Ch.140140. Reign

Alvar couldn’t identify the source of his unease. He didn’t think it was worth worrying about. Though Rex had undergone a dramatic change in just two weeks, it would still be impossible for him to defeat two Apostles.

When the shell clinging to the black sword fell away and bright golden flames began to blaze, the unease vanished—replaced by an undeniable sense of crisis. The quietly muttered word: “Reign.” At last, Alvar realized that Rex had ascended to the same level as himself—an Apostle.

‘…This can’t be.’

Reason denied it. Heightened senses confirmed it. Before he could complete his thought, instinct moved his body. Alvar raised his divine mace and shouted. His momentarily frozen feet kicked off the ground as he charged toward Rex.

‘I must use my full power.’

He had resolved to stop Rex for the sake of the Empire’s peace. He weighed Rex’s life against those of the elves. The scale tipped toward Albheim. Until just two weeks ago, Rex had been merely a promising talent who might someday become an Apostle.

If he were to weigh them again now… No. It was already too late. Alvar cleared his mind of distractions and summoned his divine power.

Daeng—!

A heavy bell sound resonated through the air. Alvar’s Divine Authority Release: Final Proclamation sends an unavoidable, guaranteed hit against any target he designates as an enemy. With each repetition of the bell sound, the enemy is pressed down by invisible pressure, restricting their movements. The stronger Alvar’s will, the faster the cycle repeats.

Rex didn’t know the effects of Final Proclamation, but he felt his body growing heavier. In that extremely brief moment, Alvar’s eyes met Rex’s. The raised divine mace was falling downward. With a sensation of time slowing, Alvar saw the corner of Rex’s mouth curl into a slight smirk.

He couldn’t grasp the meaning of that reaction. Before he could, Rex’s figure vanished from its spot. —Crack! The sound of something breaking. What broke was Alvar’s barrier. A blade that crossed his field of vision buried itself in Alvar.

“Kuh!”

Alvar swallowed a gasp and strained to keep his waist from buckling. Surely, Final Proclamation should have activated… How? His question couldn’t continue. The attack didn’t end with just one strike. As Rex retrieved his swung sword, he extended his fist.

Bwak! The clenched fist struck Alvar’s chest. Once again, the divine mace’s barrier was easily destroyed. Alvar was sent flying and collided with trees. After breaking through several thick trees and being pushed backward, Alvar coughed up blood with a pale face.

“Elandir, help me!”

“I am…”

“Aren’t you supposed to protect the World Tree! How long will you just watch?”

“…Damn it.”

Elandir’s expression crumpled. Confusion clouded his mind. The King Elturas, whom he had trusted and served loyally all his life, was actually trying to kill the World Tree. He sought to exploit its divinity to achieve godhood. Elandir’s faith was not so trivial that he would believe such claims. —It shouldn’t be. And yet, a sliver of doubt had bloomed in his heart.

Was it really true? Ironically, Elandir knew little about his own father. By the time he was born, Elturas was already the king of Albheim. And until now, they had never shared the bond that family should.

But.

What he needed to do now remained unchanged. He had to stop Rex. The moment Elandir made his decision, colorful flowers began to bloom around him.

He hadn’t expected Rex to come alone, but Albheim had prepared for the humans’ return. Elandir and Alvar would join forces to stop the reckless humans. First, Alvar would activate his Final Proclamation, and then Elandir would trap the weakened enemies in his Myriad Flower Paradise.

Rex stood still, watching as the world transformed into a flower garden. Of course, this wasn’t an ability one could avoid by simply dodging. Nevertheless, shouldn’t he prepare? Alvar and Elandir were suspicious of his calm demeanor. Rex had experienced Myriad Flower Paradise before. If Kaiserion hadn’t descended then, he would have died.

Knowing the power of Myriad Flower Paradise, why?

In an instant, the flower garden of Myriad Flower Paradise was completed. Swish! Thousands of petals became arrows aimed at Rex. But Rex showed no reaction whatsoever.

Because there was no need.

‘The flow.’

He could feel it. The currents of wind drifting in the atmosphere were gathering. Around me. Reign. When he recognized and accepted that command, Rex realized what he could do, what he should do. It wasn’t even difficult.

What else would an Apostle of Reign do?

He reigns.

—Kuwoong! An enormous power covered the sky. With a light movement of his foot, the flower petals embroidered in the air fell to the ground. Elandir widened his eyes in astonishment. The world of Myriad Flower Paradise that had been under his influence until just now was slowly losing power. No. It was being taken. Even Kaiserion could only destroy Myriad Flower Paradise with brute force, not seize the domain itself. Yet that unbelievable phenomenon was happening.

“Stop!”

It wasn’t hard to predict what would happen if he completely lost control of the space. The world reconstructed for Elandir would become Rex’s. The battlefield would transform into one thoroughly disadvantageous to them. Elandir gritted his teeth and rushed at Rex. Alvar also gripped his divine mace with a hardened face.

Striking, smashing, hammering down, feinting a frontal attack before changing direction to the side, repeatedly clinging and delivering combination attacks—all offensives were… blocked. They didn’t work. Rex didn’t even make any special defensive movements. They were just naturally deflected. Invisible currents diverted the trajectories of their power.

—Daeng!

The bell sound rang out. Final Proclamation fell silent. The attacks that should have been guaranteed to hit couldn’t reach their target, and the pressure no longer weighed down Rex’s body. Instead, Alvar’s body grew heavier. The stronger one’s belief in the righteousness of their cause, the stronger the effect of Final Proclamation. Alvar’s belief was in the eternal prosperity of the Empire. The will to maintain order. But order is something people interpret differently.

Rex’s will suppressed Alvar’s belief. Devoured it. At this moment, the one who ruled the land they stood on was Rex. Moving, breathing, looking—all these actions required Rex’s permission.

And Rex did not grant it.

One Heaven Earth Authority.

The Divine Authority Release manifested. Rex’s mental image covered the world. The flow spread throughout space condensed into one. Centered on Rex, brilliant golden lines extended outward. The lines that shot up in both directions reached the sky and earth. No strike was delivered. It was merely the appearance of a single line, yet Alvar and Elandir unconsciously fell to their knees. Unable to rise again, they stared blankly at Rex.

It could not be defied.

Rex was now the center of the world, and they, displaced from that center, could only conform to Rex’s will. Flowers bowed their heads. The flowers blooming on the earth killed themselves and collapsed. Slowly, Rex took a step forward. And with eyes as intense as the sun, he looked down at the two.

“I’m contemplating.”

Rex’s mouth opened.

“Whether I should kill you or let you live.”

Even as he spoke, the pressure binding Alvar and Elandir grew increasingly fierce. Thud! Their upper bodies were forcibly pressed down into the ground. They didn’t even groan. Because they hadn’t received Rex’s permission.

“Alvar. I know you act for the Empire.”

Alvar’s attitude had been consistent since they first met. He always acts for the peace of the Empire. For him, the Empire is the highest value.

In the end, they simply had different understandings and crossed paths. Honestly, Rex held no particular ill will toward Alvar. If their positions had been reversed, Rex might have stood against Alvar too.

“If I spare you, will you still consider me an enemy?”

Sparing him was a separate issue. The relationship with Alvar had already deteriorated to the worst point, and even if Rex defeated Elturas and rescued Ellin, it would be impossible to restore that relationship. In the distant future, if Alvar became a threat to Rex…

“No, I can’t do it.”

“Wait—”

Alvar’s words couldn’t continue.

Because his head was shattered. The lower body, with its upper part gone, collapsed lifelessly. Rex watched the sight with indifferent eyes. Guilt… he felt none. I am not good. I am a selfish human. I move toward the future I desire. That’s what he had resolved, and what he had carried out.

“Elandir.”

Elandir’s complexion turned deathly pale. Fear. Even when Kaiserion returned, he had felt fear—but fighting spirit remained. Not now. Elandir’s heart had completely surrendered to Rex. Recognizing this shameful reality, an indescribable self-loathing surged within him. After hundreds of years, I’m defeated by Kaiserion again. And now, by a human not even twenty years old…

Snap!

His thoughts were cut off. Elandir raised his head with a bewildered expression. Rex’s cold eyes pierced through him.

“I won’t kill you. You’re Ellin’s family, and more importantly, you were just deceived by Elturas. Being deceived doesn’t mean you’re without sin, but before you die, you have something to do.”

“…Something to do?”

“I can’t let you die believing lies as truth. See with your own eyes what your father has done. And when everything is over, ask Ellin for forgiveness.”

“What do you—”

Rex didn’t answer that question. Instead, he roughly grabbed Elandir by the neck. A fine crack appeared in the sky of Myriad Flower Paradise. The crack instantly widened, revealing the sky of Albheim.

“W-where are we going?”

“The World Tree.”

Ellin is imprisoned at the top of the World Tree. Translucent stairs appeared before Rex. The stairs led up to the high sky. Rex climbed the stairs while holding onto Elandir.

Little by little.

The sky drew closer. Kugung…! Rex looked at the World Tree. Blatant killing intent poured down on Rex. Rex twisted his lips and muttered.

“If you’re unhappy about me trying to save Ellin.”

Come stop me yourself. At these added words, the World Tree vibrated more violently. Elturas must have gradually realized that Alvar and Elandir’s plan had failed, and that Rex was heading toward the World Tree.

The final battle with Elturas was approaching.

Even if all the Apostles currently existing on the continent came together, they couldn’t defeat Elturas. This was what Elnebra had said, so it must be true. From the immediate pressure alone, Rex couldn’t estimate Elturas’s level.

However.

Rex knew his own condition. He hadn’t shown his full power while fighting the two. He hadn’t swung his sword. Just by activating his Divine Authority Release, the two had lost their will to fight and were defeated.

How far can I go?

Still, the starlight dwelling within me hasn’t disappeared; it sleeps in the pattern.

Reminding himself of this fact, Rex continued up the stairs.