Chapter 641

【World of Mortality】

Hersela’s Heroic Tale, commanding death to all living beings within its range.

The moment Hersela’s rage surpassed her reason, it revealed itself as naturally as a starving beast breaking free from its chains.

The mist of killing intent, incomparable to when facing the Grimnir Church Order, enveloped the entire cavern.

The boiling lava seemed to hold its breath, the flames trembling in fear, as the suffocating scent of blood filled the air.

“Conceptual Manifestation…?!”

Orhan, unable to move from the shock, reflexively scanned his surroundings.

The crimson mist filling the cavern, the deep malice and karma within it—there was no doubt. This phenomenon was the manifestation of a power granted to those who transcended limits!

“Two Conceptual Manifestations? Is that even possible?”

Orhan knew that Hersela’s Conceptual Manifestation was her hyper-accelerated movements, as if she walked in a different world. But now, this new technique—what was it?

No warrior, not even Orhan himself, had ever wielded two Conceptual Manifestations. The essence of such power was projecting one’s soul through karma, making the idea of dual manifestations unthinkable.

“Is it because she’s both a warrior and a sorcerer? Are her warrior and sorcerer manifestations separate?”

That was the only possibility Orhan could think of. He couldn’t fathom the idea of two souls coexisting in one body.

—

Hersela, too, was bewildered by the sudden emergence of the World of Mortality. It was a mistake born of anger crossing its limit.

“Oops…!”

Before Hersela could retract her power, the crimson mist seized all living beings within its range.

The fully manifested Death Sentence, its activation speed far surpassing before, proved her growth. But in this situation, it was a waste.

“Such a pointless waste of energy…!”

Hersela bit her lip, glaring at Orhan.

The World of Mortality only commanded death to those below her level. Against a master, it would only inflict serious injuries, and against a hero, it would merely drain their energy.

Like now.

—

The mist of Life Force Technique covering Orhan dissipated without delivering death, fading like a mirage in the desert.

“……?”

Orhan, arms half-spread, looked down at his body in confusion.

Despite being hit by such a fearsome Conceptual Manifestation, his body bore no wounds. The surroundings remained unchanged.

It was incomprehensible.

The moment the crimson mist enveloped him, he saw an indescribable, malevolent entity—a manifestation of malice itself—tearing into him.

But the illusion vanished like smoke, leaving no death, no injury. Only a portion of his energy was gone.

“An energy-draining Conceptual Manifestation…?”

Orhan could only think that. It felt different from the consumption of his Indestructible Body.

Hersela’s second Conceptual Manifestation felt more like a curse draining life force than a physical attack.

Though it failed to inflict any wounds, its malevolent aura was undeniable.

Of course, his guess was far from the truth. The World of Mortality only drained energy because Orhan’s level matched Hersela’s.

Those below her level would have been annihilated in an instant.

And indeed, they were.

Unbeknownst to Orhan and Hersela, the World of Mortality had also affected the battle above ground.

The clash between Ka`har and the Imperial Army, fought atop the rubble of the shattered barrier, was suddenly engulfed by the crimson mist.

Hundreds of warriors, mostly Ka`har, were obliterated in an instant, leaving the battlefield in chaos.

—

For Hersela, it was a frustrating situation.

Though she minimized the waste of Life Force Technique by retracting the World of Mortality immediately, her remaining combat time was drastically reduced.

“At most, a few minutes left…”

Far too short to finish Orhan herself.

[This wasn’t part of the plan. Didn’t you say you wouldn’t use the World of Mortality?]

Hersela admitted her mistake, and ‘Hersela’ chuckled.

[Well done. What now? Can you still fight?]

“In this situation, we’ll have to wait for the next opportunity…”

[Don’t be ridiculous.]

Their opinions diverged.

While Hersela was fixated on killing Orhan herself, ‘Hersela’s’ goal was to eliminate him with minimal losses.

Though she respected Hersela’s desire for revenge, letting a trapped enemy escape was beyond her tolerance.

Hersela sighed, gripping Durandal tightly. Though her Life Force Technique was rapidly depleting, Orhan’s energy was also significantly drained.

Her only option was to fight to the end, hoping Orhan’s energy would run out first.

—

Unlike Hersela, Orhan felt no remaining hostility.

Though he had reflexively defended against Hersela’s attacks, it was merely a natural defensive instinct.

The mental fatigue from fighting in such a pitiful state, compounded by Hersela’s verbal assault, had already broken his spirit.

“Do I even have a reason to keep fighting?”

Orhan realized he had no right to seek revenge for Ai-mel-ra. Nor did he have the right to ask ‘Hersela’ to join him.

The hope of reconciling with his daughter was a delusion. Without resurrecting Ai-mel-ra, it was impossible.

“Is there even a reason to survive?”

The only reason not to release his Indestructible Body and turn to ash was, in his mind, one.

“…I understand why you want to kill me. To you, I am nothing but an enemy.”

“Finally realized it? Then die in atonement.”

Hersela pointed Durandal at Orhan, who remained still, continuing to speak.

“But what then? Do you even know who killed your mother?”

Orhan intended to tell Hersela about the ‘Grand Sorcerer of White Valley,’ the mastermind hiding somewhere in the Great Plains.

Though he hadn’t uncovered the culprit’s identity, he knew such a person existed.

“I don’t know. I never thought to find out, nor do I need to.”

But Hersela’s response was far from what he expected.

“What…?”

“If they targeted a high-ranking member of Ai-shan, it would’ve been you, Targien, or Biasiren. The fact that they didn’t means it was an insider who saw my mother as a thorn, even in her disgraced state.”

Hersela growled, listing the suspects.

“Biasiren, Meiharin, Da-ha-mei… No, Da-ha-mei fell from power, didn’t they? So, two remain.”

Her blue eyes, resembling Ai-mel-ra’s but filled only with malice, burned like flames.

“If the prey you’re chasing hides in the forest, burn the forest down. If you can’t find the culprit, kill all the suspects. Biasiren, Targien, Meiharin, Sahallyeon—and all who serve them!”

Hersela had no intention of wasting time uncovering the truth. Ten years had passed; the trail was cold.

“If that doesn’t work, kill every grassland dweller over thirty. A teenager couldn’t have done it!”

Hersela planned to kill everyone who could be the culprit. Whether tens or hundreds of thousands died, it didn’t matter to her.

As long as the culprit was among the mountain of corpses, her revenge would be complete.

—

Orhan stared at Hersela, speechless.