Chapter 110: The Beast, the Beast King, and the Human - 6
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 110: The Beast, the Beast King, and the Human - 6
“However! There is something I am curious about!”
For a brief moment, the lieutenant general could not hide his impatience, glancing up toward the top of the Abyss. He looked like a man waiting for something to fall.
It seemed the time was not yet right; the endless darkness of the vast space remained intact. Ebon lowered his gaze to the Undying man.
‘The Undying, Rasch. They said he tore to death those who insulted his tribe. I thought him a typical barbarian, concerned only with honor and grudges, unbound by law and order—easy to exploit… But he is a completely different man from what I expected. Still, he can be used.’
Feigning composure once more, Ebon spoke.
“What is it?”
The Undying man spoke with a hint of awkwardness and a great deal of curiosity.
“The lieutenant colonel who was your subordinate. She must have come here under your orders, so why did you try to kill her?”
A faint smile touched Ebon’s lips as he replied.
“That’s easy to answer. Because she betrayed us.”
“Is that a reason to die?”
“And because her life was the most suitable for achieving my goal. She happened to be there, chained to the Dog King. Besides that, well, there were various other reasons. For me, there was no reason not to use her.”
“I see.”
“Why, were you curious about the reason? That’s unexpected. Aren’t you an undying, for whom the concept of death is faint? Was the lieutenant colonel’s death so impressive to you?”
“It was a little more impressive than usual. But her death was not the only thing that was impressive.”
The Undying man nodded gravely.
“Death is rare for us. Even if we are stabbed by a sword, scorched by fire, or torn to pieces and scattered on the ground, we will one day return. We do not catch ordinary diseases, only curses. Even the occasional death is considered a return to the embrace of Mother Earth before life becomes more wretched. At someone’s funeral, we all gather to laugh and talk instead of mourning.”
His question was laced with the traces of deep contemplation. In response to his sincerity, Ebon also answered with due respect.
“A paradise, then. For us, death comes suddenly. And there is far too much of it. An unprepared death is a daily occurrence, and eternal loss can be found easily all around. It’s common to be promoted because your superior officer died, and it’s not unusual for the colonel you had coffee with last week to be suddenly replaced by someone else. Unlike you, when our bodies are torn apart, that is the end.”
It was an answer containing his own reflections. But the Undying man still did not understand.
“I know that as well. That is why I say I understand even less. You who die so easily, who know how fragile and precious life is, are instead quick to die or to kill. It is as if you do not know the value of life.”
“It’s not that we don’t know the value of life. We simply strive to find something more precious than it. Since we are bound to lose our lives anyway, shouldn’t we use them for something of greater worth?”
Their answers were at odds. Realizing this was a difference in perspective, the Undying man shook his head.
“Our perspectives differ. I believe that the more easily something can be lost, the more valuable it is.”
“It is because we lose our lives so easily that we cling to things that last forever. We seek to use the lives we are bound to lose to find immutable value.”
“The lieutenant colonel yearned for life.”
“Which is why we felt betrayed, is it not? The lieutenant colonel’s actions were a betrayal of our promise. I trust that you, who understand the value of life, also understand the value of a promise.”
The exchange ended. The Undying man, with a solemn expression, was mulling over the conversation they had just shared.
After observing him for a moment, Ebon asked for confirmation.
“In that case, you will not stop me. My life must be precious as well.”
The Undying man spoke with difficulty.
“…Although you stabbed my friend in the back, that must have been a matter between you and the lieutenant colonel. I do not think I have the right to interfere.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“I will not blame you. I only hope that the lieutenant colonel and the others will not be endangered because of my judgment.”
“Do not worry. I have already suffered a terrible failure and lost my right arm. I have no other moves to make. The lieutenant colonel will be in no danger.”
Ebon lied with a straight face. It was a practiced lie, befitting a high-ranking member of a secret organization.
The Undying man closed his eyes. It was a silent sign that he would pretend not to see him. Noticing this, Ebon smiled in satisfaction. It was a natural movement, unimaginable for someone whose severed right arm was dripping blood.
But, as expected.
“Lieutenant General, just a moment!”
“Ah, the laborer. You were here too.”
As I stepped forward, Ebon naturally turned his gaze to me. He replied with an outwardly friendly smile.
“The ability you showed at the end was impressive. Haha. I was truly astonished then. To think you would dismantle the claws instead of the chain. That was unexpected for me as well.”
‘Damn it, my final plan was ruined by him. It was a hastily concocted plan, but for that very reason, it should have been free of interference! If it weren't for the Progenitor, I would have killed him from the start!!’
Lieutenant General Ebon responded skillfully while hiding his true thoughts. From the perspective of a mind reader, it was quite a chilling sight. It was rare to see someone with such a stark difference between their inside and outside.
I shrugged and replied.
“Don’t you need her Dog Tag? The lieutenant colonel is dead. She’s a fallen soldier, so you’ll need to take her Dog Tag for confirmation!”
A Dog Tag. Something the Military State established to honor its fallen soldiers.
For soldiers who had not reached Level 4, the compensation paid to their families upon death was their one and only true inheritance. The Dog Tag was necessary for that, and soldiers treasured it as much as their own lives.
There was even a saying: ‘If you can’t leave behind an intact body, at least leave behind an intact Dog Tag.’
Therefore, collecting the Dog Tag of a fallen soldier was a courtesy, a virtue, and a duty for a fellow soldier.
However, for Ebon, who was waiting for the gate to open so he could escape, it was an unacceptable proposition. It would also be troublesome if he went down and encountered a dangerous being like the Regressor.
Ebon smiled and said.
“What need is there for a Dog Tag? I am a general officer; my testimony is sufficient.”
“Uh, but you need the Dog Tag… And honestly, Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz Kuris is in critical condition, even though I saved her reflexively. What if she dies while staying here?”
My words were disguised as concern.
Growing impatient as the time for his escape drew near, Ebon answered carelessly to get rid of me, as I kept talking to him.
“Do not worry. I will speak on Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz’s behalf. I will report that she is focusing on her recovery…”
And he took the bait.
The Human Regime was a cell-based organization. They conveyed information through metaphors to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, and its members referred to each other secretly to keep their identities hidden.
They, even a ‘patron,’ did not know the face or name of the one they sponsored.
It was to the extent that Callis was shocked to learn the identity of her patron, and the lieutenant general himself hadn't immediately recognized Callis even after seeing her face.
And so, Ebon accepted what I said—that her name was Kalpatz—without question.
Thanks to that, the Undying man opened his eyes.
“You there.”
The Undying man’s voice was a tone lower than before. The refreshing laughter that had readily overlooked the act of being stabbed was also gone.
“Say that again. The lieutenant colonel’s name is… what?”
All that remained was the anger of one who had discovered a lie.
“Isn’t it Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz? Her last name, hmm. I can’t seem to recall. The Military State doesn’t place much importance on last names…”
“You are wrong. Her name is Callis. Callis Kritz.”
For a moment, a look of bewilderment flashed in Ebon’s eyes. At the same time, his hostility toward me swelled. Along with the displeasure of falling into a trap, he shot a murderous intent at me for setting it.
You’ve miscalculated, Lieutenant General Ebon. It’s fine to be troubled.
But if you harbor such killing intent, what kind of judgment do you think the Undying man will make?
Ebon quickly tried to recover, gathering his words.
“Ah, I must have been mistaken. That laborer just now misspoke…”
“She was a great warrior. She fought fiercely with life to survive, a warrior who defied death until the very end. I respect her.”
“As do I.”
After saying traitors deserve death? Haha. Even the Undying man wouldn’t believe that.
“I thought what you people seek was truly precious. Something like honor, like pride, something that must be obtained even while enduring pain.”
“That is correct. We, for the sake of humanity’s great desire…”
“However, if it was so important that you ordered someone to die for it.”
The Undying man took a step forward and repeated.
“At the very least, you should honor her name. That is a virtue to be upheld even before a promise. Even we, for whom death holds no gravity, do so, yet you, Lieutenant General, have no respect for the one who died for you.”
“My apologies. I…”
“Do not apologize. The one who should receive that apology is not here. In any case, I now know that you have no right to condemn the lieutenant colonel. In that case.”
His left hand clenched powerfully in the empty air. As it did, a sound like rock being crushed could be heard.
Crack.
Lifting his fist, which was clenched like a rock, Rasch said with a blank expression.
“Just take three hits. You tore my body, you hurt my friend, and you have even insulted her honor. That should be enough, would it not?”
For Ebon, who had to prepare for his escape soon, it was an absolutely unacceptable proposal. His face contorted as he took out a combat arm packet with his intact left hand.
The combat arm packet he had removed to lighten his body after losing the fight with the Regressor. He put it in his mouth and inserted it into the bio-receptor on his left arm. A flashing alchemical glow covered his upper body.
“…My condition is not perfect, but.”
The parts that were damaged or broken in the previous fight remained damaged. Since he had deactivated and then re-formed the already damaged combat arm, the seams were not smooth, and residual mana leaked out in streams from the damaged parts.
From his missing right arm, the alchemic steel flowed down in streams, having lost its direction. Because of that, the right shoulder guard and chest armor could not even take shape.
But in any case.
For Ebon, who had been unarmed, even the single claw that formed on his left hand was precious.
“The Undying rely on their regeneration and fight battles of endurance. But here in the Abyss, not on the surface, do you really think you can defeat me?”
“We shall see.”
In contrast, the Undying man still had only his unkillable body and two fists. The only difference from usual was that those fists now held clear hostility.
The Undying man clenched his fist and retorted.
“I can probably land three hits, though.”
A will to crush the enemy, something rarely seen in the Undying man. It was now directed at Ebon before him.
“Don’t blame me if your body gets torn apart this time!”
Ebon rushed at the Undying man first.
‘I must not underestimate him. I am injured. I have one arm left. I don’t have much energy remaining, so I must end this fight as quickly as possible.’
Though his right arm was gone and his entire body was a wreck, Ebon still maintained a taut tension. He slid toward the Undying man and extended his claw.
Instead of dodging or observing his opponent, the Undying man stretched out his right hand toward the claw.
‘He plans to slip his fingers between the claws and grab it? Foolish!’
The Undying man didn’t even raise his other hand. If he were aiming for an attack, it would be wise to target Ebon’s right side, which lacked an arm below the elbow, yet he deliberately faced him head-on. The arrogance, or perhaps the complacency, of the Undying.
In a fair fight, Ebon, who was armed, had the advantage. Ebon coated his claw with Qi Art and thrust forward.
‘I’ll cut off those fingers first! Then I’ll slice your entire body apart from the fingertips!’
Just like that, Ebon twisted the blade to aim for the Undying man’s fingers. The blade, imbued with azure Qi Art, was about to cut his fingers when…
Thud. It got caught on bone.
‘What?!’
It was absurd. It might be different if it wasn’t coated in Qi Art, but there was no reason for a claw possessing sharpness and repulsive force to get caught on a mere bone. Even if it did, it should have cut right through or pushed it aside.
The fact that the claw was caught now could only be explained by one thing: the Undying man’s bones had become harder.
As Ebon reeled in shock, he heard a crunching sound, as if something was being chewed.
In the Undying man’s mouth was a Maidenhair Tree Leaf.
“Oh, Mother Earth.”
The Undying man muttered lowly and squeezed his right hand harder. The sacred Maidenhair Tree Leaf. From the leaf that had settled on the Undying man’s body, veins of energy spread out.
This was the Abyss, a land forsaken by Mother Earth. But the Undying man’s body, dedicated to Mother Earth, was akin to soil.
A leaf born in spring serves the tree, and when its use is done, it falls to the ground and rots. The small cycle surrounding a single tree continues until its life ends.
The Maidenhair Tree Leaf, finally buried in the earth, rotted away in peace, seeking to return the rich essence it held as a leaf of the World Tree back to Mother Earth.
Krrrrk. The claw’s blade, caught in flesh, vibrates intensely. Ebon quickly tried to pull the claw out, but it was held fast and would not budge.
Finally realizing the nature of that power, Ebon ground his teeth.
‘Qi Art…! This is also a form of Qi Art! One that strengthens the body itself!’
“You bastard, have you grasped Gam…?!”
The Undying man, clutching the claw, answered indifferently.
“I have little interest in what the Military State calls it. I have simply hardened my body.”
Ebon struggled to free his claw. He twisted it, shook it, pushed and pulled.
But the claw did not move an inch.
It wasn’t that it was lodged incorrectly in the bone or caught in a muscle. The Qi Art coating the blade allowed it to shake off most things.
The claw wasn’t moving simply because the Undying man was holding it.
‘This barbarian’s Qi Art…! It’s comparable to my own!’
He couldn’t shake it off due to the overwhelming difference in Qi.
Without his right arm, he couldn’t remove the claw.
Ebon, struggling with his left arm caught, had to watch up close as the Undying man clenched his left fist and raised it. It was a sight that would send a chill down anyone’s spine.
Ebon shouted.
“You… you shouldn’t be able to use your power in the Abyss!”
“Indeed, that is so. But I have the sacred leaf of the Maidenhair Tree.”
The leaf of the World Tree, so precious that he had saved and cherished it. The Undying man had originally planned to offer it to Mother Earth as soon as he reached the surface.
That is, until he decided to strike Ebon.
‘Why is that still here…! Wasn’t it used to wake me up?!’
Realizing this, Ebon shouted desperately.
“I was the one who gave that to Lieutenant Colonel Kalpatz! It was me!! Not Kalpatz, I was the one who woke you! You have to help me!”
He cried out with a sliver of hope, but the response he received was cold.
“You are wrong. The leaf of the World Tree belongs to Mother Earth. Only the one who holds it in trust changes; in the end, it is a grace from Mother Earth. There is no need to thank everyone who has temporarily held this leaf. One only needs to receive the heart contained within it.”
And the Undying Rasch pulled his left fist far back and added one more thing.
“Also, your subordinate’s name is Callis. Remember it.”
CRACK.
The Undying man’s forefist strike smashed into Ebon’s face, where his helmet had been left incomplete.