Ch.144144. Reunion

Murky ashes scatter in the air.

Elturas left no corpse behind. His body, except for the head, had already been consumed long ago, and now even his head and tentacles were slowly turning to ash and drifting into the void.

No matter how much he had stolen the divinity of the Life God in pursuit of immortality, resurrection was impossible once the physical body had vanished.

Rex stared blankly at the summit of the World Tree, now reduced to ruins. He could see an invisible flow. The life force that had been concentrated in Elturas was returning to the interior of the World Tree.

Slowly, the World Tree began to regain its vitality. Lush leaves started to bloom on branches that had withered completely.

It didn’t feel real.

Killing Elturas. Saving Elin from her absurd fate. He thought he would be overjoyed. Of course, he was happy, but the emotion wasn’t as dramatic as he had expected.

The battle with Elturas had been fierce. Though he hadn’t fully ascended to godhood, that creature had come closer to divinity than anyone else in this world. If Rex hadn’t stood in his way today, Elturas might truly have become a god. No—he would have become a god. The plan he had secretly advanced over the ages was on the verge of completion. Beginning with Albheim, he would have exploited the life force of all worlds to achieve immortality.

But in the end, that grand ambition was thwarted. Elturas had never contemplated his own death throughout his life, yet in his final moment, he accepted it. Rex’s blade had cut through his immortality.

How?

With Elnebra’s help, he had experienced the memories of countless heroes and inherited their powers. Even so, it wasn’t enough to kill Elturas. Even if Kaiserion had returned to life, he couldn’t have defeated Elturas. To kill Elturas required reaching his level.

True divine authority.

Rex could see the sky. Above the high heavens, two suns and a cluster of stars radiated light. Beyond them, in the distant firmament, he sensed numerous presences. He hadn’t known before. Now he understood how vast and superior these beings were.

They had always been looking down upon the earth. Now, their gaze was focused solely on one person.

The gates of heaven opened.

[Truly fascinating. Since the birth of all life, I have witnessed countless beings, but never has there been a human as special as you. Luck, will, and inevitability have overlapped, allowing you to reach a realm that should have been impossible to attain so quickly.]

Elnebra let out a melodious laugh.

[Even that sword god had to cut away his own ego and desires before ascending to divinity. But you—you need not resort to such desperate measures.]

[A new divine seat born in just five hundred years? Had I known this would happen, I would have made you my vassal when I first saw you.]

A familiar voice. It belonged to Boreas. However, it was different from when they met in Lindveil’s dungeon. An ordinary human would lose consciousness just by facing a god’s true form. Rex was no longer an ordinary human. Boreas fully revealed his divine power, and his voice sounded not like a gentle breeze but a rough storm.

[I expected something more dramatic. Like completely destroying the World Tree, or burning Albheim to the ground. I thought you would show us something magnificent and grand. There’s not enough chaos. Compared to my expectations, the result is quite unsatisfying.]

Pandemius muttered in a displeased tone.

[Well, thinking about it again… this isn’t such a bad ending. At least it provided some entertainment.]

Cackling laughter echoed. All kinds of conceptual voices invaded his mind. Pandemius, Elnebra, Boreas. Not only the gods he had met before, but also those he had only heard of, or didn’t know at all, were all chattering about whatever they wanted to say.

Their conversation mainly concerned the birth of a new god. His head buzzed with the noise. These numerous gods were talking among themselves, completely excluding Rex, the subject of their conversation.

[Enough.]

When a solemn voice resonated, the many gods suddenly fell silent.

Rex gazed blankly at the sky.

[Will you ascend?]

Kaordix asked. Simultaneously, a path leading to the heavens appeared.

[Even if it happened through coincidence and fortune, you are worthy of sitting on a divine throne. I, War, declare it. Rex, though you were once my vassal… if you wish, you may leave that position and rise to stand as my equal.]

Normally, this would be impossible.

But as Elnebra said, many coincidences, fortunes, and inevitabilities had overlapped. The memories of countless heroes from centuries ago. Kaiserion’s spirit. Rex’s will to accept him, and his unparalleled talent. All these elements meshed together to create an impossible achievement.

[The seat offered to you is the Throne of Dominion.]

All the gods in heaven looked upon Rex.

[Will you take it?]

What is a god? Not omnipotent in all things, but within the concepts they govern, they are infinitely close to omnipotence—that is what it means to be a god. The power wielded as a deity is more addictive than any drug in this world. The prayers and desires sent by believers all become nourishment for a god. Gods look down upon the world from the lofty heavens, guaranteed eternal life. Even the emperor of an empire cannot surpass the fulfilling life enjoyed by a god.

But.

As always, the value of life differs from person to person. Gods are no different. They too harbor their own diverse desires.

“Not yet.”

Rex opened his mouth.

“I still have things to do.”

When fighting Elturas, he had felt truly omnipotent, as if he could accomplish anything. By ascending to heaven, he could continue to grasp that sensation. Though this opportunity might never come again, he had no regrets.

It was too early to ascend to heaven. There were still things he wanted to do. Rather than looking down upon the earth from the lofty heavens, he wished to remain on the ground and live alongside those dear to him.

[I shall respect your decision.]

Kaordix smiled. With those words, the gates of heaven closed. The numerous gazes disappeared. Rex turned around and spoke.

“So, are you satisfied now?”

A man was gazing at the World Tree from within a cage.

The cage where Elin had been sleeping for the ritual. Though the summit of the World Tree had been reduced to ruins due to the battle with Elturas, the area around that cage remained undamaged.

Rex had saved Elin, but Elisis, the princess of the previous High Elves, could not awaken. Too much time had passed. Five hundred years is incredibly short for a High Elf, not even half their lifespan. But the ritual had consumed the lifespan of her very soul.

[Yes.]

Strictly speaking, the man before him now was not Kaiserion. He was merely a form made of starlight. He had died long ago, and resurrection was impossible.

The current Kaiserion was a phantom formed from the regret and despair he harbored before death. His intense regret had created a specter, coloring Rex’s mental landscape into a snowy field.

The regret of not being able to save his lover.

The ritual was destroyed. Yet—Kaiserion caressed the cheek of the woman consumed by the World Tree with a sorrowful smile.

Elisis was already dead. Though her form remained, no warmth was transmitted to the hand caressing her cheek. Kaiserion gazed at Elisis with melancholic eyes.

[I’m sorry, Elisis. I was too late.]

Rex silently watched Kaiserion. He stroked Elisis’s cheek over and over. Rex had saved Elin, but Kaiserion had failed to save Elisis. Rex couldn’t dare to fathom his emotions.

Kaiserion knelt down and pulled Elisis’s body into his embrace. Just then, a breeze suddenly blew from somewhere. The gentle wind caressed Kaiserion’s gray hair as it passed. Elisis’s body slowly crumbled, starting from her feet. Kaiserion widened his eyes and looked up.

[…Elisis?]

[I wished for your happiness.]

As Elisis’s physical body disappeared, a translucent wind took the form of a woman. Kaiserion gaped in bewilderment.

[How did you…]

[After you left, I’ve been dreaming a long dream. I wanted to see you smile, even if only in my dreams… but you never smiled once.]

[…How could I? A world without you has no meaning.]

[Stubborn, dense, foolish… yet always looking only at me—I want to tease you. Despite telling you to forget someone like me and live your life… I couldn’t forget you either. So I won’t tease you. Kaiserion. I… I wanted to meet you again.]

Elisis smiled.

[Once again, you came looking for me, just as I wished. It’s always been like that. You always, for my sake…]

Elisis reached out her hand toward Kaiserion, who was blinking in surprise.

[My consciousness had long scattered and vanished beyond the abyss. The fact that I can open my eyes and see you now is all thanks to Death’s favor. I’ve gained a momentary reprieve, but there isn’t much time left.]

Elisis grasped Kaiserion’s hesitant hand. From that tight grip, warmth was transmitted. Kaiserion bit his lip hard and sobbed.

[Are you crying? The mighty Kaiserion, shedding tears?]

[We’ve finally reunited, so… I’m allowed to cry a little, aren’t I?]

Kaiserion retorted in a gruff voice. Elisis chuckled and nodded.

[I should thank Death for giving us this time of reunion, but I’m not sure if my voice will reach the heavens. So please, convey my gratitude on my behalf.]

“Pardon?”

Rex had been keeping quiet to avoid interrupting their reunion, but suddenly Elisis addressed him. He flinched with a surprised expression.

[Though I was confined within the World Tree, I could sense someone trying to break the ritual. May I ask your name?]

“I’m, uh, Rex.”

Rex stared at Elisis with an awkward expression. Silver hair and green eyes. She looked exactly like Elin. It might be natural since she was a High Elf princess, but her aura was different. Would Elin look like this when she grew up? She exuded a benevolent and virtuous presence. Finding her direct gaze uncomfortable, Rex cleared his throat unnecessarily.

[Rex. Thank you for saving me, the young princess, Albheim… and Kaiserion.]

“…I only did what needed to be done.”

It wasn’t modesty. Rex had stood against Elturas not for some grand cause or noble belief, but solely out of his desire to save Elin. Elisis covered her mouth with her hand, smiling gently.

[I know. But even if it was for personal reasons, the result of your actions remains unchanged. You have every right to be proud of yourself.]

“…”

[Do you love the young princess?]

The sudden question left him speechless. Elisis gazed at Rex with serene eyes. Love? An unexpected question. Kaiserion, who had somehow appeared beside Elisis, was watching Rex with a mischievous grin. After a brief silence, Rex stammered out a response.

“…I like her.”

It was still too embarrassing to answer “I love her.” But. The feelings he harbored for Elin were different from those for a friend. That was an undeniable fact. Elisis showed a satisfied smile and said:

[I see. That child… has lived a lonely and isolated life. So from now on, please show her the happiness she has never experienced, how life is full of so many joys… Please reveal this to her with your own hands.]

“I was planning to do that anyway.”

This time, the answer came promptly. Elisis widened her eyes and let out a small exclamation.

[Indeed, perhaps my words were unnecessary.]

Elisis took Kaiserion’s hand and began to walk.

[Elisis.]

[Come, Kaiserion. Let’s go. The reason I waited for you was because I wanted to see you in my final moments. Now that I’ve seen you, we must depart for where we belong.]

[I wanted to see you too.]

Kaiserion moved his legs with a gentle smile. He didn’t let go of her hand. He had vowed never to lose her again, and he intended to keep that promise. His red eyes, which had always held a dull light, were no longer dim. His faded gray hair regained its luster.

The two walked hand in hand, slowly. Toward a distant place, beyond this world. Toward a space where no one could separate them. There was no hesitation in their steps. Having obtained what they had longed for, there was no reason to hesitate.

As Rex watched their forms fade away, a voice reached his ears.

[Thank you.]

“…Don’t mention it.”

Rex muttered with a slight smile.

Kaiserion and Elisis had reunited after hundreds of years and fulfilled their long-cherished wish.

Now, it was time for Rex to reunite with the girl waiting for him.