Chapter 607: The King of Pride (Finale)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 607: The King of Pride (Finale)
"Ah! No, don't kill me!"
"Get back! I am of the noble Glory Blood, you monster!"
"This isn't what the Lord Speaker said! We... we were supposed to... AAAH!"
Terrified screams once again echoed over the skies of Belland. But this time, the chaos and slaughter did not originate from the crowded, lawless Lower District. Instead, it tore through the sprawling estates and magnificent architecture of the Upper District.
It was as if the wheel of destiny had come full circle.
Pot-bellied noble lords, elegantly dressed ladies, young men hollowed out by wine and lust, and even those still entwined in their lovers' beds, dreaming of soaring to new heights on the wings of "Glory" tomorrow... in the blink of an eye, they were met with an unimaginable catastrophe.
Dense root systems descended from the giant tree as it gradually stained pitch-black. They fell like a torrential rain of wood, twisting and extending like hounds tracking a scent. They unerringly sought out those carrying bloodlines passed down from a thousand years ago, ruthlessly impaling their bodies and devouring their flesh.
Gulp, gulp. The tree feasted greedily.
As the high nobility of the Empire, these people enjoyed limitless resources, and many among them were powerful experts. Yet, before they could even cast the magic they had long grown rusty with, they discovered to their horror that they lacked even the strength to resist these roots.
It was as if they had been destined from birth to be penned like pigs and sheep, raised only to be slaughtered when the time was right. Their fangs and claws had long since been corroded away by a millennium of decadence and luxury.
"No... spare me, I beg you, spare me..."
"I don't want to die yet... sob..."
The dreams of Glory vanished like bursting bubbles. In a fleeting moment of clarity, the once-exalted nobles became nothing more than desiccated husks hanging from the roots. Their flesh and souls were devoured in an instant, becoming fresh nourishment for the Golden Great Tree they so revered.
"So... that’s how it is?"
Celicia watched the scene with a calm gaze. The horrifying sight of countless mummies suddenly dangling from the branches didn't cause her slender brows to twitch even once.
"The so-called Glory Blood was nothing more than reserve rations you prepared for yourself. It’s a pity they were deceived by you for so long."
"Reserve rations? No... I wouldn't have needed them if you hadn't forced my hand!"
Albert roared ferociously. His face, already hideous from the countless roots squirming beneath his skin, flickered with expressions of terror and despair.
"No... no... this isn't what we agreed on!"
"Shut up! This is the only use for you wastes!"
"The Glory Blood and Order shall endure forever, as shall the Empire! This was the First King's oath—you cannot break it!"
"Are you not now eternally one with me? As long as I endure, you shall naturally endure as well!"
His face shifted between ferocity and terror, and his tone changed markedly with each sentence. It was as if two different souls were fighting for control of the body.
But as the roots writhed, the last glimmer of humanity in Albert’s crimson eyes found it impossible to withstand the erosion of this gift from a god.
"Ah... no... I am the Emperor... the Emperor of the Empire... I..."
Faint screams and wails scattered into the boundless night.
The soul named Dion finally carried its regrets and resentment into the depths of the Great Tree, becoming part of its nourishment forever.
"As long as I kill her, I can forge a new Order and Glory. You wastes are only good for this!"
Albert showed no mercy, his crimson eyes flashing with a light of manic excitement.
The Golden Great Tree shuddered again. Countless roots extended and wove together, eventually forming a writhing, hideous set of papal robes that draped over the newly reborn Albert.
A crown dripping with foul, pitch-black filth slowly rose, hovering above Albert’s head. As if intentionally defying Celicia’s brilliant crown, a deep, eerie light erupted from it, hanging there like a miniature abyss.
Having completely devoured all the Glory Blood, Albert seemed to regain his former majesty and nobility in an instant. Once again, he became... an "Emperor."
A foul, filthy... Rotten Emperor.
"That look really does suit you."
Celicia tilted her head, taking her time to admire Albert’s current form. Then, the corners of her mouth curved slightly as she said something seemingly out of nowhere:
"But, thank you."
Albert froze. "What do you mean?"
"For being so kind as to help me clean up the Empire's pests. Of course you deserve my thanks."
Celicia spoke with mock sincerity. "After all, those fellows were hidden quite deep. It wouldn't have been easy to root them all out later. You’ve really saved me a lot of trouble."
"..."
Albert exploded in rage. "Once I kill you, you won't be so thankful!"
The Golden Great Tree shook violently.
A howling gale surged forth, whipping the Rotten Emperor’s robes, which dripped with pus and blood.
He raised the now-completely twisted "King's Sword" high. In an instant, a tide of deep, eerie light rolled out—an authority born of blood and curses was suddenly unleashed.
Countless branches reached upward as if to pierce the sky.
The heavy clouds blanketed over Belland shifted. They had been torn open several times during the previous battle, but now they were drawn back together by a magnificent, terrible power.
In a flash.
The layers of clouds seemed infected by rot, turning a deathly, silent gray.
An unspeakable dread sprouted rapidly in the hearts of everyone in the city. Most of the faint-hearted citizens collapsed to the ground involuntarily. In their confusion, they could only follow their instincts and look up blankly.
What they saw... was a silhouette as hideous as a demon.
A city... an impossibly massive city, inverted, was slowly descending from the gray mist.
The Shadow of Belland!
It was the embryonic Earthly Divine Kingdom once forged by the Silent Moon, destroyed in the First King's wrath, leaving only fragmented shards. Now, Albert, using his authority as the Rotten Emperor, had manifested it once more.
But this time, it seemed to be more than just a mere reflection.
The inverted city descended slowly, seemingly intent on physically replacing the real Belland. Crisscrossing, hideous scars covered its streets, and from them flowed a pus that corroded everything, dripping down like fine rain.
If it successfully landed, it would break through the empowerment of Celicia’s "Empire," turning the city back into soil for the Golden Great Tree to drain, and subsequently polluting the entire Empire!
However.
The pus—capable of turning living blood into easily absorbed rot—did not fall.
It hovered in mid-air, unable to descend even a fraction of an inch further.
"Right in front of me, you think you can devour my subjects as nourishment."
Celicia looked down at Albert coldly. Her voice, though as melodious as a young girl's, grew increasingly majestic and filled with wrath:
"Are you... underestimating me too much?"
Celicia reached out and grasped the air.
The raging winds and lightning falling from the dark clouds were snatched into her slender palm.
Then, all was silent.
Everything that posed a threat to the Empire—even the fear in the hearts of her subjects—became the wind and thunder of destruction held firmly in her hand, gathered by a simple gesture that looked like a girl playing with water.
Her brilliant crown spun, shedding ten thousand leagues of radiance.
"I shall sweep away all that threatens the Empire."
She whispered again.
Beneath her fingers, as the wind and thunder of destruction collided violently, a light so bright it forced eyes shut constructed the Spear of Judgment—the symbol of the apocalypse from the long poems of prophecy!
Celicia twisted her wrist. A massive phantom emerged behind her—another version of herself, wearing a spectral imperial crown, looking even more majestic.
The phantom gripped the Spear of Judgment and hurled it, pouring the entire Empire's fury into that offending, false reflection!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
It was like ten thousand bolts of lightning exploding, ten thousand boulders colliding. After the absolute silence came a terrifying reverberation like the world collapsing, punishing everyone's eardrums.
The gray mist, the inverted city, the pus... everything marched toward destruction amidst wind, thunder, and fire. Celicia raised her hand again, shielding the commoners from the light and sound they could not bear, leaving only a silent annihilation to play out like a mime.
Then.
She didn't even spare a glance for the destruction of the reflection. She simply tightened her grip on her sword.
The sword formed from the Empire... from her authority. The true King's Sword.
She aimed it at the false king and the false sword that defiled her Empire... and simply slashed.
No techniques were needed. For her current self, any technique was meaningless.
A single beam of sword light flashed across the sky of the entire city in an instant.
Without a shred of mercy or restraint, Celicia’s sword intent—which already crushed her peers—was empowered by the Empire and her own realm, turning into a deathly whisper that would make even the Indra King retreat.
Albert’s body cracked instantly. The sword intent tore through him, continuously grinding the roots to nothingness.
The towering Golden Great Tree shuddered violently as if letting out a silent roar. A horrific crack appeared from top to bottom on its massive trunk, nearly cleaving it in two.
"Relying on power sucked from a few parasites."
Celicia stared at the collapsing Rotten Emperor and said coldly:
"Where did you get the courage to oppose the 'Empire'?"
"Gurgle... heh..."
Countless roots regenerated even as they were annihilated by the sword intent, struggling to stitch Albert’s shattered body back together. The Rotten Emperor struggled to rise from the ground, the words coming from his leaking throat harder to decipher than an infant's babbling.
But Celicia’s brow twitched. She could clearly sense... he seemed to be laughing.
"Heh... of course I know that right now, I am no match for you."
Albert finally managed to speak a full sentence, making his laughter even more grating.
"But just because I'm not your match now doesn't mean I'll lose in the end, does it?"
"Your roots are severed, and your last reserve rations are nearly spent. What other tricks do you have?"
"Heh... haha... Naive. A tree's nutrients don't just come from the soil!"
"..."
Celicia’s beautiful eyes narrowed. Sensing something, she suddenly looked up.
The gray, decaying mist had vanished, revealing a clear night sky.
But that night sky held no stars and no moon. It was... empty.
It was like a mirror that reflected nothing.
Or perhaps, a lake... also inverted in the heavens, where some terrifying existence was rooted, preventing even a single ripple from forming.
A familiar lake.
And the nearly rotted Golden Great Tree was desperately extending its countless branches and leaves toward the end of the sky, coming incredibly close to that lake.
The Shadow of Belland and the gray mist from before seemed to have been nothing more than a cover for this single act.
...
Wooo— A sound of crying arose.
The eerie wails of infants, children, girls, women, men, and the elderly mixed together, echoing over the entire city. It was as if an entire kingdom of ghosts was trying to cross the boundary.
Even Celicia was affected by the crying, feeling an inexplicable palpitation in her heart.
Something was about to rise from the lake.
Celicia’s expression shifted slightly. She immediately cast her authority over the entire city, forming a pitch-black curtain that blocked out the terrifying influence, while simultaneously slashing at Albert again.
"Haha... It's useless! You can't kill me!"
Albert laughed maniacally, ignoring the sword intent that continued to shred his body. "He cannot truly descend, but you cannot stop Him either! Do you understand? The ending was decided long ago, just like the First King's oath a thousand years ago!"
Celicia turned a deaf ear to Albert’s final madness.
Because that unspeakable, terrifying silhouette had finally... emerged from the depths of the lake.
It was... a tree.
A tree that looked no different from the previous Golden Great Tree.
Except its golden radiance was more sacred, more brilliant, and far more grand.
However, when this tree fully appeared on the inner side of the lake, with countless golden leaves pressed against that thin, nearly invisible barrier, innumerable corpses, white bones, and agonizingly screaming souls floated up from the depths of the lake. They climbed up the trunk and eventually landed on that same barrier.
Then, countless gazes filled with greed and hatred stared fixedly at this vibrant world.
Evil God · Fallen Evil Sacred Tree!
"I see. Your true goal was to wait for His arrival?" Celicia whispered, though she didn't seem surprised.
Ever since she had seen that phantom back then, she had expected this. But even so, she knew that even as the Empress of the Empire, she could not preemptively stop the actions of a high-and-mighty god. This was the sorrow of the weak creatures known as humans.
So... was she forced to use her last ounce of strength to struggle like this?
"Ah... Great Sacred Tree."
Albert knelt on the ground with joy and reverence, having long since discarded his dignity as "Emperor." He reached out his hands and countless roots, pleading humbly to the Fallen Evil Sacred Tree.
"Please... grant me the great power to reshape Order once more. Just like... the First King a thousand years ago, let the Empire return to Your Order and Glory."
The Fallen Evil Sacred Tree did not move. Perhaps that thin world barrier prevented Him from acting as He pleased. But at this moment, both Albert and Celicia felt a terrifying gaze from a higher level fall upon this place.
【Granted.】
Vague syllables, incomprehensible to humans, mixed into the countless cries.
The branches of the Sacred Tree dipped slightly, and a drop of morning dew slowly fell from a golden leaf.
The moment it fell, the dewdrop expanded rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it became a sun containing infinite power.
That’s right.
A tree's nutrients don't just come from the soil below; they also come from the sun above.
The Evil God’s true body could not descend, but He could use the sword He had once gifted to seep His power into this world.
This holy relic, gifted before He had fallen, could also serve as an anchor for Him to erode this world.
Albert prepared to receive this grace with overflowing joy.
Yes, as long as the tree was bathed in sunlight again, he could regain the authority of the First King. At that time, even Celicia would be nothing more than blood-food for the new Empire, just like those commoners who once dared to defy royalty.
Albert glanced sideways, wanting to savor Celicia’s terrified expression...
Eh?
Strange.
Why did she still look so calm?
Was this woman’s heart so cold that she didn't even feel the deepest level of fear?
Albert was stunned for a moment, and then he realized... he hadn't received the grace from the god.
The sky had gone dark.
As if suddenly realizing something, he snapped his head up, looking utterly terrified.
Because at this moment.
Hanging in the sky was not the Sacred Tree's sun that could grant him grace.
Instead... it was a pitch-black sun wheel, surrounded by a holy corona!
"I forgot to tell you."
Celicia turned her head. There wasn't a trace of panic in her eyes as she faced the Evil God. She gently brushed a strand of hair, her imperial majesty fading slightly to reveal a hint of a young girl's playfulness and charm.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she said:
"You aren't the only one who has a sun."
*
"Oh, oh, I get it. So that's how it works."
Muen was sweating profusely from his tinkering. Finally, he had perfectly fitted the two Forbidden Spell cores into the third core Teacher Mela had given him, and he now fully understood the effect and activation method of this Forbidden Spell.
Solidification.
That was the effect of this Forbidden Spell.
To put it simply, the spell itself forcibly fixed the fighting spirit and mana within the area into their most basic states. This meant that no martial techniques, magic, or even miracles could take effect within the spell's range.
Now that he knew the effect, Muen finally understood why Teacher Mela said this would be helpful to him.
"Thank you."
Having figured it out, Muen stood up and thanked the noble lady beside him.
"Don't thank me."
Phyllis Rosetti, the Guild Master of the Royal Mage Corps, waved her hand expressionlessly. "I am only following Her Majesty's orders."
"Ah... haha, but you did help me, so I should thank you."
Muen scratched his head, continuing his thanks with a bit of awkwardness.
For some reason, this Guild Master seemed to really dislike him. Although she had helped him a lot, she always wore a sour expression, as if he owed her several hundred million Emiels or had seduced her beloved daughter.
Muen thought about it for a long time and felt that, given his level of devotion, he shouldn't have accidentally hit on her daughter.
Probably... he didn't even know who her daughter was.
"Hmph. Fine. You men are all lying ghosts; there's no need for such sweet talk."
Phyllis gave Muen’s golden hair a cold glance, leaned down, and picked up a head she had placed there earlier.
"Next, I'm going to bury my assistant. Besides, I can't interfere over there anyway. I'll leave the matter of supporting Her Majesty to you."
"Don't worry, I won't fail the mission!"
"Good. Oh, and take this."
Before leaving, Phyllis tossed Muen two exquisite small vials.
"What are these?"
"Top-tier healing potions."
The corner of Phyllis’s mouth quirked. "Brewed personally by me, a Truth-Tier Grand Magister. They are very effective against both mental and physical damage. I imagine both you and Her Majesty will need them later."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Muen’s eyes lit up.
He didn't lack the money to buy healing medicines, but things from the hand of a Truth-Tier Grand Magister weren't something money could buy.
"I'm off."
After delivering the medicine, Phyllis didn't linger and vanished on the spot.
Seeing this, Muen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed his feeling that this Truth-Tier auntie hated him was just an illusion. She was actually quite nice to him!
*
"Let's begin."
After clearing away all distractions, Muen focused all his attention on the Forbidden Spell core in front of him.
He pressed his finger lightly against the inner side of the core's disc, rotating it slowly like an old-fashioned telephone dial.
"First, shrink the solidification range of the Forbidden Spell to the minimum."
"Next... this spot won't do. I need to be closer to Him."
"Finally... connect the remaining mana interfaces of the Forbidden Spell to me."
...
In his spiritual space, Muen suddenly realized he was inside a massive crystal.
Of course, it wasn't a real crystal, but rather... his spirit, solidified by the Forbidden Spell.
As long as the spell was in effect, no matter how his spirit was crushed or ravaged afterward, there was no possibility of it collapsing.
This way...
"I can finally try to completely take control of you."
Muen looked up at the pitch-black sun wheel hovering above his spiritual space.
It might only be for a short time, but it would be enough.
Muen had already prepared all the items and magic scrolls that could enhance spiritual power around him. He activated them all at once, and a terrifying spiritual storm swept through the depths of his consciousness. Anyone with a less-than-steadfast mind would have had their spirit collapse instantly.
But due to the Forbidden Spell, Muen’s spirit remained stable.
"Hehe, now I can finally be a macho man who never wilts!"
Muen chuckled, forcibly gathering as much spiritual power as he could control and slowly beginning to push that pitch-black sun wheel.
*
Muen opened his eyes.
Across that nearly invisible world barrier, he locked eyes with the countless corpses, white bones, wailing souls, and even the Golden Sacred Tree outside.
At the same time, he felt a terrifying gaze that could tear him to pieces in an instant fall upon him without any obstruction.
Maddening whispers echoed in his ears, and horrific spiritual pollution almost instantly seeped into his soul.
Being in such close contact with an Evil God, even a Crown Bearer might find it hard to avoid being corrupted and driven into total madness.
But Muen just grinned. Ignoring his profusely bleeding nose, he flashed a standard eight-tooth smile and pointed a finger at the Evil God.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Fallen Evil Sacred Tree."
Muen said, "I wasn't sure what gift to bring, so first... I'll just give you the middle finger."
*
"Eh? Great... Sacred Tree?"
Albert struggled to open his eyes, desperately searching for the grace that would return him to authority.
But there was nothing.
In the entire sky, there was no sun to give him nourishment. There was only a hideous, silent, pitch-black sun... surrounded by a holy corona!
That black sun stared at him as if sneering ruthlessly.
For the first time since his birth a thousand years ago, he experienced the feeling of being looked down upon like an ant by someone high above.
It was... truly unpleasant.
"It's over."
Celicia raised the King's Sword. The brilliant light symbolizing imperial authority gathered once more, turning into a scorching fire capable of burning away any rot.
A spark of fire descended from the pitch-black sun. Like ink, it instantly dyed the flames with an eerie hue, making them look even more fearsome.
"Any last words?" Celicia asked softly.
"I..."
Albert stammered, wanting to say something.
"Ah, right."
Celicia suddenly interrupted him:
"You aren't even human, and your actions aren't worthy of a human. Therefore... you don't have the right to leave last words."
The scorching fire fell, instantly devouring Albert completely without even leaving a scream behind. It then spread rapidly along the infinite roots, quickly enveloping the entire Golden Great Tree.
In the heavens, a faint, angry roar echoed, but the power seeping through could not penetrate the blockade of that pitch-black sun in time. Some of it was even devoured. Finally, after a gaze that seemed intent on memorizing that face forever, the Fallen Evil Sacred Tree was forced to retreat.
All the anomalies vanished. At the edge of the horizon, a pure glimmer of light symbolizing dawn rose.
The massive Golden Sacred Tree gradually turned to ash in the flames. The rotten parts were completely excised, and eventually, these ashes would drift across the Empire with the warm spring breeze, nourishing the land.
Likely, there would be a good harvest in the autumn, and the price of bread would not rise again.
"It's over."
Celicia let out a long breath. The brilliant crown and robes dissipated, and she transformed back into the silver-haired girl in the white dress.
She glanced up and suddenly reached out her arms.
With a thud, a heavy, tall figure fell right into her embrace.
"Cough, cough..."
The golden-haired man wiped the blood from his face and took the opportunity to wrap his arms around the girl’s slender waist. Flashing a handsome, bright smile, he asked:
"My dear Empress, how did I do this time?"
"Average."
"Huh? Still average? Don't you have any better evaluations?"
"I do."
Celicia pondered for a moment and said, "Lift your head a little."
"Hmm?"
Confused, Muen obediently lifted his head slightly.
Then...
Ignoring the thick scent of blood, Celicia leaned down and pressed her lips against his.
Their familiar scents intertwined. The exquisite, gentle sensation gave Muen a feeling even more pleasurable than flipping off an Evil God.
The only downside was that the girl’s actions were as assertive as ever. Combined with the fact that she was bridal-carrying him, it made him feel like the little wife being taken advantage of.
This was more than he could bear. Muen resolved that he would definitely get his revenge later!
Mwah.
Their lips parted.
"This time... was actually quite good."
Celicia gazed at Muen and smiled radiantly. The ice in her eyes had completely melted, becoming as soft as spring water.
Muen was momentarily dazed, staring at her for a while before his mouth quirked:
"Heh, you damn tsundere."
"..."
"Wait, I'm an injured person!"
"Mmph!"
Muen was in a state of painful bliss.
The physical pain, while not as wonderful as the spiritual pleasure, still made Muen clearly realize... the melting and freezing of ice was, for the silver-haired girl before him, merely a matter of a single thought.
Of course, only for him.
*
[Pride Progress: 100%]
*
End of Volume.