Disaster Level: Claudy (4)
The mana of corruption that blanketed the entire Arcana Continent. An infinitely deep darkness. Those who knew it immediately sensed the truth.
Claudy Territory.
"My liege...?"
The spirit of darkness. Diend Creciad Eternal Darkness. Diend couldn't continue.
"How can such an aura...?"
From their first meeting, Diend had served Hoyeol as an infinitely deep darkness. Yet the mana of corruption radiating from him now was on an entirely different level from anything he'd shown before.
Worry took hold. Naturally, it wasn't concern for Hoyeol. Diend harbored infinite loyalty toward his liege. Doubt toward his master was inconceivable. This emotion was purely dread for the continent.
Ssssh─
As a spirit of darkness, Diend could be called a lump of mana of corruption without exaggeration. Thus, he knew its dangers all too well. That was why he'd lingered in one of Arcana's Ten Great Mysteries, the Teppern Labyrinth, shunned by all.
Because mana of corruption could influence its surroundings simply by existing.
'That is why I serve my liege.'
Hoyeol had extended a hand to such a Diend. Diend had vowed to serve that Hoyeol as his master. His steadfast trust didn't waver.
"It is beyond my comprehension."
He simply pondered. His master surely hadn't overlooked a fact even he knew. There must be a profound reason for unleashing such darkness.
It wasn't just Diend's sentiment.
Rumble rumble rumble─
Aboard the Iron Castle Ho soaring through the skies.
The darkness that engulfed not just the continent but the heavens themselves. Chainwalker, watching it unfold, spoke.
"They've met."
The dwarves flew the skies, surveilling the entire continent. They'd gathered some intel on the four families. Of course.
"Even the Black Dark Dragon observes all."
They knew he'd confronted Hoyeol too. But none had foreseen a change of this magnitude sweeping the continent.
Walls Whale, peering at the continent beside him, spoke up.
"Chainwalker, do you remember that day?"
"That day? Which one?"
"The day the legend of the Black Dark Dragon echoed across the land."
"How could I forget?"
He remembered it vividly still. Dragons—mere legends—over a dozen of them, soaring across the continent, raining thunder upon Arcana.
Walls Whale swallowed dryly.
"...I dare say this influence surpasses even that."
It wasn't wrong. Even dragons wielding storms, lightning, and rain couldn't blanket the continent in such profound darkness.
Chainwalker nodded.
"It's no surprise, given Sir Hoyeol's power."
Even if it surpassed dragons, it was no shock. After all, Hoyeol was the being dragons revered as the Black Dark Dragon, king of all creation.
Yet Walls Whale bit his lip.
"That's precisely why I fear it, Chainwalker."
"Fear? What do you mean?"
"Great power comes with great responsibility...!"
"...!"
"Do you feel his burden?"
Walls Whale's eyes grew misty as he gazed at the continent.
"I can't even fathom it. The weight of responsibility he bears to wield such power... Whether insignificant folk like us can ever share that load."
Of course it was possible. Even if not, they had to strive. Like tempering steel. With patience, without surrender.
"...".
The usual Chainwalker would have declared it as dwarf leader. But he merely fell silent. Because he was watching too.
"...Truly an infinitely deep darkness."
The darkness settling over the continent. Its depth plunged even allies into contemplation. So those facing it directly... their hearts were beyond words.
The four families. All but the fainted Igignite. The heads of Yugric, Kansel, and Akmond realized.
The four families could not defy Claudy. No matter how they expanded, schemed, or wielded vile cunning, the master-servant bond with Claudy was undeniable.
'I'll understand at last, Father.'
An overwhelming gap that forbade even the thought of challenge. It erased despair, compelling true reverence for their lord.
The vassals and soldiers who'd served the four families felt the same. Skipping denial, they bowed long ago to the new master who'd shown them mercy.
And amid them.
'...This is insane.'
Shiver shiver─
Yong Seong Rak trembled in goosebumps. He couldn't guess how Letel Akmond and the Arcana natives felt, but as a player, he was certain.
'Do... do they even grasp the situation...?'
Only he knew its gravity. Because it appeared before his eyes.
The moment Arcana Continent was consumed by infinite darkness. Innumerable messages flooded in, shocking beyond count...!
Status Abnormality: 'Vision Block' has occurred.
Status Abnormality: 'Suffocation' has occurred.
Status Abnormality: 'Delirium' has occurred.
After Jessie Haynes left Shining. Cheonha Tongil had elevated Lee Hoyeol to primary target. Naturally, guild-level analysis of him had been thorough, so even startled Yong Seong Rak recognized it.
'Definitely black magic.'
That darkness just now. The mana of corruption required to manifest black magic.
Which made the terror all the worse. Lee Hoyeol hadn't manifested black magic. He'd merely emanated mana of corruption.
Not content with status ailments.
The infinitely deep darkness engulfs all blessings on the Arcana Continent. Until the darkness lifts, all currently active buffs are deactivated.
"...!"
It was as if the Arcana Continent had flickered out entirely. An immense impact.
Of course, Lee Hoyeol was Lee Hoyeol. Yong Seong Rak swallowed dryly.
'...No idea what they talked about.'
Just as he'd shown mercy to Cheonha Tongil before, he'd spared the four families too. He could confirm it once the darkness lifted and buffs reactivated.
Yet Yong Seong Rak still couldn't lift his head.
'If even a low-tier black magic had manifested...?'
We—I, we, perhaps the continent—might have plummeted into an inescapable abyss of deep darkness.
Gasping for breath, Yong Seong Rak suddenly recalled.
"!"
Lee Hoyeol's words to him.
-"Courageous one. I remember your face."
...He remembered my face?
'No, why my face of all things?!'
Even now, with everything over, Yong Seong Rak trembled in fear. He couldn't guess why Lee Hoyeol remembered him, but...
His eyes flashed.
'Either way, I must prove my worth.'
Lee Hoyeol would know he was Cheonha Tongil. Clever Yong Seong Rak knew exactly how.
Cheonha Tongil's impenetrable secrets. Offering them to Lee Hoyeol.
That was his sole value.
'In a way, revenge.'
Yong Seong Rak touched his exposed eye.
Before Lee Hoyeol, he couldn't hide even the smallest secret. So first, confess the contract on this eye truthfully.
'More importantly.'
His lips curled.
'...He watched it all, that bastard too?'
Suddenly curious. The bastard watching through my eyes. What face was Ryu Ojuncheon making now?
*
A procession of sights that beggared belief.
[Chalice of the Harsh Contract]. The landscape surfacing through its effect.
Ryu Ojuncheon spoke.
"This seat isn't seeing illusions, is he?"
Cheonha Tongil's guild master. One of Arcana's twin super-guilds, alongside Shining. Plus the rare [Monarch] class.
Such was he. He'd thought himself most versed in continental hegemony.
"Unbelievable."
Yet the four families—forces rivaling the empire at its peak, four of them. He'd never imagined.
Ryu Ojuncheon praised the sole remaining among seven fields of vision.
"Whoever you are, you've earned your keep."
The chalice shared only sight. He could only judge by visuals. Perhaps from treading the tyrant's path beyond monarch.
Reading the four families' greed was simple.
"Devouring the empire, is it?"
Though he'd vowed to topple it, he felt no resentment at them stealing his turn. Good news, no?
As a hegemony-seeker like them, he knew.
"Your futures are plain as day."
That shallow alliance would shatter with the empire's fall. Then true war: four forces slaughtering for the vacant throne.
Ryu Ojuncheon planned to watch the chaos leisurely.
"Must prepare for later, after all."
He needed one to fall, claim the empire.
He thought calmly. Whoever the last contractor, hold out long as possible.
But rash predictions miss the mark.
"...!"
Antonim Plains. Center.
Hoyeol appeared amid the four families.
"This is unexpected, Lee Hoyeol."
Alone, no less. Good tidings for Ryu Ojuncheon. Already plotting gains.
If Hoyeol died in battle...?
Crunch─
This could be killing two birds splendidly.
Not just continental hegemony. Reality's too would revert naturally.
As Ryu Ojuncheon shifted, staring piercingly at the chalice.
"?"
The rippling surface blackened. At first, he thought the fool took an arrow to the eye.
But another rash guess. The darkness was Hoyeol's mana of corruption.
Ryu Ojuncheon muttered unwittingly.
"...What is this?"
Head swiveling? Vision shifts wildly.
Yet horizon, lofty sky, all directions.
Thick darkness from Hoyeol everywhere.
...Glance.
Ryu Ojuncheon reflexively checked his status and messages. Knowing the chalice shared only sight, but player instinct amid frustration.
Frustration didn't last.
"!"
Despair replaced it.
The four families, surpassing peak empire.
Before Hoyeol, they knelt without counterattack. Heads bowed, swearing fealty.
Ryu Ojuncheon's face froze.
'To claim the empire, then...'
Not just the old empire, but four families. And finally, Lee Hoyeol?
Truly surpass that monster?
"Damn it all...!"
The tyrant's shoulders slumped for the first time.
*
The infinitely deep darkness blanketing Arcana affected even Ryu Ojuncheon in reality, a separate world. More than enough for those swallowed by Omen and returned.
The darkness over the continent.
"Hoo."
Inhaling, profound sorrow climbed her body, spine-chilling. She didn't want to face it. Wanted to ignore it.
Yet the woman lifted her veil.
Facing the darkness, she spoke. Precisely.
"Goddess. I am afraid. I lack the strength to confront sorrow deep enough to devour Arcana Continent. But if this is Your will... I shall obey gladly. If my flesh hastens Your return, I offer it willingly."
A devout prayer.
"You restored the life You took through Akkshan. Saintess Freyja offers her life anew. In the Goddess's name, I shall dispel this darkness."
......
Flicker─
Blinking vision.
Return of the Saintess
World quest...? A quest with such an extraordinary name popping up suddenly like this?
Maybe an aftershock of the blackening. I wanted to check details, but procedure first—priority business.
Yes. More important than anything now.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yong Seong Rak."
A player knowing my embarrassing full name. Had to interrogate this Yong-whatever guy.
So...
"Should I call you Lee Hoyeol-nim? Or Grandfell Claudi Arpeus R...?"
Just answer the damn question, please?!