Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Translator: uly
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Mir of Raging Flames
In the myths, it was said that the Glory Mir Cheret resembled a horse with a turtle's shell, the Vast Sea Mir Yam was like a massive fish with an amphibian's maw, and the Gentle Wind Mir Ets had a serpentine body, though its sky-obscuring wings made it hard to see.
Moreover, the Mir of Death, Iveldra, was described as a lizard with deer's antlers, but only the Mir of Raging Flames, Agagtur, had no earthly beast to compare to, leaving its appearance difficult to describe.
Some passages called it a giant lizard, others said it had bat wings. Still others described a crocodile-like maw, or a pair of curved goat horns that made it look just like a devil.
Yet all those descriptions of its form held no meaning.
After all, the evolution of every animal had begun with him. This was because he bore the forms of both beasts and beastkin. And so, in Godel, they created a new character to describe Agagtur.
That character was the dragon
Bison, of course, had no way of knowing this, and he was sent flying by its sheer majesty.
"Knight! The Mir has awakened! Knight! Kni..."
Having been hurled back mid-air while blocking the calamity's attack by Agagtur's roar, Bison scrambled to his feet and called for Gil-only to freeze in place at the sight of Gil's horrific state.
"Gil..."
Gil was leaning on his sword, which had already half-melted away. His two arms were reduced to bare bones with scraps of muscle fused to them, and his legs had vanished entirely, armor and all.
"Gil!"
Bison, finally snapping out of it, stabbed his sword into the ground nearby and hurriedly checked on him. Fortunately, he was still breathing, but even that was tenuous-like a candle in the wind-mingled as it was with Godel's energy, inflicting excruciating agony.
Had the heat and flames from breaking the seal not cauterized his wounds and vaporized his blood, he surely would have died from blood loss.
What should he do? Kneeling to examine him, Bison knew little of healing to begin with, and he couldn't imagine anyone surviving wounds this severe even with treatment.
He will not die, my child.
At that moment, a voice echoed in Bison's mind. He froze, hands still cradling Gil, and glanced around. Far off, Gaon was still fighting despite bleeding, clinging to a stalactite and watching for an opening-it couldn't have been him.
It is I, my child.
Then was this voice coming from Agagtur, who was ripping into the calamity with its talons and tearing at its throat with that brutish maw? The rough yet solemn voice continued.
Vali, that fool. Surely Cheret put him down. Has that tiresome lineage finally been severed? Hero or Demon King-which is it? Ah, but I'must deal with this first. Step aside for a moment.
The Mir of Raging Flames, Agagtur-symbol of evolution-spread its wings wide, gripped the calamity's head with one forelimb, and began chanting in the tongue of dragons.
The lava cavern filled with its draconic words, resonating and trembling as if in sympathy. Seeing this, Gaon swung his sword, shifting to Gil and Bison's position.
Whether Agagtur noticed or not, it finished its incantation with perfect precision. Then it vomited forth an immense torrent of lava, melting the calamity away.
Sss...
And so the giant kin of sin, Vali, melted into nothingness. Agagtur, flames rising from the lava dripping from its maw, turned its head and slowly flew toward the central pillar.
It'settled into place as if by habit, lay down, and gazed up through the breached ceiling.
『It's been ages since I last beheld the world above. But even if your seal is broken, the constraints born from creating the Great Sins remain. They're less a seal than the price of dividing my power. Come to think of it, I can't recall why I added the mortals' seal back then.』
Each time Agagtur spoke aloud, Gaon and Bison felt their blood boiling. It'surged through their veins, pounding at their hearts like war drums, and they couldn't even resist the stirring deep within.
It was no fear, no thrill of battle-perhaps an instinctive reverence for true life itself.
Seeing life itself take form was overwhelming enough; beholding a being that willed and controlled it was only natural, like the order of the world.
『Oh dear, it seems I can't speak aloud anymore.』
The dragon lowered its head again, continuing in a voice that resonated directly in their minds.
As the price of creating the Great Sins, I'must not leave this place. They fear that I, born of the Great El's will-the Mir of Raging Flames-cannot be controlled and would destroy the world. So speak.
At his words, Bison nearly convulsed, forgetting everything as he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
Whether from the shock of the long battle or the release of tension upon its end, combined with hearing Agagtur's voice, words failed him. His mouth hung open like a newborn's, drool spilling as he forced out speech.
"P-Please... s-spare..."
Agagtur half-lidded its blazing eyes and regarded Bison.
It knew this frail being would perish under its mere gaze alone. From the markings on his armor, it knew he'd come to steal the Mir's power. Yet his plea to save his comrade was endearing, impossible to ignore.
As if smiling, it parted its jaws and spoke through vibrations.
I know full well why you sought me. But to make it simple for you-as I just said-I cannot leave this place. And as I said, that one will not die.
Agagtur "regarded" Gil.
Then, like crimson tree trunks of lava, roots sprouted from the ground beneath him, wrapping around his body. They pulsed like veins-powers wielded by beings above the living, beyond Bison's comprehension.
"Almighty Mir."
But Gaon, who hadn't even tried to understand such things, stepped forward this time.
"Is the kin gone? Those... seeds the kin of sin sows-can we be certain they won't spread across this land anymore? This lowly one returned here and awakened you solely for that purpose."
Agagtur "regarded" Gaon with what seemed like amusement.
You, born human from the death of Orga among the celestials, yet still my child-truly a descendant of this land. No need to answer, but since I cherish you, I shall explain: what you call seeds is the curse the kin of sin brought upon this land. Each kin sows its curse differently-do not liken it to seeds bearing life.
"F-Forgive me."
Even the ever-composed Gaon had no choice but to bow before the Mir. Fond of these rare visitors, Agagtur decided to aid their understanding a while longer.
The curse has spread since the kin's era began. Eradicating the kin is impossible without the Almighty El. It is like the laws of this world itself. Iveldra once commanded demons to control it, but she is gone-so mortals must accept it. Yet since I cherish you, I can help.
"How..."
Go above and seize the one spreading the curse. He flees even now. I will aid you through that one.
The seed planter was fleeing? Gaon wanted to look up and confirm, but compelled by the Mir's commanding words, he bowed his head, raised his sword, and shot into the air.
"Guh!"
And at that moment, the lava tendrils covering Gil vanished, and he awoke.
"Wh-What..."
He stared in shock at his regenerated arms and legs. They were tinged red, yet gleamed with the golden light said to shine only for Heroes.
"Did I... die? Aagh!"
Gil pushed off the ground with hands and feet, scrambling backward. Startled and flailing to flee Agagtur upon waking, he prompted the dragon to rise and speak calmly.
『A new proxy in that state.』
The majestic dragon planted its massive limbs, sending lava erupting upward from countless spots. It raised its head stiffly, spread its wings wide, and bellowed through its voice.
『Kneel!』
Under Agagtur's overwhelming pressure, Gil trembled and dropped to his knees.
『With the kin of sin awakened, surely one lineage has been severed. I have awaited this moment and will not miss this chance with you. I aid you, and you aid me!』
"Wh-What do you mean, O Mir?"
Agagtur "regarded" Gil directly.
『Vengeance.』
It tore a scale free and honed it in its own lava, forging a stone blade twice the size of any from the Holy Brazier. Crude and rock-like in form, it exuded a presence incomparable to any sword gained through succession.
Agagtur hurled the stone blade to Gil.
『I love you and forgive not the one who made you thus. What is your justice, little knight? For what do you swing your sword? Can you grasp this?』
"I..."
In that instant of questioning, Gil realized his true role in this tale.
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