Chapter Text
A single strand of blood dripped down from Cale's mouth.
However, he was smiling.
'It works.'
This was working.
It was very slow, but the Super Rock and the Dominating Aura, these two ancient powers were taking over the temple.
The speed was slowly increasing as well.
It was difficult at first but Cale could feel the faint aura quickly taking over the temple like a crack in a dam.
The temple rumbled for a different reason now.
Bang! Baaaaang!
The noise of the gods' clash lessened as well.
The God of Despair's aura roared as if it was anxious.
'If it is like this...!'
Cale's eyes clouded over.
He was certain that he would be able to Embrace the sealed god in a little bit.
– Cale!
The Super Rock anxiously shouted at that moment.
'Hmm?'
Cale wondered why the Super Rock was acting like this when things were in his favor.
-Behind you!
"Cale!"
Cale got the chills. He wasn't able to dodge the incoming attack aimed at him.
"Ugh! Cough!"
It was such a strong punch to his gut that he almost lost his grip on the book.
"We meet again."
At the familiar voice, Cale turned his head. His eyes widened. It was Jung Yi-Rang.
Jung Yi-Rang smiled at Cale and greeted him.
"Long time no see, Kim Rok Soo."
Cale froze with the name he was called. His eyes started to tremble.
"Jung Yi-Rang, why are you here...?"
"Ho, it seems you remember! Kim Rok Soo, did you miss me?"
At his words, everyone stilled. Thick tension could be felt.
"...Kim Rok Soo...? What do you mean..?"
Jung Yi-Rang turned toward the owner of the voice, Rosalyn. She and the rest of the group are frozen in their battle stances. Alberu and Choi Han had stiff expressions and looked at Cale with worry.
Jung Yi-Rang observed them for a while before he clutched his stomach and started laughing.
"Hmm? Pfft, kekekekekeke. You didn't know?" He said with a sneer towards the group. "Kim Rok Soo, a body-snatcher. He stole this body! AHAHAHAHAHA, this is hilarious!"
Shaky eyes full of disbelief were directed towards the red-head. And with Cale avoiding their gazes, it pretty much confirms the man's sentence.
Before they could fall into a panic, Alberu spoke to everyone.
"Everyone! Calm yourselves! We must address this issue first and foremost!"
His words made the group decide to deal with this urgent matter first. They will talk with 'Cale' later.
"Aww, a shame. Oh well, I should do what I came here for."
Jung Yi-Rang shook his head in disappointment before heading towards where Cale was standing and clutching his stomach. The group was alerted and fixed their stances. Jung Yi-Rang ignored them and spoke to Cale with a vicious glint in his eyes.
"Kim Rok Soo, do you remember So Jin?" he spat with such venom in his voice.
Cale eyed him warily. He may not remember what happened when he was 17, however, he can make an assumption.
'Did she die in the past?'
Cale thought as he sharply observed the man before him. He noticed that Jung Yi-Rang is much thinner than the one in the sloth test. He looked quite haggard. He stopped his observation as he heard him talk once more.
"I'm sure that bastard will show up if I kill you here. How dare he. Because of him, So Jin died. That is why, Kim Rok Soo, you'll have to die here."
"Cale-nim!"
And with that, a fist covered with a red aura pierced his heart.
"Cough!"
Cale coughed out blood. Jung Yi-Rang's movements were so fast that he was barely able to avoid having his heart completely pierced. Only a quarter of his heart remains. The Vitality of the Heart quickly tried to heal him.
-Cale!
Jung Yi-Rang seeing him still standing, albeit shakily, was very shocked. He looked at Cale with widened eyes, which soon turned crescent.
"Oya? You're still alive?" He said cheerily, hands behind him. "Keke, will you be able to handle another? Should we try? Hmm?"
As he was about to launch another attack, he took a few steps back.
Bam-
A person stood in his previous position. It was Choi Han.
"I will kill you."
He said through gritted teeth. A dark aura and killing intent leaked out of him.
"You're dead."
Jung Yi-Rang turned his head and saw Rosalyn and the whole group looking at him with so much rage that he felt goosebumps.
'They're strong.'
He soon shook those thoughts away. He believed that he was stronger than them and added to the fact that the god contracted to their household was here, those mortals were no match.
"How amusing. And how will you do that, mage? All of you are weaker than me, and the other dragons' attention is currently preoccupied. A weakling like you should just sit still and wait for your death-"
Jung Yi-Rang's words were cut-off as he once again left his current position to dodge the incoming attack. He angrily turned his head and shouted.
"Who dares-"
"Shut up, filth. It looks like you ignored my warning last time."
A new voice cut him off.
Jung Yi-Rang turned red in anger as he recognized the owner of the voice.
"Wanderer!"
He immediately took out his sword and attacked the newcomer.
"You! God's servant!"
The man, Choi Jung Gun, sneered at him and parried his attacks.
"I'm no one's servant."
Choi Jung Gun's sword and Jung Yi-Rang's sword clashed. Choi Jung Gun opened his mouth.
"It looks like I still cannot reach you. How annoying"
Choi Jung Gun's sword still could not slice through Jung Yi-Rang's sword. Choi Jung Gun pushed forward with his sword and Jung Yi-Rang retreated.
Tap.
Choi Jung Gun stood in front of the group to better protect them. Jung Yi-Rang landed not too far away and he pushed his glasses up with his finger.
"I knew you would come. Of course, as you are stronger than before, I too trained myself to have my revenge on you."
Jung Yi-Rang made eye contact with Cale and warmly smiled.
Choi Jung Gun shook the sword in his hand a bit as he asked.
"So, you ignored my warning and attacked him to fight against me?"
Jung Yi-Rang shrugged his shoulders instead of responding. His eyes underneath the glasses were glowing sharply.
Mary, Rosalyn, Choi Han, and the others were destroying the hands that were reaching toward Cale. While the dragons were preventing the red light from escaping their barriers.
It was at that moment.
Wind gathered around Cale's feet and he kicked off the ground.
He then stepped on the altar and shot up.
Cale made eye contact with Jung Yi-Rang and the sculpture engraved on the wall.
"Let's end this. For good."
As the black book wrapped in darkness covered the sculpture's face...
Craaaack—!
The orb above the temple broke completely and red light poured out like a starving demon. The desperate red light started ripping away at the Dragon's mana.
– Cale!
The Super Rock anxiously shouted at that moment.
'Hmm?'
Cale wondered why the Super Rock was acting like this again when things were in his favor.
– You, you-
The Super Rock stuttered.
– ...What the hell did the World Tree give this kid?
'Hmm?'
– Is it possible to take over the temple like this?
The Super Rock sounded flabbergasted as he commented in almost a sigh.
– You, your presence is even stronger than Dragons now.
'Hmm? ...Stronger than Dragons? Then... What is it?'
Cale got the chills for a different reason.
It was at that moment.
Boooom-
His insides rumbled intensely and Cale subconsciously curled forward.
"Ugh!"
– Good job. This is the last time. Just a bit more, my child.
'This bastard...!'
Cale heard the God of Death's voice as he watched the darkness surrounding him overwhelming the sculpture.
"Ahhhhhhh————"
A sorrowful scream burst out of the sculpture.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh—!"
They couldn't see who was screaming, but everybody covered their ears.
"No! Lord!"
Jung Yi-Rang tried to snatch the book out of Cale's hand, however-
"Where are you going?"
Choi Jung Gun prevented him from doing so.
"Tsk."
Jung Yi-Rang could only click his tongue in annoyance.
'This bastard!'
It was then.
Craaaaaaack–
The wall with the sculpture started cracking.
Everybody in the temple subconsciously flattened themselves on the floor.
Death.
An aura that felt omnipotent filled the area. It was such a suffocating aura that they felt as if they would faint if they did not lean on the warmth on the temple floor.
The moment that aura filled the whole area...
"Ugh!"
The chilling scream ended with a groan.
Cale, who could not cover his ears as he was holding the divine item, stumbled because the intense noise made his head ring.
He barely managed to remain standing without falling and quietly gasped. The pain in his chest didn't help him in stabilizing himself, either.
"Ah."
He slowly lifted his head.
He could feel it.
He could feel the sealed god being sucked into the book in his hand.
He could see the sculpture on the wall, the sculpture of the extremely handsome person, being sucked into the black book.
The benevolent and handsome face of the sculpture had changed to look like a screaming devil.
Cale ignored the blood by his mouth and the intense pain in his chest as he smiled.
The sculpture on the wall was gone.
Instead, the image of the sculpture was visible on a page of the open black book.
Cale moved both hands.
Tap!
He closed the black book.
He could clearly feel that his Embrace into the divine item had worked and that the sealed god was now imprisoned in the God of Death's domain.
"Cale-nim!"
Cale's body stumbled.
Choi Han urgently supported him, but Cale was looking at something else.
"Fuck."
That sticky red light...
It had not disappeared.
To be more specific, it was trying to disappear.
Rumble—
The problem was that the red light that looked as if it would fall to the ground like rain was now boiling.
It resembled a bomb that was about to explode.
He needed to stop this thing.
"Cale-nim, is that the problem?"
Cale finally turned his gaze after hearing a low voice. Choi Han was asking with a stiff expression on his face.
Cale moved away and stood up on his own before looking at Choi Han and Mary as he spoke calmly.
"That's the only thing left now. We can leave Jung Yi-Rang to that guy."
That prompted them to look at the fight.
"You got weaker when the bastard was sealed."
"Tsk. Shut up!"
Jung Yi-Rang shouted as he used all his remaining strength on his swing. Choi Jung Gun, seeing him doing such, dodged and landed a strong blow causing his opponent to lose his balance, leaving an opening Choi Jung Gun used.
"Ugh!"
"You've lost once again. You won't be able to run away this time."
Choi Jung Gun said as he crouched down to look at Jung Yi-Rang on the floor. He reached his hand and covered his face.
"NO-! AHHHHHHHHHHH—!
A piercing scream resonated. It continued for a while before Choi Jung Gun let his face go.
"Gasp, haa, haa"
"I see, I understand now."
"Bastard! How dare you look into my memories!"
"You have no use now. Die."
Before Choi Jung Gun decapitated him, Jung Yi-Rang suddenly smiled creepily and said.
"If it was before, you might have stopped it. Kekekekeke."
When his head was separated from his body, the red light the dragons were trying to contain glowed. The dragons were barely holding on.
Choi Jung Gun looked at the orb in surprise before turning his head towards the corpse. He has a bad feeling about this.
Baaaaaaaaaang-!
Alberu got chills on his back at that moment.
Eruhaben shouted.
"It looks like it'll blow soon!"
Alberu watched Cale take a step out into the sky outside the temple.
Swooooooosh-
The Sound of the Wind surrounded Cale's ankles.
"Will you all help me?"
'Even with your doubts?'
Everyone looked at each other when Cale said that. Alberu then turned his gaze to look at Cale.
"We will talk later."
Cale looked at them with widened eyes before nodding his head.
"I'm sure they won't know what is what when the powers are mixed together anyway. How will they know if it is the former Dragon Lord's ghost power, an ancient power, magic, dead mana, a necromancer's power... Or even aura? Isn't that right?"
Cale asked Mary who nodded her head and released numerous black threads from her hands and started tying them like a net.
That power headed toward the red liquid, the bomb that would explode soon.
Baaaaang—! Baaaaaang—
The red liquid was roaring.
Alberu channeled dead mana into Mary's numerous black threads. The only people looking at him inside the temple were Clopeh and his allies.
'Can we do it?'
Alberu realized it the moment his dead mana wrapped around the Dragons' mana barrier stopping the red liquid.
'This is an extremely strong power.'
He became extremely concerned.
His face was still calm, but the cold sweat wetting his back was proof that he was anxious.
'But it should be worth trying.'
Nowhere in history had Dragons, Dark Elves, and humans... Never had they all gathered together to protect something and stop something.
At least that was the case in Alberu's memories.
Alberu looked at the person who had gathered everybody together in one location.
Cale had stretched out both hands in the air and was taking some deep breaths.
He was certainly getting ready to use his shield.
'This punk is probably going to be the last line of defense against the explosion.'
At that moment...
Craaaaaaaaaack—
He heard something ripping that sounded off.
The sound was coming from the red liquid.
Alberu's heart beat wildly.
He calmed himself.
'We must succeed.'
And...
'We need to st-'
Alberu flinched.
He got chills again.
The cold sweats on his back being blown by the wind made it feel as if his whole body was going cold.
He looked up.
The barrier that was barely holding in the red liquid that was about to explode... Mana fluctuated high above the layers of round barriers.
He could feel the strong fluctuation of mana at the highest point in the sky.
He heard a bright voice through the mana fluctuation.
"Human, I'm here!"
A smile appeared on Cale's face.
"They're here."
Raon's two front paws stretched out toward the air.
Ooooooong-
An extremely long and wide platform made of mana appeared.
The moment a sturdy mana platform that resembled the foundation of a building was created in the sky...
"I see!"
Rosalyn suddenly shouted with admiration before retrieving her mana from the orb and helping Raon.
Once the red mana seeped into the black mana platform...
Shhhh—
There was a strand of wind and a black castle appeared in the sky.
It was a completely black castle without any flaws. This castle was eye-catching for a different reason than the sealed god's temple.
"Human! I came with mommy!"
Boom-
Once there was a dull noise and the black castle landed on top of the mana platform...
"It's exploding!"
The beige-colored Dragon Mila. The Dragon with the mana barrier closest to the red liquid shouted.
"We were almost late."
A white-haired woman appeared above the black castle at the same time.
There were already countless shields around her. Former Dragon Lord Sheritt and her 'Protection' attribute. The shields moved following the movement of her hand.
Their target was the red liquid.
Baaaaaaaaaang—–
The red liquid let out a loud noise that sounded like a part of a large mountain range falling off as it exploded.
The people inside the shelter looking out, the mages looking out to see how their mana shield was holding on, and the individuals floating in the air trying to stop the red liquid from exploding...
They all saw something as red as blood bursting and trying to clear the sky.
Shaaaaaaaaaaa-
There was another strand of wind and they saw two wings and a silver shield with a large amount of water inside.
– ...Cale, I think this might be too much.
The White Star's white half-mask was in Cale's hand.
The wood attribute ancient power, the Indestructible Shield.
The water attribute ancient power, the water wall that used to belong to the White Star but was now Embraced into the white half-mask by Cale. Also, the wind attribute ancient power, the wind wall.
They were all powers used to defend or stop things.
"We need to try our best."
– ...Who cares if the World Tree helped you restore your strength? You're just going wild like this.
Cale laughed at Super Rock's pitying words with a completely pale face.
He then put more strength into his two hands.
The shield became even sturdier.
The Indestructible Shield.
This power wrapped around Cale's heart and got its power from it. His beating heart was the strength of the shield. His heart and the shield strengthened and protected each other. Even if his heart was pierced, it was still beating. It was enough.
That was why getting the Vitality of the Heart and then the shield consuming the Vitality of the Heart made it possible for him to continue fortifying that power.
Cale had stabbed his heart out of his own volition, and thanks to that, a portion of the foundation of the immortal World Tree had seeped into his heart.
It now allowed Cale to feel the Vitality of the Heart throughout his whole body.
This affected the shield as well.
No matter how much his heart was damaged, the restoration was still running through his whole body even with only a quarter of his heart.
'I'm glad I used the World Tree's dagger.'
Cale was glad that he had stabbed himself, causing him to get a stronger restoration. He knew that it would have been impossible to stay on his two feet after getting a hole in his heart if it wasn't for the dagger's power.
Cale trusted the now stronger shield and channeled all of his strength toward the bursting red light.
The shield that was created above Puzzle City...
The two wings of the shield wrapped around the red light.
It was as if it would take on the full brunt of the explosion.
However, Cale was not alone this time.
The powers of his allies were together within it.
"It's worth trying."
Even if he was to fail, even if someone else was to fall, there were others who could support them until they got back up.
That was why Cale was saying that it was worth trying.
That was what allowed Cale to say that without any fear.
Babaaaaaaaaaaaang—
However, the one to face that red explosion first could not help but be afraid.
'It's going to break soon.'
Mila had been at the vanguard against the red light since earlier.
She could not see her mana barrier because it was surrounded by multiple layers of other powers.
However, her mana barrier was breaking so easily as if it wasn't even there.
"Ugh!"
"Mama!"
Mila's body subconsciously curled forward.
Both of her hands were shaking.
The sudden impact from her mana barrier breaking had hit her as she was connected to it.
She still did what she could to persevere.
'I need to hold on so that it is easier for the others.'
For something to give such a burden to a Dragon... It was an extremely formidable explosive force.
There was only one word she could think of to explain this explosive force.
'...Despair. It is strong enough to make you feel hopeless.'
She subconsciously turned to look at Dodori.
Her child. Her child was casting a mana barrier as well.
"Ugh."
Blood dripped out of Mila's mouth.
'No.'
If it was this hard for her, then she knew that Dodori would receive an even greater impact. He was still a young Dragon.
However, Mila couldn't say anything because of the impact that was shaking her insides. Rasheel, the Dragon to face the explosion after her, shouted at that moment.
"Hey! Little kid, you pull back your barrier and go to your mom!"
Rasheel and Mila made eye contact.
A decision had been made in the short moment of the explosion. The two Dragons had come to the same decision.
"Uhh, uhh-"
"...Dodori......"
"Mama!"
In the end, Dodori did as Rasheel said and withdrew his mana before running toward his mom who was calling him.
Craaaack-
Mila's mana barrier completely broke at that moment.
"Fuck!"
Rasheel swore once before clenching his mouth shut.
'Damn it. I should have just kept sleeping! Why did I come here?!'
The buzz-cut Dragon Rasheel was extremely annoyed.
Drip.
Blood dripped out of his mouth, but he kept his mouth shut and pretended that the blood was not there.
It could not be helped.
No matter how selfish he was, he had seen how the humans had fought.
How could he, a great Dragon, act without class when these ants that were weaker than him were flailing around like this?
His pride would not accept that.
"Fuck—!"
Craaaack—!
However, his mana barrier soon broke as well.
It had lasted a bit longer than Mila's. He had been able to reserve a bit more strength than Mila, who had to fight against it in the vanguard.
Both of Rasheel's hands were shaking.
"Keke."
However, the corners of his lips were curling up.
'It shrank!'
The explosive force had shrunk.
The power of the god had gotten a bit weaker.
"Good job."
The two Dragons heard Eruhaben's voice.
Eruhaben's mana barrier was the last Dragon barrier left now that Dodori and Raon had withdrawn.
"I guess we are the only ones left."
Eruhaben looked up at the individual who was floating even higher than where he was floating in the sky. Former Dragon Lord Sheritt was there.
A smile appeared on Lord Sheritt's freckled face.
Eruhaben smiled back as he spoke.
"Sometimes, the greatest defense is offense."
She nodded her head.
"Try it. I will block it as much as I can."
Eruhaben released his mana barrier. The tightly clasped gold barrier instantly turned into small pebbles of dust. He turned his head to look at Alberu, Mary, and Cale.
Eruhaben's hands moved after seeing Cale nod his head as if to tell him to do whatever he wanted.
"Okay then."
The gold dust charged toward the red explosion.
When it came to methods to decrease an explosive force...
Blocking it and pushing back as long as possible was a way, but...
'We can also make it explode before it reaches our allies.'
One pebble of gold dust exploded.
Bang-
That was the beginning.
Baaang baaaaang, baaaaang! Baaaaang! Baaaaang—
More pebbles of gold dust slammed against the red explosion and caused a chain of explosions.
"Ugh."
It was not easy.
The red explosion swallowed it all as if the explosions of these golden specks of dust were nothing.
This power truly made things feel hopeless.
However, Eruhaben knew something.
'Despair' and 'something that makes it feel hopeless' were very different things.
Bang, baaa, baaaaang!
Because of Cale's silver shield, the people in the distance... They could not see what was going on in there.
All they could tell was that there were numerous colors mixed together and that the endless explosions meant that something was still going on.
"...Mary!"
Choi Han supported Mary who was stumbling.
"What is going on-?!"
Nobody responded to his question. Alberu and Mary were both sweating as they connected their powers together.
'...It was something like this.'
Alberu bit down on his lips as he channeled his dead mana into Mary's black threads.
Eruhaben's power and the red explosion were smashing against each other.
Honestly speaking, Eruhaben's power was too weak to call it smashing against each other.
However, the explosive force was shrinking.
The problem was that the ones who were going up against this explosion right now were Mary and Alberu.
The two of their dead mana force were outside the Dragons' mana barriers.
Alberu's dead mana had seeped into this dense net of black threads.
The walls that he thought were thick were slowly cracking.
They probably could not last very long.
However, there was a reason they kept pushing forward to persist through it.
'It's different.'
Maybe it was because this power was trying to cause despair through death, but... Dead mana was able to persist against this explosion to a degree. Although the Dragons' mana barriers had broken almost instantly, their barrier was lasting better than Alberu had expected.
Of course, it might be because Eruhaben had used his power to crash into it first, but...
'It was something like this.'
Alberu poured his dead mana into it nonstop.
'They had gone up against powers like this.'
He was experiencing firsthand the powers that his allies, that Cale, had gone up against.
'...It wasn't something I should have let them convince me to let them do because they said it was worth trying.'
That was why Alberu thought that he needed to last as long as possible in order to lessen the burden on the others.
"Ugh."
"Your highness!"
Choi Han sat Mary down and urgently moved to support Alberu.
The two of them were still not withdrawing their powers as blood started dripping out of their mouths.
Choi Han had seen the Dragons bleeding.
This power was strong enough to damage Dragons.
'They might even receive an even greater blow!'
Of course, Alberu and Mary would receive more damage.
Choi Han heard Raon's voice at that moment.
"She says that's enough!"
Raon flew over and landed in the temple with Rosalyn as he spoke.
"Mom says that she'll take care of it!"
Rosalyn nodded her head. However, Alberu pretended not to hear him. Mary then spoke in a low voice.
"We cannot overdo it nor get hurt. None of us are allowed to do that from here on."
Mary's gaze turned toward Cale.
Alberu nodded his head and withdrew his power at that moment. Mary did the same.
Baaaaaang—!
It was then that the two of them, as well as the others, realized something.
The ancient Dragon who had lived the longest had not given it his best yet.
There was a reason Eruhaben had looked toward Lord Sheritt first before he made his move.
A half-transparent silver shield and two wings.
Most of the colors mixed together inside it were gone and the few remaining colors were starting to show their colors and become visible.
The red explosion. The strong gold pebbles of light going up against it.
Baaaaaaaaaaang—- baaaaaaaaaang—-!
They heard extremely loud explosions one after another.
Baaaaang! Baaaaaang—!
It felt as if the air was shaking from the rumbling of the explosions. They were strong enough to cause gusts of wind.
"Ho."
The completely pale Cale subconsciously let out a gasp.
'...Is this the power of the ancient Dragon?'
Eruhaben was attacking the red explosion without any breaks.
Cale was feeling the explosive force of the red explosion slowly decreasing.
He could also feel that the red power that was trying to get past these obstacles and get out no matter what it took was slowing down.
It was because of Eruhaben's explosions and the existence that was blocking the impact of all of these explosions.
Crack!
It broke.
Crackle, crackle.
Another one broke followed by another.
Craaaack!
A countless number of white shields broke and broke again.
They stopped the aftershock of the impacts.
Thanks to that, Cale was not feeling any impact or debris from the explosions.
Furthermore, Lord Sheritt still had a lot of white shields left.
Eruhaben also had a lot of gold dust left.
Baaaaaang—!
They continued to hear explosions but the people in the shelter opened the window a bit more.
"...Hasn't it been quite a while?"
The silver wings and the shield were still visible outside the large barrier surrounding Puzzle City.
It looked fine.
"Umm, don't you think that the explosions are a bit less now?"
The people listening agreed with the knight who asked.
"The explosions... Definitely feel less."
The mage in charge of communication in the shelter commented.
"They must be doing well to stop it."
They finally managed to see the individuals who were either bleeding or barely able to hold themselves up outside the large shield.
"Haaaa, really."
One of the knights was unable to vocalize what he was thinking and could only shake his head and sigh.
"Okay, please close the window for now. Just to be on the safe side."
"Yes, sir."
The knight who had opened the window a bit more tried to close it again at the mage's comment.
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang—–!
He would have succeeded if it wasn't for the loud explosion.
The mage pushed the knight aside and raised his head to look past the shield.
"T, that is?!"
The red explosion suddenly fluctuated like an aurora before it increased in size.
Lord Sheritt looked down and mumbled to herself.
"A power with a purpose. A god's power is truly different."
Her voice sounded rational.
"At least it looks like it gave up aiming for Puzzle City."
And as she said that...
Baaaaaaaaaang—!
The red explosion exploded.
It was as if it wanted to swallow up everything that had stopped it.
Crack, crack, crack!
The white shields broke quickly and disappeared.
Cale analyzed the speed of the red explosion pushing forward and the rate at which the shields were breaking as he thought to himself.
'Mm. About a third of it is left.'
In that case...
'This is for me to stop.'
He took a deep breath.
The ancient powers Embraced in the White Star's white half-mask followed Cale's will to create an even thicker and larger barrier.
The silver shield sparkled even more.
"Hmm?"
However, Cale flinched.
"I still have strength left!"
"I'm going to do it too!"
"Not you!"
Rasheel shouted in anger and created another shield inside the silver shield.
Dodori also cast a shield with teary eyes. They blocked the explosion.
'Do these Dragons never get tired?'
Rasheel had some kind of medicine bottle in his mouth.
As Cale looked at him in disbelief and concern...
Baaaaaang–!
The unfathomable explosion had already happened.
Cale shouted toward the two Dragons.
"Stop-!"
However, they did not listen.
Rasheel and Dodori stopped it to decrease its strength even more... Then they coughed up blood.
"Ugh."
"Ugh, M, mama."
"D, Dodori!"
Boom.
Cale felt as if his heart sank.
He did not even see that the two Dragons were smiling proudly.
"I'm going to do it too!"
Raon moved to Cale's side and took the next spot in line.
Rosalyn came out of the black castle with a large bag of highest-grade magic stones and went after him.
"Me too."
Alberu, who had been drinking dead mana, interjected as well. The two of them had blood dripping from their mouths.
'W, why are these people pushing themselves so far-?!'
Cale's face showed more urgency than ever before when Raon spoke brightly and energetically.
"Human, don't worry! You can rest now! You don't need to overdo it! I can do it! It will be a bit difficult, but I will not faint! I'm sure everybody feels the same way!"
"Ah."
Cale gasped.
The Super Rock sighed.
– Aigoo.
He then mumbled.
– This is karma. Karma.
Cale took in everything he could see.
Eruhaben, Sheritt, and everyone else prepared themselves once again and channeled the rest of their powers. Everybody was in front of Cale and they moved very quickly. Cale, who had already cast this large shield and the other ancient powers, would not be able to move or withdraw these powers very easily
"Haaaa."
Cale sighed and reached a hand up to grab Raon.
"Human, what is it?"
"Raon, you stop."
He moved Raon behind his back.
Baaaaaang— baaaaang–! Baaaaang—
After another round of numerous explosions...
Baaaaang—
There was only a small explosion left to strike against Cale's barriers and shield.
His allies were bleeding or plopped down as if they were fainting.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Cale's heart beat wildly.
The things he had done in the past brushed through his mind.
"N, no!"
Raon's eyes opened wide in shock.
Eruhaben, Rosalyn, Mila, Rasheel, and Dodori... These individuals, who had been floating in the air with flight magic, started falling to the ground.
They didn't even have enough mana to keep themselves floating. This was the case for these amazing Dragons and the mage who was touted as the future Magic Tower Tower Master.
Eruhaben was falling the quickest.
"Raon! Flight magic!"
As Raon cast flight magic on them out of reflex and stopped them from falling at Cale's shout...
"Mom!"
"...It looks like I need to get some rest."
Lord Sheritt started becoming faint and staticky before she was absorbed back into the black castle.
"It's okay, I just need to rest."
As Sheritt disappeared after smiling warmly at Raon, Raon clenched Cale's clothes. His front paws were shaking.
On and Hong poked their heads out of the black castle and could not hide their concern. The children were all looking at Cale.
Cale, who had usually caused this issue and either fainted or fallen over in the past, brushed his face with both hands and turned his head.
Alberu and Mary had already fallen to the ground and had their eyes closed. He could not tell whether they had fainted or fallen asleep. Both of them looked terrible.
Cale felt as if he was looking at himself.
"...Why would they go so far......"
'When they aren't sure about me..?'
– I believe that you know exactly why they did this.
Cale could not say anything to Super Rock's comment.
He lowered his head.
The shield covering Puzzle City... People were poking their heads out underneath the shield one by one.
The ominous red light was gone from their eyes and they could only see the radiant silver shield and its two wings.
They then saw Cale, who was standing firm.
Cale looked around.
The only people still conscious to take care of the current situation were Choi Han, Clopeh, and himself.
Cale looked at his completely intact and sturdy silver shield that looked quite holy, as well as the temple that was destroyed, yet even the damage made it look vintage and magical...
He also looked at the elegant black castle that was mysterious in a different way... And finally, he looked at Choi Han, Clopeh, and the children averaging nine years old who were looking at him as if waiting for him to tell them what to do before he clenched his eyes.
However, he quickly came to a decision.
He said the thing they needed to do before anything else.
He gave the order to the individuals who were now looking at him with calm expressions.
"Immediately. We must immediately heal them first."
The reason he had clenched his eyes shut...
It was because he was worried about his allies' conditions.
Although everything was over...
Although Cale himself had not fainted...
He did not feel refreshed at all.
The Sound of the Wind, who had been silent this whole time, laughed in a husky voice as she spoke.
– They all learned from seeing you do this, you little punk.
Cale could not say anything back.
The shield covering Puzzle City disappeared and he could hear people cheering at that moment.
"Woooooooooooooooo–"
"We're alive–!"
"Aaaaaaah—–"
Delight, relief, concern... Their cheery and teary faces were full of numerous emotions.
It was at that moment.
Boooooooooooom–!
The temple exploded.
***
"I'll pay you with anything! So, please!"
A desperate voice could be heard within the void. It was the God of Death. He was asking for help from the being in the void.
The being inside was one of the few who could bypass the punishment from the ancient gods. He immediately went to the void once he saw the number of deaths that would occur in this final battle. He couldn't let his child die.
"You do know that interfering with the mortals will make the God of Balance move, right? It won't really matter to me. You, on the other hand, are a different case."
Came the reply, calming down the God of Death slightly.
"I'll bear it."
Silence.
The silence was making the God of Death agitated. Even if the flow of time was different there, the matter was quite urgent.
After what felt like an eternity, the voice spoke again.
"Fine. You owe me."
At that, God of Death's face lit up. 'He' could help them-
"Although, I shall do it however I want."
God of Death knew that he has jinxed himself.
"...Yes. I agree."
A golden contract appeared as he said those words. He looked at it briefly, before signing.
"I look forward to working with you, God of Death, fufufu."
The God of Death felt chills run up his spine. He seriously debated whether this is the only way. However, what's done is done.
***
"If it was before, you might have stopped it. Kekekekeke."
Jung Yi-Rang's words rang out in Choi Jung Gun's head.
He immediately went to the altar where the God of Despair's statue stood. He stared at the wall intensely before he turned a bit pale.
"No- This!"
'I must destroy this!'
Choi Jung Gun used his sword to slash the wall.
Ting!
His sword bounced off.
'If only I had Slash!'
He gave up that ability to pass it to Lee Soo Hyuk.
'Tsk, should I bring him here?'
Oooooooong-
He was contemplating his choices when the wall started to light up.
He hurriedly looked at the wall.
"Shit! It's too late!"
Choi Jung Gun hurriedly cast a barrier to stop the black goo that appeared.
'This is bad. This must be stopped or the temple will explode.'
However, he couldn't do anything about it. He can't move from his position and a slight disturbance will break his barrier.
'I must tell Cale-'
As he was about to send a message to Cale, he heard a voice.
"Keke, I told you it's late."
Choi Jung Gun turned his head in the direction of the voice. It was Jung Yi-Rang's 'corpse'. The head of the 'corpse' is talking to him.
"What~? Shocked~? Pfft, not all my memories are true."
"I told you, haven't I? I prepared for you."
Jung Yi-Rang's body suddenly stood up and picked up the head. Choi Jung Gun eyed him warily. Jung Yi-Rang ignored his look and spoke once more while attaching his head.
"Keke, those ants are finally gone."
"What do you mean..?"
Jung Yi-Rang looked at him with a mocking look and said.
"What? Did you think I came here just for you? Don't get full of yourself."
"...."
Choi Jung Gun looked at him with a deadpan look. Jung Yi-Rang shrugged as he made a magic circle beneath Choi Jung Gun.
"Well, it looks like I can do Patriarch-nim's order now."
"Hmm?!?"
It was a teleportation circle.
"I don't know where this will take you nor do I care. Keke, Bye~"
Jung Yi-Rang waved at him as he too disappeared from the temple.
With no one stopping the black goo. The temple exploded.
Booooooom–!
***
-Cale!
"Human!"
"Ugh."
A silver shield could be seen protecting them from the black goo the moment the temple exploded.
Cale's arms were shaking as he held it up.
He can't stop. Not when most of his family members are out of commission. And that is why the ancient powers didn't dare to stop him.
-...This is bad...
Crybaby's voice could be heard.
-Cale... your heart. Your heart won't hold on for long-
-What!?!?
-I'm trying my best, however, for him to heal, he has to stop using any ancient power *sob*
-....
They went quiet at that. They know Cale won't stop.
"Heh, so that's how it is."
"Human!?! Leave this to the great and mighty me! You can't faint!"
He could see Raon looking at him with worried-tear-filled eyes.
'I'm sorry, Raon.'
"Cale nya!" "Cale!"
He moved his eyes towards the two kittens.
'I'm sorry, On. Hong.'
-Will you channel everything at once? ...We'll be with you, remember that.
'It looks like... I can't keep my promise.'
That is why, as his farewell, he smiled at them genuinely. He didn't mask his emotions this time. For the children- no- his children, he'll do anything.
"... I'm... ugh- sorry. Please take care of yourselves."
The children froze. They have a bad feeling about this.
"Remember. I- I love you... my children."
With that, a bright light enveloped Cale.
"No! Father!"
"Dad!"
Raon, On, and Hong run towards Cale only to be met with–
–a statue.
A white statue of Cale smiling genuinely with raised arms.
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PROLOGUE END
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