Chapter 320: What Kind of Battles Have You Been Fighting All This Time? (2)
Chapter 320: What Kind of Battles Have You Been Fighting All This Time? (2)
The continental situation had stabilized.
At least, that was what everyone thought on the surface.
The war between the Benator Empire and the Saint Louis Holy Church State had ground to a halt, and the Overlord’s Yuzef Kingdom showed no further desire for territorial expansion.
Instead, they were focusing on internal governance. In the south, the Schneider Duchy had emerged as a new power, and thanks to them, the Atronia Kingdom was enjoying a golden age, reaping the rewards of their alliance.
Recently, there had even been strange discussions suggesting that since the Schneider Duchy now held two vassal states—the Harbor Duchy and the Schneider Duchy itself—it might be time for them to declare themselves an Empire. However, it wasn't a serious issue yet.
On the surface, the continent was profoundly peaceful. But…
“Strange. Why is the seal not breaking?”
Jonsa spoke with a look of deep contemplation.
Immediately after destroying all the Constellations held by the Black Tortoise, Jonsa had prepared the resurrection ritual.
Normally, he would have preferred to enter the sealing site directly to undo it, but he couldn't do so because Patrick had thoroughly purged the Holy Church State.
But that was fine.
All the wedges of the seal had already been loosened.
He believed that as long as the ritual was performed from anywhere, the Outer God’s seal would break, and Salvation’s Sunset would begin.
Or so he thought.
“Mmm…”
His disciples spoke to Jonsa as he stood there, having failed the ritual.
“What is the matter, Master?”
“Why did the ritual fail?”
At his disciples' questions, Jonsa frowned.
“I do not know the reason. The wedges of the seal have certainly been loosened. However, it is still not enough for the Outer God to manifest His physical form.”
Jonsa didn't know the truth.
In reality, the wedges sealing the Outer God had not been completely destroyed.
First, there was the core of the World Tree.
While the World Tree had indeed withered, she had left her seed with Patrick just before her death. Though its power was currently faint, it still existed as a deterrent, suppressing the Outer God.
Then there was the Dragon Lord’s Heart.
It had certainly been shattered, but the Lord had entrusted his seal to Persona before he died. Although Persona had not yet become an Adult Dragon and could not fully perform the role of the Lord, the seal itself remained unbroken.
Crucially, there were the Constellations of the Four Calamities.
Out of the eleven total Constellations, the seven that the Black Tortoise had stolen were destroyed. However, the four Constellations that the Blue Dragon had passed to Patrick still remained.
In other words, the release of the Outer God’s seal that the Dark Mages had achieved was mostly a half-measure.
Jonsa had proceeded with the ritual without knowing these facts.
The conclusion was that the Outer God could not be awakened in a complete state this way.
Ultimately, Jonsa halted the ritual.
He guessed at the cause.
“Perhaps Yupinel and Kalaron played some trick I am unaware of before they fell into their slumber.”
It wasn't the complete answer, but it was a somewhat accurate hypothesis.
“What shall we do?”
At the question from his disciple, Pride, Jonsa spoke calmly.
“It is difficult to find another way after coming this far. Since the seal is undoubtedly loose, we must force it open, even if we have to twist it apart.”
Jonsa stood up and addressed his six remaining disciples.
“To resurrect the Outer God in His perfect form, we must gather strength. Bring blood and death to the entire continent.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes, Master.”
The Dark Mages were beginning their full-scale movement.
* * *
Overlord Sierion Byssus Yuzef.
Now the monarch of a powerful nation that rivaled the Empire or the Holy Church State, his daily life was remarkably simple.
He would wake up in the morning, train, have a light meal, and then focus on state affairs until late at night. His only personal time was a brief tea time with his family.
To an outsider, it was enough to make one wonder what joy he found in living.
Today, he followed his usual routine.
Rising before the sun, he headed to his private training ground and silently swung his sword alone. it was a scene of everyday life.
“Whew…”
After swinging his sword for a long time and breaking a heavy sweat.
“Your Majesty, it is time for the royal audience.”
“Mm, I understand.”
At the servant’s call, Sierion lowered his sword.
He leaned down to pick up a towel to wipe his sweat.
It was just another moment in his daily routine.
But in that instant…
Whoosh!
A terrifying surge of pitch-black Demonic Energy erupted from beneath the servant’s feet.
‘Got you, Overlord.’
The Dark Mage, having captured the perfect opening, lunged at the Overlord’s back with Demonic Energy—
Crunch!
It was then.
The Overlord, who had seemed completely defenseless, twisted his body and seized the Dark Mage by the throat.
“Urgh…”
“You take me for a fool.”
The Overlord spoke coldly, staring at the Dark Mage he held by the neck.
“Judging by your transformation magic, are you Envy?”
“Over…lord. You dare…”
“Why? Did you think I’d be caught off guard?”
“…Urgh… Let go!”
Boom!
With a powerful explosion of dark mana, the Dark Mage was thrown backward.
After putting some distance between them, the face he revealed was completely different from before.
“Where is my real servant?”
As the Overlord spoke with a hardened expression, Envy smirked.
“Who knows? What do you think happened to him?”
“……”
The Overlord’s face stiffened.
It was obvious what had happened. He knew their methods better than anyone.
“I will kill you, Envy.”
The Overlord reached for his Two-Handed Sword resting nearby and leveled it at him.
Envy sneered.
“You’re getting quite heated. You don’t exactly have the right, do you?”
“……”
“You, who joined hands with us and led countless people to their deaths, have no right to—”
KABOOM!
Envy couldn't finish his sentence. Sierion’s strike silenced him.
“Urgh… You hypocrite.”
Envy ground his teeth, blood trickling from one shoulder.
Overlord Sierion Byssus Yuzef.
The Dark Mages had invested a great deal of effort into this man.
Jonsa himself had implanted a Demonic Crystal into him, and after that, Sierion had undergone grueling training until he eventually transformed into a terrifyingly powerful warrior.
They believed he had surpassed the ordinary 7-Star Realm and was at least an 8-Star, perhaps even looking toward something higher.
From the Dark Mages' perspective, he had become a card far too valuable to discard. And yet…
“Do you think the sins you’ve committed will vanish just because you cut ties with us now? You are already one of—”
Crash! Boom!
A terrifying Aura Blade swept through the spot where Envy had been standing.
“That damn bastard…”
Envy was blown back, suffering significant shock from the Overlord’s strike, which had completely shattered his defensive magic.
The Overlord’s attack was that powerful.
And above all…
“I have no intention of talking.”
He wouldn't listen.
How could one manipulate someone who had no will to converse?
“Die.”
Lord of the Sword.
The sword of brilliant light that had become the Overlord’s symbol exploded within the royal castle.
KABOOOOOM!
The Overlord’s strike flew as if to tear Envy into pieces. However…
“That’s enough, brat.”
Standing in the Overlord’s way was a one-eyed old man. He blocked the Overlord’s attack and protected his disciple.
“I had my suspicions, and it seems I was right. It was good that I came personally.”
“Hah, I was hoping for this.”
The Overlord wasn't flustered by Jonsa’s appearance.
Instead, he surged with power as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
‘If I can just kill this man…’
There was no point in hunting down the small fry. If he truly wanted to sever ties with the Dark Mages, he had to take the head of that old man, their leader.
“Let’s end this.”
In this moment, the Overlord resolved to take Jonsa’s head, even at the cost of his own life.
He had a reason why he absolutely had to do so.
Seeing the Overlord’s desperate resolve, Jonsa gave a short laugh.
“Hmm… Humans are always the same.”
“……”
“Even you, who were once burning with ambition as if you had nothing to lose—did your heart change once you became a father?”
“……”
The Overlord’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.
Jonsa said to him, “I know what you’re thinking, but I have no intention of fighting you in the first place. Nor is there any need…”
Boom! Boom!
The King’s sword struck out as if there was nothing more to hear.
Jonsa blocked it with a shield, his expression hardening slightly.
‘To think he’s reached this level…’
He knew the Overlord had grown strong, but he hadn't expected this.
The Overlord’s current destructive power was far greater than the Breath of an average dragon.
Realizing this, Jonsa thought…
‘As expected, my decision back then was correct.’
A frail young prince who didn't know when he might die, caught in a struggle for the Right of Succession.
The reason Jonsa had decided to inject that prince with a Demonic Crystal—one that had been condensed for over a thousand years—was because of the look in the young boy’s eyes.
Even in a frail body, in a situation where his life and the lives of all his vassals were as precarious as flies, the boy’s eyes were looking toward the ‘next’ step.
An absolute obsession with his goal.
With his long experience, Jonsa knew that humans with such will were the ones who achieved things.
That was why he had given the young prince the precious Demonic Crystal and supported him from the shadows ever since.
And now…
“It’s about time I get a return on my investment.”
Jonsa pulled a small bell from his robes and shook it, letting out a ringing sound.
‘An attack using sound waves?’
Seeing Jonsa’s action, the Overlord tried to put some distance between them to observe the situation. But…
“Argh…!”
In an instant, a pain like his head was splitting open assailed him. It was an excruciating agony, as if live insects were burrowing through his brain.
Under the pain that directly dominated his mind, even the great Overlord could not move a single finger.
Jonsa slowly approached him and said, “I was certain you would become strong.”
“……”
“And I was also certain that you would one day betray me.”
“……”
“Did you really think I wouldn't put a leash on someone like you?”
“You… bastard… what did you…”
The Overlord ground his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. Jonsa, however, looked genuinely impressed.
‘Incredible. He can still speak while being suppressed by an artifact of the Outer God?’
What Jonsa had used was Gu Poison.
Specifically, it was the Mareungo, the most powerful type ever created by the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Once the Gu Poison was awakened, the victim was no longer truly alive. It didn't just threaten the opponent with pain or poison; it directly controlled the brain, depriving them of their reason and dominating them.
“It’s impressive that you’re holding out, but this is the end. Overlord.”
“You…!”
The Overlord tried desperately to hold on as his consciousness faded, but it was futile.
His consciousness plummeted into a deep, bottomless abyss.
* * *
Continental Calendar, Year 1530.
More than a year had passed since the end of the war between the Holy Church State and the Empire.
The continent during this period was peaceful.
The balance of power between the great nations was exquisitely maintained, so no one felt the need to shed blood.
However, trouble erupted from a completely unexpected place.
March 11, 1530.
A rebellion broke out in the Yuzef Kingdom.
The person who led the rebellion was, surprisingly, Marquis Noah Gregory, who was known as the Overlord’s left hand.
He attempted an assassination with a pistol received from the Dwarves during a private audience with the Overlord, but failed. He was killed on the spot.
But that wasn't all.
Taking advantage of the chaos following Marquis Noah Gregory’s death, the Black Knight Matthias Carvan deserted.
He didn't just leave alone; he fled with the Overlord’s wife, Queen Catherina, and their son, Prince Freed Solon Yuzef.
The Overlord immediately sent pursuers, but their opponent was Matthias Carvan. Aside from the Overlord himself, he was the strongest knight in the Yuzef Kingdom.
[Do not stand in my way!]
Matthias, along with the members of the Ryan Knights who followed him, cut down everyone who blocked them and successfully escaped, covered in blood.
After that, their whereabouts were unknown.
Those sensitive to continental affairs analyzed the rebellion in the Yuzef Kingdom from various angles.
The most prominent theory was that the Overlord, having achieved his goals, had purged his high-ranking subordinates who had grown too powerful.
Considering historical precedents, it was a plausible argument. Once the hunt is over, the hounds are merely dangerous liabilities. Records of monarchs purging founding contributors to solidify their own power are all too common.
The second theory, somewhat absurdly, was a scandalous romance between Matthias Carvan and Queen Catherina. In other words, the Black Knight and the Salamander Princess had an affair and fled together.
While it was a ridiculous story, it spread surprisingly far.
This was because, unless it was such an absurd fantasy, the Black Knight’s betrayal made no sense. There seemed to be no reason for the Overlord’s closest confidant to suddenly make a desperate escape with the Queen.
Thus, such rumors were bound to arise.
Despite the many speculations, the Overlord of the Yuzef Kingdom remained silent, offering no defense or explanation.
Consequently, other nations eventually dismissed the rebellion within the Yuzef Kingdom as a minor internal disturbance.
However, six months later…