Chapter 228

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 8, 2025

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This is a miracle made possible because all conditions were miraculously met.

Even if it’s arbitrary, it’s proof of implementing miracles as phenomena.

That is, the infinite driving force established between the external and internal.

And the function to control that.

The vessel capable of containing and handling it.

Also, the highly advanced techniques and methods to control and manage it regardless of the type of power.

Lastly.

The highly refined theory that enables the application of all this.

Once upon a time, while I was holed up in a valley of water users.

In a fictional world reminiscent of the cosmos.

The Demon King standing before Grandeous and me had once told a story like this.

“Far from here, beyond several boundaries, there exists such a concept.”

Taiji (太極).

“The harmony of Yin and Yang. Perfect balance. According to that theory, everything in heaven and earth can be explained by two opposing natures—hot and cold.”

It seemed way too condensed.

“Heat and cold? Feels like an expanded version of the four-element theory.”

The essence of the four-element theory is also two, they say.

Water and fire, and wind and earth signify the essence of above and below, as well as heaven and earth, according to something I remember hearing from a mage.

“It’s not much different from the theory that tried to understand the structure and standards of the world through heaven and earth. Just slight differences arise based on racial characteristics and the development structures of society and civilization. It’s all based on intelligent beings. Speaking of which, day and night would fall under that category too. But day and night, fundamentally, are phenomena distinguished due to the planet’s rotation. In space, day and night don’t exist. So, day and night are concepts you’ve created.”

Rotation? Day and night?

“…Is that so?”

“In the Demon Realm, the moon floats but the sun doesn’t properly rise for similar reasons. Though the sun does exist, anyway.”

“…I’ve never heard that there’s no daytime in the Demon Realm.”

“Last time, didn’t I say that those who can’t distinguish whether it’s daytime or not have no choice. How would they know unless someone tells them?”

Anyway, that’s beside the point.

“I wanted to enlighten you that if you skillfully use the principles of darkness you’ve mastered, you can utilize the essence of Yin-Yang and Taiji.”

“…?”

I couldn’t understand a single word.

“For example, imagine water and fire mixed together without either heating up, cooling down, or evaporating, yet coexisting harmoniously. Isn’t that amazing? It means mass and power are fully preserved while coexisting.”

“Is that… amazing?”

“If it happens without any artificial intervention?”

“…”

Are you expecting me to be amazed?

Still, why should I care about this? I’m not even a mage.

“…That’s why these ignorant swordsmen.”

She sighed pitifully.

“Listen well. If there were fire enough to burn the world and water enough to cover it entirely, and if they could coexist without colliding or harming each other, would that be normal or abnormal?”

“…Abnormal, right?”

“Phenomenally, yes. But when it comes to energy and mana, it’s a bit different. However, excessive energy will inevitably affect matter and phenomena. By harmonizing this, you overcome physical laws.”

“…”

Still unclear.

Considering I’m not exactly on good terms with mana.

“The technique you handle called ‘darkness’ uses a powerful force as its driving power to absorb and revert manifested miracles into void and chaos. But due to your insufficient skill, you can only nullify or barely release that power, which is already quite remarkable since it can unilaterally neutralize the enemy’s great power. That makes it useful as a shield, but questionable as a weapon.”

Then.

“The reason we call it ‘darkness’ is because it has a proper name.”

Grandeous, who had been silent, interjected in the conversation.

“What is it?”

If even the Demon King calls it ‘darkness,’ Grandeous must have kept it secret or guarded it heavily.

“Ensis. A blade.”

“Huh? Is that all?”

The Demon King, Golden Girl, looked perplexed.

“And you seem to harbor unrealistic fantasies about swords.”

Thus muttered the Demon King while explaining to me.

“What he means by ‘sword’ isn’t the chunk of iron you’re holding—it refers to a reliable weapon or armor that can kill, dispose of, and repel enemies. You get that, right?”

“More or less.”

Then, the Demon King subtly changed expression.

“Then, the method of handling it must be entirely different.”

At this, Grandeous nodded confidently with his helmet on.

“That’s obvious. Actually, it starts from there. Unfortunately, with this body, I could only mimic it. So, I just conceptualized the theory and methodology.”

Then he turned his helmet toward me and said.

“And you will be able to. When you construct, complete, and unify the star within you, transforming yourself into a new star, you will earn the qualification to wield it.”

And that’s how far it goes.

“…You’ll probably be able to sever the shackles of fate. Only then will you be able to freely do what you truly desire.”

Ultimately, that’s the gist.

“True freedom. And the realization of genuine free will. The reason we must acquire strength and wisdom lies precisely in that.”

Therefore, you must become both a new star and a sword.

“Next, whether you stand with the forces of order or chaos… is something you must decide for yourself.”

====

The god of war, who bore the dishonor of being the general of the Demon Realm, silently applauded the massive wave of light that covered the cross-section of the World Tree.

“Nah, it’s impressive, but still…”

Though cloaked in pitch blackness, resembling a shadow, his form exposed to the light still retained a distinct darkness and mist, appearing absurdly paradoxical.

“But I wonder if that alone will suffice.”

The god of war lazily rose from his dark skeletal throne.

With every step, he cracked his neck.

“If I intervene at this point… I wonder what kind of absurd force will activate.”

Just as his mutterings ended,

a fierce gust swept through the forest.

Initially startled, it turned out to be some living creature of considerable size and mass moving around.

It collided with the ground like a giant boulder shot from a trebuchet.

However, it neither shattered nor broke, instead scraping along the surface, destroying and toppling numerous trees, finally stopping near where the war deity stood.

Due to the dusty haze rising from the damp ground, identifying its shape took a moment.

“Hmm…”

A bulky figure covered in plain fur.

The antlers on its head were familiar, and its size was significantly larger than his own grotesque form.

“Can connections be made this way? Pathetic.”

As the war deity scoffed and muttered,

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing much. Just seeing a rather welcome face.”

“…Do you recognize me?”

“Doesn’t just apply to you.”

Suddenly, black chains erupted from behind the war deity.

They soared vertically into the sky, blocking the shadow that had just lunged toward his rear.

“Hm?”

“….”

The deer centaur and one of the nine heroes, Gaejef, unconsciously glanced at the direction.

“Rorona? What are you doing here?”

“…Hmph.”

A deep voice resonated.

An individual wrapped in dark cloth finally clicked their tongue and revealed the tattered hood covering their upper garment.

Revealed was a teal-green skin tone.

Rather, it was more accurate to describe it as scales.

Neatly stacked, layered greenish-blue scales.

Seeing a being whose entire surface was covered in such scales wasn’t particularly surprising.

“What about you… why are you here?”

“This girl? I asked first.”

“I’ve been here for quite some time.”

One of the nine heroes, Gaejef, spoke confidently. The existence he referred to was a Lizardman.

And Rorona, a member of the Lacertilian race with teal-green scales, was also a renowned figure known across the continent.

One of the nine heroes.

In other words, a Great Warrior on par with Gaejef.

“Wow. To stop one person, sending two seems rather excessive.”

The war deity clicked his tongue.

“….”

Although Gaejef had just arrived and was still unsure of the situation,

the most serious issue was that the erosion had completed, achieving Demon Realmification.

“Old memories resurface strongly.”

“Hmph.”

Gaejef’s comment prompted Rorona to sigh.

“To both of you, please refrain from interfering with our event since there’s no particular ill intent.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be best if you stepped aside?”

“I can’t do that. I’m not irresponsible enough to abandon my purpose due to mere boredom.”

“It’s strange that a being of the Demon Realm knows us…”

“Something feels very familiar about you, though I’m not sure what.”

“Really? I thought the smell of gunpowder and blood would be stronger.”

Despite the teasing tone provoking annoyance…

Gaejef’s arrival here wasn’t coincidental.

It was as if he was drawn here.

The most perilous part was that after being engulfed in the light earlier, his presence, or aura, had vanished completely.

Now, the oppressive malice emanating from the dark figure before him…

When compared carefully, it resembled…

‘The overconfident Emperor who commands armies.’

Yet the seasoned air and dignity surpassed even that emperor’s.

Most notably, the overwhelming pressure and threat…

were tyrannical enough to make the haughty emperor seem trivial.

‘That’s right. He resembles it greatly.’

One of the Demon Realm’s generals.

He once sought to become king of the Demon Realm but caused chaos in the Middle Realm, aspiring to be a tyrant.

His self-esteem and pride were boundless until he ultimately made a fatal mistake, resulting in his life being cut short by our combined efforts… That insane general.

‘However… While their essence is similar, their depth differs.’

Though similarly tyrannical,

the being before him wasn’t merely one who shook the world with sheer overwhelming power.

Rather, he seemed to embody the ultimate extremes of tyranny itself.

Trampling righteousness, shattering compassion.

Through pure might, intrigue, and strategy, he pursued efficiency, profit, and public welfare, relentlessly seeking desired results.

“Whatever. This isn’t something that can be resolved with words.”

Thus, the war deity briefly clicked his tongue, declaring the end of the conversation.

Dozens of black iron chains sprouted from behind his back, spewing crimson flames as they surged upward.

“Why don’t you show me what you’ve got? Indulging in the whims of elders is the proper mindset of successors, isn’t it?”

====

Elsewhere.

Light flickered, and it seemed as if the world was about to end in an instant, plunging into total destruction.

But.

[ABRASADABRA]

At that single utterance, all the light converged into a single point and vanished.

A miracle counters another miracle.

Though this appeared to severely violate fairness.

“What… happened?”

As Delica stood bewildered,

“…Commander, we just died.”

“What?”

“Our lord revived us.”

Unbelievable.

We weren’t even aware we had died… dead?

“Even last time, it was ridiculous, but now it’s twice as extraordinary.”

“…”

Moreover,

Where are we now?

An expansive wasteland stretched endlessly.

In the distance, a massive fortress loomed, but its architecture seemed more ancient than contemporary—a stone-built citadel.

“Looks like… it’s that?”

Cain’s cryptic question elicited a brief “Ah” from Delica.

“Yeah. We’ve been pulled in.”

Whose world is this?

Whose domain?

Unclear, but…

One thing is certain: the World Tree and any other potential adversaries capable of influencing us have vanished without a trace.

And there, in that place, stands only…

Him.

A staff.

Carriel held the completed Hibaitein in his left hand.

In the other, he carried another spear.

Meanwhile, Lucesia had transformed into a completely different form.

As she extended her hand, a crimson streak tore through the world.

A brief pause followed.

Then, an intense heatstorm and red flames violently shook the world.

However, some of it lost its power before reaching Carriel, dissipated by the Hibaitein he swung.

“Here, neither you nor I need to hold back.”

Carriel aimed the Misiltain in his right hand and spoke.

“Let’s both hope this ends without regrets.”

As Lucesia again stretched out her hand, scattering crimson streaks,

Carriel countered instantly with the Misiltain.

Simultaneously, a black cross slashed through the air.

“Undeniably… useful.”

Though it possesses no inherent power on its own,

the darker and more formidable the opponent,

the darker the starlight shines brilliantly.

A technique designed to mock the oppression of unjust power.

Darkness attribute.

Black Light attribute.

And Ensis.

“Para Ensis.”

Second.

“Canus.”

The black cross reabsorbs the emitted darkness and returns it as pure white light.

The intense light becomes a blade, cutting through space and obliterating the target with radiance.

[Gasp!]

A brief cry escaped Lucesia, though it wasn’t fatal.

Strictly speaking, the Darkness attribute cannot intentionally cause direct harm.

During the early stages of mastery, it could only nullify powers.

However, once a degree of proficiency and expertise is attained,

through Canus, it transforms into a tangible attack and countermeasure.

“….”

Still, it’s undoubtedly difficult.

Our eyes met.

In the mysterious gaze blending radiant gold and crimson,

my existence felt infinitely insignificant.

“….”

But it doesn’t work.

Meeting the eyes of a god is akin to a stern death sentence and imposes unbearable stress beyond comprehension.

Yet, I’ve long been free from such constraints.

Not only am I physically unaffected by mana and various energies,

but the things I’ve mastered consistently remind me of their innate effectiveness against such forces.

“….”

Additionally,

through arduous, repetitive training,

my spirit has become remarkably resilient, rarely wavering or faltering.

And with the help of Ennea, regulating my breathing,

any mental or spiritual abilities become utterly futile.

Only my eyes waver.

The hand gripping the sword belongs to none other than me.

Doubting and guarding whether this sword can cut, pierce, and strike the opponent remains solely within my heart.

…The world and reality have always existed somewhere.

Ultimately, it boils down to my steadfastness.

And when I establish and perfect my own unique world,

I, too, shall become a steadfast world.

[ABRA―]

“Hebaitein.”

Intense flames engulf the world in an instant.

[―SADABRA]

Yet, the moment the proclamation concludes, everything vanishes as if it never existed.

Still, this remains.

“Mi-kate.”

The flames of Hebaitein and

Lucesia’s authority that instantly quelled them.

Their effects and applications happen so swiftly that there’s no time to react.

“…Slowness and speed are always relative.”