Chapter 116
Chapter 116: New Phase (1)
"So, Prophet. Is there a different reason you're wearing that eye-pierced mask today?"
On the cliff of the Stateless Territory. Verdi Reinhardt, leader of the Allied Nations, gazed at the masked man with a displeased expression.
"I was just in the mood for a change, nothing particularly significant."
"I'm not sure if it's because of that mask... but it seems like this operation has brought only massive losses to our Allied Nations."
The Allied Nations owed a debt to the Black Mage Group. To settle that debt, they had marched to the conflict zone to pressure the Astia Religious Order.
'But what comes after this wasn't part of the agreement.'
Until now, things had gone according to the Black Mage Group's flow, but in reality, it was a scheme by the Possessors belonging to the Allied Nations. Their objective was singular.
'Did we really move this many troops just to meet one man, Park Ji-hun?'
Verdi studied the Prophet intently.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Thanks to us, we've paid off the Black Mage Group bastards' debt and finished everything that needed handling, haven't we?"
The man who called himself Prophet always wore a mask covering his entire face. He was someone who expressed emotions by drawing the shapes of eyes, nose, and mouth on his white mask. However, this mask was a form he had never seen before.
'Are those real eyes? A snake... No, they look similar to a dragon's eyes.'
In response to his suspicious gaze, the Prophet only let out a mysterious laugh.
"Hehehe."
Eventually, Verdi pulled out the Prophet's true name and began to pressure him.
"Possessor, Kim Soo-ho. Stop playing Prophet and reveal what's really on your mind."
"Ah, I told you not to call me by that name... but now that we've found Ji-hun, does it matter?"
The Prophet's vertically slit pupils expanded into round shapes.
"The name Park Ji-hun—those three syllables seem to strike a chord in your heart?"
Verdi halted the column of the Allied Nations army that had been returning. It seemed they would need to resolve this issue before continuing their next moves.
"I simply don't understand."
There had been pressure from Riferoze and the Papal See, so a long conversation was impossible. But... Even from that brief exchange, it was not difficult to grasp the existence of Jang Du-sik, who was called Park Ji-hun.
"Are you crazy! I'm Jang Du-sik, so why do you keep calling me Park Ji-hun?"
A mage holding a club of all things. With the speech pattern of a street thug and the behavior of scratching his stubble-shaven head in front of a king.
'No different from a street punk in a slum.'
Thinking of Jang Du-sik's appearance, Verdi found it completely unbelievable.
"How could that street thug possibly be the civilized, intelligent Park Ji-hun?"
"Actually, Ji-hun is the clever type. And that club—it's a branch of the World Tree."
"Do you not understand the meaning of clever? That's ignorance. A branch of the World Tree? Don't tell me that white witch Riferoze tore it off for him?"
"Hehehehe, it might look that way to those who don't know."
Possessor Kim Soo-ho laughed softly.
"Look at the true intent behind his actions. The moment Riferoze appeared, he just lay down!"
"Hmm—. Lying down directly to face that white witch was shocking, but... wasn't that reckless courage born from ignorance rather than cunning?"
"That's all an act to mooch off her. According to Guildmaster Nuna, that Park Ji-hun was as cunning as a fox."
"A fox?"
"Something like Fenrir. But, this is Garcian Kingdom territory—shouldn't we keep moving?"
Verdi tilted his head.
"My questions still haven't been answered."
She stared intently at the serpent-like eyes behind the mask.
"Why would such a fox-like fellow need to pretend to be ignorant? You said he was originally a fairly outstanding talent from a place called Earth?"
"It's a different world, isn't it? That guy was someone who had it all on Earth."
He was a third-generation chaebol heir who had inherited his mother's exceptional genes, giving him outstanding looks as well.
"Someone who lived without any worldly lacks. A born rich man who made money just by breathing. And the third son of a mega-conglomerate! Despite all that, he was incredibly skilled at games too—."
The implication was: How much must someone who lived without hardship on Earth have struggled in this barbaric world?
"That guy must have been possessed around ten years ago when the Paladin class first had Possessors. Given how easily he lived on Earth, how difficult must it have been?"
"So that's why he acts like such a street thug?"
"Exactly! His defense mechanism became that strong because he was so successful before."
Verdi slightly raised his head, which had been tilted at 45 degrees. Yet it was still tilted at about 30 degrees.
"What else is the problem? You, the leader of the Allied Nations, have so many curiosities—."
"You all searched so desperately for Park Ji-hun, and now you've found him? It's only natural that I'd be curious."
Was it curiosity? The Prophet behind the mask read Verdi's true feelings.
'That's a suspicion.'
Had they made Jang Du-sik be mistaken for Park Ji-hun, and used the Allied Nations' army for their own purposes? It was clearly a suspicious look. To that, Kim Soo-ho quickly thrust a crystal orb toward her.
"When your Excellency sent us even this kind of evidence, and you still can't believe it even after seeing it, what are you trying to do?"
Kim Soo-ho mentioned "Your Excellency," the head of their own organization, as he thrust the crystal orb forward.
"Even though five years have passed with mountains and rivers changing halfway, this Jang Du-sik hasn't forgotten his sister's teachings and is trying to live like a proper person."
Within it, one could see Jang Du-sik reciting weighty words toward Riferoze.
"Huh."
Verdi let out a sigh. The discrepancy from what he had heard was severe.
'Seeing Jang Du-sik's actual appearance makes it even harder to believe.'
Verdi swept back her ash-colored hair and looked up at the sky. She seemed somewhat persuaded.
"Most importantly, Sacred Mage. This is the greatest evidence that Jang Du-sik is the Possessor Park Ji-hun."
Kim Soo-ho quickly drove the wedge home.
"He's a Paladin class, so he handles Divine Power through his status window, and he learned magic in that ignorant body."
"Similar to you, then?"
"Exactly."
"What's the evidence that he's a Paladin?"
"That Park Ji-hun bastard unlocked the Paladin class and completely looted the guild vault, right? Even a rich guy wouldn't know how to do that... Anyway, there are over 100 people who saw it then. If necessary, we could even ask Guildmaster Nuna—."
"I'll believe you."
The testimony of Possessors. The guarantee of the Guild Master, the right hand of His Excellency. There were enough grounds to believe. Verdi lowered his raised hand. At the same time, the Allied army column began to move.
"So, now we just need to deal with the Garcian Kingdom?"
"Deal with it? What a harsh way to put it! We just need to briefly meet with the religious leader hidden there."
Verdi narrowed her eyes. The Possessors' objective was to move the headquarters of the Almanism Church to the Allied Nations. It was beneficial from the Allied Nations' perspective, but looking at the world's balance of power, there were many ambiguous aspects.
"If the Almanism Church leaves Garcian Kingdom, how will the Empire stop it?"
"The Almanism Church has nowhere to cling to anyway. They squeezed the Astia Religious Order like suckers and made enemies with the Imperial Emperor. That's karma, karma."
Whether it was karma or whatever, if the Almanism Church left, Garcian Kingdom would have nothing to rely on. However, the Possessors understood the true nature of the kingdom.
"Anyway, all the top brass of Garcian Kingdom have been eaten by Black Mages. The religious leader is probably still wondering whether to leave or not?"
So, the Allied Nations just needed to become the rope they could hold onto, the argument went.
"The Almanism Church will grasp our rope and follow us."
***
Saaaa!
A colossal Paladin stepped through the undulating golden waves. With that heavy footstep, the darkness that filled the earth was driven away. Watching the darkness being pushed back, Erik fell into thought.
'I searched the entire world to destroy that hell...'
They had struggled to break hell itself, citing scripture and whatnot. But that entire process had been meaningless. In the end, hell was destroyed.
"I said I would meet my disciple. Who would dare block my path?"
The method was extremely simple. The most simple yet sublime law in the world. It was simply: strength. In other words, strength is almighty.
'I've become stronger.'
Erik also crushed the Descendent with his strength. The source of his power was anger.
'Money solves everything if you have enough of it.'
What materialized that strength was [Gold].
'There was also the benefit of training.'
What wielded that strength was a trained sense and body. Training with the Master was an enormous help. He could adjust the [Judgment] skill so that Enhancement only occurred for Ruelle and not for others. By utilizing various skills more efficiently and running Divine Power more effectively, he could draw out even greater power.
'And on top of that, the flames of Lu-Solace.'
All of these combined had transformed Erik's body.
Crackle!
Over the colossal body, platinum-white flames flickered. Behind his back, three pairs of magnificent wings fluttered, and in his hand, the giant greatsword shone with golden radiance.
'I am strong.'
Erik's power tore through every enemy with overwhelming force. Not only the descended calamity but all the monsters in the deep layers of the Labyrinth surrounding the area—he killed them all.
Before him lay the corpse of the Descendent made of ten thousand demons, motionless. A Descendent that would no longer regenerate. Its death was confirmed.
Saaaa!
Over the corpse of the ten thousand demons, golden fragments sparkled. These were souls. Freshly devoured souls at that.
'Erica.'
Normally, Erik would have prayed for their peace and sent them to God. But now he acted differently.
"Ruelle."
"Yeah."
Erik looked to the side. He could see Ruelle struggling to drag a long spear. Erik took the spear and planted it in the ground.
Kuung!
The shadow caught on the spear tip writhed. Erik narrowed his eyes.
[Lv.1]
[Class: Black Mage]
"A shadow jumped out from within the Labyrinth's darkness."
Watching Erik like this, Ruelle recited what had happened to her. The shadow became revealed in the Labyrinth, now brightened by Erik's power. She had waited in the shadow's path, thrust her spear, and that's what she caught, she explained.
"Were there any dangerous moments?"
"Except for the spear being heavy, there weren't any real problems."
Erik reassured himself and turned his gaze toward the spear.
'Even I didn't know what would come out. Thank goodness.'
Crackle!
[Holy Spear Lu-Solace's Wedge]
The Sacred Relic-grade item and Ruelle's Divine Power meshed together, causing the shadow to burn in the flames.
"Smile?"
The shadow's face smiled brightly as it looked at Erik.
"Should I put out the fire?"
"Let it be."
"Then it'll die?"
"If it dies, it still has use."
Erik spoke thus and gazed at the light clusters in the sky. White light clusters representing souls drifted through the air. Erik intended to find peace for those souls.
Zzzzhing!
With Erik's clap, all the light clusters rushed toward him. Their number was extraordinary. Even those from distant places came rushing.
'That direction... that's where Du-sik is.'
The deep place of the Demon Realm. From where Erik stood, the outside world was not visible. Darkness without sunlight. Only the range touched by Erik's divinity held light.
"It seems someone died there too."
Even so, he could at least gauge the direction. Clearly, many light clusters were flying from the direction of his companions left behind.
"W-wait. Could it be?"
"It's not Du-sik or Janson."
"J-Ji-na, then?"
"The three Possessors seem to be alive."
Those who had received his sanctity would show some sign if they died.
"What matters is Erica."
Erik spoke thus and calmly explained what he would do next. He was going to spend 10 billion Gold to purchase the [Resurrection] skill.
"Is it possible to revive the dead?"
Unable to believe even after hearing the explanation, Ruelle's cyan eyes trembled.
'Something no one in the world has ever achieved.'
As Ruelle stood in amazement, Erik moved his hand through the air. It seemed like he was manipulating something.
'The expenditure is significant.'
Erik manipulated his status window and purchased the [Resurrection] skill. His assets, which had been around 35 billion, had been reduced to 30 billion through training with the Master and this battle. Now, by purchasing [Resurrection], he had reduced it to 20 billion. In exchange.
Flash!
[Erik - 4th Tier Divine Power]
[Possessed Skills: Creation, Wings of Radiance, Meteor Shower, Judgment, Resurrection (New!)]
[Possessed Gold: 20,581,888,500]
He had gained a strength that didn't exist in the world. Named: Resurrection. The resurrection of the dead—something that didn't exist in ancient scriptures or any nation's records.
"See for yourself."
Erik smiled at Ruelle. The meaning was that he truly intended to bring the dead back to life. After hearing even the explanation of the status window.
"R-Resurrection? You mean all these lights are souls?"
Ruelle opened her eyes wide and asked. To her eyes, the light clusters that followed Erik were clearly visible. And at her words, Erik was also greatly surprised.
"Can you see it?"
"Yeah. You mean those white light clusters, right?"
To see the image of souls, one needed to be at least a high-ranking Archbishop, but Ruelle's Divine Power seemed to have grown in no ordinary way.
'It's not just a simple increase in quantity.'
As he felt from the flames adorning the spear, its quality too seemed to have improved to a remarkably enhanced level. Erik continued calmly.
"These are souls. Those caught by Black Mages and not completely absorbed remain in the world like this."
"Then?"
"Killing the Black Mage and sending the remaining souls to God's embrace was originally what we did."
To Erik, who spoke thus, one question occurred.
'What about me?'
He was a god. There was much lacking in truly claiming to be God, but in terms of the system, he was an entity with undeniable divine status.
"What's different now?"
"Things have changed somewhat, but—"
Yet, the work remained unchanged.
'I simply mourn sincerely.'
It was respect for the dead.
"—Even now, mourning and praying for their peace remains the same."
Slash!
Having finished speaking, Erik swung the Sword of Creation.
Zzzzhing!
The world resonated, and a brilliant Divine Temple world was revealed. Erik stood at the entrance to the path leading to his Divine Temple. Then he put his hands together and closed his eyes. Ruelle also stood on the opposite side and took the same posture.
"The souls that suffered in darkness are now liberated. May they find peace in God's embrace."
A prayer of mourning recited simultaneously by both. At that tone, the white light clusters scattered in all directions. Some flew high into the sky, and light also circled around Erik.
Uuuung!
The light clusters circling around Erik soon rose high into the sky and disappeared. However, not everything left him. One light. It followed the path of Creation that Erik had opened and disappeared into the Divine Temple.
'Those who should leave do so, and those who should stay come of their own accord...'
Accepting death was each soul's own matter. Moreover, the energy of the soul that chose him was definitely a familiar feeling.
'So this actually works.'
A smile appeared on Erik's lips. The reason was that a change had occurred in his status window. As he was surprised thus, the flames of the Holy Spear intensified. Erik turned his gaze in that direction.
Crackle!
The shadow caught on the spear tip completely burned away in fire. And from within, a soul of very pure color appeared. However, this soul felt different. Its color was also different.
'Can it be controlled?'
Toward the red-light soul sphere, Erik raised his Divine Power.
Saaaa!
The soul disappeared into Erik's Divine Temple following the path of sanctity.
Flash!
[Resurrection]
[Erica: 200,000GP]
[GP: 1GP]
'The structure where gods bought with GP are appointed with Gold, and resurrection bought with skills is done with GP.'
Erik drew a bright smile.
"Ruelle."
"Huh? Erik! W-Why are you suddenly smiling?"
Ruelle felt puzzled seeing Erik's clear smile in such a grave situation. What reason could he have to smile at a time like this?
'The atmosphere suddenly...'
As she stood confused, Erik stepped closer. Then he spoke.
"As long as there is a Dedication Prayer Ceremony of Ruelle's, death will become an impossible thing from now on."