Even If the World Abandoned Them (2)

I responded to Diend's message.

"I knew it would come to this."

Perhaps because time flows faster in the Arcana Continent than in reality. The regular update is reflecting awfully quickly.

Let's see. The demon king's castle, monitored across the continent, has been utterly annihilated without a trace...

"A fitting end for such inferior scum."

As always, no mercy when it comes to demons—this guy's mouth.

But that's not sincere.

As common sense for a demon hunter, I know it well, don't I?

"Of course, a futile endeavor."

Demons don't overflow in the Arcana Continent for nothing. If demon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hunters don't send them back to hell with their own hands, those bastards resurrect eventually.

They must have thought deletion was different.

But don't get the wrong idea, Raymon Sean.

"Indeed, a woefully narrow-minded perspective."

Even you, who claims to be the developer of the Arcana Continent chronicles.

You don't know everything about Arcana, do you?

For example, my dark history. The Claudy family and Grandfell, needless to say.

And you're surely convinced that our Akkshan seniors have been deleted as well.

Far from deleted.

It means they've burned with tenacity and launched the operation from inside the Omen's belly.

So I didn't hesitate.

After all, I know our seniors' tenacity better than anyone.

I've suffered it firsthand, so I have no choice but to believe.

My unique stat, Tenacity.

Our seniors, with even higher tenacity and mastery than mine, will surely execute the operation flawlessly.

Then all I need to do is trust them and fulfill my part.

I declare in Grandfell's style.

"Do not underestimate Akkshan's trust."

So what is my part, you ask?

That, too, I can explain from experience.

The Omen sighted across the Arcana Continent.

I recently faced something with a similar pattern, didn't I?

The primordial evil. The one that fled from Sisli, the World Tree, to the Arcana Continent. That thing and its byproducts.

Blocked by the primordial evil byproducts, I failed to track the main body.

How could the great Grandfell forget the day of shame when he let a demon escape (a disgrace by Grandfell's strict standards)?

It means I gained immense lessons from letting that demon slip away.

I murmur.

"I trust in thee."

The Omen sighted across the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Arcana Continent isn't the main body.

How can I be sure? Experience again—the result of my desperate struggles.

—"The Omen is in the deep southern sea..."

As the head of the AAU Yusra branch, you see.

"Thus, trust in me as well."

Good. Target coordinates: southern sea.

Aiming for the Omen's main body.

Truth be told, if I could...

I'd love to rein in the guests.

After the banquet ended, I wanted to call back those leaving the Claudy territory.

They'd be helpful against the Omen, somehow.

"Time to shake off the banquet's tedium."

But would Claudy's pride allow such a thing?

Besides, even without them, we have the Akkshan seniors.

Alright, let's steel my resolve once more.

I do miss the natural enemy relationship, though.

With the demon kings swallowed into the Omen's belly along with the demon king's castle.

No point expecting Predator-Prey Relationship to activate.

But as much as I miss it.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Won't our seniors fill that gap?

So.

Whoooong—

I stepped into the manifested portal without hesitation.

Worst case, if things don't go well.

I'll just call the Iron Castle Ho and do my part.

But.

Soon, the southern sea reveals itself.

An unexpected sight unfolds on the coastline.

Who is that noble figure radiating mana so intensely it raises goosebumps...?

But does Grandfell care for others' gazes?

His eyes go straight to the point.

"Is that the Omen?"

... Omen, what the hell are you?

I instantly understood why the dwarves called the Omen "something" and couldn't even describe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it.

It's a completely different concept.

Hard for those of the Arcana Continent to comprehend the existence called Omen.

Like how players couldn't understand magic.

Yes, the Omen was something that could exist in reality.

And at the same time, a form all too familiar to me.

"No different from that crude creation."

Prototype.

The mechanical monster witnessed in Raymon Sean's [CODE] rift.

The difference? Size.

Truly overwhelming.

Not an exaggeration to say it swallowed and deleted Akkshan and the demon king's castle.

Its body fills the entire view and more.

But what does that matter?

Omen, since you're a prototype.

Since you're Raymon Sean's creation.

You now have one inescapable natural enemy.

Ziiing—

A pulse from my waist.

Yes.

Precious Iron is screaming it's its turn.

But.

Hold on, Precious Iron. No, before a prototype, it's not Precious Iron?

"Wait for procedure, Illusion Breaker."

...Right, that bizarre name!

Anyway, it's not time to wield you yet.

As I said, it's not just the Omen ahead.

Flying on a broom against the Omen.

And there's someone manifesting magic even I, co-chief of the Mage Tower, can't identify?

Shoooooo—!

The enemy of my enemy is a friend.

Whoever it is, our goals align, it seems.

I'd love to observe the situation.

That skill? In magic, at least—from Grandfell's motor mouth staying silent for once, I can tell.

No ordinary mage.

Mana quantity aside, the manifestation level is extraordinary.

I could vouch for it.

That's at least a transcendent who has liberated their circles.

The moment I realize that.

Huh?

That back of the head suddenly looks familiar.

...I see. Times like this, Grandfell's lingering grudge helps.

Why, the moment I first entered the Spacetime Salon.

The one transcendent not focused on me.

Slumped over a corner table—that back of the head.

Seems it was this one.

A transcendent.

When I saw Sword Saint Shegwin and Iron Arm Urs...

I know transcendents' tempers without meeting them.

So no need to make unnecessary enemies here.

Let's pass smoothly, if possible.

Seeing them facing the Omen, as long as I don't stir trouble.

With that intent, I step forward.

Focused on battle, perhaps.

I call out to her, who hasn't noticed me.

"Long time no see."

Anyway!

Her thinking is so self-centered?

I know that back of the head.

But no law says the back of the head knows me?

But would this thick-skinned guy care for trivial circumstances.

Mid-manifestation, does she have leeway?

The back of the head turns.

Our faces meet.

As expected, first time seeing her face.

Anyway, better to introduce ourselves smoothly.

It was the moment I thought that.

"...?!"

Sky-blue pupils.

The woman's eyes shake violently.

Even destabilizing the mana flow she was emitting so intensely.

No, wait.

I don't know why you're so shocked.

But first, properly manifest that magic!

Sudden gun turns startle, but.

Such magic is even worse...!

If it veers wrong and flies at me like backfire, it's seriously troublesome?

I don't even know what magic it is, so I can't use reversal magic!

I convey that sentiment in Grandfell's style.

"Was the target not the Omen?"

"...!"

"Do not forget. All things have procedure."

Magic procedure.

Scrying, interference, manifestation—all good.

But shouldn't you look straight at the foe?

Regaining senses at my words, perhaps.

The transcendent manifests magic toward the Omen.

Shwooooo—!

Purple beam shoots straight, striking the Omen.

Unknown magic.

But from the impact...

Above Meteor Strike?

So-called ultra-high-tier magic.

Intense purple flash.

Blinding my eyes before vision returns.

Anyway, as expected.

Of course it won't faze it.

A [prototype] in Arcana Continent.

Anyway, it's also called bizarre.

Bizarre must be countered with bizarre.

Let's do this.

I've put in some effort lately, you see.

Swordsmanship, magic, tenacity.

To wield the fusion of countless bizarreness from different concepts like flowing water.

Rifts, Hundred Thousand Caves, colossal evils.

I literally pulled all-nighters struggling.

Dududung—

I reach out and grasp the hilt.

Precious Iron's pulse transmits.

No need to hold back the rampaging Precious Iron this time.

The sword path of pride ascends to transcendent ranks.

First Path.

[Sword that Cuts Illusions: Illusion Breaker]

[Effect: Combat power against 'prototypes' greatly increases.]

Shoooo—

Sword aura condenses into sword beam.

Sword beam deforms; Precious Iron's form changes in an instant.

Its appearance is no different from machinery.

Illusion Breaker's voice rings.

-If it's sharp enough, cutting poses no issue, master.

The blade's keen gleam adds trust.

...Oops.

Almost forgot.

Time to tuck in the sleeves.

Before battle.

Swish—

I shamelessly don the jacket draped over my shoulder.

What the watching transcendent thinks doesn't matter.

What matters is the Dawn series set effect.

Especially the second one.

Additional damage on all attacks.

A rare effect before or after the cataclysm.

But I've confirmed its extent directly and indirectly.

Thanks to the [Orb of the Vampire Count] dropped by Count Ascura.

The great Mage Tower even requested to borrow it.

Enchantment senior.

Kiko Armin.

After research, handing back the borrowed orb, she said.

-"Might be overstepping...! But I think this is the most fitting magic tool effect for our versatile chief! The versatility is truly amazing...!"

Yes.

The key is applying to all attacks.

Swordsmanship, magic, spirits, archery, etc...

Perfect synergy with me, who's poked a million holes.

Additional damage means bonus no matter the amount.

It's bonus, practically?

Who'd refuse a bonus in this world?

Not me.

And no attribute weakness in bite-for-bite.

Ahem.

There's good reason for shamelessly adjusting my attire, swallowing shame.

But my, Lee Hoyeol's, mental victory didn't last.

"...As expected."

Suddenly, the transcendent speaks.

Her shaken pupils settle.

She continues.

"Grandfell Claudi Arpeus Romeo, it was you...?"

Here comes that damn full name?!

Damn, in this sparkly outfit.

Full name called out doubles the mental shock.

Amid confusion, I think.

...The Spacetime Salon?

When Arcana was just a game.

The realized old-timer community was the Spacetime Salon.

I'd anticipated my Arcana Continent Chronicles ID being exposed.

Problem is how she knew it was me.

No way...?

Do I look the part for that name?

...Do I really look like I match that name?

But as always.

I can't show my inner fuss outwardly.

Indeed, silence covers half.

She introduces herself first.

Bowing her head.

"The Witch of the Southern Sea, Mary, greets the head of Claudy."

Witch of the Southern Sea, Mary.

Whoever she is.

She knows way too much about me.

...Too much to pretend not to know.

So, what does she think of me, Grandfell?

Does she intend to cooperate against the Omen?

It was the moment I meant to get to the point.

My vision flickers.

Mary and I both react.

"...Grandfell? Why is my body starting to glow...?"

Mary panics at the contagion of pride.

No way, Claudy's halo again?

I reel at my expansive dark history manifesting.