Ch.8585. Decision

I felt death.

From the moment the man revealed himself, my body began to tremble uncontrollably. My breathing quickened, and cold sweat seeped into my palms. Rex gritted his teeth and widened his eyes. This wasn’t his first encounter with someone powerful. He had trained daily with his master Berger and the knights of the Lord’s Castle.

But.

‘This is different.’

It was a completely different level. This man was stronger than anyone Rex had ever seen before. He sensed it instinctively. There was no chance of winning. Escape was impossible. With his gaze fixed forward, Rex glanced at Berger using only his eyes. Berger was staring at the man with a shocked expression.

“You are…”

While Rex could only vaguely guess the man’s abilities since he hadn’t yet crossed the Wall of Radiance, Berger was different.

A cold sensation gripped Rex’s entire body. Only once before had he experienced something similar.

When he first met his master.

“…Are you an Apostle?”

“That’s right.”

The man affirmed with an indifferent face. The whites of his eyes were stained pitch black, making them indistinguishable from his pupils. His dark gaze, which seemed to absorb all light, swept over Rex. The words “found you” that he had muttered earlier came to mind. Berger swallowed dryly before speaking.

“What brings you to Lindvale?”

“Because Chaos wished it.”

Rex’s expression hardened. The Cult of Chaos. That name was clearly etched in his mind. Berger had mentioned it when explaining the Apostles existing on the continent, but the main reason it stood out was because Conrad, with whom they had recently clashed, belonged to the Cult of Chaos.

Rex had destroyed a sacred relic of the Cult of Chaos. Naturally, his thoughts turned to revenge. Had they come seeking him to avenge the destruction of their relic? He had always kept that possibility in mind. If they had means to track down whoever destroyed their relic, the events of that day might someday return as a threat.

However, he never imagined they would find him so quickly. Much less that his opponent would be a monster who had risen to the rank of Apostle.

“Your expression suggests you have some idea.”

The man muttered in a bored tone. Known as the Apostle of the Cult of Chaos, his epithet was the Abyss (深淵). Shaharon, the Apostle of the Abyss, slowly raised his hand. The shadow stretching behind Shaharon stirred. The shadow, which had just devoured a man moments ago, now spat out another person.

“Malakor.”

“…As I’ve asked before, couldn’t you at least warn me before using the Black Lotus (黑連)? Being suddenly dragged down is quite startling. It makes me nauseous too.”

The man called Malakor frowned as he got to his feet. The aura emanating from him was also formidable. At minimum, he was a Holy Knight who had reached the mature stage of Radiance. Just as Shaharon alone would be difficult to handle, now another powerful enemy had appeared.

“Is that boy the one Lord Pandemius was looking for?”

Malakor pointed at Rex. Shaharon silently nodded. Simultaneously, Berger’s expression hardened as he stepped in front of Rex, while fierce winds began to swirl around Elin. Chloe, with a pale face, tightened her grip on the daggers in both hands. Although she was at the lowest level among those gathered here, she didn’t want to back down without a fight.

Hostile gazes poured toward Shaharon and Malakor. Shaharon calmly ignored them with a serene face.

“He has companions…”

Malakor whispered in a voice full of annoyance. If possible, he wanted to avoid combat. There was nothing to gain by causing trouble in a region far from the cult. On the contrary, other cults might notice the absence of an Apostle and take countermeasures, leading to unfortunate incidents.

Shaharon didn’t respond. Malakor let out a small sigh.

The Cult of Chaos, by its nature, had many peculiar followers. Even considering that, this Apostle was particularly unpredictable. He had suddenly changed course on the way to Lindvale, heading to a remote mountain corner instead. There, he had wiped out a bandit group and stayed for an entire week—behavior that Malakor found completely incomprehensible.

“Hey.”

In the end, negotiation fell to him. In truth, Shaharon alone was sufficient to carry out the mission. Yet he had brought Malakor along for this very reason—to pass off the troublesome tasks. Malakor was well aware of his role.

“…What is it?”

Rex responded cautiously to the sudden address. Malakor spoke in a dispassionate tone.

“You seem to misunderstand. We have no intention of harming you.”

“What do you—”

“Believe it or not, that’s the truth. The fact that your head is still attached to your neck is proof. If we had wanted to, you all would have been dead long ago.”

Rex glared at Malakor, biting his lip tightly. He couldn’t refute it… because it was true. The difference in power was clear. The rank of Apostle was no light matter. Radiance was known to clearly transcend human limitations. And Apostles were monsters beyond comparison, far surpassing even the superhumans who had reached Radiance.

Certain defeat. Even now, if Shaharon harbored killing intent, they would helplessly struggle before dying. Recognizing this fact actually calmed Rex’s mind.

“What do you want?”

Malakor answered Rex’s question immediately.

“You need to come with us to the cult. If you ask why, we don’t know either. We’re simply carrying out the oracle given by Pandemius. You have no choice. Decide now. Will you come quietly, or will you be dragged by force?”

“No.”

Elin shook her head.

“You can’t take Rex. Absolutely not.”

Light burst from the wand pointed at Shaharon and Malakor. Without even chanting a spell, the manifestation was instantaneous. Kwarlrung! A golden lightning bolt streaked across the forest. The current that spread wildly soon condensed into lightning. Its power was faster and stronger than any magic Elin had ever performed before. As the lightning that scorched through the undergrowth was about to pierce Malakor, Shaharon slowly raised his hand.

The shadow, spread like a massive maw, devoured the lightning.

“Oh my…!”

Malakor looked with surprised eyes at the shadow that had blocked his front. He had seen the magic coming. Even without Shaharon’s protection, he was confident he could have blocked it. But he wouldn’t have been able to do so without taking any damage. He knew the elf was a mage, but she was more skilled than he had internally expected.

“You don’t know your place.”

Shaharon spoke in a cold tone. The undulating darkness rose from the ground. The darkness soon transformed into the shape of an elongated spear and was launched following Shaharon’s gesture. Though created without apparent effort, the energy contained within was no small matter. The forest turned pitch black along the spear’s trajectory.

Another burst of current blocked the spear. The force pushing forward and the force blocking collided. The standoff didn’t last long. Gradually, the lightning was pushed back, and eventually, Elin’s magic was completely destroyed. At that moment, a longsword suddenly thrust out from the side. —Kwajik! The shadow spear scattered like sand. Berger shouted in an urgent voice.

“Stop! Elin, you too, cease your attacks. There’s nothing to gain by provoking them.”

Elin glanced briefly at Rex, then lowered her wand that had been aimed at Shaharon. Dozens of floating transparent ice picks disappeared. A translucent circular barrier had somehow formed around the group.

Berger caught his breath and shifted his gaze. A defensive barrier constructed with magic. Judging by the sensation of deflecting the spear just now, it could have withstood that attack. But whether it could continue to defend was uncertain. If Shaharon launched a full-scale offensive, and Malakor joined in, what would the outcome be?

It was a question that didn’t need lengthy consideration.

“If… I go alone, will that be enough?”

Rex spoke with difficulty. He felt what Berger had felt. A fight is only called such when both sides have similar strength. If this continued, it wouldn’t be a battle but a massacre. Since being chosen by Chaordix, he had faced various hardships, but they were all crises he could overcome.

Today was different.

‘I can’t win.’

The mark engraved on his heart was reacting more violently than ever before. Rex took a step forward. He ignored Chloe’s anxious gaze. Elin reached out her hand but ultimately couldn’t reach Rex.

“Rex.”

“There’s no choice. You know that, Master.”

Berger looked like he wanted to say something but ultimately kept his mouth shut. Rex moved his legs at a slow pace. It felt like walking into hell of his own accord. The vibration of the pulsating mark intensified as he got closer to Shaharon. The man was still watching him with an expressionless face.

“Have you decided?”

“…I’ll go with you. In return, please let my companions go.”

“Are you asking for mercy?”

After a brief silence, Shaharon nodded.

“Very well. Lord Pandemius holds goodwill toward you. We don’t particularly desire meaningless bloodshed either.”

Goodwill? Why would Pandemius…? He suppressed the question that momentarily arose. This wasn’t the time to leisurely ponder thoughts. First, he needed to leave this place as quickly as possible, leaving his companions behind.

‘This is the best option.’

Going to the Cult of Chaos. On the surface, they showed no hostility toward him. He didn’t know what would happen once they reached the cult, but there was no other way. Escape? It wasn’t just Rex’s life at stake. There were other precious people here too. He didn’t want to gamble their lives on an uncertain bet.

He had to go.

Just as he made that determination and lifted his foot.

—Whoosh!

Suddenly, a dark blue flash erupted from behind. Rex’s body froze. He turned around with a distorted expression.

“You foolish boy.”

Berger walked out with a grin. A dazzling storm of light emanated from his entire body. It was Radiance (輝光). Wrapped in Radiance, Berger looked like a small sun. The swirling light gradually drove away the darkness that had engulfed the forest.

“Why on earth…!”

“How could a master abandon his disciple? I’m truly ashamed to have felt fear even for a moment.”

Rex’s heart wavered at those calm words. He shouted with an impassioned voice.

“Think rationally! He’s an Apostle. We can’t win. It will just be a meaningless death…”

“I refuse.”

Rex stared at Berger with a blank face. Berger smirked with a playful smile.

“Even if I meet my death here, I must protect my disciple.”

“Mercy,” Shaharon said in an indifferent tone.

“Is given only once.”

Berger stroked his chin and raised the corner of his mouth before bluntly stating:

“Come at me, Lord Apostle.”