Chapter 179: Going All Out (1)
Chapter 179: Going All Out (1)
“Ooh…. This is impressive.”
Patrick marveled at the sight outside the window.
He hadn't seen it when he arrived because he was unconscious, and after waking up, he had been immediately dragged away by the Seven Sages.
He hadn't realized just how grand and majestic this place called the Tower of Truth really was.
“Shouldn't this be called the Towers of Truth instead of the Tower of Truth?”
Outside the window, there were so many towers that it was impossible to count them all.
Though their heights varied, the sheer number of towers gathered together made it look like a mountain range formed of strange, jagged rocks.
With the massive tower Patrick was currently in at the center, countless towers created a vast domain in the surrounding area.
This was one of the three great powers of the continent.
The headquarters of all mages: the Tower of Truth.
As Patrick stood there, unable to tear his eyes away from the magnificent sight, one of the Seven Sages spoke.
“What do you think? It’s quite something, isn't it?”
“Is each of those towers a residential facility for mages?”
“Research facilities, to be precise. Usually, mages who have earned the qualifications of the 4th floor or higher build their own towers to immerse themselves in their research.”
“Is there a reason they build separate towers?”
“Isn't that the only way to fully protect and preserve the results of their research?”
“That’s pretty isolationist.”
At Patrick’s remark, the Seven Sages turned serious.
“Research results are like life itself.”
“No, they are more precious than life.”
“Of course. Life is finite, but achievements last forever, do they not?”
Seeing the other Sages nod in agreement, it seemed this was the inherent nature of mages.
‘They’re researchers rather than practitioners.’
There were people like this back in the Martial World as well.
In the prestigious Orthodox Factions, there were often those who spent their entire lives focused on the study of martial arts rather than the actual practice of them.
They knew they could never aim to be the strongest under heaven themselves, but they believed the martial arts they researched and refined would one day produce the strongest under heaven.
With that hope, they poured their entire lives into the study of martial arts.
Ninety percent of such people usually ended up producing nothing more than a few variations of existing techniques.
However, occasionally, they would bring about a massive breakthrough that allowed their sect to flourish.
As the achievements of such individuals piled up, the martial studies of the prestigious Orthodox Factions gained their depth.
So, what about the Twin Dragon Sect?
‘I had to do it all. Every single bit of it….’
The martial arts left behind by the man who was the Founding Patriarch were a total mess.
The task of refining them into ordinary martial arts suitable for his talentless junior disciples had fallen solely on his shoulders.
Fine. If that was all he had to do, it would have been okay. But…
Go earn money.
Go gain fame.
Handle the tasks assigned by the Murim Alliance.
If any Unorthodox Faction bastards show up in our territory, beat the hell out of them.
After doing all that work, he had to develop martial arts in his spare time….
‘Wow, I really lived a hardworking life in my past incarnation.’
While Patrick was wiping away a tear and reminiscing about the past, the group arrived at their destination.
After climbing a long, winding spiral staircase, they stood before a magnificent iron door located high up in the tower.
The Seven Sages spoke.
“This is the secret vault of our Tower of Truth. Once inside, please do not touch or fiddle with anything recklessly.”
“I guess there are a lot of expensive things in there.”
“Many expensive things, and many dangerous things as well. Regardless, do not touch anything.”
“…….”
“Answer me.”
“Tsk, yeeeeees….”
The Seven Sages seemed to be gradually learning what kind of person Patrick was.
A moment later.
They drew magic circles toward the door and chanted something simultaneously. Then….
Creak.
The magic circle engraved on the massive door flashed once, and the door opened on its own.
“Follow us carefully.”
“Don’t touch anything, and stay close behind us.”
“Keep it in mind. Absolutely do not touch anything. Even if something speaks to you, ignore it.”
The Seven Sages gave Patrick stern warnings as they led him inside.
“Oh… Oooooh….”
Patrick marveled as he stepped inside.
The space that unfolded within was far larger than he had expected.
It was a space much bigger than the main training ground of the Knight Department, and it was filled with all sorts of objects.
There were various items ranging from peculiar things whose purpose was unclear at a glance to objects that radiated a dangerous aura and looked expensive.
“Why is that book floating in mid-air?”
“Do not touch it under any circumstances. It is an object in which the soul of a heinous demon is sealed.”
“Is it worth a lot if I sell it?”
“…….”
“What’s that giant statue over there?”
“It’s a golem created with ancient magic. We’ve left it alone because we don’t know how to control it. Once it starts moving, it will begin destroying everything around it, so absolutely do not touch it.”
“Is it expensive?”
“…….”
“Oh? That goddess statue over there—”
“It’s expensive! It’s all expensive, so stop asking!”
“Right. I see. Hmm….”
Watching Patrick look around with eyes full of greed, the Seven Sages felt extremely uneasy.
How should they put it?
It felt like leaving a fish with a cat.
They quickened their pace. And after a while.
“It’s right here.”
“Is that gold?”
“…….”
“Ah? What did you say?”
One of the Seven Sages spoke in a weary voice.
“This is the ancient Roman Empire artifact I explained to you.”
“Ah, that’s it?”
Patrick licked his lips as he looked at the object before him.
In any case, the goal was to use this, wasn't it? But seeing it in person, it looked like…
“A silkworm cocoon?”
Indeed.
That was exactly what it felt like.
It resembled an oval silkworm cocoon large enough for a person to fit inside.
As the Seven Sages manipulated the cocoon in some way….
Pshhhhh.
The lid of the cocoon opened, revealing the interior.
Inside was a space where a person could lie down comfortably.
“Once you enter, you will be able to directly experience the records stored in this device.”
“Experience them?”
“That is correct. It contains the records of the [Living Calamity], an apostle of Kalaron encountered by the Roman Empire during their conquest of the Great Forest.”
“Living Calamity? Is that its name?”
“It is.”
“Hmm….”
As Patrick seemed to be deep in thought, the Second Sage spoke.
“First, I will explain this device. This is an artifact of the Roman Empire, a recording device that can store and imprint human memories and experiences. And inside it is information about the Living Calamity that annihilated the Roman Empire’s 10th Expeditionary Force.”
“But I think you said I would experience it, not just see or hear it. What does that mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Once you enter this artifact, you will come face-to-face with the Living Calamity.”
“Face-to-face?”
“It’s a bit difficult to explain. You’ll understand once you try it.”
“…….”
“I’ll tell you in advance: if you want to quit, quit now. If things go wrong, you could lose your mind.”
The other Sages spoke as if they agreed with the Second Sage’s warning.
However, Patrick gave a short laugh and said,
“Wouldn't it be a bit embarrassing to back out after coming all this way?”
“…….”
“Whatever, let’s give it a shot.”
Having said that, Patrick stepped into the artifact on his own.
The Seven Sages looked at Patrick and said,
“Once we start the device, even we cannot stop it. However, there is a time limit.”
“A time limit…?”
“7 minutes and 32 seconds.”
“…….”
“The playback time of this record is 7 minutes and 32 seconds. If you can just survive for that long, we will acknowledge you. So, do your best.”
Hoho. Look at these old men.
Do they know who I am, to say that merely surviving would be difficult?
I am none other than…
The Radiant Dragon Hero…
‘Sigh. Even if I told you, would you even know? It’s sad. Truly sad.’
Patrick let out a small sigh and spoke.
“I get it, so let’s just start.”
“…….”
As the Seven Sages manipulated the artifact again, the lid closed. Then, Patrick’s consciousness slowly faded away as if he were falling asleep.
‘This would be perfect for a nap….’
* * *
When he regained consciousness.
Patrick realized he was in a place he had never seen before in his life.
Looking around, he could tell he was in the middle of a dense forest.
It seemed this was indeed the Great Forest.
However, the situation was disastrous.
Trees in the forest were frozen, with ice flowers blooming on every leaf.
Countless corpses lay frozen solid.
And there were those fleeing in utter chaos….
“Retreat! Retreat!”
“Aaaaah! Run away!”
“This is insane. We shouldn't have come here in the first place!”
“What is this, all because of that crazy Emperor?!”
Patrick looked surprised as he watched the soldiers screaming and fleeing with terrified expressions.
“So this is how it is. I see…. A device that lets you experience someone else's memories. This is certainly impressive.”
Patrick nodded and thought seriously. And then….
“Could this be used for something... adult-rated? It seems like it would make a lot of money.”
To think such a guy was a Great Hero….
Anyway, putting aside business plans using this device, the important thing now was to check the information recorded in this memory and survive for the allotted time.
Patrick looked around with a calm expression.
Watching the soldiers fleeing with tears and snot running down their faces, Patrick was slightly impressed.
‘Every single one of them is 2-Star or higher?’
Even those wearing the uniforms of ordinary soldiers were Aura practitioners who would be called knights by the current standards of the continent.
And yet, every single one of them had thrown away their weapons and was fleeing in terror.
Fleeing from what?
He soon found out.
Thump!
It approached slowly from the distance.
They called it the Living Calamity, and it lived up to its name. It was so massive that the ground vibrated with every step it took.
The pressure was as if a giant mountain were approaching, and the immense power felt was even greater than that.
“This is beyond my imagination.”
Patrick’s face hardened.
He had expected it to be strong.
He had estimated it would be ten or twenty times stronger than something like a King Ogre. But experiencing the power directly like this….
“Comparison itself is meaningless.”
A King Ogre couldn't even serve as a yardstick to measure this thing.
It truly was a being possessing power worthy of being called an apostle of a god. But then….
“Huh? …Uh?”
An irrepressible shock appeared on Patrick’s face.
As the being called the Living Calamity drew closer and revealed its form, Patrick’s expression distorted.
“No way… could it be?”
Patrick moved hurriedly.
The full form of that massive thing couldn't be seen from this distance.
He had to get further away and see the whole thing from a high vantage point.
Patrick moved quickly, using his movement technique to its peak to leap onto a cliff some distance away.
Having reached the top of the cliff, Patrick looked down.
Only then could he take in the entire form of the Living Calamity. And….
“…Crazy.”
Patrick bit his lower lip hard.
Its overall appearance was that of a tortoise.
The body of a tortoise as massive as a mountain, with the head of a dragon and the tail of a snake.
“…….”
This was a creature Patrick knew.
No, any person from the Central Plains would know it.
Of course, he had never seen it in person, but this was definitely the form he knew.
Patrick stared at it with a dazed expression and spoke.
“…The Black Tortoise?”
* * *
He knew.
In this world, Patrick was a thoroughly isolated existence.
This was not the Central Plains, nor was it the Martial World.
He was no longer the Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon, but Patrick Schneider of the Twin Dragons.
He knew this fact more poignantly than anyone else.
No matter how much he upheld his master’s teachings, chewed over memories of his friends, and reminisced about those days….
His connection to the Martial World was completely severed.
That was what he had thought. But….
“Why is something like that here…?”
The Black Tortoise.
One of the Four Symbols, the divine beast that protects the North.
That creature, known as an imaginary being in the Central Plains, was now standing before Patrick’s eyes.
“That’s an apostle of Kalaron? If so… if so, then the Central Plains and this world are… no….”
Patrick staggered.
It wasn't because of the power radiating from that massive being.
What was shaking him now was the two words ‘hope’ that existed so small and faintly.
‘Maybe…. Just maybe…. Perhaps…….’
No.
This wasn't right.
This was a lingering attachment he must never have. And yet, Patrick could not escape the delusion blooming within him.
How could he not?
If there was even a one-in-a-million—no, a one-in-a-billion—chance that he could connect with the place he remembered….
If only he could….
“Master, I……. I….”
It was then.
—ROOOOOOOOAR!
The Black Tortoise—no, the Living Calamity—lifted its head toward the sky and let out a great cry. Then….
An extreme blizzard swept down from the sky, beginning to freeze everything in existence.
“Urgh….”
Patrick also instantaneously summoned the Scorching Yang Energy within his body to resist the cold that was freezing him solid.
A hot energy bloomed within him, and warmth returned to his body, which had been freezing from the extremities.
But Patrick was truly shocked.
‘Just the aftermath of its released energy is this much?’
Right now, Patrick was resisting by converting half of his power into Scorching Yang Energy.
Even though he wasn't the direct target of the energy it was emitting.
And in the case of the Roman Empire, which was taking the brunt of that energy….
“Aaaaah! Block it! I said block it!”
“What are the mages doing? Block it now!”
“Aaaaah!”
Those fleeing from the Living Calamity were turned into ice statues in an instant.
And the moment that being took another step forward….
BOOM!
With a massive shockwave, the beings that had become ice statues were shattered.
Ten thousand—no, perhaps more.
In a single attack, the forces of the Roman Empire, the continent’s superpower, were smashed to pieces.
That was the Living Calamity.
The power of despair, called the apostle of Kalaron, the Mountain of Destruction.
“…….”
Patrick watched the scene while maintaining his Scorching Yang Energy and thought.
This was just a memory.
Just a memory of someone that occurred over a thousand years ago.
So he had to be calm and not get excited.
“For now…. I’ll do what I have to do.”
Resolving the delusions and questions could come later.
Doing what needed to be done was the priority.
“The Black Tortoise… no, you said it was the Living Calamity, right?”
Patrick jumped down from the cliff and walked forward step by step, resisting the extreme blizzard.
The Living Calamity didn't even pay attention to Patrick; it just kept walking forward.
To that massive being, Patrick was no more than a bug crawling under its feet, not worth noticing.
“Well, I understand, but….”
Patrick pointed his swords toward the massive being before him and said,
“I’m not in a very good mood right now. So….”
Shring!
Twin swords clearly shrouded in Aura Blades.
With his eyes dyed red with tangible killing intent, Patrick spoke.
“I’m going all out.”