Ending Maker Chapter 136
Ending Maker Chapter 136
Chapter 50 - Temple of Life #3
The Playable Characters of Hero Legend 1 were mostly lively young people in their prime.
But as the word "mostly" implied, there was exactly one old man who raised the average age, and that was the necromancer Velkian.
'Everyone else is around their twenties, and he's the only one in his seventies...'
A gaunt, irritable-looking old man with white hair.
Because of that, there was a lot of talk on Hero Legend Tales about whether the reason he didn't appear in the second game was because he had died of old age.
After all, at the time of the second game, which took place about ten years after the first, he would have been an old man in his late eighties, approaching ninety.
But Yuder didn't think so.
Velkian was only in his seventies in age, yet he boasted stamina that rivaled Kamael, who was in his twenties. He was a hale old man for whom the phrase "old but vigorous" fit perfectly.
'And on top of that, he's a necromancer.'
The necromancers of Pleiades were deeply connected to the power of life.
The death magic they wielded had developed from life magic, so strictly speaking, it was a branch of life magic.
'He's absolutely not the type to die peacefully.'
Even in the first game, he was always grumbling about life extension, so he would have found some method of prolonging his life and kept himself alive no matter what.
'He's the type who'd even become a lich to keep living.'
Unlike a typical necromancer—no, perhaps because he was a necromancer—Velkian had an especially strong obsession with life.
"So you're saying the one who cleared the Temple of Life during those four blank months was Velkian?"
"Yeah, probably. With a very high probability."
Yuder laid out the evidence for his reasoning one by one, and Cordelia nodded a few times before speaking.
"Hmm, okay. Anyway, so Velkian wants the Crown of Life, and he also knows it's in the Temple of Life?"
At Cordelia's words, Yuder's eyes went wide.
"Wow, our princess is so smart!"
"Wanna die?"
Cordelia immediately spat out a curse, but looking at her face, she actually seemed pleased.
In any case, Cordelia crossed her arms and spoke.
"Hmm... So that means we can lure Velkian to our side? Since Velkian will want the Crown of Life."
"Right, and because of that, maybe—"
"We can also save Velkian's life?"
"Bingo."
They still didn't know how Velkian had died, but if they completely altered his course of action, it might be possible to avoid the event that caused his death.
"The problem is how to let Velkian know that we have the Crown of Life."
"Huh? That's easy."
"Easy?"
"No, I mean, can't we just write a letter and leave it in the box? Like, 'We're so-and-so and we beat you to it, nyah nyah. Neener neener, so jealous.' If we write something like that and leave it, wouldn't Velkian come running right away, knowing his personality?"
It was the kind of idea that made you want to slap your knee in admiration, but Yuder reacted to something else instead.
"B-beat you to it, nyah nyah..."
Neener neener, so jealous.
Cordelia felt a moment of embarrassment at Yuder's fake cough, but she maintained her shamelessness.
"We have to provoke him, so it can't be helped."
"Mm-hmm, sure, sure."
"Ugh, anyway, if we write a letter and leave it, problem solved?"
"Well... it's probably better than spreading rumors that we have the Crown of Life."
The Crown of Life was a treasure worth coveting even for those who didn't practice life magic.
Besides Velkian, there was a possibility that a horde of scoundrels lusting after the treasure would swarm in.
"Still, let's hide our real names and write it under an alias. Something like, 'Come to the capital and find the phantom thief Pink Bomb.'"
"Wait, Pink Bomb?"
"Yeah, Pink Bomb."
Yuder smiled brightly, and Cordelia smiled back. Though she was gathering magic power in both hands.
"Anyway, I'll write the letter. You go set up the traps again."
"So that random riffraff can't get their hands on it?"
"Yeah, since someone other than Velkian might come looking for it too."
And in fact, contrary to Yuder's expectations, there was also a possibility that Velkian had nothing to do with the Crown of Life in the first place.
'Which is why we're using an alias.'
The important thing was to lure Velkian to the capital.
Yuder took out a blank scroll from his waist and began writing a letter in an ancient language.
"You're even writing in code?"
"Because I want only Velkian to be able to read it."
And also because Cordelia shouldn't see what it said.
"That seems suspicious."
"Nah, no way."
Yuder resolutely wrote the alias Pink Bomb in encrypted ancient language, then turned toward Cordelia.
"How are the traps?"
"Yeah, almost done."
Cordelia, who had been injecting holy power into the box while in her angelic form, flashed a bright—but somehow suspicious—smile.
'What's that about?'
Yuder felt uneasy, but he didn't meet Cordelia's eyes.
Because she might find out about the letter.
"Here, put it inside."
"Ahem, then I shall place it inside."
Once Yuder put the letter he had written inside, Cordelia sealed the box and placed it on the altar.
"Good, problem solved."
"All that's left is hoping Velkian finds it as soon as possible..."
Up to four months from now.
The major events in the royal capital wouldn't begin for another month and a half, so if they were lucky, they might be able to receive Velkian's help during the events in the capital.
"It'll work out."
When Cordelia said that with a bright smile, Yuder nodded without realizing it.
There was no basis for it, but when Cordelia said it like that, it really did feel like it would work out.
"Now, let's get back to our own business. The Orb of Life is on the third floor, right?"
"Yeah, probably. And if my thinking is correct..."
Yuder suddenly trailed off and began drawing a diagram on the temple floor.
"Is that a map of the temple?"
"Yeah, according to my calculations, the Orb of Life is here... so it should be right below us."
At Yuder's words, Cordelia looked at him with renewed surprise.
Memorizing maps was no longer surprising, but linking maps together to grasp positions in three dimensions was a different story.
"Do you have CAD in your head or something?"
"Oh, you know about CAD?"
"Yeah, I even have a certification."
When Cordelia said that with a grin, this time Yuder's eyes went wide.
"What, were you a technical high school girl? Or an engineering major?"
"Come on, don't go digging into a woman's secrets, okay?"
Cordelia shrugged and chuckled smugly, while Yuder stroked his chin with a surprised expression.
Maybe her love of explosions was also because she came from a technical high school or engineering background?
It was the kind of idea that would have made engineering students and technical-school students across the country tell him not to talk bullshit, but Yuder was satisfied to have learned something new about Cordelia, while Cordelia was satisfied that she had surprised him.
"Anyway, so let's make a hole."
"Yeah, yeah."
Cordelia took out detonating cord from her waist and began pressing it firmly onto the floor.
Of course, it was in the shape of a star again this time.
"Star Explosion..."
"That's not what it's called, okay?"
But Cordelia didn't offer any other name, and simply snapped her fingers to trigger the explosion.
Since it was detonating cord used for construction in the first place, by controlling the direction of the explosion, it was possible to collapse the floor into the desired shape.
"Good, I'll do the finishing touch."
The floor had been broken to some extent but not completely destroyed, and when he unleashed Black Dragon Emerges on it, a round hole burst open with a pop.
"Dungeons really are best when you cheese them."
Yuder, who wholeheartedly agreed with Cordelia's words, spread his arms wide.
"Why?"
"We have to jump down, so please hold onto me, princess."
"I can go by myself, young lord."
Cordelia spoke primly, cast Fly, and hopped down through the hole. Yuder followed, jumping in after her despite his lingering disappointment.
Thud.
The ceiling was over ten meters high, but Yuder landed lightly and looked up, meeting eyes with Cordelia, who was floating down thanks to her Fly magic.
"This way."
"Just move before I step on you."
Cordelia landed safely beside Yuder, who had spread his arms, and looked around.
A half-collapsed temple and a broken goddess statue.
It looked exactly as it had in the game.
"The Orb of Life."
At Cordelia's words, Yuder nodded and stepped forward.
In the center of the room stood an altar just like the one on the second floor, and a beautiful goddess statue stood holding the Orb of Life in her embrace.
"It doesn't look like there are any active guardians like in the original."
Guardian golems could be seen collapsed in pieces throughout the temple.
'So these really are traces of battle.'
The battle against demons that had unfolded on the third floor of the Temple of Life.
Traces of destruction remained all over the walls and floor, and the remains of holy knights who had lost their lives fighting against the demons lay scattered on the floor. The entrance was blocked by collapsed pillars.
'It looks like the theory was right: demon worshippers infiltrated the temple and summoned demons on the third floor.'
This place was known as the last temple of the Church of Life, which had begun to decline after losing its goddess, Aeris.
The last temple and the last holy relic stored within it.
In the days when the church's power was strong, there had been many holy relics far more powerful than the Orb of Life or the Crown of Life, but in the church's final days before its fall, no treasure greater than the Orb of Life remained.
'The last legacy they protected with their lives...'
Yuder gazed at the goddess statue holding the Orb of Life, and Cordelia slowly walked toward the statue.
"I'll use it for a good cause. Um... for world peace..."
Cordelia bowed her head to the goddess statue, said that, and reached out toward the Orb of Life.
The Orb of Life, resting within a round frame held in the goddess's embrace, was a blue orb slightly larger than a fist, and when Cordelia's hand touched it, it began to emit a strong light.
'Someday, may it be passed on to someone.'
A low man's voice.
Probably the final wish left behind by the last holy knight of the Church of Life.
'May the goddess's grace be with you...'
The voice scattered, and so did the light that had filled her vision.
Instead of being engulfed in holy flames, Cordelia was wrapped in a powerful force of life, and she let out a long breath.
She could feel the resolve of the holy knights who had fought to the very end to protect the Orb of Life until it could be entrusted to someone who would use it for the world rather than for the Devil's Hand.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
They were like the dwarves who had imprisoned the White Snake at Frost Anvil.
Heroes of a previous generation who had sacrificed themselves for future generations.
Cordelia, once again grateful to all of them, slowly opened her eyes and faced Yuder.
"The Orb of Life."
A holy relic of the goddess of life that granted its owner powerful vitality and regeneration.
Yuder received the Orb of Life from Cordelia, took a deep breath, and sat down in front of the goddess statue.
"I'll start right away."
"Okay."
As Cordelia stepped back, Yuder straightened his posture and brought both hands holding the Orb of Life to the position of his dantian.
Yuder's plan was to absorb the immense life force contained in the Orb of Life and open the Fifth Gate.
'I've leveled up enough.'
His body was already built to withstand the Fifth Gate of the Nine Heavens Nine Gates.
All that remained was an immense life force great enough to open the gate in one go.
'For a perfect happy ending.'
Yuder whispered to the goddess statue just as Cordelia had done, then closed his eyes and began reciting the mantra of the Nine Heavens Nine Gates.
Nine Heavens Nine Gates.
Nine heavens and nine worlds.
Just as Yuder himself had predicted, the Nine Heavens Nine Gates was no ordinary martial art.
It was a divine art closer to a ritual that guided mortals, born with a fated death, to a higher dimension—leading them to a state of transcendence.
As he closed his eyes and recited the mantra, light appeared in the world that had been pitch black.
Pure white spread, creating a world of black and white, and between them, the figure of a woman appeared.
A celestial maiden.
Since this was the Nine Heavens Nine Gates, perhaps she was the legendary Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.
Or if not, perhaps she was an ancient immortal who had defeated the Infernal Lords of Hell alongside the legendary heroes.
Yuder saw the woman, and the woman saw Yuder.
Because the world was made only of black and white, the woman's face was pure white, and her hair, so long it touched the floor, was pitch black.
Yuder took a step toward the woman.
And at the same time, the immense life force contained in the Orb of Life began surging into Yuder.
It wasn't Yuder's power alone.
The woman was doing it.
She reached out her hand to Yuder, and Yuder approached the woman and pressed his hand against hers.
'Nine worlds.'
And the nine gates connecting those nine worlds.
The world of black and white collapsed.
The sky was pure white and the ground was pitch black.
And then, black, massive gates appeared in the void once more.
One, two, three, four.
The four gates already built, and a fifth gate newly being constructed.
'You must not stop at merely building the gate. That alone is not enough.'
The woman spoke.
For the first time, Yuder could clearly see the woman's face.
'The true meaning of the Nine Heavens Nine Gates. What the nine gates connecting the nine worlds signify.'
That was as far as it went.
The immense life force swallowed Yuder's spirit and body, and Yuder could no longer continue his thoughts.
Even guiding the surging power to build the fifth gate was not easy.
'May we meet again.'
The woman's voice melted away.
The world of black and white collapsed once more.
In a world being covered entirely in pitch black, a pure white gate was being built.
Yuder reached out his hand. He opened the fifth gate.
* * *
Cordelia's eyes flew open.
Yuder's entire body convulsed, and the energy released from the Orb of Life swirled around him, enveloping him.
Yuder's eyes shone.
Eventually, Yuder's body, which had been sitting on the floor, even rose into the air.
The opening of the fifth gate.
Cordelia could feel it, however faintly.
She could perceive the change occurring in Yuder's spirit and body.
But for some reason, she felt afraid.
It felt as though Yuder was going far away—as though he was going somewhere she couldn't reach even if she stretched out her hand.
Why?
What was causing it?
Yuder roared. The life force surged even more violently.
Cracks of light began spreading across Yuder's entire body.
"Yuder!"
She was scared.
She couldn't tell whether things were proceeding properly or whether something had gone wrong, and it was driving her mad.
Should she touch him?
Should she leave him be?
Shouldn't she do something?
And then, at that very moment.
Cordelia spun around.
She could feel it.
Vibrations traveled through the floor. A foul stench rode in on the wind.
The monsters of the third floor.
They were swarming in.
Whether they had detected the life energy Yuder was emitting or heard his roar, the monsters were gathering.
The gaps between the collapsed pillars.
Monsters that looked like black, grotesque spiders poked their heads out. The acid slimes that had filled the second floor's ceiling melted through the pillars and poured in.
Then came a series of thudding sounds.
Cordelia recalled the monsters of the third floor and realized that the noise was the footsteps of the Living Heavy Armors, the main enemies of the third floor.
Cordelia hastily transformed into her mage form. She focused magic power into both hands and stared ahead, while simultaneously flinching at Yuder's roar from behind her.
First, she had to protect Yuder.
At the same time, she had to check on Yuder's condition.
But how?
She could somehow hold off the monsters, but what about Yuder's condition!
"SKREEE!"
Several spider-type monsters slightly larger than a person shrieked and lunged at her. Cordelia hurled the orbs of flame she held in both hands.
And right after.
The moment the monsters and the orbs of flame collided.
KABOOM—!
A pillar of light filled Cordelia's vision.
It poured down from the ceiling and swallowed the spider-type monsters, annihilating them. The orbs of flame Cordelia had created were also swept away and vanished along with them.
A massive pillar of light.
It wasn't magic.
Life force.
Tremendous fighting spirit.
And so Cordelia knew.
She cheered without realizing it and shouted.
"May the muscles always be with you!"
"You haven't forgotten what's important, girl."
A voice from above her head.
The one who had created a pillar of light with a single punch that pierced through not only the third floor ceiling but the first and second floor ceilings as well.
The one person who could solve all the current problems—not just the monsters, but Yuder's condition too.
"May the muscles always be with you."
The Iron Man, Landius.
Yuder's master, the strongest man on the continent.
He had revealed himself.