Yorganism Cannon (1) And Doom Roars to the Heavens
Doom screamed toward the Yorganism Cannon. “You hate women so much, yet you’re under Isabelle? Isabelle’s a woman too! Don’t you think that sounds weird or contradictory?” “Isabelle-nim is…” Doom answered. “It’s simple. I lost to Isabelle-nim.” Suddenly Doom loosened his cloak, tore open his top with his own hands, and revealed his bare chest. Cloud’s eyes widened. A hundred black cross tattoos covered Doom’s skin. “After I was defeated by Isabelle-nim, half of my power was sealed like this. Without Isabelle-nim herself to release it, I can’t ever recover my original strength. And anyone who can defeat a man with pure strength rather than using a woman’s appearance as a weapon—I can swear loyalty and respect without limit. Like Isabelle-nim now.” In other words, this idiot only respected strong women. While thinking that, Cloud called out to Sylvia and Elena at once. “Elena! Now! Fire!” The moment the words left his mouth, Elena immediately nocked an arrow and loosed it straight at Doom. “Sylvia!” “Got it!” Sylvia immediately leaped forward in a rush. When Sylvia and Elena attacked Doom at the same time, Doom, still lost in his old memories, chuckled. Their attacks looked painfully slow. Dodging them was easy. He leaped lightly to the side like a frog. But right there Cloud stood, sword raised high above his head, waiting. “Impossible!” Doom’s face finally twisted in genuine surprise. Cloud grinned. “I admit your reflexes and movement are faster than mine. But if you’re waiting for me to come to you first, that speed gap disappears in a second. Like this.” With a triumphant smile, Cloud slammed his sword down toward Doom’s neck. _Thud!_ What the hell? The blade that should have sliced clean through the goblin’s throat shattered into splinters. “What the—?” Watching the blade break, Cloud’s strength drained away. Moreover, Doom’s fist smashed into him, sending him flying far away. “Ugh!” His head spun, and he couldn’t even stand up. Sylvia and Elena rushed over, shaking him frantically. “Cloud! Cloud!” In the meantime, Doom, angered by the surprise attack, wore a vicious grin. “Sneaking in while I was lost in nostalgia. That was a decent plan. But that’s all it was. Now I’ll show you my real strength. Not a single one of you will escape alive. I’ll turn this castle—and Lord Aaron with it—into ashes in the blink of an eye!” The moment Doom fully released his power, a violent gale whipped around him. His massive frame grew larger by the second. Once human, the mask was gone; now his forehead sprouted two horns and devilish wings erupted from his back. His form twisted into something grotesque. And that was when cheerful music suddenly rang out from inside the castle. Fine petals drifted down from the sky, and the iron gates that had been tightly closed swung open on both sides. Women dressed like ancient priestesses stepped out in a line, surrounding Cloud, Sylvia, Elena, Doom, Galatea, and the Red Knight in a perfect circle. Next, women playing instruments marched forward in two neat rows. Then dancers in revealing outfits followed with graceful, mysterious steps. Their gestures were so elegant and enchanting that Cloud felt as if he were dreaming. The short but long music and dance ended. Finally, before the towering iron gates stood a man in full, magnificent armor leaning on a staff. It was none other than Lord Aaron! Cloud had met Aaron once before—at a street parade. The sharp, stubborn lord with a stern face had his hair combed back in a perfect white pompadour. Sylvia suddenly ran forward and dropped to one knee before Lord Aaron. “I’m sorry, Father.” Though so many people were gathered, silence fell. Neither Doom, Galatea, nor the Red Knight moved. After Lord Aaron’s majestic appearance, the demons simply watched—quiet, eerie, as if evaluating the enemy’s intentions or hiding some other scheme. Eventually Lord Aaron spoke to Sylvia with a cold voice that froze the entire garden. “Why did this father send you to the knight academy instead of Leo?” “For the family, sir.” “Indeed. Because, unlike your brother, you possess the talent and ability to continue the family name.” Lord Aaron said. “But tonight’s display of your skill is nothing compared to what this father expects. It’s as if you’ve done nothing to hone yourself at the knight academy for six years.” Suddenly a thought flashed through Cloud’s mind. He finally understood why Sylvia, without a single bodyguard, had been fighting demons alone. ‘Had he been testing Sylvia’s martial skill in this emergency situation…?’ Lord Aaron was becoming more and more incomprehensible to Cloud. “Sylvia. I told you I recognized your motivation and talent. What did I call them?” “The motivation to become a lord and the talent to make our Valua known throughout the entire Kingdom of Rotia.” “Exactly. Always remember that and never disappoint this father as you did tonight.” The father’s merciless tone. Sylvia’s lips, head bowed, stayed shut tight. She closed her eyes quietly, hiding the tears that welled up. Cloud watched her suppress her emotions. It was painful. When he had first met Sylvia, he understood why she carried such noble pride and prideful air. And then, like a bolt from the blue, an unexpected guest arrived. “Hah. The old-fart habit hasn’t changed at all, has it, Aaron.” A slimy female voice echoed out of nowhere. “Are you planning to turn even your daughter into a human like you?” Cloud suddenly felt cold sweat trickle down his spine. He had definitely heard that voice before. Its owner—the witch and hero, Isabelle! Suddenly a massive magic circle spread across the night sky. From its center, Isabelle descended slowly, finally revealing her majestic form. “You look exactly like the version of yourself I saw after thirty-seven years. So you’re still immortal because you became a demon?” The one who spoke first, sneering, was Lord Aaron. Isabelle floated in the air and laughed back. “You’ve become an old man who can’t even use real power anymore.” She wore a black full-body mesh that left her body completely exposed. Cloud couldn’t tear his eyes away—her outfit radiated pure, fatal sensuality. “If you had followed me back then, you wouldn’t be in this ugly state today.” “Hmph. Even if you live forever, you’ve strayed from the path ordained by the gods. You’ll end up in a miserable death. I’ll engrave that desperate scene into these two eyes.” “Don’t worry about that. Even though the king is right in front of me, this unfaithful subject can’t stop it. And I won’t die before him.” “You shameless woman! Don’t speak of that matter again! You murdered the king and now you dare open your mouth about being great!” Isabelle answered Lord Aaron’s furious roar with mocking laughter. “He was your king, not my king.” Everyone else had become mere spectators. They couldn’t move or speak. Amidst all this, Cloud grabbed Elena’s hand. In her eyes, staring at the floating Isabelle, anger and sorrow warred together. She was thinking of her fallen comrades at Isabelle’s hands. She was probably resenting herself for being powerless against Isabelle’s overwhelming presence. Elena’s tears welled up as she looked at Cloud. “Disgusting.” Cloud gave a bitter smile and silently patted Elena’s shoulder. Even in the middle of this, the exchange between Lord Aaron and Isabelle was suffocating. Isabelle said, “Hand over the corpse of Goddess Yoronda.” “Yoronda’s corpse? Hah. What nonsense are you spouting?” Lord Aaron sneered. Isabelle laughed. “You can’t fool me with lies. I already know that the Goddess of Life, Yoronda, sleeps deep beneath this castle’s foundation.” “It’s unbelievable that you believe such a wild rumor.” “Hmph. Then shall I show you undeniable proof? You already know the legend of Yoronda before this city was built, don’t you?” “The legend that the Goddess Yoronda bathed in that lake?” “Haha, yes. But it was twisted. In reality, Yoronda met her end in that lake. And over time, a village named Yoronda was built there, and after that… this city, Valua, was founded.”