Chapter 318
Chapter 318
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Incarnation of Oblivion
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Please.
Get a grip.
That's not me.
The hero whose existence had been stolen screamed in agony.
He pleaded earnestly with his comrades.
"What a joke. For a scum like you to impersonate him—"
"Sorry to say this, but there's no way someone as ugly as you could be him, right?"
But what returned wasn't understanding—it was looks of utter disgust.
"If you really are him, then prove it."
"How? It's simple, isn't it? The name you're impersonating belongs to the continent's first and only Dual Master in history."
"Show us something worthy of the title Dual Master, and we'll have no choice but to accept it."
Despair washed over the hero's face.
Dual Master.
How was he supposed to prove such an unrealistic ability?
To begin with, he wasn't a Dual Master at all.
"What? You can't show the power of a Dual Master either?"
"How dare you! How can you lump him in with the likes of you!?"
"He simply exhausted his power sealing the great demon!!!"
The "him" they spoke of was so far removed from his original self.
And yet.
They believed "it" was him.
Willingly.
And proudly.
Yes.
It was a "him" far more glorious and respectable to his comrades.
Thus, the hero was replaced—
And forgotten.
"Rishir! To think you were the reincarnation of the Hero-God!!!"
"But, is it okay to tell us this huge secret?"
"What's there to hide? I was the Hero-God in a past life. No connection now, right?"
"You never know! What if Rishir has awakened as the Hero-God, or has its ego!"
"Then let's just ask."
"Rishir— are you the Hero-God now, or Rishir?"
"G-get away!!! Get away from me!!!"
As his comrades approached without hesitation, overflowing with infinite faith and interest—
'Rishir' recoiled in terror.
The omnipotence and confidence from the great demon's authority had already vanished.
"You!!! Honorary Mage of the Gray Tower!!! What have you done to me!!!"
'Rishir'—
No, the Incarnation of Oblivion screamed in all directions.
"What the hell are you showing me!!!"
All of this was an illusion created by that bastard.
That was the conclusion the incarnation reached amid its confusion.
And rightly so—
Nothing else explained it.
"Rishir. What are you suddenly on about? You're the Honorary Mage of the Gray Tower. Don't tell me you're embarrassed by the title?"
"No need to be ashamed. He can just use another true name."
"...Is that it? Maybe? No, that's not the point. Why is Rishir acting like that?"
"Who knows? He must have his reasons and plans. We just follow along."
The Wandering Star.
The Star of the Flower Garden.
The Frozen Breath.
Those great archmages symbolizing intellect and mystery were acting like parts of their brains had been lobotomized.
"I-I know exactly what I've done!!!"
The incarnation thrashed to defend itself amid the vortex of confusion and madness.
He shouted as if convincing himself.
"I only infiltrated your comrades' minds! Perfectly sane minds!!! But look at them now!!! You don't think you can fool me with that crap, do you!?!"
Rishir's comrades stared at him blankly.
"Something's off."
"Rishir with that lowbrow talk?"
"Has he ever lost himself to emotions like that?"
"Ha, haha! Hahahaha!!!"
The incarnation burst into laughter.
It judged their behavior as a ploy to force acceptance—
A scheme to override its insight into everything.
'As expected, those are illusions created by the bastard! I'm trapped in the illusion he made!'
The incarnation screamed again in all directions.
To the hero watching from the shadows.
"You must want me to keep imitating you purely!!! In this illusion you created!!! No way! If you have eyes and wits, look at those things!!!"
"What about us?"
At the ensuing accusations, Remier of the Wandering Star furrowed his brow.
"When the hero's identity as Hero-God reincarnation was revealed, you accepted it, but now that he's excitedly shouting, you're fidgeting! Yes! To you, the hero excitedly shouting is more shocking than him being the Hero-God!?"
The incarnation sharply pointed out the cognitive dissonance revealed in their—
Illusory actions.
For the hero creating all illusions, it would feel seen through.
And that emotional shake would show in the illusions.
"..."
"..."
Then.
Rishir's comrades began exchanging glances.
-What obvious nonsense.
-Rishir as Hero-God reincarnation is plenty realistic.
-But Rishir excitedly shouting?
-Isn't that a bit unrealistic?
Glances implying such conversation.
"Hahaha!!! Look at that, hero!!! Your created illusions are breaking down from their own contradictions!!!"
Now convinced.
'Definite! This place is the bastard's illusion!'
Thus, deliberation begins.
How to escape this place.
"...!!!"
Suddenly.
The incarnation's eyes widened.
Instinct signaled.
If it willed it, it could leave anytime!
The incarnation attributed it to power from its authority.
The hero's power couldn't bind it—
"Nice try."
The incarnation melted its regained leisure into a smile.
"But playing along with your pathetic farce ends here."
The incarnation heightened its senses.
To escape this illusion made by the hero—
And return to its own illusion.
Shaaaaaa—
Everything forming the illusion scattered as mist.
And so—
"Everyone! Are you coming to your senses!?"
Reality unfolded before them.
"Huh?"
"Rishir?"
"Ugh— my head..."
"What was that? Rishir as Hero-God reincarnation..."
The incarnation belatedly realized something was wrong.
The world of the incarnation, perfected by oblivion's authority, was shaking.
Now it couldn't even distinguish if its place was reality or illusion.
Thus, the dark mist condensed in the air wandered lost.
Completely defenseless.
-Guaaaaaah!!!
The incarnation's anguish finally knotted.
Not in resolution, but pain—
The advancing holy sword pierced the dark mist without mercy.
The incarnation endured yet another confusion with the pain.
Because the hero's holy sword was based thoroughly on assassination blade.
Yes.
The hero never let his guard down.
Even as the incarnation was lost in confusion, fearing it might notice, he vilely struck with assassination blade.
-S-stop!!! Get out of my head!!!
"Never been in there!"
Follow-up slashes.
-Ah, aah! Aaaaaaah!!!
The incarnation sobbed in pain and confusion.
The dark mist grew ever fainter.
Just as Rishir was about to land the final blow—
-Stop!!!
Fwoosh!
The dark mist scattered and vanished.
"Missed it!?"
"No!!!"
All eyes focused at Rishir's shout.
Wuuuung—
The fragment of oblivion resonated violently.
"Its essence is definitely still here!"
"Then—"
"Remember how it burst in here!? Perhaps now it's shifted consciousness to another fragment's location!"
"No way—"
"Lady Remier, any idea!?"
The Star of Frost.
She murmured blankly.
"The Blue Tower is in danger—"
-Guaaaaaak!
"?"
The incarnation reappeared.
As if repelled by something.
It happened amid the fragment's sealing.
Vast dark mist overflowed from the fragment, swallowing them—
The blue mages.
"Tower Lord, are you alright!?"
The blue mages shouted toward the figure at the center.
A man with unrealistically perfect features stood there.
The Incarnation of Oblivion, claiming to be the Blue Tower Lord, Star of Frost.
The incarnation immediately began injecting illusions into the blue mages.
Illusions to displace the Blue Tower Lord and embed itself.
As natural as moving hands and feet.
However.
Its mind was driven to the limit now.
Due to the recent chain of events.
The convictions it had built crumbled.
One existence floated in the incarnation's mind.
Pushed, it created an illusion modeled after that existence.
It thought.
Based on a real person, the illusion's persuasiveness would be certain.
This time, the incarnation was convinced of success.
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He reached Sword Master realm at age twenty—
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"You!!! Who are you!!!"
The moment the illusion was injected, the blue mages shook off oblivion's authority.
"Would we blue mages be ruled by such a foolish phantom!!!"
Because that illusion was too unrealistic.
-Why! Why!!! Why!!! Ah, aaaaaa!!! Aaaaaak!!! Is that it!!! Am I still trapped in its illusion!!!
The incarnation ultimately released itself.
Soon.
The dark mist fully lost form and dispersed.
"Got it!?"
Rishir cheered, confirming the fragment's resonance stopped.
"No! Its power lingers!"
"What!?"
Damn it!
I unconsciously chanted the spell—
Rishir sensed his blunder and checked his comrades.
They clutched their heads, confused.
"Its power... is denying you're the Hero-God reincarnation...! At this rate, you'll forget it!!!"
"Huh?"
Rishir was baffled.
Isn't forgetting the right thing?