Chapter 98
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: The Eclipse Begins
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Valkaro, I crawled up from the depths of hell to find you.”
The dais, once piled with all manner of living sacrifices, now lay in burnt and twisted ruins, crumbling at his feet.
Was it just the debris?
Each step he took sent vast fissures spreading out around him, as if the world itself could not bear the weight of four True Holy Swords.
But the Fake Warrior endured.
He endured and endured, shouldering the weight of the entire world to return like this.
「Hmphahahahahaha!」
Valkaro let out a booming laugh.
The contours of his face were vaguely similar to before, but a closer look revealed that everything had changed from the days of his youth.
The beard that once dangled with fangs and skulls—trophies of the hunt—had transformed into a writhing mass of tentacles.
「So, you’ve finally come to me with the face of a warrior, son of the Crimson Flame. I have been waiting with great anticipation. Like a hunter waiting for his prey to fatten up.」
His pupils, too, had changed, resembling the irises of an octopus… like a man-eating demon from the depths of the sea.
Just like… Shu'yulkulla…
Was that all? Cosmic wings sprouted from his back, dripping a sticky mucus, and the one-bladed axe that had killed his mother was now covered in abyssal moss, radiating a sinister aura.
The left arm gripping the axe was a massive tentacle, long and thick, woven from countless smaller ones.
「But you are too late.」
Indignation surged within him as he found himself comparing Valkaro's past and present forms with such startling clarity.
「Behold, son of the Crimson Flame. You have returned as a warrior, but in that time, I have become a king!」
That day, after his mother died, blood pouring from her shoulder, everything changed.
The happiness of his childhood was shattered to pieces.
He lost the joys of the past, the happiness of the present, and all hope for the future.
「Can your eyes not see the majesty of one who has become united with the King of the Abyss?」
The world itself became completely alien.
He forgot every joy and happiness he had ever known. He could no longer smell the fragrance of flowers, and the morning sun was merely an irritation.
The world felt like four walls closing in, threatening to crush him at any moment.
「There is no one left who can defeat me. Not even you, who they say cut down an incomplete king.」
Not for a single day, not for one day in his entire life, had he forgotten that day.
But it was a funny thing.
His mother's face was now a blur he could barely recall… yet that bastard's face, the face of the man who had turned away after killing her, remained as clear as ever in his mind.
「I have become a being so great that I no longer need to face you, but your efforts are commendable. Therefore, I shall honor our promise and face you with Kaltake.」
He should have withered and died, like a tree in autumn shedding all its leaves.
He should have died.
But countless bonds came to him, giving him water. They held him close, giving him warmth, and pulled the weeds from the ground around him.
“There's no need for that.”
And so, the tree slowly began to feel the world again.
The cool sensation of rain trickling down its trunk, the warm sensation of sunlight shining upon it, the painful sensation of shedding its leaves.
And so, deep inside the tree, the flame of life that had been flickering out began to burn again, radiating light and warmth.
“I thought I'd lose my composure, driven mad by vengeance when I finally met you.”
The flame of a soul that so many people—more than he deserved—had approached, embraced, protected, and revived.
“But strangely, I feel nothing.”
Now, he had to carry that light and warmth to the end of the world.
“In fact, I feel at ease.”
The True Holy Swords each unleashed a flash of light, crying out to be chosen.
These swords were kindling.
A torch to be used to carry the fire of memories, bonds, and joy—received from everyone—to the other side of the world.
There was no time to waste.
The torch and its kindling had a limited time, and when that time was up, they would turn to ash.
“Even this moment is a waste. It will be over in an instant. I will cut you down in a single moment, Valkaro.”
The final chapter of this long story,
Yuri ha Geldina (4)
The sea sobbed and wept, and above it, formless tentacles surged, pale and indistinct.
A blade cloaked in light and an axe cloaked in darkness clashed hundreds of times in a fraction of a second, scattering sparks.
The authority of the old ruler of the sea, descended into Valkaro's body, sent a tremor through the entire ocean.
[Liam: Sharrilion, Shu'yulkulla's power is growing stronger, accelerating the Absolute Eclipse! I'm currently fighting three vassals.]
The power of the True Holy Sword Galadiel tore through the darkness with crimson light. The king's tentacles were slaughtered, falling to the ground.
[Ria: The Abyss's forces that had scattered are converging here again! How are they so fast?]
[Johan: Vassals appearing. They're endless.]
[Kaduel: The enemy must be using the Rulhamrei. It is a biological transport system that connected the ancient seas. It will be deep in the ocean.]
The power of creation swirling within the blades of the True Holy Swords pushed his concentration to its absolute limit.
A level of focus that made even the flow of time seem to slow. The sounds around him were sluggish and indistinct.
He swung his sword in a world where only his own breath and movements possessed their proper speed and tremor.
[Ria: But even if we find it, how do we deal with something in the sea...?]
[Halvaron: I suppose I'll have to step in. I prepared Goshin Type 0 for just such an occasion. I just have to stomp on it, right? Lady Setsunen, I'd appreciate it if you could teleport Type 0.]
Tidal waves surged high on both sides, crashing down with the weight of the entire ocean. Tentacles shot up from all directions, aiming to exploit any opening in his evasion.
「The true ruler shall return to this land with his holy authority. Witness the darkness of the cosmos. Eradicate the impure beings, too foolish and dull to comprehend its wonder.」
Sword Wind.
The blade of Sharrilion, swung with a firm two-handed grip, traced an arc of silvery-white light.
A tempest of the blade raged along that trajectory, a transcendent storm that carved a rune of creation into the air.
[Halvaron: Lady Setsunen, please detect the cave now!]
Engraving Slash, Bakhu.
The crashing wave, and the very space-time it occupied, was isolated for a moment, as if preserved behind a pane of translucent glass.
The isolation was momentary, but in a battle of transcendence, a single moment was more than enough time to exploit an enemy's opening.
[Leadwards: One vassal eliminated. I'm getting tired. I'd love to have a nice slice of octopus sashimi with some beautiful ladies.]
As he released the hilt of Sharrilion, he simultaneously gripped the scabbard and hilt of Galadiel, which hung at his sword belt.
His body gained the acceleration of light.
His body took the form of lightning.
The seven tentacles that had rushed in to cover the gap in time struck nothing but empty air.
[Setsunen: Halvaron, this is Setsunen. I have teleported Goshin Type 0 to your location. Do you confirm?]
A moment later, as if just realizing they had been cut, the seven cleanly severed tentacles fell to the ground and writhed.
[Halvaron: Yes, moving to the coordinates. The surrounding mana fluctuations are unusual, but I'm stomping them flat like beef jerky right now.]
[Setsunen: Kaisen, what is your status?]
[Ria: He is facing Shu'yulkulla alone. Kaisen will definitely succeed.]
Transcendent Flash.
The light of that slash traveled from beyond the realm of perception, from the other side of space-time, and cut through the heart of the king's incarnation.
The breastplate, woven from ancient abyssal artifacts, was sliced open. Beyond it, flesh, muscle, and sinew were severed, and beyond that, the heart burst.
The slash did not end as a single strand. This was a transcendent application of sword qi. The strands of the slash scattered into countless threads, slicing, cutting, and severing the body innumerable times.
[Julius: Twenty Rulhamrei are approaching! They're coming through another cave!]
The king's ultra-high-speed regeneration.
As it instantly repaired its burst heart and severed muscles, it spun around and brought down its one-bladed axe.
It was almost simultaneous.
The one who had cut and the one who had been cut turned to face each other, unleashing killing intent.
[Siren: I'll help.]
At that moment, responding to its master's command, Yoniullan split its blades from the central circuit on its spine.
A violet storm of blades, carrying a threatening amount of heat, raged in all directions, unleashed with the power to tear apart all spirit and flesh within its range.
In this case, all of Valkaro's body, which carried the king's soul and blessing in both arms.
*Valkaro.*
The twin-bladed sword, Hisgibid, precisely pierced the core that was exposed for a single instant as the body was torn to shreds.
A clear shattering sound, followed by a brief silence.
The next moment, the space around the sword's tip ruptured, blowing away all resistance from the rapidly regenerating body that was trying to protect the core, sending it to another dimension.
*With this.*
The completely exposed core's weakness.
The blade of a True Holy Sword pierced the core once more—it was Rivelden, having absorbed the power of Yoniullan's Soul Rupture and Hisgibid's Dimensional Collapse.
An overflowing light enveloped the core of darkness. It bound and covered the wailing darkness that tried to burst free, sealing it tight.
*It's over.*
Just before being completely engulfed by the curtain of light, he thought he heard the darkness shout something.
No, was it laughter?
It must have been the sinister king's laughter. That was the only way to explain the madness that suddenly erupted in the next moment.
“This is Sharrilion. Mission to subjugate Shu'yulkulla is complete.”
At first, nothing seemed wrong.
The acidic storm that had been raging so fiercely he couldn't open his eyes began to subside.
As waves of joyous victory washed over him through Setsunen's resonance, a pain like a chisel scraping bone flared on his left cheek.
*The brand is fading...*
Mother, on the day we parted, I couldn't do anything...
Was the sob-like tremor in my fingertips back then the ecstasy of revenge, or was it simply regret?
I don't know. Not even my own heart...
[Crimson Flame: What is this?]
It was then. The abyssal storm clouds that had covered the sky gathered and condensed in one spot.
The moment he noticed the anomaly and tried to react, the storm clouds exploded into a colossal darkness that swept across heaven and earth.
Primordial darkness. For a moment, he could see nothing.
[Setsunen: Ah, ah, aaaaaah!]
The True Holy Swords unleashed flashes of light.
The concentric circles of light they created were the only space where light could exist.
Berkensia's light was larger, clearer, and deeper. So much so that the soldiers were drawn to it.
[Crimson Flame: Nen, what's wrong? What just happened? Has the Absolute Eclipse begun?]
[Setsunen: No... it's not the Absolute Eclipse... Suddenly, the Abyss's tendrils... deep inside my soul...]
[Liam: This isn't the Absolute Eclipse, so what is it? Nothing like this has ever...]
The noise of confusion was ended by a laugh.
「Nhehehehahahahaha...!」
Setsunen of Thunderous Fragrance.
The texture of the voice was the same, but the tone and feeling were different.
The feeling of a warm sun embracing everyone was gone.
「The true king has entrusted me with a great mission, and I shall not sleep until it is done. I shall use this body as a foothold for that mission.」
The primordial darkness was extending its tentacles, attaching them to Setsunen's body wherever they could reach.
The power of the void was helpless.
Her soul was being eroded in an instant. Dozens of Leadwards's void insects and void demons struggled to save Setsunen, but it was futile.
「Kill me... kill me...! Child of the void, chosen by the Black Sun, hurry, there's no... there's no time...!」
Setsunen gasped in pain.
「You must destroy me... destroy my body... and drag out the Lord of the Sea...!」
Trying to escape the backlash of the violent power that was consuming both her soul and body and seizing control, Setsunen tore at her hair.
Siren's face turned deathly pale.
Even on her doll-like face, which never showed emotion, the bewilderment was plain to see.
“Liam...!”
Liam, who arrived late on the scene, was the same.
「It is meaningless.」
To prevent any variables, formless tentacles shot up and swirled around her.
“There's a way... surely, there's a way...”
But even without them, Liam could never have aimed for Setsunen's heart.
There were two reasons.
One was that she was the sister his master, Mirngadia, had loved so dearly. The other was that Kaisen also thought of Setsunen as a mother.
He knew better than anyone.
The pain of having a bond severed.
Would there be any meaning in taking Sharrilion to the future if it meant cutting that bond? Would he be happy in that future?
「Hurry... hurry and end my pain... there's no time for this...!」
A bolt of lightning, trailing a long, crimson streak of thunderous light, landed on the scene at almost the same time as four tentacles shot up from the ground.
*What...?*
Kaisen needed a moment to process the situation.
In that brief moment, the four tentacles wrapped around Setsunen of Thunderous Fragrance's body as if to protect her.
Then, with a heavy earthquake, they dragged her down below the ground, into the depths of the sea.
“Liam, what just happened?”
Liam was staring blankly at the bottomless pit where Setsunen had been dragged away.
As he grabbed his arm and shook him, the sea began to churn.
The horizon roiled as if about to collapse, and the sea screamed as it tore apart.
From the sundered surface of the sea rose an ancient abyssal palace, so vast that even the horizon could not contain it. Even turning his head from side to side, the palace exuded a dark blue majesty.
Kaisen, the first to recognize it, muttered in disbelief.
“Shu'yulkellis...?”
How could he forget?
That horrifying form, that frenzied palace of countless pillars, wicked statues, and the sobs of the deep sea.
From the towers of the palace, darkness swirled up into the sky. The darkness began to twist the rotation of the stars and the positions of the heavenly bodies at will.
To think he could see such sinister, wicked, horrifying, and twisted starlight even beyond such thick darkness.
Liam said blankly.
“The Absolute Eclipse...”
Liam, gasping for breath as he looked up at the sky, suddenly gripped Berkensia upside down and aimed it at his own heart.
The blade of light would have burst his heart and turned time back to some point.
If Kaisen hadn't snatched his wrist out of the air.
“What do you think you're doing?”
He asked, already knowing the answer.
He could discern with surprising calmness what Liam was trying to do and why.
Berkensia's power, Time Reversal.
He was trying to use that power to travel to the past of another worldline and change what had just happened.
“Let me go, Sharrilion. The eclipse, the Absolute Eclipse is beginning! I have to go!”
“But why!”
“Because I failed! This worldline is a failure too! I failed! So I have to go!”
“Liam.”
“I know! I know what Lady Setsunen means to you! That's why, that's why I couldn't bring myself to cut her down!”
“Liam!”
“Even if we somehow save Lady Setsunen, Yotos will descend immediately! So please let me go! I, I will definitely! Next time, I'll be sure to save her—!”
At that moment, a gauntlet from the Dragon Scale Armor struck Liam squarely in the face, sending him tumbling to the ground.
A silence fell.
Siren, infuriated, tried to rush forward, but Leadwards grabbed her wrist and shook her head.
“Are you back to your senses now?”
“Sharrilion...?”
“What do you think this world is? People's lives, the battles to protect those lives! You think you can just reset everything if you don't get the number you want? The world isn't a dice game!”
This isn't me comforting you. I'm just giving back what I received first.
“Everyone is trying so hard to roll the best number they can. And you're just going to give up and turn back time? Just to keep rolling the dice until everyone's number comes up a '6'?”
“Sharrilion, I...!”
“How much longer are you going to wander through timelines that no one knows or understands? You said you've already reset a thousand times. Can you really endure any more?”
Fumbling with his lips, about to pour out words that were like sobs, Liam's face crumbled.
Just as the younger me had done his whole life.
In the arms of the countless bonds he had met—more than he deserved—in the Skeleton Corps, in the Iron Cross Knights, and in his meeting with Tarsiyo.
“I know very well how hard you've tried. And how much harder you will try.”
I, too, received it without cost.
So I give this warmth to you without cost.
With that thought, Kaisen grabbed the fallen Liam's hand and pulled him forcefully to his feet.
“So don't give up. Nothing is over yet. The story ends the moment the Warrior—the moment *you*—give up.”
While this conversation unfolded, Kaduel, who had been staring at the sea's surface, finally turned around.
[Analysis complete. Shu'yulkulla's storm front is concentrating above the sea's surface, exhibiting a Grade 3.5 Abyss intensity. Access is impossible for non-combatants without Fifth-tier or higher armor.]
At this, Leadwards feigned a cool sigh, trying to act suave.
“In other words, the fate of this world now rests on the five of us. I wish I could have gone on one last date with some beautiful women.”
“No.”
Kaisen shook his head.
“It's not that *all* the soldiers can't enter.”
As he gave this meaningful reply, Kaisen's gaze turned to Siren.
Siren's eyes widened.
More precisely, to the descendants of the great warriors who had followed Enuel of Eldia Kata (05) to the very end of the nightmare.
“The Enuel Assault Squad fought freely even in a Grade 3 Abyss blizzard. A Grade 3.5 Abyss should be child's play for them.”
“Are you serious?”
“Is there another way?”
A beautiful flame erupted, then re-formed from within the explosion into a majestic shape.
「Kaisen, I will take you to the land of the beastkin. Get on my back.」
“Your Excellency, are you sure?”
「My mother, Alakish, died protecting the beastkin, and my father, Yonghyeon, led them below the barrier. It is better that I go with you.」
Seeing her eyes, he knew. Akirea, too, was now heading toward the end of her own mission.
*I see, so you too are now...*
As they saw the resolute will in each other's eyes, Leadwards spoke.
“I'll escort you. I can't manage precise spatial teleportation like Lady Setsunen, but I can send you as far as the Idea Peninsula through a dimensional corridor.”
「Can you really do it?」
“Yes. A cool guy knows how to let a woman leave in style instead of holding her back.”
Leadwards grinned and snapped her fingers.
*Wait, but you're a woman...*
Everyone present thought so, but it wasn't the time to argue the point.
“Come out, my cute little bugs.”
The authority of the void. Void insects began to gnaw at space, creating a corridor to another dimension.
Kaduel's core flickered as it spoke.
[Successor of Berkensia, please proceed to Mu (04) Rondel. You must activate the Global Illumination System, 'CODE: Tarhye Rondel'.]
“Tarhye Rondel...?”
[It is the true name of the light. If you light the beacon at Mu Rondel, the other Rondels will receive the signal and the Global Illumination System will activate. It can prevent the world from being plunged into complete darkness. I will provide the coordinates.]
*As expected of Karenden... you prepared thoroughly for the final battle.*
A faint smile formed on his lips.
Just then, Goshin Type 0 came to a halt on the shore, shaking the very earth. Halvaron descended to the ground from its hand.
“I found a thousand sets of anti-gravity armor inside the Teritos, said to have been used by the ancient angels. If we supply these to our elite troops, they should be able to get inside. Isn't that right, Lord Kaduel?”
[Anti-gravity armor is Fifth-tier equipment. In theory, it is capable of neutralizing a Grade 3.5 Abyss.]
“There you have it.”
Liam, still panting, looked around. All his comrades were looking at him, nodding.
His eyes welled up with moisture.
He seemed to want to say something but couldn't make a sound. Kaisen spoke.
“Liam, you go to Mu Rondel and activate the beacon. And let's meet again at Shu'yulkellis.”
That is the end of my mission.
The final milestone on the path of my sword.
The time has come to take up the torch passed down from those who died before me and open the door that leads to autumn.
“Don't worry. After we rescue Lady Setsunen, I'll be the one to finish off Yotos when he descends.”