Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 418

418.

“The wound has reopened. You shouldn’t be up and about like this yet. Here, lie back down.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. You nearly vanished and barely survived. It’s a miracle you’re even breathing. No more arguing, lie down. Shurei, bring the Celestial Water here.”

“Yes, Lord Sanathid.”

The one standing behind the God of Healing approached with a water pouch. With light coral-colored hair and gray eyes, he wasn’t an angel but a lower god. He seemed to have become a god not long ago. Radeka showed interest and asked him,

“A cultivation god?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right, Lord Radeka.”

His cheeks flushed, pleased that such a high being was showing interest. Cultivation gods were those who became gods through long training and asceticism. Generally, it was a result achieved by souls who had accumulated virtue and performed meritorious deeds in the Middle Realm for a considerable period. These newly ascended gods started with a blank slate, needing to learn from higher gods and receive power to gain the abilities they desired. His presence here meant he aspired to become a god of healing.

“It must have been a difficult path, commendable. What did you do in the Underworld?”

“I was an aide to the Decider.”

“Ah, that Shannon’s son. He’s just like his father, always being cheeky.”

“Still, he was a good superior.”

“If he was so good, why didn’t you stay in the Underworld? Arehis would have recommended his father for you, wouldn’t he?”

“W-Well, it’s because I admire the power of healing….”

“Then you can go back to the Underworld after receiving power, right? The Underworld needs a healing god too.”

“Hahaha, it seems we’re a bit short on Celestial Water. I’ll quickly go and get more!”

As Shurei tried to retreat with an obviously awkward excuse, Radeka chuckled. Sanathid, who was watching them, wore an exasperated expression. Boom! A heavy vibration echoed from the floor, and a chilling coldness permeated the air. The peaceful atmosphere instantly stiffened, and everyone’s face hardened. Luseph, who had been spacing out, snapped back to attention and projected a video in the air. He tried to show the location of the Evil God, but it was all blurry. It seemed like something was in progress, but it wasn’t clear.

“Damn it, what’s going on?”

Luseph bit his lip with an anxious expression.

“Could the Evil God have awakened?”

“No, I don’t think so. Perhaps the resistance is strong, causing the binding formation connected to the Celestial Army to shake. But the feeling isn’t good. Sanathid, can you expedite the healing?”

At Radeka’s words, Sanathid, who had been frozen, nodded.

“I’ll do my best. The Celestial Water is fine, Shurei. Help me with the intensive treatment I’m about to perform.”

Sanathid urgently placed his hand on Eluien’s affected area. But there was no immediate response.

“Shurei?”

Puzzled, Sanathid turned his head and his face hardened. Shurei, who had been fine just moments ago, was kneeling and collapsed on the ground.

“Shurei! Shurei! What’s wrong?”

“Kuhuk, heueueu….”

The others were just as surprised. Not only Radeka but also Luseph approached him in a panic. And they gasped at what they discovered. Horns were sprouting from Shurei’s head. His beautiful coral-colored hair was stained as if smeared with dirty water. Soon, Shurei blankly raised his head, looking as if he were possessed.

“…I have to go….”

“Sh-Shurei?”

“I must help… Him….”

“What are you talking about? Get a grip, Shurei! Ack!”

“Sanathid!”

Sanathid tried to stop him as he tried to get up. But he was pushed back by an immense force and collapsed. Luseph, panicked, stepped in to block him, but he was also helplessly pushed away. Luseph’s face hardened. He couldn’t believe that a being who had just become a lower god could so easily overpower him, a higher god. But at that moment, a loud impact was heard, and Shurei lost consciousness and collapsed. Luseph, stunned and dazed, noticed Eluien standing behind him and quickly understood the situation. He had used divine power.

“If you move like that….”

“Ah, I see. After the Evil God awakens, they can’t be stopped. I wondered if they couldn’t be killed or if they weren’t trying to kill them, but it seems to be the latter.”

Eluien interrupted him before he could finish speaking. Luseph asked, bewildered,

“The latter?”

“The Evil God possesses authority equal to the Main God. And we are instinctively bound to obey the Main God. Then, what about the Evil God?”

“Uh… Uh?”

“It seems the lower gods have already begun to be influenced.”

Luseph, realizing what Eluien was about to say, opened his mouth in shock. At that moment, the outside suddenly became noisy. The sounds of dull weapons and screams mixed together.

Luseph’s face turned white. The encroachment had begun. It was a prelude to the collapse of the Divine Realm.

* * *

The situation rapidly deteriorated.

In the beginning, when the new purification formation was activated, the process proceeded smoothly. Karyuan’s resistance within the black mass intensified, but everyone managed to endure it. However, something was seen flying in from the distant sky. It was a bird with a skull for a head and giant eagle wings.

‘Why is that….’

It was the first time seeing it in person, but I knew what it was. It was a flying monster called a Sky Serpent by humans. It was a type that traveled in packs, and its habitat was far from here. It was impossible for this monster to appear alone in this vicinity. Moreover, there were gods and dragons here. Even insects, considered insignificant, couldn’t withstand their presence and had vanished from the area. There was no way a sane monster with intelligence would willingly come here. Frowning at the bad feeling, a spear flew from somewhere. Now that I thought about it, the monster was floating near the human settlement. It seemed the humans there had spotted the monster and were attacking it.

“Don’t kill it!”

I shouted urgently, but it was already too late. A sharp spear pierced through the monster’s body. The body, split in half, fell helplessly as if in slow motion. Was it just my imagination that the skull seemed to be smiling as it fell?

Koo-oong!

At that moment, the black mass surrounding Karyuan swelled even larger. The surroundings vibrated, and the floor shook violently. A jet-black aura spread out from within, carrying a chilling coldness that seemed to freeze the entire body.

But after that, it was quiet again. The monster seemed to have received a fragment of the Evil God, but fortunately, it was only a small part, and its power returning didn’t seem to have a significant impact. What I felt was strange came next. I felt a gaze from somewhere, and when I looked up, my face hardened. Someone among the Celestial Army was aiming a bow at us.

“Uh…?”

In the moment of hesitation, a dense beam of light fell. The light grazed past me and struck right next to me. I blankly turned my head. The arrow of light was lodged in the formation. More precisely, in the Grand Duke’s body.

“What is this….”

Before I could understand the situation, I quickly pulled out the arrow and poured healing magic into the Grand Duke. But the power couldn’t penetrate and scattered. The intermittent breaths he had been taking completely stopped. Warmth was rapidly leaving his still body. Life was no longer felt. It was a death that was as simple as it was anticlimactic compared to the notoriety he had built up.

“Ha.”

A hollow breath escaped me, filled with disbelief. What is this? Why is this happening? Everything was clear, but it wasn’t easy to accept. The Celestial Army shot an arrow at the Grand Duke. They must have known that killing the Grand Duke now was not allowed. But why?

Looking at the sky with a dazed feeling, my face hardened. The Celestial Army’s formation was collapsing rapidly. People were mixing and fighting fiercely in the increasingly blurred clouds. It seemed that someone among them had turned traitor.

“The lower gods seem to be tainted by the Evil God!”

At the same time as Shannon’s urgent cry, the clouds cleared, and the Celestial Army disappeared all at once. As the situation in the Divine Realm worsened, they seemed to have cut off the connection from their side. Naturally, the power connected to the purification formation also scattered and disappeared. It was the moment the binding formation holding the Evil God was broken. Immediately, the black mass expanded even more and began to surge wildly. It was a power that couldn’t be compared to what it was before. “Heok!” Those who were supporting the purification formation groaned with pale faces and collapsed at once. As the dragons fell, losing consciousness, Troel and Ifrit’s figures scattered. It was a reverse summon.

“Troel! Ifrit!”

Perdes’s lament was heard. Simultaneously, a sharp sound like glass breaking followed. Clang! Transparent fragments spread out in the air, and the Judge floating above the purification formation disappeared as if evaporating. The phenomenon meant only one thing. The purification formation had failed.

“Ah, really. It doesn’t go easily.”

The one who moved the fastest was Canos. He lightly clicked his tongue and stretched out his hand, and a long spear appeared. He had summoned the disappeared Judge again. The purification formation had failed, but thanks to that, the Judge didn’t seem to have been destroyed. Soon, Canos leaped over the mass as if flying and thrust the spear deep into it. Kwajik! Kwaaaaaaa―! A great wind, gathered and rising, spread out like a wave. And a deep silence descended.

“…….”

“…….”

For a while, there was no movement from the mass. Canos, who had landed back on the ground, and Shannon and Perdes all silently watched the mass.

How long had it been? Suddenly, a small sound was heard. It was the sound of something rustling. The source of the sound was clear, so there was no need to look for it. Cracks were slowly forming in the mass. What appeared first was a very small crack. But the gap widened in an instant, and a long fingernail stretched out through the gap. Everyone’s face hardened at the sight.

Soon, black liquid flowed out from the completely split inside. A stench vibrated in all directions as if rotten fruit had burst. Karyuan, who was starting to emerge from within, seemed to have grown even larger. Bizarrely drawn red patterns covered his ink-black skin. The wings, which had only been bones and some flesh, were now complete. But one wing was missing. He glanced back over his shoulder. The spear that Canos had thrust in was deeply embedded there. The other wing, unable to spread, was wriggling, crushed by it. He grabbed the handle as if to pull out the spear in one go, but immediately let go again. Smoke was seen rising from his palm along with a sizzling sound.

“……Hmph, a last-ditch effort?”

After scoffing, Karyuan moved his steps as if to show off, with the spear still stuck in him. With each clear sound of his footsteps, everyone’s face was turning pale. It seemed that only Canos was calm at this moment. He opened his mouth, his eyes fixed on Karyuan, who was getting closer.

“Shannon, close the gate to the Underworld.”

“Yes?”

“If the Underworld falls, it’s over. We must protect it until the end.”

Shannon, who had been panicking, nodded at those words. He immediately began to chant something, forming hand seals. Then, the bandages wrapped around his body unwound, revealing the skin hidden beneath. The skin, so white it was almost pale, was densely covered with letters as if engraved with ink. As the incantation continued, the letters glowed silver and fell from his skin, hovering around him as if alive. Finally, as the expanded letters scattered like stardust, a heavy sensation poured down with a strong resonance. I felt that one of the connected passages had closed. Karyuan also seemed to feel it, as he flinched slightly.

“What did you just do?”

“I sealed the Underworld.”

“Sealed….”

“No one but me can open this gate. I regret to say that even if you fully awaken, the Supreme God will not enter your dominion. Unless you kill me, you will never gain dominion.”

“And you’ll have to kill me before you kill Shannon.”

A strange woman’s voice interjected, adding to the words. The person who appeared was armed with golden armor, holding a shield and sword. Her abundant hair, tied high, flowed down to her toes in a dazzling array of colors. If Canos was night, she was like the sun incarnate. Thanks to that, I naturally knew her identity. The Celestial God Iowen, in her true form.

Looking back, I saw Sibelius being supported by As, looking exhausted. It was clear that the Celestial God had left his body. Soon, Iowen, as if protecting Shannon, planted the shield she was holding into the ground. Then, an intense light burst out, creating a transparent barrier in front of them. Karyuan’s eyes twitched greatly at the sight.

“……Still doing futile work. Well, fine. The joy of taking it away will be even greater.”

Even in the meantime, Karyuan was gradually getting closer. Finally, Karyuan, who had completely approached, stopped in front of Canos. Canos was quite tall, but because the opponent was so huge, he looked precarious, as if he would be trampled. The two stared at each other silently for a while. The one who spoke first was Karyuan.

“Do you know who I am, Demon God?”

“Karyuan, right?”

“No, that’s not it. You’ll have another name you know.”

“Well. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Canos, tilting his head, smiled with a face that said he didn’t know at all. Was it the 余裕 [composure] of becoming an Evil God? Contrary to the expectation that he would be angry, Karyuan also just laughed lowly.

“I had nightmares every night.”

He slowly clenched and unclenched his fist.

“I wanted a way to solve those nightmares, and I found the Fruit of Wisdom. When I ate it, everything became clear about where the nightmares originated.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right. Thanks to that, I realized. That I am the first Demon King, Arcaidel.”

That was a past I had never imagined. Perdes was seen panicking, and Iowen was seen hardening her face. Canos’s face still had no change.

“Arcaidel….”

“Yes, Arca. Surely you haven’t forgotten? The Demon King who was created by you but was eventually abandoned by you and died miserably. All of your angels that I loved also died like dogs. Asmodel took his own life before my eyes.”

Asmodel?

I paused at the familiar name and shook my head. The one he was talking about couldn’t be the As I knew. Now that I thought about it, I had heard that As’s name was taken from someone. It seemed to be a story related to the owner of that name.

“Asmodel was the most upright angel in the Divine Realm. There was no reason for him to die so miserably. Do you know how much I waited for you to come then, how much I begged like a dog? I desperately hoped and hoped that you would at least save him even if I died. But even until he chose death, you never appeared before us. But someone else is using that name. How can you give that name to someone else? How dare you!”