Chapter 589

Based on the life spring, I summoned a mock World Tree, while the sage glared at me as if trying to kill me.

The sage attempted to raise their staff, only to give up and sit back down.

It seemed their physical condition had been restored somehow and appeared intact.

“Come sit here. I will answer your questions.”

“Really?”

“Yes. In exchange, promise me one thing.”

“Promise?”

“Once your questions are answered, you’ll let your master go.”

The sage’s eyes were serious.

It felt odd, as if I had become the villain, but I agreed. After all, I needed to find the culprit and gather information about the Anima.

‘The existence of Anima implies the remains of other dragons must also exist.’

Surely, the seven children who fell in Teshiniria are definitely the dragons of various elements.

[hehehehe]

[Evil villain…]

[Oh Lily]

[She’d drop some tasty experience if killed]

[Should I eat her here?]

As I sat across from the sage, numerous magic arrays began to float around them.

The arrays charged with life energy soon coalesced into one, warmly enveloping both the sage and myself.

‘Since I haven’t turned into mush, this must not be a Hostile Array…’

“This isn’t an adversarial array, is it?”

“Not that stupid. This array is merely for fostering genuine conversation.”

The sage gave me a look as if to ask, “What do you take me for?”

“…Let me start with your most urgent question. First, my name is Hwon. I was the Advisor of ‘Life’ for several decades in the past. Second, while there are differing titles, the ‘Thats’ too once had their own assistants, but our relationship was non-cooperative. Third, the one who conspired against you is one of the Elders of Extreme Defense. He was one of the priests of ‘Earth’ back in the day.”

“Can you not specify exactly who it is?”

“There are a few candidates. It’s rare to have an elder this knowledgeable about past events. I shall provide you with their names.”

…

The array surrounding the sage and myself emitted light, generating a green sheet of paper.

On the paper were the faces, names, and general levels of four elders listed.

“And I suspect that the one who manipulated you is attempting something using ‘Thats.'”

“Trying to resurrect them like you?”

“Somewhat different.”

…

The sage’s staff struck the ground.

The mock World Tree glowed even brighter, drawing more energy from the life spring.

The sage’s frown deepened.

“…Think about it. Through my master ‘Life’s’ spirit-body, I gained the power to restore nature and even bring the dead back to life.”

An incomprehensible blessing that no human could ever attain.

“Even after witnessing such a blessing, could one be content with just one life?”

“… Were the other children used too?”

“They already have been. The efficiency and degree might differ. To start with, how do you think the Seven Factions maintain themselves? Without the power of those beings, we would never be what we are now.”

Eventually, the people of this place began to use the dormant children of the gods, proudly proclaiming their strength across many worlds as the ‘Ultimate Humans’.

[Huh]

[What a boon]

[But isn’t the sage doing the same thing? Hehe]

[The sage…]

[Are the children dragons?]

[Oh…]

“So why are they awakening? It seems like this is your doing.”

“…I won’t deny it. I used the power of ‘Life’ to put them all to sleep, and naturally, with the revival of life, they are bound to awaken.”

…

“But I assure you, I’m not acting recklessly.”

“Then what is it?”

“Why would I have endured for thousands of years? If my plan executes flawlessly, those beings will never pose a threat. This, I can guarantee!”

The once powerless sage’s eyes flared with determination.

When talking about the plan, the usual melancholy was nowhere to be found.

They are this invested in the situation.

“Absolutely sure. Although many of the old ones will oppose it, this is the safest solution. Under that divine protection, countless beings have lived in peace over long eras, free from original sin. As a being now, it is fitting to repay it─”

“Calm down. What exactly is this plan?”

The excited sage fell silent after their incessant talking and returned to their usual self.

“My plan is…”

…

…

“‘Separation of Power’…”

On the way back to Extreme Defense,

I deeply pondered the plan called ‘Separation of Power’ explained by the sage.

The sage’s plan was simple.

[‘When the resurrection of the master begins, those currently dormant will gradually wake up. And the primal magic array I inscribed thousands of years ago will be activated.’]

‘Primal magic array?’

‘When the array activates, a powerful force that can separate the ‘rank’ of the soul will manifest itself. It’s a technique derived from the transformation of the spirit-body. Simplistically put, it separates power from humans.’>

[They will transform from great beings to ordinary humans with power.]

“…”

The divine children who fell in Teshiniria were once entities causing destruction and chaos.

I know best how dangerous a child wielding power can be.

I don’t think the plan itself is absurd or wrong.

Rather, it’s impressive how the sage tries to achieve coexistence with those who caused the death of their own master in this manner.

“Save for one issue.”

[?]

[Urm]

[What?]

That’s the power.

“Surely, the separated powers will be coveted by someone.”

There are seven powers, each capable of influencing an entire world.

The sage mentioned even ‘Life’s’ power would be separated, thus leaving seven masterless powers.

The sage promised they would seal it and not misuse it…

‘Hmm.’

Can anyone really resist such power?

Let alone contain, the situation suggests that whoever possesses all that power would reach a strength comparable to the Celestial Being of Ertarn.

‘I’d find it hard to deal with at my current state.’

Even if the sage acts admirably and restrains themselves, the problem lies with others.

Because acquiring even one of the seven powers would make one the ruler of the world.

“Life might ask for it back, and whether a servant could refuse their master’s command is doubtful.”

[Hmm…]

[Seems fishy]

[Dangerous, just kill him]

[Looks like he’ll devour all the power]

[Lily should eat it]

[Sage feels sketchy]

[Seal it]

[Help Lily sweep it up and watch the drama]

[Suspicious]

…Indeed. I should meet others.

This is only the sage’s perspective after all.

For others in Teshiniria, it’s about breaking the long-standing peace, which many won’t be pleased with.

‘Even if there was great sacrifice in the past.’

For the majority of people, the sacrifices made millennia ago are less important than the present reality.

After hearing the sage’s plan, I asked about the ‘dragon,’ but I gained no useful information.

Rather, I was asked if I knew anything.

Certainly, the divine children might be related to the dragons, but they don’t seem to remember being one themselves.

Ultimately, meeting those children firsthand would be necessary to uncover answers.

[Where should we go now?]

“First, I should become an Upper-Ranked Disciple. I need to also figure out what the elder of Extreme Defense is planning.”

They meddled with me, but I’m somewhat willing to follow their plausible plan.

Given the World Quest for becoming an Upper-Ranked Disciple has already appeared, following the plan might lead to new quests later on.

I’m also beginning to understand why the System blocked entry to other sects.

Thus, I arrived at Extreme Defense, encountering Gapwoo training in the exercise yard.

“Gapwoo?”

“Uhh… Honored disciple…”

“What are you doing here?”

He’s clearly destroyed several facilities and stopped training, so why is he still here?

Not to mention, there are few who can ‘send flying’ someone like Gapwoo.

Looking back where Gapwoo came from, a tiny claw hovered in the air.

Click! Click! The claws clashed, producing a bright sound.

“…Karabus?”

-Hmph. Training. Don’t interfere, Lily Elbrite. To clarify, it’s not I who initiated this, but he asked for this training. Any misunderstanding…

“Where’s your body?”

-I kept half your soul mixed in, attached it to Gapwoo, but it seems you crushed it!

“I didn’t crush it!”

-You commanded that bloodsucker to do so. Told it to obliterate the soul, too.

“It was Lasty, not me. Saying that I crushed it is somewhat misleading.”

Anyway, it doesn’t seem to be my fault.

[Hehehehe]

[Let’s make crab soup]

[Miss Lasty]

[Just the claws are left, it’s hilarious]

[Even like this, he managed to overcome Gapwoo?]

[What must have happened?]

“Isn’t surviving enough? You’re not exactly constrained by your physical form anyway.”

-Blasphemy…

“Should I punch you?”

…

Karabus’s ‘mouth’ fell silent.

Sure, there was none in the first place.

-Damn.

“I don’t know what you’re teaching, but Gapwoo isn’t talented in defensive techniques. Thus, anything other than ‘crab-specific’ techniques will be meaningless.”

-I found one…

“Huh?”

-I tried it myself, found it impossible, and asked for my assistance. Definitely not a violation of the order to not ‘initiate’ anything on my own. Promise.

I turned my head.

At that moment, Gapwoo, who was recovering, slowly stood up and spoke.

“Someone… left a training manual called ‘Crushing Armor of Strength’…”

“Who?”

“Uh, I found it once at my place. This technique seems compatible with me, but…”

“Let me see it.”

I took the book ‘Crushing Armor of Strength’ from Gapwoo and read it.

The contents and format were not much different from other technical manuals.

Even I admit these are quite capable skills, rivaling techniques like Roar of Acceleration and Strength of Earth.

Only…

Bang.

“Rather intentional, isn’t it?”

“Hm?”

The person who sent the book to me and the one who sent the book to Gapwoo are the same individual.

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