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◈ Chapter 173 - 21-Birth Movement

*

The armed citizens called themselves the revolutionary army.

The Emperor faction called them Huang Chung.

Natural disasters that travel in groups and ravage the capital city.

Emperors who call themselves kings because they are devoured by vain desires.

All they will take away will be a few grains of grain from the cupboard next door.

That's what the revolutionary army must have thought before they climbed over the fence, beat the guard knights to death, and dragged them to the square.

"We want it! Death to the usurper!"

"We want! Freedom without status!"

Those who were branded as imperialists, even if they were still inexperienced children, were all forced to stand in the square with their hands and feet tied.

Beside them, the corpses of imperial soldiers, mutilated with sickles and skewers, were lying strewn about.

"These bastards didn't just treat us like insects, they said we should be wiped out?!"

"Aren't we even people, you disgusting noble bastards?!"

Under the emperor's tyranny, the Estates General ended as he wished.

The decree thus decided defined the current unrest taking place in the empire as a riot and contained provisions to suppress it by mobilizing force.

At the same time, the Imperial Guard, along with some of the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade that had stayed near the capital to protect the central region, stormed into Okstantium.

Because there was chaos everywhere, they launched an offensive against the citizens.

The mana that bloomed from magic and swords had no scale and did not determine whether there was a sin or not.

Among those bombed were prominent revolutionary figures, but many were innocent.

Just as innocent citizens were turned into flesh without even knowing what was going on, imperialist nobles were also beheaded by their wrath regardless of their crime.

There is no sanctuary, no sin.

It's just us and the enemy.

Octantium was full of magic and sword energy, and the line between the living and the dead was blurred as blood poured out like volcanic ash.

Thus, chaos descended on the empire.

Just as the brilliant sun disappears and darkness comes before the dawn of a new day.

Among them was Barton.

"It's a prison! Let's storm the prison and save Ember Cutter!"

Citizens and magicians, along with revolutionary figures, advanced to the prison.

Prisons built to prevent prisoners from escaping were like fortresses and could defend against invasions from outside.

The correctional officer of Bétille Prison looked down on the procession from a high wall.

The prison, built on the outskirts of the capital and adjacent to the wall protecting the coast, naturally had a cannon.

The 15 pieces of iron were fully loaded and aimed at the revolutionary army.

"Don't let anyone in! Shoot the rioters!"

"Firing!"

The fire flowed through the fuse.

Rotten metal was raining down on citizens from rusty cannons indiscriminately.

"It's coming! Stop it!"

A huge magic spell from the wizards' hands filled the air.

The shield made of mana stretched like rubber when the cannonball hit, cushioning the impact.

But everything couldn't be stopped.

Quaaaaang-!

The cannon ball hit the road with a violent sound.

The person standing there turned into a shapeless mist of blood, his flesh scattered.

It's someone's leg or arm.

Joints bent into strange shapes flew into the sky along with ashes.

"These bastards are shooting cannons at us?!"

"I will definitely kill you, these parasites of the empire!"

All kinds of magic poured into the mounted cannon.

Gunpowder exploded in a fireball, burning several imperial soldiers on the wall to death.

"Aaaaah! Hot, hot!"

"Help me!"

Some people ran towards the shore to survive the fire, while others were caught in the explosion and fell headlong into the wall.

Just a few days ago, they would all have been neighbors living in the same place.

They have now become enemies who must kill each other.

Barton could not bear to see their desperate struggle.

All he wants to achieve by using those who sacrificed their lives for the cause is to save one woman.

In the midst of the chaos, Barton surrounded his sword with mana and opened the way.

Even a door made of steel was cut like tofu by the sword of a mana-clad knight.

"The door is open! Rush in!"

"Waaah!"

In the lead, Barton rushed inside faster than anyone else.

Right now, he is so embarrassed by the sudden attack that he is unable to deploy his full strength, but the Knights of the Holy Cross will soon arrive.

You must save Ember and escape before you face them.

"Stop it! I mean stop it! What are you doing? You all want to die?!"

A corrections officer's shout could be heard above his head.

A dagger flew and stuck in his neck.

His body fell to the bottom of the wall with a sound of exhalation.

The corpses will soon become unrecognizable due to the kicks of the angry people.

The prison had narrow streets to prevent prisoners from escaping, and was winding like a maze.

Barton, who had no way of knowing what was inside, could only shout as he could.

"Ember, where are you?! Answer me!"

Prisoners were spread out in each cell with iron bars.

Even though there is a commotion outside, they don't even have the strength to react, so they only move their empty pupils like corpses.

Barton was familiar with the smell coming from this place.

It was the stench of death that I had smelled so sickly in Homeland, in the Plains of Leuktra, and just a moment ago.

As he cut down the blocker, he thought of Amber.

Operational staff of the Lighthouse of Humanity, knight of resourcefulness, and honorary professor of the Magic Tower...

Barton thought that there was indeed a lot of grandiose rhetoric involved.

That's because she had talent.

You were born with the talent to lead others, and there is someone who can lead you.

It's natural for her to see her talent blossom.

In his memories, the little girl who was upset at the castle in the lighthouse village was no longer there.

She went so far away that the days we spent together became distant.

Is it okay for me to be around you?

A question that continues from the Plains of Leuctra.

Luckily, I caught the wind of the times.

However, the more time went by, the more burdensome Barton felt about being with them.

Even if I tried, there was a gap that I couldn't keep up with.

Amber said she trusted Barton.

What on earth did you see and trust?

"Where are you coming from, the mobster?"

"Kill it!"

Cut, cut again.

After cutting down so many people, the prison became quiet.

No, maybe it feels quiet because I am lost in thought.

Barton thought deeply about why Amber did that.

That might be because they were forced to make sacrifices.

It was clear that the tragedy that had happened to her family had caught up with her.

Commoners bow to nobles.

Nobles are loyal to the emperor.

That's how the empire runs stably.

The dissonance that inevitably arose from that cogwheel struck Amber.

She didn't want to give that hurt to someone else.

This is why it took her so long to display her talents even on the plains of Leuktra.

Even though she went through a lot, Amber was ultimately Amber.

Thinking about that, Barton couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Is it okay for me to continue to be by Amber's side?

Because at this moment, I was looking for the answer that it was okay.

"Lord Wigner! This way!"

A knight called to him from afar.

Barton, who regained his consciousness after a while, saw the article.

Familiar attire.

It was a lighthouse of humanity.

"What about you...?"

"I have been sent by Eileen's orders to protect Lord Cutter's honor! We don't have time, so I'll tell you as I go!"

Barton followed his guidance and headed to the basement where Ember was said to be.

What greeted him as soon as he entered was the torture devices such as iron skewers and whips that decorated the walls.

My blood rushed to my feet when I thought of the sharp, cold grip that would have ravaged Ember.

"Ember! Ember Cutter! Are you here?!"

There was no answer.

There was no need to listen.

As I took a few steps inside, Amber was there.

Barton saw the tragedy with his own eyes.

"Amber!"

He had no fingernails or toenails.

Sitting on a chair designed to spread her legs, she was gasping for air in her humiliating position.

The areas that should be covered are clearly exposed.

Without even looking ahead or behind her, Barton rushed towards her.

"What...?"

A faint voice was barely audible to my ears.

Her body was sticky with a liquid that I couldn't tell if it was blood or sweat.

No matter how you look at it, the condition was not very good.

Barton hurriedly took off her robe and covered her body.

"Barton... I have a question..."

"Don't say anything. It's okay now."

It's terrible.

Even though I ran as fast as I could, I kept feeling like I was late.

Would it have been different if I had a little more power?

A feeling of helplessness enveloped Barton.

Amber spoke to him, squeezing in her stamina.

"On the day of coming of age..."

Her hand that was trying to pick her up stopped at her sudden question.

Why did you suddenly bring that up?

Taking advantage of her confusion, she moved her dry lips.

"Do you remember what I said when I was drunk and spit it out whenever I could?"

Every time I remember.

How can I forget what happened then?

Barton's face turned slightly red as he suddenly remembered that day.

Amber's lips drew an arc as if she liked the look.

"Yes... This reaction is much... Better."

What on earth was that?

Before he could ask, Amber's body poured towards him.

Barton held her carefully and stood up.

Relieved that she and her faith had barely survived.

"Master Barton. What should we do with this civil servant?"

At that time, the Human Lighthouse Knight pointed to Barton and said to the man standing in the corner of the prison.

When the knight's finger touched the man's stomach, he seemed startled.

Only then did Barton look at the surrounding scenery.

The torture instruments placed on the table caught my eye.

Plantain and bugs filled in a bottle.

If it had been just a little bit later, Amber would have suffered irreparable damage.

Know.

The interrogator is not guilty.

He simply did his job.

If it were Björn, and even Amber, who was tortured by him, would have been scolded appropriately.

I've seen that kind of response countless times before.

But not Barton.

"It seems that the prisoners released by the revolutionary army were very angry with the interrogators."

"⋯⋯Yes?"

The interrogator's eyes widened as if he didn't know what to say.

However, the article of the Lighthouse of Humanity read the intention behind Barton's words.

"The Empire will never find this man's body."

Barton's usefulness.

It is to do the work that Amber finds difficult.

Even though she was dirty and ugly, Barton was willing to bury her blood for her sake.

Even personal revenge.

"Ah, ahhh, ahhh!"

For a while, only a man's screams rang out from the torture room of Bettieu Prison, which no one visited.

Later, when the door to the torture room was opened again, all that greeted people was a piece of meat covered in cockroaches.

◈ Chapter 174 - 21-Birth Movement

*

The heavy iron gates of Bettieu Prison were torn down by the revolutionary army.

After overcoming a mountain of rubble, the witty knight Barton Wigner emerged.

Holding Ember Cutter.

The revolutionary army roared.

"We won!"

"Barton Wigner! Barton Wigner!"

Everywhere I turned there were corpses.

Most of them were ordinary people, but occasionally a knight in armor could be seen.

It was all done by me.

To save a woman.

I know that I have no right to turn away.

Barton walked between them with his head held high.

At least to let the world know that it wasn't a meaningless sacrifice.

Barton encountered an unexpected person at the head of the corpse.

"Duke von Lorraine."

"Sir Barton Wigner."

The two exchanged a brief greeting, as if reflecting the urgent situation.

There was no need to ask why he came here.

"The noble faction will join the cause according to the wishes of the revolutionary faction. The oppression of the tyrant Drich must come to an end!"

The most dramatic moment.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Duke von Lorraine shouted to the revolutionary army.

"We, the noble faction, will follow the will of the people and withdraw our knights who are suffering from the front lines! And we will definitely pay for the blood shed due to his tyranny!"

Barton knew all about his evil deeds.

The person who instigated the war behind the scenes is calling for anti-war.

Then, he measured the timing to gain the support of the people.

All I can say is that it's ugly.

But now you must shake hands with him, even if it means getting your hands dirty.

As long as he was prepared to get covered in dirt, Barton had no hesitation.

"The revolutionaries will welcome you."

Barton clearly pointed out where the subject of this revolution was.

It was also a warning that foolish tactics will not work.

The person who put a wedge in this was Ember Cutter, who briefly regained consciousness.

"Please put me down for a moment."

Knowing her intention, Barton followed her words even though he showed his disapproval.

However, Amber's body was too weak to stand alone.

The wounds I received from escaping the palace were quickly worn away, and my nervous system was not working as intended due to the drug.

In the end, it was best to half-lean on Barton.

Squeezing the last of her strength, Ember shouted to the people.

"I, Ember Cutter, as the operational staff of the Lighthouse of Humanity, hereby declare to you! The Lighthouse of Humanity will no longer stand by and watch the situation under the pretext of political reasons! We will protect you from the tyranny of the Empire. Just like we have been protecting the empire from demons for the past hundreds of years!"

Unsheathing Barton's sword, Ember held it high.

The robe that Barton had covered her with had slipped down, leaving half of one of her breasts exposed, but she didn't care.

Actually, I didn't have time to care.

Because her mental power was already at its limit.

"The Lighthouse Corps of Humanity intervenes!"

"Waaah! Knights of the Holy Cross! It's over now!"

The elite 1,200 members of the Human Lighthouse in the capital finally move.

The reason they had not intervened so far was because it could be seen as a coup in the North.

Now that the revolution was ripe, and even the aristocratic faction had joined in, the charges could be overcome even with added strength.

The fact that the Human Lighthouse was moving there meant that the North would no longer pay attention.

It was like a declaration of victory for the revolutionary army.

The countless people erupted in cheers, and even the falling ash flew around without being able to reach the ground.

"I'll leave the rest to you."

Barton hurriedly grabbed Ember, who had lost consciousness and was falling forward.

She fulfilled her duties until the last moment.

She deserved a break.

When Barton moved, the revolutionary army followed around him.

"Open the way! Quick!"

"Stop it! We must kill them here!"

It wasn't just nobles that Duke von Lorraine brought in.

The knights they left out in the name of escort were also there.

Most of them were conscripted for the war against the Kingdom of Junta, so their number was only a few dozen, but it was still enough to open a path through the Knights of the Holy Cross.

"Damn! There are too many!"

"Block... Ugh!"

Amber was not the only one released from Bétille Prison.

Prominent professors from the Magic Tower also escaped from prison.

With the magic they poured out, the Knights of the Holy Cross had no choice but to fall helplessly as a knight of the same level took the lead.

"Retreat! Damn it! Everyone retreat!"

Eventually, an order to retreat was issued from the Knights of the Holy Cross.

Together with the few remaining imperial troops, they fled towards the Glass Palace.

The people won victory over the empire.

An unprecedented event in history.

It was also something that would become very natural in the future.

In the midst of an inflection point in history, Barton was just looking for a place to lay down Amber.

*

After the Bétille Prison incident, the revolutionary army was no longer just a bunch of people.

The Magic Tower, merchants, noble faction, and even the Human Lighthouse.

Looking at its power alone, it was safe to say that the empire had already entered a civil war.

In a situation where a country was at war with another country, the emperor did not have the military power to overwhelmingly suppress them.

In addition, the aristocratic faction's departure from the front was tantamount to losing the ability to wage war.

It will take time for what happens in the capital to reach their knights in other countries, but it will happen soon.

In the end, the emperor spread his hands.

To the Marquis of Dunmore, the leader of the Imperial faction that dominates the southeast.

His knights inspected the chaotic capital in an orderly manner.

"The Emperor poured all his remaining troops into the defenses of the Glass Palace."

"Seeing that the Marquis of Dunmore's knights are also heading straight to the Glass Palace, it looks like they will buy some time to wait for the Knights of the Holy Cross who have been deployed in the war against the Kingdom of Junta."

The cessation of war may have been politically bad news for the emperor, but it was also an opportunity to turn the situation around.

This is because if the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Magic Brigade, which were deployed in the war, return, they will be able to suppress the revolutionary army.

Of course, there is no confirmation that the magic brigade that returned from the front will still follow his wishes, but at least the three sword masters of the Knights of the Holy Cross will certainly faithfully carry out the emperor's orders.

If that happens, the burden will increase on the revolutionary army.

"Even so, in the long run, we have the advantage. Isn't the North joining us now? We won't fight in foreign lands, but the moment we enter the southeast, the knights of the noble faction will grab hold of the Knights of the Holy Cross. ."

"It is expected that the Northern Alliance will move south much faster than the Knights of the Holy Cross will return. In addition, the Aryan Dominion has also sent us support. And no matter how Marquis Dunmore is, there are local nobles under him who have the same views as us. There are quite a few young people too."

It's not just a hopeful outlook.

In the long run, victory will ultimately be achieved by the revolutionary faction.

Instead, if that happens, the coast of Octantium will be stained with blood.

I had to see it through to the end before then.

Barton, who was listening to the reports of revolutionary elements with his eyes closed, made a decision.

"Early tomorrow morning, the revolutionary army will mobilize all its resources and march to the Glass Palace."

"Yes? But..."

"We know that time is on our side. But if the victory we win is not worth the defeat, how can we raise our heads to those who died before us?"

I didn't fight for a country that was broken in half.

They sacrificed their lives for a better future.

So, we must quickly take control of the palace before it is too late.

The revolutionaries had no choice but to agree with Barton's words.

His decision quickly spread throughout Octantium.

"Tomorrow, the revolutionary army is heading to the Glass Palace! Let's join together!"

"I can't give up at this moment when the world is changing! I'm definitely going!"

"All you have to lose is your chains, all you have to gain is the world!"

"Death to the usurper!"

That day, no one in Octantium could sleep comfortably.

Except for one person.

Barton adjusted the hair of Amber, who was sleeping as if she had passed out.

No matter how much of a sword expert you are, it will take quite some time for your wounds to fully heal and recover.

There may be some aftereffects.

If the driver couldn't come to his senses, he must have been drugged with a significant amount of drugs.

You will suffer from unwanted withdrawal symptoms for a while.

Barton frowned, wondering if he had let the interrogator go too comfortably.

At that time, a figure appeared in the darkness next to him.

Barton asked Helga.

"Is there still no movement of the shadow?"

"During the attack on Bettieu Prison, several revolutionary figures were assassinated, and several strongholds of the Rob Alliance were destroyed in their attacks. But other than that, there is no significant activity. Even if I am guarding you by your side, your movements are extremely small."

"What on earth are you aiming for...?"

Everything is going as expected.

Except for one thing, Ambu.

They were too concerned about this period of chaos when they were most active.

At least that would not be the Emperor's will.

If so, their silence may be the devil's intention in secret collusion.

What they are aiming for is confusion.

When humans define each other as enemies and fight, they lose their capital.

If that happens, mankind will not suspect the devil, will blame each other, and will fight until one of them dies.

Their plan is clear.

Isn't Bjorn trying to take advantage of this and catch them behind?

However, rather than adding to the confusion, the shadow office is just waiting for the situation to unfold.

Relaxed, like a predator aiming for something big.

Barton felt like he was wading through a cloudy fog.

At times like this, it would be nice to have someone to ask.

There was no big tree nearby for him to rely on.

I was skeptical about every decision, but I just pray that I wasn't wrong.

Lastly, Barton checked to see if Helga's request was successful.

"Did what I asked work out?"

"Yes. Just as you said, the Human Lighthouse Knight will move Ember to a hideout outside the capital early tomorrow. Even if things go wrong, she won't be caught in the explosion."

Barton had no right to run away.

Most of the blood flowing in the capital was brought on by him.

But it wasn't Amber.

Even if things go wrong, I am the only one responsible.

I hoped at least as much as she would survive.

It didn't matter whether she wanted it or not.

Barton wiped her face with a dry cloth.

I was relieved that I was glad I wasn't there at the last moment.

Until the moment the sun rises in the distance.

◈ Chapter 175 - 21-Birth Movement

*

There is a long boulevard extending from the main gate of the Glass Palace to the west gate of the Octantium Castle.

This road, called the 'Emperor's Road', was itself a symbol of the empire.

All kinds of government offices and large guild buildings boasted a massive appearance, welcoming the people of the empire who came to the capital.

The shade created by the birch trees and the endless carriage of carriages.

A beautiful sidewalk made of pebbles over cement.

And at the end was a glass palace that sparkled in all its colors.

The great men of the Oxburg Empire and the beggars walking on the streets must have seen this sight.

The highway that had always been a source of pride for the people of the empire was no longer visible.

Street trees were broken and fell down, and the road was broken in various places, exposing dirt.

On the road, several horses that had lost their drivers were just wandering around with nothing to do.

Black scorch marks here and there clearly revealed the commotion from last night.

Government offices and merchant guild buildings were left with all their windows broken after robbers took advantage of the chaos.

There were no employees to go to work during this situation, so the only thief staying there was checking for any useful furniture.

There are no masons to repair roads, no officials to maintain street trees, and no imperial troops to arrest criminals.

The empire had already lost administrative power in its capital.

Even so, the end of the street, the glass palace, was still brilliant.

Because the emperor was mobilizing all his resources to defend himself.

End of the road.

Setting up a barrier with oak barrels and rubble, the Knights of the Holy Cross and the Marquis of Dunmore's Iris Knights waited.

The wave of the times.

As the dim dawn light reached Octantium, a mob calling itself a revolutionary army gathered from afar on the other side.

"Don't be scared! Your opponent is just an undisciplined mob!"

A person wearing a cloak with an irises pattern shouted from the main gate of the glass palace.

The leader of the imperial faction and a marquis who rules the southeast.

It was the Marquess of Dunmore, the sword master.

With his half-tied hair flying, he tried to boost the morale of his knights.

But since he had eyes, he could tell.

That's impossible.

'Damn it! There are too many!'

The emperor's troops protecting the Glass Palace are quite large.

Not only the emperor's core troops left behind to defend the central region, but also the Iris Knights from the southeast were brought in.

It even had a magic brigade loyal to the emperor.

Still, their absolute numbers had no choice but to be pushed back by the revolutionary army.

"How on earth can you stop that...?"

Words someone instinctively said.

The Marquis of Dunmore was keenly aware of those feelings up front, and it was hard to criticize him.

"Marquis! The number is increasing! This is impossible..."

From the end of the West Gate to right in front of the Glass Palace.

The revolutionary army, which he called a rioter, was packed in and shaking like a wave.

As the sun rose, the number increased.

Do waves have rules?

It just floats along with the flow, reaches the shore, and disappears.

Still, it is the rock wall that always gets crushed.

As long as the sea water doesn't dry out, the waves come endlessly.

That alone was overwhelming, but even Tailwind was not on the emperor's side.

"The Lighthouse of Humanity! We stand at the forefront!"

A voice filled with mana was heard from afar.

Although he had never spoken to him face to face, the Marquess of Dunmore knew who he was.

It was Helga Sentle, a senior knight of the Human Lighthouse.

As he shouted, those wearing cloaks with lighthouses on them inspected him.

There is no disorder, and there is no immature person to be found.

Everyone here is the backbone of the human lighthouse.

The sword experts of the Empire's only knighthood, the greatest power the North has, and the only knights in the empire who have protected humanity on the front lines over the years.

The destination for the 1,200 people was the Glass Palace.

"The Magic Tower covers the Human Lighthouse from the rear! Everyone, prepare your field attack and defense techniques!"

Behind the Human Lighthouse team, a person wearing a deep hood came out holding a cane.

Margaery was once a court mage in Stemwind, and today she is a professor at the Magic Tower.

At the end of the chant, a huge magic spell hovered around the wizard.

It was a spell that increased the number of circles by one level, although movement was limited.

As a magic that could only be used in siege warfare was spread along the main road of Octantium, those who knew its power could not help but swallow dry saliva.

"Magic Brigade! Get ready for battle! We must defend the Glass Palace!"

At the command of the Marquis of Dunmore, the wizards belonging to the magic brigade also began chanting.

The revolutionary army may have the upper hand in terms of the number of magicians, but the overall quality was on the side with the magic brigade.

The Marquis of Dunmore, who was calculating his inferiority and superiority, sighed briefly.

'What on earth does that mean in this situation?'

If it were a war with another country, they would have fought desperately even if it meant risking death.

Because that was the honor of being a knight.

However, the enemy he faces is not the Junta Kingdom army, and this is not the territory of another country.

The place where he stands now is the capital of the Octantium Empire, where he was born and raised, and it was the country itself that drew its weapon against him.

"⋯⋯How did this mess happen?"

Is it really right to protect the emperor by killing them all?

But is it right to hand the emperor over to the rioters?

Will they be able to handle the chaos that will come after that?

The Marquess of Dunmore stood tall in front of the approaching wave.

It is for history to decide what is right.

He simply drew his sword to protect the empire and the imperial family over 250 years of history.

Just as it was the fate of the times that the revolutionary army would head to the palace, preventing it was the task given to him.

A soft light like a crescent moon permeated his sword with determination.

That was the signal.

"Iris Knights! Surround yourself with Aurors! Give your lives for the Empire!"

"Defend His Majesty! Knights of the True Cross! Fulfill your mission as a knight!"

Auras rose from the guard side first.

As if he couldn't lose to him, a blue light blazed from the great sword such as Humanity.

"Revolutionary army! Let's drive out the usurper!"

Barton Wigner's voice rang out on the Emperor's Road.

The auror surrounding his sword was shaking, but his eyes were straight towards the glass palace.

The revolutionary army heard his orders and marched towards the Glass Palace.

A speed close to walking.

The steps pushed and pushed each other, gradually accelerating.

Eventually, even the runner could not be controlled.

It was like a revolution that had already engulfed the capital.

Like a runaway train, neither those who control it nor those who follow it can stop it anymore.

Like inertia.

This is what they must have thought in that life-or-death moment of being crushed by their allies or cut to death by the enemy.

I wish someone would stop me.

Without even dreaming that that wish would actually come true.

Kwaaaaang-

As if a crescent moon had fallen, a huge sword flag landed between the palace guards and the revolutionary army.

In the sudden situation, everyone present stopped and tried to understand what had happened.

The first thing they noticed was a huge gap that looked as if it had been carved into something.

No matter how you look at it, it was not magic that even destroyed the government office across the street.

That's because it's too powerful to be true.

"Cough! Cough! What on earth is going on...?"

Suddenly, beyond the sandstorm, I saw the image of a person.

The Human Lighthouse Team, which was surveying the situation by waving its arms at the vanguard, raised its mana to find out who the person was.

Then what I saw was a short, white-haired old man.

Wearing a cloak that flutters like a cloak.

He was standing across the gap, holding a toothless sword.

"Ah! That guy!"

There was no way that anyone living in the Lighthouse of Humanity, or even in the Oxburg Empire, would have known who the old man across from them was.

Archduke Landeros Van Hoss.

A former saint and a knight who has reached the end of the realm of what can be achieved with the sword.

A sword saint who consistently protected this country for 250 years since the establishment of the Oxburg Empire.

He stopped the revolutionary army.

As the sand blew in the wind, both the revolutionary army and the palace guards looked at him with dumbfounded faces.

When everyone's attention was focused, he slowly opened his mouth.

"Everyone, why don't you all stop for a moment. This is the old man's last request."

Landeros bowed his head towards the revolutionary army across the gap.

Considering his stature, it was quite an earnest request.

However, it was not his polite attitude that stopped the revolutionary army's advance.

I just felt the power of the Sword Saint right in front of my nose.

Not only the knights of the Lighthouse of Humanity who witnessed his skills with their own eyes on the plains of Leuctra, but all of the revolutionary soldiers just stood there blankly, as if they were rooted to the ground.

The sunken lines drawn using the capital as a drawing board, as if a crescent moon had fallen, clearly showed his far-reaching heights.

There was no question of what would happen if I crossed it.

At that time, Barton appeared from the crowd.

To the Sword Saint on the other side of the line, he asked the question that everyone here was curious about.

"Sword Saint. Can I take this to mean that you will take the emperor's side by blocking our path?"

It was an unimaginable bad news for the revolutionary army.

A sword saint is a monster that can easily trample on the superiority of numbers.

Barton wanted to avoid just that.

To that question, Landeros gave an unexpected answer.

"I am neither on the side of the revolutionary army nor on the side of the emperor. I am just a member of the army swaying like a reed in the flow of the times."

Landeros' attitude was so sly that the excited two camps looked funny.

Is that what happens if you live for nearly 300 years?

Barton remembers hearing him talk about the saint's dilemma.

If that is the will of the majority, Landeros is not the person to go against it.

If Geomseong had wanted to intervene in the situation, the revolutionary faction would have turned into cold corpses and been buried in the ground long ago.

Because he has that power.

So I became even more suspicious.

"Then why are you stopping us now?"

"Well, I don't know why. I'm just here to do Bjorn's favor."

Geomseong recalled what the cheeky kid said the other day.

The only request he made was to repay the debt he owed on the Plains of Leuctra.

It was a request to stop the revolution if it became too heated before the time came.

"That guy needs to change his speaking style. He treats me like I'm some kind of subordinate. He's like an unscrupulous guy who doesn't even know what respecting elders means."

What time are we talking about, and how does the revolution become overheated?

He had many things he wanted to ask, but Bjorn only said that he would find out when the time was right.

In any case, Bjorn's request was what Landeros also wanted, so he promised to do so.

Landeros decided that it was now.

"Anyway, with this I have paid off all the debt I owed on the Plains of Leuctra. So, can you wait a moment until that time comes?"

A command, not a request.

The subject was not Geomseong, but Bjorn.

There was no way Barton would rebel against that.

He knew what Bjorn meant by 'time', and if he didn't have to shed more blood for it, he had no reason to protest.

The problem is that the moment Bjorn was aiming for appeared in the worst possible direction and at the worst possible time.

"Ah, no..."

At that time, Barton saw it.

Clouds soaring in the shape of a mushroom.

The capital of the empire was engulfed in flames with an eerie explosion heard from afar.

◈ Chapter 176 - 22-Red Strong Curse

There is one more great devil besides Homun.

Underneath the capital, in this dungeon once called the Great Labyrinth.

Only the underground water flowing like a waterfall through the dome into the channel echoed in the cavity.

"Mion. What you said is definitely true, right?"

After breaking through the long silence, Asili asked Mion back.

I hope you say no.

That earnestness is probably the same for everyone here.

Mion looked distressed at not being able to give even empty words.

"I'm sorry. I also want to believe it's an illusion. But the closer I get to the great power, the clearer it becomes that there are two types of great evil energy hovering over this great labyrinth."

That must have been the strange feeling that Mion felt as he entered the Great Labyrinth.

Why are anxious premonitions never wrong?

And do those premonitions always come in the worst form?

Two of the six great devils are here.

In that case, even if Geomseong was here right now, he didn't have the strength to win the fight.

Even if our strategic goal was not to fight and win, it was close to impossible for this number of people to overcome the two great evils and achieve that goal.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! No matter how deep underground it is, how could there be two great devils and not even detect them?!"

Lunea swore bluntly, which was uncharacteristic of her.

These words may have been uttered randomly out of desperation, but they were also directed at everyone present.

No matter how far below the enemy line they are, the Great Devils are monsters that once almost engulfed the entire continent.

Needless to elaborate, everyone here has encountered it at least once, except for Baracura.

I felt with my whole body the power they had.

That's not one, but two.

It was natural for my heart to break.

'Think about it. How to.'

In this place filled with gunpowder, Jin cannot be given a human body.

Even if Mion uses Light, there is a possibility that the effect will be halved if it is distributed among the two Great Demons.

Even if it's better to take the risk, would you rather use the saint's power to lift the seal surrounding Jin's body?

To take such a risk, the stakes on the other side are 700,000 people.

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't come up with a plausible number.

Distorted plate.

In this situation, I was more vulnerable than anyone else.

As soon as I closed my mouth, everyone in the room started talking about whatever they wanted, as if they had lost their focus.

"There is no other way now. Even if it means taking risks, I have no choice but to call my father."

"Have you forgotten why the Sword Saint is not here? Runea, the moment you go outside and come into contact with the Sword Saint, the capital will be blown up!"

"Isn't that what you said! You have to take risks! Then is there another way to overcome this situation?"

"Our goddess will show you her power! All you have to do is worship!"

"You crazy religious bastard! How can you use flames here? Are you saying we should all die together? Before that, I will kill you first!"

Despair caused division.

It was such an amazing combination that they were already together, so the rift widened very easily.

They were talking while looking at each other, but I was hovering at the end of their gaze.

Please answer quickly.

Isn't that your role?

It seemed like he was being very picky.

It was Asili, the dragon of wisdom, who mediate the situation at that time.

"Everyone, shut up. Unless you want to be chewed up whole by me."

Vertically torn eyes and subtle mana.

Behind her, a huge dragon growled.

Runea and Barakura, who did not know Asili's true identity, were startled by her eerie appearance and shut her mouth.

Of course she thought she wasn't an ordinary human, but she probably didn't know she was a dragon.

Once her cavity was quiet again, she slowly opened her mouth.

"You know it's shameful. How long are you planning to just accept the milk that Bjorn gives you? Then, to a half-corpse! If you're shameless, we'll take care of it now!"

As if she had hit the nail on the head, her companions let out a short groan.

When her vaginal sounds disappeared, she took my place.

"It is impossible to call the Sword Saint. Even if you can somehow fool the Dark Lady and bring the Sword Saint, it will take too much time to come back here. The Homun will blow up the capital before then. Jinnim borrows Hwajeong's mana and goes. It's not possible to manifest in the flesh. Even if there is no gunpowder here, Bjern's short energy will not be able to withstand it, and it is certain that he will burn to death before he can do anything."

"Then what on earth should we do...?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up? Or do you just want to see my cover?"

The dragon, with its mouth wide open, looked down at Runea once again.

Having clearly summarized her situation with that, she continued her speech again.

"Listen to the end. I have a way to overcome this situation. Before that, there are a few things I need to confirm. Mion. You said that the energies of the Great Demons here are different, right? Can you explain in words how they are different?"

"It's hard to say because it's like the sensation of touching the skin..."

"Still, how dare I express it?"

"One is sticky like black mud, and the other is so cold... It hurts my skin."

Mion briefly trembled her body like a person with chills.

Asili continued to ask him questions as to whether she still had anything left to check.

"Have you ever felt something similar before? Like during the Plains of Leuktra."

Mion, realizing the meaning of those words, shook her head.

"Antenor's was a little more complex. A few more things were mixed into the energy here... So it smelled even worse."

"Then that's a good thing."

Asili's expression brightened, as if the confusion had been erased.

Based on Mion's testimony, Asili revealed what she had guessed.

"Listen up, everyone. I've roughly figured out who the other Archdemons here are."

"⋯⋯How do you know that?"

Asili responded to my question as if asking something like that.

"How many saints do you think were with me? In the past, when I was in Homeland, whenever I encountered the Great Devil, I heard so many saints scolding me, so I guess I roughly know."

"So, who are the other great devils other than Homun?"

Asili paused for a moment in response to Mion's question, then opened her mouth.

"Odeisa. She is Han Bing's Great Demon."

Cold ice, or the great devil of extreme cold.

She was the first offspring created by Moloch.

She was also the prototype of the witches handed down in today's Oxburg Empire.

Jet-black hair resembling the night sky flutters.

Even time and space stopped as her breathing stopped.

Wherever her touch touched, the spark of her life faded away.

Like a reaper, walking on frozen ground and ice.

There was a silence that seemed to last forever where she passed.

Odeissa's ability to bring about bitter cold and blizzards was most similar to Moloch among the six great demons.

"The worst was avoided... But it's safe to say it was the lesser evil."

In terms of her abilities alone, she was the most powerful of the six great demons.

However, she is not the worst because she is still affected by her enemies.

Since he was originally human, he was better than Antenor, who had the option to ignore enemy lines, and the beast archvillain.

That didn't mean it was easy to deal with, though.

"Finding out the enemy is an achievement, but is there anything we can do with it?"

"If it were any other archdemon, it wouldn't have been of much use. But with Odeisa, I can at least buy time."

I tilted my head at those words.

I know that Asili is a 10th circle archmage and a prophet who is like an archdemon.

Even so, there was an unbridgeable gap between the two.

If the dragon clan were that strong, there would have been no reason to do anything stupid like enemy lines.

Asili seemed to understand my doubts and slowly explained the reason.

"Odeisa is basically an arrogant wizard. She believes that her magic skills are superior to those of the Balaur clan. So, when she encounters the Balaur clan, she enjoys dispelling our magic with mana rather than piercing it with power. We plan to use that personality. Are you."

"Are you sure that will happen even when their plan is discovered?"

"Since the Sword Saint is on the ground, there is no way he will know that they are holding the hilt of their sword. In particular, Odeisa will take his time and try to hunt me down, just like he did with my brothers and sisters. Of course, I will be left out of the rearguard, but Odeisa and Homun will use their strength. "We might be able to stop the merger for a while."

I was able to guess a few facts from Asili's words.

Odeisa is a monster that tramples the magic of the dragon race without even using her powers, and during the War of the Gods, she would have made countless dragons fall from the sky.

For Han Bing's Great Devil, Asili is nothing more than a moment of entertainment.

Asili would risk her life to get even that moment, she said.

"Asili-nim⋯⋯."

Is there anyone who hasn't risked their life here?

However, it is difficult to willingly step into a position where one must sacrifice for everyone.

Mion looked at her with pitiful eyes.

"Kahat, I'm just following my father's orders. If I fail, everyone will die anyway, so why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're not wrong."

"Still, if everyone survives, I hope Mion will stroke my chest, or rather, her head."

"I think my true feelings just came out."

"That can't be right."

⋯⋯Disgusting Shotacon bastard.

Even Mion, an angel born as a human, was horrified by those words.

Would a dragon over a thousand years old want to flirt with a child like that?

Still, she looked too much like her, so I ended up smiling like her empty smile.

Thank you for doing my part.

Because it gave me faith that if things went well, they would take care of it even if I left.

One way or another, Asili is a very considerate dragon.

She owed her a favor that she could not repay.

Lightening her mood with her usual self, she spoke again.

"Here's my plan."

Just like before, a map drawn with mana appeared in the air.

◈ Chapter 177 - 22-Red Strong Curse

On the long road that looked like an anthill, shapes representing cavities appeared one after another.

The far right is where we are currently.

Next to it, fire and the word 'darkness' were engraved, symbolizing Jin's body.

In the last cavity on the left end, Asili wrote 'Hanbing' for the last time.

Jin looked at the picture and asked Asili.

"Wait a minute. Even if Mion found out that my body was right next to him, what is the basis for assuming that Homun and Odeisa are separated?"

"Wizards are people who first create a workshop when they get stuck somewhere. Of course, Odeisa would have built her own workshop the moment she came down here."

When I remembered the shady wizard's habits, I roughly understood it.

"Also, wizards are extremely reluctant to let others enter the workshop. They may break sensitive spells."

For a wizard, the workshop is not simply about creating another circle that can be operated from the outside.

Magic research and experiments, and all kinds of newly developed magic circles.

There are as many different types of workshops as there are wizards, so what may seem like nothing in one workshop may turn out to be a big mistake in another.

Just like a graduate school lab.

"That's right. Especially if it's an arch-devil that's flowing with power or a Jinnim's body that's constantly spewing out mana, they'll definitely avoid it. So, Odeisa will build a workshop right next to it and stay there."

It was a guess that was close to certainty, but the possibility of it being a misjudgment was low.

In the first place, perverts know their physiology best.

For now, the two are separated.

That alone was enough to spark a glimmer of hope.

"The good news is that they don't know we've come this far. We can take advantage of that to take our time and prepare in advance."

Between the second and third cavities.

There, Asili drew all kinds of traps.

The plan was to buy time to prevent Odeisa from joining right away.

"As you all know, Homun is not an archdemon suitable for battle. He specializes in assassinations and operations. In addition, he will be receiving the effects of the enemy ship, so even if I leave, it will not be difficult to release Jin's body. Even if he is an inferior 9th Circle wizard, "I guess we can do it."

"Hmph, there was no need for the help of Emperor Yukbyeongi. It is my job as the bishop to free our goddess's body from its long-time restraints."

"I'm a virgin?!"

"Bullshit! What kind of girl in the world starts sexually harassing every time she opens her mouth! She must be a bitch at first sight."

Perhaps due to the influence of his origins in the underworld of paganism, he had a rough mouth unless he was from a cult like Baracura.

Asili trembled with a face that seemed like it was the regret of heaven that she wanted to kill him but couldn't.

But it's not really wrong, right?

It's just that she's forced to remain a virgin because of her crooked walls, and her mind is no different from that of a sexual criminal.

It's been a long time since I saw a debate about a virgin like a wholesaler, but the timing wasn't right.

'The possibility...Is still low.'

It was obvious that a trap laid like that would have little effect against the Great Devil, as a spell that was too strong would be detected.

Asili would only have a few minutes to burn that life away.

Even so, the success rate increased from 1% to 2%.

Even if it doubled, there was no big difference because the original number was small.

Still, Asili's sacrifice was the only way out of this situation.

Perhaps in an attempt to boost her morale, Jin calmly opened his mouth.

"As everyone knows, it will be over once I regain my body. From then on, I can control any flame. I can deal with the Great Evil without worrying about my capital being blown up."

Jin is praised for fighting the great evil Moloch in the past.

Despite numerous stigmas, no legend could deny her strength.

Of course, Hwajeong is bound to me, but getting her body back will be enough to drive out the archdemon.

Also, when that time comes, Sword Saints can also join.

This is the only answer we have to survive in this great labyrinth.

The only way to save 700,000 people and liberate the capital from the devil's clutches.

Each person's eyes shone brightly as if they were making a decision.

"No matter what happens, the big picture does not change. We will eradicate the devil according to the orders of the Lord. We will fulfill the mission given to the Knights of the Holy Cross. Father in heaven, please lead us and humanity to the light."

"It is not an order from the Lord God, but a calling given by our Flame True God. Goddess! Our Dawn! As the Bishop of the Flame Church, on behalf of the believers, I will sacrifice myself to avenge the original sin of not being by your side a thousand years ago!"

"What, is it worship time? Then I want to pray to our cute saint for the last time! Mion, will you please grow up like this and become my husband?"

"Ahaha... That's a bit..."

"That's not called worship, that's called a proposal, you pedophile lizard bitch. Get your hands off Mion right now!"

Prayers and jokes uttered as if to shake off fear.

We were once enemies, but now we have to lean on each other's backs.

Because I can't bear it otherwise.

"⋯⋯You've come so far."

From a cave in some countryside to here.

I know it's too early to get sentimental, but looking back, it feels distant.

How did my journey, which was meant to be a maid in a vineyard and eat as much as I could, get so twisted?

It was such a miserable life that I couldn't help but sigh.

But I don't regret it.

The journey was arduous, and her body was in shreds, but she met Jin.

"Björn."

Last before leaving.

Despite all the chatter directed at each other, only my name called by Jin was clear.

"Keep the contract. This is the command from the Flame Jinn to my hero."

The contract Jin is talking about is not a request to get his body back.

It means that at her ball she renewed it in her own way.

Go towards the life you want.

Still, I tell you to show your face sometimes.

So, don't die here.

He's my hero.

How many heroes were there by Jin's side, commanding the times?

How many of them heard that sound?

And who would have heard those words and died comfortably in bed?

I know the intention behind her words.

So I answered.

"⋯⋯Yes. Definitely."

A contract can be changed when both parties agree.

I have never accepted her new terms, which she changed however she pleased.

So the contract I said I would keep was only that I would get her body back.

I will give everything for that.

"Then let's get started."

Six people with different gaits walked at their own pace.

Each person's clock swings and their own circumstances.

With words in my heart that cannot be left outside.

We move forward.

Towards an enemy that cannot be defeated.

Because that is the fate that has come to us.

And because it is the hero who destroys that fate.

So, Father in heaven, please enjoy it.

The end of your foolish servant who did not follow your journey to the end.

*

The faint sound of footsteps spread through the cavity where groundwater fell like a waterfall.

Ho-moon seems to have realized that it is not Ambu's.

The Great Demon of Darkness, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes.

Leaving behind the huge ice sphere and the body of the goddess trapped within it.

"You... Are a familiar face. Björn de Jevietz."

"Wow, the Great Devil knows my name. It's an honor. Should I even boast about my descendants' descendants?"

"How could you not know about the four guys who have been causing us trouble since the North?"

There is no sign of surprise or embarrassment at my sarcasm.

How did I know and find this place? Even if I knew, how did I deceive my eyes and get here? What on earth are they trying to do here?

Homun did not ask a single question.

Rather, it was a reaction that I expected that you would not go this easily.

His eyes landed on a goddess behind me.

"Jin. Even if you don't come with a bunch of trash like this, this body is yours."

"That's not something a guy who tried to use my body as a detonator for a bomb would say."

"It is more useful to use it like this rather than leaving it stuck in the polar region. However, if Jinnim agrees with us, we will return it even now."

"My answer is the same now as it was a thousand years ago. I have no intention of going along with Moloch's arrogance. That's not what we came down to this earth to do."

"I'm sorry."

The conversation ends with that.

The lotus position was relaxed and the doorman moved.

As soon as he made that decision, his spirit disappeared.

His special skills are stealth and teleportation.

Fortunately, we had the means to deal with it.

""Light"!"

White light exploded from Mion's giant axe.

The power granted to the saint by the holy sword.

It takes away the superpowers of those who touch the light.

When a blinding flash of light struck, Homun, who had been hiding in the dark, reappeared.

Aiming for that moment, Runea, the Sword Saint's favorite disciple and vice-captain of the Knights of the Holy Cross, rushed in.

"Hwaaaaap!"

The auror clinging to the sword's body as if it had been sliced ​​by moonlight was about to cut the Homun's neck in two.

Homun blocked it without any hesitation with a crude dagger.

A huge shock wave shook the cavity.

At the same time, the sound of magic exploding could be heard outside.

Humanity's feeble counterattack against the two great devils has begun.

◈ Chapter 178 - 22-Red Strong Curse

*

The resonance that came with the pure white light shook Asili's pink hair.

A waterway between long cavities.

She filled the place with her magic and paused for a moment to recall the silence that would come.

The owner of the blizzard that pinned the dragon race to the ground a thousand years ago.

A natural enemy that takes the lives of brothers and sisters like hunting animals.

A witch from the frozen land holding a scythe.

"Ah, I've been running away somehow for so long, but I never thought we'd meet like this."

Even when stopping the devil's southward advance in Homeland, she at least avoided encountering Odeisa.

Because wizards, especially dragons, cannot win against her.

Odeisa was the first born of all prophets in this world.

As the first descendant of Moloch, her power was most similar to that of the demon king, who was called the most evil.

It steals the warmth from the surroundings.

A simple yet powerful ability.

In other words, it also meant blocking the flow of energy.

The mana born from Hwajeong was ultimately energy, so when it touches her power, the mana loses its power.

In fact, it is a deteriorated version of a saint.

The difference is that, unlike saints who block the use of any supernatural ability or power, her abilities are specialized only for dealing with magicians.

The moment the natural mana stops flowing, the magician who uses it is reduced to an ordinary person, but it only shows its advantage to a god who uses the total amount of overwhelming power like Jin or a knight who utilizes the mana accumulated in the body. Can not do.

The problem is that Asili is, after all, a wizard.

During the War of the Gods, Asili, the youngest among the entire Balaur clan, was one step away from the front lines.

On the battlefield in her eyes, she saw her compatriots helplessly fallen by Odeisa.

Enjoying the struggles of the dragons with their heads on the ground, Odeisa massacred them like toys.

The wisdom that is the pride of the dragon race, and the magic that uses it.

None of this worked for her.

A being that can never be defeated by nature.

For the dragon people, such a person was Odeisa, the witch of the frozen land.

"But there's nothing you can do about it. I'm the perfect person to buy time for her."

To Odeisa, a magician by nature, the dragon race, which symbolizes wisdom, was an eyesore.

So, whenever she encountered a dragon, she took her time playing with it and then killed it in the most cruel way.

Asili took advantage of her habit and threw herself as bait.

"Well, I wasn't just playing around either."

End of the waterway.

Something touched her technique.

Asili's pupils were split vertically.

As I pulled her arm, as if pulling her by a thread, I heard an explosion in the distance.

She couldn't overload her mana.

Because it is certain that I will be found out.

In that case, there was only one method she could use.

By inducing the collapse of the waterway, Odeisa is buried.

It buys you time, and if you're lucky, you can do a lot of damage.

However, only the explosion was heard, and there was no dust that would have been created when the waterway collapsed.

"Tsk, it looks like they prevented the collapse by freezing the surrounding area."

I didn't expect much.

Asili slowly activated her next spell.

Her arms waved through the air as if she was pulling on a thread, so that she seemed to be dancing.

Mud stuck to her feet.

Bubbles bursting from the wall.

A huge flying iron awl.

At that time, the rising vines suck the target into the ground.

No matter how much power you give to each one, it is 7 circles.

If you include the concealment technique, it could be considered one level higher than that, but it was not powerful enough to pour out on the great devil.

However, when it was all put together, the techniques of the 10th Circle Archmage were harmonized.

It captures, deceives, and annoys.

Hundreds of magic techniques extending from the end of the waterway captured the Great Devil's feet.

It was activated according to the user's will without exception.

At the right timing, it comes together like water.

And they all hit the target.

Asili knew what that meant.

"⋯⋯ This bastard, he's hitting everyone on purpose."

As if appreciating the dragon race's struggles, Odeisa walked in the middle of the trap she had dug.

No matter how much magic was poured into her, her running would not stop.

The speed also did not decrease.

"Anyway, I'm a 10th circle wizard?! What will happen to me if I show up like this!"

Inject more mana to increase power.

Even so, the effect was minimal.

Ah Seeli reveled in her helplessness that had come to her for the first time in a long time.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm."

A faint hum could be heard from far away in the dark waterway.

Like a requiem.

Asil, sweating coldly from handling countless techniques, felt the sound getting closer.

Soon, a woman in jet black appeared through the darkness of the waterway.

Holding a scythe as big as my body.

"It's been a while since I hunted a lizard. Qwarha will like it. He said he needed more bone dragons."

Ice blooming wherever your feet step.

A black dress with clinking heels and long sides.

Pale skin with visible veins and a face without any vitality.

If you've seen it even once, you can't forget it.

"⋯⋯The great devil of Hanbing, Odeisa."

She stood here with the intention of confronting her, but the sight of her gave her chills.

Although he is a prophet, he is the closest person to God.

Even though she was fully influenced by the Red Line, she was still a witch of the frozen land.

Death, the witch who embodied it, and the fear that it was right under her nose.

Asili found it difficult to even stand on her own two legs.

The reason she could barely maintain her composure was because the moment she collapsed, those behind her became dangerous.

That's why she had no choice but to show off her courage.

"Well, I knew it would end up like this, but I didn't know it would break through so quickly."

"It means that the level of wisdom you control is only that high. You are crude and helpless by-products of Draigonak."

Every time Odeisa opened her mouth, pure white breath came out, causing the temperature in the waterway to drop.

"Do you know why your magic is so ugly? It's because you tried to pass it on to humans. Because you universalized and generalized it so that even scum-like races could learn it, you lost the power you inherited from God as a prophet. That's what you said."

Power is an instinct and a sense.

The sharper it is, the stronger it becomes.

However, rather than being swayed by the nature they were born with, the dragon race tried to understand it and understand its principles.

The structure was analyzed and systematized so that even humans could use it.

As a result, the Balaur lost many of the powers she was born with.

This was the reason why he was weak, even though he was a prophet.

Asili knew that too.

"That's why we govern wisdom. This is why, no matter how good you are, you are disparaged as a witch."

Asili hated humans.

She did not know why God and the Prophet should use their power for their inferiors.

However, there was no denying the brilliance they would achieve.

The reason why the main god granted powers to the four gods.

It is to help humans settle down on this earth.

When our calling is done, the myth must end.

I could not sympathize with or condone Moloch's stubbornness that went against it.

"Yes, Dragon of Wisdom. What can you do in this narrow waterway when you cannot even fly, which you are proud of?"

Even in a narrow space, Odeisa wielded his scythe freely.

How many dragons' heads were cut off by that scythe?

Asili shone at the end of that ghastly day.

"Well, it's probably more than you think."

When Asili put her hands together, pink scales sprouted from her body.

A grown tail and a single horn bent into the shape of a thunderbolt.

Hands and feet turned into four parts.

Her fingernails grew long like a bird of prey.

An appearance somewhere between a dragon and a human.

She abandoned her boasted beauty and changed her appearance to a Dragonian form solely for battle.

A form in which the strength of the dragon's body is extremely enhanced to offset the wizard's innate weakness.

It was a new ability she developed in case she had to face Odeisa in the future.

[Kahaaaaak!]

Pupils split vertically like a snake.

The only remaining dragon on the continent of Esteria howled with its forked tongue.

In the past, the dragon breath was said to have blown up mountains and opened the sky during the war of the gods.

It was a piece of the power that Draigonak granted to his descendants, the dragon race.

A huge shock wave came from her mouth, shaking with the force to blow away the entire Great Labyrinth.

"I see. Let's take our time and look around. All we have left is time."

Isa Ode, whose body was slightly lifted by the shock wave, stretched out his hand.

Her black hair flowed, and her pale cheeks rose slightly with red lips.

Like a predator drooling over prey it hasn't seen in a long time.

Debris flying like bullets.

Even the collapsing waterways of the Great Labyrinth.

Before he could reach her, she slowed down and stopped.

When she opened her eyes, the Great Labyrinth, which had been collapsing around Asili, froze.

Hunter and prey.

It was a decided win or loss from the beginning.

Does not matter.

The role given to Asili is to be her plaything.

It stimulates her lust and makes her tail wag as if she will not be caught.

Even if it's only for a few seconds, don't let him join Homun.

'Please release the seal quickly. At least I don't want to die painfully.'

Even though there was no one to hear, Asili muttered that to herself.

The usual playfulness disappeared completely in the unusually cold air.