Heaven's Net 4: The Gray Sky of Annihilation
The gray sky of doom loomed above. Beneath it, my world burned.
One of the fragmented memories from before my regression that remained vividly etched in my mind was the black rain. Torrents pouring down through the torn sky, through the crumbling walls of dimensions. People called it divine punishment; some dubbed it nature's retaliation. I, who had fought to survive until the bitter end, knew the truth. It wasn't punishment at all. It was simply the collapse of causality, born from an old man's twisted desires and arrogance.
The leader of Black Moon. He was the shadowy puppet master who manipulated the empire from the darkness, yet at the same time, a thorough marionette. The red, grotesque object in his grasp—the root of all evil. Demon King's Horn.
If Desolatus marked the 'endpoint' that sealed our doom, that horn was the 'starting point' that flung open every gate to hell.
Drunk on the horn's magic, he deluded himself into believing he was a god, ultimately sacrificing his own heart to summon the Demon King. The result? Mutual destruction. Of course, he met his pathetic end first, devoured by the very demonic beasts he had summoned.
I can't let that happen again.
To prevent the second cataclysm, my top priority was recovering that horn intact—more than even taking his life.
Killing him wouldn't be hard. But if he destroyed the horn or flung it into a dimensional rift the moment he died? That would spawn new variables, inviting disasters in other forms.
So I set the stage. I made him come to me of his own accord, lured him to the negotiation table.
And now...
He sat right in front of me.
Creaaak. The rotten wooden floor groaned in protest.
Dust lay thick on the battered table between us as I faced the old man.
"......"
The Silent Elder. No, the elder now reduced to a fugitive, looked wretched. Fleeing the Holy Church's inescapable net had left him in rags, his sunken eyes hinting at days without food. Yet the venom lurking deep in those eyes remained as potent as ever.
"So."
I broke the silence first.
"You've brought what I need, right?"
The elder glared wordlessly.
Slowly, very cautiously, he slipped a hand into his bosom. His fingertips trembled.
Instinctual revulsion clashed fiercely with the rational need to survive—he desperately didn't want to surrender it, but he had no choice.
Thud.
The object landed on the table. As thick as an adult's forearm, a horn pulsing with dark crimson bloodlight. Ancient runes writhed like maggots across its surface, and a murky demonic aura seeped out, dizzying the mind just to behold.
A fragment of absolute evil that pierced the walls of dimensions. Summons calamities using the life force of a sacrifice as collateral.
Finally found it.
With this, it was done. Securing this alone would let me avert the worst scenario from before my regression.
"Satisfied?"
The elder's voice grated like rustling metal.
"Now, what will you bring to the table? Sparing my life? Shaking off the Holy Church's pursuit?"
He chuckled, placing a hand on the horn. Poised to inject mana and self-destruct at any moment.
"That's not enough. This is like my soul itself. Offer a fitting price, or I'll shatter it here and take us both down."
A threat. A cornered rat biting the cat.
I didn't flinch. Instead, I casually crossed my legs and propped my chin.
"Come on, Elder. Do I look like the type to scam you for free?"
"......?"
"It's right here."
I pointed at myself. Precisely, my left chest where my heart beat.
"This should be payment enough."
The elder's eyes narrowed. At first uncomprehending, then his pupils grasped my intent.
"Hah......"
He could read mana flows. The immense energy surging from my heart—unbelievable for a human. Exposed without restraint, the golden dragon aura left him entranced, losing his grip.
"Refined... Dragon Heart?"
"Normally, you'd wither trying to handle the horn's power, but implant this? Game changer. Infinite mana, unbreakable body. The closest thing to the god you dreamed of—right here."
Gulp. Greed trickled down his throat.
Yet lingering suspicion gnawed at his reason. The horn was mighty, but its toll too steep—constantly devouring life force, forever haunted by death's shadow.
But with a Dragon Heart body? It would more than offset the penalty.
The perfect vessel he'd chased his entire life.
"You... mean it?"
His voice quavered.
"Yeah. I'm not as sleazy as I look."
I shrugged.
"That's why I invited you here fair and square."
"......That method was pretty underhanded."
"We met, didn't we? Winner takes all, clean and bold."
"......For real?"
"Yep. Just us two."
Suspicion filled his gaze as he scanned the room. The crumbling shack, ceiling riddled with holes. An unnatural silence, not even wind whispering.
"How can I trust that? You're a con artist. Traps outside, maybe? Estel knights lying in wait?"
"Knew you'd say that."
I pulled a pocket watch from my bosom and set it on the table.
"That's why I propose this. I'll give you time—deploy Silence Sanctuary."
"......!"
His face hardened.
Silence Sanctuary. An absolute concealment technique only Black Moon's leader could wield. A forbidden ritual severing causality with the outside world—nothing inside could be detected, no matter what transpired.
"How do you know about... that......"
If he could cast it, even the Holy Church's net couldn't peer inside.
But that was in his prime.
"Pick one."
I tapped the watch.
"Barrier up and fight me, or answer my question."
The choice was obvious. He let out a hollow chuckle.
"Bold bastard. Knew you were crazy, but this? Fine. I'll indulge your arrogance."
He rose, spreading his arms wide and chanting.
"Shadows of the abyss, veil the world's gaze, grant sanctuary where only silence flows......"
Vrrrrm.
Black haze rose from his feet. But it fell short of my expectations.
As expected.
Silence Sanctuary was powerful. In his prime, maybe. But exhausted from fleeing, he struggled to form even a top-grade one.
That's a problem.
One minute, three, five... Sweat beaded on his brow.
The black veil crept up the shack's walls, only to fray repeatedly.
"Huff... haa... hah......"
His breaths grew ragged. Signs of mana depletion. At this rate, he'd collapse before a high-grade barrier formed.
"Elder. Still got a ways to go?"
I yawned deliberately.
"J-just... a bit more... give me time."
Desperation gripped him. Miss this chance, and it was over. But his body wouldn't obey—fingers shaking, vision blurring.
No... not here...
Thud. Something dropped at his feet. A small glass vial glowing purple.
"This is...?"
"Can't watch you struggle. Drink it. Show me your true power."
"What's... this?"
"Mandrake concentrate. You know what that means. You look drained."
His eyes bulged. Handing a weapon to the enemy? And recovery potion too?
"You're insane."
"Necessary step."
I was dead serious.
"You need that much mana for top-grade. Half-ass it and the barrier breaks? Trouble. Saintess crashes in, no duel."
He stared blankly at the vial. Unfathomable—why help his killer?
No time for doubt. His body was at its limit; the mandrake elixir, too tempting.
"Hoo......"
Trembling, he uncorked it. Poison? Trap? Thoughts aside, he downed it.
To survive. To rip out that arrogant bastard's heart.
Gulp, gulp.
"Grrraaah...!"
His body arched back. Explosive mana boiled from his dantian. Withered veins pulsed with life; faded circuits swelled.
Target's mana levels rapidly recovering.
Silent Elder temporarily regains prime strength.
"Ooh... OOOH!"
Ecstatic, he shrieked in joy. With a gesture, the stalled black veil cascaded like a waterfall.
BOOM!
The entire shack plunged into darkness. Light, sound, even air currents—perfect isolation.
Top-Grade Barrier: Silence Sanctuary completed.
[Causality with the outside world 100% severed.]
"Kuhahaha!"
His mad laughter echoed in the void. Overflowing power—he clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Thanks, Lee Han. Truly. Thanks to you, it's perfect."
Murderous glee filled his eyes. The earlier servility vanished.
This was now his completed sanctum, his arena.
"With this power, I'll carve out your heart nice and gentle. My final mercy—no pain."
He assumed stance. Shadows morphed into blades, dozens sprouting behind him. Perfect offense-defense fusion.
I rose slowly, doffing my coat onto the chair.
"Elder. Welcome to the tiger's den—your own making."
I cracked my neck, stepping forward.
"Come on. Show me if those fists can pierce my guard......"
He raised a barrier, retorting.
I waved him off, cutting in.
"No, no. Don't misunderstand."
I spread my arms wide. Chest fully exposed—utterly defenseless.
"No need for defense. Attack first. I'm yielding the opening move."
His brow furrowed. Utter disdain, the mockery of the overwhelming strong to the weak.
"You... insolent brat!!!"
His pride erupted. Shadow blades, laced with fury, rained toward me.