Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: The Late Disciple's Rebellion
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That was the moment Adolf tried to burn Aslan alive in those eerie flames.
"Lord Aslan!"
Lirina let out a scream.
The instant she instinctively lunged forward at the thought of him dying—
It wasn't her who moved first.
It was the crow.
Cream?!
Stunned, she watched the crow take flight.
And she saw it transform into Krash, slicing straight through Adolf's blazing fireball.
Krash had been disguising himself using magic from Crimson Garden.
In a flash, he snatched Aslan up and bolted straight toward Lirina.
"Lirina, run!"
His urgent tone—unlike his usual calm—had her spinning on her heel and fleeing on instinct.
Meanwhile, Aslan dangled from Krash's grip like a paper doll whipping in the wind.
"...I'm gonna die at this rate."
Aslan choked out the words as Krash yanked at the collar around his neck while running.
Krash promptly dropped him.
"Then run on your own two feet."
Aslan staggered but managed to chase after Krash and Lirina, his throat finally easing.
Lirina stared at Krash in astonishment.
"Cream... was you, Lord Krash?"
"Yeah. Too conspicuous to stick around in my real form."
Lirina pouted slightly at that.
"You could've at least told me."
"Think of it as a surprise event."
"I'll pass on events like that. Prepare something else next time."
"Got something big in mind. Look forward to it."
Aslan tilted his head, watching their banter.
"You two seem pretty close."
It was the first time he'd heard Lirina and Krash converse directly.
Their easy familiarity caught him off guard, but they just glanced at each other briefly without responding.
Boom!
As Aslan felt a strange twinge watching them, an explosion roared from behind.
It came from Adolf and Aegasa clashing.
Aslan snapped to attention—no time for chit-chat.
He hurried over to Lirina.
"Lirina, the crystal?"
"Ah, right here."
She fished it out of her skirt pocket.
Aslan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The fake suicide ploy with the clone had definitely paid off.
"I've got the Spirit King's egg. All that's left is heading to the Spirit King's Forest."
To rebirth a spirit required the power dwelling in the Spirit King's Forest.
Which meant they had to go there to revive Dorothy.
And so, the three of them bolted from the Egret estate straight for the Spirit King's Forest.
But there was a problem.
Aslan's stamina.
Lirina managed fine—she was active daily—but Aslan hadn't eaten or moved properly in months.
"Huff... huff!"
By the time they exited the estate, his pace was already slowing.
"Tch. Get on my back."
Krash hoisted him up by force.
No way he'd let them dawdle and give Adolf a chance to catch up.
"Hey, no fair. Running's tough for me too."
"Then go on ahead, Lirina. You don't have to come along."
"I have a duty to see this through."
Lirina made it clear she wouldn't back down.
She was in too deep now.
At the very least, she wanted to witness the end with her own eyes.
"Sorry."
"Whatever. You're so scrawny, it's like carrying nothing."
Not thrilled about piggybacking a guy, but he couldn't ask Lirina either.
"That kinda sounds like I'm heavy by comparison."
Krash ignored her.
Lirina huffed a bit but dropped it, figuring she probably weighed more than Aslan anyway.
Boom!
Another explosion echoed from the Egret estate.
Flame Bead and Flame King were still going at it, no doubt.
But the outcome wouldn't take long.
As if Flame Bead could hold off Flame King.
The higher you climbed, the wider the gap even a single hair's breadth made.
Krash had learned just how vast that gap was from watching the Generation of the Sky.
Soon, Flame King would crush Flame Bead and come after them.
And he wouldn't calm down from just that victory.
Meanwhile, the walls encircling the Spirit King's Forest came into view.
Soldiers slumped at the gate like they were asleep.
And standing before those walls was none other than Crimson Garden's familiar, Mirsis.
"Took you long enough."
She flicked back her crimson hair and tossed a breathing mask straight at him.
Krash caught it and glanced at Lirina.
"This is as far as you go, Lirina."
"Ah."
She knew.
Aslan had magic, so he'd manage, but she was just a regular person.
Anyone without mana or aura entering the Spirit King's Forest was dead meat.
Lirina gave them a reluctant look and gripped Krash and Aslan's shoulders tight.
"Don't either of you get hurt. Promise."
Krash and Aslan nodded in unison.
No more worrying her.
Krash glanced at Crimson Garden.
She already had her breathing mask on, ready to go.
"Kid, you know I can't hold off Flame King like this."
He knew that full well.
Clashing with Flame Bead was one thing, but Flame King? Never part of the plan.
Who could've predicted he'd return right then?
Krash had moved because Aslan was about to die, but he'd wanted it to go smoothly otherwise.
"Sorry it's because of me."
Aslan apologized, his face downcast.
He knew he'd jumped the gun in front of Flame King.
But Krash got it.
He knew the deep grudge Aslan held against Flame King.
The man who'd ruined his entire life spouting nonsense—anyone would snap.
Even Krash wouldn't hold back if Arthur pulled that.
"Escape magic should be doable."
Crimson Garden clicked her tongue at Krash's question.
"Ugh, not used to casting in this form. Should've brought another familiar."
Grumbling, but not refusing—that was Crimson Garden.
"Let's go."
With Lirina seeing them off, the three passed through the gates.
Swirling spirit dust greeted them.
In the mesmerizing flurry, Krash pulled out the crystal Lirina had given him and the Spirit King's egg.
He handed them to Aslan.
"Head straight ahead. You'll find a lake glowing faintly. Put the crystal in the egg and submerge it—should do the trick."
This was the method from Krash's past life—Aslan's own discovery after exhaustive research.
Too late by then, but not wasted.
It lived on through Krash to now.
"...Got it."
Aslan didn't ask how Krash knew.
For Dorothy, he'd do anything.
Krash, Aslan, and Crimson Garden pressed on.
The Spirit King's Forest seemed endlessly deep.
Spirits popping up here and there demanded constant vigilance.
Irk one, and combat was guaranteed.
After what felt like ages weaving through the forest—
Golden spirit dust shimmered into view for Krash and Aslan.
A space thick with trees, feeling like deepest night.
Golden flecks clung to the bark, twinkling like stars.
Beneath them stretched a lake, just skimming the horizon.
Myriad golden particles drifted lazily across its surface.
Beautiful.
The word fit perfectly—this ethereal lake was the spirits' sanctuary.
Aslan approached the haven.
His heart pounded.
The thought of seeing Dorothy again brought a sudden lump to his throat.
Knock knock.
He recalled a girl tapping at his window in his memories, calling out.
Ice-blue hair and eyes.
A pretty smile as she snuck in via Lirina to see him.
"Good morning, Aslan."
Even under the moon, she called it morning, and he smiled.
He yearned to meet that girl from his memories again.
The moment Aslan stepped toward the lake—
Whoosh!
Flames erupted, a crimson wall surging up to block him.
Aslan's eyes widened.
Thud!
Someone landed heavily behind Krash and Aslan.
Aslan's gaze slowly turned.
Red aura hair swayed silently amid the trees.
Burning crimson eyes glared down at him, brimming with fury.
Flame King Adolf Egret.
He'd crushed Flame Bead and chased them down.
"Playing kids' games ends here. Fleeing all the way to the Spirit King's Forest?"
Adolf furrowed his thick white brows, visibly irritated.
His breath seethed with rage.
But he held it in check.
This was the Spirit King's Forest—too much noise, and the spirits would rampage, troubling even him.
"Aslan, and you, kid. Come with me. Both of you."
Krash scanned the surroundings at his words.
Crimson Garden had vanished the moment Adolf appeared—smart.
He gripped his sword hilt tight.
What now?
Running was an option.
Adolf was formidable, but not omniscient like Crimson Garden in all magics.
Krash knew her spells well enough to bet on escape.
But.
They hadn't revived Dorothy yet.
Storming the Spirit King's Forest like this wouldn't fly twice.
No telling when another chance would come.
Especially with Aslan's fate in the Egret family post-this—who knew?
Earlier, he was blinded by rage, ready to kill.
Clashing with his daughter seemed to cool him a bit.
He cherished the family.
Word of him killing daughter and grandson would tarnish it—he knew that.
So, punishment yes, execution no.
But Aslan might end up locked away forever.
This was their last shot at saving Dorothy.
"Krash Valheim."
Aslan suddenly called his full name.
Out of nowhere, but Krash caught the meaning.
"Valheim, huh?"
Adolf whipped around, eyes bulging at Krash.
Red Tower mages scorned all but curses and auras.
But as one of the Ten Heavenly Powers, Adolf had traveled the world.
A place teeming with monsters beyond magic.
So he respected aura users over magic supremacists.
Especially Valheim at the pinnacle.
Thought he was just Aslan's pal.
A Valheim, here?
Unexpected.
Adolf's mind raced.
He always tracked global affairs.
Valheim especially.
One rumor surfaced.
Right.
The youngest Valheim crushed a World Erosion familiar and rose again.
Krash looked mid-teens to him.
Age matched the rumor.
Why was a direct Valheim here?
Their Seahorse Knights' reinforcements were handled by Flame Bead—he might not know.
"Honestly, I don't get why you want the Lunar Yin Physique."
Aslan stared at the blazing wall before him.
From what he'd seen, Krash could surely use it.
But why need something curse-like as the Lunar Yin Physique?
It was the biggest reason his life was ruined.
"But if it's something you really need. Or need right now."
Aslan's eyes burned with resolve, replacing their former dullness, as he shouted at Krash.
"Take it!"
That was the cue.
As light gathered in Krash's hand and lifted high, Aslan charged the flame wall.
"What?!"
Adolf lunged in panic at the near-suicidal act.
But Krash blocked him.
Adolf's eyes rounded.
Not just carelessness—Krash was faster than expected.
Krash's form sharpened in his vision.
Smoke billowed from his mouth; his body glowed like molten lava.
His flesh blazed fiercely from within, aura surging as if breaking limits by force.
Fast.
Speed unbelievable for his age.
Master territory, maybe.
Adolf clearly felt the storming energy in his sheath.
Power drawing even a Ten Heavenly Power's gaze.
Then, black flames exploded from the sheath.
Clang!
Krash's blade crashed into Adolf's constant barrier spell, roaring fiercely.
As the sound echoed, Adolf's eyes twisted in shock.
The barrier held, of course.
But the vibration was immense.
Enough to recall his hand from grabbing Aslan.
"Hah?"
An exclamation slipped out.
Too absurd for a kid not even twenty.
Valheim birthed another monster.
He knew of the new Sword Star, but another?
Did gods bless their blood?
No, this one's different.
Especially those ominous black flames.
Curse-like.
What'd he infuse his body with? Thick curse essence.
Charlotte's holy white star as Sword Star.
This felt like a pitch-black star dripping shadow.
As that thought hit, Aslan crossed the barrier.
Adolf glanced his way, distracted by Krash.
Aslan dove into the lake amid the flames.
Bubbles rose—he'd survive.
Adolf had dismissed the wall roughly as he jumped.
Still, couldn't leave him.
Had to fish him out.
Clang!
But his barrier shook violently again.
Krash's sword striking once more.
"Would one of the Ten Heavenly Powers turn his back on a junior disciple?"
Krash taunted in archaic style, fitting Adolf's age.
Adolf exhaled sharply.
"My grandson's picked a bad friend."
Adolf cracked his knuckles.
Time to grab the boy and fix his friend's attitude while at it.