Chapter 379: The Final Battle (10)

Karyl forcefully pulled his hand out of the grimoire. With that, a tremendous roar echoed, as if the heavens and earth had been turned upside down. Waves of pure white light surged around him.

The blinding light initially obscured it, but then the blade gradually came into view.

“It’s forging a sword...?”

Kadin Luer looked on in awe, momentarily forgetting that his emperor had just died. It was only natural—he was witnessing this kind of magic for the first time in his life. After all, he was a Great Sorcerer before he was a duke.

As Karyl gripped the hilt, the light faded from the tip of the blade, revealing an edge of shimmering silver. Unlike Lakna, which formed a blade out of raw magic, the weapon in his hand was a fully realized sword.

“This is incredible...” Kadin Luer muttered to himself as he gazed at the sword in Karyl’s hand, shaking his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe I got to witness Creation Magic here... Even with alchemy, one can’t produce something from nothing... But he’s just forced a sword from nothing but magic.”

“Fascinating...” Narh Di Maug’s tense tone betrayed his apprehension. The sword Karyl had just forged was unlike anything he, a dragon of the Mythical Era, had ever seen.

Even in the Mythical Era, there were none who wielded both sword and magic simultaneously. The gods themselves separated the two powers. But... has anyone ever used Polsetia in this way?

There had been no one. In fact, the Grand Grimoire contained catastrophic magic capable of obliterating an entire kingdom.

Not even Judex, the first Blader to reach the ultimate pinnacle of swordsmanship, nor the master of Polsetia who reached the ultimate heights of magic, ever wielded the two powers together like this.

Yet, here stood someone before him who had accomplished the impossible without divine intervention.

The sword’s silver blade was pristine and utterly enthralling, vibrating slightly as though it were alive. Karyl stared at it with a tense expression, mesmerized by its gleam.

Swoosh...

At that moment, a gentle, refreshing breeze brushed against Karyl’s cheek—soothing, like a fleeting respite from the turmoil of battle.

He had unwittingly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself rushing through a dark tunnel, as though he were deep underwater.

“...!!”

Karyl quickly turned his head, scanning his surroundings. In an instant, the dark tunnel disappeared, waves of light scattering from it. He no longer felt as if he were rushing forward; instead, it felt as though he were floating through the cosmos.

“This place...”

Heat surged from within, rising from his heart and gathering in his hand to form a long shaft. As the flame took shape, Karyl realized what it was—a sword.

Now, the previously-dark space was filled with countless stars and points of light, awakening a strange sense of familiarity in Karyl. This was the void he had reached after wandering the corridors of Pharel for eons, seeking to open the final gate.

This was the realm of the gods.

“Yula...”

At that moment, Karyl looked up, drawn by a deep, resonant voice echoing through the vast, silent darkness that resembled the cosmos.

Two figures stood there—a man with dark eyes, holding a sword, and besides him, another man with golden hair. Karyl instantly recognized them.

These were the two who had been sealed in eternal frost for a thousand years. Fixing his gaze on the blond man, whom he had never seen in his previous life, Karyl understood the nature of the sword he had drawn.

It was the sword used by Judex, the first Blader. And this scenery was his memory, left behind in the blade.

* * *

This era was shrouded in the fog of time. None could place it within history, for none could truly grasp its remoteness. Humanity had come to call it the Mythical Era, and the only certain fact was that the great rebellion had occurred during that time.

The people of the present knew that war as the turning point that had forever divided the bloodlines of the immigrants and the imperials.

And here was Karyl, witnessing the conception of that history.

“We lost.”

“It’s because of that traitor! Our fight isn’t over yet!” The blond man’s voice trembled with frustration as he clenched his fist, his face filled with bitter resolve.

“It’s not your fault,” the dark-eyed man consoled, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

[Toska.]

Just then, light rippled through the darkness of the void, and a woman appeared. Behind her were several shadowy figures, their faces obscured by the light, appearing only as silhouettes. The man with the golden hair raised his head.

“You traitor...” He pursed his lips tightly, glaring at the shadows behind the woman.

Karyl, watching this scene, turned to the blond man in astonishment.

...Toska? Could it be...? Is he the Golden Dragon?

[I offer you a choice.]

Her voice resonated in their minds, as if echoing from within.

[You will be erased from memory forever. But if you seal Polsetia and take the sword from him, I will reduce your punishment for the rebellion.]

“Enough with this nonsense...!”

[The Golden Dragon shall remain a myth, a mere legend of the origin of dragons and nothing more. Anyone who knows your true form will forget you. But I will ensure your complete destruction is averted, for you were their leader.]

She smiled, clearly satisfied.

[All memory of you will be sealed within this sword, and it will once again slumber in your magic, never to be found.]

“Shut up!” Toska yelled at the woman.

There was no mistake about it. That woman was none other than Yula herself. The shadows behind her had to be the ones who had betrayed the Bladers, and among them would be the Platinum Dragon.

“The Golden Dragon, Toska...”

At last, Karyl uncovered the true identity of the blond man who had vanished within the Thousand-Year Ice Cave. He never would have imagined that this was the progenitor of dragons, the one who had blessed the Digons.

So he was sealed together with Judex in that Thousand-Year Ice Cave. I see... And that’s why even the Spirit Kings failed to recognize him...

It was truly a heartbreaking revelation. To think that not a single person had realized the comrade who fought beside them, risking his life, was right before their eyes.

At last, he began to understand—at least somewhat—how the Digon bloodline, despite being outsiders, could possess mana.

Digon had been the final safeguard left behind by the Golden Dragon before his death—a living proof that humans could wield draconic mana.

“Do it. You’re the only one who can.”

“Let me go!” Toska screamed back at Judex as if ready to fight him, just like they had been captured in the Thousand-Year Ice Cave.

[So the decision has been made.]

As Yula slowly raised her hand, light surrounded them, and the figures of Toska and Judex began to fade.

Just before death, Toska shouted his final words to Judex.

“Remember! You have to remember! We are—”

* * *

“Karyl...!!”

The darkness was suddenly overtaken by light. Karyl gasped, as though he had just reached the surface from deep underwater.

How much time had passed? When he quickly looked around in, he realized that not even a moment had gone by.

“Mael, so as the Master Key of Judex, you recognize this sword,” Karyl remarked, gazing at the blade in his hand, his expression carrying the wisdom of ages.

[You’ve finally reached this point... You remarkable creature,] Mael muttered, seeming to anticipate the memories sealed within the sword.

“Yes indeed. Information is flooding into my mind, and I understand it all, and what to do with it.”

[You’ve transcended realms, haven’t you?]

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Karyl took a deep breath, savoring the air as if tasting it for the first time.

“Yes, though I remain aware of my limitations. I need a bit more power for the strike I must deliver, and I’d like to test it.”

[What...?] Mael, surprised, questioned him.

“Ramine. Lend me your strength.”

[Are you serious?] The Blazing King seemed just as befuddled as Mael. [You’ve already activated Polsetia. The mana from the bracelet and the rings was enough to start this, but to sustain it, you’ll need to draw on your own mana.]

“I know.”

[Polsetia is already draining your mana terribly. And now you’re asking to use spirit power as well?]

“That’s enough!!”

KABOOOM—!!

Sensing that the situation was escalating dangerously, Narh Di Maug promptly lunged at Karyl.

“He’s coming. Are you just going to stand there?”

“You...”

Narh Di Maug moved so fast it was nearly impossible to track his movements with the naked eye. And yet, Karyl seemed most composed, merely retreating with a light step.

The walls of the Sun Hall were already in ruins, and the imperial palace had been reduced to rubble by the fierce battle.

With just one step, Karyl had instantly moved to the center of the capital. His speed was so absurd that the surroundings were a mere blur to him.

“...!!”

Narh Di Maug realized that the gap between him and Karyl wasn’t closing. To his amazement, Karyl was matching his speed, maintaining a constant distance.

VOOSH!

Gritting his teeth, Narh Di Maug pushed himself to go even faster.

“Now, Ramine.”

[I can’t tell what will happen...] Ramine warned, reluctantly complying.

The Ein Trigger in Karyl’s palm glowed fiercely. The Blazing King’s power surged through Karyl and was absorbed into the blade.

Fwoooosh...!!

The silver blade erupted into flames.

“This is unbelievable...”

Allen clicked his tongue, watching the scene in awe.

“What is that sword? Not only does it exude mana more potent than Lakna, which forms a blade with pure magic, but it’s absorbing the Blazing King’s power as well? Karyl, you really intend to wield both magic and spirit power together?”

It wasn’t impossible, of course. After all, Allen Javius’ own magic was based on using opposing forces simultaneously. But his magic relied on the explosive force released by the clash between light and darkness—opposing forces.

Karyl’s sword, on the other hand, transcended elements, absorbing power to unleash an even greater force.

“The more mana it absorbs, the stronger it becomes, but the strain on the wielder must be unimaginable. I’d call that book a monstrous thing, but Karyl, you’re the real monster here.”

Allen trembled slightly from the sheer power emanating from Karyl. He had never felt such awe before, not even in the face of dragons.

As Karyl kept running away, he suddenly turned and lunged at Narh Di Maug, striking his pursuer under the chin with his free hand.

“Ghah...!”

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Narh Di Maug failed to defend himself, his head snapping back. Karyl kept going, twisting his hand to deliver a brutal follow-up punch right to Narh Di Maug’s cheek.

BANG!

Narh Di Maug flew back as if taking an explosion point blank.

“Urgh?!”

He hastily tried to slow down and regain his balance, but Karyl was already upon him, grabbing him by the hair and driving his face into his knee.

Narh Di Maug’s head snapped back from the dizzying blow. Karyl then grabbed him by the nape and slammed him into the ground.

“Ethereal, Duaat. Focus your power on me as well. I still haven’t used the sword.”

[...What?]

[Are you out of your mind?]

Crunch!

Karyl pressed his foot firmly onto the back of Narh Di Maug’s head, pinning him down.

“Does it sound like I’m joking?”

The Spirit Kings fell silent. They could sense this was no longer the Karyl they knew.

[Just lend it.]

[What?]

[You’ll understand afterward,] Ramine insisted.

Narh Di Maug lay motionless beneath Karyl’s foot.

[Ramine, even you...!]

[This is different from the battle in the north. Polsetia is already active, and his mana is being drained rapidly. If he uses all three of us, his body might actually burst!] Duaat shouted in apparent frustration.

[If you’re aware of that, then spare him the lecture and lend him your power. He’s our contractor, after all.]

[You...!]

Duaat couldn’t believe Ramine’s attitude.

[That’s precisely why I’m saying this! You’re willing to let our contractor die?]

[Die? Sure, he’d die if he were still human,] Ramine replied firmly.

[...What are you saying?]

[Lend him your strength, and you’ll understand. He has achieved what the first Blader couldn’t. His power has risen beyond the realm of the Bladers.]

[What is that supposed to mean...?] Duaat muttered in disbelief.

[I’m not even sure how to label him anymore.] Ramine’s voice quivered with exhilaration. He was clearly in awe of Karyl’s sudden transformation.

At that moment, Mael interjected, cutting through their confusion with a concise explanation.

“He’s a demigod.”