World Tree
Silence and stillness enveloped Lux.
Was it because something impossible had happened? For the first time, his mind—which had never wavered in life or even after becoming undead—began to churn.
One-shot on Kukulza?
"You're next."
Breaking the silence, Sung-tae swung his fist. The attack that had obliterated Kukulza's upper body now surged toward Lux. It was merely a shockwave from a punch packed with full power, yet it carried the immense force that had even vaporized Black Oriharcon.
[!!!]
The attack was far too fast. The shockwave tearing through the air at supersonic speed couldn't be dodged with dynamic vision alone. But Lux evaded it. It wasn't evasion based on sight—it was a form of precognition. He'd twisted his body at the signal of Sung-tae's "You're next," before the attack even began, barely slipping away.
Damn it.
But he hadn't fully dodged. His left arm, caught in the shockwave, vanished. As an undead, there was no pain. And even if his body shattered or disappeared, it regenerated—so there was no need to cling to the lost arm.
It... won't regenerate.
Yet his left arm didn't regenerate. Was that why Kukulza hadn't either? A power that suppressed undead regeneration without even being holy might...
How dare you... how dare you!
Kukulza?
Black light erupted from Kukulza's remains, which were now just a lower body. His soul, shaped like will-o'-the-wisps, fit eerily well with the ominous forest atmosphere.
How dare you defile the body Mother bestowed upon me! I won't forgive you!
Kukulza! Magic's impossible in that state!
Shut up!!!
Kukulza's soul swelled. Normally, a soul alone couldn't cast magic. But intricate magical arrays and runes formed around the black soul. It was Kukulza's final attack, fueled not by mana but by his soul's power—a mutual destruction spell.
'Not too late. If I kill him first, I can quell his rage.'
Lux drew his sword. Gloria, the holy blade he'd carried since his paladin days, revealed itself. Once radiant, the divine sword was now stained black by its master's corruption. A sword that punished the wicked and severed souls. Now corrupted, it severed the souls of the innocent instead.
I wanted to take you intact, but no choice now.
Lux wasn't frightened by Kukulza's plight. No matter how strong the foe, one stab would suffice. As a soul-severing blade, even a single cut would kill regardless of physical might.
Brace yourself, human!
Lux vanished from the world. Not teleportation, but movement at inconceivable speed, leaving no afterimage, targeting Sung-tae's opening. He reappeared in front of Sung-tae. But that was a feint. The moment Sung-tae reacted, he struck from behind.
My blade severs souls. I'll burn yours to ash!
The corrupted holy sword pierced Sung-tae's Black Oriharcon armor and emerged from his chest. Useless against a soul-targeting blade.
Now you're...
"What about me?"
[!?]
How could he speak after his soul was severed? Lux's doubt was brief. He knew fighting Sung-tae at close range was dangerous if he wasn't dead. He tried to pull Gloria out and flee.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Sung-tae grabbed the blade protruding from his chest. Lux strained to yank Gloria free, but it didn't budge.
"A soul-severing sword, huh? Perfect timing. That guy's a soul too..."
Urk!?
"Lend it to me for a sec."
Then, Gloria's blade turned red. The scorching red heat spread from the edge to the hilt, staining Lux's hand.
Arghhh!!!
Like plunging into hellfire? Lux screamed as his soul burned. Fortunately, the red aura only turned his arm to ash before vanishing.
"It suddenly changed color. Neat."
Sung-tae pulled Gloria from his body and swung it. The blood-red blade traced crimson arcs through the air with each swing.
Gloria turning red...?
Lux, now armless. But Gloria's change shocked him more than his missing limbs. As far as he knew, Gloria had only two colors: its original holy white, and the black of his corruption. So what was this red? What power burned even souls?
"Cool. Matches my mood right now."
Die!
Kukulza cast magic at Sung-tae swinging Gloria. The spell, maxed out on soul power, plummeted like a massive meteor. A fusion of annihilation and mega-explosion magic—the orb would obliterate everything upon ground impact.
"Never used a sword before, but now's the time."
Sung-tae swung at the falling spell. An amateurish motion, not even basic swordsmanship. But the air-slashing strike from it cleaved the magic orb. The cut surface turned red, then disintegrated like burning dust, vanishing just before hitting the ground.
Slicing magic!?
"And you guys, shut up already. I'm busy as hell!"
Sung-tae closed the distance and pierced Kukulza's soul. Like Lux, it turned red and began burning away.
Argh...
Without even finishing his final scream, the soul of the demon king who had terrorized the continent vanished.
Kukulza...
Lux instinctively felt fear at his old comrade's annihilation.
"Soul-severing, huh? It really works."
To Lux's eyes, it looked incinerated, but fear choked his words.
"Might interfere again, so better uproot completely."
Gloria's red intensified. It was anger. Sung-tae's rage at these obstacles while Garba's fate hung unknown. Like the emotions he'd shown at the demon kings' gathering. The difference? Back then, it was melancholic negativity...
Urk!?
This time, irritation-laced fury. Gloria pierced Lux's torso. Sung-tae's rage poured out, burning his soul. Unbearable agony stained Lux's soul.
Arghhh!
He couldn't go down like this. Amid the pain, Lux thrashed, summoning mana for a final suicide explosion.
The moment his dark mana surged for detonation, Lux's mind cleared.
What... was I...?
His corrupted soul was purified by the rage-flame. Gloria, restored to its original power yet dyed in fury, had cleansed him.
Ah... yes. Now I remember everything.
"What? Suddenly cosplaying as normal?"
Forgive me, human. The holy aura from you... I don't know your nature, but you're a good man.
The dark mana Lux had gathered dissipated. His fully purified soul matched his glorious paladin days. Gazing at Gloria piercing him, he smiled faintly.
Though rage dominates you, your goodness remains. Thank you for saving me.
"..."
Sung-tae's anger subsided. Lux's clear voice was no longer that of a horrific undead or meddlesome foe. Gloria regained its original form.
One request...
"What?"
Please... save the world.
With that, Lux's soul began fading. The curse binding him had finally ended.
At last, back to heaven's side.
"..."
Sung-tae stared at the spot Lux vanished from, then sheathed Gloria in the nearby scabbard. The sword at his waist clinked against his armor, as if mourning its former master.
"Seems like a good sword—I'll put it to good use. And..."
Busy as he was, he'd keep his promise. Sung-tae clasped his hands for the departed Lux. A simple prayer for a good soul, with minimal courtesy.
"May you be reborn in paradise."
Legendary demon king and hero vanquished—no one remained to stop Sung-tae.
He shot forward like a cannonball toward the World Tree, then fell silent at the sight upon arrival.
"..."
Tangled vines everywhere. Mummies, drained of life by each one, hung dangling. Pitiful husks with no trace of their former selves.
How many lives had vanished here? Countless mummies made Sung-tae tremble with rage.
"This the 'Mother' they mentioned?"
An evil aura emanated from what should have been the World Tree—unbelievable. Sung-tae had no spiritual senses, yet the malice was so thick it felt physical, like resentment incarnate. The "mother of life" devouring life force shattered his expectations.
"Can't kill it yet, right?"
Garba on his shoulder hadn't woken. He could destroy the World Tree easily. But would that awaken her? If not? If the curse-magic needed the World Tree's direct release?
Not wanting to alert the snake by striking grass, Sung-tae pondered.
"Maybe threaten it? First, does it have intelligence? Understand speech?"
Uwaa! So noisy!
Mukkebi appeared beside him, in her small wolf-child form from before, plugging her ears in annoyance.
"Why so noisy!"
"Mukkebi, what's wrong?"
"Too noisy, so I came out! Hurts my ears!"
"Noisy?"
No sound but silence. His mutterings were the only noise. What was noisy?
Sung-tae stared at her, baffled.
"It's you!"
Mukkebi's wolf ears perked as she scanned around, then pointed at the World Tree. The corrupted tree shuddered in response.
"The whiny one begging for help nonstop!"
"The World Tree's talking to you?"
Sung-tae strained his ears. But no voice came.
"World Tree? Dunno what it is, but it's being super noisy!"
Mukkebi jabbed at it. Sung-tae couldn't make sense of it. The black World Tree, mummifying lives—it screamed corruption. Yet talking? Maybe trying to corrupt Mukkebi?
Kieeeek!
Plus, mummies from the vines dropped as ghouls, attacking Sung-tae. He casually crushed their skulls one by one.
"What're they saying? Trying to corrupt you with weird talk?"
"Nah. Keeps asking for help."
"Help?"
A corrupted World Tree making undead begging for aid? That jogged Sung-tae's memory of Lux's last words.
'Save the world.'
"That world... maybe..."
Then the World Tree shuddered. Gray pollen poured like heavy snow, blanketing them. Mukkebi caught some, tasted it, and grimaced.
"Too bitter. Tastes awful!"
"Even you, who eats evil spirits, can't stomach it. Definitely creepy."
Salvation, huh. Sung-tae drew Gloria and advanced. Not for Lux, but for Garba—this foe couldn't die yet. Could Gloria purify it?
Grrr.
Sensing threat as he neared, the ghoul-producing vines lashed like tentacles.
"Resisting? Whatever! Holy sword incoming!"
Ssssk.
Vines touching Gloria's light burned away. They couldn't approach Sung-tae, milling about.
"Handy."
To become undead despite such a blade... Lux must've sucked. If Lux heard that, he'd die of injustice again. Gloria shone brighter and purer under Sung-tae than ever.
A divine sword influenced by its master's mentality—the stronger the spirit, the stronger Gloria. Under Lux, it lacked this power. It couldn't even purify the gray hypnotic pollen, leading to his pathetic undeath.
"Like a lightsaber."
Under new ownership, Gloria unleashed unprecedented might. Influenced by Sung-tae's spirit, it broke its historical limits. Sung-tae arrived at the World Tree effortlessly, highly valuing it. Though he'd only used the holy blade for pest control.
The Saint Country folk would've clutched their necks in horror.
"Made it... now what?"
The mountain-like World Tree. Its bark alone spanned hundreds of meters. Sung-tae pondered while admiring its grandeur. He'd decided on purification with Gloria, but Lux's end made him hesitate. Lux ascended right after—wasted effort if Garba needed it first.
"Mukkebi, it talked to you?"
"Yeah. Louder up close."
"What'd it say?"
"Hold on."
The World Tree's voice, inaudible to Sung-tae. Mukkebi listened long, then relayed.
"Get me out of here. If that's hard..."
"If?"
Mukkebi hesitated. Her little eyes looked up at Sung-tae, reluctant.
"Kill me?"