Chapter 139: The Devourer Sees the Sword in Its Heart
The Devourer saw the sword lodged in its heart. A gaze of utter disbelief. But it was undeniable reality.
Grrk.
Then, veins began surging across its entire body. Repulsive black blood flowed out, corroding everything around it.
Ludenberg Lavante immediately retreated. The creature's body started crumbling bit by bit, and the blood that had been eating away at the surroundings dried up and withered in moments.
He had triumphed over the Devourer.
And that marked the end of the first trial, just like that.
The world of the trial collapsed.
When Ludenberg briefly closed his eyes, he found Raha's throne before him once more.
"Excellent. And... thank you."
A soft sigh of admiration. A warm gaze and gratitude directed toward Ludenberg.
Crack!
In that instant, something shattered with a sharp sound, and the chains tightly binding Raha's right hand began to break apart.
"The first seal has been released."
Raha closed her eyes. The power she had lost was slowly returning. The constraints holding her back eased further, granting her greater freedom. Even the restrictions on information began to lift bit by bit.
She was glad that from now on, she could share a little more with Ludenberg.
"I merely followed your guidance. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. Without you, I wouldn't have grown this far."
"No. You endured those grueling trials, experiencing death itself, and completed them unscathed. Of course, you've only finished the first one... but I promise you this: you'll safely complete all the way to the seventh and final trial."
"What's the next trial?"
"In the second trial, you'll meet two other heroes: Adalin Cielm and Parrel Mer, the teacher of the first Lavante Duke."
"Parrel Mer..."
Upon hearing that name, Ludenberg felt anticipation welling up inside him.
Parrel Mer. The sword master supreme among the Six Heroes, unmatched in swordsmanship. Even Kyle Solenute, the founding emperor and Knight of the Sun, had yielded to him when it came to the blade. The prospect of meeting such a legend was enough to stir anyone's excitement.
"You'll also witness Liberatus Ahad's past. How his wife died, what emotions he harbored... Lately, you've been wrestling with various feelings yourself. This trial should give you the key to unraveling them."
"...Is this about Ashytara?"
"Yes. Honestly, watching you has been so frustrating."
"...Frustrating?"
"Of course it is. Being ignorant of emotions isn't a good thing, Ludenberg. They can make people miserable at times, but they also bring happiness. You should keep that in mind."
"Come to think of it, there's something I've been meaning to ask."
Ludenberg stared at Raha, who spoke with a hint of exasperation, deciding this was the perfect moment to clear his doubt.
"Did you send Ashytara to the Eastern front?"
Raha, naturally knowing exactly what he meant, asked back.
"Yes."
"It was the starting point. The beginning that would change your life."
"...So it was you."
"It's good to have several reliable allies. When something happens, having people who support you... that becomes an immense strength."
"I'll remember that."
"That's all for today, then."
Raha waved her now-free right hand toward Ludenberg, and he returned to reality.
The empty space where Ludenberg had vanished. Raha sat on her throne, gazing into the distance.
Soon, a distant scene from the far east filled her vision: the heart of the Salvation Cult's main base.
Its eyes burned intensely, scanning the surroundings. Wherever that gaze fell, the priests prostrated themselves on the floor with expressions of awe.
-More. I need more. The thirst won't go away.
-I need more fear and malice.
The eyes muttered ceaselessly. A sinister voice soaked in thirst echoed through the sanctum.
-I need flesh. A vessel to contain me. I want to tread the earth. Breathe. Devour the living, destroy them.
The priests, tense under the voice laced with fervent desire, asked their god.
"O God, what flesh do you desire?"
-A sturdy body. One untouched by any divine power, resilient enough to withstand me. As many as possible, untainted by the false gods' hands.
"Do you mean those without divine power?"
-Yes. Find them. Scour every corner of the world and bring vessels before me.
"As you command."
As the calm voice replied, the eyes closed again.
Watching it all, Raha murmured.
"Damn thing. So you're reaching out after all."
Those without divine power. It wasn't limited to Ludenberg alone. The Solemnute Empire was unusual in that its entire populace received the gods' grace; in other nations, such people were fairly common.
Take the other holy kingdom of Abaran in the west, for instance—it granted divine favor only to the specially chosen.
The same went for Ortara to the north and Istaltin to the south. Both nations had plenty without divine power.
The fake Prisper's intent was clear: those forsaken by the gods, or those so resilient even the gods dared not touch. Among them, it sought sturdy vessels capable of withstanding its descent, to manifest its body.
And the countless sacrifices that would entail were all too easy to imagine.
Raha closed her eyes, severing her view into the distance. Watching any longer risked detection.
It was time to devise countermeasures. There was ample time before the trials progressed, but to buy that time, she needed to obscure its sight.
Through her freed right hand, Raha drew upon her power and cloaked Ludenberg in it entirely.
For the time being, its gaze wouldn't turn to him.
If Ludenberg had been even a day late, his existence might have been exposed to the fake Prisper.
Sensing this, Raha felt relieved.
With one worry eased, she closed her eyes. But anxiety still swirled within her.
The second trial. Liberatus Ahad's past... it could wear down Ludenberg's mind.
"Please. Overcome this trial as well."
All she could do was hope his spirit held strong.
Ludenberg opened his eyes.
Thanks to the trial's end? His body felt much lighter.
Unlike when he'd lost to the Devourer before, there was no pain—only vitality surging through him.
He rose immediately, clenching his fist.
There was something he had to confirm.
Infusing belief into his body. Could he truly do it in reality as well?
The conviction that he had no limits began settling into his flesh.
He thrust his fist forward.
Not quite the omnipotence he'd felt in Liberatus Ahad's body, but definitely different from his usual state.
If he had to compare, it was like the surge of energy when he'd repelled Jepita before—vitality coursing through every limb.
He didn't even need to swing his sword. The change in his body was clear enough without it.
And for once, Ludenberg smiled broadly, genuinely pleased.
"Hahaha!"
It worked. Success.
He'd finally succeeded in embedding his belief into his body after all his efforts.
Along with completing the first trial flawlessly—even defeating a Devourer while borrowing Liberatus Ahad's body.
Everything had gone right, so he headed to the student council room in high spirits.
"Hey, Rud!"
"Hey, Tara."
Dalia hadn't arrived yet, it seemed; only Ashytara was there.
Ludenberg smiled at her greeting.
Not a smile tinged with worry, but one so bright it lifted her spirits just looking at it. Sensing his success, Ashytara congratulated him.
"You did it?"
"Yeah."
"I'm so glad."
"It's all thanks to you."
Ludenberg expressed his gratitude to her.
When he thought about it, it was all because of her.
"What're you saying? You did it yourself."
"Still."
"Don't forget our promise."
"...Yeah. What's on the agenda today?"
"Something about Ortara National School?"
"Related to the exchange event?"
"Probably. We should ask Dalia-senior when she gets here."
"Ah."
"The school's been buzzing lately, so I'm getting excited too."
"Last time, you said the Ortara exchange didn't really faze you."
"Heh, that was then. Now it feels like the real deal's starting."
"Heard anything specific from Sione?"
"Nope. Guess she won't say until it's official."
"Ortara, huh... Wonder what it'll be like."
"First time for you too?"
"Yeah, never had a reason to go. Looking forward to it, though. Curious about their school."
"Ortara's super martial by nature, so their culture's pretty unique. They might even challenge us to spars right after the welcome ceremony or something."
"Fits a nation of warriors."
"No idea how strong their students are... but there probably won't be anyone stronger than you."
"We'll see when we get there."
As the two chatted amiably, the student council room door opened.
It revealed Dalia Retiu, her face half-dead with exhaustion.
Pale as a ghost, on the verge of collapse—yet the pair just greeted her casually.
By now, they were used to her looking drained or zombie-like whenever academic schedules piled up.
At least it was better than before. Back then, she couldn't even leave the room; now, with Ludenberg and Ashytara helping out, she could at least go home.
"Good morning, senior. Nice day, huh?"
As Ashytara greeted her, Dalia replied in a soulless voice.
"Yeah... good morning..."
It wasn't a good morning for her at all, but seeing her juniors who'd arrived early to help, she couldn't say otherwise.
"Here, have this. It's tea to clear your head."
Ashytara placed a freshly brewed cup on Dalia's desk.
Staring at it, Dalia felt conflicted. Her weary body screamed for rest, but the tea from her junior was meant to wake her up.
"Th-thanks."
Dalia rallied her fading spirits. There was still so much backlog; she had to finish it fast.
The warm tea spread through her, lending a bit of strength, and she dove back into work.
Ludenberg and Ashytara watched her, then turned to their own tasks.
The Ortara exchange event was now just one week away.