The Archmage's Shadow Emerges
In the annals of the empire and the continent's history alike, Belhalm was a figure revered by all races without exception. The Grand Archmage and Great Sage. His exceptional magical prowess alone was enough to earn universal respect.
But the true reason he was held in such esteem went beyond mere magic.
"When drought struck Yar'el, Belhalm summoned rain with his spells."
He wielded a fair and impartial judgment for everyone, never harming others without cause. Unswayed by personal greed, he always cared for those around him. Even the emperor and nobles of the time knelt in admiration before his exemplary character. Though not chosen by the gods, his virtue rivaled that of any saint, making him an object of profound respect.
And yet...
"...Fool. Do you think locking me away here makes you truly noble? You're just running away."
"I'm sorry. Even though it's not your fault, I have no choice but to seal you. If you see it as cowardice, I have nothing to say."
"Try it, then. Shove your 'other side' into this dump and play the hypocrite. I'll watch how long your facade of purity lasts."
"......It's not your sin. I know it's mine, and one day, I will atone."
Was it because he had been heavily influenced by demons during his first forays into magic? Contrary to the public's near-perfect image of him, Belhalm constantly suffered mental torment. Primal human urges that followed power—lust for dominance, lust for flesh, lust for control—should have remained mere impulses for an ordinary man. But under demonic influence, they coalesced into a separate personality.
"......It's paradise, but forgive me."
With those final words, Belhalm sealed a fragment of his own personality into a golem. In a place he believed no human could ever reach.
"......What the hell is paradise about this?"
All day long, only the sound of empty wind echoed. What fell from the sky was not the sun, but mere light. One day, two days, three days. Time lost all meaning, but Belhalm's shadow never forgot the day it was imprisoned.
And so...
'I will erase every trace of you.'
The negative shadow, twisted over more than a thousand years of endless isolation, nurtured only its hatred for the long-dead original.
After countless eons...
"...Ahh. Even paradise has an end."
For some unfathomable reason, the illusory paradise—crafted by Belhalm himself, a place he thought would hold him forever—the Lost Paradise crumbled away.
"Wait there. I'll wipe your hypocrisy from the world."
Talent: Insight succeeds in piercing the target.
[Belhalm's Shadow Side]
- A personality artificially severed from the Grand Archmage Belhalm.
Having only recently fully formed its spirit body, it has lost most of its original power.
Even Insight can't reveal full details. This entity never appears or is even mentioned in the game.
I didn't need deep thought to identify the man looming over me. His overwhelming presence alone choked the breath from my lungs, and the mana naturally emanating from his body marked him unmistakably as...
The Grand Archmage, Belhalm.
"...Weren't you all kindly just a moment ago?"
I swallowed dryly and clenched my right hand tight. For the first time since possession, a true sense of crisis gripped me—a feeling I'd never had even against demons.
"A moment ago? Looks like you met 'me' already."
"Yeah, you could say that..."
It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes. He'd seemed harmless and kindly then, but how could he change so drastically in that time?
"That wasn't me or my true self."
What bullshit is this? Does reaching the 10th Circle let you use cloning spells or something?
"We split from the same being, but that one is my shadow side."
"...So you're like some split-personality case."
"Belhalm... He's nothing but a filthy hypocrite. Severing his dark emotions doesn't make him pure."
Belhalm's shadow sneered in midair, gathering mana in his palm. Even at a glance, it rivaled the best magic barrier I could muster. Even weakened, he's this strong?
"But... I sense that guy's power from you."
".........Is that so?"
"Yes. Looks like he gave you something when you met."
In an instant, the quietly speaking Belhalm before me vanished.
I instinctively expanded my senses to locate him when—
Talent: Heavenly Martial Body assists your body.
Before I could even register it, my body swung the sword on pure instinct.
—Whoosh!!!!
"Good reflexes. I didn't think you'd block it."
"What'd you expect, coming at me with that killing intent? I'm not just gonna stand there."
Dangerous. My instincts screamed it—this wasn't some beatable state. If Heavenly Martial Body hadn't kicked in at full throttle, I'd be dead right now.
"You want to kill me, right?"
"No? Why would I want something as trivial as killing you? I have only one true desire."
Belhalm slowly parted his lips, uttering words that shocked even me, the possessor. It made perfect sense why the original had sealed this side of himself.
"...You really think you can revive and become a god?"
"With the legacies you and the academy hold, I have a solid foundation. Absorb your souls too, and nothing's impossible."
"...Even an evil god counts as a god, huh."
I'd half-expected it, but no sane person would think this way. He wanted mass slaughter to prove himself a "true god"—utterly absurd.
'Technically not impossible, but if he pulls that off, we'll all die before the ending.'
I'd hoped for a diplomatic compromise, but no dice.
In this mess, to survive, I'd have to crush him—Great Sage or not.
"Master. No holding back this time."
"I know. Slack off, and I'm dead."
No tricks like before, no hiding cards. Going all-out from the start suited me anyway.
Talent: Heavenly Martial Body assists you.
Talent: Mana Affinity assists you.
Trait: Demon (Inactive) enters active state.
Temporarily altering race (Human → Demonic).
Trait: Seal of Original Sin engraving activates.
Vitality surged through my body. Unleashing demonization openly pushed me to near-7th Circle level. With the enhanced Seal of Original Sin, my total output neared 8th Circle.
At this power, I could take on a dragon. Against this half-baked spirit? No contest.
"Hoh... I sensed you weren't ordinary, but you're exceeding expectations."
"You're exceeding mine too. Feeling tense?"
"Tense? You've just given me one more reason to claim you."
I signaled Lilia for support and leaped at Belhalm. Normally, I'd need footing, but now one bound sufficed—like flying.
—Kaaaang!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My blade, aimed at his throat, was blocked by mana. Even weakened, he parried a full-power strike...
"Is that all you've got?"
He scoffed, gauging my strike's level, but...
"As if."
Storm clouds gathered overhead, drawing a crimson circle.
'Summon Thunder.'
The strongest 7th Circle lightning spell.
Bolts crashed down.
—Kwaaaaang!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Impressive. Operating core and circles simultaneously at that level."
Of course, no wounds on Belhalm—mana barriers everywhere.
'But Insight saw through this too.'
What mattered now was a swift, precise killing blow. So...
Create an opening by force and jam it in.
Talent: Insight assists backlash.
".........What?"
In a flash, the mana shielding Belhalm's front collapsed.
A momentary gap, fully exposed.
And hunters never miss their moment.
Dragon Slayer Style.
Third Form.
Wing Severance.
A single line slashed through the air.
—Craaaack!!!!
Belhalm, smirking moments ago, crumpled—his body bisected clean in half. I'd severed the area with the orb.
".........Wha, t... is... thi...s!!!!"
His fractured voice confirmed success.
"Yeah. Shouldn't have let your guard down."
Even the Great Sage probably never imagined his magic rebounding. But talents are unfair by nature.
"Hoo... Tense for a sec, but it worked perfectly..."
"Master!!! Fall back!!!"
"......Huh?"
Lilia's urgent cry sent me leaping backward on instinct.
And simultaneously—
Talent: Insight begins analyzing the target.
[Belhalm's Pocket Watch]
Arbitrarily rewinds the target's time.
"Ah, fuck."
An unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.