The collapsed mountain range was clearly visible from afar.
It was impossible not to see.
Even though Bifold and Behist were both cities in the southern part of the same empire, there was a considerable distance between the two cities.
That gap was filled by the mountain range.
The mountain range was as massive as that distance, and even if it had collapsed despite originally being so immense, the mountain range was still colossal.
Thus, despite the considerable distance, the debris that poured down swallowed Bifold, and part of Behist’s outer wall was submerged in the landslip.
People died.
An incalculable number of the empire’s people disappeared, buried under the landslides.
Between the two cities, along the trade route, there were countless villages.
All of them perished, buried under the landslides.
Even if anyone had survived, there would have been no way to break through the landslides that had toppled the mountain range.
Even if Angie were to step forward and dig through the dirt, it wouldn’t have been possible.
Of course, it made sense when you consider that destruction is easier than creation and death is closer than life.
So Angie didn’t step forward, even as she looked at the enormous amount of debris and the collapsed mountain range.
On her back hung the greatsword of War and Knowledge named Victory, and on her body, she wore the armor once donned by the Warrior God. Angie silently gazed at the mountain range.
Somewhere within that mountain range lies the enemy.
We don’t know what kind of enemy or who they are.
But they possess the strength to collapse a mountain range.
They must be the enemy.
Perhaps they could be stronger than Angie, or perhaps weaker than her.
Regardless, the task at hand was clear.
Find and eliminate them.
With a determined expression, Angie nodded, and only then did the person standing behind her speak.
“Are you really sure you’ll be okay alone?”
The question came from an informant.
An imperial informant who had come out with Angie from the Anwurtin Council.
A rare human informant.
He looked at Angie with worried eyes.
“No soldier who approached the debris and headed toward the center has returned. It’s likely, rather, it’s definitely an ambush… Are you really sure you’ll be okay?”
His voice carried a fear he couldn’t hide.
Seeing this fear, Angie, for the first time, realized just how important she must be within the empire.
Angie was the rider of the ancient deity.
More specifically, a woman displaying physical abilities associated with the divine aspects of war and knowledge.
She was the embodiment of the ancient imperial emperor, a symbol of war and knowledge, with hair like flames and golden eyes.
In Aslan’s words, Angie was akin to Jesus returning to the Vatican.
Though the empire clearly didn’t want Angie to risk herself on such a mission, Angie didn’t stop.
“I’ll be fine. No matter what comes, I can beat it.”
Smiling casually, Angie responded confidently.
Despite secretly carrying the possibility of defeat and faint unease, she spoke those words, leaving the informant still looking troubled.
When she looked up, all she could see was the collapsed mountain range.
As Angie stared at it, she organized the information.
Two days ago, the mountain range suddenly collapsed.
It was the mountain range between Behist and Bifold.
At the moment of its collapse, the mountain released a massive amount of debris, burying Bifold.
The long trade route stretching from Bifold to Behist also disappeared under the debris, and parts of Behist’s outer wall crumbled, killing or injuring dozens of imperial soldiers stationed there.
Additionally, many villages along the trade route were buried.
Not only that, but many foreign merchants wandering along the trade route also perished.
It was a large-scale disaster, terrifying because it was unclear exactly who had died or been injured.
More information was needed.
“Is there anything else you know?”
At Angie’s sudden question, the informant hesitated.
Recalling the information the empire had gathered in just two days, he replied.
“The method of destruction suggests internal collapse. More precisely, it appears the mountain was flipped entirely from the inside…”
“Are you sure?”
“The information was secured through research and testimonies by the empire’s wizards; it’s almost certain.”
Angie glanced back at the confident informant and looked up again.
A powerful impact capable of flipping debris.
Yet no massive entity responsible for flipping the debris was in sight.
Therefore, it was evident that the force involved was monstrous enough to overturn a mountain.
Moreover, even if Angie were to unleash her monstrous strength within the mountain, she doubted she could achieve such destruction.
Rather, it would be difficult.
Whoever caused this likely possessed strength surpassing Angie’s.
‘Besides… this is undoubtedly divine power.’
Further, Angie instinctively understood. Her near-animal instincts hit the mark.
This series of destruction was undoubtedly imbued with divine power.
Exactly whose divine power, whether innate or granted to a priest, was unclear.
What was certain was that creating such destruction without divine power was impossible.
Divine-less brute strength cannot surpass Geladridion’s law; it would inevitably be overwhelmed by size.
Lifting a rock larger than oneself isn’t achievable by brute strength alone.
Based on an explanation Aslan had once given Angie, Angie was certain.
The enemy is a priest.
If capable of this, then at least a high-ranking priest.
Not an evil deity. Among evil deities, the one known for monstrous strength is already dead.
Judging this, Angie knelt on one knee and gently touched the debris with her hand.
Crumbles of soil mixed with rocks and pebbles, likely originating deep within the mountain range, broke apart in her palm.
“What was between Bifold and Behist?”
“There used to be trade routes and villages.”
The informant spoke in the past tense. Angie shook her head while scattering the crumbling soil from her hand.
“Well, then, what was in the mountain range? Any ruins or tombs? Was there nothing like that?”
“I’m not sure. According to records, there was nothing there.”
Angie was more inclined to believe something had been concealed rather than the truth of the statement.
Geladridion held many hidden secrets, ranging from intentionally obscured ones to those naturally forgotten over time.
Angie firmly believed there must have been a tomb or ruin there.
The enemy was inside.
Awakening from within, they shattered the mountain.
Their purpose is unknown. Perhaps they simply had nowhere to go.
Raising herself from her kneeling position, Angie thought of Aslan.
“What would Aslan do?”
The wisest warrior she knew was Aslan.
Aslan identified the opponent, prepared thoroughly, and fought.
When unable to prepare, he assessed and acted on the spot.
Sometimes impromptu and reliant on his senses, Aslan nonetheless consistently judged accurately within the available information and triumphed.
Over time, Angie had observed Aslan’s methods.
Angie realized these methods were precisely what she needed.
As memories of the past surfaced, Angie turned to the informant.
Her golden eyes glowed softly.
“Once, His Majesty the Emperor told me about the reanimated specters.”
“Yes?”
“He recited all the specters confirmed to have risen that were considered highly dangerous. Among them were specters unknown even to the empire.”
The informant fell silent, understanding what Angie was implying.
“Could the means by which we identified those specters help us determine who caused this and where they are?”
The informant shook his head.
“It would be impossible. The method itself is unusual, and we lack detailed location information. Identifying the perpetrator would also be impossible. We can only detect their existence…”
Trailing off, the informant indicated there was no room for application. Disappointed, Angie raised her gaze.
She wasn’t brimming with courage and confidence.
The opponent remained unknown.
In fact, it might have been better if she had known nothing at all.
Angie realized the enemy wielded divine power and possessed strength greater than hers.
It was unfortunate.
Angie had no special techniques to rely on.
Aside from her incredibly sturdy body and immense strength, she had no advantages.
She had once thought her boldness was an asset, but after seeing Aslan fight even with a stopped heart, that notion faded.
She sighed.
She had little experience fighting opponents who surpassed her in strength.
Since beginning her journey, Angie’s strength had generally been untouchable.
Most of her defeats were due to slight technical disadvantages against opponents of equal strength.
So she was uneasy now.
There was a creeping fear that she might lose.
Still, she had to fight.
For all she knew, the powerful force might have exhausted itself and collapsed.
Thinking about it made her smile faintly.
‘That’s unlikely, though.’
The enemy was surely unharmed.
The only advantage Angie had over the enemy was her extraordinary resilience and regenerative ability.
After all, even a god couldn’t kill her with a single strike.
Furthermore, Angie thought:
‘Whoever they are, they’re probably not stronger than the Supreme Divinity.’
If they were stronger than the Supreme Divinity, there’d be no reason to smash the mountain range haphazardly.
A divine power as mighty as the Supreme Divinity could simply split the mountain or ignore it altogether to emerge.
The fact that they didn’t implies they aren’t as strong as the Supreme Divinity.
Relaxing slightly with this speculation, Angie sighed deeply.
“I’ll be back.”
Speaking abruptly, the informant looked at Angie with concern.
Ignoring that gaze, Angie stepped onto the debris.
The crunching sensation beneath her boots, the vivid feeling seeping through them, confirmed it was rock.
The mountain range was made of rock.
It was obvious what happened to the people buried beneath it.
Walking atop the debris, Angie smirked faintly.
The countless towns, trade routes, and people crushed under these rocks represented unseen deaths.
Because they were unseen, they wouldn’t cause anguish, and thus she felt reassured.
And yet, immediately after feeling reassured, she felt self-loathing.
It was repulsive to think it was fortunate that people had died but were unseen.
Aslan would have mourned, even if unseen.
Sensing her own inadequacy, Angie continued forward.
The sun set. The slowly descending sun gave way to the rising moon, each hovering near the horizon.
The crimson sunset illuminated Angie’s fiery hair.
Under that sunset, Angie found the missing imperial soldiers.
“…Damn.”
The soldiers were already dead.
Most were mashed beyond recognition.
She identified them as soldiers only because the scattered metal fragments on the ground were barely recognizable as armor and weapons.
Angie realized all the soldiers had died instantly from a single blow and felt a chill run down her spine.
Perhaps…
Negative thoughts resurfaced.
Ignoring the mush that could be her own fate, Angie clenched her teeth and moved forward.
The collapsed mountain range was gradually becoming a gentle slope.
The further she went, the more bodies she encountered. Though not skilled in tracking, Angie understood what this meant.
Instinct, animal-like and primal, warned her.
Of a predator ahead.
More precisely, its den.
The den stretched vast, using the black and purple night sky as its ceiling.
For a moment, Angie wondered if the entire world was the predator’s den.
There, she encountered the beast.
Girik, girrik.
An incomprehensible sound.
Only after staring for a long time did Angie realize something was standing there.
Something so dark it was nearly indiscernible.
A shimmering black crystalline form.
Only after prolonged observation did Angie recognize the entity.
The black crystalline body resembled a man.
Looking at it, Angie realized.
That sound was the noise of crystals interlocking like muscles.
Then, as their eyes met, Angie understood.
The black figure before her was targeting her.
Soon, a scream filled with hatred echoed.
*
As Aslan stepped onto the cold ground, adjusting the scaled cloak wrapped around his neck, something appeared before him.
A translucent window floated into view. What Aslan called the system window was pierced by a gust of wind.
The cold wind blew, cutting through flesh and seemingly targeting the soul itself.
It enveloped Aslan and dissipated.
“Hyunwoo?”
Aslan was in the South Empire.
“Why are you doing this, Aslan?”
Aslan was with Lewena and Lumel.
Aslan’s goal was to find and kill the Voracious Eater in the South Empire and bring the region into the alliance.
Until the moment something appeared before him, that was his objective.
Until the moment Aslan widened his eyes in apparent fear.
Aslan’s teal eyes read the floating text.
[Ongoing Quest]
[! Defeat the High Priest of the Herd, Fearless Bijou, of Twilight]
