Ch.112World Tree (2)

Leaving the group of heroes in the cabin, the World Tree led Durin out. The world was still dark. There was a darkness that couldn’t be filled by fireflies alone.

“Is there a reason for covering the sky?”

Durin spoke first. The World Tree, who had been walking with soft steps, stopped.

“Because there’s nothing good for them to see.”

“You mean the sacred relics.”

“That’s part of it, but to be precise, I didn’t want the God of Light to see everything I possess.”

She turned around. Though she appeared as an elven priestess, from the moment her true identity was exposed, life force had been strongly gathering around her. A green halo of light rested upon the great tree.

“This place holds precious memories.”

“Something so precious that you desperately shield it even from the God of Light. I cannot fathom it.”

“You, born in later generations, wouldn’t understand why I’m doing this.”

“It was you who demanded memories from me, who lives in a later era. World Tree.”

The World Tree’s expression subtly hardened. The corners of her mouth, which had maintained a smile, couldn’t rise as they had before.

“It was a mistake. I had wanted to stay as a priestess for much longer.”

“Where did the real one go?”

“I’ve evacuated all the rest. When the sacred relic you desire reappears in the world, every living being on this land will inevitably be affected.”

The great forest was an area where life force showed singularity-level strength. If death, its natural opposite, were to mix in, it would create variables as she said. Without needing to make an exact judgment, Durin accepted the fact that it would clearly be negative.

“So it’s become a space for just the two of us.”

“Fortunately so.”

The World Tree smiled broadly, but when Durin looked at her, she startled and covered her mouth.

“I think I got too caught up in the past. I’m sorry.”

“I came looking for that past, so don’t worry. I won’t make an issue of it as long as you properly provide what I want.”

“You’re the same now as you were then. You wouldn’t know, but there was a fateful meeting a very long time ago.”

She closed her eyes. With her hands behind her back, she stepped forward lightly. The life force shone even brighter. It swirled around the World Tree’s space like a vortex.

“If you face that moment, you too will be able to understand me.”

“I’ll take it as a rite of passage to receive the sacred relic.”

“It doesn’t matter. I just hope you’ll remember.”

The magical power gradually constricted around Durin. It was a mighty force that even his red fighting spirit couldn’t resist.

At the same time, the world grew darker. The fireflies began to disappear. Darkness enveloped everything. As the cabin where the heroes were staying vanished, Durin had his final conversation with the World Tree in front of a certain tree.

“When we meet again, I hope we can have a warmer conversation.”

“You dream big.”

“Because I’m always asleep.”

After that cryptic answer, the world darkened further. When it became so dim that it obscured the World Tree’s eyes.

“Always, forever, painting fantasies of those times that can never return.”

The darkened world pulled him into its depths.

#

It didn’t take long for his body, which had been sinking beneath the surface, to rise again.

Soon after, light tapped at his eyes. Sensing it was time, Durin opened his eyes to find a completely different world welcoming him.

“Fall back! Fight while retreating! We need to buy time!”

It was red. Burning like a sunset sky. But it was all flames. Fire that surged enough to devour the entire world filled his vision. Along with the acrid smoke came the ceaseless sound of clashing metal. With each sharp explosion, screams erupted.

It felt familiar. Durin gripped the sword in his hand without hesitation. A single blade that seemed to have always been there. Though crude, it fit well in his hand.

“They’re coming! The enemy is coming!”

Raising his head at the shout, he saw knights advancing from the front. Holy knights in pure white armor. Though their style differed from what he knew, he instinctively understood.

This was a scene from a war between demons and heaven. The trial guided by the World Tree must be some point in the past.

Should he lead the battlefield to victory? Having quickly made his assessment, Durin gripped his sword firmly. Fortunately, the enemy was already charging. The battle had moved beyond the initial phase of fighting in formation to a chaotic melee.

“Raaaaargh!”

A horn trumpet sounded. Brave soldiers who had sent away all the escapees sharpened their blades against the angels. Though death loomed, that place was also ecstasy. Durin was engulfed in an emotion he hadn’t felt in a long time. As the enemy’s face approached moment by moment, he thrust his sword without hesitation when they came within range.

THUD!!

With a dull sound, blood burst forth from all directions. When one fell, the next charged in. Before a heavy greatsword could fall, Durin grabbed the wrist and lunged. As the opponent fell, unable to withstand the weight, he pounded the helmet with the sword hilt. After crushing the head completely, he immediately sought out a screaming enemy.

“UWAAAAAH!!”

“AAAAGH!”

He didn’t even have time to tell them to die. Everyone grappled for each other’s throats. In the midst of it all, Durin swung his sword frantically.

Slashing, crushing, felling. There was no honor in war. He trampled fallen corpses underfoot until they burst. With blood soaking his entire body, making it difficult to even open his eyes, Durin shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Kill the angels!”

The instinct that had been temporarily suppressed by duty exploded. He tore through the space created by the World Tree with abandon. As the soldiers around him dwindled, more and more angels swarmed in. Durin welcomed them gladly. When his sword tip dulled and was about to break, he headbutted them.

He pummeled with his fists any angel who screamed after being impaled on his horns. He killed enemies in a trance. True to his nickname “Skull Crusher,” no angel who faced him had their head intact. Even when stabbed in the stomach with a sword or pinned down with a spear, his erupting momentum eventually turned the unfavorable tide of battle.

“Retreat! Retreat!”

“Any more would be too costly! We’ve achieved victory, don’t overextend!”

TWEEEEET-

The angels withdrew at the sound of the whistle. The soldiers who had tried to claim one more kill couldn’t overcome a single demon.

On the hill strewn with dismembered corpses, Durin stood alone, breathing heavily. Both sky and earth were red. He raised his head and felt the boiling ecstasy.

“This is as far as it goes.”

He hadn’t lost his reason. He was still aware that this was a trial set by the World Tree. With duty taking precedence, he could calmly collect himself. Throwing away the gap-toothed sword, he examined his wounded body.

Despite the fierce battle, he was more intact than expected. Though he had entered the body of some soldier from a past scene and expected it to be weaker than his own robust form, it actually felt even sturdier. It was perfect, to the point of inner satisfaction.

“With abilities like these…”

“Dantalos.”

Someone called him by a different name. Turning around, he saw a demon as battered as himself.

“Excellent. Thanks to you, we were able to reorganize the legion that was about to fall into chaos.”

“Is it time for a counterattack then?”

“Unfortunately, the order to withdraw has been given. They say our capacity to continue the war has diminished.”

His mouth moved of its own accord. It felt like experiencing a scene from the past. As the conversation flowed smoothly, the sun began to sink below the horizon. Twilight approached.

“Instead, when night falls, another operation will begin. You’ll be assigned a grave mission, so be ready.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Temper your emotions for the sake of duty, Dantalos.”

This time it was his body. A demon with red horns, who appeared to be a commander from an earlier era, led him.

“The Demon King awaits.”

Durin went with the flow, trying to gauge the era. The surrounding landscape differed from the demon realm. The sky was clear, and most notably, there was a brilliantly shining sun. If this was the human realm, judging by the historical context, it was likely right after being cast out from heaven, during the period when warriors fought fierce battles to allow demons to safely retreat to the demon realm.

“Your exploits are sufficient; you will be put to great use.”

It was a major figure that Durin, who had lived for hundreds of years, was seeing for the first time.

The catalyst of the Thousand-Year Struggle and the one who properly settled demons in the demon realm.

It was the moment he would face the First Demon King.

…

When darkness fell, Durin was able to return to the camp.

The red-horned demon positioned him in front of a splendid tent. The demonic energy that pricked his skin stimulated him. It was almost embarrassing to compare it to the other king he had served his entire life.

According to the scriptures, this was the greatest military power in demon history, so his expectations swelled.

“Your Majesty, I have brought Battalion Assault Captain Dantalos.”

“Let him enter.”

A deep voice answered. The tent door, leaking demonic energy, opened, and finally Durin came face to face with the First Demon King.

“So it’s you. The warrior who killed a hundred angels in the last battlefield.”

Long black hair flowed beneath red horns that shone like the symbol of the Demon King. Red eyes engraved on a pale face burned as if to devour the opponent. The figure of the warrior recorded as the strongest in the demon realm moved exactly as described.

“I’ve seen countless demons swept up frenziedly in battle, but this is the first time I’ve seen one maintain such rationality.”

“Indeed. Dantalos will grow into an excellent talent who will lead legions in the future.”

“I have high expectations for you.”

The First Demon King stood before Durin, who had naturally knelt. Red demonic energy caressed the warrior.

“Use all your strength to protect the demons. To protect our poor kindred who were cast out from heaven.”

“Please give me your command, my lord. I will serve with body and soul.”

“I will send you to the warrior who cut off our mother’s body. In the war where you must fight fierce battles against angels, you will fulfill your duty. Do you understand?”

Durin, no, Dantalos, bowed his head deeply at the Demon King’s command.

“I will do as you command.”

…

As one scene ended, Durin’s world blurred.

Another stage from the past recorded by the World Tree was rapidly constructed. His consciousness sank to the bottom of the water again and rose to find a different world unfolding.

“Dantalos. To achieve victory in all six battlefields is remarkable.”

An unknown demon praised him. There was a warrior’s characteristic roughness in the hand that patted his shoulder.

“At this rate, His Majesty should have evacuated all citizens who couldn’t escape to the wasteland. As a commander, I can’t hide my joy at your great contribution.”

“I merely did my duty.”

“Haha! I’ll recommend to His Majesty later. A warrior like you needs an honorable name. I’ll make sure future generations remember something beyond the name Dantalos, so look forward to it.”

Joy overflowed. It was the highest praise a warrior could receive in a land devastated by war.

They remember those who sacrificed themselves to buy time. Although they might not see it themselves, warriors who fought for duty would gain honor they could feel throughout their lives.

“General, the war isn’t over yet. Although all citizens have safely evacuated to the wasteland, heaven will still try to kill everyone. Shouldn’t we thoroughly draw their attention here to prevent them from opening the gate?”

“That’s why we’ve secured three of the divine fragments. Mother has provided us with the sealing stone containing the Creator God’s power, so we just need to hide it somewhere in the world. We must lead heaven to waste time searching for the divine fragments.”

“Have you already selected locations, by chance?”

“Of course. The reason I called you separately is for this final mission.”

The red-horned commander gave orders to Dantalos. It was the final goal that the warrior, who had fought desperately in the human realm, had to achieve. The warrior gladly accepted his fate.

“Command me. I will fight to the end.”

“Go to the locations designated on different continents. His Majesty and I have selected places that heaven won’t find, so you only need to complete the transport mission.”

“Where should I go?”

“East. I will leave Mother’s will with you, so fulfill your duty to the end.”

The commander placed his hand on Dantalos’s shoulder. The warrior bowed his head with a firm expression.

“I will resist until the very end.”

…

And so Dantalos marched east. Since moving a large force might alert heaven and provoke an attack, he took only a small contingent. The main force decided to move toward the southern continent to resist. The path from the center to the south was blocked by mountains, making it incredibly treacherous.

It was the optimal position to draw attention while resisting. However, everyone knew the end wouldn’t be good.

“Heaven has engaged in full-scale war again.”

“The first clash already resulted in thousands of casualties.”

“They say an archangel has descended personally to lead the charge.”

Bad news arrived moment by moment. Terrible defeats came with it.

“General, they say we’ve lost one of Mother’s fragments.”

“Was it discovered?”

“The commander’s main force heading south was attacked earlier than expected, and information was leaked. The detachment heading north has been annihilated.”

“What of the detachment heading west?”

“Since it’s not a good time for individual action, they seem to have joined the southern main force to quickly hide it for now.”

“Are there no orders for us?”

“Well…”

The soldier trailed off. The situation had developed so rapidly that there was no time to receive orders. Understanding the situation, Dantalos grabbed the reins.

“We continue. Encourage the soldiers to move toward our objective.”

“I will follow your orders!”

After watching the departing soldier for a moment, Dantalos took out a parchment from his breast pocket.

“The last trace left by the Creator God.”

A sacred inviolable zone inscribed in the early human realm, before it became the great forest.

The World Tree’s Forest.

The trial illuminated the place that became the starting point of all events.