Chapter 95 : The Warrior's Bloodline (2)
Chapter 95: The Warrior's Bloodline (2)
Leon stared blankly at Zeke.
He couldn't help doubting whether what he had just heard was truly real.
'He awakened the power of a god on his own?'
Had those words come from anyone else, Leon would have scoffed and dismissed them.
But the one who had said them was none other than Zeke.
Looking at Zeke, who stood with his arms crossed, Leon asked,
“You said you awakened the power of a god?”
“If we're being precise, not quite. Look.”
“Does this look like the same power you possess?”
At that moment, a violet haze rose from Zeke's entire body.
However, compared to Leon's, Zeke's aura was a noticeably paler shade of violet.
“Compared to yours, it's clearly a different power. Given enough time, I could probably imitate it to some extent, but in the end, it would still be nothing more than an imitation.”
“I don't understand. Didn't you say my power was bestowed by a god?”
“I did. So what of it?”
“That doesn't make sense. You're not a god, yet you can wield that power. Doesn't that strike you as strange?”
“What do you think a god is?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Omnipotent. A being capable of accomplishing anything with but a thought.”
“Isn't that your understanding of a god?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me begin with the answer.”
“That's a misconception.”
“I only realized it after reaching a new realm myself.”
“Leon.”
“A god is nothing more than a being possessing transcendent power.”
“Their power merely approaches omnipotence without limit.”
“But at their core... they are living beings just like us.”
Leon stood there with his mouth hanging open.
Had a priest of the Holy Kingdom heard those words, they would have foamed at the mouth, denouncing them as blasphemy.
How could a mere human dare question the status of a god?
Of course, that part itself wasn't particularly shocking.
Zeke had committed countless acts of blasphemy over the years.
Judging by that alone, divine punishment should have descended upon him long ago.
What truly shocked Leon—
Was the nature of the gods themselves.
'Gods... are living beings like us?'
Back in his previous life within the Martial Alliance, he had occasionally heard tales of people who attained immortality while still in human bodies.
The most famous among them were Bodhidharma of Shaolin and Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang.
A realization suddenly struck Leon.
Zeke's words actually made sense.
There had indeed been humans who became one with nature itself.
If such people continued tempering their martial arts to the absolute extreme—
Wouldn't they eventually reach a realm worthy of being called gods?
A chill suddenly ran down Leon's spine.
Until now, Zeke had never once claimed that Solar was fundamentally the same kind of existence as themselves.
At the same time, it didn't feel as though he had intentionally concealed that truth.
Which meant—
'Just as he only awakened the same power as mine moments ago...'
'He also only just realized that Solar is fundamentally the same as us.'
And the reason could only be the enlightenment he had gained from battling the Demon Wolf King.
'Father...'
'Just how much stronger have you become?'
He had realized that the Supreme God Solar had once been nothing more than another mortal.
Just how profound had his enlightenment become to arrive at such a conclusion?
For some reason, Leon found himself thinking—
Perhaps one day, if his father continued walking the path of martial arts—
He would attain the same status as the Supreme God Solar.
A human ascending to the throne of a god.
Ordinarily, Leon would have dismissed such an idea as complete nonsense.
But perhaps because the man before him was Zeke—
It didn't seem impossible.
No matter how long it took...
It truly felt as though he would eventually arrive there.
At the same time, another question surfaced.
Leon's own power had been born from the fusion of a warrior's Crimson Mana and the Four Seasons Star Cloud Technique.
Yet Zeke had only acquired a similar power after reaching an incredibly high realm.
'That's strange.'
If Zeke's words were true—
Then Leon should have been able to wield that violet power from the moment he was born.
After all, the Supreme God Solar himself had bestowed that power upon him.
Yet in reality, Leon had only gained it after his understanding of Crimson Mana and the Four Seasons Star Cloud Technique deepened.
It didn't add up.
'Or...'
'Was all of this arranged by Solar from the very beginning?'
Leon clenched his fist so tightly that the color drained from his fingers.
Had everything—
Everything—
Really been orchestrated by Solar?
Then what about all the effort he had poured in until now?
The sweat he shed every single day?
Had all of it been meaningless?
Leon bit down hard on his lip.
Blood trickled down and gathered at the tip of his chin.
Watching him, Zeke asked,
“Leon, are you alright?”
“…I'm fine.”
“Why are you so angry?”
“Because my efforts may have been meaningless.”
“Meaningless?”
“What do you mean?”
“I believed I obtained this power through my own effort. It wasn't something I possessed from birth. I thought it was a power I earned only after cultivating my own enlightenment.”
“I see.”
“Your reasoning is sound.”
“I didn't sense that energy within you from the beginning either.”
“In that case, we'll simply verify it ourselves.”
“Verify it?”
Pointing toward the sky, Zeke spoke.
“The throne of a god is vacant now.”
“A thousand years ago, there were three gods who watched over humanity.”
“Solar and Jeozudin, whom the world knows.”
“And Yggdrasil, who lived while hiding their existence.”
At that moment, a dazzling brilliance shone from Zeke's eyes.
Just looking into them sent chills down one's spine.
“Continue tempering your martial prowess.”
“And one day, ascend to the throne of a god.”
“Then ask for yourself.”
“Did you obtain that power through your own efforts?”
“Or was it merely handed to you by Solar?”
“……”
Leon couldn't respond.
His mind had been shaken to its core.
Ascend to the throne of a god...
And confirm it himself?
Was Zeke telling him to become a god?
Leon swallowed.
Realistically speaking—
It was impossible.
Honestly, he thought Zeke only said such things because he was his son.
But then he looked into Zeke's eyes.
'He's serious.'
Zeke's gaze was filled with absolute trust.
Not the trust of a father toward his son.
It was faith in Leon as an individual.
As though he genuinely acknowledged Leon's potential.
Suddenly, Leon's expression twisted.
Something swelled deep within his chest.
Never once had he desired recognition from others.
Yet somehow—
Recognition from Zeke felt entirely different.
At that moment—
Leon forgot all about his own lack of talent.
He was someone who struggled to master even a single lesson.
Viewed realistically, Zeke's words were no different from impossibility itself.
Even so—
Leon answered without hesitation.
“I'll show you.”
“Good.”
Zeke nodded as though that answer had been the only one he expected.
That indifferent reaction stirred Leon's emotions once again.
After calming himself, Leon asked,
“I heard you're going to the Empire.”
“What are your plans from here?”
“I'll remain in the Empire for the time being.”
“And the successor of Luseus?”
“Is it alright not to protect him?”
“I left him somewhere safe.”
“I repeatedly warned him not to leave that place.”
“For roughly the next two years, things will be fine even without me.”
Leon nodded.
At least he no longer had to worry about the Demon King's seal being broken.
The answer to his greatest concern had been resolved, so he asked nothing further.
Then—
“Oh, right.”
“I almost forgot something.”
Zeke's gaze settled upon Leon's sword.
“It's about time you changed weapons.”
“That sword has endured your strength long enough.”
“Another two battles at most, and it'll break.”
Leon looked down at his sword.
Its edge was badly damaged.
He had certainly fought an intense battle earlier.
Even so, the damage was severe.
Nodding, Leon replied,
“I'll have to find a good blacksmith.”
“There is one in Elphrel.”
“He's an old friend of mine.”
“I'll lend you my name.”
“Tell him to forge you one.”
“Understood.”
That marked the end of the conversation between father and son.
Each had confirmed the other's resolve.
From this point onward—
They would each devote themselves to stopping the coming catastrophe.
The following morning.
Early at dawn, Leon was summoned by Sibelte.
Pressing down his messy hair with one hand, he asked,
“What is this about?”
“Isn't it obvious?”
Baylen, who had delivered Sibelte's message, shrugged.
“To express gratitude.”
“The Holy Kingdom received the warriors' help.”
“I imagine they'll formally thank everyone in an official gathering.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“It's the will of Her Holiness.”
After the Pope's death and the Saint's transfer to the Empire, Sibelte became the Holy Kingdom's new Pope.
It was only natural.
Ordinarily, the Saint would have inherited the position.
Not only had he been the Pope's adopted son, but there wasn't a single person in the Holy Kingdom who didn't know of his accomplishments.
Moreover, he had enjoyed the support of more than half the cardinals.
But that very Saint had been taken away by the Empire for collaborating with the Demon Race.
Naturally, Sibelte—
Who now held the greatest support among the people—
Became the new Pope.
“Yaaawn.”
Leon stretched with a yawn, tears welling slightly in his eyes.
Wiping away the sleep from the corners of his eyes, he stood up.
“Let's go.”
“Follow me.”
Along the way, Baylen enthusiastically explained everything that had happened overnight without anyone asking.
How Reinhardt and Indra had quietly departed.
How the kingdom had fallen into chaos after learning what the Pope and the Saint had done.
Finally—
He began speaking about the Saint himself.
“In the end, what he did was unforgivable.”
“But he wasn't a bad man.”
A bitter smile appeared on Baylen's face.
“He was always thinking about other people.”
“His methods were wrong.”
“But even this... I'm sure he believed he was acting for humanity's sake.”
“I see.”
Leon answered without much emotion.
Baylen glanced at him before chuckling.
“Honestly.”
“If someone's grieving, you should at least pretend to sympathize.”
“We'd be better off preparing for what's coming.”
“How cold.”
“Because it's the truth.”
Baylen nodded.
Deep down, he understood that as well.
The current Holy Kingdom—
No, humanity itself—
Stood upon a dangerous precipice.
The Holy Kingdom, once celebrated as the land of sacrifice and devotion, had secretly fallen under the Demon Race's control.
There was no guarantee the same wasn't happening elsewhere.
'Though there aren't many nations left that could truly be called nations.'
Even so—
If the demons continued plotting in the shadows, the situation would become far more troublesome.
Just as Leon had said—
Rather than grieving, they needed to prepare.
Eventually, Leon and Baylen arrived at the Pope's office.
It was now where Sibelte carried out her duties.
After a light knock, Leon opened the door.
“You've arrived.”
Sibelte greeted him with a warm smile.
“Leon.”
“There were many things I wanted to discuss with you.”
“As it happens, I finally have some free time.”
“So... would you like to keep the promise we made a year ago and talk for a while?”
“I don't mind.”
“But... why is Priest Frey here?”
Sibelte wasn't alone.
Beside her sat Priest Frey, quietly sipping tea.
“It's been a while, Priest.”
“Haha!”
“It's good to see you again.”
Making the sign of the cross, Frey approached Leon.
He gently took Leon's hand in both of his.
“I know this may be sudden, but I truly wish to express my deepest gratitude.”
“Shamefully, everything had already ended while I was unconscious.”
Within those brief words lay countless emotions.
Guilt.
Regret.
Gratitude.
Relief.
Not a single one of them was insincere.
'He's always someone who shines.'
People this genuine were truly rare.
Feeling oddly burdened, Leon unconsciously turned his head away.
“I merely stood by and watched.”
“More importantly...”
“What did Your Holiness wish to speak with me about?”
Seeing Leon so obviously trying to change the subject, Frey smiled kindly.
Returning to his seat, he gestured toward the chair opposite him.
“Please, have a seat.”
“There is something I also wished to tell you, Brother.”