Margrave’s Bastard Son Was The Emperor [EN]: Chapter 762

As the arrow flew straight, light followed, creating a horizon in the air. It wasn’t aimed at the shadow itself, but at burning the World Tree that held and surrounded the shadow.

Chwaaaak!

Whirr! Whirr!

The flames spread instantly, engulfing the entire World Tree. With Ian’s flames added, the mages struggled to withstand the power, staggering. Blood streamed down their faces, soaking their clothes, so much that even the rain couldn’t wash it away.

“Ugh, damn it.”

“Shit! Shit! Shit!”

“It’s okay! We can do it! Keep holding on!”

“We live and die together!”

“Uwaaaah!”

The World Tree was a framework, confining the shadow and supporting the light around it.

How could a shadow rise before the light? This was a ‘primary’ foundation and attack, designed to continuously expose the shadow to divine light.

The mages’ fingertips, connected to the magic circle, trembled. The pressure was so intense that they felt their internal organs would burst with the slightest mistake.

-This is not enough!

Krrrruuung! Krung!

The Underworld God twisted, trying to shake off the World Tree. Despite his dismissive tone, he seemed to be having more trouble breaking free than expected.

Seeing this, the mages looked at each other hopefully. *Hold on. If we hold on, we win!* The fading magic surged again, and the flow intensified.

The swordmasters looked up at them and asked,

“How can we help?”

“Just keep cutting off the leaking demonic energy so we can keep using our power!”

Taat!

While the mages circled in the air, gathering strength, the swordmasters circled the shadow god, stepping on the burning World Tree. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hot. As they cut through the wind, the flames flickered and burned brighter.

-Nothing!

The shadow’s power grew stronger. The relaxed demeanor of mimicking a god was gone.

Ian clasped his hands, then spread them apart, muttering,

“Right. A magic like this is nothing to you.”

Then.

“How about this?”

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Ian quickly moved his fingertips, drawing a magic circle.

「Clone(分身)」[A magic that creates a copy of the caster].

And again.

「Clone(分身)」.

Five enormous magic circles moved in concentric circles around Ian. The divine language within them glowed, soon taking human form. It was Ian.

It wasn’t hard to tell which of the six Ians was real—the one bleeding endlessly.

The mages glanced at Ian and squeezed their eyes shut. They knew the activation phrase flowing from Ian’s mouth.

「Thrust(推刷)」[A magic that borrows power from one’s future self].

A magic that borrows power from one’s future self. The power divided into six by the clones was now fully restored. Six complete Ians. A golden aura exploded and scattered.

“How can…”

The mages sighed, more with worry than admiration. Having seen it activated before, they knew the aftermath of Thrust better than Ian did. The caster’s memories were erased as they went to the brink of death, but they had been watching from the sidelines.

‘Even after going through so much trouble…’

The clone magic was fine, but Thrust was fatal. During the battle at Luthweena, the aftereffects of using Thrust on just one clone had been severe…

This time, there were six targets for Thrust. This was beyond what a human body could handle.

‘Can he survive?’

Even if Ian seals that shadow, will he live? No matter how much power he has, if he uses Thrust like that, there must be an end.

Swoosh.

But Ian didn’t stop. He raised his hand and created magic circles, one, two, and more.

「Divine Palm(神掌)」[A powerful divine magic attack].

「Divine Palm(神掌)」.

「Divine Palm(神掌)」……

He didn’t stop. Instantly, dozens, hundreds of magic circles filled the sky. A constellation. Yes, it was like looking at a vast constellation.

The imperial soldiers were captivated, as if floating in the universe. Everything became quiet, and they felt as if everything had stopped except for their hearts.

“Ian-nim!”

“Go! We will follow you!”

The mages cried out, giving him their power. Ian’s final battle had exceeded the limits of common sense. Thinking this might be the end, they couldn’t hold back their tears.

“Ian-aaaa!”

“You can do it, Minister!”

“We are with you!”

“For the Bariel Empire!”

“Long live! Long live Bariel!”

The swordmasters also shouted, filled with emotion. The imperial soldiers’ chants rose, and hundreds of golden Divine Palms fell from the sky.

The shadow of the god just looked up. As he raised his hand to break through, as before, the mages’ World Tree tightened its grip.

Kwaaaak!

Crack! Crackle!

The celestial touch slowly approached the shadow god. They carefully grasped him, as if caressing something pitiful. Hand over hand, long fingers filled the gaps, so not a single strand of darkness could escape.

-You bastard…!

Fsss! Fss!

The shadow’s body gradually disappeared. As if purified by sacred energy, the darkness was diluted. The Divine Palms gently but firmly crushed the darkness.

Saaaak!

Ian gagged, feeling a surge of nausea. Thin blood flowed endlessly. Pain twisted his body. His mind became hazy, and his senses dulled.

However, Ian’s posture remained upright. As he raised both hands and pressed his palms together, the surroundings turned into a vacuum.

Woo-oo-oong!

Crack! Craaack!

The Divine Palms squeezed the darkness as if crushing mud. Cracks appeared, and for a moment, Ian’s eyes flashed.

In a moment of nothingness, Ian’s golden eyes turned white as if blind.

“Return to the abyss.”

-Ian! Do you think I will retreat like this!

“That is your world. If you want to show yourself again, raise your head only after countless eons have passed. Then, Bariel will face you again, with the blessing of God.”

The earth shook. It was a shock as if the world was splitting. The darkness, consumed by the light, tore apart and fled, but soon faded away.

Kugugugugung!

Gugugugu!

The massive light and darkness created a storm. The soldiers fell, and Jin covered Eirin’s head to protect her. The mages held onto each other, struggling not to be swept away, and the swordmasters planted their swords and stood firm.

Finally, as the Divine Palms shattered and exploded-

Jjaeng!

The world was dyed white. A world so bright that one couldn’t see an inch ahead. Everyone squeezed their eyes shut and held their breath.

* * *

Ian felt the warm sunlight on his face. He felt someone’s lap behind his head. He was lying with his head on someone’s lap. The fresh scent of grass filled the air, and a gentle breeze tickled his hair.

Someone lightly touched his cheek. A pleasant touch. Ian smiled unconsciously.

“Ian-ah.”

A voice he missed so much. Ah, it was Philia.

He tried to open his eyes, but the light was too bright. His mother, as if telling him not to try too hard, placed her hand on his eyelids and whispered.

He couldn’t hear what she was saying, but it was clearly comfort. Otherwise, his eyes wouldn’t be filling with tears.

“…Mother.”

The child raised his hand, grabbed Philia’s hand, and rubbed his cheek against it. Philia smiled, as if she knew without him saying anything.

“You are my son, Ian, no matter what anyone says.”

*I am too.* No matter what anyone says, even if I go back in time again, you are my mother. Tears flowed from Ian’s eyes.

“My beloved Ian.”

Philia’s voice sounded very close.

“Everyone loves you.”

Philia added that if he kept that in mind, he would overcome anything in the future.

He didn’t know why she was saying that. Ian just nodded and snuggled into Philia’s arms. He felt the warmth of the sunlight fading, as well as Philia’s faint laughter.

Swoosh.

Ian opened his eyes. The sky, filled with dark clouds, was clear and blue. It was so clear that everything felt like a dream.

Ian raised his damp hand. His sleeves were a mess, and the back of his hand was blackened. Judging by the wounds, it wasn’t a dream.

‘The shadow?’

Ian turned his head and looked around. The wreckage of the collapsed palace was scattered everywhere.

And a huge pit created by the ground’s collapse. It was tens of meters in diameter and deep. It was the trace of the Underworld God having appeared and been sealed.

‘Ah…’

Ian carefully got up. His skull throbbed, and it was hard to breathe. It seemed his major organs, including his heart, were injured.

‘This isn’t easy.’

Even taking one step was not easy. Ian sat back down and sighed, looking at the debris. What should he do? He didn’t have the strength to climb up, and his magic power was depleted.

But then.

“Ian-aaaa!”

A familiar voice was heard. It was Beric. As soon as he came to his senses, he called out Ian’s name.

“Ian-nim! Where are you!”

“Ian-nim! Please answer!”

“Live, damn it, please be alive!”

Following that, the desperate voices of the magic department. Beyond the debris, footsteps were getting closer.

“Ian-nim!”

“Ian-aaaa!”

A rainbow appeared. After the rain stopped and the sun rose, a bridge was built from one end of the world to the other. Ian looked up and said,

“…I’m here.”

“Huh? Did you hear that?”

“Ian-nim? Is that Ian-nim?”

“Here? Is it right?”

“Beric, you should know. You’re a professional at finding people.”

“When was that, you idiot.”

Shadows fell over the debris. Warm shadows. Then, Beric and the mages, who had heard Ian’s call, peeked out. They saw Ian was alive and smiled brightly with tears in their eyes.

“Ian-nim!”

“Ian-aaaa!”

They ran. Judging by the fact that they stumbled, their physical condition wasn’t good either.

“What about the shadow god?”

“He’s gone. When I opened my eyes, the world was clear!”

“Ian-nim, are you okay? You don’t look well.”

“I’d like to share some magic power, but embarrassingly, I’m completely out. Haha, ha…”

The shadow does not die. It only disappears. He will dive back into the abyss and stick out his greedy head again someday.

But there is no need to think about that now. When that time comes, Bariel will carry on the will again.

Ian smiled and nodded.

“…Right. It’s done. That’s enough.”

He had driven away the shadow god, killed King Tolun, and destroyed the source of the black seed. He had achieved the purpose of going back 100 years. Ian decided to savor that satisfaction and nodded repeatedly.

“Ian-kyung!”

And then, he raised his head at the sound of his name. It was Jin. As soon as Jin confirmed Ian was safe, he bit his lip in relief.

“Your Majesty.”

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked hard.”

“It was something we all achieved together. Your Majesty, you are amazing.”

“Don’t say that. I am endlessly grateful and ashamed.”

Jin reached out his hand to help him up, and Ian carefully took it. His blackened skin was hideous, but no one cared.

Jin supported Ian as he climbed onto the debris, and Ian’s eyes widened as he belatedly raised his head.

“Waaaaaaa!”

“We won! We won! We survived!”

“Bariel! Bariel!”

The victorious imperial soldiers hugged each other, sharing their joy. When they saw Ian was safe, they cheered again and ran towards him. Thousands of soldiers waved their fists and chanted.

Ba-riel!

The beginning of the glory that God holds-

The heart of Gaia that turns golden when it rains-

Hold your head high, and you will see-

The light in that high place, the lamp of Bariel-