Chapter 246
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 246
Chapter Title: Earth, Water, Fire, Light, and Steel (2)
When someone hears news that's just too shocking, they lose their voice, struck dumb like they've gone mute.
Even the priestess of the Forgotten God, so skilled at hiding her emotions behind a mask, was helpless. It took Ilenia several minutes before she could barely pry her lips apart.
"...Please grant us a more detailed sermon, High Archbishop. This seems like a grave matter that could alter not only our order's fate, but that of the mortal world and the heavens as well."
"...".
After a pause, Gordon laid out the full story. Beneath his heavy tone lurked content like a bolt from the blue, and the listener's shock only grew, piling up like a mountain.
It wasn't some far-fetched tale. Just as the World Tree Keeper glimpsed the future in dreams, the High Archbishop peered into truths buried in darkness. But it was still hard to believe, with events and causes missing in spots or jumbled together, leaving Ilenia unable to sort her thoughts.
She had figured that now that they'd identified the culprit who erased the god's name, they'd discuss how to deal with the "Star that Devours Darkness." But her expectations missed the mark yet again.
"The 'Star that Turns Its Back on Light'... What an unexpected achievement."
"...?"
"Even after beholding light and darkness, countless mysteries and miracles over long ages, that man's deeds never cease to amaze me. Or perhaps I'm not surprised at all. This may be the moment when the 'revelation' from primordial darkness finally falls into place."
Ilenia blinked blankly before realizing he meant the "Warrior of Revelation" who would topple the false sun. The sudden shift in topic left her flustered.
"Yes, the Warrior of Revelation's feats are truly monumental, enough to fill the netherworld. But shouldn't we first deal with the fiend who erased the divine name and seek ways to restore the Forgotten God's glory, High Archbishop?"
"That's impossible, nameless little shadow."
"...Pardon?"
"We can't defeat it with our power. The 'Star that Devours Darkness' didn't just erase the divine name. It stole the Forgotten God's divinity and ascended beyond transcendence to the demigod realm."
"...!!"
Lightning crashed through the clouds in her mind. It was information too overwhelming to process. Her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably toward ominous depths, like tumbling off a cliff.
"Then... could that entity be the 'archdemon' returning from the abyss, the one the World Tree Keeper foresaw descending?"
"...".
For a moment, he gave her an enigmatic look.
Then Gordon slowly shook his head.
Ilenia finally breathed a sigh of relief. But new doubts flooded in.
If it wasn't an archdemon, yet stole a god's divinity, what exactly was this being? And why was the High Archbishop so composed? They'd uncovered their order's and god's greatest foe, yet it was beyond their power to handle...
She didn't ponder long. Something struck her.
"Could it be, High Archbishop, that you believe the Warrior of Revelation can even defeat that thing?"
The reply came sharp as a blade.
"No. No matter the revelations received or feats achieved, that warrior is still a human who just crossed the threshold of transcendence. Facing a transcendent demigod alone would be too much."
"...".
Her pale yellow eyes dimmed with despair. But the High Archbishop wasn't finished.
"However."
"...".
"Unlike solitary demons, humans coexist with others. With help from allies, the story changes. Though I and my old comrades from long ago have departed, that one still has many fine companions by his side."
She knew who he meant without being told.
The merchant chosen by the Forgotten God, the dragon's ally who forged an alliance, the general who shed his old name, the star that turned its back on light who recently joined, and none other than... Ilenia herself.
The woman's lips twitched. Overwhelming duty swelled within her, mingled with the ecstasy of being acknowledged by the warrior. She could hardly suppress her smile.
But the joy was fleeting. Guilt and hopelessness surged in. She'd already blundered by letting the warrior face heavenly punishment, and compared to the other stellar allies, her own abilities were sorely lacking.
Gordon watched her silently, his pitch-black eyes like an unfathomable abyss. After a long quiet moment, he spoke softly.
"Nameless little shadow. Have you recalled anything of who you were or what you did before wandering the wilds... of your forgotten past?"
"...No, nothing."
"Then recently, have you drawn forth holy power without the 'Silver Coin of the Fallen Kingdom,' or had any spiritual experiences regarding the Forgotten God?"
"...That too, not yet, High Archbishop."
Ilenia showed a flicker of anxiety, fearing he might entrust the mission to aid the warrior to someone else. But it was needless worry.
"Then perhaps this mission will be the trigger to awaken your forgotten past..."
"...!"
"Don't worry too much. Once you gain enlightenment, we'll find a way to turn even the 'Star that Devours Darkness' against itself. But remember this. Never forget your ultimate purpose."
"...".
"Aid the Warrior of Revelation in every way, but don't let personal feelings cloud it. Otherwise, you might ruin the final moment when the 'revelation' reaches its end."
The nameless priestess donned her emotionless follower's mask at once. She bowed resolutely and turned to carry out her mission. Gordon's face held the sternness of a drill instructor sending a cadet to battle, yet also the shepherd's pity for a lamb.
Just before leaving the hideout, Ilenia suddenly turned back.
"If I may be so bold, one last question, High Archbishop?"
"What is it?"
"Why did you create this water-filled pond inside the hideout? I don't recall seeing it before..."
He explained it as a trap against possible intruders. But she couldn't help wondering why a simple water puddle, not a swamp or distortion hole.
Suddenly, Gordon gazed up at the distant ceiling.
"...Do you remember the 'World-Scorching Karmic Flames'?"
Ilenia's eyes widened. Uncharacteristically, the High Archbishop's pupils held a dry sorrow.
"Back when that woman was still a girl like an ember, she told me this: 'You're 'water.' Bland like water diluted with more water, drifting aimlessly, swaying without conviction.'"
"...".
"I, who devoutly served only Elga then, didn't understand. But looking back now... she was entirely right."
Wooong - !
Gordon swept his rough hand, and a small flame bloomed over the pond. The water sparkled, briefly holding radiant light.
But when he snapped his fingers again.
Fwoooong....
The flame guttered out vainly, and the surface returned to inky darkness.
"...'Water' is the purest traitor. It clings to light alone when light falls upon it, embraces darkness as if nothing happened when shadows come. It believes it holds steadfast to one hue, but that's mere delusion, swayed by surface whims."
"...".
"I barely turned from false light, flowed into darkness's embrace, and rose to lead this order. But that wasn't from my steadfast faith—it was solely because true darkness shone upon me. To never forget that... I keep that pond in the hideout."
The heavy echo faded into the murky lapping of water.
The woman hesitated, then asked curiously.
"When you made the 'gifts' for me... didn't you forget all memories of her, Melissa?"
The 'reminiscence clone' that perfectly recreated past figures required all memories of the subject as offering. A bitter smile tugged at the man's shadowed lips.
"Memories fade, but records remain. I kept full records of her childhood habits and my old comrades."
"...".
At a loss for words, she gazed at the man who turned from light for ages.
Ilenia eventually left without another word, merely crossing herself once more, exiting the dim, water-filled hideout.
Scorching heat tore at her skin. Acrid steam choked her breath. Hideous screams pierced her eardrums. A leech-like demon drooled as it thrust its maw forward.
- Querururururuk!!
In this land boiling with blood and fire, demons were predators and humans prey—an unchanging truth. Only two humans had ever defied it to become predators, from primordial times to now.
But one stroke of bad luck for the demons...
Kwa-ang!Hwarrrrrruk - !!
...was that their chosen prey this time was one of those two exceptions.
- Queee, queherelererek - !!
The demon that swallowed the exploding fireball spewed blood instead of saliva, sprawling dead. A dozen similar corpses already littered the area.
The woman scowled deeply. Despite fighting carefully to avoid filth, her body was drenched in gore. The only consolation was that her naturally red hair hid the stains well.
"Hoo... Cough, cough..."
It had been ages since falling into hell.
The grand magus, Melissa, pressed on with her grueling journey against the demons.
No, "grand magus" no longer fit. Summoning even a single fireball was now her limit. And that was only by scraping together the mana scraps she'd scattered wandering hell long ago. Once those ran out, she'd be helpless prey again.
Of course, she was seeking alternatives. Inspired by her successor left at the Magic Tower, she'd considered using demons' "demonic qi" in place of mana. But it had a fatal flaw: using raw demonic qi would corrupt her soul—even without flesh—enslaving her to demons.
There was a solution, though. To prevent flesh corruption, use human flesh as a buffer. By the same logic, to shield the soul, use a human soul as buffer.
In other words, using the souls of sinners here in hell... would let her wield demonic qi without possession.
"Gaaahhh!! Uwaaaaaah!!"
"Aghhh... moooom... moooom..."
"...".
But that was unthinkable.
She'd already committed unforgivable sins. Killed countless lives, threatened the world's fate. As Kadim said, this was atonement with her whole being. Saving innocent sinners with torches, only to burn them as fuel? Absurd nonsense.
She'd already paid dearly for spreading the unquenchable "fire" wrongly. Too late, but now she had to kindle the right flames.
"Sob, huuh... Save me, pleeease... Cough, cough..."
"Mooooom... It hurts... Gueh, grrr..."
"...The stench from the corpses is bad, but it's best to stay here as long as possible. Leaving means facing more demons."
The woman like fire offered the suffering sinners small mercy, then turned away without lingering.
Her steps forward were unhesitating. Even in life, she'd entered through rifts and endured half a century, so she knew hell's layout well. After bursting a dozen more demons and walking over half a day, she finally reached an arched gateway—her first destination.
The entrance to hell's next zone, "Golgotha."
Hell divides into three main zones: "Gehenna" with red sulfur flames, "Golgotha" with white decaying flames, and "Grimos" with black flames of annihilation.
Her target was likely in Golgotha or Grimos. So she'd circled Gehenna for months via demon-scarce paths to reach here.
So far was mere appetizer. Now the real hell began. No heart, but tension made her soul throb like one.
Undoubtedly... finding Gale wouldn't be easy. She might dodge demons for years, search decades. Yet this time, she vowed never to abandon her old comrade, stepping through the gate.
But her expectations missed completely.
"...Huh?"
No sooner had she crossed the threshold than she faced a bizarre sight.
Beneath a hill of pure white flames burned an even brighter, pristine white divine form. The intense light blurred features, but she knew him instantly.
"...G-Gale? Gale, is that you?"
"[......]"
Blossoming radiance rippled, gentle curves flashing through the shimmering glow.
The man become "light" parted his lips for the first time.
"[No, it's not.]"
A chilly autumn wind blew one afternoon. Calming his surging bloodlust, gazing at the corpses neatly delivered to the battlefield slaughterhouse, Kadim suddenly thought.
It was time to end this war.
"...".
He tossed aside his empty canteen and wiped blood from his lips.
Kriduk....
His grip, firmer than "steel," clenched the hammer haft tight.