The Night's Succession
Night's Meditation. "Decapitation."
*Crunch!*
With a single word, the cockroach's head popped right off. Perhaps because it was just a bug, the Dragon Word took effect without a hitch.
*Pant, pant!*
While my hand stroked Hellboki, my gaze remained fixed on the bug. Decapitation, Mute Death, Bludgeoning Death. Dragon Words whose end result was "death" applied without issue if the level difference between me and the target was vast. Of course, comparing myself to a bug was pointless, so it wasn't much of a test.
Hmm. At a rough estimate, I could probably insta-kill targets up to Level 30 with a single Dragon Word. My current level was 74. Against targets up to Level 70, I could use decent Dragon Words even if they didn't carry lethal intent. Conversely, against opponents with high physical levels, the usable Dragon Words were extremely limited.
There probably isn't much I can use against Cecilia.
I could somehow scrape by with Dragon Words against targets up to Level 80, but the opponent who might invade soon was, of all people, Cecilia. The only Dragon Word that might work on her was Immobility. It would bind the opponent's movements, but even that would only last for a split second.
And Dragon Fear is practically useless.
Thinking about it any further only gave me a headache, so I cleared my mind. Whatever. The kids will handle everything. Isn't that why I raised these talents in the first place? It was just my damn safety-first anxiety making me nervous; objectively speaking, Cecilia was no match for my dungeon.
What's the point of having a high level if you're alone? If my subordinates gang up on her, even Cecilia won't be able to handle it. The subjugation force was subpar except for Cecilia, whereas my subordinates easily exceeded Level 80 as a baseline.
*Knock, knock.*
That was when a knock sounded at the door. I thought it would be Charlotte, but when I opened the door, I couldn't see anyone. It was only after I cast my gaze downward that a face came into view.
"..."
"..."
Elin stared up at me blankly. Why was she here? As I naturally looked her over, I noticed her hands fidgeting behind her back.
Is she trying to give me something?
I waited in silence for Elin to present it herself. Before long, Elin extended her trembling hands. It was a palm-sized wooden carving. It looked exactly like me; no matter how I looked at it, she had clearly carved it in my likeness.
For a moment, I was speechless and dazed. Since her level color was a deep green, I knew very well she held favorable feelings toward me. But seeing her express it through actions like this was deeply moving. Even the carving itself was of such high quality that it was hard to believe a child had made it.
Beyond her sheer talent, Elin's heart felt as precious as a daughter's. I had been a bachelor my entire life, but at this moment, I finally understood why people became doting fathers.
"Thank you."
I accepted the carving and gently patted Elin's head. As if pleased, the corners of Elin's mouth curled upward. Her hair, slightly disheveled by my touch, only added to her cuteness. On a whim, I lifted her onto my shoulders, and Elin let out a soft, quiet giggle.
*Pant, pant!*
Elin hurriedly reached her hands out toward Hellboki. She really was just a child. Seeing the fluffy Hellboki must have triggered an irresistible urge to pet him. Very carefully, I lowered Elin back to the floor. Gently taking her wrist, I guided her hand toward Hellboki.
"You can pet him."
Hesitatingly glancing at me, Elin soon began to stroke Hellboki. Hellboki let his tongue loll out, looking thoroughly pleased. Eventually, Elin even climbed onto Hellboki's back, but since Hellboki himself looked happier than anyone, I just let them be.
Even while basking in this fleeting happiness, a corner of my mind would occasionally swell with anxiety. That was exactly how I felt right now. For my part, I simply wished for this peace to remain unbroken. ...Not exactly the kind of thought a boss of the Mugan 7-gung should have, but whatever.
*Woof!*
I fell into deep thought while petting Hellboki and Elin. For now, I had no major worries other than Cecilia. Even if she came, I believed my subordinates could easily block her. However, it was always best to keep the worst-case scenario in mind. If you let your guard down and grow complacent in times like this, you won't live out your natural lifespan.
To make matters worse, there was only one absolute worst-case scenario regarding Cecilia. Cecilia wielding a Holy Relic. Excluding the Old One's deputy since I only learned of them recently, there were originally two Holy Relics I knew of. One was the Holy Relic in Roxanne's possession. The other was the Holy Relic enshrined in the Imperial Papacy.
Since both were Holy Relics, it was impossible to rank one above the other. Still, if I had to choose one, I would definitely choose the latter.
Though surely Cecilia wouldn't bring it with her.
The condition for a player to unlock a Holy Relic was right before conquering the Ten-Tier Abyss. In other words, a Holy Relic was only granted after conquering the Rank 3 dungeon, the Twin Star Towers where Time Reverses. To use such a Holy Relic against the Rank 7 Tomb of Faith—
"...But you never know."
The name itself is the Tomb of Faith. In the end, the Church held ownership of it, and that Church was absolutely hell-bent on killing me. Of course, when it came to Holy Relics, I could just blow them up with my Enhancement. Just like the Old One's ancient relic, there was a high probability it would blow up with a 100% success rate.
However, if I killed Cecilia and destroyed the Holy Relic, Calandas would easily swallow the Empire. Then, using the power he amassed from the Empire, he would try to kill me. But if I did nothing about the Holy Relic, I would die at Cecilia's hands. I wanted to preserve it if possible, but if my life was on the line, I planned to blow it up without a second thought.
It's a bit of a shame, though. That thing is so badass.
To think I might have to blow up my absolute favorite weapon with my own hands. If that situation actually came, I'd probably cry tears of blood as I blew it up.
In this world, mana, aura, holy power, dark mana, and racial traits—many mysterious powers corresponded with one another, but there existed an out-of-spec power that broke that balance. The night mana, Luna. Although the lore described it as the night mana, calling it mana was a bit of a stretch. After all, Luna was not a realm of effort or talent, nor was it granted by race or birth. Luna was the unique, accumulated power of the Holy Relic itself.
The Empire's Holy Relic was the Moonlight Sword Lunatic. Only the wielder of the Moonlight Sword could claim Luna as their own. As a 30,000-hour veteran player, I could confidently declare that the Moonlight Sword was the most broken item in the game. While it was similar in form to mana and aura, its actual power was a vastly superior version, and simply owning it boosted one's physical stats exponentially. And that was just the basic passive.
The true value of the Moonlight Sword was revealed in its active effect. As one could guess from the name, the Moonlight Sword boasted its peak power on moonlit nights. This meant its efficacy would decline during the day, but the Moonlight Sword could manipulate day and night. Dreamy Polar Night. It was an active effect that could deploy a polar night in a 3km radius around the wielder even in broad daylight. Within the domain of night, only pitch-black darkness without a single ray of sunlight would unfold, amplifying the already broken Luna to a terrifying degree.
It really is so damn cool, though.
The visual effect of the Polar Night was pure, unadulterated badassery, enough to make you wet your pants. It was truly the holy trinity of brokenness, romance, and style. If I had my way, I'd want to keep it for myself, but that was probably wishing for too much. In the first place, Cecilia's Moonlight Sword threatened my life. My survival came before coveting the Moonlight Sword.
Late at night, under a rising full moon. The holy land of Solarion was swallowed by a pitch-black darkness without a single light. The archbishops of the entire Old Church gathered in one place, maintaining a solemn presence. Although they were outdoors in a chilly wind, no one voiced any complaints. For this was the first-ever Holy Relic Succession Ceremony.
Since there was no precedent, there was no set ritual or prayer. They couldn't even gauge how grand it should be, but they simply followed the doctrines of the night. This would be a ceremony more sublime than even an imperial coronation.
Drawing the attention of the crowd, a woman walked out from among them. Armed in silver holy armor, she was the rising star of the Empire destined to illuminate the dark night. Her perpetually half-asleep face somehow harmonized with the deep night.
"Dame Cecilia."
Standing before Cecilia as she stopped her steps was the Pope. He drew a sign of the cross with his fingertips wet with holy water. Not the daytime sign of the cross that formed the solar cross, but the nighttime sign of the cross drawn vertically. The Pope placed his hand on Cecilia's head. Cecilia bowed her head solemnly. The Pope closed his eyes tightly and recited the baptismal prayer.
"Since the primal fear of my children stems from the dark of night, unable to merely pity the wretched things, I bestow upon them half of my being. Thus, let there be a brilliant radiance even in the night. No longer shall the night be a stage for the wicked."
At the end of the baptismal prayer, Cecilia knelt on one knee to show her respect. The scene looked just like a knight's investiture. In reality, it held a holiness incomparable to such a thing.
"You are no longer the rising star of the Empire. You shall become the light source of humanity that illuminates both day and night. Cecilia, recite the oath."
In the silence, Cecilia quietly opened her mouth.
O Solarion. A believer in your other side stands here.
Look down upon the child who will become the open eyes within closed vision.
If your lambs await the dawn in the dark of night, I shall become a constellation to guide them to the dawn.
Please do not let them walk in confusion upon the snowfields,
And do not let them lose their way with open eyes in the middle of the night.
Thus prays the believer of the hidden doctrine.
*Sshhhk.*
The Pope drew his sword. The sword, drawn as smoothly as silk, was rested upon Cecilia's right shoulder.
"Cecilia. I ask that you become a self-shining sun by day, and illuminate humanity with the hidden light by night."
"I shall obey."
Cecilia respectfully accepted the sword. A faint silver light, reminiscent of moonlight, swirled around the blade. The guard was shaped like a crescent moon, and the pommel formed a perfect circle like a full moon. Cecilia closed her eyes, feeling the exhilarating rush of Luna.
......In truth, her oath was a lie. No matter what became of the Empire, she was entirely consumed by her desire to avenge her master.