Chapter 454: The Forgotten Heroes.
Chapter 454: The Forgotten Heroes.
A moment later.
Thud!
The sound of something crashing heavily to the ground echoed out, but I had no time to turn and look.
Ah….
My vision was fading. The forewarned dizziness was beginning to consume my entire body.
Feeling as if my consciousness were plummeting into an abyss, I struggled desperately to hold on. I hadn't even confirmed the dragon's final moments, and I had no idea how the spirits would react afterward.
But my body was already tilting, heedless of my will. My eyelids felt as if they were weighted down, constantly trying to close.
It was then. Just as darkness began to creep into my mind and my vision turned completely white…
—Tempus Auxilium….
Just as I thought I was about to lose consciousness again, a faint whisper drifted into my ear.
At the same time, a yellow orb of light appeared before me, dancing about. For a moment, I thought someone was trying to give me an Elixir, but that wasn't it. The softly glowing orb simply swayed gently back and forth before my eyes.
Soon, I felt a warm touch on the left side of my chest. The sensation slowly moved to the right, as if stroking me.
In that instant, a sensation of being pulled sharply from my navel dominated my entire body. What followed was a strange feeling that was impossible to describe.
How could I even describe this? The feeling of my body being forcibly pulled in one direction? Or like the hands of a clock being wound backward by force?
No. It was unfamiliar, yet I had definitely experienced a similar sensation before.
Yes. Time reversal.
This was just like the feeling I had at the end of the 1st playthrough, when I activated Zero Code.
Just as I reached that conclusion, Eternal Flame's voice suddenly spoke from within me.
—That's right. Tempus Auxilium. A time reversal spell has been cast on your body.
Tem... what?
—Tempus Auxilium. T-I-M-E R-E-V-E-R-S-A-L. It's a spell that forcibly turns back time, but limited to just your body. In this case, it's returning your body to the state it was in right before you used Eternal Flame. Still don't get it?
I paused to think for a moment, then gasped in astonishment. I understood what Eternal Flame meant.
Come to think of it, although it was happening very slowly, my dizziness was already subsiding and my vision was gradually clearing. My physical condition was clearly improving. But it didn't feel like healing; just as Eternal Flame had said, it felt like my body was reverting to its state before I used its power.
Is... is that kind of magic even possible?
—It's a spell that was lost after the Mythical Era and never passed down, but it's theoretically possible. Even back then, however, it was rarely used. It's an incredibly difficult spell, so few mages could actually cast it... Besides, the caster has to pay a price equivalent to the state they are reversing for the target. Well, since it's a spirit right now, that probably doesn't mean much.
Eternal Flame's words held many implications. No, the very fact that it called the spell 'incredibly difficult' was telling enough.
I finally understood the identity of the yellow orb of light. It seemed one of the redeemed souls had seen me collapse and cast a spell from the Mythical Era on me.
I thought I was going to pass out for sure, but my body was recovering in a way I'd never expected. The fact that a spirit used such a spell was also proof that they didn't consider us enemies. I was finally able to feel a sense of relief.
What a relief.
—What do you mean, 'what a relief'?!
...Why are you so angry?
—You... This is no time to be feeling relieved. A moment ago, you were on the verge of death. Do you even realize that?
...On the verge of death, huh.
Honestly, I hadn't thought I would actually die. But I had felt it, to some extent. At first, I vaguely thought I could block it, but the moment our powers clashed, I was nearly overwhelmed by that terrifying force.
—You weren't just 'nearly overwhelmed'! Your very vessel was on the brink of shattering. You hear me?
Vessel?
—Yes, you idiot! With your current stamina, you could barely maintain the domain you declared! But you didn't stop there—you tried to consume its power and turn it back? Are you insane? That was an act that clearly surpassed your limits! What would you have done if you hadn't forcibly expanded your vessel back then?
Forcibly... expanded my vessel?
As Eternal Flame continued its string of incomprehensible words, I could only feel dumbfounded.
A moment of silence passed.
—Sigh... Hey, you. Listen carefully.
Perhaps feeling a little sorry for shouting, Eternal Flame's voice was slightly softer when it spoke again. The constant use of 'you' was a bit grating, but I closed my eyes to show I was listening.
—...Phew. Alright, Master. You remember when you accepted Sura's power at your own request. Because of that, your vessel, which was suited for 92 Stamina, expanded to a capacity of 101. But that's all it did—it just expanded. The strength of the vessel itself didn't change one bit.
I understood at once.
The 'vessel' was a metaphor for my limits. The power of Eternal Flame currently permitted to me was equivalent to about 90 Stamina. But this time, I had used a level of power that exceeded that limit.
Fortunately, because I had accepted Sura's power before, I was able to endure it to some extent, but the vessel itself had been on the verge of shattering.
...I see. So I really was about to die.
Perhaps, if things had gone just a little differently...
I might have been consumed by that power, or I might never have opened my eyes again. Restoring a shattered vessel would have been a near-impossible task. The thought sent a sudden chill down my spine.
—Of course, I understand it was an unavoidable situation. And as you said, having a spirit here that can use Tempus Auxilium is nothing short of a miracle. But from now on, don't you ever expect another miracle like this to happen. Whether it's some ridiculous ability you call a miracle, an Elixir, or whatever else. No matter how thoroughly you prepare, if the same situation happens again and you try to draw on my power... I will absolutely refuse to lend it to you. This is a matter of your life being on the line.
After that long speech, Eternal Flame fell silent, as if it had said all it needed to say. I tried calling out to it several times, but as expected, there was no reply.
I quietly raised a hand and calmly stroked my face.
Eternal Flame was right. My life had been on the line. Every word was true, so I had no rebuttal. I had simply planned to use its power to make the battle a little easier, but the plan had been flawed from the start.
“Clan Lord!”
“Orabeoni! Orabeoni!”
Suddenly, I heard voices calling my name.
Feeling that my condition had stabilized considerably, I calmly opened my eyes. A spirit was looking down at me, right before my face.
The spirit, which emanated a soft glow, was a woman with a gentle expression. Her hair was a bright, golden yellow; it seemed this was the source of the yellow orb of light I had seen swaying earlier.
The woman gave me a kind smile before slowly rising to her feet. Watching her move away, I finally realized I was lying on the ground.
My surroundings were quiet. Aside from my clan members shouting in my ear, the dragon's roar that had shaken the air and the crackling of the blazing flames were gone. Only the warm sunlight illuminating the fortress bathed my face.
I calmly felt for the ground and pushed myself up.
“The dragon...?”
As I spoke quietly and sat up, I felt several hands helping to support me.
“Don't worry. The dragon is dead.”
It was Heo Junyoung's calm voice. I raised a hand and waved it dismissively, signaling that I didn't need their help. My body felt perfectly fine now.
“I'm fine... Just be quiet for a moment. My head is ringing.”
I pushed myself to my feet and looked around. The first thing I saw were my clan members, their gazes filled with concern. Among them, I saw Shin Jaeryong holding the Elixir and felt a wave of relief. I had worried he might have used it, but thankfully, the stopper was still in place.
Even in a situation like this... I really am something else.
A bitter taste rose in my mouth at the thought of myself worrying about the Elixir at a time like this.
I gave a bitter smile and spoke.
“Dead...? What happened?”
“Your attack was the decisive blow. The dragon, engulfed in flames, staggered a few times in mid-air before finally crashing to the ground. Then, we and the spirits joined forces and finished it off easily. It was basically a one-sided attack. You might as well have killed it yourself.”
I turned my gaze in the direction Heo Junyoung was pointing. There, I saw the Bone Dragon that had once soared through the sky, now emitting white steam from its entire body.
Its size was immense, and its appearance still retained its characteristic ferocity. But the Third Eye confirmed that the Bone Dragon was definitely dead.
For some reason, the horns protruding from its skull caught my eye.
“Orabeoni... are you really okay?”
Ahn Sol suddenly sobbed, her eyes welling with tears. Her voice was choked with emotion, as if she could burst into tears at any moment.
Without a word, I placed my hand on Ahn Sol's head.
After confirming the dragon's death one more time, I slowly scanned our surroundings. I realized that all the spirits were gathered around the central plaza where Ahn Sol, the clan, and I were standing, watching us.
The spirits no longer had the repulsive appearance of skeletons. They had regained their forms from when they were alive, and the faint, hazy light that flowed from them felt almost sacred. The gazes they directed at us were all filled with reverence and goodwill.
I stroked Ahn Sol's head for a while longer before speaking quietly.
“Ahn Sol.”
“Sniff, yes.”
“It's time for an explanation.”
“A-An explanation?”
“Yes. Who these people are. What on earth happened. Why they are standing here now. And why you did what you did. Tell me everything you know.”
“Ah... W-Well, that is...”
It was then.
Perhaps because I had asked too many questions at once, Ahn Sol stammered with a flustered expression.
Just as she stood there blinking blankly, a small commotion arose among the spirits. The moment I looked toward the disturbance, I felt my eyes focus.
The densely packed spirits parted to the left and right. Through the gap they created, a single spirit was walking calmly toward us.
A moment later, the spirit stopped in front of me. It was a man with kind features and neatly arranged, light-brown hair.
As I stared blankly, the man bowed his head politely.
—Lorem ipsum dolor… Nos Salvator…
“?”
—Lorem ipsum dolor… Nos Salvator…
“...Hmm. I have no idea what he's saying.”
He repeated the same words, but I couldn't understand them. I glanced at Vivian, wondering if she might be able to comprehend it, but she also shook her head.
I tilted my head. When I made a gesture to show I didn't understand, the man smiled gently and nodded his head.
Then, the man calmly turned to face the other spirits.
Suddenly, he raised one hand high and shouted in a powerful voice.
—Drrrr… Ea - Yaal!
By now, the fog that had filled the fortress had completely lifted, without a trace remaining.
The man's voice was no longer the low, unpleasant one from before. A clear, pure voice, matching his appearance, rang through the air, its echo spreading along the long shadows cast by the sunlight.
And, in that moment.
The thousands of spirits who had been watching us just moments before.
—Lorem ipsum dolor… Nos Salvator…
All knelt in unison, their voices joining in a magnificent chorus.