Ch.139139. Reign

“How much time has passed?”

Something had changed. Kaordix let out a soft exclamation as he stared at Rex. He saw the numerous karmic burdens lurking within Rex. The specters, each with their own unique identity, had become one and lay dormant within the pattern. Yet Rex maintained his sanity, his mind completely intact.

That meant…

“…You’ve succeeded, my vassal.”

“Two weeks have passed.”

Elnebra felt something similar to Kaordix. However, it was far from fondness or affection. It was merely joy that the plan had succeeded without a hitch. Of course, they hadn’t injected the specters’ experiences into Rex without any confidence. The probability of success was—one in ten. Perhaps even lower. They had also considered the possibility that Rex might become frustrated and give up midway.

Rex did not give up.

“It ended at an appropriate time.”

“There’s still one day left. If you wish, you could fully recover your strength and complete your preparations before departing.”

“That’s alright.”

Rex shook his head. There was no fatigue or anxiety in his eyes. In fact, Rex’s mind was calmer than ever before. There was no point in delaying further; nothing would change from this state. In one day, the ritual of Elturas would be complete. Shouldn’t he head to Albheim as quickly as possible?

Before returning from the mental realm to reality, Rex suddenly turned around. His gaze passed by Kaordix and Elnebra, landing on Pandemius.

“May I ask you something?”

Pandemius looked at Rex with curious eyes.

“I’m just curious. Why do you show me such favor?”

Kaordix did so because Rex was his vassal, and Elnebra because they shared a common enemy. But Pandemius had no reason to help Rex. Perhaps finding the question unexpected, Pandemius blinked twice before smirking and replying.

“Because it’s entertaining.”

War inevitably brings chaos. It disrupts the world. Five hundred years ago, Pandemius had enjoyed watching the Great War and had favored Kaiserion, who had provided him with amusement. Hundreds of years had passed since his death. In the midst of suffering from terrible boredom, finally, a boy was born who inherited Kaiserion’s fate.

“Watching the world you create is the greatest blessing for me. So spread your desires freely. Make the world more chaotic. I will gladly observe your struggles.”

“As I thought, you are not good.”

“Indeed. I am disorderly chaos. I am neither good nor evil; I simply exist.”

Pandemius wore a clear smile. Rex silently turned his back on that smile.

And so, leaving the three gods behind, Rex returned to reality.

***

“You’re awake.”

A sweet voice greeted him in the dark cavern filled with deep darkness. Pia approached Rex as he slowly rose to his feet. While Rex had been in the mental realm, everyone else had returned to the Chaos Order’s building. Only Pia, the holy maiden who managed the sacred site, had waited for Rex.

“I couldn’t attend the council of gods, but I’ve heard the general situation.”

Rex was undergoing a trial of hardship for the oracle. Even the gods couldn’t interfere, and only Rex’s will could overcome the trial. Humans were told not to interfere and to carry out their respective duties.

“Your return means you’ve overcome the trial…”

Before Pia could finish speaking, Rex nodded. Pia’s expression brightened with joy. She smiled radiantly and reached out to Rex, but he walked past her, continuing on his way.

“Where are you going?”

“Where is Shaharon?”

Despite having her question ignored, Pia’s smile didn’t fade. Rather, her heart fluttered at his cold demeanor. How magnificent! If anyone else had ignored the holy maiden’s question, punishment would have been swift, but the person in question was Rex, who enjoyed Pandemius’s favor. He could treat her so poorly. No, it even made him appear noble and dignified.

“By now, he’s probably waiting upstairs.”

Pia followed Rex with quick steps as she spoke. They opened the tightly closed door of the sacred site and climbed the long stairs to the surface.

“You…”

When they arrived at the room where the group was staying, guided by Pia, Charlotte’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Rex smiled brightly and waved his hand.

“It’s been a while.”

“…What on earth happened to you?”

Charlotte asked with a bewildered expression. The greetings she had prepared in advance completely escaped her mind. She couldn’t understand Rex’s calm expression.

Charlotte’s senses detected the energy emanating from Rex. It made her skin crawl and instinctively put her on guard. This sensation was clearly…

“Have you… ascended to Apostle?”

“Who knows.”

“What do you mean ‘who knows’? That’s…!”

“Later. We don’t have time now. I’ll explain everything when it’s all over, so please wait a little.”

Rex looked at Charlotte with a bitter smile. He had expected this kind of reaction. However, seeing Charlotte so flustered made him want to tease her a bit. He refrained from saying it out loud.

Still.

‘Not far away.’

Before, it had seemed impossibly distant. Not anymore. Charlotte appeared very close now. What does closeness mean? Has my level reached Charlotte’s?

Or…

“…Rex. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

Chloe looked at Rex with anxious eyes. She didn’t know what Rex had gone through during the past two weeks. But she knew how painful and harsh it must have been for him. That’s why Chloe wasn’t reassured by his claim that he was fine. The young man she cared for never showed signs of weakness. Though his soft blonde hair and blue eyes remained the same, Chloe somehow felt that Rex—the atmosphere flowing around him—had changed.

“It seems you’ve achieved some results.”

Shaharon joined the conversation.

“Are you leaving right away?”

“Yes.”

A shadow pool formed beneath Shaharon’s feet. He wouldn’t directly participate in the battle. They would quickly move to Albheim using Shaharon’s black lotus, after which Shaharon would return to the Chaos Order.

“Are you really… sure you’ll be fine without me? I still don’t understand the gods’ plan. Not only is King Elturas said to possess power beyond an Apostle, but Elandir and Alvar remain in Albheim. For you alone to face those three…”

Charlotte bit her lip with a worried tone. A reckless act. Though she trailed off, Rex caught what she wanted to say. It was a reasonable objection. Honestly, Rex himself couldn’t predict how far he could go.

The memories of the heroes… were hard to bear. Each life had a density equal to its weight. It was impossible to remember everything completely. But their abilities, experiences, and techniques were engraved in his body.

“Don’t worry.”

Rex added as he stepped into the black lotus.

“I’ll definitely return.”

“Let’s depart.”

The shadow swallowed Rex and Shaharon.

***

The forest was quiet.

Not even the usual chirping of birds could be heard. Rex walked leisurely as if out for a stroll. His senses were alert. Gazes hidden among the dense trees, watching him. He paid them no mind. The elven warriors had already attacked Rex once two weeks ago and been defeated. Numbers were meaningless. No matter how many more there were, the result wouldn’t change.

Walking toward the World Tree,

He thought about many things. What he desired. Desire. Among the various factors that distinguish between Radiance and Apostle, the most important is the mental image. The mental image is the mind, the desire of the sacred awakener.

Belief, ideal, will—the words used to express it may differ, but it all comes down to “what one desires.” When a sacred awakener manifests that mental image through divine power, they finally realize their destiny.

Thus, they recognize the concept of being an Apostle.

The heroes of the past, whom Elnebra had summoned from death, each carried their own unique mental image. Some wanted to become an unbreakable iron wall, while others desired the power to overturn fate.

‘I…’

He didn’t particularly gain enlightenment through those experiences. That was natural. Desire isn’t an emotion that suddenly appears. It’s something one has had for a long time.

What was I thinking when I reached Radiance? Radiance is the light of one’s mental image extending toward the world. Even if one can’t handle it perfectly, the level of Radiance itself is a realm that can only be reached by awakening one’s mental image.

The desire I seek. The answer had been determined from the beginning.

“…Are you alone?”

Rex’s eyes fell on Alvar. Alvar involuntarily flinched at those blue eyes. Is this truly the same young man he saw two weeks ago? His presence is different. His level… is immeasurable. That fact astonished Alvar. It meant that in just two weeks, Rex’s level had grown incredibly.

However,

Alvar narrowed his eyes and looked around. Besides Rex, he sensed no other presence. The only enemy who had come to Albheim was Rex alone.

“You’re willing to throw away the life you barely saved? I can’t understand it.”

Perhaps he had come alone without Charlotte’s knowledge. After all, Rex was obsessed with saving Ellin. While it wasn’t sensible behavior, the human heart is unpredictable. Especially at that passionate age, one might readily sacrifice oneself for a beloved girl.

“It works out well for me. Your death will compensate for the weight of the incident. Isn’t that right, Elandir?”

“…Why did you come back?”

Elandir didn’t answer Alvar’s question. Instead, he glared at Rex with a twisted expression.

“If you had just fled… you wouldn’t have died. As Ellin wished, you could have survived for a long time. Or is Kaiserion returning?”

“Kaiserion isn’t coming.”

Rex shook his head. Elandir’s brow furrowed.

“Then why…! Kaiserion was indeed powerful, but without his help, you cannot defeat the two of us. This place will become your grave, and Ellin’s last wish will not be fulfilled!”

“What do you know?”

“…What?”

“King Elturas’s words are lies. The ritual isn’t meant to save the elves. Rather, Elturas intends to kill the World Tree and exploit the divinity of the Life God to seize godhood for himself.”

“…Nonsense!”

Elandir ground his teeth and shouted. Rex stared at Elandir with a somber face. He didn’t believe that Elandir would be persuaded by such words. Elturas had brainwashed the elves of Albheim over many years, and Elandir was no exception. Elandir’s blind loyalty was steadfast.

There was no need to put effort into persuasion, nor did Rex particularly like Elandir. Even if Elandir truly believed Elturas’s words, the fact remained that he had intended to use Ellin as a sacrifice.

Honestly, Rex

purely wanted to defeat Elandir.

“You won’t be able to proceed beyond this point.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“Your confidence is admirable.”

Alvar smiled as he raised his spirit needle. The conversation was over. Both sides harbored hostility toward each other. Alvar and Elandir had come to kill Rex, while Rex had returned to reach the World Tree by overcoming them. No need for lengthy words. All that remained was to fight to realize what each desired.

Whoosh! A translucent barrier rose around Alvar. Charlotte couldn’t penetrate that barrier. Elandir, standing beside him, had been defeated by Kaiserion but was not an opponent to be taken lightly. He had protected Albheim for nearly a thousand years. In fact, Rex had been helplessly driven back by Elandir until Kaiserion manifested.

In the end, as Charlotte had said, he would have to fight both of them. Rex thought it was just as well. Elturas was reaching for a level beyond Apostle. If Rex couldn’t defeat these two, it would be impossible to rescue Ellin.

Moreover,

He needed an opportunity to test his newly acquired power.

“…That sword!”

Elandir widened his eyes and opened his mouth. Rex slowly drew a black sword. The sword that Kaiserion had used. It was now in Rex’s hand. There was no particular moment of transition. At some point, it had naturally become Rex’s sword. He didn’t question it.

Rex had inherited Kaiserion’s memories and experiences. Not just Kaiserion’s. The memories of heroes who had ruled the world hundreds of years ago, their souls and wills, had descended upon Rex like starlight.

A path connected by starlight forms. Rex looked up. Hundreds of branching paths stretched out. People of various ages and genders walked their own paths. Some stopped midway, while others fell to their knees from exhaustion.

At the farthest point, a man with ash-gray hair stood still. He raised a finger and pointed ahead.

[This is as far as I go.]

Kaiserion said.

[Now it’s your turn.]

Rex extended his foot. Thud. The sound was light, but Elandir and Alvar’s ears heard that step clearly. Their expressions hardened. An indescribable sense of crisis made their skin tingle. Just as Alvar urgently stomped the ground and was about to swing his spirit needle,

Thud. Once more, Rex stepped forward. The path connected by starlight merged into one. Rex didn’t look back at the specters. Somehow, he was now at the very front, walking a new path. A starlit path that no one had ever trodden before was being created with each of Rex’s steps.

[Walk your own path.]

Kaiserion’s form scattered like dust. The other specters also turned to powder and seeped into Rex’s body.

‘What I desire is.’

The peace of those dear to me.

To possess absolute power so that no one can invade my domain. No. More. That’s not enough. It’s not about seeking peace by forcing others’ consent through power. I, with my own strength, will make everyone kneel before me.

‘I…’

Rex realized the destiny given to him.

And he accepted it.

“I…”

The jet-black luster covering the blade shattered. Crack, the fragments fell away, and through the gaps, a dazzling golden light leaked out. The Sword of Destruction, Surtr—once stained with Kaiserion’s anger—now shone anew according to its new master’s will.

“Reign.”

The Apostle of Dominion commanded.