The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 279

Forgotten War, Spider Lord Subjugation War (8)

Setsunen jumped into the cosmic rift.

‘Mir said it would be an intangible space, but…’

The path was a yellowish space, like being submerged in boiling pig fat. It was a bloodstained crimson.

He closed his eyes and blocked his ears.

Then, an intangible voice sprouted tentacles from his mind, directly projecting scenes into his consciousness.

‘Don’t focus.’

A nameless monster with stakes hammered into all three heads, blood dripping from the ceiling, laughter echoing from the filthy floor.

Monster.

Ceiling.

Blood.

Laughter.

Moans echoing from the filthy floor, tears pouring from the ceiling, a nameless monster with stakes hammered into all three heads staring straight at him…

‘Don’t be conscious.’

Cosmic knowledge struggled to penetrate his perception and infiltrate his mind.

The moment he focused on even one of those images, he would stray from the path.

The tentacles and feelers of the gods who ruled the outer universe groped, tempting his consciousness to become a new and interesting sacrifice.

Monster.

Floor.

Tears.

Cries.

His consciousness continued to blur.

Every time he tried to empty his mind, his consciousness was caught in the vortex of another universe and violently shaken.

‘Curious, I’m curious, but Mir told me not to look.’

Mad laughter.

Groans.

Wall.

Monster.

‘Those things’ were filling the emptiness in his head with a warm, milky substance, calling out to Setsunen…

As if never to let go…

As if to lure him from this path to their side…

– To keep reason functioning until the end of the path, you must clearly recall something.

Something sticky boiled up, sinking to his ankles.

Setsunen then opened his mind’s eye.

He pulled the memories of those distant days, memories that felt both close and far away, into the depths of his mind and focused on them.

Those late spring days…

The vast fields stretching to the horizon, filled with twilight flowers, awakening one by one in the sunset…

Rain, Miria, Aki, Setsunen, Mir, all gathered in one place, looking at those flowers, laughing, and running around…

That memory was a ray of light.

And a handful of fragrance.

No darkness or stench could interfere with that light and fragrance. It was an unapproachable radiance.

Setsunen couldn’t see it, but a sacred radiance enveloped his body.

The presence of the outer universe shattered upon touching that light, unable to even approach.

Absolute purity that repelled all the temptations of the outer universe.

One step.

One step.

Fear disappeared from his mind. The slow steps gradually turned into quick, short steps, and then he began to run.

The fragrance is getting closer.

And the light is getting stronger.

‘I’m almost there.’

At the end of his steps, taken with all his might, the next moment, there was a clang, and the dimension shattered.

“……?!”

“……?!”

It was a space where nothing existed except blue spiderwebs and bizarre blizzards.

In that space, Rain and Miria, resisting and being chased by countless tentacles of the outer universe, looked up in surprise at Setsunen…

Setsunen took his hands off his ears and shouted happily.

“Daddy! Cute Setsunen is here!”

“Setsunen, how did you…?”

No sooner had Setsunen hugged Rain than Mir’s magnetic force spell activated, emitting a dazzling light.

The rift in the dimension closed as if a living creature’s wound was healing. Before it closed completely, the magnetic force pulled them in.

As if never to let go, the tentacles chased after them at a furious speed and grabbed Miria’s ankle.

The tentacle pierced the flesh of her ankle and entered her body.

A bizarre feeling, as if returning to the origin, caused Miria to let out a scream that sounded like a happy laugh and a moan.

“Shirping!” [Shirping is likely the name of Rain’s weapon or a specific technique.]

Rain shouted urgently.

Before it could travel further up her bloodstream, Shirping’s blade trembled and flashed.

The moment it severed Miria’s ankle, the three of them entered the dimensional rift, the rift closed, and the tentacles’ ends were cut off.

“Setsunen…….”

To escape from the unpleasant reverberation that had just invaded her reason, Miria hugged Setsunen tightly.

Then, Setsunen tilted his head and patted Miria’s back.

Even as they did so, they were flown by the magnetic force to the space beyond, where the light of creation shone…

Soon, a familiar and beautiful fragrance and warmth, and dazzling moonlight poured into their vision.

This is the World Tree Lake.

The most peaceful and beautiful land in this world.

As soon as the three of them burst out of the rift and rolled haphazardly on the grass, Mir quickly closed the rift.

“Mir?”

“Are you okay?”

“Setsunen sister succeeded like this! Did you see that, MirMir?”

When Rain regenerated Miria’s ankle, Setsunen and Mir clapped their hands together.

At that moment, Rain and Miria hugged Setsunen and Mir tightly.

With their faces against the two children, they just stayed like that for a long time.

The relief from escaping the extreme crisis was only temporary.

The emotion that filled their hearts warmly was…

That Setsunen and Mir had suddenly become adults, they were so proud and admirable…

However, they could not stay in that joyful and comfortable silence for long. Now they were in the middle of a war for the fate of humanity.

“Mir, that dimensional spell, did you create it?”

“That’s right. Setsunen sister’s brain has no possibility of doing such a thing.”

“Setsunen is a hero of justice, she’s strong even without using such things!”

“Tell me about it.”

“Rain, what are you trying to do?”

“I’ve figured out a way to finish off the Spider Lord.”

The odds are fifty-fifty.

It depends on who strikes first, but this is the best way.

“It’s really a way to end it all… my life’s fight.”

* * *

「Yeriserica, where have you left your pathetic brothers and come alone?」

Ashron was so relaxed that he even had the *yoyuu* [余裕 means composure or余裕], as if the threat of the water dragon was nothing. His younger brother, Alcuta, reported.

「Having read the memories of the humans, the Fire Dragon died as a barrier in the southern continent, and the Light Dragon is said to be unable to move due to a deep wound sustained while fighting the Lord of Time.」

The surroundings were a pit of madness.

Above the barrier, a battle of slaughter was taking place with the spiders that had crawled up the collapsed outer wall.

As one knight cut off a spider’s leg, another spider pierced his heart and bit his neck, exposing his cervical spine.

The battle was taking place not only above the barrier but also south of the collapsed barrier, where the main force of the Imperial Army was stationed.

Ashron burst into laughter.

「Those are extremely pleasing words to hear. What can you truly achieve against me? You, the most powerless of your pathetic brothers.」

The heavens and earth trembled at that laughter.

Darkness imbued in the sound rushed forward with a clear form and devoured Yeriserica’s light.

As if shaking off that darkness, Yeriserica flapped her wings greatly.

「The only reason I have preserved my strength until today is for this moment, the very moment I saw when I first looked into the future, the very moment my path ends!」

「What nonsense are you spouting?」

「*Has ku bu aldem!* [Likely a dragon language phrase meaning “Arise, my children!”] Arise, my children!」

To that pure cyan roar, the pure white legion responded.

Inside the cracked and collapsed barrier, the echoes responding to the mother’s roar from the foundation gradually grew louder.

There was the sound of pure white wings shaking the barrier. And the next moment, countless white dragons flew out of the barrier.

「What……?」

Younger brother Alcuta’s eyes trembled.

‘How is this number possible?’

‘I heard that the White Dragon Legion has the smallest number among the Dragon Legions…’

「Could it be that the majority of the legion was used as the foundation for the barrier when it was created?」

‘Is that so?’

Thinking that way, the truth of the barrier construction, which is not recorded anywhere in human history, and its unrealistic construction speed are understood at once.

The number of that legion was so large that it covered the night sky visible in both fields of vision in pure white, and they were still coming out.

Not just wyverns.

The pure white true dragons whose whereabouts were unclear as well…

Above the face of the monster with twelve hundred spider eyeballs, the composure disappeared for the first time from the lips of Ashron’s human form, which had a brilliant light-yellow color.

‘How can I deal with this detestable thing…….’

‘Is it not possible to hold a feast willingly until all these hybrids who do not obey the authority of the abyss are completely eliminated…….’

‘This may also be the work that Yotos Yole Yotiatos, the master of the abyss, has entrusted to me…….’

「I, Yeriserica, will complete the path entrusted to me today. My Abba Father, Karenden. Lead me in this final journey!」

Thus, the final war of the White Dragon Legion began.

The dragons spewed water to push the spiders out of the barrier or suffocated them through water pressure.

When the younger brother Alcuta pulled the fog-like spiderwebs to the ground, the old spiders cut off their breath and devoured their hearts and intestines.

At that time, fire arrows flew from the east side of the barrier.

The fire arrows burned the bodies of the spiders that were eating the dragon’s heart. The 20,000 troops of the Dark Elves had joined the war.

Sage Cheongeun led them.

Dazzling flowers twisted the spiders’ bodies, wrung them out like dry rags, and then threw them over the barrier.

It was the miracle of Maxensia, the Pale Moon, one of the .

– What is this child’s name?

– Yeriserica. Don’t give her affection. She’s a war weapon.

– This is a weapon, you say.

Long ago, in the age of the gods.

The scene of Maxensia hugging her tightly flashed before Yeriserica’s eyes.

Maxensia, who was always pale and emaciated due to poor health, was quiet but in fact more considerate than anyone else.

Maxensia whispered quietly in Yeriserica’s ear.

– Karenden is not honest, so understand. In fact, he loves you more than anyone else.

A bloody battle was also beginning below the barrier.

With the sound of battle trumpets, the heavy cavalry led by the knights rushed in and struck the flanks of the swarming spiders.

Either the cavalry trampled the spiders and passed by, or the spiders killed the horses and swallowed the cavalry.

– You are war weapons. I created you for war. Monsters made in the image of the master of the abyss.

The catapults and archers of the army airlifted from all over the empire poured projectiles like rain, but even so, the spiders’ forces were endless.

Not only that.

When the super-large spider, Hushingyeong Jayun, appeared through the cavalry, many soldiers were terrified and tried to run away, but they quickly regained their senses.

It’s thanks to Yeriserica’s light.

– A dark blue dragon with seven heads…… its name is said to be Yotos Yole Yotiatos.

The masters representing each sword sect of *Ilseongchilgeom* [一星七劍, likely meaning “One Star Seven Swords,” a famous sword sect] rushed towards Jayun.

However, they were caught in the spiderwebs spewed out by Jayun’s disgusting maw and soon melted away, leaving only bones.

The old nobles with power greater than *Baekdoryeong* [白道令, likely a high noble title] were blocked by Changseong and Gungseong and four Payquoriers.

– Abba Father, I would like to ask why you are trying to leave us behind.

Milloone Alter Gaumris, the head Payquorier, took the lead with Changseong Bat.

The three new Payquoriers scattered in an orderly manner and aimed for effective hits whenever a gap appeared.

Rem’s Serwebon fired the World Tree’s arrow to block Jayun’s offensive at every important moment.

And the lightning of the Yellow Dragon Legion, flying across the sky, fell mercilessly and wiped out the spiders.

– You always said that you created us as war weapons, so why are you trying to leave us behind in the final battle with Yotos?

At that time, Yeriserica, who was flying in the sky, commanding the White Dragons, and checking Ashron, was caught in Ashron’s hand.

– That was a lie.

Beyond the years of origin.

She was caught in a hand composed of the bodies of dead people in that distant ancient era.

– Huh?

The obsession, vengeful spirits, thoughts, and abyss lingering in that grip…….

Immediately, her body began to rot black and a rotten stench began to emanate.

If she were human, she would have immediately oxidized into a mass of mucus.

– The first and last lie I told you.

No matter how much she struggled or flapped her wings.

There is no way to escape from the touch of the old king, who caresses and shakes all the light of heaven and earth and turns it into darkness.

The touch that rots all the creatures of this land and makes pus bloom dwells even in the soul beyond the flesh.

– I want you to be happy. Because you are my best masterpieces, no matter what anyone says.

Ashron brought Yeriserica, who was caught in his grip, close to his face.

「Do you feel fear in your heart now? Who will come to save you? Karenden, who turned his tail and disappeared?」

The skin and bones are rotting and melting.

The decayed bones begin to break far too easily.

「It’s all over now. Take one last look at this world. Now all traces of you will disappear and be repainted in my colors……!」

At that moment, the dimension split as if the first dawn was rising.

The radiance pouring out dazzlingly from that rift was pitch black.

For a moment, it could only be thought of as black. Because the rays of light were wrapped in pitch-black mist.

「This mist is…… Karenden?」

And there was a being who jumped out of that rift, and both Yeriserica and Ashron looked up in bewilderment at that all-too-familiar presence.

“Come forth, Asura.”

Light is concentrated and forms a noble shape.

A fierce dragon with three heads and three pairs of arms scattered the light that oxidizes the old things just by touching it in the three thousand great thousand worlds [a Buddhist concept referring to a vast cosmological system].

A sacred flash, for a moment, not even a shadow remained on the ground.

The kings of the abyss called the dragons unholy beings because they dared to imitate their master.

Asura’s arms grabbed Ashron’s hand. He tore off the hand holding Yeriserica from the main body.

「Your Majesty!」

Asura carefully placed Yeriserica on the barrier, where she could receive the protection of the White Dragons.

In Yeriserica’s vision, gasping painfully, the face of her beloved father momentarily overlapped with the back of Asura’s master.

Beyond that face was Rain Ludwig. He gave a bitter smile.

“You have suffered a lot for a long time. Now, rest in peace.”

And then he looked up at Ashron again and said.

“Let’s move the location, Ashron.”

Ashron was just looking down at Asura and that impudent sorcerer for a moment.

‘How did this guy get out of the outer universe…….’

‘Even the could not come out without the help of a companion.’

「Are you ordering me now? How can a king listen to the words of a bug?」

Then Rain snapped his fingers.

‘What…….’

In that instant, the perception of the world was reversed. The tactile sense of the world, the colors, everything that touched the skin and feelers changed heterogeneously.

「……What is it?」

Light was dominating the space.

In that light that shone on the heavens and earth without a single shadow, the dead who made up Ashron’s body began to ascend, shedding tears.

Ashron felt the pain of his skin and soul burning.

「You should have come out of that secret room back then and had a match with me. Then you could have won with a much higher probability. Rather, you just gave me advice.」

「……?」

「This is the world I created. It’s my dimension. And it’s your new tomb. I hope you like it.」

The old kings who received divinity from the absolute being are not affected by dimensional magic.

‘Then how did this happen?’

‘The only thing I can think of is that it’s been a long time since I became king and felt chills.’

「You, no way.」

He didn’t drag Ashron, who belonged to the dimension, into another dimension, but switched the positions of the two dimensions?

A mere human?

‘How on earth could a human who only had half a divinity manipulate providence in the realm of the absolute god?’

To shake off that ominous feeling, he spewed out poison that melted the dimension itself, but it was helplessly burned away by the radiance that illuminated the world.

「Why are you doing this when you know?」

Ashron’s power is.

The power of the old abyss has weakened, while.

「In this world, I am the king.」

As if protecting Rain.

The shape of Asura, surging and undulating from behind him, was even larger, more dazzling, and more majestic than in the original world.

The light of creation that cannot be approached even with the power of the old king.

「I am God.」