The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 452

It’s dark.

Like a night sky where the moon and stars have vanished.

Everything in the world is dark.

‘Am I even alive?’

Because there isn’t a single speck of light, I can’t even see my own body.

Even when I bring my palm in front of my eyes, I can’t see even the silhouette of my hand.

‘Did I really even move my hand?’

Perhaps because of that, all my senses began to be doubted.

Is it simply a problem with my vision? Or is there a problem with my entire body?

It’s not easy to distinguish.

I can’t see anything, I can’t hear anything, and I can’t feel anything.

I’ve been enduring in such a world for three days.

It was inevitable that I would question my very existence.

‘When will this darkness end?’

The fact that I’ve been enduring for three days is just my subjective sense of time.

In the past, when I trained with Elena, I had experience with training that blocked all senses.

Based on that experience, I’ve only estimated the approximate passage of time.

I don’t know how much time has actually passed.

It could have been just a day, a week, or even a month.

‘I hope it hasn’t been a week in the outside world.’

That’s my small wish.

I hope that time flows differently inside and outside.

Whether it’s a year or ten years inside, I hope it hasn’t even been a week outside.

‘It’s starting again.’

While I was pondering that small wish.

My body began to heat up.

It’s not that my body temperature rose.

Literally, my body is getting hot.

It felt like someone had poured oil on my body and lit it on fire.

‘……Hot.’

Is this how people feel when they’re burned alive?

It was truly terrible pain.

‘Still. It’s bearable.’

But I didn’t dislike this pain.

It’s true that it’s so painful that my mind is dizzy.

However, this pain is proof that I’m alive.

Although it’s physically painful, I feel relieved mentally.

If it weren’t for this excruciating pain, I might have gone crazy a long time ago.

‘Something. It feels like the heat is weakening.’

And another thing.

Whether it’s because I’ve gotten used to it, or the heat has actually weakened.

It hurts less than before.

I can endure this level of pain.

“If it’s stabilized to this extent, you should be able to hear my voice.”

Then, a voice was heard.

“Hold on a little longer. It’s almost over.”

It was my master’s voice.

“Be happy.”

It was a voice that sounded somewhat proud and happy.

“When you open your eyes again, you will be…”

At that moment, my clear mind began to blur instantly.

Like I had taken a sleeping pill.

Like I had been given anesthesia.

My mind becomes hazy in an instant.

“…become…”

Beyond my hazy mind, I heard my master’s voice.

“I’m really… happy…”

I couldn’t hear my master’s words 100%.

It seems like my hearing is also becoming blurry along with my fading mind. I can only hear bits and pieces.

‘He’s happy.’

But even if I couldn’t hear everything, it wasn’t difficult to feel my master’s emotions.

My master’s voice was filled with joy.

“Please. By all means…”

By all means.

With those words, I lost consciousness.

* * *

Inside the barrier created by the Black Magic King.

The Black Magic King and the End God’s fierce battle continued.

“…Even a cockroach would be less tenacious than you.”

The End God clicked his tongue, looking disgusted.

“How long are you going to just keep holding out like that?”

Three days have already passed since the battle began.

“Just give up already. You no longer have a chance of winning. You and I are on different levels from birth.”

For the first two days, the battle was quite evenly matched.

The End God, who wasn’t in perfect condition, and the Black Magic King, who was in his best condition.

Their powers were somewhat on par.

“You’ve weakened, and I’ve grown stronger. Now, all you can do is stall for time.”

However, from the moment the third day began, the tide of the battle began to turn rapidly.

Due to the long battle, the Black Magic King’s condition began to deteriorate, and the situation began to become rapidly unfavorable.

“Resent your fate for being born as a human. As livestock.”

Even the End God’s condition is continuously improving.

He has fully adapted to the awkward veil body, and his divine power has stabilized.

The tide has already turned significantly.

The Black Magic King no longer has a chance of winning.

“……”

The Black Magic King, as if he didn’t even have the strength to retort, had his head bowed and was breathing heavily.

“This is the last mercy I’m giving you. Just kneel down. If you kneel and bow your head, I will grant you a peaceful death as a final act of mercy.”

The three days of battle were enough to change the End God’s mind.

“Or. It would be good for you to become my apostle.”

The three days of battle were enough time for the End God to acknowledge the Black Magic King.

This man is different from the livestock that are scattered all over the world.

Despite being born with the fate of livestock, he reached the realm of the gods.

This man is worth keeping alive.

“Think carefully. It’s the first time I’ve ever acknowledged anyone.”

The End God didn’t even acknowledge the Human Gods.

The Human Gods were just inevitable beings born with power that matched their innate divine power.

“I was truly moved by you. You broke the common sense that this world has imposed. You and I are somewhat alike.”

But this man is different.

He broke the fate he was born with, the fate of livestock, and rose above it.

He shattered the laws of this world that the End God hated and established new laws.

This man is like himself.

“You are a heretic of this world. An apostle of the end, like me.”

He breaks the laws.

And creates his own laws.

This is the same as the end that the End God seeks.

Denying this man is the same as denying himself.

“So, stop there.”

The End God’s voice was very gentle.

“You and I don’t need to fight.”

The End God slowly approached the Black Magic King.

He approached and extended his right hand.

“I’ll offer it again. Become my apostle.”

The Black Magic King slowly raised his head and looked at the hand the End God had extended.

With eyes as dull as a burnt-out candle, he stared blankly at the End God’s hand.

“…Not a bad offer.”

The Black Magic King smiled faintly.

He wanted to laugh loudly, but unfortunately, he didn’t have the strength to raise the corners of his mouth.

“If I become your apostle, I can reign as the eternal second-in-command in the world you create.”

It’s too sweet of an offer.

“Not only that. If you become my apostle, you can throw off the shackles of your fate as livestock. You can be reborn as a true god. You’ll be able to wield true darkness, not the half-baked darkness you’re wielding now.”

“Hoh. Not like mythical magic, but real mythology…”

The Black Magic King chuckled softly.

He had a very pleasant expression.

“It’s even more tempting. There’s no reason to refuse.”

The corners of the End God’s mouth slightly turned upwards.

He couldn’t help but smile at the words that seemed to accept the offer.

“In that case…”

Just as the End God was about to say again that he should become his apostle.

“If you had offered this two months earlier, I would have taken your hand in a heartbeat.”

The Black Magic King said, chuckling.

It was a smile that felt strangely refreshed, as if he had shaken something off.

“Unfortunately, I’ll have to refuse your offer.”

The End God’s brow furrowed.

“Why?”

The Black Magic King replied with a faint smile.

“Because I’m not the Black Magic King right now, but Cain Benetzech.”

The End God frowned.

He had an expression that said he didn’t understand at all.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

The Black Magic King raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The dark barrier that the Black Magic King had created filled the sky.

“How could someone born as a king understand the heart of someone born as a slave?”

The noble, solitary, and free black. That darkness was exactly like the current Black Magic King.

“I am me. I will no longer be anyone’s slave.”

The Black Magic King’s dream is to stand at the pinnacle of this world through magic.

“I’ve already tasted how sweet freedom is, how delightful it is to live a life standing solely as myself.”

The freedom he tasted after a long wait was terribly sweet.

Having tasted this sweetness, he can no longer go under anyone.

Now, being someone’s slave is the last thing he wants.

“…You don’t like someone standing above you. Is that the only reason you’re refusing my offer?”

“Yes.”

The End God looked at the Black Magic King with a cold gaze.

“…Disappointing.”

The Black Magic King smiled faintly.

“I understand. I’m also disappointed in myself.”

Even the Black Magic King himself couldn’t fully understand his own emotions.

No matter how precious freedom is, it’s not more precious than life.

If it were the previous Black Magic King, he would have unconditionally accepted the End God’s offer.

“It seems. I’ve been influenced by the light.”

The Black Magic King closed his eyes and recalled the past.

“It’s all because of you. Sein Vinoche.”

Recalling the past, he spoke to Sein Vinoche, who was now asleep.

“Because you shine so brilliantly. I’ve even become tainted.”

He smiled bitterly, feeling the two pure souls sleeping next to his own soul.

“How are you going to take responsibility for this? Your light has made me a fool.”

The Black Magic King moved his right hand.

Slowly, very slowly.

He brought his trembling hand to his chest.

“…Still. It’s not a bad feeling. It’s not a bad ending.”

Beyond his cold hand, he could feel warmth.

The warmth emanating from the two souls sleeping inside was pleasantly warming his palm.

“It was fun. Sein Vinoche. Sophia Anechepri.”

He enjoyed freedom.

He fought to his heart’s content with a being called a god.

He learned that his power could reach even a god.

It was a satisfying end.

“This is the last gift I’m giving you.”

The warmth emanating from the two souls beyond his palm began to fade little by little.

The two souls began to leave his body.

“Do you think I’ll just stand by and watch?”

At that moment, the End God moved.

He realized what the Black Magic King was trying to do and moved to stop him.

“You’ll have no choice but to stand by and watch.”

The Black Magic King smiled faintly, looking at the End God.

“Because that’s what this day was for.”

At that moment, darkness swirled around the Black Magic King.

And it bound the End God.

“This is…”

It was a powerful magic that even the End God couldn’t easily break through.

“Stay like that for a while.”

This was the magic he had prepared for a day.

No matter how much of an End God he is, it would take him at least a minute to break free.

The Black Magic King turned his gaze away from the End God and focused on what he was doing.

“Someday. When our fates overlap. Let’s meet again.”

The souls of Sein and Sophia were completely separated from his body.

The two spirits left the Black Magic King’s body and began to float towards the outside.

“Once again. With black and white. And with swords and magic.”

With that, the two spirits broke through the dark barrier that the Black Magic King had created and disappeared outside.

“Next time, I’ll taint you both with my evil.”

The Black Magic King smiled.

As if he was looking forward to the future.

Like a child looking forward to a picnic tomorrow.

“Definitely.”

With that smile, the emotions disappeared from the Black Magic King’s face.

“End God.”

He glared coldly at the End God and prepared his final magic.

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to keep me company here for another two days.”

The final magic befitting the name of the Black Magic King.

‘Shin Hayul. This is the last gift I’m giving you.’

The Black Magic King converted his life force into magic and unleashed his final magic.

“Six Paths of Hell.”

The dark barrier that the Black Magic King had created began to change.

“End God. No matter how great you are, it will be difficult for you to break this barrier.”

Six Paths of Hell.

A prison that embodied the six hells began to bind the End God’s body.