**[Transcendence Skill – ‘Dimension Transfer’ has been activated.]**
After activating Dimension Transfer, I hesitated again.
For some reason, I felt uneasy. It was as if I had forgotten something.
“Hmm…”
Let me think about this one more time. Is it really right to head straight to the Tower of Mages?
It was true that there was much to do at the Tower. It was also true that it was incredibly important. However, what I needed to consider was not the importance of the task, but the priority.
Once I entered the Tower of Mages, it would likely take a considerable amount of time before I could come out again. There was simply too much to investigate and learn. Since I was going in anyway, I wanted to make sure I achieved results before leaving.
So, as regrettable as it was.
“Let’s settle things outside properly before going to the Tower.”
It seemed right to postpone my reunion with Furnel a little longer.
I had heard from Claire that the Empire was fine for now, but I didn’t know the exact extent of that “fine.” Rather than leaving behind a lingering sense of unease, I judged that it was the correct order of business to finish the cleanup, conquer up to the 71st floor, and then enter the Tower.
And that cleanup included the issue with Airlights.
I couldn’t even guess where Airlights was or what she was doing.
– Airlights said… she was going to revive you, Hio. Something about becoming a god and bringing you back…
‘Had she found another clue regarding divinity?’
Hio had slowly and naturally obtained a divine status because the Goddess of Liphyue had directly handed him her authority. However, after obtaining this power himself, he realized it was not a capability that could be contained within a mere human body. It wasn’t something one could acquire without any preparation.
“…I’m worried.”
I would have to find her first and talk to her.
Thus, a brief moment of deliberation followed.
“Airlights or Vitalianus?”
‘Whom should I visit first? What was the priority?’
**[Set the target destination for Transcendence Skill – ‘Dimension Transfer’.]**
My hesitation was brief.
Vitalianus would likely do well on his own even without Hio, but Airlights was different. I was worried about what kind of trouble she might be causing right now. I also wanted to find out what that clue about becoming a god was.
“Let’s go to Airlights’ side.”
I wondered if it would activate this way, but Dimension Transfer did not disappoint, living up to its status as a Transcendence Skill.
**[Setting complete.]**
**[Continent: Verdan – Verdan Empire – Northern Borderlands]**
**[‘Dimension Transfer’ is beginning.]**
A violet rift appeared.
It was the moment the Imperial Golden Lion was about to tear through the crimson energy. Its ferocious and sharp teeth were just about to bite into the witch’s neck.
From the unknown depths of the underground to the highest reaches of the Celestial, an incomparably straight violet line appeared.
A linear crack formed—exactly in the middle, between the charging Golden Lion and Airlights, who was enveloped in crimson.
*Chachachak—*
Space began to fold.
As the air receded, an unrealistic dimensional rift was revealed. From within it, an overwhelming presence emerged.
It felt as if time had stopped. No, time was still flowing. It was simply being suppressed by the one appearing. Thus, it had merely slowed down.
Vitalianus’s sword was still thrusting toward the witch, but the witch’s gaze was not fixed on it. She was savoring the presence emerging from the cracked space, soaking in a sense of longing.
Vitalianus’s gaze also slowly turned.
Spread-wide black wings. Black pupils moving rapidly as if trying to grasp the situation within the slowed time.
A face that was incredibly familiar and welcome. Unbelievable, yet more reassuring than anything else.
It was the Magician.
It was Hio Pavlenko.
The Hero had returned to the continent.
Even though he recognized him, he couldn’t stop. The sword had already been extended, and the angry Lion’s Will already harbored the power to sweep away both the witch and the Magician right next to her.
No matter how great Hio Pavlenko was, he wouldn’t be able to immediately block a strike delivered with his full strength.
As if sensing the sword looming right before him, the Magician reached out toward it.
‘That’s foolish.’
It could not be avoided, nor could it be blocked. That was the nature of the Lion’s Will, the sword of a Hero.
…He certainly thought so, but,
“**[Celestial]**.”
What surged from the outstretched hand was a pure white light. Within it, a bright red flower bloomed.
Vitalianus clearly saw a single red flower blossoming. A calendula that had turned red after enduring, and enduring, and enduring.
A single flower blocked the lion’s sword. The Red Calendula, which had persevered for a lifetime, was something that could even withstand the convictions of a lion that had reigned for a lifetime.
Will clashed with will, and the impact shook the very space.
*Kaaaaang—!*
An explosion loud enough to tear eardrums erupted. An aftershock swept through.
As the will was withdrawn, the image of the Golden Lion gradually faded. The red flower that had blocked it also grew faint.
The smoke from the explosion receded quickly. As it cleared, the first thing visible was the black wings. The giant wings sprouted on Hio Pavlenko’s back were folded, wrapping around his body, and the witch was inside those wings with him.
The appearance of her raging and wielding crimson energy as she pleased was gone. Instead, she was nestled in his arms with the happiest expression in the world.
‘Had the witch and the Magician known each other from the beginning?’
Vitalianus slowly withdrew his sword and straightened his body. He looked at the Magician to seek an answer to the mystery.
“What… is the situation here?”
However, Hio, who was supposed to provide the answer, was merely scratching his cheek as well.
“Well… this really is something.”
It felt pointless to have debated whether to go to Airlights or Vitalianus first, as the two were together. And they were fighting as if they intended to kill each other, no less.
What were the ice golems scattered all over the ground, and what was the crimson energy spread everywhere? It was a power that felt almost like… divine authority.
Even though he wanted to ask what had happened, Airlights was simply clinging to Hio as if she were piggybacking on him. She didn’t say a word.
However, the emotions radiating from her were felt so clearly.
“Sigh… put some clothes on first.”
He took out a robe to cover her body and smoothed down her messy hair. Even then, Airlights was merely rubbing her cheek against him.
Looking around, he could see the crimson energy being gathered in an orderly fashion. Vitalianus was withdrawing his army, and the ice golems, which looked intimidating even at a glance, had moved far away according to Hio’s command.
“It’s certain that she’s become something…”
When he lowered his gaze again, he saw Airlights clinging to one of his arms and rubbing her forehead against it.
‘I can clearly feel the elevated grade of her soul and physical body.’
Even without that, there wasn’t a single trace of Kroetzwald-style Necromancy left. Her physical body was also an appearance closer to the original Airlights, rather than the dead body of the most noble elf from a thousand years ago. Only her hair and eyes had changed to a bright crimson.
“Airlights?”
“Yes.”
When he called her name, she answered readily. At the same time, emotions that couldn’t be described in words surged out, making him feel a bit embarrassed yet deeply grateful.
Since Vitalianus had also felt this ripple of emotion, he was likely withdrawing his troops without protest.
“Did you obtain divine authority? From where and how?”
“…”
But when he asked other things, she gave no answer. Perhaps she was unable to. She buried her head in his chest, sniffing or rubbing her cheek, but she did not reply.
He had known for a while that she wasn’t in a normal state. If she were sane, even if she were Airlights, she wouldn’t have led a golem army to invade the Empire. Moreover, the leaking emotions were a mixture of at least dozens of different kinds.
It would be appropriate to call it a state of chaos.
“How is her condition? Well… she seems to be the same as before, though.”
After giving various orders, Vitalianus returned to Hio and asked. Hio shrugged his shoulders, pointing to Airlights hanging onto his back.
“It seems she’s not in a state to have a conversation yet.”
“I was convinced she was just a witch. To think it was that woman from back then…”
“…She has changed quite a bit.”
Though it was only once or twice, Vitalianus had seen Airlights before. However, her state was so different from then that he hadn’t recognized her. Hadn’t he said that the suddenly elevated grade of her soul and the vessel of her body were beyond even his ability to fully measure?
“It seems she inherited a god’s authority… We’ll probably only know the details once Airlights regains her senses.”
“…A god’s authority. So that was the source of that terrible power. It’s hard to believe even after hearing it, but with two pieces of evidence right in front of me, it’s hard not to believe it.”
Vitalianus looked back and forth between Hio and Airlights. He had realized that the power Hio possessed was even more immense than hers.
“Let’s talk about the details while we move. I have to see Sylvia, and there’s a lot to do.”
“I agree. I too have so many questions that my mouth is itching.”
“…Yeah. It’s going to be a long story. I’ve identified the Master of the Abyssal Depths.”
“The Master, you say…?”
“The Master who rules over the Abyssal Depths and the Strange Entities. In the end, we have to kill that guy for this tedious war to end.”
A war that had continued for a thousand years, and even long before that. Eventually, it had seemed to end with the mutual destruction of the gods and the Master of the Abyssal Depths, but that was not the case.
Kreutzvalt had become the new Abyss, and the old gods had foreseen this. This was truly the chance to end the war.
Of course, having faced Kreutzvalt personally, he didn’t think he could defeat him with his current authority alone. He would have to gather more of the old gods’ authority before attempting it. Whether Kreutzvalt would wait until then was the key…
“For now, let’s finish the conversation while moving.”
To utilize the information he had obtained to its fullest, the active cooperation of the Empire was essential. Therefore, he had to meet Sylvia as soon as possible to discuss future matters.
Just as he was about to move quickly, one knight approached in a hurry.
“I received this late, but there was a message from Lady Claire.”
“Huh?”
“Yes. It’s…”
The knight swallowed hard, looking nervous as if he were anxious about the news he was about to deliver.
“She says the Holy Maiden is dying.”
“…When was that information delivered?”
“It hasn’t been long since it was delivered to our side, but a significant amount of time must have already passed since it was first acquired…”
“That’s a real problem.”
Considering the symbolism and the divinity the Holy Maiden possessed, she was a person of utmost importance who must never disappear.
“What will you do?”
At Vitalianus’s question, Hio brushed back his hair with a small sigh.
“…I’ll have to go there first.”
Airlights, hanging on his back, rubbed her face against him vigorously as if in agreement.