Ch.121The Purpose of the Eclipse

# 1.

The Black Wolf’s Hideout.

Right after Raktea’s warning, a system window appeared before Nahan’s eyes as he searched for a solution as if entranced.

【”…Please help me.”】

Unlike with Hallorand, it was a strange system window where even the sender was unknown.

【”Please save my children.”】

From the brilliant golden light, different from anything before, Nahan soon deduced the identity of the other party.

“…Goddess?”

Yuria’s holy power and Asha’s sacred sword.

【”…I beg you. When you see that child, say [Salvation]. That one word is all it takes.”】

The conclusion he reached based on the power he had encountered then was undoubtedly correct.

So Nahan’s next action was to call up his own system window.

【Ultimate Skill – Released.】

◆Effect

: Viewing unavailable.

*Usable when meeting the Goddess after the world’s [Balance] has collapsed.

The ultimate skill that had been released but unusable was now unlocked after meeting the conditions.

【Ultimate Skill – Usurpation.】

◆Effect.

: You can use all skills of [Targets] connected by the [Black Wolf] contract.

*However, skill consumption values and penalties are calculated at more than double.

A power that allows him to use all the abilities possessed by his members as if they were his own, but with consumption values and penalties set at more than double.

【”The primordial hero Ran and Casler. Please lead those children to a happy ending.”】

Although even the current Nahan couldn’t easily use the skills of members whose ranks had been elevated after salvation, he accepted without hesitation.

And so he immediately activated the ultimate skill.

The skill Nahan chose was Raktea’s Command, and the sentence he composed was as follows:

“【Move. Casler.】”

The command, uttered with heart-wrenching pain, tore through the world’s binding force.

【Warning.】

【Remaining Aura is below 40%.】

【*Consumption due to [Command] cannot be recovered through artifacts, potions, or other items, and recovery requires one day per 10%.】

【Until recovery: 6 days 11 hours 36 minutes.】

Thus he arrived at Eclipse’s underground prison.

Nahan strode purposefully toward Flora, who was sitting beside Casler.

‘If I kill Flora… No. I need to intervene directly like before and steer this toward a happy ending.’

Although he had to break through with only 40% of his power remaining, Nahan once again activated a command toward the two people.

“【…Intrusion.】”

*Cough!*

Once again the world twisted, and with 10% consumption, he intruded into Flora’s ultimate skill.

The place he arrived at was a pitch-black space.

In the center of that place, where scenes similar to system windows were rapidly passing by, Eclipse’s fourth elder Flora muttered with a vacant expression.

“Why is Eclipse’s emblem… over there…?”

Nahan’s gaze also turned to the screen Flora was watching.

What appeared there was the primordial hero and Casler, seemingly in a recreated memory.

Casler, who had been looking at her with concern, soon attempted to release the third restriction.

【Blood Clan Lord – <Casler(Ex-)> requests the relaxation of the <Cold Heart> restriction for caster – <Ran>.】

【Currently, caster – <Ran(Ex+)> does not exist in this world.】

【Changing approver.】

【<Ran(Ex+)> → <Casler(Ex-)>】

The approval authority was delegated to Casler since the original approver was dead and no longer existed.

At the same time, a golden system window visible only to Nahan appeared.

【Detecting the wish of <Ran(Ex+)>.】

【Do you wish to grant [Salvation]?】

Only then did the conversation with the Goddess come to mind.

-【…I beg you. When you see that child, say [Salvation]. That one word is all it takes.】

Recalling the memory, Nahan immediately used a command toward the primordial hero.

“【Salvation.】”

For some reason, the command activated without any consumption value and settled on the soul that resembled a small light.

【The wish of <Ran(Ex+)> is granted.】

【Happy Ending – <Wedding> will proceed.】

-[…Thank you for the ring. It’s so beautiful.]

The primordial hero, revived for a fleeting moment rather than a recreated memory.

-[Now I just need to wear the dress and it’ll be perfect. Right?]

-……

-[But it’ll be hard to move around in a dress… so……]

The scene began to flow in a different direction from Casler’s memories that Nahan knew.

-[Shall we go for a short walk together?]

-……?

-[Hmm? Let’s go for a walk, Casler.]

Time flowing naturally.

-[Casler…? Do I look strange? Why aren’t you answering…! I knew a rough woman like me shouldn’t…!]

-Beautiful… You’re so beautiful.

-[……Really?]

While the two held a modest wedding ceremony in a small garden, Flora’s gaze shifted to another screen in the corner.

What appeared on that screen was a beggar in shabby clothes and a Dragon Elder.

The beggar, wearing a robe engraved with the <Eclipse> symbol, made a proposal to the Dragon Elder.

-The Goddess is losing her power due to the bet with the Abyss. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for our ancient race to usurp divinity?

The Dragon Elder’s expression immediately contorted.

He exuded a murderous aura as he spat toward the beggar wearing the Eclipse robe.

-Tsk, you creatures of the Abyss are still as vile as ever. Was it not enough to create demons and cause chaos?

-Hahaha… This is unfair. We are actually because of the world’s balance—

-Silence. I spared you out of pity because we’re both ancient races… Perhaps my mind will change after this wedding is over.

The conversation ended with the warning mixed with killing intent.

As the Dragon Elder was leaving to attend the ceremony that was about to begin, the beggar, muttering something, pulled out a dagger from his bosom.

-If you refuse, just lend me your body.

*Stab!*

The dagger plunged in before he could block it.

The act of stabbing was erased, leaving only the result of being stabbed.

-You, this…!!

*Crack,

Crack!*

His sanity immediately crumbled.

The beggar waved his hand with a wicked smile toward the Dragon Elder.

-The final bet between the Abyss and the Goddess. Dragon Lord… you will be reborn as the calamity that will upset the balance of that bet.

-Bull, shit…!!!

-We shall see. Which side is talking nonsense. I will eclipse the sun. After taking away the light from this cursed world, I will advance toward destruction with the false salvation and you at the forefront.

-I will, never…!!

-The name… yes, I’ll call it Eclipse. Please rampage for our Eclipse.

What followed was the same as before.

-Urgh, everyone, run…!!

*BOOM!!*

The Dragon Lord going berserk,

The Blood Clan members dying,

The surroundings disappearing.

The calamity in the memory was recreated exactly as it happened and headed toward Casler and Ran who had barely escaped.

-【Please save my children.】

At the goddess’s voice that seemed to be heard again, Nahan finally came to his senses and looked around.

What he saw was Flora in the center of the screens.

Having learned the origin of Eclipse, she muttered as if entranced.

“Why is Eclipse…? Everything was a lie…? What have I been fighting for…?”

The witches who were massacred.

Revenge for them.

She thought she was fighting to prevent such things from happening again.

-Eclipse’s goal is the destruction of the world… I’ll be off to find useful pawns.

“From now on, move as I instruct.”

“…!”

Only then did Flora notice that the Black Wolf had intervened in her <Germination>.

“Are you the Black Wolf…?”

“……”

At Nahan’s silent affirmation, Flora asked another question.

“Are we… is Eclipse truly an organization that exists only for the world’s destruction?”

“Is that important right now?”

“…Yes, it is.”

“More important than your life?”

Nahan’s hand rested menacingly on her slender neck.

It was clear she would die if he twisted it now, but Flora slowly nodded.

So Nahan asked.

“I thought you were acting as an Eclipse elder because you knew everything?”

“I thought so too.”

What the 4th Elder Flora had been promised by the 1st Elder was the destruction of the world.

Not destruction in the true sense, but the destruction of a corrupt world and the rebuilding of an equal one.

However, the founder of Eclipse that she encountered in Casler’s memory spoke of true destruction, not “destruction” in that sense.

“If… if I have been committing sins, I want to stop now.”

Seeing Flora trembling as she finished speaking, Nahan let out a faint sigh.

The appearance of a sinner who committed sins without knowing they were sins.

Thinking that saving such people might also be a condition for a happy ending, Nahan shared the facts he knew.

The past of the Black Wolf members.

The past of the Emperor and the Hero.

The bad endings that almost occurred and those still in progress.

“In the end, Eclipse’s goal is the destruction of the world. The person you saw in the memory must have been reincarnated as the 1st Elder. I am moving to stop him.”

After revealing everything except the fact that he was a possession-type savior, Flora bowed her head.

“…So it was true.”

The ugly truth she had to face.

-Eclipse’s goal is the destruction of the world… I’ll be off to find useful pawns.

To think that she was one of those pawns.

‘Then… what about the sins I’ve committed until now…?’

The people she killed?

The Emperor she resented and tried to kill?

Are the other elders also being deceived?

As numerous thoughts crossed her mind, Nahan grabbed her shoulder and said,

“Start with what you can do now.”

Flora finally snapped back to reality.

Realizing that her past sins wouldn’t disappear just because she had awakened to the truth, she nodded, determined not to commit any more sins.

“What should I do?”

“First……”

The Black Wolf whispered his plan.

A moment later.

Flora, with wide eyes, shouted,

“Send you to the Dragon Lord?! Even if it’s an illusion, it will be dangerous!”

Her words were true.

If he were at full strength it might be different, but the current Black Wolf was restricted due to his Command.

He was in a situation where he needed to focus solely on recovery for at least a week.

But there was no choice.

“【Come, savior from another world.】”

Because the Dragon Lord beyond the screen was looking directly at him.

# 2.

【<Germination> is suspended.】

【<Black Wolf(Ex+)> intervenes due to the call of <Dragon Elder(???)>.】