Chapter 456

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on March 1, 2025

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“……”

The way back with Naiad.

The green wind had lost its path, so I had to move on my own.

Naiad sat dazed in a cage, gazing only at the ever-changing scenery.

“Are you confused?”

“…Yes. I don’t know what to do.”

In the end, Naiad didn’t fall into the hands of the Spirit King.

Naphras had locked himself away in the forest, and even Nord had left her behind, returning to his original place.

“Surely the Spirit King was alive. Though He didn’t give me any signals, He certainly was.”

“He may have only passed on His power.”

“Lily… Do you really think the Spirit King did that?”

“Yes.”

Though I have met Arrowna only a few times, there is already precedent.

‘The Spirit King of Darkness, Sephid.’

The Spirit King who went insane to the point of trying to destroy the world was just beside us moments ago.

It’s highly likely that the Water Spirit King also sacrificed Himself when the entire race was in peril.

“Because someone had to survive for the Water Spirit to continue existing.”

Upon hearing those words, Naiad bowed her head even lower.

By the way, I’ve already opened the cage door, yet she still remains inside.

“Really…”

“Just.”

“?!”

“You won’t know until you hear it directly.”

Ultimately, all of this is just speculation.

We’ll only be able to fit the puzzle pieces together after meeting Arrowna directly.

“Whether the Spirit King truly abandoned His position and sought a replacement or just separated His power to retrieve it later…”

And if not…

“Maybe Naiad is just a mutation.”

“…”

“It’s uncertain.”

“Alright.”

Tchank!

“I’ll meet the Spirit King directly and hear the entire story. No matter the choice, I will certainly comply.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Naiad, who has stepped out of the cage, regains her original form.

As Naiad stretched out her hand, countless ripples spread in all directions.

These waves will extend across the world to find the Spirit King who is losing existence.

“…But what is your relationship with the Spirit Kings? If someone as great as Naphras shows respect…”

“Just friends.”

“Friends?”

“Yes. Friends.”

Friends from the past.

Friends who possess sufficient integrity that their souls neither need to be stored nor punished.

“…That said, you seem frightened.”

“They’re friends.”

“Could it be because you’re an angel…”

“Angel? Would you like to meet one?”

One swing of the hammer will send you to heaven, where you will meet an angel.

“Of course, there’s no such thing as heaven.”

The soul either dissipates or reincarnates. Or it may live eternally.

Naiad quickly shook her head.

“No.”

■

One week has passed since the Great Cataclysm began.

The “First Damage” that claimed tens of thousands of lives, along with countless avatars, prompted users to unite and continue the fight. Many hunts were successful.

– 500 avatars of levels 1 to 3.

– 12 avatars of level 4.

– 2 avatars of level 5.

The first 3 days were chaotic with avatars appearing non-stop, but everyone gradually grew accustomed to the situation.

The members of the Alliance who wanted to capture the level 5 avatar were unable to penetrate the Red Horse before Black and the Magician returned, leading them to eventually acknowledge my judgment.

The users who weren’t ‘Challengers’ were much weaker than anticipated.

Thus, the alliance waited for the rare appearances of level 4 avatars, finally catching the eagerly awaited level 5 avatar. I only sealed it and let them handle the rest.

Of course, they were unable to capture the endlessly regenerating Kraken.

[Will nothing appear today?]

[I heard a level 3. Shall we go capture it?]

[It really doesn’t die, does it? lol]

[Seriously? Another level 5 hasn’t appeared…;]

[Let’s just let the alliance take care of it.]

[What’s the empire doing? Let’s take on the empire!]

[Thousand, Thousand, Thousand!]

[Why isn’t the Lord of the Heavenly Horse here?]

[Slowly…]

On the corpse of the level 5 Kraken.

The giant corpse, resembling an island, served as a stage where I stood waiting. A woman I had been seeing since a few days ago gently descended before me.

Her flying black braided hair and the black energy flowing from her were unmistakable.

“I apologize for making you wait.”

“Let’s keep it simple today.”

As I adjusted my stance, the Heavenly Horse took a familiar position.

Since the situation had began stabilizing a few days ago, I decided not to waste time but instead immediately teach the Heavenly Horse techniques.

Ultimately, the ones who would most need to shine within this Great Cataclysm are the bracelet owners.

The bracelets not only seal the Kraken’s power but also grant significant resistance to their ‘wearer’.

The Sword Saint surely knows what He’s doing, while Black and the Magician cannot grow much in the short term.

On the other hand, the Heavenly Horse has a foundation for growth. He has ample inner energy and has amassed countless real combat experiences over the past few months.

“But do we have to do this here every time?”

“You never know what might appear while we’re here.”

“Alright…”

The only thing remaining is her enlightenment.

“I’m ready.”

“Let’s go.”

The Heavenly Horse drew up black inner energy from His Dantian, charging swiftly forward.

His body, infused with inner energy, rapidly accelerated, circling to my back where a powerful punch came crashing down.

Thud! Blocking it, I launched myself like an automaton, striking with a leg infused with magical energy.

“Ugh!”

The marionette of the Heavenly Horse was pushed along, sweeping across the corpse of Kraken, absorbing the counterforce through circulating inner energy.

Simultaneously, in mid-air, His body spun, quickly composing a combat stance from which He struck downward.

The technique in this sparing fight where time is precious and requires long casting durations, shows noticeable growth compared to the last session.

“Heavenly Horse’s Dominance.”

“Wow…”

Koong!

Kuadadadadak!!

The corpse trembled as Heavenly Horse Qi (天魔氣) surged towards me, as if it were seething.

I had reduced my level to equal that of the Heavenly Horse for the purposes of sparing.

Even though I am still me, being hit directly by that Heavenly Horse’s Dominance would be dangerous.

“So, let’s—”

“…?!”

I stepped forward with my right foot, adjusting my stance while channeling magical energy, deflecting the Heavenly Horse Qi, and striking the ground.

Koong!!!

“Heavenly Horse’s Dominance.”

Jeejejejeic..!

A clash of Heavenly Horse’s Dominance.

Each step we took crumbled the grand corpse. The sounds of things breaking everywhere because of our inner energy and magical energy were audible.

“Ugh…”

“Focus harder.”

“I am focusing…”

The Heavenly Horse drew even more inner energy from the Dantian, resisting against me.

His Heavenly Horse’s Dominance began to change.

“…”

Kuuguuguuguu…!

A Heavenly Horse’s Dominance that affects not only the ground but also the sky.

Not the Heavenly Horse made by me but the Heavenly Horse made by me has now transcended the domain of the sky.

“Focus! Only this once.”

“…”

The Heavenly Horse also took the same posture as me.

His Heavenly Horse’s Dominance began to change and slowly exert influence on not only the ground but the sky as well.

‘Not yet.’

It’s still weak.

I don’t know the exact power of the Heavenly Horse profession, but what’s certain is that Heavenly Horse has talent.

Because He has talent, He can do it.

“…”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“???”

The world flips upside down.

An enormous wave of force swept through here, and the magical energy I used to maintain Heavenly Horse’s Dominance collapsed and was swept away like chaff before a gale.

This force, akin to a calamity, spread around Him as the Heavenly Horse, seemingly bewildered, nonetheless maintained His stance and slowly opened His mouth.

“This is The Ruler’s power…?!”

“No.”

“What?”

Pointing at the corpse we were standing on, the Heavenly Horse’s mouth finally closed as if realizing something.

At first glance, it seemed to come from the center of the Heavenly Horse, but upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just here.

‘The entire corpse.’

Throughout the whole corpse, indiscriminate cracks formed.

“Unfortunately, this isn’t due to the Heavenly Horse.”

“… T-That’s right?”

“Yes.”

“…”

[The Ruler’s power lololol!]

[The Heavenly Horse seems adorable.]

[Hahahahaha!]

[The Heavenly Horse is adorable.]

[Your nose is showing. lol]

[Ah… This is power.]

[But what just happened?]

[???]

“What, then…”

“That’s something we’ll discover now.”

Returning to my normal state after the sparring session, I lowered my hand to the ground.

Though some time has passed since it died, the corpse still remains unrotten.

I don’t feel the same explosive force as earlier.

Something’s off…

“What…”

“Seemingly nothing… Huh?”

“What is that?”

The Heavenly Horse looking upward.

I rose from my place and followed His gaze.

[?]

[Huh?]

[?]

Silence.

It was silence.

For a moment, it felt as if the world had stopped. Even my enhanced physical body felt strained under this oppressive force.

“…?!”

I unfurled the Wings of Light.

The holy energy seeped into my body as the Holy Healing’s power detached from the Focus’ power. I knocked the Heavenly Horse out instantly and moved backward.

Piiiiiiii-!

No sooner had I retreated than the aftereffect of the light source enveloped me, shaking my soul.

It would have been dangerous if I hadn’t quickly knocked the Heavenly Horse unconscious.

Blood gathered at the corner of my mouth.

Corpse.

Above the shattered corpse of the Stage 5 avatar, a menacing eye emerged.

“…Celestial Race. I will tear you apart, Celestial Race…”

It was a calamity.

Just looking at it was causing my holy energy to drain, and I could feel my soul itself being eroded along with my very existence.

Bracelet. There aren’t enough bracelets.

I raised the obviously ineffective Hammer and glared at it.

“I am not of the Celestial Race.”