexagonal Fortress.]
Flap!!
Slain’s gaze briefly swept over the feather in Lennok’s hand.
“A bird that leaves the nest does not look back. I have decided which side to stand on.”
[I’ll be waiting.]
“…”
Did he think that was enough to say?
Slain walked away without waiting for Lennok’s reply.
As Lennok watched Slain being escorted by the maintenance forces under Evelyn’s guidance,
Olinic, the Cheoknoe, who had approached Lennok’s side, opened his mouth.
[If the Elder Council intervened, they would surely hold a merit-based awards ceremony for this incident to gain justification.]
“…”
[The future summit Slain mentioned seems to refer to that very occasion.]
Rumble…!!
The colossal metallic sphere that had been blocking one side of the city rotated, approaching Olinic.
[If it’s you, who directly subjugated the Cult’s Apostle, you will undoubtedly receive the greatest accolade and honor.]
Olinic, who unhesitatingly climbed onto the sphere, looked down at Lennok with a subtle smile.
[I hope to see you there again.]
“Adamant Thunder.”
Kiriya, sliding her frozen blade back into its sheath, approached Lennok and said.
“I don’t mind if you take Anathema’s corpse. That wasn’t my purpose for attending the summit anyway.”
“…”
“However, considering the value of Anathema’s name, the City Council or others might not be convinced.”
Her icy eyes stared intently at Lennok’s face.
“You’d do well to be careful. If your opponent is a wizard as powerful as you, there are plenty of others who would make the same choice as the Cult.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
Lennok smiled faintly.
“I hope that’s not from your own experience.”
“…”
Kiriya turned away immediately without any reaction to Lennok’s words.
As Slain departed, the other superhumans also began to disappear one by one.
From those who gave Lennok a light greeting before leaving, to those who vanished without even introducing themselves.
Even as the other superhumans departed, Lennok remained in the city until the very end, deep in thought.
Anathema’s betrayal and death. The Priestess’s intervention and departure. The Central City’s Forbidden Armament and the Cult’s informant.
Slain, who noticed the anomaly but condoned it, and the other Level 8s who ultimately chose to observe the situation.
With little energy left, and little time remaining.
Instead, he was carefully choosing and waiting for the moment to confront everything.
Would the deaths and animosities that split them here today someday meet again in a different form?
The gathering of supreme ability users, which began at midnight.
The long night, unexpectedly twisted by Anathema’s betrayal, finally ended.
Lennok, raising his hand towards the rising sunlight, turned to those waiting and nodded.
“Our work here is done. Let’s return to Vulcan.”
A dry desert as the sun rises.
Amidst the sandstorm that swept in with the morning, a colossal, dinosaur-like monster walked.
Thud! Thud!!
The gigantic monster advanced, crushing the sand with its thick, cylindrical legs. On its back, a lavishly shaped temporary sanctuary was erected.
Someone, leaning back in a white chair, opened her eyes as if waking from a doze.
“…”
Her hand, resting on the armrest, twitched, slowly clenching and unclenching her fingers.
Her face was expressionless, but cold sweat trickled down her veined forehead.
The priests who had been praying beside her immediately rose.
“Priestess Naydree.”
“Are you alright?”
“Alright?”
At the priests’ words, the Priestess, Ureka Naydree, twisted her lips into a smile.
“What if I’m not alright?”
“…That is.”
“If you help me, I might feel a little better, will you do that?”
“As you wish.”
As the priest drew a dagger from his robes, Ureka kicked him in the stomach.
Crunch!!
Even at the sound of breaking ribs, the priest didn’t let out a whimper.
Only then did Ureka nod with a satisfied expression.
“Yes, just stay like that. Then I might feel a little better.”
Saying so, the Priestess slowly unfurled the hand resting on the other armrest.
As her tightly clenched fist opened, bloodshot eyes were revealed.
Crack, crack…!!
The moment a tingling lightning, swirling around her pupils, burrowed between Ureka’s fingers.
The back of the Priestess’s elbow burst open, scattering blood and flesh.
“…!!”
Excruciating pain, as if the lightning flowing through her arm was scraping and burning her nerves.
Even Ureka, who had maintained her composure until now, had to grit her teeth and endure it with bloodshot eyes.
“Gah, cough…!!!”
The priest, who had been in contact with Ureka and shared the brunt of the erupting lightning, was already beyond recovery.
Blood gushed from his seven orifices, his tongue burned dry, and he convulsed, his jaw trembling.
His outer skin was intact, but his internal organs were all burned and shriveled, leaving him to suffer hellish torment.
Someone among the priests watching shuddered and murmured.
“Even after layering life prayers multiple times, the potency is still this strong…!!”
“I touched something I wasn’t supposed to take, so I must bear this cost.”
Ureka smiled, placing a hand on her blood-soaked arm.
“But it truly is a vicious power. So much time has passed, but instead of fading, it’s just flaring up more.”
“…”
“Is it a will-thought lightning that exists independently of the caster once the incantation is complete?”
Ureka’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the lightning flowing through her arm.
“As expected, I dislike everything about it… from start to finish.”
The lightning Lennok had embedded in Anathema’s corpse was a measure to prevent individuals like the Priestess from seizing the body.
But Ureka also knew that she couldn’t lay a hand on Anathema’s corpse unless it was at that very moment.
If it hadn’t been for that moment when the unrighteous wizard had just made contact with that esteemed being and was temporarily unable to interfere with reality.
Even Ureka herself might never have even gotten a glimpse of Anathema’s corpse in the future.
That was why the Priestess had moved before the sanctuary closed, reaching for Anathema’s corpse, accepting the loss.
The parts she could take weren’t major organs, but something relatively easy to handle and convenient to carry, like an eyeball.
Considering its spiritual efficacy, it was the only body part the Priestess considered a minimum achievement.
However, being exposed to the electric discharge Lennok left behind was an inevitable part of recovering Anathema’s eye.
And despite protecting her body with divine power, the Priestess had been suffering from Lennok’s residual lightning for over half a day.
“Godin, bring the ritual tool.”
After staring at the lightning flowing through her arm for a long while, Ureka spoke.
“I can’t abandon Anathema’s remains after coming all this way. I must seal both my arm and the remains together.”
“Priestess Naydree. But…!!”
The other priests could not hide their agitation and retorted at the Priestess’s declaration.
“If you use the sealing ritual tool in your current state, you might lose the use of your arm forever.”
“Perhaps it would be better to entrust the remains to us now and focus on your recovery…”
“Consider yourself lucky, Godin.”
Ureka said with an expressionless face.
“If I hadn’t just uselessly expended one priest, I would have killed you for that insolence.”
“…”
“Did you not understand when I explained it once? Only I can preserve this.”
The Priestess smiled faintly.
“Or are you telling me to leave this precious item abandoned on your smelly corpses?”
The lightning burrowing into Ureka’s flesh was causing cell necrosis and killing nerves.
Transcending the concept of electrical spellcraft, it was a destructive Property Transformation result that utterly shredded the targeted opponent.
Even Ureka herself could barely suppress it to one arm using divine power; if any other priest touched the eye, their internal organs would burn and they would die.
“Such an opportunity won’t come again soon; this undertaking was truly below my expectations.”
As the priests brought the ritual tool, Ureka muttered in a languid voice.
“If only I had reclaimed the previous Priestess’s authority, there would have been no need for such troublesome actions…”
There is always a give and take.
But sometimes, because something is lost, a new power arises to fill that void.
The authority Ureka Naydree obtained—the power to make mad Apostles her servants—was undoubtedly a power no previous Priestess had possessed.
However, it was ironically a miracle permitted only because Seina Naydree’s death had caused the loss of the Cult’s supreme high priestess’s authority.
But Ureka truly understood how fatal a loss Seina’s lost high priestess authority was.
Ureka Naydree possessed the talent for rituals, but not the authority of rituals.
The reason she, despite possessing the talent to oversee all rituals within the Cult, directly traversed battlefields like this.
It was because she needed blood and sacrifices to substitute for the authority to perform rituals.
Therefore, she could not abandon Anathema’s eye, which she had now obtained, no matter what.
An Ars Nova noble, and a causality of contradiction on the continent, unbound by the fate of destruction and The Prohibition.
Anathema’s remains, having fallen as an Apostle and died, completing his martyrdom, were one of the substitutes for authority Ureka had so desperately sought.
“When I return to the Main Branch, I’ll have to re-examine the Oracle’s Divine Ability. What is Kamrodal doing?”
“The last time the doll moved, it was recovering a damaged Apostle near the second gate. Should I issue a recall order?”
“…No. It’s fine. There’s an Incarnation Body I need to meet first.”
Ureka herself didn’t venture into such dangerous places because of a reckless and aggressive nature.
The satellite city, where His will directly descended, was an extremely special and sacred stage where her power as a Priestess was strongest.
Furthermore, she had even received a hint through the oracle that she would reclaim her lost authority.
But ultimately, even until the sanctuary ended and the gods’ wills departed, she was leaving the city without achieving even half of her expected goal.
For sacrificing thousands of humans to create and offer flesh monsters, the outcome was absurdly unsatisfying.
“To turn the Machine City upside down and only now return to the Pantheon, how leisurely.”
Ureka Naydree’s deeply bowed eyes glowed darkly.
“Prepare the offerings. I need to meet the Second Apostle.”