Chapter 82
Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Eternal Sword
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Dragon of Despair, who had been utterly at ease, was now utterly dumbfounded.
His smile had vanished.
His eyes were wide with shock, his body trembling like a frightened beast.
The Dragon of Despair was convinced that Park Chan-woo was "Dragon God Sepiro."
'Why in the world is Lord Sepiro in a place like this…!'
Ataraxia fell into panic.
He might look like a mere human, but the man before him was undoubtedly Dragon God Sepiro.
There was no way he could be mistaken.
No chance of illusion.
There were far too many factors convincing Ataraxia that Park Chan-woo was "Sepiro."
'He nullified my magic and dragon tongue without incantation. While perfectly concealing his presence. No, it wasn't just concealment—that was absolute magic. Flawless nonexistence!'
Magic could be countered.
But no mere human could erase the Dragon Tongue.
Dragon Tongue was the fundamental magic inherent to the dragon race.
Fundamental magic was a authority beyond the hierarchy of spells.
Such powers couldn't be opposed by ordinary magic.
Only spells of at least "Wish"-level hierarchy could match them.
And above all...
...there's no way the user of such absolute magic could be an ordinary human.
Ataraxia was of the dragon race, lords of magic.
An ancient dragon of despair, renowned even among dragons as a powerhouse.
He was certain: that was absolute magic erasing existence itself.
Supreme magic that even the Creators, including the Moon's Lord Aheta, couldn't detect.
'It's the absolute magic Lord Sepiro often used—Nonexistence.'
This was knowledge known only to ancient dragons and above.
The "absolute magics" wielded by Dragon God Sepiro were kept under strict secrecy.
Ataraxia knew only three at most.
One of them was "Nonexistence."
But the evidence didn't end there.
It would be careless to conclude "Dragon God Sepiro" based on so little.
Dragon God Sepiro was the pinnacle of existence.
The unique god transcending the ultimate.
The sovereign of dragons, surpassing perfection itself.
'That's how it was possible. Conquering Arrogance, awakening Wish—it all makes sense!'
Ah!
Now the full picture came into view.
The name of Arrogance, which neither the Twelve Races nor the Abyss could conquer.
He had wondered who the human that claimed it was.
...If Dragon God Sepiro himself had stepped in, of course it was possible.
Besides, the Black Witch had personally raised the Death Witch Adora to become the "Lord of Arrogance." That could have piqued Sepiro's curiosity.
'...He did have a hobby of filling his Mysterious Codex for a while.'
It was a famous tale among dragons.
Dragon God Sepiro had wandered various worlds, seeking rare treasures to fill his "Mysterious Codex" as his pastime.
Taking Arrogance's star fit the same pattern.
Likewise, he had likely targeted it from the start to complete his codex.
Look at it.
Everything fit perfectly.
No one but Sepiro could make all this possible.
'But even all that evidence pales before that final magic.'
The final magic.
Ataraxia thrilled at the mere name.
Slowly, he turned to gaze behind Park Chan-woo.
'...I see it. I feel it. The death lurking there. The monster of destruction that annihilates all.'
When he had revealed his presence.
The instant Nonexistence shattered, allowing him to exist.
Ataraxia had clearly seen it.
The embodiment of "death" itself, inescapable as fate.
The harbinger of "annihilation" that incinerates and erases everything!
Chills ran through him the moment he beheld it.
That was why Ataraxia recoiled in horror.
All "absolute magics" flowed from that "death incarnate."
It had to be Sepiro's heart.
Only the great Dragon God's heart could enable such feats.
And before Sepiro's heart—that "death incarnate"—time was engraved:
Time ticked down by the second.
Of course, this was the remaining time for the status ailment "Death Sentence."
But Ataraxia believed it was the countdown for the "final magic" to activate.
'I've heard rumors. Lord Sepiro reached a hierarchy beyond absolute magic. The final magic using his own heart. A spell of annihilation that reverts all to pre-existence, singing the end... He finally completed it!'
What else could that timer mean?
The sovereign of dragons, a god, had finally perfected "the end."
The question was why he appeared in human form.
At first, he thought it was mere amusement and got excited.
Believing the final magic complete, he had been thrilled.
'Ah...!'
Then realization dawned.
...The grave mistake he had made.
A colossal blunder.
He had shown unseemly behavior before Dragon God Sepiro.
Because Sepiro wasn't someone dragons could casually meet, even kin.
Dragon God Sepiro kept only what intrigued him close.
He ignored the legions of dragons who followed him.
In truth, dragons served him of their own accord.
Ataraxia himself had glimpsed Sepiro only once, from afar, long ago.
Even the ancient Dragon of Despair couldn't meet him.
Yet Ataraxia and all dragons revered Dragon God Sepiro.
Unable to see or approach, they were content worshiping from afar.
...That's why he got carried away unwittingly.
Chances to see Sepiro up close were nonexistent.
The Despair Clan's war was all to gain Sepiro's interest and favor.
That alone was reason enough.
And sufficient.
"Why are the Despair Clan here?"
Then it came.
A voice utterly emotionless flowed from his lips.
Shivers ran down Ataraxia's spine.
Sepiro seemed to recognize him.
In human guise, questioning why the Despair Clan was in the "Second Night."
...This was bad.
If Sepiro took issue, the Despair Clan's annihilation was only a matter of time.
Yet, oddly, it felt surreal.
The Dragon God knew of the "Despair Clan."
He who remembered only what intrigued him...!
Thud!
Ataraxia immediately dropped to his knees.
Head bowed low, staring at the ground.
He dared not meet his eyes.
What should he do?
'Tell the truth.'
But the words wouldn't come.
How could he admit coming at the Black Witch's command?
"Did the 'Black Witch' send you? For Wish and Arrogance's star?"
"...!!!"
He knew everything.
Fooling Sepiro from the start was impossible.
He clearly knew Ataraxia was the Black Witch's minion here.
"P-Please... kill me!"
"Very well. Since you ask for death, I shall grant it."
Sepiro.
No, Park Chan-woo spoke.
Right now, Park Chan-woo was putting everything into imitating "Sepiro."
The dragon before him was mistaken.
The Nonexistence status and erasure of Dragon Tongue had clearly impressed him.
Thus, he saw him as the true "Dragon God."
'I can't let even a shred of doubt arise.'
Yet, mistaken or not, this was a dragon.
If the slightest suspicion that he wasn't Sepiro crept in, he'd verify without mercy.
The moment the ruse was exposed, it was over.
Conversely, if he could make him ironclad believe...
'I could use this dragon.'
A dragon even Abyss Creators couldn't easily face.
The gains from manipulating him were unimaginable.
'...I'll impersonate the Sepiro I encountered.'
Thus, Park Chan-woo began his act.
The indolent, arrogant, cynical great being.
But mere mannerisms weren't enough.
The dragon before him was a monster he couldn't kill even if he wanted to.
So, he needed to go further.
This was the crossroads.
Something only Sepiro could do.
A miracle no one else could perform.
Only then would doubt never even occur.
Turning crisis to opportunity!
Step.
Park Chan-woo took one step forward.
Standing beside Lee Hyuk-soo, he extended his hand and opened his mouth.
"Give me your sword."
"...?"
Lee Hyuk-soo blinked.
He couldn't keep up with what was happening.
Suddenly, the attacking mage called the Prophet "Sepiro."
Then rambled incoherently and even knelt.
What relation did they have? What was the Prophet's true identity?
He knew nothing.
And now the Prophet approached, demanding his sword.
But in Abyss, nothing but "Coins" could be transferred to others.
Hand it over, and it evaporated.
He knew that ironclad truth... yet demanded the sword?
'The Greatsword of the Lion King?'
...Moreover, Lee Hyuk-soo's only sword was the "Greatsword of the Lion King."
Engraved with the Lion King's name, it enabled him to use "lion magic."
In short, losing the Greatsword of the Lion King meant no more "Shadow Suffocation" or lion magics.
Yet he demanded this vital treasure out of nowhere?
Meeting his eyes, Park Chan-woo nodded curtly.
Even for a benefactor, this crossed a line...
"...Understood."
But Lee Hyuk-soo didn't hesitate long.
He didn't know the situation, but if the Prophet acted, there was reason.
Losing the Greatsword of the Lion King wasn't a big deal.
Lee Hyuk-soo offered the greatsword.
Thud.
Park Chan-woo leisurely gripped it.
That instant.
"...!!!"
"...!!!"
Both Ataraxia and Lee Hyuk-soo stared in shock.
...Park Chan-woo was holding the "Greatsword of the Lion King" perfectly.
The sword didn't vanish.
Despite clearly transferring from Lee Hyuk-soo's hand to his.
But "non-transferable" was Abyss's absolute rule.
Not even the great Nine Lords could defy it.
Yet now, that absolute rule was broken.
By Park Chan-woo himself.
"Ahh, as expected...!"
Ataraxia cried out in rapture once more.
As expected of Sepiro.
No rule held before Dragon God Sepiro!
Of course, the true reason for this miracle was elsewhere.
This wasn't a miracle.
Conquering Arrogance's Tower had granted Park Chan-woo the Magic Swordsman class and two "hidden traits."
One was the "Magic of Annihilation" that destroyed fundamental racial magics.
The other was...