Chapter 57: The King of the Hungry Ghosts (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: The King of the Hungry Ghosts (2)
Alon glanced down at the object frozen into a crescent shape, then turned his gaze toward Maverick.
"I told you," he said. "Get a grip."
"!"
Seeing Maverick scramble to his feet and belatedly steady himself, Alon turned his attention back to it—no, to the Outer God.
The entity was dressed in black Eastern-style robes. Until a moment ago, he had been looking at Alon with eyes full of boredom and arrogance.
Why did the situation go sideways?
Alon stared at the Outer God, his expression taut with tension.
According to the reports, he wasn't supposed to reach the 5th Layer for another three days. Even that estimate had assumed the Outer God would move with sudden, unexpected speed; the subjugation squad had calculated it would actually take more than five days for him to descend this far.
That was how it was supposed to be.
Yet here he was, already at the 5th Layer.
"……."
Alon’s hand trembled slightly, a numb sensation creeping through his fingers.
The Outer God before him had taken the form of a goblin. His oversized ears, green skin, and hawk-like nose made his identity as a goblin unmistakable.
However.
No one present, Alon included, thought for a second that this being was a mere goblin. Not Argonia or Himan, who had gained eyes that could see closer to the truth of the world, nor the mercenaries who lacked such sight.
Everyone here had already stopped perceiving him by his outward appearance. His natural presence alone was enough to overwhelm the very space they occupied.
Alon, knowing the truth, felt it most of all.
And then.
"……Ho—"
The entity spoke.
The arrogance in his eyes remained, but the boredom had been replaced by interest, which manifested as a smile playing on his lips.
"You do interesting things, paltry thing."
The index finger he had been holding up curled back leisurely to stroke his chin. Watching this, Alon spoke quietly.
"……Kailas."
A lowly creature who sought knowledge because he was paltry.
A lowly creature who reached the end of that path, realized the Law, and ascended to the status of a god by his own merit.
The King of all Hungry Ghosts.
As Alon uttered the name, the interest in Kailas's eyes deepened.
"You even know my name? How commendable."
He brushed back his hair and flashed a smile that was, unlike before, genuinely pleasant.
"Very well. I am in a good mood, and it seems those things are watching as well. I shall grant you a single mercy."
"……."
"Begone. Then I shall let you live."
It was a proposal.
However, Alon...
"Prepare for battle."
...gave his answer by issuing an order to the subjugation squad.
"Tsk. I was going to spare you because you were an amusing little thing."
Kailas stared at him as if looking at something incredibly stupid.
"If you insist on drinking the cup of punishment, then so be it, paltry thing."
He raised his hand forward once more.
"Prepare for battle!"
Argonia’s voice rang out, shouting to dispel the fear as the battle began.
* * *
The moment the Outer God reached the 5th Layer, Alon’s original plan became entirely useless. His strategy required a full day of preparation to execute.
However, that didn't mean he had given up on the subjugation. Even with the plan ruined, he believed they still had a chance to take the enemy down.
There were two main reasons.
First, unlike Uultultus, Kailas had not progressed as far into the state of a Living God as Alon had feared.
Second, unlike the fight against Uultultus, the mercenaries were now somewhat prepared to face an Outer God.
Swish—!
Magic erupted from Kailas’s hand, shooting toward Alon and the mercenaries in an instant.
But—
CRACK—!
With the sound of something shattering, Kailas’s invisible slash was blocked by the sword in Argonia’s hand.
"A Dispel Sword……! You brought something interesting……!"
In Argonia’s hand was a Dispel Sword—one of fewer than a hundred blades on the continent capable of cutting through magic. Though it could not cut flesh, it was forged solely to sever spells, and it was more than enough to cut through the magic of a Kailas who had not yet fully become a Living God.
BOOM—!
Gaining confidence, Argonia kicked off the ground and charged at Kailas, signaling the true start of the battle.
Following his lead, Maverick—who also held a Dispel Sword on Alon’s advice—joined the fray. Myaon began to move rapidly around the perimeter, loosing arrows.
Three against one.
In terms of numbers, they held an overwhelming advantage. Furthermore, thanks to Alon, the mercenaries were already familiar with most of the magic Kailas used, allowing them to pressure him effectively.
Yet, even as he faced the coordinated assault of four elite combatants and realized his magic was being neutralized...
"—!"
Grin!
Kailas twisted his lips into a smirk as if finding the situation delightful. He brought his index and middle fingers together to form a seal and raised them slightly.
And then.
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■—!!!!!!!!
As if the preceding peace had been a lie, monsters began to manifest and crawl out from the ground.
The 5th Layer instantly descended into chaos. Naturally, Alon did not stand idly by.
"Huu."
Exhaling a white mist, Alon began to recite the Phrases.
"Ice Snow."
Watching the white frost begin to form before his hand as he held the seal, Alon thought:
I have to finish this as quickly as possible.
The battle between Kailas and the mercenaries seemed equal for now, but he knew it wouldn't last.
He could see it.
The Dispel Swords held by Argonia and Maverick were already beginning to crack after blocking only a few spells. Himan’s expression was growing darker by the second.
"Form."
As he recited the next Phrase, frost bloomed around him.
"Fame of Snow Mountain—"
A spherical orb formed before Alon’s middle and ring fingers, freezing as it began to create snow crystals.
"Inevitability of the Blind."
Finally, the Ice Flower bloomed. The hexagonal crystals rapidly expanded, devouring the surrounding atmosphere to create a massive shape.
Creeeeeak—!
In the center of those crystals, a spear of undeniable beauty revealed itself before Alon’s eyes.
And, right on cue.
"Huu."
Line, who had been standing behind Alon, pulled a book from her robes—
"Et-setra-i Ama Tia—"
—and whispered softly.
Rattle-clatter-clatter—!!!
The grimoire snapped open, emitting a harsh resonance. Simultaneously...
Rumble-clank—!!!!!
Dozens of layers of black chains erupted from the air, lashing out toward Kailas.
"!"
The Outer God’s eyes widened, seemingly caught off guard by this development.
However.
Clang-crunch—!
Before he could react, the ravenous chains bound his body in an instant.
Having gained an opening much faster than expected thanks to this unforeseen help, Alon did not hesitate.
"Ice Crystal Flower Spear."
He manifested the magic.
And then.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK—!!!!
The spear that bloomed from the Ice Flower shot toward the Outer God, swallowing him whole.
SHATTER—!
It ended with everything in the vicinity being frozen solid.
" "……." "
Silence fell over the 5th Layer.
* * *
The monsters stopped moving.
The mercenaries, who had been fighting desperately against the creatures crawling out of the ground, halted their movements. They turned their gazes toward a single point.
The ancient ruins.
In the center of those ruins stood a massive Ice Flower.
They looked at the Ice Flower, and then at Count Palatio, who had created it.
Awe poured from the mercenaries. Similarly, the guild masters who had been fighting the Outer God just moments ago stood with their mouths agape. Even Alon let out a small sigh of relief.
But—
CRACK—!
"!"
The sudden, jarring sound of something breaking drew everyone’s eyes back to the massive Ice Flower.
Creeeeak—!
With a vivid, sharp sound...
Rumble-grind—!!!
The Ice Flower that had commanded everyone’s awe began to crumble.
And then.
"!"
From between the collapsing shards of ice, the Outer God walked out leisurely.
Despair clouded the mercenaries' eyes. Frustration filled the eyes of the guild masters.
But the Outer God, the source of their despair, simply gave a light smile and spoke.
"You got me. Paltry thing."
Kailas spoke with a light smirk, as if he had actually enjoyed the attack. Alon, however, could not process the situation.
According to his calculations, since Kailas had not yet become a Living God, he should have been obliterated by a direct hit from that attack.
"But, as I thought, you still know nothing."
As Alon stared at him with an incomprehensible expression...
"!"
...he realized there wasn't a single shard of ice on the Outer God’s body—only the debris of the ice remained around him.
……He ground down the entire Ice Crystal Flower Spear with slashes……?
In that moment, as Alon’s stoic mask cracked with shock at the impossible way his attack had been neutralized...
"Still, thanks to you, I’m starting to have fun, paltry thing."
Kailas let out a pleasant laugh.
"So, I shall play along with you. Well—in this state, it will be an imperfect manifestation, but it should still be a decent enough amusement."
He curled his right hand around the raised index finger of his left hand, forming the Wisdom Fist Mudra.
"Liberation."
Mana exploded outward.
Sensing an instinctive threat, Argonia and Maverick kicked off the ground simultaneously, charging toward the Outer God.
"Vibration—"
Myaon, who had been tense until a moment ago, instantly drew and fired an arrow. Himan raised his staff, casting a spell to intercept the Outer God’s incantation.
But.
Just as Argonia and Maverick’s swords were about to reach his neck...
Just as Myaon’s arrow was about to pierce his heart...
Just as Himan’s magic was about to strike...
The mana already radiating from him vibrated the atmosphere according to his Phrase.
"—Expansion."
Along with the Outer God’s low murmur...
CRUNCH—!
Alon saw it.
He saw Maverick and Argonia’s bodies being crushed in mid-air as if compressed by the void.
He saw the flowers of blood erupting from them.
"Law of the Nameless."
The low murmur escaped Kailas’s twisted lips.
And then.
■■■■■■■■■■—!!!!
A brilliant white light blinded everyone.