Chapter 208 - 207 : Darkness vs Light (3)
The spear tore through the sky like a falling star.
Holy light wrapped around its shaft and tip, transforming it into a brilliant streak of gold that sliced through the darkness. The air shrieked violently in its wake, and the pressure alone was enough to make Barbatos’s shadowy scales tremble.
Arthur’s eyes widened for a brief moment.
Then he clicked his tongue.
"So, you want to fight, huh..." Arthur muttered.
His vision shifted.
[ Omnicognition Activated. ]
In the span of a single breath, he saw everything.
The spear’s exact trajectory.
Its speed.
Its angle.
The precise moment it would reach his head.
The way the air flowed around it.
The countless possible points of impact.
The density of the holy mana spiraling around its tip.
Every calculation flooded into his mind and settled instantly, perfectly organized.
Arthur’s lips parted.
"Barbatos," he said calmly.
"Dragon Breath."
"Now."
The shadow dragon obeyed without the slightest hesitation.
His jaws opened wide.
Shadowy lungs expanded.
A torrent of condensed darkness and blazing heat erupted from his mouth—a Dragon Breath forged from pure shadow-flames and destructive mana. It roared upward, colliding head-on with the descending spear.
BOOM!
The heavens shook.
Holy light crashed against shadow fire as two opposing forces struggled violently against one another. Radiance and darkness devoured each other, their collision illuminating the night like a miniature sun being swallowed by an endless abyss.
Sparks of holy light and fragments of mana scattered across the sky.
Arthur immediately felt the strain.
Mana poured out of his body, reinforcing Barbatos’s Dragon Breath and preventing it from collapsing beneath the spear’s overwhelming force.
Then...
He activated another ability.
[ Crown of Sorcery Activated. ]
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"Nullify."
His authority seized the holy energy surrounding the spear.
The divine mana wrapped around its shaft.
The radiant power driving its unstoppable momentum.
Everything.
His will descended upon it.
Twisting.
Dissecting.
Erasing.
The golden radiance flickering around the spear faltered.
Then...
It vanished completely.
Without its holy energy, the spear was nothing more than an ordinary weapon struggling against a tidal wave.
Barbatos’s Dragon Breath swallowed it whole.
CRACK!
The spear shattered.
Fragments of blessed steel exploded into countless pieces before being consumed by the lingering shadow flames, leaving behind nothing but fading embers and drifting smoke.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Every Holy Knight looked upward.
Priests.
Paladins.
Archers.
Every one of them stared into the sky with widened eyes, disbelief written across their faces.
Leonis’s spear...
A weapon empowered by miracles, divine blessings, and the holy mana of the Church...
Had been destroyed by a single attack.
Only two people remained composed.
Leonis.
Scarlett.
Leonis’s brown eyes met Arthur’s blood-red gaze.
Scarlett’s golden eyes did the same.
For a brief moment...
The battlefield grew eerily silent.
Arthur smiled faintly.
Looking down at them, he slowly mouthed a few words.
"Tell your master..."
"I’ll meet him soon."
Leonis’s pupils contracted.
Scarlett’s expression stiffened.
They understood immediately.
He had noticed them.
He knew exactly who they served.
Barbatos spread his wings.
Without another glance, the shadow dragon turned away from the battlefield and disappeared into the darkness of the forest, his silhouette fading into the night.
Arthur let out a slow breath.
He glanced at the notifications floating before his vision.
[ Mana Remaining: 40,500 ]
[ Mana Remaining: 41,500 ]
[ Mana Remaining: 42,500 ]
The numbers steadily climbed as his Mana Heart continuously replenished his reserves.
Even so...
Arthur sighed.
"Still too low."
"If I end up in a prolonged battle, I’m going to get roasted."
He shook his head.
"I really need to increase my mana capacity."
"It took an absurd amount of mana just to erase the holy energy from that damn spear."
───────────────
A few minutes later...
Barbatos carried Arthur back toward the mansion beside the World Tree.
Its colossal trunk stood beneath the moonlight like an ancient guardian, while its blackened roots spread across the earth like the veins of some long-forgotten titan.
Barbatos descended gracefully, landing near the mansion.
Arthur hopped off his back.
He turned toward the shadow dragon.
"You can return now."
Barbatos lowered his head in acknowledgment.
The next instant...
His enormous body dissolved into darkness.
Wings.
Claws.
Horns.
Everything collapsed inward until only a thin shadow remained.
That shadow slid silently across the ground before merging seamlessly with Arthur’s own.
As though it had never existed.
Arthur turned toward the World Tree.
Then began walking.
───────────────
Up close...
The World Tree looked even more monstrous.
Its trunk was wider than several mansions combined, its bark covered with deep grooves and ancient scars that seemed older than history itself.
Its enormous roots sprawled across the land like petrified rivers.
Some disappeared deep beneath the earth.
Others arched high above the ground like natural bridges.
The blackened patches around its base resembled a spreading disease—veins of corruption slowly crawling across living wood.
Arthur approached quietly.
The moment he stepped within the outer ring of roots...
The skeletal figures scattered around the tree stirred.
Bones clattered softly.
One after another, skeletons rose from the ground.
Pale blue flames flickered inside their empty eye sockets.
Each one gripped a rusted weapon or a battered shield, silently standing guard around the World Tree.
Every skull turned toward Arthur.
Then...
They recognized him.
The faint demonic aura surrounding his body.
The death mana clinging to his soul.
The unmistakable presence of the one they served.
Instantly...
Every skeleton lowered its weapon.
Without a single sound, they returned to the ground as though invisible strings had been cut.
Within seconds, they were nothing more than lifeless piles of bones once again.
This wasn’t the first time Arthur had witnessed it.
Nearly every day, whenever he approached the World Tree...
The dead responded to him.
And every single time...
It fascinated him.
’The ability to command someone even after death...’
’That’s a terrifying power.’
Arthur stepped closer.
Slowly...
He placed his hand against the World Tree.
The bark felt rough and cool beneath his fingertips.
A quiet pulse flowed through it.
Life.
Death.
And something else.
Something ancient.
Something far older than either.
"The only mystery left to solve..."
"...is you."
Arthur lifted his gaze toward the towering tree.
"If she wanted to wipe out the elves..."
"...she could have done it long ago."
There was no reason to go through all of this.
"No need to slowly corrupt the World Tree."
He frowned.
"So..."
"What exactly is she trying to accomplish?"
His eyes followed the dark veins spreading across the bark.
"Is she killing the tree..."
"...or transforming it into something else?"
"I can’t tell."
A calm voice suddenly broke the silence.
"You left the forest without my permission."
Arthur turned his head.
He had already recognized the voice.
Astarte.
She emerged silently from the shadows.
Moonlight bathed her figure, causing her obsidian horns to gleam faintly.
She wore delicate black nightwear made from thin silk that clung to her body with almost unfair perfection.
The soft fabric traced every graceful curve, hugging her waist and chest while leaving just enough exposed to make any ordinary man lose his composure.
Arthur swallowed hard.
’She’s seriously trying to kill me...’
’Just in a completely different way.’
He forced himself to remain calm.
Astarte’s dark eyes rested on him.
"What?"
She tilted her head ever so slightly.
"Do you like this outfit?"
Arthur’s mind completely shut down.
His instincts screamed.
His mouth, however, chose survival.
"So..."
"My lady."
He cleared his throat.
"Would you finally answer a few of my questions?"
He gestured toward the World Tree.
"And perhaps explain what you’re doing here..."
"...along with what happened with those Holy Knights."
Astarte remained silent for a moment.
Her gaze drifted toward the World Tree.
She looked at it quietly.
Almost thoughtfully.
Finally...
She spoke.
"I have a contract..."
"...with the previous Elven Monarch."
"And I intend to honor it."
Arthur blinked.
"A contract..."
He repeated the words quietly beneath his breath.
Astarte continued.
"As for those Holy Knights..."
"I can tell you this much."
Her expression darkened slightly.
"Someone..."
"...is hunting Demon Lords."
Arthur’s eyes narrowed.
"And that person..."
"...is absurdly powerful."
She slowly raised one hand.
Her fingers curled slightly, as though remembering an old wound.
"Even I failed to kill them."
A brief silence followed.
"And I nearly lost my own life instead."
Arthur froze.
His mouth hung slightly open.
’Someone powerful enough to hunt Demon Lords...’
’Someone who almost killed Astarte...’
’This is bad.’
’Really bad.’
His thoughts raced.
’I need to tell Erica...And Yuna this place isn’t safe.’
Astarte looked back at him.
"What?"
She smiled faintly.
"Are you starting to regret asking to form a Soul Bond with me?"
Arthur smiled back.
Not nervously.
Curiously.
"Would you mind...telling me a little more?"
Astarte’s voice came out cold.
"You truly are greedy aren’t you."
______________________
Far away, in a land bathed in gold and light, another palace dominated the horizon.
It had been built almost entirely from gleaming gold and flawless white stone, adorned with intricate carvings and countless precious gems. Towering spires reached toward the heavens, elegant arches connected sprawling corridors, and every surface shimmered beneath the sunlight as though the palace itself had been crafted to honor the gods.
Inside one of its grand inner halls stood a colossal statue.
The Goddess of Life and Light.
She was portrayed as a serene woman draped in flowing robes, her arms slightly outstretched, her palms open in blessing. Her face was calm and compassionate, while her carved eyes gazed gently upon all who stood before her. Light crystals embedded throughout the hall refracted the sunlight into countless shimmering beams, making the statue appear almost alive.
It was breathtaking.
Magnificent.
Overwhelming.
Before the statue, a young man knelt in silent prayer.
He appeared to be in his early twenties.
Brown hair.
Brown eyes.
His handsome features carried an innocent, approachable charm capable of lowering anyone’s guard. He wore pristine white robes embroidered with golden threads, the attire of someone who held an exceptionally high position within the Church.
His eyes remained peacefully closed.
Completely devoted.
Soft footsteps echoed through the hall.
A priestess hurried inside, her robes rustling as she approached before bowing respectfully.
"My Lord," she said.
"Sir Leonis and Lady Scarlett have returned."
She paused briefly before adding,
"As you instructed."
The young man slowly rose to his feet.
Turning toward her, he offered a warm smile.
It was gentle.
Kind.
Almost impossibly pure.
For a brief moment, the priestess felt her heart tremble.
It was as though every burden in her life had simply disappeared.
"Thank you for your hard work," the young man said softly.
"May the Goddess’s blessings always be with you."
The priestess lowered her head even further.
At that moment, she felt as though she would gladly lay down her life if he asked.
"Y-Yes... My Lord."
The young man walked past her.
His footsteps echoed quietly through the golden corridors, his robes swaying gently behind him.
As he walked, the holy light surrounding him seemed to brighten ever so slightly.
Halfway down the corridor...
He stopped.
A translucent holographic screen materialized before his eyes.
Countless symbols and streams of information floated across its surface, visible only to him.
"Miria."
A soft voice answered immediately.
[ Yes, Host. ]
"Come out."
Blue particles gathered beside him.
A small figure gradually emerged from the light.
She looked no older than ten or eleven years old.
Soft blue hair framed an adorably innocent face, while her pale blue eyes held an unsettling sharpness that didn’t belong to a child.
She stood quietly beside him.
[ Do you require something, Host? ]
The young man folded his arms.
"What do you think of that red-eyed boy we just witnessed?"
Miria tilted her head slightly.
[ There are only three levels separating the two of you. ]
[ You should not underestimate him. ]
[ The power he possesses is... troublesome. ]
The young man’s eyes narrowed.
"And what power would that be?"
Miria remained silent for a brief moment before answering.
[ The power... to absorb Systems. ]
The young man’s pupils contracted.
Then...
A smile slowly spread across his face.
"Interesting..."
"A Level Three challenging a Level Eight..."
He chuckled softly.
"I believe he’s Lucas’s younger brother."
"The one who recently caused such a spectacular commotion."
He resumed walking.
"I wonder..."
"...what kind of expression he’ll make when everything he has is taken from him."
His smile widened ever so slightly.
"It seems I’ll have even more to enjoy from now on."
"That System of his....has frightening potential."
"It could become an extremely useful tool."
"...if handled properly."
He eventually stopped before a spacious balcony.
Stepping outside, he overlooked the vast courtyard below.
Thousands of followers had gathered beneath him.
Priests.
Holy Knights.
Nobles.
Common citizens.
Every one of them knelt in absolute devotion before the towering statue of the Goddess.
Some prayed to the Goddess.
Others prayed...
To the man standing above them.
Their voices merged into a single chorus of unwavering faith.
One notification after another appeared before his eyes.
[ You have gained 100 Faith Points. ]
[ You have gained 300 Faith Points. ]
[ You have gained 200 Faith Points. ]
[ You have gained 500 Faith Points. ]
More notifications continued to appear without end.
He ignored every single one.
A faint smile remained on his lips.
"After all.....Faith is the greatest power in this world."
He lifted his gaze toward the distant horizon.
Toward the direction where Arthur was.
"I’m looking forward to meeting you..."
"...Arthur."
His voice was soft.
Almost gentle.
Yet beneath that gentleness lurked something far darker.
Miria quietly watched her Host.
A small smile appeared on her innocent face.
It was sharp.
Cunning.
Completely out of place on someone who looked like a child.
’I hope you’ll be useful, Host. Unlike the others, you’re the best of them all, after all. So don’t disappoint me.’