The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 127

127

Even with Rain Ludwig buying them time, nightmares surrounded them.

In the blizzard, those who couldn’t find rest even in death, now enslaved, surged endlessly alongside grotesque primeval creatures.

The warrior swallowed by that wave soon became one of the undead, baring his teeth at those who were once his family and friends.

“The, the flank is collapsing!”

“Burn them, burn them to finish it!”

“That’s a huge one!”

They managed to navigate through that pandemonium only because there were four veterans on their side.

Frisvia, Gryphon, Barzhen, Opus.

Even Frisvia, who had just blown away the head of a zombie, thought the situation was quite desperate… but still, hmm.

Koo-oong───!

The raptor beastmen led by Gryphon, who had soared into the sky, swooped down sharply, slamming the massive Old One, Brookku Doom, into the ground.

As the ground trembled and the undead swarmed towards it, the wolf beastmen, led by Barzhen, stretched their necks and unleashed savage howls, causing the heads of the undead to explode one after another, weakening their momentum.

And the polar bear beastmen, including Opus, charged forward in formation, tearing apart the bodies of half a dozen undead with each swing of their massive arms.

‘These beastmen, huh, their coordination is far greater than I thought?’

They managed to establish a defensive line thanks to the cooperation of the four, but that balance was effortlessly shattered the next moment.

“Huh…?”

A massive shadow seemed to pass overhead, and then, with a ground-shaking roar, their bodies were sent flying into the air.

The warriors who turned around felt a sense of despair as the strength drained from their bodies, one by one.

The being glaring at them, spewing out viscous thoughts with its breath, was none other than… their former guardian, Alakish.

* * *

‘Let’s see, shall we test how far you can go?’

Perhaps it was the instinctive realization at that very moment, when the hairs on his body stood on end and his forehead was drenched in cold sweat.

Now, he was going to die here….

No matter how many times I die and come back, I won’t be able to defeat this old royal… Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he downed the fourth potion.

‘If only I could buy some time….’

If he could inflict a critical wound, like Alakish had done, he could buy them some time, however insufficient.

– Rin.

– Master.

– Rin.

Have I made you wait too long? Just wait a little longer, I’ll be there soon….

“Wandering Worldly One: Vigilance (警) [Vigilance: A state of watchfulness].”

As he formed the Vigilance (警) mudra [Mudra: A symbolic hand gesture], the central circle of the mental barrier scattered brilliant light, and that light became five strands of chains, powerfully soaring upwards.

“Chains?”

At that moment, the chains pierced Shar’kas’ soul, momentarily sealing its movements.

Thunder (雷) [Thunder: Symbol of power and destruction].

Field (場) [Field: An area of influence].

Cast (投) [Cast: To project or throw].

Descent (落) [Descent: A downward movement].

Shear (剡) [Shear: To cut or slice].

Why was he instinctively forming ‘this mudra’ at that moment? Even he didn’t know. Was he thinking of using the magic he was most confident in?

The seal of the ultimate magic he had created in his Rin days.

“Rune Amplification, Thunder Field Bloodshed (雷場防穴) [Thunder Field Bloodshed: A devastating lightning-based attack].”

The northerners, who pursued the practicality of magic to the extreme, mainly used the four minor elements (四小元素) [Four Minor Elements: Electricity, ice, steel, and poison], which had a faster casting speed than the four major elements.

Electricity, ice, steel, poison… Among them, the attribute that the Osarius School, that is, Rin, was best at was none other than electricity.

When the rune of 尊 (존) [尊 (jon): A rune symbolizing respect or honor] began to emit a beautiful light, the atmosphere shook explosively, and the sound of lightning crackling could be heard from above.

“───?!”

Now, there was no need to calculate anything. No need to form mudras. Such preparations were completely unnecessary.

A pentagon with a radius of 50 meters centered on me, this is the domain of lightning. All enemies within this area shall be swallowed by the thunder.

In an era 300 years ago, when fighting against overwhelming enemies was commonplace, magic with both speed and power that transcended limits was required.

It was in that era, out of such necessity, that this magic was created, solely for the purpose of killing.

“First Thunder (第一雷) [First Thunder: The initial strike of the Thunder Field Bloodshed].”

Like thousands of birds screaming, a wedge of light emitting an irritating high frequency vibrated the sky as it plummeted from the heavens to the ground.

Purity (純白) [Purity: A state of being unblemished or pure].

First, Shar’kas’ pupils, then the entire world, were covered in pure white, and the earth shook as a terrifying amount of heat surged.

“Second Thunder (雷) [Second Thunder: The second strike of the Thunder Field Bloodshed].”

The explosion of pure white light did not end there. As he formed the next mudra, pure white wedges relentlessly struck the target fixed by the chains in succession.

“Third Thunder (雷).”

“Fourth Thunder (雷).”

“Fifth Thunder (雷).”

“Sixth Thunder (雷).”

“Seventh Thunder (雷).”

If the 주여소계대반 [주여소계대반: Likely a unique magical term, possibly a powerful spell] was the 5-star magic that decorated Rin’s finale, then Thunder Field Bloodshed was the 5-star magic that represented the great mage’s brilliant exploits.

It is said that the seven lightning strikes, which amplified the killing power to the extreme, annihilated the target without leaving a trace and dyed the world in stillness.

Deafening continuous explosions echoed in his ears… his vision was being shaved away to pure white… a deep pit was created, filled with thick smoke… the silence after the living hell.

“….”

Rain, kneeling on one knee amidst the crushing pain, pried open the cork of the last potion with trembling fingers.

Is it over?

No, it can’t be over with this.

Forcibly gathering his magic power, he opened his vision in red [Opened his vision in red: Likely refers to using a specific magical technique to enhance perception]. Bel Cideus’s antennae cut through the fog, detecting the presence of the transcendent being beyond.

“Huh?”

But… it wasn’t there.

Not there?

Nowhere within sight, nothing was being solved mathematically by Bel Cideus.

‘Interesting.’

That voice was the last thing he heard from behind.

‘Since waking up, I’ve killed nearly a hundred followers of Karen Den, whom you call mages.’

Turning around immediately, he constructed a magic circle on his palm.

“Ugh───?!”

In an instant, a sharp pain exploded in his shoulder, and in the corner of his vision, his right arm flew away, scattering blood.

Spiderwebs…?!

His arm had been severed by five strands of spiderwebs flowing from the tip of the monster’s fingers, wriggling like maggots.

‘I definitely caught him with chains…?’

The chains that should have stopped Shar’kas’ movements, that should have sealed the manifestation of that transcendence, had all decayed and melted into a thick liquid.

His vision darkened. A 5-star magic could collapse so helplessly… Was it all just a meaningless struggle from the start?

The severed surface was already starting to rot and fester black, and a suppressed scream burst out. The erosion of the abyss was progressing.

‘Attribute conversion and transformation of power… You are the first to imitate Karen Den’s power so closely.’

I have to create some distance… He tried to spread his left hand and construct a magic circle on it, but his fingers wouldn’t move.

The spiderwebs that had already wrapped around his left arm were digging into his wrist, and the pain of severing his tendons made him taste a metallic, fishy taste in his mouth.

It didn’t end there. The spiderwebs had already bound both legs, so he couldn’t even back away.

‘I would have suffered a fatal wound if I had let my guard down even a little.’

Shar’kas, who had walked straight towards him, now unable to move, plunged his dark blue fingertips into his chest.

The hand that cut through flesh and broke ribs, easily slicing through arteries like paper… only went back the way it came after grabbing his heart.

Thump, thump, thump… He could feel the blood circulating through his veins as he watched his heart feebly twitch before his eyes.

‘But in the end, humans are just humans.’

His vision blurs. Strength slowly drains from his limbs. He can’t breathe. His pulse gradually weakened.

‘Weak, pathetically so.’

In that final moment, what the boy saw… was not the fear of impending death. Nor was it his own heart.

It was a series of mathematical formulas.

The lines of transcendence that started from Shar’kas’ fingertips and connected to a place far away, where a heavy commotion was occurring.

‘Could this be… Alakish….’

In his fading consciousness, the flower that had been in the boy’s eyes quietly rotated, and the four petals blossomed into seven.

This is a reward.

Maybe it’s a gamble.

I can’t escape alive anyway. So, so, with this last bit of magic, at least you….

‘……Hmm?’

Shar’kas, sensing something was amiss, glanced back at Alakish and narrowed his eyes.

The spiderwebs were cut.

What is it? What happened?

I can’t waste any more time on this guy… At that moment, the heart that had been feebly pulsating in Shar’kas’ grasp was crushed into a bloody mess, scattering blood and gore everywhere.

“Keuh….”

A final, scorching cough of blood that seemed to burn his throat surged up, spilling out of his nose and mouth with a gurgle.

In the snowfield, turning red with blood, the seven petals in the eyes of the boy who had collapsed withered away in vain, turning into four. Snow fell on his unclosed eyes.

In the fragments of the mental barrier, scattered like cherry blossoms swept away by the wind, what was the last scenery that flashed before his eyes?

– Rain!

– Rain.

– Awoo!

A scenery he had never seen before, walking and laughing together with Alakish, Alakish’s daughter, and Kasena on a reed field path somewhere in the south….

* * *

When Alakish opened his maw wide, what spewed out from it was not the flame of life.

A wave of abyss so dense and rotten that it numbed the sense of smell… The warriors swept away by that wave all melted away in a terrible scream, their entire bodies rotting.

Kasena, watching that gruesome scene, involuntarily sat down and covered her ears. As if to make this nightmare not real.

‘Alakish, Alakish is… killing people….’

Alakish, who had been consistently noble and had earned the respect of all the beastmen for 1,100 years… Alakish, who had been so kind… Alakish, who had smiled affectionately while holding the egg….

“Heh, it’s turning out this way after all. He’s several times slower and clumsier than when he was alive, so it’s easy?”

Frisvia, who had splattered the blood of the dead on his mechanical armor, gestured to his subordinates as if this situation wasn’t so bad.

“Each one is an important specimen. Collect them with as little damage as possible.”

As Barzhen forcibly pulled up Kasena, who was sitting down, Kasena felt a faint pulsation reaching her back.

Is it a delusion, a hallucination?

No, it’s not… The basket containing the dragon egg was shaking sadly. The dragon egg was wriggling powerfully.

“Get up! Retreat to a safe place!”

“Get up, get up, get up.”

As she was led away from Alakish by Barzhen and Peach, the shaking of the dragon egg became uncontrollably violent. Like a child throwing a tantrum.

Could she have felt some will from there? Kasena stopped blankly.

And as if responding to that will, the dragon egg quietly calmed down and emitted a mysterious heat when she moved her body slightly towards Alakish.

“You want me to… take you there?”

“Hurry up and come here, you brat!”

“Quickly, quickly, quickly.”

“Barzhen, Peach. Me, I mean, I have to go to Alakish.”

At those words, Barzhen looked at Kasena with a look that asked what that meant.

“Alakish is calling me.”

That judgment, even if it couldn’t be explained to anyone, came from a firm conviction.

Whether it was from the bloodline that Karen Den loved like a daughter, or because of this Black Yang Rin, she could clearly feel and know. The trembling of the soul calling for this dragon egg….

Barzhen shook his head firmly.

“That’s nonsense. Everything ends the moment you become a zombie! Your soul is corrupted! Killing and burning it is the last act of mercy!”

“Mercy, mercy, mercy.”

“Please, help me go to Alakish. Barzhen, Peach.”

Barzhen was about to shake his head as if he was fed up, but he shuddered at the scream that came from behind.

Five warriors had their backs severed by the heavy inertia carried on Alakish’s tail… Frisvia, taking advantage of the gap, tore off its wings.

Alakish roared mournfully and opened his maw wide at Frisvia, spewing out the blood of corruption.

“It’s not that I don’t understand your heart, but Alakish-nim is already….”

As Barzhen muttered that and turned to look at Kasena, he closed his mouth after seeing something clear and resolute shining in her eyes.

“Alakish has been protecting his mission for 1,100 years. But, but… if it ends like that, it’s, it’s too sad….”

What should he call it, the morning star of hope?

From those eyes, Barzhen felt something that could not be expressed in any language… the same dazed heart-fluttering he had felt when Rain shed tears for them on the day they arrived in Lavenfel.

Was that why, a moment later, he found himself smiling without even realizing it. And himself saying this.

“Okay, let’s give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen, we just die?”