Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Colossus of Ruin, Uroboros
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"I'm sorry. That wasn't meant to refer to you, Lady Nemisona."
As Princess Ignatius hastily apologized, Nemisona replied in a calm tone.
"I know that much. Of course, you were referring to someone else."
"Thank you for understanding."
Nemisona cast a sidelong glance my way.
"Human. Reveal your true identity at once."
"Me? Kaoyan Anukin."
"I didn't ask for your lowly name. I mean take off the mask."
I chuckled softly.
"Why should I?"
Nemisona narrowed her eyes.
"What an insolent fool."
Armida stepped in to stop me and stood up to apologize.
"Lady Nemisona. I'm sorry. He's always been ill-mannered."
"Armida. Stay out of this. Ill manners can be beaten out of him with a firm hand."
"But..."
Nemisona's hologram slowly approached me.
"Human. I'll say it again. Remove the mask and reveal yourself properly."
"If sis takes hers off first, I'll do mine too. Shall we both strip at the same time?"
"What did you say? Do you think I'm some common housewife?"
I stared right at her.
"No."
"Then what do you take me for?"
I shrugged.
"Who knows. I just met you today, sis, so I don't know much. At best, you're a spinster who's lived for millennia. You shouldn't make me say it on our first meeting, right?"
It came out just like that. Everyone gaped in shock, unable to close their mouths, while Nemisona's eyes twitched with fury.
Suddenly, a glow emanated from Nemisona's forehead, soon becoming an intense light that enveloped me.
'The Mystic Eye?'
The Mystic Eye is the third eye that opens on the forehead of Soul Masters or tenth-cycle mages. Legend says those who awaken it comprehend the truths of all things and even transcend some laws of the world, but I've never seen one, so I wouldn't know.
Looked like I'd really poked the bear this time. This life might end right here.
"Those who defy the heavens shall perish."
I slowly rose to my feet, my hand drifting to Yojjo's hilt. I'd rather die than bow to the Valkyries. For starters, I couldn't face the souls who died so miserably in the Age of Ruin.
"Defy what heavens, exactly?"
"The just, noble heavens."
"Strange. I've never seen any like that. Are you in some cult, sis?"
"What?"
I strode forward boldly and stood before Nemisona.
"The heavens I know have vessels vast enough to embrace the meek and the wicked alike. But your heavens can't even hold a lowly worm like me? And you call that piss-pot excuse for a vessel the heavens? Ha, I've seen plenty of fake heavens like that."
Nemisona glared at me sharply.
"That loose tongue of yours sure runs well."
"Just speaking the truth. It's rare enough—better remember it."
"Words won't reform you. You'll have to feel the true wrath of the heavens."
With a casual wave of her hand, a tremor shook the surroundings moments later. I thought it was an earthquake at first, but no. It was too short for that, and now faint vibrations pulsed periodically.
I tilted my head in confusion, but Catrine and Armida had gone pale as ghosts.
"What is it? That's all you've got?"
Nemisona turned away curtly and addressed everyone.
"We'll reconvene the meeting here tomorrow. Assuming this place still stands..."
Her hologram vanished soon after, and Armida exploded.
"Little brother! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Beats me. I didn't do anything. If something happened, it was that sis. But seriously, what did she do?"
"She summoned the Sky Weapon Uroboros."
"Uro... what?"
"Get outside and look, quick."
As I stepped out of the secret chamber with a puzzled tilt of my head, urgent bells tolled across the entire Divinum Sanctuary. Venturing into the corridor, I peered out the window and felt my eyes twitch.
A steel giant nearly 100 meters tall was striding toward the Divinum Grand Temple from the distant plains. The rhythmic quakes we felt were clearly from its massive footsteps.
'The Colossus of Ruin?'
The Colossus of Ruin was the massive steel giant that destroyed the Isara Kingdom before the Yosrahim Empire was even founded. People had always thought it was divine wrath, but now it looked like a spinster's tantrum.
"So even spinster hysterics age into that after millennia."
Armida snapped irritably.
"This isn't the time for jokes! If that thing gets here, everyone in the Divinum Grand Temple dies."
"Can't you stop it, sis?"
"How am I supposed to stop something Nemisona sent?"
True enough—they'd fled to the heavens even during the Age of Ruin. No reason to think they'd be different now.
I glanced at Catrine, who'd followed behind.
"What do you think, miss?"
Catrine turned away sharply. As the Grand Saintess of Flames, she was Nemisona's direct subordinate. She couldn't interfere.
"This is your own doing."
"You started it, though."
"What?"
"Who told you to try peeling off someone else's mask? This happened because you got clever for no reason."
As I shot her a look, Princess Ignatius bowed her head deeply. At least she had some shame.
Shura jumped in urgently.
"Master. What will you do?"
"Run, obviously."
Armida shook her head.
"Uroboros pursues its target to the ends of the earth."
"Even better."
"Huh?"
"If I lead it to the Yosrahim Empire, old man Cloud will take care of it. He dotes on the Empire."
"What about all the people who die in the meantime?"
"Hmm. Then maybe the Lumen Kingdom? They've got Ilfayn Cydeus there."
"You think they'd escape unscathed?"
"Well, this mess started because of their princess. Self-inflicted."
Armida bit her lip hard and turned away.
"Whatever. Just buy some time, little brother."
"Why?"
"I'll go to Chronos and plead with Lady Prosia. She's a stickler for principles—she won't tolerate causing chaos in the human world."
"So if I buy time, it'll be resolved?"
"Probably..."
Her tone lacked confidence. I wasn't sure if I could trust that. Gripping Yojjo roughly, I told Shura,
"Shura. Head to Padilla right away. Evacuate to the south gate together."
"What about you, Master?"
"Eh, I'll manage the escape."
With that, I leaped out the window. Landing on the ground, I thrust Yojjo forward to divine my escape route. When the tip pointed in one direction, the blade rang out loudly.
Yojjo indicated the north gate—the very direction Uroboros approached.
'Yojjo, you've been weird since reincarnation. Never once pointed the right way.'
I spun around repeatedly, but it kept ringing north. Fine, whatever. I'd check it out and bolt if needed.
I summoned my jet-black infernal steed and mounted up.
"Let's go."
I spurred the horse into a gallop.
Crossing the Divinum Grand Temple, I saw holy knights and temple soldiers rushing north. Gripping fierce weapons with faces full of grim resolve, they clearly meant to fight Uroboros.
'But can the faithful defy divine wrath like that? Whatever.'
Even in the Age of Ruin, humanity believed in the gods but fought desperately against the divine will of extinction.
Of course, some lunatics poured cold water on that resistance, but most fought with everything they had.
Exiting the grand temple's main gate, screams echoed from fleeing civilians. Terrified of the approaching divine fury, they prayed for repentance or simply ran for their lives.
"The metal monster's coming from the north! Everyone, evacuate to the south gate!"
One temple soldier's desperate shout called divine wrath a monster. At this point, there wasn't much difference.
Then a massive boulder flew over the walls. It swept through nearby shops, leaving devastation in its wake at the Divinum Grand Temple.
"Kyaaak!"
Civilians plunged from terror into full panic. Prayers ceased; everyone just fled. Panic seemed to have restored some sanity.
Right. This wasn't the time to seek gods—it was time to run like hell.
'But what am I doing right now? I'm losing my mind.'
As I grumbled, I spotted a doll hopping across nearby rooftops toward me. It was Evelyn. She caught up as I slowed, shouting urgently.
"White Mask. What the hell happened?"
"Ah, spinster hysterics."
"Huh?"
"I teased Nemisona sis about being a spinster, and she threw a fit. That's why you gotta marry off folks when they're of age."
Evelyn's eyes twitched.
"You're completely insane, you know that?"
"I just hate bowing to anyone."
"Even to Nemisona? She's practically a lesser goddess."
"Oh ho. That strong?"
"Obviously. She was created by the Creation Gods, just like the others."
I pouted. Big deal. They were the ones who'd abandoned humanity out of fear of monsters. No matter how godlike, I'd never bow to cowards like that.
"Doesn't matter. They should've acted worthy of respect. If they want reverence as holy beings, they should fulfill their duties. Trying to have it easy just pisses me off."
Evelyn snickered.
"You're harsher on them than we are. Just join our side."
"Pass. You guys aren't saints either."
"What'd we do?"
"You already forgot the mess in Kara? How many did you kill?"
Evelyn narrowed her eyes wearily.
"And you didn't kill any?"
"At least I only killed armed thugs. If you pick up a sword to kill, be ready to die yourself."
"Oh, did you now?"
"Whatever. Just get lost. You're annoying me."
I'd reached the north gate of Divinum City. Temple soldiers lined the walls, magic cannons trained on Uroboros.
These were the magic cannons dedicated to the Divinum Grand Temple from Kara recently. According to Padilla, it was practically forced, but they'd help anyway.
A few holy knights and soldiers buzzed at my arrival.
"It's White Mask."
"White Mask is here."
I shouted at the soldiers.
"Open the gate!"
The soldiers manning the firmly shut gate yelled back.
"No way! The monster's coming!"
"It won't hold at the gate anyway. Just open it."
"But..."
"Now!"
A deep voice boomed behind me then.
"Open the gate as White Mask commands!"
Turning, I saw the Thunder Bird banner of a holy knight order. Their leader rode forward slowly.
It was Knight Izenberg.
"White Mask. Taking the field?"
"Don't get your hopes up. If it goes south, I'm out."
He gave a faint smile at my bold admission.
"Well, thanks anyway. On behalf of the Divinum Grand Temple, I offer my gratitude."
"No need. I'm the one who's sorry."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Forget it."
Meanwhile, boulders kept flying, smashing buildings and temples. But the magic cannons stayed silent—still out of range.
Finally, the gate opened. I charged out, yelling to Izenberg,
"Don't bring the kids! They'll just get in the way."
As I galloped on my infernal steed, Uroboros's gaze locked onto me. The mountain of steel gleamed with murderous light. I was definitely the target.
It smashed a nearby rock face with its fist, hurling chunks at me.
Shieeeek!
The deadly boulder slammed into the ground, sending dirt flying everywhere. The shockwave nearly unseated me, but I reined in and pressed on.
This looked bad no matter how I sliced it. A monster that wiped out a kingdom—could I even handle it?
Seeing the man and woman chasing me eased my mind a bit. Evelyn and Knight Izenberg.
Kuoooo~.
Uroboros lumbered forward with eerie cries. I veered sharply, luring it into magic cannon range.
The gap closed. Though its steps were slow, its huge stride caught up fast.
Evelyn and Izenberg charged first on horseback, slashing its ankle with Aura Blades—but only shallow scratches, no real damage.
Boom boom! Bang!
Then the walls erupted in cannon fire. Shells arced high, many striking true, but most shattered or ricocheted harmlessly.
I gritted my teeth. Magic cannons—one of the Age of Ruin's ultimate weapons—ineffective? Back then, they vaporized most monsters in one shot.
'Damn! If I'd known about that ultimate weapon, I'd have swiped one while fleeing. I'd have handed one over out of guilt.'