Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Defying Heaven
Defying Heaven.
Eternal Soldiers.
That was what they called themselves.
The first time I'd encountered them was with the creature known as the Greenbone Fiend.
The one that casually slaughtered a level 3 adventurer, possessed Ankyung's body, and tried to devour us.
Aside from that bastard, I hadn't seen any others emerge from the Labyrinth, but they were incredibly troublesome beings.
Even the Black Nether Palm had sensed their power and chosen a tactical retreat.
So this was strange.
These aberrant Eternal Soldiers called out within the Labyrinth.
For something akin to them to be felt.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Eternal Soldiers? Seonggung spoke with evident confusion.
'Yeah, there are guys like that.'
I gave a brief explanation about the Eternal Soldiers.
Seonggung responded with puzzlement.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Such things exist? Ah, maybe that guy survived? No, but it couldn't have survived in the Labyrinth until now, right? Seonggung muttered to herself in confusion, questioning and answering.
She was probably referring to the first level 9 called Azazel.
'...The one said to have weakened the Cradle at its peak of power.'
Of course, that was ancient history now.
The Cradle had grown into a terrifying force based on the guild master alone.
The difference was merely that, at its height, it had sent level 9s to the Empire, made them dukes, and maintained close ties.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Don't compare me to those pathetic worms.] A growling voice.
The voice grew clearer, but it grated like metal on metal, making me wince.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Don't lump a mere soul-manipulator with this body of mine. It's just the ravings of a fool who couldn't conquer death.] The Heavenly Demon's soul declared as much.
This guy was suspiciously powerful too.
A figure from a thousand years ago.
And he knew various things afterward as well.
'Above all.'
I still didn't understand why this thing had emerged after stealing from a mere level 7.
If it was such an important existence, shouldn't it have been hidden away securely?
There were more than one or two things that bothered me.
But one thing was certain.
I had to make use of this guy.
Whoever he was, judging by the knowledge he possessed and the fact that he'd implanted the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon into me, he wasn't ordinary.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Let me go already! I want to reunite with my other half and become whole once more!!] It shrieked loudly.
Even a pleasant voice would annoy me, but hearing it like nails on a chalkboard only fueled my irritation.
'Still, what to do with this.'
A perfect being.
If obtaining its other half would achieve that.
I gazed at the Heavenly Demon's soulstone.
But absorbing just this one didn't seem like it would make much of a difference.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ I'll trust Master's choice. Seonggung said as much.
The clues were scant, but leaving it be felt off.
As I pondered, the Heavenly Demon's soulstone suddenly shifted position.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Kuhahaha! This is the Heavenly Demon's method!] ...Was this guy always so flippant? Stunned, I tried to restrain the Heavenly Demon's soulstone with [Steal Strike (S)] but stopped.
The Heavenly Demon's soulstone entered the black blade.
And then.
Fwaaaah!
Darkness swallowed everything.
*
The emptier the vessel, the more it resembles the heavens.
If qi takes form, that form would be the sky.
Yet the sky's form was distorted.
They abandoned us, and fate rejected us.
If this is fate, we shall accept it.
However.
The beasts would not allow it. Those beings living eternal lives saw us merely as prey.
Rather than be raised and bred by them.
We had no choice but to ascend in defiance of heaven and shatter them all.
A desolate wail echoed from somewhere.
I opened my eyes in the darkness.
'...This is.'
The scene that appeared when connected to those called beasts before.
Was this related to the beasts again?
I narrowed my eyes.
For creatures whose true nature remained hidden, they sure had left traces everywhere.
But someone connected to the beasts shouldn't appear here, right?
Because right now, here...
'There's exactly one.'
I calmly stared at one spot.
A massive moon hung there, shrouded in darkness like a curtain.
A gigantic, grotesque moon.
So enormous it felt like I could touch it if I reached out.
Such a moon was visible.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...What is this?] A voice echoed, hollow and forlorn.
I turned my gaze there.
Two women were there.
One had her form obscured by hair, but it gleamed golden.
In contrast.
The other had jet-black hair and violet eyes.
They weren't clearly visible.
Yet both exuded an aura of peerless beauty.
Even I, who rarely notices appearances, found myself staring blankly for a moment.
Cough.
The woman impaled on a sword vomited blood.
A sword.
A Western-style blade gleaming golden, inscribed with characters on its edge.
Its form was familiar.
'...The Holy Sword.'
Then was that being a Hero from a previous generation?
But what reason would she have to kill the Heavenly Demon?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The Demon King appeared. Because I made a contract with ──.] The golden-haired woman spoke in a sobbing tone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I had no choice. To save the world, I had to do it.] [You bastard, do you even realize what you've done...!] The black-haired woman cried out in anguish.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [I know. But we had no choice, did we? Repel those invaders with the power we have now? That's impossible. To them, we're just prey to be herded.] [A beast or two, we could...!] [It's not just that. The roots have fallen. They've already taken notice of us... and their roots will slowly devour the world.] The golden-haired being spoke in a somewhat wistful tone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [The World Tree was invaded by those roots and created its own world. The giant with eternally burning flames was frozen and sealed by them. The wolf that boasted it would devour the world was eternally incinerated. The guardian dragon of the world became merely part of a massive mountain range, a mana-spewing landmark. Isn't it ridiculous? The most cowardly surrenderer survived, clinging to mere form. Of course, the elves will now only birth females and decline.] That was it.
Nothing more.
Our power couldn't even handle a single beast properly; it declined without a fight.
The golden-haired woman opened her mouth with a resolute expression.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -...My god, what is this now? Over that voice, Seonggung cried out in shock.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Wait, hold on... that person... no way... it can't be... Seonggung muttered in a dazed voice upon seeing the golden-haired figure.
But I couldn't respond.
I heard nothing, saw nothing.
As I plummeted into darkness for an instant.
Fwoosh.
A scene of lighting a bonfire appeared.
Doll-like figures burning in the flames.
This is.
I narrowed my eyes and looked ahead.
And quietly drew my sword.
Step, step.
Someone harboring clear killing intent toward me approached.
Elongated arms and legs in human form. A torso and face.
But all enveloped in darkness—an eerie existence.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...?] He paused, tilting his head.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Strange. It shouldn't be time for the next Heavenly Demon yet. And not even the man designated as Little Heavenly Demon.] He tilted his head oddly, then shook it off.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Well, maybe that prideful guy fell to rebellion. Can't be helped.] A flippant tone.
Yet immense killing intent emanated from him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [This seems more fun anyway... I think it's fine to test this one. What do you say?] He spoke as if addressing someone else.
Whoever it was, not on my side. From the testing tone.
'I can roughly guess: the sacred relic and Heavenly Demon soulstone combined.'
Making it perceive me as the Heavenly Demon and subjecting me to some trial only he could face.
But this wasn't good.
Because.
'...That guy's a monster.'
Estimated level 8 from the feel.
Strong enough that I wondered if current me could handle it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -This... seems tough. Seonggung suggested a tactical retreat.
I agreed. I'm no warrior chasing honor to fight that man needlessly.
Moreover.
'Getting more entangled with the Heavenly Demon seems bad.'
More precisely.
It felt like it would become extremely troublesome.
But was there a place to escape to?
I pondered briefly and spoke.
"I'm not the Heavenly Demon."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [What nonsense. You have the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon... eh?] A flustered voice.
For some reason, he realized I wasn't circulating the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon right now.
Good thing I'd kept the Hero's orthodox heart method running.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...Hero. So, you lot finally infiltrated this sacred place.] "... ."
A voice laced with killing intent.
Uh oh, did I mess up?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [This trial is for the Heavenly Demon. But there's one for you Heroes too. Our great god made it so.] Fwooooosh!
Black flames began to blaze fiercely.
With clear hostility.
He clenched his fists and radiated killing intent toward me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [What kind of Hero are you? Ideally a Sword Hero... I suppose.] Fwoosh!
Black flames surged within my body.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [...?] "Sorry. I was just testing. I thought maybe Heroes might be here."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Master... Quiet, Seonggung.
I know I'm despicable.