Chapter 408: The Secret of the Thousand-Year Ice Cave (3)

“Indeed, that’s what a true ruler should be like,” Aidan remarked with a crooked smile.

Karyl had come to treat Sword Masters, Great Sorcerers, and even the famed mentors of the north as if they were insignificant.

“Prepare,” Miliana whispered.

Shrrk

—

The people surrounding the four immediately drew their weapons.

“Everyone, arm yourselves!” Jaygun Luke, the vice captain of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, shouted with urgency as he watched.

The mercenaries moved in perfect sync, treating their airship like a fortress under siege. Gunports flung open with a thunderous boom, and dozens of cannons swiftly locked onto Karyl’s group.

“Damn it, I don’t know what they’re thinking... but I’m not dying that easy.”

Staring at Gordon, Jaygun couldn’t help but notice how his once-massive figure now seemed oddly small.

“We might not be able to take that monster down, but if the Celestial Fortress gets wrecked at this height, they’re going down with us. If they want blood, they better be ready to spill some of their own.”

Among the Guidance Mercenary Gang, Jaygun had always been the cool-headed one. But now, in a perilous situation where anything could happen, he was the first to act. Ever since they had lost Gordon in that gorge, something inside him seemed to have shifted.

“Ugh, you bastard are getting worked up for no reason. Don’t do anything rash. Just wait. People ought to talk before spilling blood.” Gordon glanced his way, chuckling.

“Talk? Since when do you resort to talking first, Captain?” Jaygun asked, somewhat in disbelief.

“Rozes.” With that, he gestured toward the towering man behind him. “Take this. And don’t go out empty-handed again.”

Karyl looked over and spotted the cook of the Guidance Mercenary Gang. He seemed even bigger than before, with Gordon’s massive hammer strapped across his back—the same weapon that normally required three men to lift.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Thud—!!

The bearded man hurled Martyr forward. The massive hammer struck the floor of the Celestial Fortress with a thunderous crash, as if it might break through it. Gordon promptly grabbed it.

“Right. This is my version of talking.”

He spun Martyr once over his head, then rested it on his shoulder.

“That’s not exactly a job for a cook, is it? Shouldn’t he be carrying pots and pans instead?”

“Looks like it suits him just fine. Besides, didn’t you always say not to judge people by how they look?”

Karyl gave a casual wave, recalling how Rozes had served him the head of an Aykos during their first encounter.

The towering man gave a sheepish nod in return. Jaygun rolled his eyes, and Rozes quickly bowed again before retreating in a hurry.

“Truth is, he’s a terrible cook. I nearly died when he served up that boiled Aykos head.” Gordon shook his head.

“Still, didn’t that mess of a dish save your life?” Karyl chucked. “Back then, I never imagined we’d end up in a situation like this.”

Despite the reminiscent tone of their exchange and their smiles, neither Karyl nor Gordon let their guard down. The tension between them remained as sharp as ever, keeping those around them on edge.

“That guy’s a damn monster too,” Miliana muttered, seemingly dazed. “I can’t believe he’s standing in front of Karyl and joking around like that... Forget his strength. Just his nerve puts him at the top.”

“Karyl, I’m at a loss with this complicated stuff—gods, dimensions, and whatever the hell you’re dealing with. Life down here is already a mess, so I’d rather not get involved in some higher realm I can’t even see.”

Gordon was the first of the three to break the silence.

“I’ll tell you what I know. Whether it’s the truth or not... that’s for you to decide.”

Karyl looked at him intently.

“The Thousand-Year Ice Cave in the north... I stumbled upon it by chance. After the Extermination Decree of Heresy was issued, Kuwell came to the north, and that’s when I showed him the cave.”

Gordon glanced at Kuwell for confirmation, and Kuwell slowly nodded.

“What we found there was, as you said, a tower. Though sealed, it radiated powerful magic. And there was one phrase engraved on it, which stuck with us.”

“The Lawful King,” Karyl cut in with the answer, as though it was obvious. “Everyone here who knows about the Thousand-Year Ice Cave also knows that phrase. But it’s not something anyone told us, and it’s not written down anywhere either.”

“It’s something that’s imprinted directly into the mind,” Alteman added.

“But we couldn’t open the door. The tower seemed to reject anyone unchosen. I didn’t know that Kaye Aesir had made a pact with the Demon Realm. Believe me on that.”

“I’ll see about trusting you. Just say what you know,” Karyl demanded, causing Alteman to bite his lip slightly.

“There were two different things sealed in the two Thousand-Year Ice Caves. One held a person, and the other, a tower. Alteman, you’ve seen both. Gordon, you were at the one with the tower. And Darryl, you said you didn’t go inside, so we’ll set that aside. But what about the other one? The one where the first Blader was sealed. Did you ever go there?”

“No. I know where they’re located, but I’ve never entered either.”

“How do you expect me to believe that? There’s still a chance you’re lying. I mean, you knew about the Lawful King. That’s something only those who’ve entered the cave would know.”

“Well, the Golden Cross was founded by Kaye Aesir. Upholding his legacy means understanding his thoughts.” Darryl Harian gave a faint smile. “You may need to change your question. Whether I’ve been there or not doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant.”

“...What?”

“Even without ever setting foot inside the Thousand-Year Ice Cave, we’ve likely learned more over the past two hundred years than most people here.”

Karyl stared at Darryl, his eyes seemingly piercing through him.

“The name Æsir can only be held by one equal to a god. It carries dimensional weight, its significance bound not to a single deity, but to many. Naturally, it implies the existence of worlds beyond this one, and that interference from those foreign realms is entirely possible.”

Darryl Harian paused briefly, locking eyes with Karyl.

“Conversely, our world might influence other dimensions. Who’s to say? Perhaps your next actions will ripple beyond this realm.” He gave a light shrug. “If that happens, I’d call it nothing short of extraordinary.”

The way Darryl spoke... It seemed to Karyl that he knew about his secret—his return in time.

Hagane said that Kaye Aesir once hinted at the possibility of a time traveler. If this group was founded to carry on his will... could Darryl know?

Karyl narrowed his eyes.

Even if someone was aware that Pharel had the power to reverse time, there was no reason to suspect Karyl himself had used that power.

Maybe he’s just throwing out possibilities and waiting to see how I react.

Karyl made an effort to keep a blank expression.

“The existence of multiple dimensions is already a known fact, the fragment of divinity I possess being proof of that.”

With that, the Dimension Spiral started spinning in his palm, emitting a faint emerald glow.

“And the other Pharel sealed within the Thousand-Year Ice Cave is also evidence that other dimensions exist.”

“That’s not the only reason,” Darryl argued.

“...What?”

“There’s a saying: don’t believe only what you see. Just like how Kaye Aesir wasn’t actually a sorcerer.”

“Kaye Aesir wasn’t a sorcerer?”

“What are you talking about...?”

Those who had never been to the Demon Realm stirred with surprise.

“You... You already knew, didn’t you?” Karyl frowned slightly.

“We’re the ones Kaye Aesir left behind. It’s only natural we would know his secrets,” Darryl said casually, as though it was nothing. “Gordon, Kuwell, and Alteman. Unlike me, you’ve all witnessed the Thousand-Year Ice Cave. But ironically, there are things I know that you, who have seen the cave, do not.”

Darryl lifted his head. “Lord Karyl, you yourself possess things you don’t yet understand.”

“...Things I don’t yet understand? Like what?”

“Divine Power, born from the Rift that embodies both creation and destruction, has two aspects, just like light and darkness. One is Faith Power, which is the divine strength wielded by the Master Key, with whom you made your contract. The other is Dimensional Power, the fundamental force that only a true god can use.”

Until now, Divine Power had always been thought of as light. That was how the Church, the Nephilim, and even Yula were depicted, surrounded by radiance.

It had always been taken for granted that light equaled divinity. Karyl himself had been under that impression—until he had acquired the Dimension Spiral.

“By possessing both, you exist outside the realm of the gods, Lord Karyl. And Kaye Aesir was waiting for someone like that.”

“Why?”

“Because one can’t slay a god with only one kind of power. That’s why the first Blader failed. His strength was limited to Faith Power through the Master Key.”

Darryl’s gaze shifted to the shard in Karyl’s hand. He seemed almost in awe.

“Faith Power and Dimensional Power are two forces that make up a true god. And because of how overwhelming they are, the gods themselves separated them, making sure they wouldn’t coexist.”

He held up two fingers.

“They cooperated at times, but more often they kept each other in check. That’s how they maintained balance. The two forces were never meant to coexist.”

“But then why are they both here now?”

“It’s simple. Because Kaye Aesir wasn’t of this world.”

“...?!”

“Wha—?!”

Everyone gasped in shock, except for Karyl—he wore a calm expression. After all, Hagane had already suggested that Kaye Aesir was a being from beyond this realm.

How could someone from just 250 years ago wield a power not even the Bladers of the Mythical Era could attain? No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

“...Was he a god?”

At Karyl’s question, all eyes turned to Darryl.