A staff fluttered through the air.
Trailing behind it was a long streak of pure white light, forming a Magic Circle.
Even someone who knew nothing about magic would find it so beautiful that the words “magic circle” would escape their lips involuntarily. The released Magic Power coalesced into glowing points, which connected into lines, and eventually expanded into planes.
Soon, a sequence of geometric patterns was completed. All sorts of complex symbols were arranged and clustered together, filling a large circle.
The surroundings were as quiet as a grave.
The High Priests and the Holy Knight Order led by Irina.
The Royal Knights, including Claire and Melissa.
The group of Possessors, where Antipus and Daphne stood.
Countless other knights, and even Vitalianus, who stood at the very front.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Hio’s movements, the tip of his staff, and the form of the magnificent Magic Circle it drew.
They were in a wide, empty clearing.
In its center, a massive Magic Circle was being drawn.
By the time it was half-filled and radiating a brilliant light from the force of Magic Power, a wind began to blow. It was a pale green wind, the likes of which no one had ever seen or heard of before.
“What is he trying to…”
“Shh!”
Even the members of the expeditionary force who had been with Hio since the Conquest Floor were seeing this for the first time. The magic he had used until now didn’t require such a meticulously drawn Magic Circle; usually, a few swings of his staff would result in an endless barrage of explosions.
That was why they were curious about how incredible this magic would be. Yet, they were careful even with their breathing, fearing they might disturb Hio’s concentration.
Before long, the giant circle was filled with all sorts of patterns.
At a glance, it looked like a chaotic mess, but perhaps only Hio truly understood the profound and delicate craftsmanship behind it.
The completed Magic Circle erupted with light once more.
It wasn’t a soft glow, but a radiance so bright that one had to close their eyes. The pale green wind blew even more intensely. This was the result of the interaction between the inscribed patterns and the Magic Power.
*Rumble —*
The vibration was so strong that the ground beneath their feet shook.
A blinding light that forced everyone to frown. A trembling earth.
‘What could possibly be coming? What kind of magic was being completed that just its residual effects could cause such a thing?’
This thought crossed the minds of most in the expedition. As they braced themselves against the strong tremors and squinted through the intense light, they never took their eyes off the Magic Circle.
However, the light radiating from the circle eventually became so overwhelming that they were forced to shut their eyes.
As the light faded, the vibrations that had been shaking the ground abruptly stopped.
It was only natural that the expedition members quickly opened their eyes. And what they saw was…
“…Hmm?”
“What? What changed?”
Nothing had changed in the space.
Only the brilliantly glowing Magic Circle had vanished as if it had never existed. Everything else remained exactly the same.
Knowing the flashy magic Hio had shown them so far, they expected a spell prepared with this much effort to be something grand and majestic.
Just as disappointment was about to set in, a small sound echoed from somewhere. It was a faint sound of someone munching rapidly.
Everyone’s gaze slowly lowered toward the sound.
Because they had expected a majestic and flashy spell, they had stepped back quite a bit. Their eyes had been focused somewhere between the sky and the ground, causing them to miss the small figure.
*Om nom nom nom!*
The one who had suddenly appeared where the Magic Circle had been was a girl with pale green hair. She was a presence that looked more like a child than a girl.
“What is that…”
They were so bewildered that words failed them. After such a ruckus, the thing that appeared was such a tiny child. Moreover, she wasn’t just standing there; she was holding bread in both hands.
*Om nom nom nom nom!*
The munching sound they had been hearing was her stuffing her mouth with bread. Despite the gazes of so many people, her pale green eyes darted around while her mouth continued to move tirelessly, swallowing the bread.
Silence settled over the Abyss 58th Floor, where the fog hung thick in the distance.
‘What kind of magic was this after such a grand preparation? Who was this small child?’
Since Hio, the one who cast the spell, remained still, the others were busy trying to figure out the situation.
Only the sound of bread being chewed echoed softly.
*Om nom nom nom nom!*
But that silence did not last long. The pale green child, who had been steadfastly eating while glancing around, finally finished the bread in her hands.
Only then did Hio start to move.
“…Freya.”
At Hio’s call, Freya looked at him with pure, clear eyes.
“Is it delicious?”
*Nod, nod!*
Hio brushed the breadcrumbs off her mouth and stroked her hair.
“I summoned you slowly on purpose so you wouldn’t be flustered, but I guess you took the time to grab some bread instead.”
*Nod, nod!*
She must have been eating the bread Hio had bought for her when she felt the sign of summoning and grabbed as much as she could with both hands.
“Anyway, do you see that city over there? Could you blow all of it away?”
Freya thought for a moment and then looked up at Hio with a puzzled expression. Hio nodded at her look, which seemed to ask if she was really allowed to do that.
“It’s fine. If possible, it would be great if you could also blow away that toxic mist infused with Magic Power.”
At Hio’s confirmation, Freya finally broke into a wide smile and raised both arms high.
Understanding her intent, Hio picked her up as she reached out.
“You can do it, right?”
*Nod, nod!*
Hio took a stance while holding her. It looked as if he were about to throw her, and the knights watching instinctively stepped forward to stop him, but…
“Blow it all away.”
With those words, Hio threw Freya high into the sky.
“G-Guardian Knight! What are you…!”
The bewildered shouts and murmurs of the knights erupted. Regardless, Freya flew through the air with a very happy expression.
Soon, the small figure’s speed slowed down, and when she reached the highest point…
*Kaaaa-boom — !*
A wind began to blow, far stronger than anything before. It was a gale so fierce that everyone who had been staring blankly at the sky was forced to duck their heads.
As they lowered their gaze, a shadow began to slowly loom over them. Something massive had appeared above their heads, in the sky.
They wanted to look up, but it was impossible.
*Kaaaaaa-boom — !*
It was all they could do to maintain their balance in the middle of the storm. Even though they were all powerful knights, that was their limit.
However, there are always those who are exceptionally strong even among the elite. They forced their heads up to peer through the storm.
And so, they were able to see it.
Amidst the violent winds that felt like they would blow their bodies away, they saw a glinting green light. Those ferocious eyes.
And then…
*Kaaaaaaaa — !*
A breath was fired into the distance.
No, it was a Great Catastrophe disguised as a breath.
The city crumbled into dust instantly. The gray fog retreated in a frenzy. This storm they were currently experiencing was merely the aftereffect of that power.
The knights who witnessed this had no choice but to realize it.
“A… a dragon.”
As of today, the common sense of the world would be overturned. There were no dragons in the world of Ventair. Most of the occasional rumors were just nonsense born from skill effects.
Thus, the rumors about a dragon heard in Hibernia a few months ago were considered part of that. Those rumors had died down quickly, confirming their suspicion.
But then, what on earth was this thing before their eyes?
*Kaaaaaaaa — !*
A torrent of green breath poured down. The gray city crumbled helplessly.
[**BE GONE**]
A profound resonance that couldn’t be understood. Simultaneously, the gray fog vanished.
‘Was this truly possible?’
Antipus stared into the storm with hollow eyes. Now, even the will to catch up didn’t arise.
A dragon.
“Ha.”
Only a hollow laugh escaped him. How could he ever surpass a human who summoned and controlled such a thing? No matter how much he struggled, he would only be overshadowed by those magnificent effects.
Ultimately, the one who would remain in everyone’s memory was Hio Pavlenko.
Now that he had lost his fighting spirit, it was all over for him. The end of a ruler who failed to dominate was obvious.
‘Should he have never chosen this path from the start? Was the problem that he dared to challenge Jijoncheonma?’
No, what was the point of such thoughts? The penalty for failure had already begun to take effect.
One who fails to dominate is no longer a ruler. They are just a failure.
Since last month, the failure penalty had been slowly tightening its grip, cutting the stats that had been inflated by his trait and lowering the ranks of his skills.
Even at this moment, it continued, slowly but surely.
As if telling him to dominate quickly. As if warning him that if he didn’t, he would eventually be shoved into the bottom of the abyss. The mere thought of it made it hard to breathe. He felt like he was losing his mind.
The power he had spent years striving to build was disappearing so easily.
‘What should he have done? No, what should he do now?’
‘Was he forced to just watch his vanishing power with his hands tied?’
His eyes were vacant. His hollow gaze looked up at the sky.
A mighty power that seemed like it could flip the whole world upside down.
And within his dazed mind…
‘Are you still hesitating?’
The voice spoke again.
‘The method is simple.’
A voice that was incredibly sinister yet incredibly sweet.
‘Will you fall like this? Will you end as a failure?’
Antipus said nothing. He didn’t deny it, nor did he agree; he just stared at the dragon in the sky.
A city turning to dust in the wind. Fog evaporating at a single gesture as if terrified.
That was a ruler. That was the ultimate form of a ruler he had desired.
The voice in his head chuckled as if reading his heart.
‘It seems you are ready.’
He couldn’t remain a failure like this. He couldn’t vanish helplessly without even trying anything.
Then what should he do? How could he surpass Jijoncheonma, who even controlled such a dragon?
‘It’s simple. Just do as I say.’
The voice told him the way.
‘The consequences of your actions will be insignificant. So, you don’t need to feel any guilt.’
The voice was presenting Antipus with a possibility. A possibility of not remaining a failure. A possibility of standing tall as a ruler once again.
The voice was his hope.
‘Once the fog retreats and the city is erased, the Floor Core will appear.’
Emptying his thoughts made his mind feel at ease.
‘You just need to destroy it. Since it’s a floor known for such things, no one will be suspicious, and nothing else will happen.’
It was certainly a very rational statement.
If he didn’t doubt, his mind was at peace.
Anyway, the plan was to either destroy or control the Floor Core, so he just had to be the one to break it with his own hands. It was an easy task.
‘Only one person. Only Jijoncheonma will die, and it will be over.’
If he just closed his eyes once, everything would become comfortable.
And then he would take his place. He wouldn’t have to be a failure, nor would he have to suffer in anxiety as his power diminished.
‘You will soon surpass his fame and power, and the world that watched Jijoncheonma will look at you once again.’
The wind began to die down slowly.
It was a staggering sight; a giant city had been erased from before their eyes in just a few minutes, and the fog filling the floor had completely vanished.
A massive green dragon fully revealed its form. A vast floor where a desolate breeze blew.
‘Remember.’
Everyone was busy looking around in a daze at such a sight, but Antipus cast his gaze much further.
A strange energy felt in the distance. That would likely be the Floor Core.
‘You are a ruler.’
Finally, the wind stopped completely.