STM 190

After Montaine Shula began to use the power of the divine beast, she naturally started wondering about something: How much stronger can I become?

Through training, she became able to use more of the divine beast’s power, but there was a limit. It was the divine beast’s limit, not her own.

The world praised divine beasts for their immense power, but at some point, they became weak beings that did not satisfy Shula. After all, even Kun’s divine beast, said to be the strongest of them all, was annihilated simply by creating a dimensional gate.

And there were those who smelled the scent of that dark desire she had unwittingly revealed. Those called dark mages. They revealed a captivating truth to Shula.

The power of black magic stones was infinite.

Infinite. It was only natural that Shula took an interest in black magic. Just as they said, a small black magic stone grew stronger the more power it absorbed. That power was limitless and pure. Now, the limit had become her own.

People warn that being dominated by the power of  black magic stones leads to the loss of reason and becoming a slave to power, but that is the talk of pathetic cowards. Why do they not understand that only by becoming one with this pure power can one achieve endless growth?

Therefore, Shula gladly accepted the yearning revealed by this power. Even if it meant destroying her own divine beast to open a rift to the monsters in order to respond to it.

And now, the power of the monsters emerging from Montaine’s volcano was flowing into her. It was not simply drawing out the power of the black magic stones; living monsters were connecting with her.

This was a level that no dark mage had ever achieved. However, she could not be satisfied with this. The ultimate goal that dark mages desired. The moment had to come when all the rifts of monsters opened and this world was filled with pure power.

To do so, there was a top priority obstacle to eliminate. Kun Tairok. An extraordinary figure who, despite being a contractor who lost his divine beast, became a Sword Master and then contracted with yet another divine beast.

He was right in front of Shula’s eyes. She had absolutely no intention of missing this stroke of luck to eliminate him.

Bang!

The stream of water shot by Tairok struck Shula’s black shield and scattered in the air like rain. Tairok fired a succession of water arrows, but none of them could penetrate the shield and all exploded in mid-air.

Shula moved leisurely inside the shield as if she were out for a walk, then she raised one hand. Power gathered in the form of a black sphere on her hand, and a sound like burning dry grass rang out.

The black sphere instantly grew to the size of a shield and shot out of Shula’s hand.

Whoosh!

The sound of the wind cutting through the air rang out loud enough to tear eardrums, followed by an explosion.

Rumble!

A hole large enough to fit several houses opened where Tairok had been standing, and black smoke swirled from it. Dust was blown up like a storm by this explosion.

Even though her vision was blurred, Shula could clearly see Tairok stepping down near the pit. He had dodged a direct hit, but he looked like he had barely escaped with his life. It was satisfying to see him fall on one knee the moment he landed.

Shula smiled and raised her hand again. A black sphere twice her size swayed above her hand. But that was only part of the attack. She smiled and gave an order.

“Kids, eat that person to your heart’s content.”

The monsters, which had been frozen like dolls, began moving toward Tairok in unison.

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The divine beast hasn’t died yet!

A voice echoed in my mind the moment I shouted while watching the flames soaring high enough to touch the ceiling. 

‘Impressive.’ 

What? I found myself absentmindedly asking, but to my surprise, I heard the answer.

‘You changed the time.’

Time? The “time” spoken of by the divine beasts was like a cornerstone on the path of time. Like a predetermined future, already laid out so that one had no choice but to step upon it. If I changed that, then…

Ah, so the death of the divine beast was the original future. That was why the serpent divine beast reacted that way. However, the voice ringing in my head contained no joy or excitement. Rather, it was calm.

‘Isn’t that a good thing?’

‘Don’t you know the answer? Everything is bound to change.’

Yes, because what is good now could become the seed of misfortune the very next moment. But…

‘We should rejoice for now.’

I heard no sound, but the flickering antlers-shaped flames felt like laughter. Then, they suddenly began to fade. Just like when the serpent divine beast disappeared after I rescued it in Borhumi. Huh? Is it returning home?

‘Wait!’

I grabbed the divine beast without even thinking. Since it was the only non-human entity I had met here with whom I could properly communicate, I had a lot to say.

“Are you returning to your home? The monster rift has opened. I know that even you cannot close it now that your power has vanished, but is there no way to do it?”

‘Didn’t I just give the answer?’

What answer…Ah, that everything changes? If that was true, the situation where we couldn’t close the monster rift could become a stepping stone for a good outcome. However, the sacrifices caused by the monsters right now were bound to be immense; could we really rejoice solely based on the result?

‘If there is joy, there is bound to be sorrow.’

The divine beast’s voice was as stern as a teacher’s, so I couldn’t hold onto it any longer. However, the voice I heard as it completely disappeared was warm.

‘Don’t worry. It can still be saved.’

Save? Save what? The flames had completely vanished, so I could not hear the answer. However, something remained for me. I grasped something in my hand. The black ash I had picked up from the furnace. Yet, the burnt ashes, though not made of rubber, had transformed to fit the shape of my clenched hand. And it was very solid.

Uh… … a key? So suddenly? You’re just giving it to me out of the blue? I went through so much trouble finding the serpent divine beast’s key. The torrent of confusion came to a halt at the next question.

Wait, so am I the door again? At this rate, I should just walk around with “Pull” written on my forehead.

“Lord Lu, are you alright?”

“I’m alright…….”

I stared blankly into the air and saw the starfish flapping in front of me. It pointed to one direction with both arms, as if it had something urgent to say.

What’s wrong? I looked in that direction and my eyes widened. In front of a wall. A black vortex had just started rising there as the space distorted. A portal? That was not where we came in from.

I was confused, but that wasn’t important right now. Someone emerged from inside the portal, and it was someone I knew. And he, too, recognized me immediately.

“Adeye Lu? How did you get here…”

Kilu muttered in disbelief, and I felt the same way. Why did he appear at this timing? But then I immediately raised my guard. A black vortex spun across Kilu’s raised palm.

Tap tap.

I took a step back, and although Haas quickly ran toward me, he could not cast a defensive spell due to Kilu’s words.

“Go ahead. If you want to see what happens in a place full of black magic stones.”

I don’t know much about magic, but it seems to be similar to dropping an object in a place full of bombs and having it explode in a chain reaction.

Haas hesitated, but Kilu instead increased the size of the vortex in his hand.

“Your magic is just as dangerous.”

Kilu chuckled at Haas’s warning.

“There would be no greater glory than dying in this sacred place. But it seems you are afraid of death.”

I took another step back while still holding Haas’s arm. Kilu stepped two steps forward.

“How did you get in here? To save the divine beast?”

His gaze briefly fell upon the mummified corpse, then turned to look at me.

“So, how does it feel to confirm the demise of the divine beast, Salvation?”

Tap. I stepped back again, meeting his gaze. Then, I deliberately raised my voice to sound like I was putting on airs.

“The divine beast will return.”

Kilu’s shoulders shook as he started laughing.

“How could a perished being possibly return? Ah, I suppose you also believe that Kun’s divine beast didn’t died? But when is it coming back? In hundreds of years?”

He scoffed, but it was actually exactly what I wanted. I wanted him to be intoxicated by their ‘victory.’

Tap tap.

I took another step back. He followed me like he was chasing fleeing prey, but the smile vanished from his face as he felt something was wrong.

“Why aren’t you afraid?”

I guess I really don’t have a talent for acting. But that was fine. Because I had a knack for baiting.

“Why else? It’s because I’m not afraid.”

At my answer, Kilu’s eyebrows twitched and he raised his hand again.

“You’re trying to pull a trick… ugh!”

Kilu collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, unable to finish his sentence. Standing behind him was Enya, who had knocked Kilu unconscious.

She had been quietly approaching him from behind while I lured him forward. She glared at Kilu and asked.

“Should I kill him?”

“No. We should take him because he might be useful.”

I added to the disappointed Enya.

“But there is no harm in stepping on him a bit more.”

Enya put it into action immediately. While she unilaterally stomped on the unconscious Kilu, I approached the portal Kilu had entered. Once the portal disappeared, it looked like ordinary floors and walls, but there must be a way to make it work again. And as expected, something came into view. I hurriedly turned my head.

“Haas! Over here… what’s wrong?”

I turned around and saw Haas staring blankly at his palms. However, his expression was grim. His face had turned pale; and he turned his trembling eyes toward me.

“G-Grand Duke, his sword is shattered. This gem is integrated with the gem on his sword, Grand Duke.……”

Haas held out his palm, unable to finish his sentence. He held an amber gem, identical to the one embedded in Tairok’s sword. I remembered. He had used that to locate Tairok and find him before. But the gem was broken in two.

“It is strange. The Grand Duke is never the type to drop his sword, so I don’t know why it broke…….”

Suddenly, the words of the divine beast that I hadn’t understood just moments ago came to mind.

‘Don’t worry. It can still be saved.’

“Haas! Open a portal to where Tairok is right now! Hurry!!”