Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 194: Yearning (4)

A withered old tree, swallowing sand in every crevice, stood eerily like a defeated soldier.

It was not simply terrifying, but rather like a place where supernatural phenomena occurred, filled with an eerie atmosphere. Allen felt nauseous from the strange, inexplicable energy seeping in from his soles.

…Is this what it feels like when dimensions mix…?

It felt like wandering in a dream… a very terrifying dream.

At that moment, the Milk-Jug Mage sidled up close to Allen. Then, as if a refreshing aura seeped into him, his dreamy mind cleared somewhat.

“I’ll stay by your side.”

“…Thank you.”

In fact, such an environment was very familiar to the one who opened the gate. It was a common experience at the end of the world, where dimensions mixed chaotically.

Moreover, it didn’t feel like the foul water of hell was seeping in. Rather, all sorts of negative emotions were running wild.

The group weaved through the ancient trees, moving inward… deeper inside.

The sparsely standing ancient trees began to increase in density, and at some point, it became so dense that it was impossible to see what lay ahead.

The sky, which had been clear, was now shrouded with dark clouds, and the air was desolately dry.

The group walked silently without a word. The Blind Saintess, with her thick leather-gloved fists clenched, looked around continuously. Her eyes, black as the abyss, exposed without a blindfold, sensed the distant, swirling vortex of immense energy.

It was a massive concentration of energy unlike anything ever felt before. If there were a god, wouldn’t it be like that?

The Holy Knight Monua finally vomited due to the terrible stench that picked at her brain. The Blind Saintess also had a throbbing headache, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Even the unflappable Ghost Flame Grenzo, who rarely felt nervous, had to tighten his nerves in front of that enormous presence. It was that overwhelming.

Is that the Finger of God?

Though it was still obscured by the densely standing ancient trees, there was no mistaking that the energy emanated from the Finger of God.

Rumble.

The sky, filled with thick dark clouds, occasionally roared with thunder. Sometimes, lightning flashed. Yet, no rain fell.

The group turned on the bright magical lights, illuminating the dark surroundings. On the faces of the people where darkness and light intersected, there was an unmistakable tension flowing.

Even the sound of the crunching sand beneath their feet approached them with a chilling sensation.

They crossed the wall of ancient trees and finally reached the desired location.

The cursed ancient city, Leonosta.

Once a prosperous giant city, it had now decayed to the point of being almost entirely in ruins.

Even in this place, where no living beings seemed to exist, immortals who had shared over a millennium with the Finger of God still existed.

Those who could no longer be called humans had, over hundreds of years, absorbed the energy emanating from the Finger of God and became immortal monsters.

Foolish beings trapped in eternal torment due to a moment of greed.

The Prince, before entering the ancient city visible in the distance, instructed the group to take a final breath.

“We don’t know exactly where the Finger of God is. So, we will split into three groups and search our designated areas.”

The middle-aged Prince unsheathed his sword from its scabbard with a shing.

“From the moment we enter until we complete our mission, we will not stop. Be prepared, everyone.”

The task force reformed their ranks.

Team 1, the Grenzo-Mercenary Group with the Prince and the knight order.

Team 2, the Ryga-Mercenary Group and the Pesial-Mercenary Group.

Team 3, the Viola-Mercenary Group and the Allen-Mercenary Group.

The groups formed their teams and advanced toward the city.

The goal was to return the Finger of God to God.

Of course, there would undoubtedly be fierce resistance from the mindless immortals.

Their number spanned the entire city.

At least thousands.

Allen’s role was to manage so that the members did not panic and the formation did not break.

At this time, when each was important, even a momentary mistake could lead to an irreparable blunder, so it was crucial to constantly check from behind to ensure there were no gaps.

The group advancing towards the city was getting closer to the weathered walls that had crumbled over the long years.

Already outside the walls, the immortal monsters were writhing on the ground, screaming in agony.

Immortal beings gouging out their eyes, tearing their ears, and pulling out their tongues in pain… They had been suffering in such agony for nearly a thousand years.

The group passed through the gates safely, trying to provoke them as little as possible. However, the problem started from then on.

The sight of the cursed city was truly a living hell.

Those whose bodies were torn to shreds, those who moved even after their innards were pulled out, those whose skin was entirely peeled off, those with sharp stakes driven into their skulls…

They struggled to die, but couldn’t, and remained alive in that horrific state.

Aaaaaaahhhhhh!

Their intellect, tormented for an unimaginable time, had now diminished to a level worse than beasts. They had lost not only language but even thought, capable only of screaming in agony.

Of course, avoiding the gaze of the immortals here was nearly impossible. The immortals, whose eyes and limbs were still intact, charged at the group with even fiercer screams.

There was no reason. The intellect to seek a reason was no longer within them.

And thus began the attack of the immortals.

“Break through!”

With the Prince’s shout, the group formed a formation and moved forward.

During the long journey to the West, the six leaders of the subjugation force meticulously planned numerous strategies. They once again recalled in their minds exactly what they needed to do from now on and maintained their positions.

The Allen-Mercenary Group, teamed with the Viola-Mercenary Group, cursed harshly as they saw the immortals pouring out like ants from every hole between the collapsed buildings.

“Damn it!”

The immortals, rapidly increasing in number, charged like beasts and threw themselves recklessly at the gleaming blades. These beings, devoid of any fear of death, were no different from ghouls.

…Even ghouls die when their heads are smashed, but these creatures were impervious to any attack, whether their heads were shattered, hearts burst, or necks severed. They would only become incapacitated.

The three teams sent one last hand signal before dispersing down their designated paths. It meant wishing each other luck.

Team 3, the Viola-Mercenary Group, and the Allen-Mercenary Group advanced, demolishing the immortals charging at them with horrific screams.

To gift the continent with eternal rest.

Dagon, who became an immortal by offering his finger to the city, entered the ancient city with the Liberation Army.

Having been unable to sleep for months since Vermandois, he was already in a crazed state.

The driving force behind his movements was solely revenge, nothing else.

To crush everything he had built and bury it in the depths against the Top 10 and towards the continent.

The Liberation Army said that all it needed was God’s finger.

Anything could be done with just God’s finger.

They could become gods of the continent that drove out death!

He dedicated everything he had for that one thing.

Everything he had!

“Here.”

In front of the altar.

The Liberation Army handed Dagon a sharp, blue-bladed dagger in his remaining left hand.

“Offer it.”

Dagon stabbed the sack on the altar wildly.

Wildly.

Ceaselessly.

Like a struggle to be liberated from the pain tormenting him.

Because he wanted to die.

Because he didn’t want to die.

Aaaahhh.

Aaaaaahhhhhhh.

The thick leather sack, after dozens and hundreds of cuts, finally tore open.

And its contents were revealed.

Inside the sack was his sibling, brutally mutilated.

Dana Kelpri.

…What is this…?

…Why…?

Dagon blankly stared down at Dana, whom he had killed with his own hands.

“Ah, ah…”

Is this a dream?

It must be a dream.

My sister shouldn’t be here.

Why is my sister…?

Why am I…?

I…

Ah.

She was not an immortal.

Eternal rest dwelled within her body.

Dagon envied it for a moment.

Death.

His sister was dead.

He.

He killed her.

“Hehehehehehe.”

Dagon laughed bizarrely.

Bloody tears flowed from his eyes.

“Hehehehehehe.”

Then he began to stab his chest with a dagger.

Lungs.

Heart.

Liver.

Colon.

But he did not die.

Whereas Dana was dead.

For him, eternal rest was no more.

“Hahaha, ahahaha, aaaahhh, aaaaaaahhhhhhh.”

The bizarre laughter soon became a scream.

Endless pain.

And suddenly, an immense pain pierced through his spine…!

Gulp.

The pain was so severe that, for a moment, his consciousness returned.

At the same time, he fully realized her death.

I killed Dana.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Dagon screamed in agony, clutching his bending waist.

And from his severed left index finger, a finger began to sprout.

The Liberation Army rejoiced.

At last, the Finger of God had descended.

The Liberation Army’s centuries of prayers finally reached the heavens.

“Hurray! Hurra–”

As the Finger of God pointed to the sky, the heads of a dozen Liberation Army members were pulled up with a crack.

And when he clenched his fist, the heads became fist-sized meatballs with a sound of bursting flesh.

In the place where nothing died, one offered death and became the king of the immortals.

The Immortal King, holding his sibling in his arms, continued, repeatedly, to scream in agony.

Until he forgot the very reason for his screams.

For days and nights.

.

.

.

.

.

And then, three teams arrived in front of the altar.

The Milk-Jug Mage shot flames towards the sky.