Chapter 82 : Ultimate Essence of Power (2)
Chapter 82: Ultimate Essence of Power (2)
Thud-!!
A terrifying roar echoed through the area.
Zeke's body had collided with the ground.
Just how high had he jumped from?
The earth caved in deeply, while countless cracks spread outward like a spider's web.
Each cracking sound made it feel as though the world itself was splitting apart.
“You lunatic.”
Indra said with a disgusted expression.
“There was a perfectly good lake right there. Why did you jump onto solid ground? An ordinary person would've died.”
“That only applies to those who haven't tempered their bodies.”
“Hah!”
Indra let out a hollow laugh.
Did this fool even know how high that cliff was?
The cliff Zeke had jumped from was at least two thousand meters high.
Very few mountains even exceeded a thousand meters.
In other words, it was a cliff taller than most mountains.
Yet despite falling from that height, Zeke was completely unharmed.
'Even I couldn't pull something like that off... What kind of body does he have?'
Had he become even stronger while they hadn't seen each other?
'Seriously... what a monster.'
Indra shook his head.
“So, why are you here? You never once showed your face to Adam or Elsa. Are you looking after your youngest son?”
“Do I look like such a warm-hearted man?”
“Ah, I guess not.”
At that moment, Zeke looked toward Leon.
Leon saw his own reflection within Zeke's emotionless eyes.
“...Your accomplishments are fairly impressive. It seems Indra took considerable care in teaching you.”
“I have received kindness far beyond what I deserve.”
“A man shouldn't only receive. If Indra ever asks you for a favor in the future, grant it without hesitation.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Indra, is there anything you want?”
“Something I want?”
Indra replied to the unexpected question.
“Why are you asking all of a sudden? Don't tell me you're rewarding me just because I taught Leon? You never said anything like this after I taught Adam and Elsa.”
“Do you think I don't know my own son? He must have been much harder to teach than Adam or Elsa. Speak before I change my mind.”
“...Well, if that's the case.”
Grinning, Indra said,
“It's been a while since I last received one of your moves.”
“Do you need time to prepare?”
“Just wait a moment.”
Indra widened the distance between himself and Zeke.
Spreading his legs apart, he lowered his waist.
His left hand stretched forward.
His right rested beside his waist.
It resembled the stance of a Shaolin fist master.
Even if a tidal wave crashed down...
Even if a raging storm swept through...
He stood as immovable as an enormous boulder.
Without realizing it, Leon sharpened every one of his senses.
His concentration far surpassed anything he had experienced before.
His instincts screamed at him.
He had to engrave what happened next into his very soul.
The world slowed.
His senses, stretched to their absolute limit, greedily absorbed every detail around him.
His head began to burn.
His brain could barely withstand the overwhelming flood of information.
Even so...
Leon never lost his concentration.
This was an opportunity that might come only once in a lifetime.
If he missed it now...
He would regret it forever.
“Let's begin.”
The instant Indra spoke—
Leon saw it.
Within the slowed flow of time, Zeke moved as though nothing had changed.
At the same time...
The punch that shot from his hand.
Kwaaaaaaaaa-!!
A horrifying aura surged forth.
It felt as though a demon had climbed straight out of hell.
Leon felt as if his vision had flashed white.
Merely by throwing a punch...
Space itself distorted.
It was a spine-chilling sight.
Just how much power had been packed into that fist for space itself to warp?
Even more astonishing...
Zeke's expression remained completely calm.
Despite unleashing a technique that represented the pinnacle of fist arts.
It was awe-inspiring.
An absolute being who had transcended human limits stood before him.
At the same time...
Leon worried for Indra.
Zeke's fist possessed enough power to pulverize everything it touched.
Even grazing it would inflict catastrophic internal injuries.
No one should oppose it head-on.
Zeke's punch was no different from a natural disaster.
And humans could never overcome nature.
Anyone else would have tried to evade it.
Yet instead—
Indra charged directly into Zeke's reach.
Even within the slowed flow of time, his speed stood out.
Moving like a ray of light, his fist struck Zeke's elbow.
Kuuung-!!
The resulting shockwave swept across the surroundings.
Unable to withstand the blast, Leon's body was hurled backward.
“Urgh!”
Leon groaned.
He had merely endured the shockwave.
Yet even that alone had caused slight internal injuries.
There was no way Indra, standing at its center, could be unharmed.
Even while flying backward, Leon refused to close his eyes.
Every moment spent blinking felt wasteful.
He couldn't afford to miss a single instant.
A clash capable of shaking the very world.
“Haaah-!!”
It happened then.
Indra exhaled heavily.
Despite the distance, Leon heard it clearly.
Sweat poured from Indra's body like a waterfall.
It appeared to be the aftereffect of releasing such overwhelming power in an instant.
“Well?”
Indra asked with a smile.
Perhaps the impact had been too great.
The bandages wrapped around him slowly began to unravel.
Beneath them...
Blue eyes were revealed.
Eyes as clear as the heavens themselves.
Those sky-colored eyes stared directly at Zeke.
Zeke said nothing.
He merely glanced once at his own elbow.
Then he finally spoke.
“So you blocked it. Have you comprehended the Ultimate Essence of Power?”
“Are you kidding? If I'd reached that level, I'd have beaten you.”
Indra answered with a cheerful laugh.
The grin on his face naturally made others feel happy.
Someone might say,
'All you did was block a single move. You exhausted yourself just doing that, yet you're acting so thrilled.'
But that would only prove they understood half the story.
Within Zeke's single strike...
An infinite universe had been contained.
It was a realm Leon couldn't even begin to comprehend.
It felt entirely different from when he had glimpsed the realms of Indra and Reinhardt.
Back then, their realms had merely seemed distant.
Zeke's realm...
He couldn't understand it at all.
'I couldn't even tell what he'd done. I couldn't perceive a single principle hidden within that punch.'
All Leon knew...
Was that it was extraordinary.
It was a different kind of helplessness.
Beyond fear...
It inspired awe.
Leon wondered,
How much time would it take before he could reach such a realm?
Soon, he shook his head.
It was a pointless thought.
What he needed to do was obvious.
To never waste a single day.
To keep moving forward without ceasing.
All he could do was pray that one day...
He would arrive there.
“Mmm... There just so happens to be an empty seat available. This works out nicely. Indra, come with me for a moment.”
“Did something happen?”
“I'll explain on the way.”
Indra nodded.
Zeke's expression was far too serious to refuse.
He had no choice but to follow.
As they walked, Zeke told him about the Demon Race.
After hearing everything, Indra spoke with a dazed expression.
“The world really is vast. A continent filled with that many powerful beings... I'd like to see it for myself someday. So... the reason you came to find me is because of the Demon Race?”
“We've located the Werewolves. They're hiding within the Holy Kingdom.”
“...The Holy Kingdom?”
Indra's expression immediately hardened.
The Holy Kingdom worshipped the Supreme God, Solar.
And Demon Race members were hiding there?
“That smells suspicious. People carrying Corrupt Energy aren't supposed to be able to enter the Holy Kingdom. Did someone let them in?”
“We suspect the Saint.”
“Hah! So the so-called holy man has been doing something rather interesting.”
Indra let out a bitter laugh.
Reinhardt and Leon reacted no differently.
Who was the Saint?
The one chosen by Solar.
The very figure who represented the Holy Kingdom.
And someone like that was secretly working with the Demon Race?
'This isn't just the Holy Kingdom's problem.'
'Humanity's survival is at stake.'
Leon suddenly remembered something Reculrus had once said.
That the Saint had accepted his proposal.
At the time, Leon hadn't understood.
Now...
He thought he finally did.
'Of course, it's still only speculation. We'll only know the truth after investigating ourselves.'
Yet for some reason...
Leon felt that Zeke wasn't speculating.
He was certain.
“Zeke, let's settle one thing before we go.”
Indra suddenly spoke.
His cheerful smile had vanished.
He looked at Zeke with complete seriousness.
“Are you planning to destroy the Holy Kingdom?”
Not a single person reacted to the suggestion of erasing an entire nation.
Because they all knew.
Zeke possessed enough strength to make it reality.
Moreover...
He intended to bring Indra and Reinhardt with him.
That meant he intended to leave absolutely no room for uncertainty.
“Zeke, the moment you move, every other nation will move as well. That's the kind of existence you've become. It's not as though you stayed quietly in Elphrel all these years without reason.”
Zeke was powerful.
If he wished...
He possessed enough power to rule the world.
Although countless sacrifices would accompany such an undertaking...
There was no doubt he possessed the strength to devour the world itself.
There was a reason he was called the Conqueror.
A fearsome title could only be supported by fearsome power.
Even so...
Zeke had chosen to live quietly.
Despite possessing enough strength to defeat the entire world.
Despite being capable of subjugating the neighboring Empire whenever he wished.
He had chosen an ordinary life.
There was only one reason.
He didn't want to create grudges.
Great power always carried great responsibility.
As the years passed, Zeke had gained more and more people he wished to protect.
He didn't want to become entangled in meaningless conflicts.
He didn't want to lose the people who were like family to him.
Yet now...
He was preparing to move.
That was why Indra asked.
Could he truly bear the consequences of his actions?
“The war has already begun.”
Zeke answered with only a single sentence.
Though his voice remained calm...
The resolve contained within it was unimaginably heavy.
Indra nodded.
“Very well. Then I'll follow you.”
“We'll leave immediately. Is that alright?”
“Why wouldn't it be? We're going to kill those who've abandoned their humanity. The sooner it's over, the better.”
“The Werewolves may not necessarily be hostile toward humans. Don't jump to conclusions.”
“...If that's truly what you believe, there'd be no reason to bring me along.”
“...”
“Optimism isn't a bad thing. Fine. I won't make any assumptions, just as you said.”
Indra replied with his usual cheerful smile.
Inside a dark palace.
Irena sat beside a single candle as she read a letter.
“Amon, prepare the army.”
Irena spoke.
Her eyes were cold.
A murderous intent lingered within the faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.
“A piece of good news has arrived from Reinhardt. It seems the Holy Kingdom has betrayed humanity.”
“...Has concrete evidence been obtained?”
Amon asked back, something unusual for him.
Ordinarily, if Irena gave an order, he would obey immediately even if it meant his own death.
Yet this time...
He hesitated.
Because the people she had declared enemies were the Holy Kingdom.
Humanity had not yet recovered from the wounds left by the Demon Beasts.
And those healing those wounds...
Were the priests of the Holy Kingdom.
“The Empire may be powerful, but provoking the Holy Kingdom is another matter entirely. A war without justification will also negatively affect our own people.”
“Do you think I don't know that?”
Killing intent flashed within Irena's eyes.
“This information came from the Conqueror himself. And that stubborn man has even decided to move personally.”
“...!!”
The Conqueror, Zeke Fritz.
If the information came from him...
Then everything changed.
Amon immediately bowed.
“I shall carry out your command.”
Irena gazed at the moon hanging in the sky.
Tonight, the perfectly round moon seemed to glow more deeply than ever.
As she looked upon it, a thought crossed her mind.
The blood that would be spilled this time...
Would change the world.