Ch.134134. Succession

The situation had reversed.

Until this morning, no, until I returned here to guide Ellin to the World Tree and stop Rex, Elandir couldn’t imagine his own defeat.

Rex? He’s just a youngster, merely at the Radiance level. Elandir believed his elven warriors alone would be sufficient to deal with him without his personal intervention. Even if the two human apostles had joined the battle, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.

Elsewhere might be different, but this is Alfheim. Near the World Tree, Elandir’s power increases several times over. That’s why he had allowed dangerous elements like Charlotte and Alvar into Alfheim’s territory.

Even if he couldn’t kill them, he was confident he could hold them off.

Kaiserion.

His return was unexpected. Hundreds of years ago, Elandir had experienced facing Kaiserion in battle. A chilling sensation washed over him. That flame. He recognized the blood-red color, deeper than blood itself, and the dense malice it contained.

He couldn’t even think about issuing a warning. He was too busy trying to save his own life. —Keeeing! Only after the slash that transcended sound was swung did the clear metallic ring follow. The erupting flames swept through the air. The elves’ eyes rolled back. Their bodies collapsed lifelessly before they could even realize they had been cut.

“…Kugh!”

Blood spurted between tightly clenched teeth. Elandir held his breath and twisted his longsword to the side. The blazing flames couldn’t break through his radiance, but the rough impact shook his internal organs.

[I’ve seen your swordsmanship.]

Kaiserion muttered, lowering his black sword.

[The only moment my deeply sleeping self could faintly awaken was when you visited the mental realm.]

Once a day. Since obtaining the Soul Blade, Rex had practiced swordsmanship in his dreams every day. The Kaiserion Style. Learned from Berger and honed through Charlotte. The origin of that swordsmanship was, of course, Kaiserion. Wasn’t it named after him?

[My swordsmanship has been passed down even to modern humans. However, it’s quite different from what I used.]

Strictly speaking, the Kaiserion Style wasn’t the swordsmanship of the Kaiserion who now resided within Rex. The Sword Order is a group that worships the Sword Deity, and the Sword Deity refers to Kaiserion after his ascension, not during his active years.

[I don’t know this “Sword Deity.” I’m not particularly curious either. Because the one who submitted to despair, restrained his attachments, and claimed divinity is not me.]

He had already heard that fact from Kaordix. For a human to ascend to divinity, one process is necessary.

The removal of impurities.

—To become perfect means, in other words, cutting away something within me.

In Kaiserion’s case, his human nature and distracting thoughts were the impurities. A specter. The current Kaiserion is a shell formed from the grudges, obsessions, and attachments he had just before ascending.

[The Kaiserion Style you use was probably created by the Sword Deity after refining and modifying mine.]

The Sword Order doesn’t have divine artifacts like other orders. The swordsmanship itself is essentially a divine artifact. Originally, Kaiserion never passed his swordsmanship to anyone. Then, the Kaiserion Style that has been handed down in the current Sword Order must have emerged after his ascension, meaning the Sword Deity bestowed the swordsmanship as a divine artifact.

The same goes for the sacred technique, Cheongang-gyeol. The name of the sacred technique Kaiserion used wasn’t Cheongang-gyeol.

Suramyeolbeop.

[It’s more restrained, with unnecessary elements removed. Certainly cleaner.]

The Sword Deity reached a realm unknown to Kaiserion. In terms of sword skill alone, the Sword Deity’s level would be higher. However, that wasn’t necessarily all advantageous.

[What was cut away from the Kaiserion Style and Cheongang-gyeol is.]

Primal violence and savagery.

Kwaaang!

Elandir’s body was slammed into the ground. His radiance still emitted a blue-green light, remaining intact. Elandir himself didn’t suffer direct damage. Kaiserion had pressed down on the entire being, including the radiance. The ground beneath was crushed under the heavy pressure. The surrounding trees broke with a cracking sound and screamed from the aftershock.

“Keuheuk!”

Elandir gritted his teeth and resisted the force. He couldn’t. His trembling arms were gradually pushed back. The weight imbued in the striking sword was as heavy as moving a mountain. Kaiserion lifted his sword with an indifferent face. Once more. Kung! The forest shook violently. Watching this, Rex was astonished.

That Elandir, who had overwhelmingly toyed with him, was now helplessly being defeated by Kaiserion. The first emperor who pacified the Great War. The undefeated Kaiserion. He had heard of his reputation, but to this extent…

[It’s too early to be surprised.]

Kaiserion opened his mouth with a smirk.

[I said I would show you the future you might reach someday.]

Kaiserion is not Rex. Perhaps I am Kaiserion’s past life. He had such a misconception before. It was just a misconception. As Kaordix affirmed, it was an absurd coincidence that aligned.

Rex is not Kaiserion, but they share many commonalities. Being a vassal of the war god Kaordix. Receiving his blessing. Inheriting Kaiserion’s vision. And having a relationship with a high elf princess destined to be sacrificed.

[Just as a sacred practitioner refines swordsmanship and sacred techniques, blessings can also become stronger than they initially were.]

This is a fact he already knows. So far, Rex has received three blessings: Steel Heart, Warrior’s Gaze, and Usurper. Among them, Warrior’s Gaze is the blessing that manifests directly. Its original effect is to enhance “vision,” but through long trial and error, he developed it to expand all five senses.

[I’m not talking about such trivial changes. The growth of a blessing literally means ascending to a higher dimension. While the path I show isn’t necessarily the absolute answer… it can serve as a signpost, so watch carefully.]

At this moment, a possibility of the future Rex might someday reach has manifested through Kaiserion’s will.

Warrior’s Gaze — All-Seeing Eye. A light as intense as the sun seeped into his dull red eyes. The vision of the absolute being who had overlooked countless battlefields awakened. The sense connected to Kaiserion made Rex tremble. The omniscient eye that pierces through everything saw through Elandir’s movements.

“Even if you are Kaiserion, I will not be defeated! During the hundreds of years you were gone, I too have trained without rest…”

Elandir’s words, shouted with an indignant face, stopped. Kaiserion’s gaze reminded Elandir of a fear he had forgotten from the past. He forcibly moved his stiffened body. Elandir bit his lip until it bled and stretched out his hand. The longsword he held was already cracked and broken, but he had countless other weapons. The flowers and trees of this forest were Elandir’s weapons.

—Chwareurek! In an instant, hundreds of falling leaves became arrows. They had enough power to grind a person into powder without leaving a trace, but Elandir inwardly guessed that this attack wouldn’t bring down Kaiserion.

As expected, Kaiserion stared at the rushing leaves with an indifferent face.

“Second.”

Just as the storm was about to engulf him, Rex heard a voice in his ear. Kaiserion’s foot slowly rose. Usurper. An irresistible flow spread from the center of the ground where Kaiserion stood. As if time had stopped, the leaves simultaneously halted. Control was… usurped. Elandir vomited blood and infused divine power. It didn’t work. The leaves, having lost control, lost their power and fell to the ground.

What is war?

Whatever the reason, its essence is taking something from others. Life, property, position. The original Usurper inflicted damage on enemies and replenished one’s own energy. The Usurper forcibly makes everything of the opponent one’s own.

Kaiserion firmly grasped the air. Hwook! The radiance protecting Elandir was bitten by something invisible. And it leaks out. The lost divine power was guided to Kaiserion’s mark, replenishing the energy he had consumed.

“No!”

Elandir rushed toward Kaiserion in panic. The energy that was taken could be replenished over time by practicing sacred techniques. It wasn’t a significant blow that would immediately affect the battle. His epithet is Regeneration. Even if his head is cut off or his breath is stopped, he can be revived as long as the World Tree permits.

The diminished radiance expanded as if it had never decreased. While the Usurper itself might not cause significant damage, the opponent is Kaiserion. That fact raised Elandir’s vigilance.

He must not drag out the battle. Now—Elandir’s infinite vitality had become a poison. That absurd ability wouldn’t deplete his life force, but it could ultimately become Kaiserion’s strength. That situation had to be avoided at all costs.

Circulation. The divine power flowing within Elandir accelerated in an instant. Torrent. The accelerated energy burst outward. Elandir’s body, having expelled all his power, moved forward, crushing the air. It was an incomparable speed to what he had shown so far, but not enough to escape the detection of the All-Seeing Eye.

[The original name of the Kaiserion Style is.]

Tacheonmudo. No one but me can stand in heaven. I myself bring down the heavens. Evil. A brilliant light left a long scar on the earth. That technique had no name. There was no need to divide it into forms, as it could freely embody all mental images.

—Tzeuk. Elandir’s consciousness flew to a distant place. A sticky, unpleasant sound disturbed his ears. What was I just doing? As soon as he wondered, he saw the blue sky. The canopy of trees that had covered his view like a ceiling split to the sides. Through that gap, he could see the sky. A streak of light engraved in the sky. The afterimage soon scattered.

After staring blankly at the sky,

with a snap, a sharp pain came as something broke.

“Kuaaak!”

Elandir screamed and tried to lower his gaze. He couldn’t. His body wouldn’t move as he wished. Blood welled up and flowed from his throat. Gasping for rough breaths, he tried to move his arms, then realized.

He was lying down.

Somehow, Elandir had collapsed on the ground, convulsing like a worm. His arms and legs—they were lying side by side a short distance away. Lying… away? At that moment, Kaiserion’s face appeared above Elandir’s head.

“I’m contemplating.”

“Keheuk!”

A rough kick struck Elandir’s upper body. As Elandir floated up, he saw the blood-soaked ground. His neatly severed lower body was rolling alongside. Then suddenly, an empty void was felt from below his waist.

“My, my body…!”

“Don’t pretend to be in pain. For someone who doesn’t die even when his neck is cut, this level of injury is nothing to whine about.”

Elandir writhed in agony. Indeed, Elandir’s regenerative ability is excellent, but that doesn’t mean he’s insensitive to pain.

“Please, don’t kill me…! What, what do you want? You said you wouldn’t invade Alfheim, so why are you attacking me?!”

As Elandir squirmed and gasped, Kaiserion snapped in a savage tone.

“Shut up. Just looking at your face makes me want to vomit. I said I’m contemplating, right? But if you keep making a fuss, my barely squeezed patience might explode.”

Elandir closed his mouth with a terrified expression. Kaiserion looked down at Elandir with dull red eyes and muttered.

[What should I do?]

‘…What do you mean?’

Rex asked with a puzzled voice. Elandir had fallen. His limbs were cut off, and his waist was severed. It was surprising that he could regenerate and not die from such injuries, but judging by his condition, he couldn’t immediately return to normal.

‘Shouldn’t we go to the World Tree?’

Rex couldn’t hide his impatience. About an hour had passed since the battle began. It didn’t seem like Ellin would be in immediate danger during this short time. But that was just a hopeful prediction. They needed to rescue Ellin as quickly as possible.

[No.]

Kaiserion shook his head.

[It’s approaching… the limit.]

‘What?’

Kaiserion didn’t immediately answer that question. Instead, he slowly raised his arm. An arm with veins standing out densely. So what? Such thoughts were never voiced. Rex’s eyes widened. The arm was trembling slightly. Not just the arm. The entire body, including the legs, was shaking roughly.

[Your physical body is still insufficient in many ways to accept my full power. I’ve restrained myself, but any more would be too much. If forced to use it, your body would collapse before rescuing Ellin.]

‘Then… what about Ellin?’

[Don’t worry.]

Kaiserion turned his back with an expressionless face.

[I want to save her as much as you do. I’ve lived as a specter in a deep, dark abyss for hundreds of years for that purpose. Everything was arranged for this moment today, and the method for what comes next is already complete.]

He had noticed that someone had come here during the battle. Since they weren’t enemies, he left them alone.

Kaiserion had been sleeping in Rex’s mental realm, having lost his sense of self. But just as Kaordix had observed Rex, Rex’s memories were implanted in Kaiserion’s mind.

“Are you… Rex?”

Charlotte. Her expression was so bewildered that it was hard to believe it was the usual her. Chloe, standing beside her, was the same. Both stared with wide eyes at Rex, or rather, at Kaiserion who had taken over Rex’s body.

When they felt Elandir’s divine release being disrupted, they rushed here urgently. They had to help Rex as quickly as possible. With that determination, they ran here, overtaking Alvar… but the scene they witnessed was beyond Charlotte’s comprehension.

Elandir was lying on the ground like a worm with his limbs cut off, while Rex was standing calmly without a scratch. No. Is that person really Rex? His soft blonde hair had turned into a dull gray, and his blue eyes had become dull red eyes of unfathomable depth. Instead of the zweihander he always carried, he held a black sword.

Something was different.

A sensitive sense warned of threat. Charlotte instinctively sensed it and pushed Chloe behind her, raising her guard.

“Speak. Where has Rex gone?”

[You can’t recognize your ancestor standing before you.]

Kaiserion walked with a smirk.

[I’ve completed what I needed to do, so now I’ll return it to you.]

‘What?’

No answer came. His vision swayed, and the unpleasant smell of blood and the forest’s scent pricked his nose. Followed by a sense of exhaustion. Rex unknowingly stumbled. At the same time, a pain like muscles being wrung out rushed in.

‘What the hell.’

Rex barely maintained his balance, limping. The world had changed. Suddenly, instead of a snowy field with blizzards, he saw a forest lined with giant trees. Kaiserion had handed back control of the body. He couldn’t focus on that fact. A pain he had never experienced before. A sharp pain like all the bones in his body breaking and skin being torn to shreds struck him.

“…Rex!”

The change was even more vivid to Chloe and Charlotte. His hair and eye color returned to their original hues, transforming back into the Rex they knew. Chloe quickly supported Rex’s body.

“Are you okay? Rex, Rex! Can you hear me?”

His head buzzed at the shouting voice. Rex slowly nodded, and Chloe wiped her teary eyes and sighed in relief. Charlotte was also inwardly relieved at Rex’s survival, but she observed something else.

“…Did you do all this?”

Elves who had lost consciousness. The forest turned into ruins. And Elandir. Elandir hadn’t lost consciousness but couldn’t regenerate his injuries. Looking at Elandir, who was groaning in pain in the distance, Charlotte furrowed her brow.

“It would take a long explanation, but anyway, he won’t be able to move anytime soon.”

“I’d like to… hear that explanation. But it’s impossible right now. We need to get out of here first.”

“What about Ellin—”

“You’re still saying that after seeing your condition? First, you need to be alive to discuss the future. Rescuing Ellin comes after that.”

Rex lowered his head, grimacing. Charlotte’s words were logical. Continuing to insist wouldn’t solve the problem. Besides, this whole affair was started by Rex’s unilateral decision. Charlotte and Chloe had been dragged into harm because of his selfish desires.

“…I’m sorry.”

“I’m glad you understand. Now let’s quickly leave this cursed forest. Since I’ve already joined your plan, I’m not an outsider either. Later… after you’ve recovered sufficiently, we’ll rescue Ellin again.”

Charlotte wrapped her arm around Rex’s waist. With Elandir fallen, no one in Alfheim could pursue them. Just as they were about to leave Alfheim’s territory.

“That won’t do.”

—Kuwung! Alvar fell from the sky. He glanced around and clicked his tongue.

“You’ve made quite a mess. I can’t even clean this up at my level anymore.”

“Alvar.”

“Look, Rex, I’m truly regretful. I thought you were a talent who would brighten the empire’s future. But what is all this? Because of your petty emotions, the relationship between the empire and Alfheim, built over hundreds of years, has reached an irreversible state. Can you take responsibility for this incident?”

Alvar shouted, striking his staff on the ground.

“Even with your life! You could never take responsibility. Nevertheless, as an apostle of the Order of Order, I must offer the maximum apology I can.”

Charlotte’s lips twisted. If she were fighting alone, it might be different, but with Rex and Chloe… Charlotte honestly wasn’t confident she could hold her own against Alvar while protecting those two.

“I can’t let you go. This place will be your grave. Please, at least repent for your sins now.”

Alvar struck his staff on the ground again. An opaque circular barrier rose. He approached Charlotte, dragging his feet. Rex glared at Alvar with a pale face.

‘Lord Kaiserion?’

Kaiserion, who had said he had completed what he needed to do, didn’t say a word. He had mentioned having arrangements. What are they? What could possibly overcome this situation! Rex called out to Kaiserion, swallowing dry saliva, but he remained silent as death.

“Now, accept your death obediently.”

Just as Alvar kicked off the ground and Charlotte drew her longsword with a hardened face.

“What an amusing sight.”

A cold man’s voice interrupted. Hwook! A shadow stretched long under the trees surged upward. Despite the sun clearly being in the sky, the world darkened as if it were night. The darkness that filled the view contracted to a single point.

“…You.”

“You said you would kill me if we met again.”

Rex’s mouth fell open. A chuckling laugh was heard. Drops of shadow fell and pooled, forming a sticky swamp.

A black-haired man rose from the swamp.

“Do you still feel that way?”

Shaharon said with a faint smile. Alvar stared at Shaharon with surprised eyes. Ignoring that gaze, Shaharon stared directly at Rex.

“You look like you need help. If you want, I’d be happy to assist.”

Despite asking, he didn’t wait for an answer. Shaharon snapped his fingers.

Black spears shot up from beneath Alvar’s feet.