Book 21 Chapter 24

Chapter 214

You become a flame,

Fiery Myriad Miles: End of the Turmoil

"Keep going, Bel. You're not going to say it's over with just this, are you?"

The extreme edge of the civilized world.

Before the boundary between the land of the Abyss and civilization, which would later be named <Fiery Myriad Miles (火焰萬里)>, was established…

In that area, amidst the clash of two transcendent beings, brilliant flames and fragments of space, torn apart by providence itself, scattered wildly.

"Judging by the movement of the demonic energy, the second wave of demons has approached within two or three days' distance. If you're already that exhausted just fighting me, how do you plan to face them? If you can't stop them, humanity is doomed."

A swordswoman playfully toyed with the movements of Bel'dakidoon the Fire Dragon, or rather, moved with the relaxed ease of a superior guiding a subordinate.

That swordswoman's sword was holy.

Both its material and history were holy, for it was one of the six True Divine Swords that shattered the true kings of the Abyss and brought forth the dawn in an era before the genesis, so it was only natural.

"Now, move more."

Only heroes chosen as the masters of the True Divine Sword could wield it.

That's right…

This heroine was none other than Rykael, the hero who was known as Identification Number Mu (04) of the Holy Eldia Knights before she concealed her identity as the leader of the Black Church.

"Why do you keep me alive? If Your Excellency fought with all your might, I would have died countless times over these four years."

The Fire Dragon declared.

This was the truth she couldn't tell anyone.

The Fire Dragon couldn't leave this place during the long period of war. This was because Rykael had warned that if the Fire Dragon vacated her position, Rykael would personally advance north and burn humanity's territory.

"Why do you ask when you know? Naturally, it's because I don't want to kill you, Bel. Even if I lose everything, if only you are on my side, it can be considered a gain."

Rykael didn't continuously show her face for five years.

She only appeared once or twice a year, but she could appear suddenly, making her cycle unpredictable, so the Fire Dragon had to keep her position.

It was fortunate that when they retreated to <Shuriganaqius>, Rykael had just left her post.

"Look at your tormented appearance! There's no difference between you and that twisted world. Both strength and stamina are finite, so eventually, you grow tired."

"…"

"But what about the demons? The demons are infinite. Even though they are not immortal. That difference stems from the peculiar nature of their entire race being engaged in war."

In short, Rykael was training the Fire Dragon's martial arts, just as she had guided the young Fire Dragon's prowess in the distant mythical era.

"A structure where those without the strength or will to fight in war are inevitably culled! It's the social order where all people must engage in a struggle for survival that makes those demons strong."

Meanwhile, she preached her newly established beliefs and philosophy like this.

"But what about humanity? Not even 10% of them will go to war. It's not about having strength or not; their will itself is incredibly weak."

"…"

"Why are you so devoted? Why are you so unable to understand? Why do you try so hard to protect that twisted world! When it has no value whatsoever!"

The Fire Dragon Bel'dakidoon looked with sad eyes at Rykael, who was agonizingly spewing out her beliefs as if spitting blood.

It's different…

It resembled that time, but this person's majesty, walking alongside the light, was truly sacred, whereas now, swallowed by the Abyss, there is nothing of the sort.

"Until they reach adulthood… isn't everyone equally incapable, Your Excellency?"

"What are you trying to say, Bel?"

"It's only been a mere thousand years since this world was liberated from the oppression of the Abyss! This land is still in its infancy, so it's only natural that its constituents are powerless and weak."

Rykael laughed.

"Mere? A mere thousand years? When I was ten years old, I saved over a hundred worlds from the Abyss. If I had been given a thousand years, this war would have already ended."

Rykael's True Divine Sword was a sword named Joniulan, with a blade that split into 44 iron segments along a spinal circuit, wielded like a whip.

A snake sword, precisely.

It was the most difficult to handle among all swords, a sword that only a master of masters could wield. In fact, Rykael was by far the best among the Eldia Knights in basic swordsmanship.

[Father of Fire, I first…]

The Fire Dragon then felt the long-awaited signal arrive. The Red True Dragon Pyras had sent a signal announcing the end of the war.

Now, it was his turn.

It was his turn to usher in an era of peace, allowing his beloved sister and brother to dwell in that peace, and to buy time to righteously govern the foolish humans.

"Humans are indeed all still immature and have much to learn, but I have seen the good dwelling within the souls of some of them."

"Don't make me angry. Where is this 'good'? In those who trapped you in this godforsaken place!"

"Good is a flame! I believe that flame will someday spread into the hearts of all and brilliantly illuminate this land!"

The next moment, Bel'dakidoon plunged his hand into his chest and heart, seizing the core of his soul.

The Three Divine Dragons originated from the Black Sun Kalenden's research into immortality, so naturally, they possess a might comparable to the old nobles.

Immortality is the truth of immutability.

He himself twisted the form Kalenden had originally concentrated into the Fire Dragon's shape and vastly unfolded it.

Although the form changed, the status of immortality remained the same, thus the same immutable power was bestowed.

"Bel, what are you doing now! Stop! That's an act of suicide!"

Peace, in the name of daily life, was a natural right that the creator gods tried to give to their creations from the moment of creation!

‘There is only one way to reclaim that right. I must stop that endless, limitless wave of evil that has surged forth at every crucial moment in history!’

To do that, there is no other way than to sever the space of the Abyss from the space of creation.

"Your Excellency Rykael."

Just as Yurvel, the Father of Creation, had completely divided the two universes by drawing a boundary between the outer universe and the created world.

"It was the honor of my lifetime to fight alongside a hero like you a thousand years ago!"

I cannot do such a great thing, but if I sacrifice this meager life, I might be able to split the continent in half.

"No, don't! Bel───!"

I become a flame.

My children become kindling.

Until this world and era mature, I will become an eternal dawn and a shield, illuminating and protecting all land from the darkness of midnight.

"Now, you can still stop! Accelerate your regeneration! Please!"

Behind the Fire Dragon, the red dragons, lined up in a row, began to ignite one by one.

That was the foundation of the barrier.

The bodies of the winged dragons became milestones, foundations, and kindling for the vast expanse of the Fire Dragon's soul flame.

"Surely, those red dragons had unusually long intervals not to block a hundred demons each, but to serve as the foundation for this flame, right?"

The power of Rykael's True Divine Sword, Joniulan, was soul rupture.

With a single swing, it was possible to tear apart providence itself… but this curtain of flames maintained its immutable nature by instantly reigniting new flames to fill any gaps as soon as it was torn.

Rykael swung Joniulan two or three times towards the flames, then soon let her hands drop in despair, shedding hot tears.

"Bel, you idiot…"

Then, looking up at the sky, she let out a scream, choked with a lump of resentment… a shriek.

"Kalenden! Did you brainwash even this incredibly pure child? Just like us back then, telling them that sacrifice and death are the very reasons they were born!"

The Black Sun Kalenden, creator of the Holy Eldia Knights and the Three Divine Dragons.

He was a cruel being.

In every operation, when setting elimination targets, he would casually designate those who needed to be sacrificed to maximize the chances of elimination.

"Wait, according to this elimination plan, Enuel might be mutually destroyed with Public Security Duke Beshanshidug, right?"

"That's right."

"We cannot let Enuel die as a bullet shield!"

This happened during the last war of the mythical era, the Spider Lord extermination battle.

Yothos Yole Yotiatos, the absolute being of the Abyss, bestowed an even greater Abyss blessing upon the Spider Lord to buy time for his own descent.

To the extent that the old nobles under his command, the five commanders, gained power comparable to other <Forgotten Kings>.

"There is no other way than this. All we can do is end this war so that Enuel does not die in vain."

"Are you… kidding me right now?"

"Enuel is brave. I made him that way. He will sacrifice himself willingly."

"That's nonsense! Stop spouting such nonsense! There is no life that doesn't want to live, no life that wants to die!"

Why did you create us in the first place?

If you were going to repeatedly push us into deadly situations, then casually discard us in the end, then why…

"Why did you create us as beings with egos! You should have just made us into scrap metal that only obeys, completely devoid of ego, like those Lacepins!"

If that were the case…

There would be nothing to grieve over like this.

There would be nothing to hurt so much…

"To use the power of the Psalms, the dignity of a soul that reaches the heart of creation is needed. It is impossible without an ego."

That was his answer.

The answer given by a being who was a creator, one who should embrace his creations with love.

"So, it was all to prioritize efficiency."

At that moment, Rykael abandoned all respect for Kalenden.

"I have no intention of following this operation plan, never! I will participate in the Public Security Duke's subjugation, but… I will absolutely not let Enuel die according to this plan. Do you understand?"

And in that battle, at the moment Enuel was supposed to die, Rykael died in his place.

"You live, Enuel. Don't die. We were not born to die."

Rykael left that dying wish to Enuel, who was like a younger sibling to her, and died… then was resurrected within a machine.

"The Eldia Omec (06) project will begin soon. You all hold your posts until then."

If your plan was to deny us rest even in death, and force us only to walk the path of duty…

You are no longer a creator.

I have my own dreams, thoughts, and methods. I will completely deny you and end this war in my own way.

‘A world ruled by the strong must come. No, only the strong must survive, and it must become a world composed solely of the strong.’

Only then.

Only when that era comes.

Only then will everyone's sacrifices truly be valuable, and only then will the world possess the full strength to truly end the war.

"That's good. In that case, why don't we form a temporary alliance with Yothos? We can just lay the foundation for your plan using the power of the Abyss."

That was the beginning of the former Eldia hero's unending torment…

Not understanding even when explained…

Not convinced even when preached to…

How to restore this world to normalcy, where the weak are respected more than the strong, and the strong are naturally pushed into deadly situations…

‘Bel…’

Year 1107 of the Thersia calendar.

In the southern extreme, the war ended by a flame that divided the ten-thousand-mile boundary between the civilized world and the demon realm…

People, referring to that flame, spoke of it with reverence, calling it <Fiery Myriad Miles (火焰萬里)>.