The old knight’s hair and beard had turned completely white with age. He was the same man who had represented the knights at the meeting to beg Hio for his help.
A blue aura surged from his sword, accurately bisecting a mass of the approaching Abyss. Hio’s eyes flashed as he confirmed the sight.
‘Aura… works.’
It meant that Aura was effective against masses made of Abyssal energy itself. Of course, cutting it in half didn’t mean the Abyssal mass was dead, but…
-Try using magic.
Hio had magic, didn’t he? The fact that Aura worked meant that Magic Power, a similar type of energy, would also be sufficiently effective. Naturally, it meant that magic created with Magic Power could be used far more extensively than Aura.
Hio pointed his staff once again and moved his Magic Power. His target spell was the 5th Circle Explosion. His target point was the center of the dark Abyss swarming in. The rapidly heating Circle Inscription gathered its power and erupted through the staff.
Kwahhhhh-!
With a massive roar, a single point in the air exploded. The result was a success.
“It works.”
-It’s effective.
The masses within the range of the Explosion burst apart along with the eruption of Magic Power. Though other masses immediately filled the void, it was clear that it had worked. It was confirmed that magic could stand against the Abyss.
Then, what needed to be done? There was only one most effective method.
Hio immediately canceled Skill: Celestial and prepared another skill. A darkness deeper than the dense Abyss descended upon the battlefield.
He swung his staff. The skill was activated simultaneously.
[Skill: ‘Summon Reaper’ is activated.]
[An otherworldly being that presides over death manifests.]
[All skills will be sealed for 12 hours.]
Shadows loomed over Hio’s head. Within them, two red eyes flashed.
“Nkingki.”
The chilling eyes looked down at Hio.
“Bring me their Magic Power.”
The Red Scythe was raised high. In front of them, a black tidal wave surged, dyeing even the sky black. Facing it, the massive Reaper raised his scythe.
“Take their faint life force, their remaining stamina, and every bit of energy you can take, and deliver it to me as Magic Power.”
Since Hio spoke, the Reaper would act. He couldn’t take the Abyssal energy itself, but countless things tainted by it existed below, didn’t they?
Soldiers who had been alive until a moment ago, women from ordinary villages, or the village chief—perhaps even knights who were quite strong. From those countless beings who were charging forward even as their bodies twisted and transformed, the Reaper would extract all sorts of energy and deliver it.
Thus, Hio also raised his staff high.
Countless enemies. Nearly infinite Magic Power to be taken from them. Since he hadn’t mastered 5th Circle Necromancy yet, he would use the most powerful magic among the Necromancy he could manifest. It was to call upon a lava worm that existed in hell.
“Summon Lava.”
A red mass suddenly fell into the middle of the swarming darkness.
-Kiahhhh!
The ill-tempered worm spewed lava from its entire body, destroying everything around it indiscriminately. It was a summoning magic notorious for even the summoner being unable to recognize among the 4th Circle Necromancy spells.
Of course, that was only the beginning.
“Bone Spear.”
Five spears made of bone, saturated with Magic Power, shot forward. Without even setting a proper target, the Bone Spears simply flew fast. These giant bone spears would continue to pierce through anything—be it the Abyss or monsters—until their contained Magic Power was exhausted.
“Explosion.”
A wide explosion erupted once again in the middle of the Abyssal army.
“Fire Pillar.”
Columns of fire incinerated the Abyss.
“Earth Break.”
The earth shook to slow the advance.
“Ray of Frost.”
“Wind Blade.”
“Flare.”
Beams of frost and beams of fire were emitted alternately, stirring the battlefield. Blades of wind slaughtered the black masses from the sky.
There was no risk of running out of Magic Power. Whenever the Reaper’s scythe swept through the air, massive energy followed at its tip. It immediately became Magic Power and overflowed within Hio’s body.
Therefore, he boldly discarded delicate Magic Power control. He poured in excessive Magic Power to widen the range of the spells, increase their speed, and amplify their power.
What descended upon the battlefield was…
Kwahhhhh-!
Columns of fire rose to the edge of the sky. A giant wall of fire formed by the merging of over a hundred Fire Pillars.
Kwahhhh-!
Explosions erupted infinitely with infinite Magic Power. Dozens of Wind Blades became a Skill: Blade Rain, pouring down on the enemies, and the raging winds were like a typhoon.
The Death God swung his Red Scythe through the empty air. Below him, the staff moved without rest.
The scythe was swung as if reaping death while looking into the far distance. Below it, the staff moved incessantly as if dancing. Flames, ice, explosions, wind, and earthquakes repeatedly appeared and disappeared unpredictably in the Abyssal army where darkness had been swarming.
“W-We can do it!”
The despairing soldiers and knights raised their swords high and shouted at the top of their lungs.
“We can do it!”
They swung their swords while shedding tears at the newly rising hope.
“Raise your swords! Swing them with all your might!”
Bursting explosions, soaring flames. Raging winds, shaking earth, and spewing frost. This was the light.
“We can protect it!”
A bright light blooming amidst the Abyss of despair. The hope that they could protect their hometowns and their loved ones from the swarming darkness. Therefore, even if they were to die here…
“Never retreat!”
They would not look back. They would never back down.
“Basterion!”
That was the kingdom of knights, Basterion. Their belief only shone in the face of death.
“The Master Magician is with us!”
The Red-eyed Reaper overwhelmed the battlefield. Below it, the Master Magician danced along, so the war that lasted several more hours could finally end in victory. Those who survived could hug each other and shed tears of joy.
A victory that could not be known in the original history. Whether this was a miracle created by a single Magician or an extension of a futile struggle…
“Waaaaah!”
As expected, there was still no way to know.
***
“Never retreat!”
A knight’s thunderous shout rang out.
“The moment you take even one step back, it’s over!”
Even with such a loud voice, attention wasn’t focused on him. It was because monsters were rushing in from all directions.
“Third squad! Rotate!”
This was the Space of Infinity where Abyss Monsters swarmed endlessly.
“Twenty-seventh squad, rotate as well!”
There, the knights of the Empire and the Bingija were doing their best to block the monsters. Damon, who belonged to the Royal Knights, was no different.
“Haa… Seriously, they’re disgustingly persistent.”
Damon looked at the swarming monsters with a fed-up expression. They were truly tiresome. He didn’t know where they popped out from at certain intervals, but they rushed in from all sides, and as Damon said, they were incredibly persistent.
They lunged with their entire bodies as if they were sworn enemies, and even the experienced knights were becoming exhausted.
“If you have time to complain, get ready to rotate.”
“…Already?”
Of course, that didn’t mean they could back down. If one were to talk about desperation, they were the more desperate ones.
“Fall back. Damon, move in.”
“W-Wait, I haven’t recovered yet… Damn it!”
Melissa ignored Damon’s grumbling and leaped backward. At that, Damon clicked his tongue and immediately filled the spot. They had endured the monsters’ attacks in this manner.
They had to block the infinitely pouring monsters until the two people who entered the Space of Suffering overcame the trial and came out. It was a place truly worthy of the name ‘Space of Infinity.’
“Hey, newbie.”
Melissa’s gaze, after she stepped back, turned toward the youngest member of the Royal Knights, Claire.
“Y-Yes! Senior Melissa!”
As a long-range fire-type skill user, Claire was in charge of supporting the formation created by the knights so it could be maintained. However, in the eyes of the Awakened Melissa, she was full of clumsiness.
“This isn’t a battlefield where you can stand out. These people aren’t weak enough to collapse just because you’re not there. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
It was a warning not to step forward just to try and do something.
“You don’t need to prove your worth, so for now, just feel it. The feeling of war, the thick Killing Intent they emit, and our hearts that must endure it.”
That was something one couldn’t help but feel even if they didn’t want to. It was happening vividly right before their eyes.
Knights thrusting their weapons with all their might along with their battle cries. Similarly, monsters charging at the knights with all their strength. The sight of them not caring at all even if they were pierced by spears or cut by swords made one’s body tense up just by watching.
So, she couldn’t help but ask.
“Senior Melissa.”
“Speak.”
“Why do those monsters charge so desperately like that?”
“…Desperately.”
At that, Melissa’s gaze also turned toward the Abyss Monsters in front. Monsters that had continued to pile up until they were now too numerous to count. Black and strangely twisted forms of Abyss Monsters.
“Well, I guess they want to live too.”
Even those cursed beings must want to live. Melissa replied as such.
“Anyway, the important thing isn’t that. What are you going to do if you’re overwhelmed by things like that? Your heart is reflected exactly in the skills you manifest, so you need to change your mindset first.”
“My mindset…”
“Yes. Especially so for fire. Try connecting the fire filled within you to your skills. Do you think you can do that?”
Claire, who was pondering Melissa’s advice, nodded her head as her red eyes sparkled.
“Yes! I’ll try!”
Thanks to the tension being somewhat relieved, Claire’s skills began to unfold much more smoothly. Melissa watched it from the side and then turned her head. Her expression was cold as always, but she looked at the two towering Gates with many thoughts in her eyes.
‘Space of Suffering…’
What was happening inside that large Gate? Even if she didn’t know, it was clear that it was more difficult than she could imagine.
‘There isn’t much time.’
However, they had to push themselves harder. According to Melissa’s judgment, there wasn’t much time left. Withstanding them wasn’t a problem, but the piling monsters were.
The formation they were currently maintaining was purely for holding on, and it wasn’t very effective at reducing the number of monsters.
Hio and Antipus had to come out while the monsters piling up in the Space of Infinity were still within a manageable range.
Only then would they be able to squeeze out their remaining strength and kill all the monsters at once. The raid would only end once they cleared the Space of Suffering and caught all the monsters in the Space of Infinity.
“Melissa! Switch!”
Of course, she wasn’t in a position to be worried about that.
“Quickly! These guys are seriously persistent!”
Melissa moved her steps to switch with Damon, who was starting to grumble again. The temperature around her dropped chillingly. With one step she took, a single snowflake settled gently. Beneath the two steps she took, snow was already being stepped on thickly.
A sword was held in each of her hands.
“Melissa!”
In her left hand was a sword of ice shining like a jewel. In her right hand was a sword of pure white, soft snow.
***
After repelling all of the Abyss, the scene shifted again. The Reaper had already returned to his small and cute form, Nkingki, and the surroundings were not a battlefield where tears and joy coexisted, but the royal castle of Basterion where night had fallen.
‘…I’m tired.’
-I bet. You continued magic without rest for hours. If it were any other Magician, their brain would have melted and they’d have died.
‘The magic pathways and the staff wouldn’t have held up either. It was possible because it was me.’
– …That’s true, but it’s strangely annoying.
His stamina and Magic Power were still fine, but he was mentally exhausted. He had experienced the luxury of infinitely replenishing Magic Power thanks to Nkingki, who brought the life force of enemies as they grew in number, but it wasn’t an entirely pleasant experience.
He wanted to rest now, but because the tactless Nkingki kept bringing him Magic Power, he had reflexively continued to manifest magic.
So, while his mental fatigue was considerable, he couldn’t rest.
“Duke Pavlenko.”
It was because the King of Basterion was sitting directly across from Hio. A room where no one else was present and only Hio and the King sat facing each other.
“Please speak comfortably, Your Majesty. Are you not the ruler of Basterion?”
At Hio’s words, the King gave a bitter smile.
“How could I do that? You are a much more important person than I, who has no ability or power.”
Then, the smile vanished from his face, and his expression changed. A face similar to the one seen in the meeting room before. An earnest and desperate expression.
“Therefore, Duke Pavlenko.”
The words he spat out next were…
“Let us stop this and flee.”
They were miserable words. They had managed to win and could finally speak of hope, yet he tirelessly asked to flee again. Why was he so cowardly? Before that, in this situation where the entire Continent was fighting the Abyss, where did he believe they could flee to?
The answer to that question could be found through the King’s mouth.
“We can go to Tetradia together!”
Tetradia, the ancient city of magic where the Tower of Mages was located. He was saying they should flee there. How ridiculous. While the knights were fighting with their lives on the line, the result of his pondering over an escape route was Tetradia? Did he truly believe that place would be safe?
Of course, regardless of the miserable King’s appearance, Hio couldn’t grant that request. He was merely inside a memory of the past. He was merely undergoing a trial in the Space of Suffering.
So, naturally, he shook his head. Then the King cried out in grief.
“Duke Pavlenko! If it’s you, isn’t it possible! Please… please!”
Seeing that appearance and hearing the grieving cry, a question arose once again. ‘Why was the King so desperately asking to flee? Was it just because he was afraid? Was it because his life was precious? No, it wasn’t that kind of feeling. It seemed as if there was some other reason.’
“Great Pavlenko. Please… please, I beg you.”
‘Why was the King so certain that Hio had such ability? Was it just because his magic skills were excellent? Because he blocked the Abyssal invasion with infinite Magic Power?’
No, it still wasn’t that. It was too strong a conviction for just that. A look of certainty that if it were you, you could obviously do something like this. A look that became even more desperate because of that.
As he faced it, the faint sense of dissonance that had been there grew in size instantly. The small dissonance he had felt from the moment he first arrived in the trial. The dissonance that didn’t stop in the banquet hall, the meeting room, and the middle of the battlefield.
It was everyone’s gaze. The gaze that looked at Hio.
Hadn’t they called him Duke Pavlenko from the beginning, as if they knew Hio well? Since it was inside a trial, inside a memory of the past rather than the present, he thought it could be like that.
But it wasn’t. They were definitely looking at Hio, but everyone’s gaze felt like they weren’t looking at Hio. They called him Pavlenko, but no one had ever called him ‘Hio Pavlenko.’ Neither the most prestigious old knight in the kingdom, the highest-ranking noble, nor even the King ever spoke to him informally.
“If it’s you… if it’s you, helping us escape would be easy…!”
Once his thoughts reached this point, what came next was a natural flow. It was no longer a guess, but a fact.
In the banquet hall, in the meeting room, on the battlefield. Even at this moment in the King’s office, not a single person among the figures here looked at Hio fully. They were looking at another existence, praising him, and speaking to him.
If there were a reason, there would only be one.
“You are the Head of the great Pavlenko Family.”
Abyss 53rd Floor, Space of Suffering.
[Trial – The Belief of a Miserable King]
This place wasn’t a trial that simply showed and made one experience scenes from the past.
“The Magician who lives at the highest point in Tetradia!”
This was the memory of the greatest person during the war a thousand years ago. The memory of a Magician who must have been the most incredible in that painful history.
“Are you not Abellar Pavlenko!”
The Tower Master of Tetradia. He was inside the memories of Abellar Pavlenko.
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