The Star in Silence
The legend of the Founding Emperor Hesenia was famous enough that everyone in the world knew it.
On the day the war ended, Hesenia did not raise a cup of victory. He foresaw the shadow of misfortune that would be cast over future generations, fearing that the scattered remnants of the demons, like defeated soldiers, would regroup in the darkness and invade the human world a thousand years later.
Thus, he tore open the heavens, creating a blood road connecting Hell and the human realm. Leaving his loyal warriors as gatekeepers, he walked alone into the abyss of Hell. But that choice was humanity's arrogance. Hell was the demons' homeland and the cradle of their essence. There, they reclaimed their suppressed original powers, maximizing their ferocious and evil nature. The fugitives suddenly became pursuers, and after countless demon assaults, Hesenia was struck by a curse that pierced his body and soul.
Yet he did not retreat. His sword was dyed black with black blood, and Hell's sky was covered in fallen wings, but Hesenia slaughtered thousands of demons and dragged his body back to the human world. However, the wounds he bore were not mere injuries. They were a demon's curse, a mark of fate that even divinity could not heal. He had been a being close to a god, but now he was reduced to barely clinging to a mortal lifespan. Facing death, he left his final plea to his blood kin.
"Eat my flesh. Take my soul. And ensure the darkness never covets the human world again—extinguish its root."
His children obeyed without hesitation. They remembered their father not with love, but obsession; not respect, but inferiority. Thus, dividing the flesh of a god brought them no guilt.
The eldest ate the heart. A fountain of mana rising from deeper than the abyss. That heart spewed infinite mana, capable of shaking the earth with a mere breath.
The second devoured the eyes. The blue star eyes reflected the orbits of stars and fragments of the future, revealing hidden truths and spiritual beings that no one could escape.
The third took the head. Thus gaining the "enlightenment" that pierced the principles of all things. He came to understand the flows of the world, the currents of fate, and the order of life and death.
However, superhuman power inevitably breeds rifts. Beloved brothers became threats to each other, and the empire fractured into three pieces. They waged war, devouring one another in endless desire and hatred.
After decades of civil war, the eldest emerged victorious. He slaughtered his two brothers in turn and absorbed their flesh, fully inheriting the legacy left by his father.
And he followed his father's path. At last, he became the second god, transcending humanity.
As Joshua gazed at the Omangseong, this tale suddenly flashed through his mind. The Omangseong floating in the crystal orb. Yes, the Omangseong. A star connected by five points. Joshua brushed Elizabeth's hand away and placed his own. The Omangseong vanished, replaced by an ordinary mana road. He placed her hand back. The Omangseong reappeared. Joshua repeated this twice more, then stared at Elizabeth with an emotionless face. Precisely, at her interior—her brain, her eyeballs, her heart.
After the second emperor devoured his father, the Omangseong Blessing vanished from history. The second emperor followed his father's will in his own way. To annihilate the demons, he led 200,000 imperial troops into Hell. And died. Along with the 200,000-strong army. He was the last possessor of the Omangseong Blessing. For the next thousand years, exceptional talents appeared, but the Omangseong Blessing did not. Thus, it gradually became seen as a mythical fabrication. Having not appeared for a millennium, no one alive had witnessed it, and records were scarce.
"Haa…."
Joshua exhaled deeply. Before this myth breaking a thousand years of silence, he was speechless. She was his little sister. The sole remaining blood kin he had searched for over eight years. If she died, he would be alone. But—
But…
I can become a god.
The wall had been too high. He had poured every effort into surpassing it, but all in vain. He hadn't given up. He had simply been forced to. Inescapable reality blocked him. He lacked the Omangseong Blessing. It wasn't mere talent. It was fate, inevitability.
I can become a god…!
This was his chance. Not just his one and only sister, but the sole key to altering his own fate and inevitability.
Thud.
Unknowingly, Joshua had gripped Elizabeth's shoulders tightly. She was like a doll with severed strings. Eyes and emotions gone, merely a shell.
"Have you given up on life?"
"I gave you starlight. This isn't just treasure. It's the dream of every mage."
"Yet you're not happy. If you can't rejoice even with such treasure, can you ever find joy in life?"
"No, you won't. Your life will be meaningless. Alive but not living, just a leaf swept downstream."
"So, I'll end your boring, meaningless life."
Joshua quietly invoked magic. A thin, long ice pick floated, aiming at Elizabeth's throat.
At that moment.
Elizabeth's deadened eyes slowly regained focus.
"No meaning in living?"
Explosive mana surged.
"Sorry, but it means everything."
With those words, mana erupted.
Boom!
Their bodies flew back, slamming into the treasure vault's walls. Made of mithril and enchanted, the walls resisted most impacts unscathed—but not this. Deep craters formed at the collision points.
"I have to live with that man."
Thud.
Elizabeth bounced from the crater and landed. A barrier conjured at the last instant left her unharmed. Her eyes were resolute, filled with unyielding determination.
Joshua dusted his shoulders as he emerged, glaring at her with venom.
"From half-dead to suddenly alert? Must be some love."
"Jealous?"
Elizabeth sneered, and Joshua growled harshly.
"Talking down to your brother now?"
"Well, not something a cannibal should say about his sister."
"…You knew?"
"Your stare was too obvious to miss. You're the impressive one—thinking of devouring your sister one day after reuniting after eight years."
"That's exactly why. It's fortunate, really. If we'd been together long, I'd have felt guilt, but now I don't have to."
Crackle.
Joshua levitated. Thousands of lightning bolts danced around him, like hunting dogs poised to strike.
"Yulia. Nice meeting you. And thanks."
First Spear Lightning—Ripper of the Wicked
The lightning became a spear, plunging toward Elizabeth.
Elizabeth instantly cast her spell.
Boom!!!
Lightning clashed with spear lightning. Visually, Elizabeth's seemed larger and stronger—lavish mana poured in. But.
Joshua's spear lightning shredded it effortlessly. Naturally. No matter how much mana Elizabeth used, hers was common magic. Joshua's was an imperial secret art, the magic of Founding Emperor Hesenia. Worlds apart in quality.
Yet the spell's impact struck not Elizabeth, but the vault wall. The wall exploded. The blast's aftermath whipped her golden hair wildly. Amid the flying strands, her blue eyes remained steady. Joshua's attack had narrowly missed her—intentionally. Sensing she couldn't block it outright, Elizabeth evaded, deflecting the spell's trajectory. Blocking was impossible, but redirection was easy.
"Hah, clever trick."
Joshua smirked leisurely, but inside, fury blazed.
Common magic against starlight magic?
His spells were from the Starlight records, Founding Emperor Hesenia's secret arts. Traces of the hero who created the first magics and banished darkness. Among them, the thousandth spear lightning that rips the wicked was Hesenia's main offensive spell.
"Let's see how far that trick goes."
He spread his hands. Two magic circles materialized in the air.
First Spear Lightning—Ripper of the Wicked
Undulating Glacier Wave
The spear lightning flew straight; the glacier surged from the floor like a wave. Elizabeth deflected the spear's path with lightning again. Simultaneously, she encased herself in a barrier and blasted the floor, soaring upward.
Krunch!
The glacier pierced the floor, rising nearly as fast as her ascent. Her toes nearly touched— but didn't. In midair, Elizabeth extended both hands. Calculations complete. Now, unleash. Wind blades howled forth.
Unexpected timing. Before Joshua could raise his barrier, one wind blade grazed his cheek and hair.
Drip.
A deep gash marred the emperor's face. Blood welled, cheek stinging fiercely.
"…."
The emperor touched his cheek. His palm was drenched in blood.
Crackle!
Lightning bolt struck from above. But the emperor was unscathed. A massive barrier enveloped him.
"Ha."
The emperor scoffed at his own rare blood, then glared murderously at Elizabeth hovering in the air.
"From now on, I'll go all out. Resist as much as you can. And die completely. I need to eat you."
With those words, the atmosphere shifted. Overwhelming mana bore down on her. Joshua reached out, clenching as if grasping something invisible, then slammed it downward.
"Ugh!?"
Elizabeth was seized by unseen force and smashed into the floor. No time to resist. Her body was instantly subdued. Instinctive barrier saved her—otherwise, her spine would have snapped. She struggled up, but her body wouldn't move. Like bound in iron chains, not even a fingertip obeyed. As she barely twitched a finger to cast—
Joshua raised his clenched hand upward. Elizabeth's body floated. He swung his arm; she flew into the wall. She vomited blood. Without the barrier, she'd be dead.
Elizabeth glared at the emperor, blood dripping steadily.
"Now that's a face I like."
The emperor smiled satisfactorily at Elizabeth bleeding like him.
"Thinking you can fight me with that power? Foolish beyond measure."
He approached slowly. Elizabeth pried from the wall and dropped to the ground. She staggered up, glaring.
You look exhausted.
Best to give up quick. You haven't awakened the star eyes or enlightenment—zero chance against him.
Infinite mana means nothing when the level's worlds apart.
"…."
Elizabeth had awakened only infinite mana among the three blessings. Star eyes and enlightenment remained dormant. She'd tried awakening them before, always failing.
Elizabeth wiped blood and muttered.
"Shut up."
Heh, got it. Call if needed. I'm always ready.
Thud, thud.
Joshua approached. He attacked mercilessly. Just as he'd told her to resist fully, he struck to kill. Lightning slashed around her; ice spears surged from the floor. Mysterious telekinesis battered her. Elizabeth barely dodged each time. She stumbled against walls, breath growing ragged. Mana depletion set in.
Can't go on like this.
Elizabeth unleashed a fire bolt. Joshua tanked it unmoved. The bolt shattered against his barrier.
9th Circle. Beyond human limits. Surviving this far against a 7th Circle was absurd.
"Where'd that composure go?"
He mocked.
"Still, worthy blood kin. Even rank-1 demons can't draw my blood, but you did. Though I was careless."
Joshua shrugged. He strolled leisurely. Elizabeth tried fleeing, but he walled off paths with ice pillars and flames.
"Curious—where are your guards really?"
"…."
"The ones who took you. Gert. He's strong enough not to die off somewhere."
At that name, Elizabeth's breathing visibly roughened. Joshua watched, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Wait. Is the man you love… him?"
Elizabeth's every vital froze. Pupils stilled. Breath halted. That silence was clear affirmation.
Joshua laughed incredulously, turning his neck. In that instant.
Elizabeth deep-breathed. Cold air filled her ragged lungs, mixing with blood and spewing out. Small, tiny breaths. Once. Twice. Third time. Cold air sank deep. Simultaneously, the fog crushing her mind lifted. Pain sharpened senses, anchoring her to reality. Body breaking, heart shattering—yet for the first time, she felt her emotions, her will, vividly.
Leo.
Just thinking his name stirred something deep in her chest. Love. …And sorrow, betrayal. A tangle of longing and loathing.
If not for you… I wouldn't be this broken. But because it was you… I'm still trying to live.
She loved him. Still.
She closed her eyes quietly. Behind lids, memories flooded: his touch, smile, voice. All sincere. All lies.
Brace yourself. I'll hold you accountable.
She whispered inwardly.
And… I'll love you to the end.
Love birthed hate; hate fueled survival. Survive to hold him accountable, to embrace him. To end their false bond with truth. That was her reason to live.
Elizabeth's gaze steadied. Emotional shards aligned; her will settled calmly atop.
"What…?"
Joshua halted. He had to. The aura from her bloodied form suddenly calmed. Despair, rage, regret—gone from Elizabeth. Vanished abruptly, without warning. Air stilled. Sound vanished. The world hushed. Centered on her, silence spread. Not mere quiet, not suffocating stillness—but profound quietude like the deep cosmos.
Until then, Elizabeth's eyes had been closed. When she opened them, the Omangseong shone there.
Whoosh!
Simultaneously, the Founding Emperor's mantle flew forth, draping her shoulders.