Chapter 321: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 321: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (9)
I raised my gaze.
In the far distance, a swirling cloud of blood gathered behind Ozma, revealing a floating altar.
Upon it, a colossal, deep-blue entity of unfathomable proportions was bound in chains.
“There you are.”
It was gargantuan.
This was clearly the source of the unnatural cold permeating the Icy Lake. From its form flowed a harmonious yet terrifying blend of frost and dark mana—the unmistakable signature of a demon.
It shifted its many chain-bound arms, and countless eyes covering its entire body snapped open. Every single one of them glowed with a mysterious, haunting light as they locked onto me.
With those myriad eyes, it bore a striking resemblance to Ozma.
That’s right. This is the being I saw during the Trial of Sandstone…
A creature shrouded in static.
A monster that had manifested on South Korean soil when the Evil God was resurrected and the destruction of all worlds began.
A transcendent being capable of turning back time.
Is this the creature Dorothy spoke of? The one that bled profusely before it fell?
The Blackened Crimson chains binding the demon were forged from the mana of the Evil God Nephid.
Sssss.
The demon exhaled a massive surge of dark blue frost. It coalesced into a small orb and hurtled through the air at a terrifying speed, homing in on me.
The chilling, overwhelming cold seeped into my marrow.
Boom.
My heart hammered violently against my ribs. As the ice mana regenerated, my mana circuits convulsed, surging with newfound power.
I looked down at my hand.
Instinctively, I knew. In this moment, I had obtained a new power.
[I am known as Lucifer the Morningstar. Through the contract with Veronica Aslius, I grant you this power.]
It wasn't a spoken voice. The will of the demon, Lucifer the Morningstar, was transmitted directly into my mind.
[This is [Ice Moon], the power to freeze all of existence. Wherever your reach extends, nothing shall remain that you cannot turn to ice.]
“Is that so?”
The power to freeze anything.
A rank beyond measurement. The ultimate ice magic: [Ice Moon].
I could feel it. As I suspected, Veronica’s mastery hadn't been the limit of this spell. I was certain I could draw out even more of its latent potential.
My gaze shifted back to Ozma.
The chill of [Ice Sovereign] radiated from my entire body, and a host of cold stars rose around me.
“I’m coming.”
A strange, whistling wind echoed above.
In the sky, ice mana swirled and condensed into a single point. Dazzling white stars rose in the periphery, performing a fierce, chaotic dance.
What manifested was a majestic crescent moon of ice, wreathed in starlight. Its influence gripped the entire battlefield.
Behind me, several sacred, pale blue rings enshrouded in starlight manifested. It was the transcendental status I had inherited from Dorothy.
Hwaaaa!!
I unfurled three pairs of frost-rimed wings and took flight toward Ozma.
Kwaaang!!!!
My starlight magic collided with Ozma’s, and my chill engulfed the horizon.
Instinctively, I understood how to wield [Ice Moon].
I froze time itself, exempting only the elements necessary for my own movement.
Harnessing my ice mana, I unleashed a 5-star [Frost Explosion] directly onto Ozma.
Kwaaang!!
[───────!!]
Ozma let out a scream that defied human perception.
The closer [Ice Moon] approached the phase of a full moon, the more potent its effects became. Compared to Veronica, I was able to expand the [Ice Moon] into a first-quarter moon. Because of this, I could still manifest up to 5-star ice magic even while time was frozen.
Ozma swung a massive arm toward me, raining down large-scale starlight magic.
I countered the onslaught—which rivaled the explosion of a star—with [Cocytus] and my magic beast, Diakan. My forces were all imbued with starlight magic, unleashing their full fury upon Ozma.
A flood of dazzling, multicolored starlight erupted.
A beautiful, violent explosion illuminated the world.
Even with Dorothy’s transcendental power, I knew a single mistake against Ozma would mean death.
But I couldn't die. I had to win, no matter the cost.
I roared at the top of my lungs, enduring Ozma’s counterattacks while relentlessly pushing my mana to its absolute limit.
─ Please, become my Wizard of Oz.
I would be the Wizard of Oz who fulfilled Dorothy Gale’s wish.
My thoughts became razor-sharp. The suffocating weight on my chest vanished, replaced by an aching emotion that forged an unwavering resolve.
Through my love for you, I will become your Wizard of Oz, Dorothy.
Whoooosh!!
I conjured a cold sun above my right hand, condensing it to its breaking point with the power of the stars. It became an unimaginably dense mass of absolute zero, held firmly in my grasp.
It was a volatile bomb, compressed under near-infinite gravity.
The magic circles of [Cocytus] trailed behind me like a cape.
Piercing through the storm of starlight, I charged at Ozma once more.
*
[Title: Fairytale of Brutality, Academy RPG, Magic Knight of Märchen] Developer Special Interview
Channel Name: Higgs
Subscribers: 4.66 million
Views: 373,031,389
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「Hello. We sincerely welcome you to Märchen Academy.」
「I am Allets, the lead developer at Higgs, the team behind the creation of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.」
「They say creation is merely another form of imitation.」
「❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, which we created, is no different.」
「❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ is a work of fiction, and the adventure of Ian Fairytale is a lie.」
「He is simply a pivotal character—the protagonist of a game, and nothing more.」
「❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ is a message.」
「A message created by imitating another world fashioned by the Creator, all to defeat the traitorous Evil God.」
「It is the best plan we can offer.」
「If the Evil God cannot be stopped, humanity has no future.」
「Please, defeat the Evil God.」
「And…」
「We sincerely hope you graduate safely from Märchen Academy.」
*
Kwaaaaaaaang!!!!!!!
A brilliant explosion forced Ozma back.
The blast devoured the blood clouds and the auroras alike. The massive gate that had once divided the Icy Lake collapsed with a thunderous roar.
I watched the fading radiance in silence.
Chalang!
Suddenly, the starlight magic between Ozma and me resonated. A space of pure, blinding white light consumed my vision.
The world fell into a profound silence. Even without [Ice Moon], it felt as though time had ground to a halt.
“…Huh?”
Soon, the image of a long-forgotten ancient kingdom appeared before me.
I saw a young princess acting charming to please a bearded king. The king laughed heartily, embracing her with warmth.
Then, one day, the Demon Lord Nephid appeared to threaten the world. The princess, born with the power of starlight, was burdened with the mission of a hero.
A sword of light was placed in her small hands. The blessings of the gods followed her.
Though terrified, the princess set out on her journey, supported by her father, to protect her people. She gathered powerful comrades, struck down cursed demons, and eventually succeeded in sealing the Demon Lord Nephid away.
But there was no happy ending.
Having overexerted her starlight magic, the princess ascended to a transcendental state, and a great calamity descended upon the world.
The disaster consumed everything—her friends, her kingdom, her entire world.
That was why no records of the era could be found; they had all been erased by the catastrophe.
The princess, shattered by guilt over the deaths of those she had sworn to protect, wept tears of blood.
“…?”
Suddenly, I saw a young girl sitting on the ground, knees hugged to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
The child wiped at her eyes, but the tears wouldn't stop.
In that moment, I understood her entire life. I felt and accepted every ounce of pain and emotion the child had carried through the eons.
I walked slowly toward her and stopped.
“Ozma.”
The child, Ozma, lifted her head. Her face was a mask of sorrow.
“It must have… been so hard for you.”
At my words, Ozma sniffled and gave a small nod.
“Yes… it was hard. It was so hard… I couldn't even die alone. It was just… so hard…”
“…I see.”
That quiet acknowledgment was the only sympathy I could offer her.
“Let me ask you one thing. Back when Dorothy was turning into a transcendent being… why did you stop her?”
During the 「Alice Subjugation」, the Elemental Kings had been wary of Dorothy’s rampage. That rampage was the trigger for her transformation into a transcendent being.
But when I had returned from the Abyss, Dorothy’s mana had inexplicably stabilized.
It was clear Ozma had intervened.
“Isn't it obvious…?”
Ozma’s next words made my eyes widen.
“Because ending up like this… is just too sad.”
It was compassion.
Ozma had felt a deep, soul-deep pity for Dorothy, who was about to suffer the same fate she had. That was why she had suppressed Dorothy’s mana. She didn't want anyone else to become like her.
Ozma stopped crying and lowered her head.
“I’m so tired of this… I just wanted it to end.”
“…I see.”
“I’m sorry for being so hateful… I didn't actually hold a grudge against you. You were just being used, too… but I had no other way to vent my anger. I resented Stella so much for making me this way…”
“…”
“It’s okay now… I didn't think you could actually defeat me. This ending… it’s alright.”
Ozma managed a faint smile, her face still stained with tears.
Her childish form began to dissolve into beautiful particles of starlight, quietly fading away.
“Isaac, thank you for ending it… Please, make sure you find happiness.”
Finally, Ozma vanished entirely, leaving behind only a beautiful star core—the very essence of her being.
I stepped forward and picked it up. This was Ozma’s power.
I wasn't naturally suited for starlight magic, so I couldn't wield its full breadth, but I could claim the aspects of her power that transcended the element.
But I felt no joy.
I lowered my head, my shoulders trembling. After staring at the star core in silence, I finally squeezed it until it shattered, absorbing Ozma’s power into myself.
“…Ugh!”
An agonizing wave of pain surged through me.
Having already absorbed Dorothy’s power, adding Ozma’s was more than my vessel could handle. I felt as if my body was being pulverized. My consciousness flickered. The starlight magic swirling within me turned violent, tearing at my flesh until crimson blood sprayed into the air.
I screamed through the agony. If I let go now, I would collapse.
Just a little longer. Just a little more. I only needed to hold on until the power stabilized.
“Aaaaah…!!”
With a jolt, I returned to reality.
The final clash of magic had torn a small black hole into existence. The Icy Lake distorted, and a massive volume of water was sucked into the void before cold mana surged in to seal the rift.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
The displaced water fell back into the lake, creating massive swells followed by a brief, clear downpour.
With my three pairs of wings outstretched, I hovered in the air and let the rain wash over me.
I dismissed the gate holding Diakan, descended to the ground, and retracted my wings.
“Ahh… Ugh!! Gaaaah!!”
I collapsed onto the surface of the lake, screaming. My body was breaking apart; fresh blood splattered across the ice.
But I endured. This was a pain I could live with.
I lost track of time. Slowly, the starlight magic began to settle. Before I knew it, I was completely drenched in my own blood.
“Haah, haah…”
Catching my breath, I forced myself up. Blood dripped from my eyes, nose, and mouth, staining the Icy Lake.
Inside me, Dorothy’s and Ozma’s starlight magic orbited one another in a delicate, silent harmony. A single misstep would cause my body to implode, but I had to maintain this balance until I escaped the Nether.
To leave, I would have to confront the Nether King and unleash Dorothy’s power at the rift.
As my breathing steadied, a heavy silence fell. The pain from my ruptured flesh was dulling to a bearable ache.
Swish, swish.
I wiped the blood from my face with my sleeve.
Step.
Step.
I heard the sound of footsteps approaching across the frozen lake. I turned my head.
A woman in a black suit—looking entirely out of place in this world—was walking toward me.
Her face was familiar.
[Hello.]
She greeted me politely.
I realized it was a human mask. Looking at her seemingly ordinary face, I felt a profound sense of discord and alienation.
[I am Allets, the lead developer of Higgs.]
“Ah… it’s you.”
The lead developer of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Allets.
No—she was Stella, the Star Fairy.
[I ask for your understanding for appearing in this form. I wished to speak with you.]
My chest burned with an indescribable emotion. My legs moved before I could think.
KWAANG!!!
I lunged forward, grabbed Stella’s head, and unleashed a [Frost Explosion] infused with starlight magic.
The freezing shockwave pulverized her head with surgical precision, the force radiating outward in a straight line.
Fwaaah!!
The Icy Lake split open, water geysering into the air on both sides.
“What right do you have to show your face here?” I asked coldly.
Stella, her head completely gone, took a step back. Starlight flared, and her head instantly regenerated. I hadn't expected her to die from something like that.
The attack was a warning.
She bowed politely.
[I apologize—for using you, and for being unable to help you.]
“…”
[Absolute divine laws are established in the Nether, preventing me from interfering on your behalf. These laws are particularly strict for beings of my station. I could face erasure if I overstep.]
The Nether King and Stella seemed to share the same fanatical adherence to their laws.
Stella straightened her posture. Her eyes remained cold and vacant, but the corners of her lips curled upward into an unnerving, artificial smile.
[Now then, Mr. Han Seong-ho, would you care to have a conversation?]
I exhaled slowly, calming my mana.
I want the truth. All of it.