Book 5 Chapter 5

Episode 107

Darkness, an indescribably massive explosion of darkness, dyed both consciousness and vision pitch black.

Even from afar, the afterglow of the explosion rose like Mount Tai, massive enough to see its repercussions.

A vortex of black magic's poison raged, shriveling all the dense forests in the area into hideous, withered husks.

"……?!"

Perhaps in that instant, it might have been possible to adjust things with Belle Quirios to prevent the damage from coming this way (though erasing it was impossible without magic)…

He deliberately didn't. There was no need.

For some reason, the power of the explosion and its coordinates weren't directed this way.

"You, what the…?"

Instead, in the aftermath of the poisonous gas, Valensidis's left arm, dimly visible, had vanished. Seeing blood gush from the severed limb and soak the ground, he was dumbfounded.

Did he fail to control his magic?

No, Valensidis, of all people?

In the chaos where his heartbeat pounded like mad, Valensidis pointed to the far side of the forest with his remaining right arm.

"Go. If you run along that path, you can escape this hell. The Special Task Force will be coming from that direction, so you should be able to get help."

"……?!"

"I lost this left arm in a duel with you. That's how I let you go. Master won't suspect anything with this."

At that moment, something—a realization that shouldn't be expressed or felt—came to him. That something he had vaguely felt during the festival…

And another realization came.

The reason Valensidis's attack at the Papal State earlier had been grand but lacked any real threat.

'That bastard, surely not trying to save me?'

To avoid suspicion, he had deliberately used a maximum-power spell, even blowing off his own left arm.

But why, exactly?

For what reason would he go to such lengths?

Perhaps sensing the doubt in his eyes, Valensidis, who had stopped the bleeding from his left arm with a healing spell, uttered incomprehensible words.

"Looking at you, I feel like I'm looking into a mirror."

"A mirror? What nonsense are you talking about!"

"Right now, all our actions are similar yet different, and the way we turn our backs is exactly the same, making it seem like we can never understand each other, no matter what we do…"

Still, one day, the day we meet again, we will meet looking at the same place.

He believes that.

Birth, personality, past, present… everything is different, but they hold the same beliefs and walk towards the same future.

"I sacrificed this left arm for that day. That's all… Now go. Before it's too late."

Valensidis, who smiled bitterly and turned his back, vanished instantly into the thick, poisonous fog, leaving no chance to stop him.

Don't make me laugh.

Don't make me laugh, you bastard.

What in the world is this…? Such confusion swirled in his mind, but his legs were desperately running north.

'First, I have to get Casena, get Casena to a safe place… There's a Light Dragon there anyway. I'll fight after I recover my magic.'

Casena, poisoned by the gas, was unconscious and wheezing. She needed proper treatment, away from the Abyss's influence.

How dare he show me kindness?

As soon as the issues with Casena and his magic were resolved, he'd go straight back and definitively cut his throat, without any kindness whatsoever…

He resolved this, but he knew full well that he wouldn't be able to do so if they met again.

"Thank you, Rain Ludwig."

He pushed desperately through the Abyssal fog. The ground corroded instantly, making his ankles sink and causing him to almost fall repeatedly.

Even as he ran and ran, he only felt like he was struggling in a swamp. His entire body was sticky with sweat from the humid gales brought by the monsoon front.

It was clearly broad daylight, yet the world was darker than a new moon night, swallowed by ominous clouds and the Abyssal fog.

The roar of clashing magic was heard. Behind him, from the city, screams echoed endlessly.

And finally, drip, drip, patter… a damp, fishy smell began to mix with the air, covering the entire landscape in black stains.

The heavy rain, which began to pour instantly, snatched away his body heat in a flash.

'This is ridiculous…'

He spread a semi-circular shield of wind to block the rain, but he couldn't prevent the ground from turning into mud, so his running speed gradually slowed.

'That black magician bastard, he's really making a fool out of me…'

One knee buckled in the mud, but he quickly regained his balance and started running again.

Annoyance welled up at the rainwater that soaked his face, stung his eyes, and streamed down like tears.

"Still, I believe. One day, the day we meet again, we will meet looking at the same place."

On top of committing such a massacre, what the hell is he talking about?

Is he actually insane?

Though it's a known fact that there are no sane black magicians.

'What in the world, what kind of person is he…?'

The screams echoing in his ears were completely cut off by the sound of the torrential downpour. That was the last coherent description of the situation he could make.

At that moment, the Abyssal tumor that had formed a terrifying shape in the sky burst, and a rift in space tore open, gurgling, as dark blue, vomit-like matter poured out thickly.

Directly towards him.

And then, the "something" that spewed the vomit-like matter, met his gaze with countless wide-open eyeballs beyond that rift.

"Found────"

"───it."

"────"

A voice echoing directly in his mind, an intense pain as if his entire body was being torn to pieces, his brain, his brain was shaking…

Ah…

His strength…

The moment all strength drained from his body and his knees buckled, in that instant, having merely closed and opened his eyes, he was tumbling on the ground with Casena.

"Lin, Lin, Lin!"

In that very moment, as the vomit-like matter rushed in, filling his vision, Pipi desperately and helplessly spread flames wide to counter it.

──────Click.

The last thing heard was the snap of fingers, and then… the world's time stopped.

This was not a metaphorical or literary expression; it was as if closing a book made the story within it halt.

To put it roughly, the unknown substance pouring straight down, Pipi, who was deploying flames, and their movements had all frozen in place.

'This… how…'

Of course, he couldn't move either. It could truly be called the ultimate magic.

But…

Someone was striding through such a world as if it were natural.

"Regrettably, you'll have to leave this land for a while."

His attire was truly peculiar. It was merely a simple white robe, a style no race wore anywhere on the continent.

But why did the glasses on his face feel more advanced than any civilization he had ever seen?

His features were indistinct, shimmering like light and shadow, making them impossible to discern, but he instantly knew this being was on a different plane.

"A little thought would tell you, their master is looking for you right now. Still a quick-witted fellow, I see."

You…?

Who exactly are you…?

As if answering that question, as he approached, the black scale he wore around his neck resonated, emitting a dazzling black light in the halted world.

"Sometimes you call me the Void, and sometimes you call me Truth, don't you? Strictly speaking, both are wrong."

Truth, surely not… Before that thought could even conclude, the man snapped his fingers, and suddenly the entire world shrank beneath his feet.

And the sight of the entire world visible at a glance, like a globe, was astonishing. It should have been like that… but this was somehow different.

For all the land visible was covered by the Abyss, melting horribly, and all suns and moons had fallen, transforming the world into one devoid of light.

"The erosion of the Abyss has begun. From now on, it will slowly gnaw away at the world, eventually turning it into that. Unfortunately, you cannot stop it."

Before he could reply, he suddenly tapped his forehead with his index finger.

"The reason I summoned you to this era wasn't to prevent that destruction. It was to have you record and transmit it, the light of the final era."

The moment he thought ripples spread from his fingertips, his vision instantly went dark, and his consciousness plunged into the bottomless depths of darkness.

"You will go to a harsh land, but if you don't give up until the end, you'll be able to return."

Huh, ah…?

Into the darkness, that deep darkness, as his consciousness was pulled without a chance to resist, a meaningful voice calmly rippled in his ears.

"Well, it has begun now… your hundred-year journey of life."

* * *

It was only after the horses, ridden frantically since dawn, frothed at the mouth and collapsed that Cayvon Ludwig and Brym Ludwig blankly pulled on the reins.

"What in the world is this…?"

<Haraldoniki> was originally a beautiful city, embracing the sea to the east, bordered by mountains to the west, coexisting with forests to the north, and with the Light Dragon Boulevard stretching grandly to the south. It was a sanctuary of art and religion.

But this sight…

All structures had melted and decayed like rotten teeth, making the city not just eerie, but truly hideous.

"Your Excellency, Madam!"

Swan, the family's guardian knight, rushed up with mounted soldiers, but the Ludwigs didn't wait for them and spurred their horses down the hill.

That can't be.

It's impossible.

The letter Madelia Paige hastily delivered a month ago by griffin contained utterly unbelievable information.

"Stop!"

Soldiers of the Kingdom of Dunois, controlling entry and exit at the city's North Gate, tried to block the way by crossing their spears, but someone from inside waved a hand.

"Let them in. They are Count Ludwig of the Holy Human Empire."

The one who explained this to the soldiers was Dolan Slade, Head of the Magic Alliance Special Task Force.

His trustworthiness was assured in any nation, so when the gatekeeper nodded, the soldiers immediately lowered their spears and took the horses' reins.

As soon as that happened, the Ludwigs immediately dismounted and urgently approached Dolan.

"Dolan, what in the world is going on…?"

"For now, others also need to pass, so please come inside."

Dolan always wore a smile, but now his complexion was filled with fatigue, and his eyes were hollow. There was no smile on his face.

The situation inside the city was even more dire.

The few intact buildings had all been converted into temporary infirmaries, and all beds were full with those who hadn't regained consciousness.

"These are all individuals who became the undead and were miraculously brought back to life. If the Light Dragon hadn't sealed the dimensional rift, we would have had to kill them."

The undead are those consumed by the Abyss and can never return to their original state. They must be killed… those who were family or friends just moments before.

"Dolan, I wish you'd tell us what exactly happened now."

"Someone constructed a large-scale magic circle centered on the Papal State. It's a magic circle that shakes the seal of the World Axis, meaning, simply put, it seems they tried to summon one of the <Forgotten Kings>."

"How is that possible? This is <Haraldoniki>, isn't it…?"

Large-scale magic circles are only larger in size; their construction principles are the same as regular magic circles.

To complete one, meticulous work is required not only on the secondary components but also on the central component, and this is the main headquarters of the Imperial Dragon Legion.

How could such a thing be possible? Unless the entire Legion had suddenly become blind and mute.

"Cardinal Yoshuhar says it seems they used a person as the central component."

"A person?"

"I once acquired Toureina's research notes. They were forbidden books, of course, but they detailed inscribing spells onto a person's body to construct the central or secondary components of a large-scale magic circle."

Cayvon, with his profound understanding of magic, couldn't help but gasp.

A disciple of the Archmage and Arch-priestess, indeed; his inventive capabilities truly far surpassed ordinary people… and his skill to put those ideas into action.

Brym, who had been listening restlessly to the story, interrupted with a sharp, urgent voice, unlike her usual self.

"That, that's fine, whatever… ! So, Rain? Where is Rain? Tell me where that child is, Dolan, please."

"And on the day of the incident, three suspects were able to pass into the Papal State without much suspicion, and are now missing."

"Dolan!"

"Senior student Valensidis, and Rain Ludwig and Casena Paige, who came for the ceremonial event."

The moment Dolan silently listed those names, a shock that bleached her mind white hit Brym in the chest.

"Valensidis is a prime suspect. He is presumed to have fled with the main faction, but the other two have no evidence to prove a follower relationship with Toureina, so…"

The moment Dolan averted his gaze as if embarrassed, Brym, understanding everything her junior was about to say, felt her knees give out and weakly sank to the ground.

"Currently, my subordinates are searching to recover even their remains… I told Archduchess Madelia the same thing. I am truly sorry, senior."

The shock of the unexpected outcome was so strong that at first, not even tears would come.

No, she knew. She had known, but had just desperately denied it.

Brym, who had been staring blankly at the ground like someone lost their soul, finally covered her face with both hands and began to sob.

"No, that can't be, that can't be…"

Cayvon, who refused to accept the situation even at that moment, repeatedly shook his head.

"They can't be dead. That child was a more excellent magician than many adults… Yes, His Holiness the Light Dragon! We can ask His Holiness where those children are, can't we?"

The divine power of the Light Dragon Haraldariman is known to reach all corners of the world. Confirming the child's life or death would be no problem.

"It's impossible."

He shouted so desperately, clinging to the last, very last shred of hope, but Dolan merely shook his head weakly.

"This is top secret, but His Holiness the Light Dragon is said to have suffered fatal injuries while sealing the Abyssal rift. In fact, it's a miracle he's even alive."

Dolan, watching Cayvon blink blankly, then helplessly drop his face, which was contorting in pain, drew a line through that impossible hope.

"I am truly sorry."

That way, the Ludwig family would quickly give up and proceed with the training of the next successor…

After firmly grasping both their shoulders once, Dolan, who then stepped aside, felt a raw horror rather than sadness.

Disturbing the Faequorians to draw them away, then attacking the Papal State, severely wounding the Light Dragon who had united and led humanity for a thousand years under the name of religion, and the Archmage's body missing…

'The Abyss is truly awakening…'

The Age of Dragons, the Golden Age, was drawing to a close, and a summer never before experienced was about to begin.