He Became The Most Insane Emperor Of All Time [EN]: Chapter 144

Became the Crazy Emperor – Episode 144

“Don’t think things are the same as before!”

Clang!

The Spirit King’s sword clashed against Silver Rose.

And the Spirit King’s words rang true.

Pajijijik!

“……!”

Electricity sparked from the Spirit King’s sword. Simultaneously, fire erupted from his hand, and ice shards materialized in the air, all aimed at me.

The potency of his spirit magic and his mastery over it had undeniably grown.

“It’s certainly a bit different. But-”

[Purification Flame Deployment]

[Divine Shield Deployment]

Whirr-rrr-rrr!

Shoo-ooo-ook!

“That’s not enough.”

The flames of purification pushed back the encroaching spirits.

The divine power’s shield absorbed the brunt of the electricity.

Simultaneously, I traded blows with the Spirit King. Neither of us yielded, each vying for the other’s demise.

Clang!

His sword, infused with the wind of spirits, moved with blinding speed, targeting my shoulder.

I managed to parry it, but he recovered his sword with astonishing swiftness and launched another attack.

I couldn’t fully block that attack, and my armor bore the brunt of it.

Silvatine’s [A magically enhanced armor] durability withstood the spirit power imbued in the sword, but the cumulative damage posed a significant threat.

“Indeed. You’re exhausted, Emperor.”

“…….”

“How does it feel? This time, you’re on the defensive.”

Pachijik, pachik-

[Warning: The remaining amount of Imperial Soul is low.]

[If consumption continues, Silvatine may be解除 (dismantled/deconstructed).]

Electricity crackled around the area where I was struck. The situation was undeniably disadvantageous for me.

Yet, I projected an even more confident demeanor.

“Are you so sure I’m on the defensive? You’ll end up being defeated by me again.”

“Your bluffing is as persistent as ever.”

The Spirit King once again conjured spirits around himself.

“As long as you fight here, you can never defeat me. The World Tree, the Spirit Realm, grants me infinite power!”

Hundreds of spirits swarmed around him, as if drawn to a beacon.

As he proclaimed, he appeared to wield limitless power.

But even amidst that spectacle, I could discern a crucial truth.

-Hoo-ooo-ooo…….

-Suffering…….

-Kill me…….

That seemingly infinite power was, in reality, finite.

Because the source of that power was tangible.

It was the nourishment devoured by the World Tree, the sustenance that enriched the Spirit Realm – the sacrifices.

I witnessed countless souls. They were cast as fodder for the spirits, sometimes controlled, and twisted into grotesque parodies of their former selves.

“What a twisted hobby. Your actions are so vile that even demons would disown you, yet you adorn yourself with beauty.”

“Do not insult the spirits; they are guardians of nature. The most beautiful beings.”

“More like thugs who exploit nature as an excuse for their depravity.”

At this rate, even eco-terrorists would have to re-evaluate their methods.

I spat once and readjusted my grip on Silver Rose.

I couldn’t afford to lose to someone like him, to the Spirit King, even if it meant relying on sheer stubbornness.

“Come, I won’t run or hide.”

“Then you will only meet your end.”

“Kill me if you can.”

“Gladly.”

Shoo-ooo-ook!

A blade-like gust of wind sliced through the air. Crack – Silvatine’s armor fractured.

Ice shards hurtled towards me. I countered with the flames of purification, but I couldn’t completely negate their impact, and some pierced through my defenses.

Following that, electricity surged, rocks rained down, and sharpened tree trunks pierced like spears.

Deflecting, dodging, and blocking the relentless barrage of attacks, I gradually succumbed to exhaustion, becoming a battered mess.

“What’s wrong, Emperor? You’re not even attempting to counter.”

As the Spirit King’s taunts persisted, my exhaustion deepened.

The Imperial Soul was rapidly depleting, and Silvatine was on the verge of 解体 (disintegration). I needed time to reactivate it.

“Yet why do you refuse to yield?”

Everything was stacked against me. Yet I refused to surrender to him, nor did I plead for my life.

Instead, I stood tall and glared at him. Even covered in blood, even as trials threatened to consume me.

“Why? It’s obvious. Because the Empire whispers victory in my ear.”

Chuck-

“Come, for the Empire is me, and I am the Empire.”

I leveled Silver Rose at him.

“You cannot defeat me.”

“How laughable!”

The Spirit King scoffed and channeled his power once more.

But this time, something was different.

“Then I shall bestow upon you a despair befitting your arrogance.”

-Hoo-ooo-ooo…….

He summoned not spirits, but souls.

To be precise, souls tormented by spirits.

I recognized those souls.

“The souls of Imperials…….”

Elves are a race that has endured for millennia.

And the World Tree has been intertwined with their history throughout that time.

That meant it had consumed countless sacrifices.

Among them, undoubtedly, were countless Imperials as well.

Those who were not shielded by the Empire’s protection.

Their resentful spirits flickered before my eyes.

“Who will they despise? Us? No, your Empire, which failed to safeguard them.”

His words, like venom, seeped into the souls, and they sobbed as they drifted towards me.

I couldn’t bring myself to point my sword at them.

Even if they were those who perished before my reign, I am still the Emperor of the Empire.

I couldn’t swing my sword at the Imperials.

“Come, feast upon my flesh and blood and satiate your grudges.”

The souls enveloped me. Each time their ethereal forms brushed past, they tore at my flesh and drank my blood.

My life force erupted forth, staining them crimson.

Pain engulfed me.

“Hoo, hahahahahahaha! Foolish, foolish.”

The Spirit King, observing this spectacle, wore a deep sneer.

“Even so, do you believe they will pity you? You are mistaken. The public sentiment you cherish so dearly does not solely care for you!”

Betraying at every opportunity, stabbing in the back whenever possible, biting with unrestrained ferocity.

That is the deep-seated nature ingrained within humans.

It is no different for a king, and it is no different for the masses.

“Even so, you’re willing to die for them! Foolish, truly foolish.”

As he mocked me, I returned the sentiment.

“It is you who are foolish.”

“What?”

“I am the Emperor. I do not abandon my people.”

Shoo-ooo-ooo-

“And my people do not abandon me.”

“Th, this is……!”

The souls of my people, imbued with my blood.

Those souls were being purified.

And they enveloped me.

[Accepted Imperials who have reached divinity and Imperials who possess the power of spirits.]

[Imperial Soul Stage 3 conditions have been met.]

[Imperial Soul Stage 3 Released]

Their forms were spiritized.

But they harbored no hostility towards me, singing mournful songs and awaiting my command.

The conditions for Imperial Soul Stage 3 were met.

Finding Imperial souls who have attained divinity or acquired the power of another world.

Half belonging to the Spirit Realm, they remained loyal to me even in their twisted, spiritized forms.

“For the Empire.”

-For the Empire!

They and I advanced together.

Cutting down and devouring all the spirits that dared to stand in our path.

The Spirit King frantically attempted to block our advance with spirits, but he was helplessly 꺾일 (overwhelmed) before the combined power of the spirits fused with the Imperial Soul.

Thud!

“Kuh-heok!”

“Spirit King, this is the end.”

I plunged Silver Rose into his heart, reaching his nose in an instant.

He staggered, summoning his last reserves of strength to distance himself from me.

“Not yet, I can still do it! I can replicate what you did!”

He opted for the same desperate gamble as me.

He relied on the souls of elves, pleading for restoration from the spirits.

But the outcome was drastically different.

-Heeheeheehee.

-Finally, finally the time has come.

-Let’s take it, let’s take it, let’s take it to the Spirit Realm. To the deepest place.

“Y, you bastards!”

The souls and spirits clinging to him were far from benevolent.

Tearing at his limbs, devouring his flesh and blood, roots completely submerged his body.

“Aaaaaaaagh!”

Soon he was being分解 (dismembered/disintegrated). Would he simply vanish? Or would he be absorbed into the Spirit Realm?

I couldn’t know for sure. One thing remained certain: his reign was over.

“O you who could not bear the burden of the crown, lay it down.”

For those who fail to do so, only a terrible end awaits.

* * *

“Shouldn’t we go save him?”

Igris inquired, his gaze fixed on the burning World Tree.

As the colossal tree burned, the fighting in the capital ground to a halt.

This was only natural, as nothing could shock the elves more than the sight of their World Tree engulfed in flames.

The problem was that the Emperor remained within the inferno.

“It’s alright, Igris.”

But Stella, the Captain of the Guard, and the Emperor’s legions made no attempt to breach the flames and rescue their Emperor.

Because there was no need.

Whoaaaaaaa!

“Because His Majesty would never be defeated, nor would he fall here.”

Their faith remained unshaken, and the Emperor had once again emerged victorious.

He pierced through the heart of the World Tree, bringing an end to the ancient tree that had stood for so long.

“Th, the World Tree…….”

“It’s dead…….”

The elves wept as they witnessed its demise. But simultaneously, there were those who felt awe as they beheld the countless spirits following the Emperor.

These spirits were distinct from ordinary spirits; they were the spirits of the Empire.

The sight of them gathering and floating was so beautiful that even the Imperial soldiers and the elves stared in fascination.

“Rain…… is falling. Healing rain.”

Soon the spirits summoned rain. Those touched by the rain had their wounds healed and their minds calmed.

The starving elves forgot their hunger and felt a comforting warmth.

Because of that, their faith began to waver.

Taat-

“It’s over.”

“Your Majesty.”

When the Emperor finally descended to the ground, everyone bowed before him.

“Everyone, rise; there’s no need for such formality.”

“But…….”

“It’s alright.”

Even at the Emperor’s command, neither the Captain of the Guard nor anyone else dared to raise their heads.

That was because his current appearance was too sacred to 함부로 (carelessly/recklessly) gaze upon.

Just as it is difficult for mortals to stare directly at the sun, they could not 함부로 (easily/freely) look upon him, who was shedding 성혈 (sacred blood) and radiating divine power like the sun itself.

“Oh, I momentarily forgot.”

The Emperor then realized that he had yet to deactivate and 解除 (disengage) Imperial Soul Stage 3.

Only then did the Imperials, who had previously averted their gazes, look upon him.

“Your Majesty, you have grown even stronger.”

“It is not that I have become stronger. It is merely that I am reclaiming the original potential of the Empire.”

The Emperor declared, his gaze fixed on the burning World Tree.

“As of yet.”

But in the future, it will grow even stronger. Surpassing even the lost records of its heyday.

“Until then, will you stand by my side, Stella? And everyone else?”

The answer they would give to the Emperor’s question was already predetermined.

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Of course, Emperor.”

Stella and Igris as well.

Seureung-

“Everyone will follow Your Majesty!”

“Long live the Empire! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

The Captain of the Guard, the legions, the knights, and the soldiers all drew their swords and shouted in unison.

The Emperor smiled 만족스럽게 (satisfactorily).