Chapter 129: The Birth of a Star

“That thing… is it an illusion? I can’t feel its presence.”

Nightmare and Runox immediately went on alert when the wolf suddenly appeared. For something that looked alive, it had absolutely no presence.

No aura, no mana—nothing. For mages who are sensitive to mana, it was understandably unnerving.

I gestured to Runox to stay out of the conversation for a moment. He was quick-witted enough to catch my intention.

The silent wolf finally opened its mouth.

[I told you to go back.]

“That thing you called a fragment of the Evil God—please tell me more about the Sea God.”

[Go back down and ask your parents.]

“Stop bringing up my parents.”

I rested a hand on my hip and frowned. I didn’t care much if he misunderstood my background, but the repeated mention of my parents was making me uncomfortable.

The wolf fell silent. Then, as if giving in to a child’s tantrum, he sighed deeply and spoke.

[What are you so curious about?]

I pulled the Flame Dragon Sword from where it was embedded in the ground and asked my question.

“I want to know exactly what the Sea God is, what influence the cult of the Sea God has on the people of Dawn Star, and… I want to know more about you too.”

[You’re a bold one…]

The wolf fell into a brief silence, as if contemplating. Though I was watching him move slowly, each step felt unreal.

He walked along the shoreline without leaving a single footprint. After circling around us twice, he slowly began to speak.

[The Evil God is one of the primordial beings born at the dawn of creation. But that being can no longer maintain its form. Its fragments are scattered across the world. The Sea God is just one of those fragments.]

He looked at me as if to say, Is that enough for you? But I pressed further with a frown.

“Why can’t the Evil God maintain its form anymore? And why is this particular fragment called the Sea God?”

[There was once a great clash between the primordial beings. The Evil God lost. The victors tore it apart and scattered its remains across the world so that it would fade from existence.]

“Why go through all that trouble?”

[Primordial beings cannot die. As long as this world exists, so will they. So instead of killing the Evil God, they scattered its identity, naming each piece as something else. That’s why this fragment is called the Sea God—to erase the Evil God completely from memory.]

“So the Sea God being here… is part of the gods’ plan?”

[To some extent, yes.]

“To some extent…?”

[That’s all I’ll say on that. Ask another question.]

“Then what is the Sea God Cult? Why do they worship it, and why do they turn themselves into monsters?”

[The Evil God’s fragments instinctively seek to reclaim their divine nature. But they lack self-awareness, so their cults are always malformed. The Sea God doesn’t even know it’s a part of the Evil God. Its followers, in trying to emulate it, naturally lose their human forms.]

“Can the Sea God be killed?”

[No, it cannot.]

The white wolf answered without hesitation, and silence followed.

“Then… why are you here?”

[To suppress the Sea God’s influence. As long as I am here, it will remain bound to this sea.]

That’s when Runox, who had been quietly watching, slowly stood up. He fixed his gaze on the wandering wolf.

“I have a question.”

[Because you’re friendly with the child of the dragon, I’ll allow one question.]

“You said the Sea God cannot die. Then what if we just sealed it completely?”

[Foolish question. If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be here.]

“But you said you were suppressing its influence. That means you have power—”

[There’s no need to take unnecessary risks. If we leave it restrained like this, the Sea God will stay in this sea forever. To build its twisted faith. To sustain its crumbling divinity… It is an unstable being, repeating cycles of self-establishment and oblivion. In a few more centuries, it’ll forget it was ever the Sea God and form a new identity.]

“I want to help.”

[You? A mere human?]

“Not just me. Seris here too—”

[Ridiculous. Do you really think beings who see everything as playthings would move for the sake of humans? Even the child you travel with is no different.]

The wolf’s voice was firm. His gaze moved past Runox and landed on me, a small smile appearing on his lips as if asking, Am I wrong?

[Here’s my final warning. End your games and return to the Cradle of Dragons. This place is dangerous.]

Both Runox and the wolf turned their eyes to me. I sank into thought.

Lately, I could feel myself thinking more and more like a dragon.

Perhaps it was because I had absorbed the mana of Kalvain and Kashpa, and even the remnant thoughts of the dragon that had once lived on this land.

I was confused. What choice would the original me have made? But then I laughed at myself. The very fact that I was struggling with this question was proof enough.

I exist as me. Whether I’m human or dragon doesn’t matter. The only important thing is: now that the dragon’s mana is mine, it cannot control me. I will control it.

Get out of my head.

The great dragon that had resided in my mind began to plummet into darkness.

Time passed—both long and short.

Then, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Mr. Wolf.”

[What is it?]

“If I help you, is it possible to seal the Sea God?”

The wolf didn’t answer. He furrowed his brow and sat on the ground.

“Please answer me.”

[It is possible—if you can create an opening.]

“Then let’s do it.”

[…Did I hear you correctly? Say that again.]

“Let’s do it. I’ll be the distraction.”

[Are you insane?]

“I’ve always been sane.”

[I don’t understand. Why would a child of dragons risk herself for humans?]

“Because I want to.”

[You want to…?]

“I just want to. I can’t turn away. People are turning into monsters—how can I just stand by and watch?”

[You’re serious?]

“I am.”

The wolf fell silent. He tilted his head, squinting as if trying to read the truth behind my words. I had told him honestly, but it must’ve been hard to believe.

After a long pause, the wolf stood up.

[I won’t act unless I see a sure chance. That means even if you’re in danger, I won’t help. Do you agree?]

“If I create that opportunity, you will seal it—right?”

The wolf nodded.

Then, his snowy form began to fade.

[I’ll return tomorrow morning.]

Once the wolf had completely disappeared, silence settled around us. Runox stared at the fire without a word, while I absentmindedly stroked Nightmare’s mane.

“…Pathetic.”

“Runox?”

“I realized something. There’s another sky above this one. All this time, I’ve been a frog in a well—too short-sighted to look up. I couldn’t even recognize your true nature.”

“Well…”

“But my beliefs haven’t changed. As a mage, it’s my duty to guide those who’ve strayed onto the right path. That may sound foolish to you—”

“If I thought that, I wouldn’t have followed you.”

“Heh. That’s comforting to hear.”

Runox chuckled softly and lay beside the fire. Mana flickered around him.

“What’s it like… living as a dragon? Do things look small and meaningless from up there?”

“I’m not a dragon.”

“Maybe you’re just choosing to look at the world differently. That reminds me of Lord Heivon of the Dawn Tower—he always tried to reach higher, too…”

I let out a small sigh and leaned against Nightmare’s warm body.

---

At dawn, as promised, the white wolf returned. Staring beyond the edge of the island, he said:

[You haven’t forgotten my warning, have you?]

“No.”

[Good.]

I drew a deep breath and began gathering my mana. Last night, I’d wrestled with countless questions: How to open a gap in the Sea God’s defense? How to face it in battle?

Stars shimmered in my mind, aligning with magic both known and imagined.

And I realized: I had changed.

I had fully assimilated dragon mana. With the Ice Dragon Sword and Flame Dragon Sword, even my mana reserves had expanded.

[I’ll open the island’s gateway.]

Now, I had more options—more possibilities.

As the stars in my head sparkled, I saw what spells I could now truly reproduce.

Starlight shimmered.

My red longcoat flapped in the wind, and the form of a dragon emerged over my body. A long tail swept the ground. Sharp fangs brushed my tongue.

The entrance to the island opened. The mist surrounding us faded, and the island—once hidden—was now fully visible.

Explosions erupted from the external circle I had created, and sea monsters began emerging from the waters.

All the mana circles resonated, greedily absorbing the surrounding energy and transforming it.

When that mana rose high into the sky, a massive presence stirred from beneath the ocean.

■■■■—!

The Sea God’s dreadful scream pierced the air. Nightmare and Runox staggered from the psychic shock, but neither collapsed.

They fought fiercely, protecting me from the monsters climbing onto the island.

I looked up at the Sea God and smiled.

This spell required a complex setup. It would take time to complete.

The foundation of magic is belief. Its power depends on the clarity of your imagination.

When I first imagined this spell, I had no clue how to realize it.

But now, it was different.

Above the sky, where mana converged, a small star twinkled.

Once I was ready, I raised both hands high.

Inner World: Partial Manifestation

Birth of a Star

A piece of my inner world extended beyond this plane. A massive shadow escaped into the blackened sky and blanketed the battlefield.

The star had to be stabilized.

It had to maintain its massive gravitational presence so I could proceed to the next step.

My head burned. Kalvain’s searing mana surged within me.

All the mana inside me blazed hot. The sky-high mana enveloped the star.

Then, the surface of the star erupted in flames.

Fwoooosh—!

A second sun rose into the sky. Its heat boiled the ocean. Only one place remained untouched by the heat: this island.

Cold air from the Ice Dragon Sword protected Runox, Nightmare, and me.

“Th-that’s…?”

Runox’s stunned muttering faded.

Smiling faintly, I lowered the hands I had raised.

I had seen this spell in countless worlds. For a brief moment, worlds shimmered before my eyes.

The spell had appeared in many variations, but every world gave it the same name.

Ultimate Fire Magic

Meteor

A blazing star shot toward the Sea God.

And struck.