Chapter 421: Star, the Parallel Universe (6)

After Crom Cruach and Xerxes had gone into hibernation, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor became able to use their abilities.

“Hibernation? That’s very sudden.”

―Yeah, it just happened. I must have overworked myself a little without realizing it.

Crom had been staying in her [Dream Realm] as a soul, but she could meet the Heavenly Dragon Emperor in the real world by projecting her energy. Of course, it consumed quite a lot of her willpower to transform her energy into an avatar and control it. Her condition was already precarious, so she had likely reached her limit.

“...Is that related to why I can’t meet Xerxes nowadays?” the Heavenly Dragon Emperor asked.

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor could not possibly feel more helpless right now, because the seal that Antares the ‘Scorpio’ had cast on the two was too strong.

―Whoa, you’re quite sharp.

“Don’t try to gloss it over by joking,” the Heavenly Dragon Emperor said with a frown.

―Seriously, you’re just like him.

‘Him’. The Heavenly Dragon Emperor did not know who ‘he’ was, but hated him very much. It felt as if the two were invalidating his own existence from time to time, and he could not help but think that such good people had sacrificed too much for him.

―Well, it’s something similar. Xerxes reached his breaking point, so his other personalities that he was suppressing started to ramage... I’m planning to stop it from now on.

“...If you two hadn’t overworked yourselves to meet me... Argh! Why are you hitting me all of a sudden?!” The Heavenly Dragon Emperor groaned.

―You were acting uncharacteristically pathetic. I didn’t like it.

“...I was just worrying about you two!”

―It isn’t because of you. We chose to meet you because we wanted to. The time we spent with you was quite fun, and we could forget about all these shitty things.

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor pursed his lips.

―So don’t frown. You look like you’re going to start trouble again

Right now, that very same ‘him’ the Heavenly Dragon Emperor loathed so much was saving those two. In contrast, the emperor was helpless, so he could not possibly hate himself more. Emotions overwhelmed him, as the fact that he was an emperor and a Celestial did not help him in the slightest right now.

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ grins at you.]

Just then, a message popped up in front of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, startling him. The Imperial Palace was currently the domain of Chang-Sun and Ardrin Tigernmas, so how could a Zodiac watch what was happening right now?

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ holds his index finger against his lips.]

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ whispers that the Imperial Palace is made from his flesh and blood, allowing him to watch what is going on inside.]

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor pondered for a moment whether or not to tell that fact to Chang-Sun and the others, but...

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ says that the Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ will probably fail to save them completely.]

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ adds that that is simply how strong the two old Celestials’ curse is.]

“...!” The Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s expression darkened.

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ says that it is possible to completely undo the curse with his help.]

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor pursed his lips, thinking that this had to be Bel-Marduk’s trap. The emperor was also well aware of the crisis that was going through, so there was a high chance that Bel-Marduk was trying to start a conflict among Chang-Sun and the others. However, it got the emperor wondering what to do if Bel-Marduk was genuinely the only one who knew the secrets behind the curse that was tormenting Xerxes and Crom.

After deciding to see what Bel-Marduk had to say, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor inconspicuously moved his lips, mouthing,

‘How?’

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ answers that it is possible because his soul and yours have the same kind of secret.]

‘...Our souls have the same secret?’

Bel-Marduk had given a very unexpected answer, but a memory flashed through the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s mind, making him flinch.

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ whispers, suggesting to hear him out first and then think about it.]

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor unwittingly nodded at the message.

* * *

Pzzzz―!

Chang-Sun could feel something moving inside his subconscious realm; the two were incarnating in the form of Changgwis.

“They’re waking up!” Kali yelled in delight, sensing the process through her Soul Link to Chang-Sun.

At that moment...

[The old Celestials’ Divinities have been successfully absorbed into Changgwis!]

[The Changgwis are evolving.]

[The Changgwis are evolving.]

...

[The Changgwis have recognized you as their master.]

[Your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ is awakening!]

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Gray smoke rose from Chang-Sun’s shadow and took the form of a Dragon who was deep in sleep, looking the same as Crom’s real body. Just then, the Dragon’s tightly-shut eyes opened.

Paaah!

The moment the Dragon’s eyes shone, a pool of brilliant light spread out and filled up the area. When the light dimmed, a small woman wearing a robe and glasses was standing where the Dragon had been.

「It’s about time you arrived. You can’t make a person wait this long.」

Crom spoke jokingly, but her voice held warmth and gratitude.

“Crom!” Kali exclaimed, hugging Crom tightly.

「Hmmm? It’s so unlike you to cry, my Kali. Did you miss your sister? My, my, my!」

Crom giggled. Kali was a head taller than Crom, but it looked as if she was the one hugging Kali. It was understandable, because Crom was their eldest sister. Kali had also gone through a lot until now, and had been holding herself back from being lost in emotions, but those very emotions flooded through her at the thought of how she had reunited with someone she could rely on.

Kali continued to nod over and over with her head against Crom’s chest, so Crom quietly stroked the back of Kali’s head as she spoke soothingly.

「Who in the world made my Kali cry? You can tell your big sis all about it. I’ll teach them a lesson. Wait, is it because of him?」

Crom scowled at Chang-Sun, silently asking if he was responsible, so he chuckled.

[The dormant Archive in your Soul has been transferred to your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’!]

[Your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ has restored her complete Divinity using her Archive!]

[The Myths of your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ have been restored!]

[The Divine Ranks of your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ have been restored!]

...

[The Divine Essence of your Subordinate ‘Thousand-Year Slumbering Dragon’ has been restored!]

Crom’s body had been faint, but it became more vivid as she exuded energy that was as strong as it had ever been during her prime.

“I’m reflecting on what I’ve done wrong, so can you forgive me?” Chang-Sun asked, smiling bitterly.

No longer speaking in her Spiritual Voice, Crom retorted, “What do you mean, forgiving you? You should kiss the floor for the rest of your life when you’re with us, you rascal. Who do you think caused this mess?”

“...I have no excuse for that,” Chang-Sun said.

“Are you really sorry to us?” Crom asked.

Chang-Sun nodded quietly.

“Then save our baby brother,” Crom said, pointing with her chin at the shadow which was still undulating along the ceiling and walls.

Some of the shadow was being absorbed into Chang-Sun’s own, but most of it flew up like sparks, resisting him. Each shadow thread took on a different form; some of them were humans in pain, while others were beasts who growled at Chang-Sun. They looked as if they were part of a shadow play, and Chang-Sun was well aware of how they were all Xerxes’ personalities.

“Baby brother? Aren’t I technically the youngest?” Chang-Sun asked, tilting his head.

“You act like a thousand-year-old serpent, but Xerx is like a cute baby,” Crom replied with a shrug.

She was not wrong, so Chang-Sun laughed dumbfoundedly. He asked, “Are you aware that he’s the only one who has a child among us?”

“Oh, yeah. I heard about that. Seriously, it’s always the quiet ones,” Crom said. With gentle eyes, she looked at Baek Gyeo-Ul, saying, “You must be our baby brother’s son.”

Gyeo-Ul stiffly nodded, feeling very nervous about the fact that he would get to meet his father soon.

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it too much, my nephew. Your father...” Crom paused and looked at Chang-Sun, and Gyeo-Ul did the same.

Tap, tap.

Chang-Sun was walking toward the shadow.

Woosh!

All the shadows rose from the ground and surrounded Chang-Sun; sharp shadow thorns threatened him, ready to stab him. Shadow beasts walked out from amid the thorns and growled.

Despite the fact that he was voluntarily walking into a trap of shadows, however, Chang-Sun did not look threatened at all. Crom and Gyeo-Ul did not worry about Chang-Sun in the slightest either, firmly believing that he would be able to save Xerxes.

“That guy who’s very stubborn and annoying, and yet is impossible to hate, is going to save your father,” Crom said with a smile.

Gyeo-Ul nodded in agreement.

* * *

[Dominating the shadow of the old Celestial ‘Wandering Shadow’ with your ‘Wordwielding’ command!]

...

[Many personalities of the old Celestial ‘Wandering Shadow’ are resisting.]

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

[The personalities of the old Celestial ‘Wandering Shadow’ are in the ‘Overflood’ state.]

...

[Your Wordwielding has quelled all the resistance, starting the extortion.]

[‘Cassander’ has been observed!]

[‘Erxes’ is resisting!]

[‘Darius’ is fiercely fighting back, aiming for your neck!]

...

The ‘Shadow Vine Forest’ around Chang-Sun belligerently threatened him, ready to rip him to shreds.

―Twilight! It’s Twilight. Twilight! It’s him again!

―We should kill him. Kill him!

―He should be killed no matter what!

―Now is our chance. Chance!

―That is right. We’re now free from the restriction, so now’s our chance to have our revenge.

―We shouldn’t let him get to us like last time. Let’s defeat him together instead of fighting among ourselves!

Countless voices echoed inside Chang-Sun’s head. As they were connected directly to Chang-Sun’s shadow, he could feel the entirety of the malice they poured out, befuddling his mind.

‘I actually feel more relieved now,’

Chang-Sun said, barely able to hold back his laughter, as the whole thing was very familiar.

Overflood was the phenomenon where Xerxes’ personalities went berserk, and it was what Gyeo-Ul had gone through when Bardiya almost ate him. The difference was that while Gyeo-Ul had only had to deal with the exhausted Bardiya, Chang-Sun had to fight against personalities who had regained their Divine Classes. Of course...

[The Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ has released his Divine Class!]

...Chang-Sun had no intention to leave them in peace. The only way to end Xerxes’ Overflood was to physically overpower them, so Chang-Sun would subjugate all of them under his shadow, just as he had done before.

Paaah―!

The moment Chang-Sun drew the [Twilight Spear], he darted toward them.

―Shit! Kill him!

All the shadows simultaneously sprang toward Chang-Sun too.

Clang, clang, clang!

Boom, boom, boom―!

Slaying, ripping, killing the shadows... Every time Chang-Sun swung his spear, sparks fiercely flew up, and the shadows were obliterated before they could leave a scratch on him. Just like that, Chang-Sun strode forward and never stopped walking, quickly disintegrating the shadow vines in his way. The interior of the ‘Shadow Vine Forest’ was revealed little by little, revealing a person who was wearing the same [Shadow Armor] as Chang-Sun, standing still.

Thuuuuud!

“Xerxes,” Chang-Sun called out to the person, parrying a shadow wolf away to one side.

Xerxes’s main personality was made up of Chang-Sun’s shadow, so he was bound to look similar to Chang-Sun. However, Chang-Sun could not detect any vital force, nor did he get the impression that Xerxes had retained his rationality. Xerxes was simply standing there like a mannequin.

And yet, the moment Chang-Sun said Xerxes’ name...

Whoosh!

...light blazed in Xerxes’ eyes as if it were a magic spell.

Paaah―!

Xerxes flew at Chang-Sun, drawing up a shadow that looked like the [Twilight Spear] as he exuded the same level of Divine Class and energy as ‘Divine Twilight’.

“Yes, this is more like it,” Chang-Sun muttered as he tightened his grip on the [Twilight Spear], feeling happy about the fact that his friend was back.

It was now time to knock some sense back into him and wake him up.