The leader’s proposal was to deal with the Alliance’s nemesis while restructuring the Great Connection [a network of magical ley lines].
However, the target the leader mentioned was a monster that even Lenok found hard to believe.
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”
In the silent glass garden, where no sound existed,
Lenok, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
“Are you saying that the Order Alliance… is planning to remove the Second Apostle?”
“……”
“I’m not even sure if you can call that a proper plan in the first place.”
Lenok asked with a cold expression.
“You’re going to try to catch the Second Apostle? That monster from the Order that I know?”
The Second Apostle under the Gui-do Order [a religious organization].
The second Apostle of the Order, and the leader called the head of all Apostles.
A transcendent being not bound by the madness that inevitably accompanies an Apostle.
Numerous words and epithets describe him, but Lenok had only one impression of him.
The most perfect Apostle.
Could there be a word that more perfectly expresses and warns of the existence of the Second Apostle than that?
“Even if the Alliance’s Grand Sorcerers stepped forward, they couldn’t be sure of victory. No matter what the price, it’s not a worthwhile plan.”
Lenok shook his head.
“We don’t even know which Outer God he serves, so how are you going to kill him?”
Lenok, who had met the Second Apostle directly, knew how powerful and mysterious he was.
He was a monster whose power was difficult to fully grasp even when Lenok used his intuition and sensitivity to their fullest.
His abilities. The reason he was free from madness. Even the purpose of his activities on the front lines.
Nothing was known properly, but one thing was clear: he was a transcendent powerhouse.
Among those who have not yet attempted ascension, how many superhumans in this world could be compared to the Second Apostle?
“He’s a monster who can choose his own battlefield. It’s hard to imagine such a situation being created in the first place.”
“As you said, the Second Apostle is not someone you can fight one-on-one to determine superiority…”
The leader leaned back in his chair and replied.
“That’s why what I want is to remove him from the Apostle’s seat and separate him from the Pope.”
“Separate him?”
“Originally, I was going to ask Torben, the Master of the Magic Tower, to do this, but he declared that he would not interfere in the affairs of the center and rejected my proposal…”
So, he had already discussed this matter with Torben, the Master of the Magic Tower.
It was surprising that the Master, who was obsessed with lightning, had made such a cold judgment regarding the Second Apostle.
“The other Grand Sorcerers must participate in the restructuring of the Great Connection, so they cannot take part in this.”
The leader’s transparent hand slowly tapped the armrest.
“The Grafting Sorcerer was the only one capable of doing two things at once, but he is now in a situation where his life is unknown due to his defeat in the first gate.”
“……”
“Since the Thousandth who killed Chapman is hostile to the Alliance, he won’t cooperate considering his stubborn personality.”
The Grafting Sorcerer, who had split his brain in two, might have been able to handle the restructuring of the Great Connection while suppressing the Second Apostle at the same time.
However, the plan went awry when the Grafting Sorcerer was defeated by Lenok, and the leader was now looking for the necessary suppression force for the plan at this point.
“We need a strong person with the skill to be compared to the Order’s Second Apostle, whether it’s in terms of reputation or status.”
Lenok could feel the leader looking at him from beyond the shadows.
“It would be great if it were the Great Magician who has the greatest talent since the founding of the great city.”
“……”
“All we need is a little time. The existence of a superhuman who can bind the Second Apostle in a conditioned environment.”
The leader said.
“For that, I can give you any formula engraved in the Great Connection.”
“You’re talking as if you can definitely deal with the Second Apostle if you have time.”
Lenok frowned.
The only thing he could feel from the leader’s explanation, which was impossible to read, was a calm conviction.
It was because he realized that it was an expression of confidence that he could actually ‘remove’ the Second Apostle.
If the situation and conditions were right, he could definitely hunt that monster.
If the deal the leader was offering Lenok was the result of such confidence.
“What method are you thinking of?”
“We will draw the First Apostle into a specific area and rewrite the physical laws of reality.”
The leader replied.
“If we create an environment similar to the boundary of the world, like my garden, we can enforce the laws.”
“Even if it’s the Second Apostle, that would be very difficult.”
Lenok shook his head.
“He is not bound by the power of a domain or territory. It’s impossible to force a specific environment on him.”
When Lenok met the Second Apostle at the Duris Workshop, he realized this after deploying his magnetic field to fight him.
A strange feeling that he was not captured in the space-time of reality, rather than ignoring the ability or effect of the domain.
The fact that he was not bound by a specific phenomenon or environment was the origin and the essence of the Second Apostle’s power.
That was also the reason why he was truly free from the madness that comes to the Apostles.
Even if he wanted to fight the Second Apostle at the risk of his life, he had the ability to choose the battlefield he wanted and engage in battle.
The existence of the Apostle’s formulas used by the Second Apostle was as difficult to deal with as his own martial power.
“I’m not trying to force the laws on the Second Apostle.”
However, the leader continued to explain in a calm voice, even after hearing Lenok’s words.
“In the first place, even changing the environment is not for him.”
“Then?”
“The reason I want to create an environment similar to my garden is because I need a space-time where the concepts of life and death are mixed and mingled.”
The leader replied.
“Because there is a miracle that is only allowed in the fleeting moment of restructuring the Great Connection.”
“……Could it be.”
At that moment, Lenok’s expression subtly hardened as he understood the leader’s words.
The area where the leader wanted to draw the Second Apostle was an environment similar to the leader’s own glass garden.
If it wasn’t to force the rules of the garden on the Second Apostle or to influence him-
“Leader. Were you planning to move yourself and face the Second Apostle?”
“When the time comes when the concepts of life and death are mixed, I will descend to face him myself.”
The leader said calmly.
“There are two things needed. A suppression force to buy time until the stage is ready, and the existence of a formula that will serve as the stage.”
“……”
Only then did Lenok understand why the leader was so confident that he could deal with the Second Apostle.
The leader was a powerful transcendent who led the Alliance, but he was an existence who resided in the glass garden and could not intervene in reality.
However, during the restructuring of the Great Connection, he could move free from such restrictions.
That was because the reason why the leader did not intervene in reality in the first place was closely related to the existence of the Great Connection.
So, was he planning to step forward himself to deal with a great power like the Second Apostle only in the moment when the Great Connection temporarily stopped?
In the first place, this entire plan was a process for the leader himself to face the Second Apostle.
“You’re saying that we need to create an environment where you can descend and keep the Second Apostle bound within it…”
Certainly, if it was a transcendent like the leader, he could definitely have a high chance of winning even against a monster like the Second Apostle.
Lenok also had room to reconsider if it was not fighting the Second Apostle alone, but buying time until the leader descended.
Since the Order Alliance was one of the largest forces in the central front, the formulas it possessed would be on a different level.
If he could choose and take what he wanted from the formulas of the Great Connection as a reward for participating in this, he could seriously weigh the pros and cons.
‘Considering the situation, there is a high possibility that I will be able to watch the restructuring of the Great Connection right next to it.’
Lenok was lost in thought.
‘I’ll be able to check the next Grand Sorcerer who will replace the Grafting Sorcerer, and the faces of the other Grand Sorcerers as well.’
Although he was siding with the Order Alliance and opposing the Order, the Alliance was not Lenok’s ally either.
If Lenok could see with his own eyes what the Great Connection, which the Alliance was so desperately trying to maintain, was, and if he could see and prepare for the power of the Grand Sorcerers and the leader, that alone would be a great gain.
Decisively, if the plan succeeded, he could eliminate the risk factor of the Second Apostle in dealing with the Order in the future.
There were several significant benefits that could be gained just by accepting the leader’s proposal right now.
However, even while understanding that fact, Lenok shook his head.
“I know it’s not an unrealistic plan, but even so, it’s a difficult proposal to accept right away.”
“……”
“If the plan fails, I will unconditionally be hostile to the Second Apostle. It’s like turning a monster who single-handedly destroyed half of the Machine City into an enemy.”
“For a magician who has earned the title of Apostle Slayer, you’re being very cautious.”
In response to Lenok’s answer, the leader was felt to be reacting from beyond the shadows.
He seemed to be intrigued by Lenok’s reaction of drawing a line even after hearing this explanation.
“You killed Anathema yourself, and you were still thinking about that?”
“As you said, the Second Apostle is qualitatively different from other Apostles.”
“……”
“The timing and location of the plan. The faces of the participating Sorcerers. Specific information about the restructuring of the Great Connection.”
Lenok said with his arms crossed.
“Above all, I will not decide anything until I hear why the Second Apostle would move according to the Alliance’s plan.”
Since he was in a position to ask for Lenok’s power, the initiative was entirely with Lenok.
It would be enough to hear in advance when and how he should move to face the Second Apostle.
Even if he heard how the restructuring of the Great Connection was done.
The leader also seemed to agree, slowly tapping the armrest from beyond the shadows.
“It’s not an impossible matter to explain… but it’s time.”
“Time?”
Crack…!!!
At that moment, the flowers that had bloomed all around the glass garden began to bloom all at once.
As transparent glass bubbles fell along the petals, the flowers slowly raised their heads.
The scenery of the dark night sky split open, beginning to reflect the reality where Lenok was staying.
The space-time of the glass garden, which was close to the boundary of the world, was tilting towards reality.
Lenok was also ready to cut off his consciousness and return to reality at any time, but he never expected the leader to mention the time first.
Was the time that an outsider could stay in this glass garden limited?
Kiriirik…!!
While Lenok was lost in thought, the scenery of the night sky changed, and a crack appeared above Lenok’s head.
“I will have another Sorcerer convey the details later.”
The leader said, looking at Lenok.
“In addition, regardless of whether you participate in the plan or not, I will compensate you for this matter.”
“Compensation?”
“As I said, I am also responsible for you entering my garden.”
The leader smiled.
“You can think of it as a way to share some of the responsibility for that.”
“……”
He had been feeling it since earlier, but the leader was different from other transcendents.
Apart from the fact that his aura and voice were those of an ordinary human.
He was not obsessed with his own path, but reacted as if he was having a normal conversation and communicating with the other person.
Considering that most of the transcendents Lenok had met were unilaterally twisted, the leader’s personality felt strangely unique in contrast.
Was it related to his specialty of leading the Alliance while residing in the special environment of the glass garden?
“Near the Western Front…”
The leader, dragging out the end of his words, said.
“The Subordinate Sorcerer will arrive soon. I will tell him to organize the battlefield and cooperate on the way to Kundara.”
“……”
“He is a quite capable Sorcerer in the Alliance, so he will be helpful.”
The leader seemed to be smiling at Lenok from beyond the shadows.
But instead of answering, Lenok stared at the shadows with a blank face.
The leader’s message that he would cooperate, mentioning the way to Kundara as if it was nothing.
The fact that he had been aware of the situation in reality from the beginning was all contained in that one word.
However, instead of showing his emotions at the leader’s words, Lenok slowly shook his head.
“I’ll take care of that myself.”
Crack…!!
The crack that had split above the sky of the glass garden came down towards the place where Lenok was standing.
The moment he touched that, this meeting would end, and Lenok would also return to reality.
“Ah, now that I think about it, I forgot to ask one thing about the descent.”
Lenok, who was looking at the garden that was blurring in front of him, turned his head belatedly.
Two conditions that the leader had mentioned while explaining the method to Lenok.
It was because he realized that he had not yet talked about the latter.
“You said that you needed a suppression force to buy time for your descent and one formula.”
“It is a formula needed to create an environment similar to my garden.”
The leader replied in a calm tone.
“It is literally the power to set a specific area and rewrite the laws of physics.”
“Does that mean that the Alliance does not yet possess that formula?”
Like the formula extraction that the Corpse Demon Sorcerer performed on the general-level individuals of the Head Military Group.
For this plan, were the Alliance’s Sorcerers going around and collecting the necessary formulas?
It would be good if he could hear from the leader about the reason why the Alliance was moving in that regard before returning to reality.
The leader nodded.
“That’s right. That formula does not currently exist in the Order Alliance. It is a condition that must be obtained for the plan.”
“It must be at a level where the plan cannot be established without that formula.”
“That’s why the Alliance is searching for the owner of that formula all over the continent.”
The leader replied.
“It is certain that the formula exists somewhere in the world. So, we must find the owner of the formula, ‘kill’ them, and extract the formula.”
“What is the name of the formula?”
“It won’t be hard to remember. It has the principle of taking the sky and making it a part of oneself-”
The leader’s voice suddenly changed to an infinitely strange and cold one.
“It is called the Celestial Formula.”
Crack…!!
There was no time or room to react to that word.
The moment the sky of the glass garden bloomed and folded like a petal.
Lenok was in front of the Corpse Demon Sorcerer, who was lying on the ground covered in blood.