Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 97

Gorgos

1

‘No!’

Arsene, who had been preparing a counterattack, relying on his thick defensive barrier, was startled by Luke’s attack, which was stronger and sharper than expected.

When it seemed like even his last barrier would be breached, he hastily deployed Blink magic to evade. [Blink magic is a form of teleportation]

If the Blink had been deployed even a little later, his head would probably have been blown off.

“Kuh, how…can…a greatsword…have…such…power…?”

Arsene had already grasped the output of the Gigant [A large, humanoid combat machine] that Luke was riding.

Although he had made a name for himself with the magic books he had stolen from Seimon, he was, in name, the father of magical engineering.

Just by listening to the core engine’s noise, he could roughly tell how much output it had.

‘It’s well-made, but at best it’s warrior-class. Even if you amplify aura with a warrior-class core engine, it shouldn’t be able to break through the defensive barrier I deployed, so why…’

Puzzled, he discovered another sword fitted into the greatsword as if they were combined.

It was the Demon Slayer that Luke had been holding a moment ago.

‘Kuh. I see! He combined the magic sword with the greatsword using Magnetic magic to further enhance the gold aura.’

Although it was a temporary measure, being able to strengthen a weapon in such a way in a short time in a desperate situation was not something anyone could do.

It required tremendous combat sense and magical knowledge.

‘He’s not ordinary after all. There’s no benefit in keeping him alive.’

Just as Arsene felt threatened, Luke was disappointed that his all-out attack had missed.

‘Damn it, if only the test unit’s output or performance was a little higher…’

However, wishing wouldn’t suddenly make a hero-class Gigant fall from the sky. He had to fully utilize and apply the current test unit’s combat capabilities.

Having composed himself, Luke charged towards Arsene, swinging his greatsword.

Arsene evaded the attacks by deploying Blink in succession against the storm of gold aura that flew, sharply tearing through the air.

“Not bad, descendant of Rakan. But…even so…you…are…in…the palm…of…my…hand.”

“Hmph, what are you trying to pull?”

“Keh.keh.keh, it’s…nothing…much. Just…trying…to…revive…a…spark…I…prepared…long…ago.”

‘A spark?’

Arsene pointed his finger at Luke and drew up his magic power.

As an ominous red light flashed from his body, Luke felt a sharp pain in his heart.

The black magic curse that he had long forgotten…no, that had been on his body since birth, had been activated.

‘Kuh, could this guy be!’

“Die, and…become…my…slave!”

Taking advantage of Luke’s hesitation, Arsene unleashed black magic.

The magic power that extended from his body transformed into dozens of giant spears and poured down on the test unit that Luke was riding.

‘Kekekeke, if you get hit by my Dark Javelin, your metal doll will turn into scrap metal in an instant…no!’

Clang!

Luke’s test unit, which was supposed to become a hedgehog in the blink of an eye.

However, it emitted gold aura from its armor and deflected all the Dark Javelins.

But it didn’t end there.

Luke, who had rushed to Arsene’s face by deploying Blink at full power, swung his greatsword fiercely.

Shwook!

Arsene hastily dodged, but his right arm was cut off in the end.

“Th-this…is…impossible!”

Arsene’s face, now at a distance, was filled with shock.

He could regenerate his right arm. However, he couldn’t understand the situation just now.

‘Why didn’t my curse work?’

He had thought that since the guy, who should have died before adulthood, was still alive, he must have done something about the curse he had placed on him.

But he never thought that he would ignore even the one he had activated right in front of him.

Normally, his heart should have stopped.

But there was a reason for that.

‘I overcame the crisis thanks to Reina.’

Luke reached for the protective charm he always carried in his chest.

Thanks to the protective charm imbued with the power of the spirits, the curse placed on him had not been able to gain any traction until now.

However, when the person who cast the curse cast it again right in front of him, he felt a pain in his heart, unlike usual.

But the pain wasn’t that great, so he was able to fend off Arsene’s attack and even counterattack.

“How does it feel to have your most anticipated card backfire?”

“Kuh, I…don’t…know…what…trick…you…used, but…even…without…the…curse…there…are…plenty…of…ways…to…kill…you.”

“You seem quite flustered for someone who’s talking big?”

“This…is…as…far…as…you…can…go…with…your…smugness.”

Whirr-!

Arsene fiercely emitted magic power.

Luke, seeing the thick magic power that was being emitted as intensely as flames, stepped back with a serious expression.

‘What is this?’

Something appeared within Arsene’s magic power.

What was faintly revealed were wraiths. The souls of humans and elves, numbering in the hundreds or thousands, were writhing like snakes.

Kuh-uh-uh-uh!

Let…us…goooo…!

Please…rest…!

Among the wraiths who were wailing in anger or writhing in pain, Luke found a familiar face.

‘That person is definitely…’

It was Derin, the branch manager of the Alon Merchant Guild, who had come to collect the debts of the Rakan territory not long after he had been revived several years ago.

Derin, who had failed in his mission to take over the Rakan territory, was eaten by Arsene and became a part of him.

In fact, the wraiths intertwined with Derin were the pitiful souls who had been absorbed by Arsene over the past 500 years.

Like those who were created into liches or death knights, they were also Arsene’s slaves.

They had been completely robbed of their knowledge, magic, and the power they possessed when they were alive.

“Good heavens! What in the world have you done?”

Luke exclaimed at the appalling sight.

He was also a black magician, but he had never played with people’s souls.

“Keh.keh.keh, you’ll…see…soon…enough.”

Arsene, who smiled cruelly, waved his hand.

Then, the magic power mixed with wraiths surrounded his body and began to take a certain form.

The magic power, which had been clumped together like dark clouds, transformed into a huge monster with a pair of wings, two pairs of long arms, goat-like legs, and a long, snake-like tail.

“W-what, what is this!”

“My…Ghost Spirit Armor…Gorgos…it…is…called.”

Arsene, wearing a huge armor made of magic power, rushed towards Luke like a ghost and struck down with Gorgos’ long arm.

Kwaaang!

Luke hastily raised his greatsword to block it, but Gorgos’ blow was incredibly powerful.

Luke’s test unit, which had been floating in the air, was instantly slammed to the ground.

A huge pit was created where the test unit crashed, and dust billowed out.

“Cough!”

Luke coughed up blood from the tremendous shock that was transmitted to the cockpit.

Gorgos, or rather, Arsene inside it, who had come down in front of the test unit that had been half-crushed by a single blow, said smugly.

“How…is…it? Doesn’t…it…seem…much…better…than…the…scrap…metal…you’re…riding?”

“Kuh, Arsene, you bastard!”

Luke, who forcibly raised the test unit, pointed his bent greatsword and burned with fighting spirit and anger.

However, the momentum had shifted to Arsene with the blow just now.

It felt like he couldn’t beat him in either strength or speed.

‘Damn it, where did he learn such a technique?’

Along with the black magic that controlled the poisonous moths just now, it was definitely a technique that was not in the ancient black magic books he possessed.

Just how much stronger had Arsene become over the past 500 years?

A bleak thought strongly weighed on Luke’s mind.

2

“Good heavens, now even the Ghost Spirit Armor…”

Zhuge Mun, who was treating those poisoned by the toxin, couldn’t hide his shock.

The Ghost Spirit Armor was a heretical and vicious sorcery that transformed the souls of the dead and materialized them on the caster’s body.

It not only blocked most internal energy or Taoist attacks, but also had the function of increasing the caster’s combat ability several times over.

‘Is that guy really a descendant of the heretics?’

Zhuge Mun, who didn’t know the circumstances, couldn’t help but suspect this.

However, the reason Arsene was able to use the heretical arts was because he had been researching them on and off for 200 years.

Most of the magic above the 9th circle, whether it was white or black magic, had been lost.

Nevertheless, Arsene, who sought greater power, reached out to ancient sorcery as well as southern Taoist arts.

At the time, the martial world of the Southern Continent was engaged in a life-or-death war with the heretical sect.

Numerous martial arts sects had united to wage war against the heretical sect that dominated the martial world at the time.

After a long struggle, the heretical sect collapsed, and Arsene secretly smuggled the eldest son of the sect leader, Sa Gun-ak, and some elders to the Hell Islands.

Arsene’s goal was the secrets they possessed.

Once he had achieved some results, he eliminated the remnants of the heretical sect, who had lost their value.

No, he absorbed them into his subordination, just like he had done with Derin.

That was why he was able to create the heretical sect’s magic soldiers and use their sorcery in a more enhanced way.

Kwa-kwang!

Luke’s test unit was sent tumbling to the ground after being repeatedly struck by Gorgos’ magic-infused fist.

“Ugh, Eun Gong!”

Although a couple of the main family’s buildings were destroyed as the Gigant tumbled, Zhuge Mun focused on figuring out Luke’s safety rather than that.

The test unit was in a miserable state, but fortunately, Luke was still alive.

“Kuh, you bastard! To be this strong…!”

Luke, grinding his teeth, tried to stabilize the black circle in his heart, which was trembling as if it would burst from the continuous blows.

‘I expected it to some extent, but I didn’t think it would be this much. Was he just playing with me until now?’

Over the course of 500 years, he had become a true monster.

It wasn’t for nothing that Erenes, the prophet of the elves, had worried about him.

“Oh, you…can…still…move? It’s…quite…a…well-made…toy…for…a…warrior-class.”

Arsene said mockingly as he slowly approached.

Although the purpose was to mock, he was inwardly impressed by Luke’s Gigant, which was still not broken.

‘Which magic tower made this? The core engine sound is similar to our magic tower’s Gigants…’

While Arsene was feeling a little curious, Luke quickly checked the condition of the test unit.

‘The core engine output has dropped to less than half. The mana converter is not in normal condition, and the left shoulder joint is completely broken. And the right knee and ankle joints are more than half broken.’

On top of that, the greatsword was also broken in two.

The only fortunate thing was that the Demon Slayer, which had been combined, was safe.

In any case, the test unit was no longer in a state where it could perform combat.

It was only because it was made with the best materials carefully selected by Kurkan that it had been able to avoid complete destruction so far, and if it were to receive any more attacks, it would truly turn into scrap metal.

‘What should I do? Am I going to be defeated like this?’

“What…are…you…doing? Surely…you…haven’t…given…up…already?”

Along with Arsene’s sarcastic words, Gorgos’ attack came flying.

He had been engaged in melee combat with combat power that surpassed hero-class until just now, but this time he unleashed a magic attack.

The magic power that bloomed from Gorgos’ body transformed into hundreds of large and small flames and flew towards Luke.

“Kuh, Blink!”

Boom! Bang! Crash!

Luke deployed magic in succession, dodging or blocking the attacks that were pouring down haphazardly.

He tried his best to prevent damage to the Zhuge family, but there was a limit.

The Zhuge family was brutally burned and destroyed by the black flames that fell haphazardly.

Among the destroyed buildings was the shrine where the divine tablets of Zhuge Myung and the previous family heads were enshrined.

The masters of the Zhuge family shed tears of resentment as the shrine, which was no different from a sanctuary, burned.

“Kuh, we must stop that guy right now…!

“No, it hasn’t been detoxified yet.”

“Brother! No, aren’t you, the family head, resentful!”

Zhuge Mun shook his head at Zhuge Do’s protest.

“How could I not be resentful? But I think it’s more important to save the family members…and you all.”

The burned buildings and shrines could be rebuilt later, but if the family’s members and masters were sacrificed, reconstruction would not be possible.

However, there was also someone who did not agree with Zhuge Mun’s judgment.

“I respect the family head’s wishes, but I cannot leave our lord, who is fighting so hard, alone.”

As Hwangbo Sung got up from his seat, Zhuge Soha also agreed with him.

“I’ll fight too.”

“Soha!”

“Brother, we can’t just keep relying on Eun Gong. Besides, this is our family’s land. If we don’t fight, who will?”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not so poisoned that I can’t move.”

As Soha said, she and Hwangbo Sung had recovered enough to fight to some extent.

This was because they were less exposed to the poison than Zhuge Shin or Zhuge Do.

“Alright. But you must never overdo it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, brother.”

Soha and Hwangbo Sung summoned their wooden puppets. Though she usually disliked the roughly made wooden puppets, she had no choice but to use them against the demonically strong enemy.

Hwangbo Sung, summoning his puppet first, unleashed the Three Thunder God Fist towards Arsene’s Gorgos, which was relentlessly attacking Luke.

Kwarurururung—!

Gorgos, struck by the powerful, lightning-infused fist, was pushed back.

“You… these… dare!”

Normally, Arsene’s skills would have been enough to block such an attack. However, he was so focused on Luke, who was dodging like a squirrel, that he was caught off guard.

“I won’t let you run wild any longer!”

Zhuge Soha, wielding the giant twin swords summoned by her wooden puppet, slashed at Gorgos’s body. Hwangbo Sung also relentlessly attacked, not giving him a moment to breathe.

However, Gorgos’s body, as soft as rubber, absorbed most attacks, and the wounds from the twin swords healed quickly. Though there was no significant damage, Arsene was extremely annoyed by the constant attacks from the two.

“You… bug-like… things… dare!”

Enraged, he struck Hwangbo Sung’s wooden puppet with Gorgos’s long arm. Hwangbo Sung quickly raised his left arm to block the attack.

Kwaang!

“Kuaaak!”

Gorgos’s iron fist, strong enough to crush Luke’s test machine in one blow, shattered the wooden puppet’s left arm. Arsene didn’t stop there and unleashed flames fueled by his demonic energy. Instantly, Hwangbo Sung’s wooden puppet was engulfed in flames.

“Young Master Hwangbo!”

Zhuge Soha hurriedly channeled her sword energy into her twin swords and swung them with all her might towards Gorgos. Just before the sword energy reached Gorgos, Arsene quickly deployed magic.

“Reflection.”

Kwang!

“Aah!”

The sword energy, reflected by Arsene’s magic barrier, flew backward and cleanly severed the legs of the wooden puppet Soha was riding. Zhuge Soha was completely defenseless, seemingly not expecting to be hit by her own attack.

Arsene, having subdued two top-tier experts riding wooden puppets in an instant, raised Gorgos’s two arms high to deliver the final blow to the fallen puppets.

“Die… you… bugs… no!”

“You were too careless, Arsene.”

Along with Luke’s voice, black tendrils surged from the ground and wrapped around Gorgos’s body.

“This, this is Black Bind?”

“I told you, it’s not like you’re the only one who can use it.”

Thanks to Hwangbo Sung and Zhuge Soha, Luke was able to catch his breath. He exploited the opening in Arsene’s defenses, who had become distracted. Having bound Gorgos with Black Bind, he began to absorb Arsene’s demonic energy.

“Ugh… ugh… ugh, you… bastard!”

“I’ll turn you into an empty shell, Arsene!”

Once caught in Black Bind, it was not easy to escape without outside help. Luke was confident that he had gained the upper hand.

Thudududuk!

But at that moment, an immense force was applied to the Black Bind that was wrapped around Gorgos, and it broke as if it were a lie. Arsene had suddenly deployed high-circle white magic.

“A, Anti-Cancel?!”

“Keh, keh, keh! Too… bad. You… thought… it… was… a… good… opportunity.”

No one expected that Arsene would have mastered Anti-Cancel, which specializes in nullifying black magic. Because of that, the tide of the battle was reversed once again.

Before Luke, who was in a state of panic, a black light flashed.

Flash.

The light that shot out from Gorgos’s fingertip pierced through the defensive magic Luke had deployed and the breastplate of the test machine, flying into the cockpit.

3

“L, Lord!”

Hwangbo Sung, who barely escaped the burning wooden puppet, turned pale as he saw the test machine, pierced by the black light, collapse.

‘Oh my god! The lord has been hit…!’

Just as Hwangbo Sung, with a look of despair, was about to charge towards Arsene with a do-or-die attitude, the fallen test machine staggered and rose to its feet.

“L, Lord!”

Unlike Hwangbo Sung, whose face brightened, Arsene spoke in a sharp voice, as if annoyed.

“Still… alive… you… really… are… a… lucky… bastard!”

“Tch, damn it!”

Luke, who had barely avoided a fatal blow by twisting his body inside the narrow cockpit, gritted his teeth. It was astonishing that he had unveiled such a terrifying weapon as Gorgos, but the power of the black magic ray he had just launched was also shocking.

When the ray flew towards him, Luke had reflexively deployed a shield. It was the strongest defensive magic he could muster, but it was shattered mercilessly.

‘I don’t know what it is, but it’s the same amount of demonic energy as Black Abyss, condensed to its limit and fired. What made that possible in such a short time is the spiritual energy of the wraiths that make up that monster.’

Luke could roughly grasp how Arsene was able to unleash such an attack. However, it did not help to turn the tide of the battle. It was almost impossible for him to defeat Arsene with the abilities he currently possessed.

‘Kuh! Is this my limit?’

He had finally met his enemy from 500 years ago, but the reality that he could not win was frustrating for Luke. However, he could not deny the difference in skill. As he was inwardly seething with resentment, an idea suddenly came to mind.

‘Yes, there was that method! But if this doesn’t work either…’

A negative thought crept in, but Luke shook his head and quickly brushed it away. Because this was the only way left now.

“Alright, let’s see if I die or you die!”

Luke yelled and charged towards Gorgos. As the broken Gigant [a large, humanoid combat machine] staggered towards him, Arsene was so dumbfounded that he let out a chuckle without realizing it.

“Keh, keh, keh, like… a… moth… to… a… flame… no?!”

Arsene’s eyes widened. It was because a gold aura, as hot and dazzling as the sun, was emanating from Luke’s Gigant, which was almost scrap metal.

‘How… how is this possible?’

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

During the civil war in the Holy Empire, Luke had destroyed a meteor falling from the sky and saved the city. At that time, he had activated both the power of the demon race and the gold aura simultaneously. He was taking the same gamble now.

He maximized his potential with a three-stage build-up, and also maximized his gold aura. Activating the power of the demon race and the gold aura, which were bound to be incompatible, at the same time caused his body to suffer as if it were being torn apart. However, his indomitable will to defeat Arsene made him overcome the pain.

‘This, this is dangerous!’

Just as Arsene sensed the danger and tried to evade, Luke threw the greatsword, which was broken and only half remaining. The greatsword, imbued with all the gold aura that Luke had drawn out, pierced Gorgos’s torso before Arsene could even react.

Kwaaaang—!

With a deafening explosion, a dazzling flash of light, like the sun, burst forth, and a mushroom cloud rose into the air. Hot heat and dust spread in all directions. Hwangbo Sung and the experts of the Zhuge family, startled by the intense heat, quickly lowered their bodies. However, the intense heat did not harm them at all. Rather, it was a great help.

“The moth poison has disappeared?”

“It’s true! How could this happen…?”

As they rejoiced, they saw Gorgos’s body melting like wax. Luke’s gamble had succeeded. The monster, which neither the test machine nor the wooden puppets could match, was turning into black water and disappearing.

‘Did… did we win?’

The faces of those who had been filled with anticipation turned pale. Immediately after Gorgos’s body had completely melted away, white smoke rose, and then it transformed into a skeleton wearing an ashen robe. It was Arsene. Even after receiving that powerful blow, he had revived again.

“Kuh, you… dare… my… spirit… armor!”

“…”

Arsene trembled with rage, but there was no response from the test machine. Luke, who had exhausted all his energy in the previous attack, had completely collapsed and lost consciousness. He was no longer in a state to fight Arsene.

“I… will… not… forgive… you! I… will… tear… your… body… and… soul… to… shreds!”

Demonic energy erupted wildly from Arsene’s trembling body. The experts of the Zhuge family reached for their swords, but none of them could draw them. Their bodies were frozen by the murderous demonic energy that Arsene was emitting, and they could not move even if they wanted to.

‘My god, how can there be a monster that keeps coming back to life no matter how many times you kill it!’

‘Ah, is this truly the end?’

Everyone was prepared for the worst when it happened.

“Wait.”

Arsene was startled and turned his head at the gentle voice that echoed in the sky. An old monk in shabby attire was standing in front of him, as if he had appeared out of nowhere.

“Oh, that person is…!”

Zhuge Mun, recognizing the old monk, was delighted. Hwangbo Sung and the family’s experts looked puzzled, as if they didn’t know who he was, but they could sense that he was a great high monk. It was because they could move their bodies, which had been suppressed by Arsene’s demonic energy, immediately after hearing the old monk’s voice.

“You… are…”

“I am Nanda.”

As the old monk revealed his name with his hands clasped together, Arsene’s eyes changed. He had heard the name from Hwangbo Gwang, the head of the Hwangbo family. He was a monk from the Bharat Kingdom, said to be a high monk with god-like abilities.

‘This guy is Nanda? He doesn’t seem like much.’

He had expected someone with god-like abilities to possess a very sacred or mysterious aura. However, he could not sense any aura from Nanda now. Rather, that fact made Arsene more flustered. It was because he might be a being with power that he could not fathom.

“What… is… it? Did… you… come… to… eliminate… me?”

“I do not like killing. And although I have awakened the six supernatural powers, I do not have the strength to defeat you.”

“Keh, then… why?”

“But I wish to stop your evil deeds for a while.”

“What… did… you… say?”

Arsene did not understand. How could a being who did not have the power to defeat him stop him?

‘Anyway, he’s an unusual guy. I need to get rid of him before he does anything strange…’

Arsene stretched out his hand towards Nanda to unleash black magic. But in the blink of an eye, Nanda, who had come right in front of him, grabbed his hand. Startled, Arsene hurriedly shook off Nanda’s hand. But the truly astonishing thing happened next.

Before he could even realize it, the surrounding scenery had completely changed. Instead of the ruined and burned Zhuge family manor, a cold sea with huge icebergs floating was spread out before his eyes.

‘H, here! Could this be the Arctic Ocean?!’

The icy sea located north of the Rhodisia continent, or rather, much further north. He was standing in the middle of that icy sea. He blinked his eyes several times, but the icy sea did not disappear.

‘It’s an illusion. He’s trying to deceive me with illusion magic.’

Arsene, having made that judgment, tried to dispel the illusion in front of him by unleashing fiery demonic energy. However, only the icebergs and ice floes were being broken and destroyed. No matter how much he unleashed demonic energy and fired black magic, the scenery in front of him did not change. It was not an illusion, but clearly reality.

“Kuh… uh… uh… uh! Nanda… a… a… a!”

Arsene furiously unleashed his rage, but Nanda’s figure could not be seen anywhere. Arsene’s resentful shouts echoed countless times over the sea, where only cold ice storms raged.

“Brother, what on earth just happened?”

Zhuge Do’s question made Zhuge Mun unable to answer easily. Nanda had approached Arsene, and then suddenly the two of them had disappeared.

“W, well…”

Just as Zhuge Mun was about to speak, Nanda’s voice came from behind him.

“There’s no need to worry anymore. He won’t appear for a while.”

Turning around, he saw Nanda standing there.

Seeing that Arsene was not by his side, it was clear that Nanda had done something to him using his divine powers.

Zhuge Mun, letting out a sigh of relief, bowed respectfully to Nanda.

“Thank you for saving us, Great Master.”

“It was all due to fate. You should thank the person riding that iron giant more than this old monk.”

“Ah, now that you mention it, the benefactor…”

Zhuge Mun belatedly turned his gaze towards Luke.

He saw Hwangbo Sung and Soha pulling Luke out of the completely collapsed Gigant.

“He’s alive. He just lost consciousness from exhaustion!”

Zhuge Mun’s heart had briefly dropped at the sight of Luke’s limp form, but he let out a sigh of relief at Soha’s shout.

“Quickly, take our benefactor!”

“Yes, Brother!”

Zhuge Mun’s group moved Luke to the cave where their family members had taken refuge.

“Great Master, please come with us.”

At Zhuge Mun’s request, Nanda nodded and followed.

Thus, the disaster that had almost shattered the Zhuge family was temporarily averted.

4

The day after Arsene disappeared, the Zhuge family members who had taken refuge in the cave emerged again.

They were momentarily stunned by the sight of their main house, which was nearly half burned and collapsed, but under Zhuge Mun’s leadership, they began to work hard on the restoration.

However, some were still reeling from the shock.

“Did all of this happen because of me?”

“…”

“If I had just stayed in the Imperial Palace, none of this would have happened.”

As Jo Won-rak let out a long sigh of self-reproach, Zhuge Hwi, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Even if you had stayed in the Imperial Palace, it wouldn’t have been much different. Those who are after you would have used any means necessary.”

The Zhuge family was a prestigious family, not only in Ankyung but also in the Song Empire. [Ankyung and Song Empire are fictional locations]

Seeing that their main house was attacked openly in broad daylight, it was clear that the attackers had considerable power and influence behind them.

According to the information that Zhuge Mun and Zhuge Soha had gathered, it was highly likely that the faction pushing the Second Prince, Jo Won-gyun, to become the next emperor was behind this attack.

They were the ones who would benefit the most if the Third Prince disappeared.

However, these were only assumptions, and there was no concrete evidence yet, so they couldn’t speak carelessly.

Moreover, there was a possibility that a fratricidal war would break out in the Imperial Family.

“Your Highness, please steel your heart to survive no matter what. Those who sacrificed themselves in this incident all gave their lives hoping that you would live. If something happens to you, their sacrifices will be in vain.”

Tears welled up in Zhuge Hwi’s eyes as he spoke.

The damage to the main house was great, but he was also reminded of the deaths of the elite soldiers he had personally cared for and trained like his own children.

It was infuriating that he had caused the deaths of these promising young men, and he couldn’t even give them a proper funeral.

To soothe their resentment, he had to protect Jo Won-rak and punish the culprit of this incident.

“I understand what the General is saying. To be honest, I’m still scared, but I promise I will never make a cowardly or extreme choice.”

“That’s a wise decision, Your Highness!”

While Zhuge Hwi was listening to Jo Won-rak’s resolve, Zhuge Shin and Zhuge Do were loitering around Luke and Hwangbo Sung’s quarters.

The two approached Zhuge Soha, who had come out of the quarters with Hwangbo Sung, and spoke to her.

“How is Marquis Luke?”

“He’s severely exhausted and has some internal injuries, but he’ll be fine. Great Master Nanda treated him with his divine powers, so he’ll wake up soon.”

“That’s a relief. But… didn’t the Great Master say anything else?”

At Zhuge Shin’s question, Soha tilted her head.

“Anything else? Is there something wrong?”

“Well… let’s move to a place where there are no people.”

They moved to a secluded spot nearby.

Zhuge Shin checked several times to make sure no one was around before finally speaking.

“What I’m concerned about is that some of the techniques Marquis Luke showed when he fought were similar to the opponent’s.”

“You thought so too, Brother. The color and number of the techniques he shot like spirit bullets were different, but the essential nature seemed the same. And the technique of binding the opponent with black ropes that rose from the ground, too.”

Zhuge Do nodded in agreement with Zhuge Shin’s words.

“Could it be that both sides are related to the Heretical Cult?”

“That can’t be!”

Zhuge Soha, who had secretly set her sights on Luke as her future husband, jumped at Zhuge Do’s words.

In response, Hwangbo Sung quickly explained the situation.

“Our lord has nothing to do with the Heretical Cult.”

“See, I told you he has nothing to do with it.”

“However, it is true that he has mastered black magic.”

“He said black magic. It has nothing to do with the Heretical Cult… what did you say?”

Soha, who had been emphasizing Hwangbo Sung’s words, was aghast at the mention of black magic.

Zhuge Shin and Zhuge Do were equally shocked.

“B, Brother. If it’s black magic…”

“Yes, it’s a magic that was banned a long time ago in the Northern Continent. Considering its connection to the Demon Realm, it can be said to be very similar to the Heretical Cult’s techniques.”

Although he had suspected it, Zhuge Shin couldn’t believe it.

According to what he had heard from the family head, he had revived the Ironwood Forest with a divine power.

Because of that, the mountain people called him the Azure-Eyed Immortal and worshiped him.

And yet, Marquis Luke had mastered evil black magic!

To the shocked Zhuge family masters, Hwangbo Sung explained in more detail.

“Please don’t misunderstand. Our lord only wields evil power, but he has not been consumed by it.”

The danger of black magic or the Heretical Cult’s techniques was that the soul would be consumed by the evil power, eventually becoming a seed of the devil. [Seed of the devil is a term for someone who has been corrupted by evil magic]

Once they became a seed of the devil, they would commit unimaginable atrocities, usually ending with causing enormous damage to the world.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes, young lady. My lord healed me with the power of black magic when I was suffering from a wound inflicted by a Heretical Cult’s magic soldier. Even the power of divinity could not completely heal it.”

“I can’t believe it.”

There was a reason why Zhuge Shin and Zhuge Do had no choice but to shake their heads.

It was almost impossible to completely recover from a wound inflicted by a magic soldier created by the Heretical Cult.

The curse magic on the magic soldier was said to continuously amplify the evil energy.

Therefore, the best they could do was to cut out the entire wound before the curse spread, or suppress the injury with Taoist healing or internal energy.

In the case of absolute masters who had ascended to immortality or high monks who had awakened their divine powers like Nanda, they could heal it, but those who had reached such a state of enlightenment were rare, appearing only once every hundred years, and were difficult to meet.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you. The Grand Duke Gregory, a superhuman of the Holy Empire, also acknowledged that my lord did not learn black magic with evil intentions. I told you my lord’s secret because I thought you would understand.”

“Hmm, Grand Duke Gregory is said to be a holy knight representing the Holy Empire and a rather stubborn person, is that correct?”

“As you know, young lady.”

Since becoming Luke’s retainer, Hwangbo Sung had witnessed his frustrating situation up close.

Only a few people, including himself and Philip, knew his secret.

He couldn’t reveal it to the world carelessly, but if it were revealed, all the foundations he had built so far could collapse like a sandcastle.

Hwangbo Sung thought that Luke must have always been suffering from anxiety and worry, even though he didn’t show it.

After listening to his explanation, Zhuge Shin nodded and said.

“Well, it seems that this fact should not be made public.”

The Taoist arts of the Southern Continent were rooted in the principles of yin and yang and the five elements. [Yin and Yang and the five elements are concepts in Taoism]

Just as there was light, there was also darkness, and they acknowledged the principles of mutual generation as well as mutual restraint.

The problem was that the Heretical Cult’s past misdeeds were so severe that there was a strong negative view of anything related to the Heretical Cult, as much as they disliked black magic in the Rodisia Continent.

What Zhuge Shin was worried about was that kind of social atmosphere.

If rumors spread that Luke was using magic similar to the Heretical Cult’s techniques, not only the nearby sects but also the government forces would flock to him.

And the Zhuge family, who had formed a relationship with him, would surely be in trouble.

“Well, isn’t it enough if we just keep our mouths shut?”

At Zhuge Do’s words, Zhuge Shin shook his head.

“The problem is Great Master Nanda. Do you think he, who has awakened his divine powers, wouldn’t know about the Marquis’s hidden power?”

“Hmm, that’s…”

“It seems we need to talk to Great Master Nanda.”

Around the time Zhuge Shin and others were worrying, Luke, who had collapsed from exhaustion, regained consciousness.

‘Where am I…?’

“Have you regained your senses?”

At the unfamiliar voice, Luke turned his head.

A bald old man wearing old gray clothes was standing next to the bed, looking down at him.

He looked ordinary, but Luke could not sense any energy from him.

On the contrary, the other person had eyes that seemed to have seen through his identity.

“The fight is over, and the enemy has disappeared, so there is nothing for you to worry about.”

‘Arsene disappeared?’

He had clearly lost consciousness without defeating Arsene.

But instead of dying, he had disappeared?

Could it be that the unidentified person in front of him had defeated Arsene?

Luke decided to put aside the various thoughts that came to his mind for a moment and spoke to the other person.

“Who are you?”

“I am called Nanda. I am the old monk who healed you.”

As Luke looked at him with wary eyes, Nanda replied with a gentle smile.

At this, Luke carefully examined his own condition.

The injuries he had sustained while fighting Arsene had been completely healed. It was as if he had never been hurt.

“First of all, I should thank you.”

Luke, who had gotten up, bowed his head while still wary.

The identity of the other person was suspicious, but he had to express his gratitude for saving him.

Then, Nanda waved his hand and said.

“There is no need to be so afraid. You who have returned to this world after skipping through a long time.”

“…!?”

Luke was startled and jumped up from his seat at Nanda’s words.

No one had ever recognized his identity before. Not even Arsene, who possessed terrifying power.

Yet, the unidentified monk in front of him had seen through his identity at once.

Luke asked, more wary than ever.

“What the hell are you? How did you know that?”

“I just saw it. It was as if I was reading a picture book in my hand, the things you have experienced entered this old man’s mind.”

“Then you must know that I am not a very virtuous human being.”

Luke, with a cold glint in his eyes, began to draw up his demonic energy.

He was thinking of getting rid of this old man if necessary.

But even so, Nanda’s expression did not change much.

“You are neither virtuous nor evil. Your evil deeds are merely the karma accumulated by those who are obsessed with worldly desires.”

“…”

“Your wish is to fix the world where such people are rampant and to make people live more peacefully. Isn’t that so?”

Luke withdrew his demonic energy. Nanda’s words were not wrong at all.

It was still unpleasant that he could see through his inner thoughts, but it didn’t seem necessary to antagonize someone who wasn’t hostile to him.

Nanda spoke again.

“I do not wish for sentient beings to suffer or inflict suffering on each other due to someone’s greed. Above all, I cannot stand by and watch someone who has abandoned the principles of life and death due to excessive desire try to plunge the world into chaos.”

“So you’re going to help me, who has been resurrected from death?”

At Luke’s words, Nanda nodded and continued.

“Because that is the way to save the world and to save you. Also, only by stopping the evil deeds of that one who is neither alive nor dead can you erase the karma you have accumulated.”

“The conclusion is to get rid of Arsene. Okay, how can you help me?”

Luke realized his shortcomings in the fight against Arsene. He thought he had improved a lot after being reincarnated, but it was an illusion.

He could not defeat that monster unless he became much stronger than he was now.

“Although I have awakened a small part of the Dharma [Dharma is a concept in Buddhism], I am in a position where I must not violate the heavenly secrets, and I do not have much time allowed in this world. However, I can help you achieve the growth you desire.”

“You’re dragging it out. Specifically, what are you going to help me develop?”

At Luke’s question, who was slightly impatient, Nanda gave a meaningful smile.

“I can show you what you have not completed. And what the family you are currently in has lost.”

“Y, you don’t mean you’re going to tell me the latter half of the Gold Sword?”

At Luke’s question, as if he couldn’t believe it, Nanda nodded.

“That’s right.”

At Nanda’s answer, Luke grabbed his hands.

He never thought that he would show him the latter half of the Gold Sword.

In fact, the greatest weapon that could defeat a lich like Arsene was not the power of the demon race or black magic, but the Gold Sword imbued with divine power.

However, he could not learn it because the latter half of the Gold Sword was stolen from the Baroque Imperial Family, but Nanda could show it to him!

He couldn’t help but feel excited at the thought of gaining unexpected results.

“Tell me right now!”

“It’s not difficult to show you, but I’m worried about whether you can see and understand it well.”

“Don’t look down on me. I’m someone who survived and was resurrected even from that dark purgatory!”

At Luke’s boastful words, Nanda gave a deep smile.

The cooperation between the demon king who failed to change the world and the high monk who awakened the power of God had begun.