Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: Cleanup (2)
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#262
Asel had his eyes closed, gazing at the stars.
He couldn't tell how much time had passed. All he vaguely remembered was activating the magic formation to stop Adren from falling. His body remained still, but his mind was anything but.
His soul thrashed about, tossed into a storm of stars, dust, and shadows. The bizarre hues of nebulae licked at his skin, while swirling star clusters whispered unintelligible languages into his ears.
'Gaaah... Aaaagh...!'
Asel writhed and screamed, his entire body twisting. But his voice never escaped his lips—it echoed only within his mind. The pain felt like his brain was being wrung out like a rag. Even as his consciousness sank into depths of a world he'd never known...
Such voices reached him. Enormously loud, they bypassed his eardrums and pierced straight into his soul. Unable to plug his ears, Asel was forced to focus on their conversation.
'No way. We'll pursue immediately.'
'The signal isn't reaching. It's impossible until they open the door on their end.'
Soul constructs? Signals? Amid the confusion of incomprehensible words, his wildly flickering vision suddenly stabilized in an instant.
Asel's eyes widened in shock. The star-filled darkness vanished without a trace, replaced by a vast expanse of pristine white earth stretching before him.
'Wh-where is this?'
It was an unreal sight. In the endless landscape, not a hint of life could be found. The ground was covered in creepy white soil and stones, overlaid with grass of the same pallid hue.
Wind blew, but no sound came. Each gust of eerie cold made the blades of grass sway in unison. The sky above mirrored the ground, drifting with white clouds that looked smeared with ash.
Whenever a flash—presumably lightning—crackled, magic formations like the ones he'd seen in Adren flickered into view on the clouds' surface before vanishing. As Asel scanned the sky, he froze solid.
'That's...!'
Giants resembling Duaru roamed about. Four to eight broad wings flapped on their massive backs. They drifted through the white sky or slipped in and out of the magic formations as they appeared.
Usually one at a time, but sometimes several entered or exited together. Were those doors leading somewhere? Were they off to destroy another world, just like Duaru had?
As the rigid Asel took in the bizarre scene, one giant hovering in place with flapping wings spoke up.
'Someone is spying on us.'
'What did you say, Ahayute?'
'Wait.'
The giant slowly turned its head toward Asel. Its eyes widened. It had surely blocked all external signals—how had it detected a presence?
Of course, that wasn't the pressing issue now. The scouting giant began approaching Asel slowly. As its sharply defined features drew nearer, Asel's breathing grew ragged.
'Somewhere around here.'
Just as the giant's outstretched hand loomed over his face—crack! Fractures spiderwebbed across Asel's vision.
Sensing something amiss, the giant snatched at him swiftly, but Asel's consciousness had already been hurled beyond their domain.
'Aaaaaagh!'
Asel screamed silently. Freed from the giants' realm, his body rocketed away at breakneck speed.
The scenery he'd passed reversed in fast-forward. Midway through crossing an uncountable cluster of stars, a familiar voice rang in his ears.
"Hey! Asel!"
"Hyaaah!"
Asel snapped his eyes open. The dawn air flooding his lungs was icy cold. Blood pooling in his eyes painted the world red.
Only after squeezing his eyes shut to clear the blood could he properly survey his surroundings. Familiar constellations adorned the sky above. Bewildered, Asel turned to the person gripping his shoulder.
"...Ronan?"
"You back with us, you bastard? Huh?"
Ronan snapped. It felt like ages since he'd last seen him. Orse, Naransonia, and others encircled them. Instead of answering, Asel slowly reached out and fiddled with Ronan's ear.
The soft yet firm cartilage texture confirmed this was reality. Recalling what he'd been doing, Asel spoke.
"Adren...?"
"What're you asking for? You did it, man."
Ronan pointed upward with his index finger at Adren's skies. A magic formation so vast it couldn't be taken in at a glance blanketed the heavens.
From within, enormous iron chains—thick enough to bind even Navardoje—extended in four directions. Woven from telekinesis and shimmering mana, the chains were visible only to Ronan and Asel.
The hooks at their ends were firmly embedded in Adren's ground, halting its fall. The night sky no longer receded. The crushing pressure of the world had lifted. Asel let out a soft gasp.
"Ah..."
A little more strain and his mind would've shattered, but he'd succeeded by the skin of his teeth. Staring at the sight, Asel broke into a beaming smile.
"...Ehehehe."
His usual innocent grin. Ronan didn't bother asking what the hell he'd done. Shimmering mana unique to Nebula Klazie rose like heat haze from his slender shoulders.
From Naransonia's explanation, Ronan understood Asel had drawn on the baldies' power. The immense force that even the Dragon King couldn't handle without parceling it out over days—he'd pulled it all at once. Solely to stop Adren's fall.
There was only one thing Ronan could say to such a person.
"You mad bastard. You're truly insane."
"Uwuk... Dizzy..."
Ronan ruffled Asel's hair wildly. Asel shook his head along, letting out a feeble chuckle. The stunned onlookers finally erupted into chatter.
【I can't believe it. That human did this alone?】
【The ritual His Majesty performed...】
【I've seen countless geniuses, but this is a first.】
Even dragons who'd lived centuries were aghast. Nothing like this in history or legend. Halting a falling island in the sky—personally. Even Rorhon, the supreme archmage, might not manage it.
"Now we just deal with those things."
Ronan glanced skyward again and clicked his tongue. The deranged giants of light swarmed like locusts. But together, they'd manage somehow.
【Pure admiration, mage.】
"Lord Orse..."
Then Orse parted the crowd and stepped forward. Battle-worn and fatigued, his arrogant majesty remained undiminished. His gaze on Asel brimmed with genuine awe.
【Even if the Empire burns, I'll spare you—as long as you don't get in my way.】
"B-burn the Empire...? That's... Kugh!"
As Asel tried to reply, his body convulsed, blood spurting from his mouth. Alarmed, people rushed in.
"Asel. Hey."
【What? What's wrong?】
Ronan caught his staggering form. Bewilderment crossed Orse's impassive face. Spitting the blood pooled in his mouth, Asel stammered.
"Huuuh... As expected... a bit short, huh."
"Short?"
"Yeah... Should've gotten it into orbit even if it killed me... Like this, it'll fall again..."
"...Fall?"
Ronan furrowed his brow at Asel's words. Just then, the halted Adren trembled like an earthquake.
Rumble... The beast-like growl threw everyone into panic again. Looking up, he saw the chains and magic formation flickering as if about to vanish.
"Gotta... stop it."
Asel staggered to his feet. Pushing past Ronan and Orse, he headed for the magic formation's center. Ronan grabbed his arm desperately.
"Stop right now! Wanna die?"
"It's fine... If I get it into proper orbit... It'll hold. Just a bit more..."
"A bit more my ass—think your body can take it?"
Ronan's grip tightened. There were limits to recklessness. No human could channel the baldies' power unscathed.
Even the Dragon King had rampaged and caused accidents handling it. How long could tiny Asel last? This wasn't about talent. Orse nodded in agreement.
【Don't push yourself, mage. You've done more than enough.】
"Get on quick. Thanks to the time you bought, we can save more."
Ronan absolutely couldn't watch his friend commit suicide. He'd let the city fall first. Gazing at him silently, Asel murmured softly.
"...Forgive me."
"What?"
As Ronan tilted his head—that instant. Boom! An invisible shockwave erupted from Asel, blasting outward.
"Kuh!"
【What...!】
Tremendous force. Ronan, Orse, and even the encircling dragons were hurled far away without exception. Thud! Ronan slammed into a building's outer wall before stopping.
"You little shit who hasn't even dried your blood!"
Ronan sprang up like a弹. Guessing Asel's intent was easy. He drew his sword, trying to yank Asel back with aura—but his form was already shrouded in an ice barrier.
"Stop this instant!"
Mana-reinforced thighs swelled massively. Boom! Boom! Boom! Three leaps brought Ronan to the formation. He unleashed a flurry of slashes. The unbreakable ice shattered into fragments.
"Asel!!"
Ronan shouted. Asel sat cross-legged at the formation's center. Approaching him, Ronan's eyes bulged. A hemispherical veil of bizarre, rippling colors enveloped Asel.
"What the fu..."
His mind went blank. Faint but unmistakable—Star's Blessing. A power even Nebula Klazie's elite couldn't wield freely.
What experience granted him this? No clue. Anyone but Ronan couldn't breach it. He felt Asel's iron will to resolve this at any cost.
"Let's go back."
But if it cost his life, it was all for naught. Ronan swung without hesitation. Slash! The belated whoosh accompanied the collapsing blessing. Reaching for Asel—whose gaze met his as he turned.
"...Ronan. Let me finish this."