Book 15 Chapter 45
To the city of water,
What is this, give me back my body (5)
‘This is too dangerous a situation…!’
Cecil Duren felt cold sweat dampen her back.
The deep-sea walls surrounding them were gradually narrowing. Neither her magic nor the paladin's attacks worked. They only continued to narrow.
Sun Conure Taro felt fear and flapped its wings frantically, but she could not.
‘How can Lord Lin look so relaxed? Ah, they must already have all the methods prepared for a situation like this!’
This was because Lin was reading a book with an incredibly calm expression.
For a genius who became a Gladose (4-star) at the age of 13, such a situation was nothing to be concerned about!
“Lady Simian!”
Of course, the reason Parmena's trap had not yet swallowed them was entirely due to the power of Guardian Simian.
Guardians are protectors of miracles.
The miracle the girl used, the area-wide barrier of the Blood-red Sun Shurigan, had entered a tug-of-war with the power of the deep sea.
It is said that the Blood-red Sun Shurigan truly grieved over the tragedies of this world, shedding tears like blood.
All those who protect and serve Shurigan's miracle have embodied it by kneeling and clasping their hands in prayer, just as he did in the Mythical Era.
The clear yet deep… blood-red barrier testifies to Shurigan's heart, which loved this world until his death.
Sweat was pouring like rain down Simian's face as she deployed and maintained the barrier.
“Why do we revere <The Ones Who Came> as a religion?”
Parmena Grande circled the water wall, her elegant steps leaving the sound of high heels.
“That’s because <The Ones Who Came> defeated <The Forgotten Kings>. History is written by the victors, after all.”
“You… dare to blaspheme in front of me…!”
“For <The Ones Who Came> to win, the seven of them alone weren’t enough. First, an army was needed, and then commanders to lead the army. Those were the Holy Elmene Knights and the Three Divine Dragons.”
The five Eldia, called heroes or archangels, were said to be army generals.
Eldia Alma (01), Alkaios.
Eldia Bete (02), Kadyuel.
Eldia Del (03), Shurviel.
Eldia Myu (04), Lyukael.
Eldia Kata (05), Enuel.
The most famous of their units was Enuel’s Assault Squad, which led the vanguard in most battles from the middle of the First Tarhye Rondel War.
“They say history is a guide for the future. To become the same victor, the same ‘god,’ what do I need? Yes, executives like the Eldia Knights and an army! And I will soon have all of that in my hands!”
Those who had achieved outstanding results in the sea duel arena had already been organized into executive ranks through persuasion or threats using Gillet, or brainwashing using [King’s Flesh]. Now, only an army was needed.
“One of the Eight Calamities of the Sea, Techahin of Decadence’s power is brainwashing! He is the ‘Old Noble’ buried under this seabed. With him, I’ll turn everyone in this Chamcheol Archipelago, starting with those who came to participate in this sea duel arena, into my army! Thanks to you, the countdown has sped up.”
From far below the seabed, even deeper… from somewhere in the old sea, a dull wave of madness was felt.
Heavy, terrifying, dizzying.
Simian’s mouth burst with congestion amidst the strangely transmitted water pressure from all directions. Cracks began to form in the barrier. Tentacles made of deep-sea darkness began to surge from all sides.
“Now, it begins! Today will be recorded as a new era. An era of Parmena, the new goddess, being born!”
As the power of darkness grew immensely, the temporary bond between the soul and the Cintamani, which the shamaness had bound with the power of psalms, was broken.
“Huh? What is this? Where am I?”
* * *
“The first match of the quarterfinals begins! This opponent shines as the 23rd in the Gold-tier mercenary ranking…!”
“Heh, heh, heh… For a brat, I’ll make you pay for acting recklessly, not knowing to fear a tiger.”
“Don’t call Lin a puppy! Hyah!”
“Agh!”
Another hit! Master!
Fride sighed and gnawed at her lips.
“That idiot, he should at least show that he’s struggling to win so the odds will jump! Everyone’s betting on you now!”
“Stupid, stupid, that’s Rista.”
“Yes, how can he be so stupid!”
Just because he’s not around, they’re happily badmouthing him! Trash!
“The second match of the semifinals begins! As for this participant, they’ll be knocked out in one hit anyway, so what explanation is really needed?!”
“Is this bastard crazy?!”
“Don’t threaten the referee! Hyah!”
“Agh!”
Truly ultra-fast development! Crazy master!
Never before in the history of the sea duel arena has there been such a rapid pace, except when Superstar Gillet dominated the arena!
When the referee appeared for the final match lineup, someone else rushed over and whispered something. The referee’s eyes widened.
“A very shocking and miraculous fact! On the days this man appears, tickets to enter the sea duel arena are nearly five times more expensive, and scalped tickets require a twentyfold premium—the legend of the sea duel arena! Lord Gillet will be participating in an event match!”
Beyond all argument!
Amidst cheers that made the sea tremble, Gillet leaped from the VIP stands onto the arena.
Sand dust billowed and the cheers grew more intense, as Gillet brandished Rajinyu, the Demon Spear, his symbolic weapon, demonstrating his power.
“Hey, kid. Looks like you had some fun beating weaklings, but your skill only truly improves when you face a real strong opponent.”
“What did you say? Did you just call Lin weak?”
“Well, yes… but hey, why are you speaking in the third person?”
“Take that back.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then you will pay the appropriate price.”
“Hah, ha, hahahahahahaha! Then I won’t take it back! Come on, attack! I’ll give you a 10-second handicap. I’ll wait no matter what you do. I promise not to attack or defend. But if you can’t make a proper move within those 10 seconds, I will bury you deep in this sea with this demon spear.”
At that moment, the girl, who seemed to be taking a staff fighting stance, had her eyes suddenly change.
The presence that had seemed to forge magic itself into an intimidating blade vanished, leaving the impression of someone completely different.
The girl stared blankly at the staff, then looked around, and finally turned her attention to her own attire. She touched the long, tied wig.
“Kyuuuuuh~!”
The snowflake (Sun Conure Taro) rubbed its downy feathers familiarly against the girl’s cheek as if overjoyed to see her!
“Th-th-this…”
Regardless, a blush born of shame covered the cheeks of the girl (actually a boy)!
“…Iiiiiik!”
The girl, biting her lips miserably, threw off the long wig and began interlocking her fingers in a bizarre way.
No one knew. That it was the strongest lightning magic, the Hand Seal of Lightning Blood Dispersion!
And that the coordinates of that power were Gillet, who was across from them, surveying his vulnerabilities up and down!
“It seems you’re trying to use some new power! So you’ve been hiding your strength until now? Interesting! Go on, try it! Hahaha! Then I’ll start counting 10 seconds now!”
Gillet confidently slung the demon spear over his shoulder and laughed. Only one person noticed that instantaneous anomaly: Fride.
“Th-th-that crazy… No, why are you trying to ruin everything! Hey! All my money will be gone! Stop! Stop it, you lunatic! If you use magic, it’s disqualification for cheating!”
“Crazy, crazy, must buy Pipi cornfield, that crazy.”
Osarius Rosary deployed, maximum output, coordinates calculated.
Lightning (電).
Field (場).
Cast (投).
Fall (落).
Flash (閃).
The next moment, a light that surged into the sky with a brilliant flash plummeted onto Gillet as a lightning strike of transcendent heat.
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
The crowd, barely escaping the retina-searing flash, saw the man who had turned into a lump of charcoal when the arena’s sand field became ashes.
Superstar, Gillet.
Gillet soon fell onto the ashes and died. Leaving behind this last will:
“You… cowardly… bastard… I said to finish it in 10 seconds… but did you really… finish it?”
No matter how much he was once hailed as the strongest spearman, he was not strong enough to survive a direct hit from this ultimate lightning magic without any defense.
“?”
“?”
“?”
A breathtakingly sharp silence swept through the sea duel arena’s stands. The next moment, fairies burst into furious shouts and stormed into the arena!
“This impious Samigle dared to harm our kin!”
“Magic in the sea duel arena!”
“Doing something so despicable, you must resemble your cowardly ancestors!”
Then, veins bulged on the foreheads of the humans who had been cheering for Lina until now. They too let out loud shouts and charged into the arena!
“What a load of crap, you crazy long-eared bastards! Are you ignoring humanity now? That fairy spearman deserved to die!”
“You picked the right day today, you big-eared bastards! Today I’ll cut off all your ears!”
“Push them back with numbers, beat up all those big-eared bastards!”
Fride, who had lost all her assets in an instant, foamed at the mouth, clutched the back of her neck, and collapsed.
It was then that a wave of madness, surged from the old sea, swept into the arena.
Yes, chaos had just begun.