Chapter 611
Chapter Title: The Shadow's Wrath
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611.
Elsie was a Great Spirit unlike any other.
Great Spirits are special beings.
From the moment of their birth, countless spirits gather around them to bless the arrival of a new Great Spirit.
They are sublime beings, born with the authority to reign over other spirits and wielding immense power from the very start.
Naturally, they grow accustomed to being revered, inevitably becoming authoritarian figures with high standards.
But Elsie was different.
The era of Elsie’s birth was darker than any before it.
She was born on a battlefield where people were dying, and when she opened her eyes, there was no one to bless her arrival.
Those who knew of Elsie’s existence pleaded with her to tear their enemies to shreds.
Elsie followed their will and fought against Tartaros.
But all she witnessed was countless deaths.
Eventually, she came to reside in Schatten, the Sword that Devours Darkness, and traversed the battlefields with Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.
Afterward, she concealed her identity and lived with the children at Agon’s orphanage.
She had every reason to become twisted.
But Elsie did not.
Instead, she wanted to save the world.
She didn't have a grandiose reason like the other Great Spirits.
Just a small, yet immense, wish to see the stars in the night sky.
‘And then she was disappointed by the world.’
The future Elsie, a reward from the Hero Record, was a version of herself that the current Elsie did not know.
Witnessing the malice of the world’s inhabitants, not the evil of Tartaros, Elsie grew disillusioned with the world.
She came to hate it.
Yet, even so, she could never abandon the world she was born into.
She couldn’t give up on the beautiful world she had never seen.
By choosing Kyle over Lisinas, she sought a reason for this world to continue existing.
And in the end, she sacrificed herself for this world.
Whenever Leo looked at Elsie, he wondered.
What if, back then, Elsie hadn’t perished?
What if she had survived to the end and seen the stars in the night sky?
‘Probably… she would have been just like she is now.’
Even now, Elsie gazes at the stars every night, a bright smile on her face.
She finds joy in the little things, genuinely delighting in them.
That was what made her different from other Great Spirits.
A spirit too kind to even know how to be angry.
Elsie, the Shadow Spirit who would simply smile benignly even when insulted.
That same Elsie was now angry.
Her unusual aura left Leo with a bewildered expression.
“Are you angry?”
-I cannot forgive this.
Elsie spoke in a voice devoid of emotion.
-Looking at Leo with those eyes.
Currently, Ista was glaring at Leo as if looking at something utterly repulsive.
That gaze bothered Elsie.
To Elsie, Leo was more than a contractor; he was her savior.
A benefactor to whom she would gladly devote her entire existence, for he had shown her the night sky she thought she would never see and gifted her a peace she could never have enjoyed.
When she first met Ignit and Rariel, they had insulted and mocked her.
But Elsie hadn't cared.
From their perspective, it was only natural.
She was merely a ghost of the past, so it wasn't strange for them to dismiss her.
But insulting Leo was a different matter entirely.
At Elsie’s toneless words, Leo said, “First, calm down.”
Just as Leo was trying to soothe Elsie, a sound rang out.
“Hmph.”
It was Ista’s scoff.
“A subordinate spirit of Ignit? Hah! It seems that insidious fellow can’t even manage a single low-ranking spirit properly.”
Ista, who was leaning on his chin while seated on his throne, completely ignored Elsie and looked at Leo.
“You insolent one. You sought me out to form a pact, did you not?”
“I did.”
“Hah! How arrogant and disrespectful. It seems that contracting with the Spirits of Abyss and Radiance has made you blind to your place.”
-You’re the one who’s blind!
“Hmph. Old hag. Have you finally gone senile?”
Rariel, who had appeared beside Leo, spoke urgently.
-Ista! I know what you’re thinking! But at least treat Sir Leo as a candidate for a pact!
“Ha! Sir Leo? I’m disappointed! Spirit of Radiance! I was never particularly fond of you, but I always respected and acknowledged your spirit! A Great Spirit who has lived for thousands of years, and you use an honorific for a mere human!”
Ista’s eyes widened.
“A Great Spirit’s contractor is, by nature, one who serves and reveres the Great Spirit! In other words, a subordinate! To use an honorific for such a contractor! The Spirit of the Abyss must be the same! You two are a disgrace to all Great Spirits!”
-…That perverted old man. He has no idea what’s going on, does he?
Kiruan muttered in disbelief.
Even now, Ista was staring at Leo with disgust.
It was as if he could never accept the existence of Leo, who came to contract with him while already bound to a Great Spirit and three Divine Beasts.
‘Normally, I’d be the one to deal with anyone spouting such nonsense.’
Leo glanced at Elsie.
Seeing her with the same cold demeanor as when they first met, he sighed.
‘It looks like Elsie will act before I do.’
“Allow me to show you how a Great Spirit should handle a contractor.”
*Snap!*
Ista curled his lips into a smirk and snapped his fingers.
From behind the throne, Celia emerged.
Elsie’s eyes narrowed at the sight of Celia.
-Leo.
“Yeah, she’s unconscious.”
Celia, dressed in a magnificent red gown and holding a brilliant red longsword instead of her usual Flame Storm, appeared to be unconscious.
‘That sword and dress must be a high-ranking fire spirit.’
Celia’s red eyes glinted.
“Spirit Armored. Is this a forced possession?”
“Hoh? Indeed. For someone who has pacts with two Great Spirits, you have a keen eye.”
Ista’s lips curled into a smirk.
“I heard you studied magical formulas. Your application is quite unique.”
Watching this, Rariel wore a look of utter disbelief.
-Ista! This is going too far, even for you! Using a subordinate spirit to forcibly possess someone with Spirit Armored and steal their consciousness! This is an insult to a contractor! Besides, Celia Jerdinger has no aptitude as a spirit user! It’s bound to put a strain on her body!
“Hmph. I know more about the blood of Tungkhan than anyone. Though she may lack the aptitude of a spirit user, Celia Jerdinger’s wavelength is highly compatible with fire spirits!”
Ista’s eyes flashed.
“After losing my precious contractor decades ago, I resolved! I will never repeat such an event! My contractor shall live and die according to my will!”
-You… no… you bastard.
At that moment, a chilling coldness seeped into Elsie’s voice.
Hearing it, Leo smiled.
‘She’s completely lost it.’
She was the spitting image of herself from 5,000 years ago, when she fought with genuine fury.
Leo subtly distanced himself from Elsie.
Ista’s actions were something Elsie could never accept.
During the Age of Calamity, Elsie had eagerly awaited a contractor.
A contractor who would save the world with her.
But at the same time, she had wondered.
Could she even find a contractor in such a desperate era?
It was different from the present age, where she could refuse a contract simply because she didn't like someone.
To Elsie, Ista, who treated a contractor like an object, was an absolutely unforgivable sort.
“For a low-ranking spirit of darkness, you’ve been spouting insolent words for a while now…!”
The moment Ista spoke in annoyance, the shadows around the throne shot up.
*CRUUUUNCH! CRACK! RUUUUMBLE!*
The shadows crushed the spot where Ista had been.
“Leo.”
Leo looked to his side.
A beautiful woman with black hair was looking at him.
It was Elsie’s original form.
“Please leave that spirit to me.”
At Elsie’s words, Leo nodded.
*Step. Step.*
Elsie walked toward where the throne had been.
A massive crater was left in its place.
Staring down into it with a blank expression, Elsie entered the hole.
Watching her, Kiruan muttered.
-I’m never talking back to Elsie again.
*Chirp! Chirp!*
Just as Piora nodded her head, Arty spoke with a worried expression.
-Master. Will she be alright?
Rariel also spoke urgently.
-Sir Leo! Fighting here is too disadvantageous for Lady Elsie!
This was Ista’s domain.
Even in a fight between Great Spirits of equal power, fighting in another’s territory was an incredibly dangerous act.
Fighting here didn't just mean the Spirit of Purification was the only enemy.
It meant that every fire spirit in this place would become an enemy.
Rariel would have been in a better position than Elsie.
While not on Ista’s level, Rariel also commanded countless subordinate spirits.
But Elsie was completely alone.
Hearing Arty and Rariel, Leo looked at Celia, who was approaching him.
“She’ll be fine.”
*Schwing-!*
Leo drew his sword.
“She’s a little special.”
-Pardon?
Leo gave a bitter smile.
The Shadow Spirit that even Lisinas had acknowledged as the strongest of all spirits.
‘It’s just that my own capabilities have been insufficient to draw out her full power until now. Elsie herself probably doesn’t even know.’
5,000 years ago, she single-handedly annihilated the army of the Necro King, which was hailed as the strongest legion of its time. She didn't know her own true power.
***
*Thud-dud-dud-*
Ista, who had been slammed deep underground, pushed himself up.
*Thud!*
Elsie landed in front of Ista with a blank expression.
“It seems you’re no ordinary low-ranking spirit.”
Ista’s muscles rippled threateningly.
“You possess power rivaling a Great Spirit. How is this possible? Did the Spirit of the Abyss perish while I was unaware, and a new Great Spirit of Darkness was born?”
“Ignit is doing just fine.”
Elsie said calmly.
“Then what are you?”
“My name is Elsie, the Shadow Spirit. I am a former Great Spirit of Darkness.”
“Hoh?”
Ista stroked his chin.
Not long ago, he would have shouted that it was nonsense.
But even though Ista had remained in this palace, he was not ignorant of the outside world.
This was an age of miracles, where Great Heroes appeared and gods revealed themselves.
“So it wouldn't be strange for a Great Spirit of the past to appear in the present age? How interesting.”
Ista spread his arms wide.
“In that case, I have no choice but to treat you with the respect due a Great Spirit.”
*WHOOOOOSH-!*
Blue flames raged around him.
“Hahahahahaha! I shall purify you! Great Spirit of the past!”
*FWOOOOSH-!*
“Bow before me! For this is the flame of I, the Spirit of Purification, hailed as the strongest spirit of this era!”
An immense torrent of fire engulfed Elsie.
Watching this, Ista, who had been laughing maniacally, stroked his chin.
“Oops. Was that a bit too hot for the old lady?”
“Grit your teeth.”
“What?”
Startled by a voice suddenly coming from behind, Ista flinched.
Elsie’s fist, wreathed in darkness, slammed into Ista’s face.
*CRACK-!*
“Guh!”
Smashed into the ground, Ista felt an immense pressure.
Looking down at him, Elsie spoke.
“If you apologize for looking at Leo so rudely and for treating Celia so carelessly, I will apologize for attacking you.”
“Don’t make me laugh!”
Ista shot up from his spot.
“A Great Spirit is a being that stands at the pinnacle of an element! Do you think I would bow my head and apologize to anyone!”
At those words, Elsie blinked.
“It’s just a simple difference of opinion, is there really a need to fight to the death? I feel a little better after hitting you in the face once.”
“This is not such a simple matter!”
The flames erupting from Ista’s body grew even more intense.
“A Great Spirit is a sublime being! My word is law! It is truth!”
“…”
Elsie wore a dumbfounded expression.
‘There’s no getting through to him.’
Elsie had never met a spirit so full of pride.
“Hmph.”
Elsie pointed a finger, and a shadow extended from its tip, extinguishing Ista’s flames.
“What?!”
Startled, Ista tried to reignite his flames, but Elsie suppressed them once again.
“It seems I’m a little stronger, don’t you think?”
“Grr! I cannot accept this!”
*FWOOOOOSH-!*
The entire area instantly began to burn.
Elsie looked around in surprise.
-Sigh. This is why I said we should fight together.
-You stubbornly refused, saying you could win alone. How embarrassing.
The ones who appeared were the highest-ranking fire spirits.
“Hello.”
Elsie bowed her head politely to them.
Her attitude flustered the high-ranking fire spirits.
They had never imagined that a Great Spirit, even one from the past, would bow to lower-ranking spirits like themselves.
“I’m sorry, but I’m in the middle of a conversation with this spirit. Could you please wait a moment?”
A beautiful spirit with fiery, waist-length hair gave a bitter smile at Elsie’s words.
-I’m afraid we can’t do that.
“Pardon?”
-To a subordinate spirit, the command of the Great Spirit we serve is absolute.
*FWOOSH-!*
The high-ranking spirits unleashed their flames.
In response, a mighty torrent of fire began to surge from Ista’s body.
As his flames grew stronger, Elsie’s expression hardened slightly.
Seeing this, Ista grinned.
“You’ll regret starting a fight in my domain, Shadow Spirit.”
*BOOOOOOM-!*
A colossal explosion of fire engulfed Elsie.
***
Elsie felt her consciousness fade.
‘Huh? Did I collapse on the ground?’
Confused, Elsie tried to recall what had just happened.
‘Ah… I was fighting the Spirit of Purification.’
It seemed she had taken a powerful hit and lost consciousness for a moment.
‘I have to get up.’
Elsie tried to move her body.
But it wouldn’t listen.
Just as Elsie’s brow furrowed, a voice spoke.
“You’re a special spirit, Elsie.”
It was a voice she had heard somewhere before.
Elsie turned her head in the direction of the voice.
And there, a beautiful woman with black hair was smiling at her.
‘This person is…’
It was a face she knew well.
‘The King of Wisdom…?’
Lisinas walked over to Elsie and crouched down.
“Because a shadow is another version of myself.”
The black dragon before her understood darkness as well as any spirit of darkness.
“And there is no being in this world without a shadow.”
Lisinas offered a gentle smile.
“So please, use that power to help Kyle.”
‘…This conversation… from somewhere?’
Elsie’s eyes widened.
She had never had such a conversation with Lisinas.
No, she had never even met the real Lisinas.
But… she had a faint memory of it.
She was certain that somewhere, she had shared these words with Lisinas.
‘Ah…’
Elsie’s eyes flew open.
‘A memory from my other self?’
*Yank-!*
Something grabbed Elsie’s hair and pulled her up.
The high-ranking fire spirit who had spoken to her earlier said.
-Are we really going to execute her? We might end up on bad terms with Leo Flove.
“Hmph. That has nothing to do with me.”
-Honestly… so selfish. When will you ever grow up?
“What did you just say, Alcia!”
-It was nothing.
Sighing at her childish master’s behavior, the high-ranking fire spirit, Alcia, raised her hand.
“Your name is Alcia, I see.”
At the gentle voice, Alcia turned her head. Her eyes met Elsie’s, and she felt something drop in the pit of her stomach.
Elsie smiled softly and said.
“Alcia.”
-Yes?
“Would you, by any chance, like to step into my shadow?”
As Alcia’s red eyes met Elsie’s black ones, they were momentarily dyed black.