Chapter 435: Sorting Waste (7)

There may be those who didn’t fear death, but none welcomed it. Even Atroc wasn’t the type to be unafraid of death. He had feared death so much that he gave up his humanity and became a cursed lich. He likely never would have imagined that his life close to being infinite could vanish overnight.

His murky voice trembled as it leaked out between his skull, “Nine... nine times?”

Kai responded calmly, “Now it's eight.”

Four spears moved dazzlingly and shattered Atroc’s body. Like having a conversation, the spears tossed his bones back and forth and stole his life away.

“

Guh... urk.

”

“5.75 seconds.”

Even resurrecting seemed to be a struggle for him now. When Kai took a single step forward, Atroc, who had collapsed on the ground, hastily crawled backward.

“D-don’t come.”

“Why? Are you scared?”

Kai’s amused question took several turns through Atroc’s mind before he barely managed to grasp it.

Scared...? Me?

A genius of the age who lived centuries longer than Patrick who was already dead, afraid of a mere adventurer? Atroc wanted to yell at him to cut the nonsense and draw his sword, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

I... am scared.

Because he truly was. Every time the opponent raised his sword, one of his lives was lost. He had already lost ninety-two. During that time, he had tried every possible form of resistance. But he had never been able to overcome the iron fortress of Kai.

“So this is the difference in rank...”

He, and even Patrick, had never reached the phase of being a Transcendent. He didn’t know how a mere adventurer reached such a supreme state, but there was one thing he knew for certain.

I can’t win...

Now only two choices remained for him. To die with pride as a figure who once represented the Church of Muldine, or to survive disgracefully.

But... would he even let me live?

Atroc shook his head without realizing it. Even if he were in Kai’s place, he wouldn’t have spared himself. He had committed too many sins already. In the end, the only thing Atroc could choose was resistance.

“In the name of Muldine...!”

Fwoooosh!

A tremendous amount of holy power surged from Atroc’s body.

“O Muldine, please grant me the strength to kill this man!”

Perhaps his prayer had reached the heavens. The voice of Muldine, which was absent throughout the battle, echoed down from the dark clouds.

—Very well.

“M-Muldine!” Atroc looked up at the sky.

Though his skull was clearly made of nothing but bone, it somehow appeared overwhelmed with joy.

—You’ve done well until now.

“

Oh

, thank you for recognizing my efforts...”

Atroc’s words were suddenly cut off. Then, his body began to twist in an unnatural way.

“M-Muldine?”

—Do not resist. I shall kill him and soothe your soul.

“B-but...”

—Wait to awaken again in the world of darkness.

“I... believe in you,” Atroc murmured.

At the same time, black lightning fell from the sky and struck the plain. More precisely, it struck directly where Atroc was standing.

Thud.

Atroc dropped to his knees and lowered his head. Though he was already no longer human, now he seemed even more lifeless. It was like staring at a department store mannequin.

“

Whew

...” Atroc suddenly let out a deep sigh.

Then, as he stood up, he began lightly stretching his arms and legs.

“What a shame. He wasn’t someone to throw away so easily.”

His voice had changed, and with it, the presence he subtly exuded also changed as well.

Kai, who instinctively tensed up, slowly asked, “Are you... Muldine?”

He had asked a question like this once before to Atroc during the reclamation of northern Rashion battle, who had possessed Krom’s body. But back then, Atroc had laughed and said that if Muldine had descended directly, he would have vanished like dust.

That means... Muldine can also possess other bodies.

Well, of course. Theft was probably the first thing he learned. If Atroc could use such techniques, there was no reason Muldine couldn’t.

He would be even better at using them.

Calmly meeting Kai’s sharp gaze, Atroc nodded.

“It is true I am Muldine, but...” Atroc, no, Muldine, stared at Kai. “You’re quite arrogant.”

Kai’s arm twisted in a grotesque direction. He couldn’t even react as he hadn’t sensed the attack coming at all.

How... How is this possible?

No matter how strong the opponent was, this was still the Middle Realm. Naturally, his power should’ve been limited, and he wasn’t even using his own body.

“

Argh...

” Kai hurried to heal his dangling arm and glared at him, asking, “Don’t tell me possession isn’t bound by the Middle Realm’s restrictions?”

“

Oh?

Smarter than I thought.”

𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Kai bit his lower lip hard at Muldine’s answer.

“If that’s possible, why didn’t you use it until now?”

If that level of activity was possible in the Middle Realm, he could have unified the continent already.

“Well, because there are still restrictions,” Muldine looked down at his skeletal hand as he spoke.

His body turned to ash and disappeared, then regenerated moments later.

“Now there’s seven left.”

“One life per attack... I see.”

There was no way power like that came without a cost.

“Atroc was someone I had arranged in advance for the purpose of my descent in case of emergency. I didn’t expect you to steal ninety-two of his lives in such a short time.”

“Prepared,

huh

... Still, he spent hundreds of years running toward your goal, yet you don’t seem the least bit sorry.”

“Why should I be?” Muldine said proudly. “Atroc was raised from the beginning for this very purpose. Though I admit the end was a bit disappointing, he carried out his role quite faithfully.”

“You treat people like mere pieces on a chessboard.”

“That is our fate.” Muldine slowly walked forward. “The ones below us rely on us however they please and toss their desires and pleas at us. Gods must lead those ignorant beings and create a better world.”

“A better world? I can’t believe those words are coming from your mouth,” Kai murmured while glancing at the field filled with corpses and stained with bloodstained.

“

Ah

, I understand,” Muldine slowly nodded.

He spoke with a gentle voice like a teacher instructing a student, “But even in history, the sacrifice of the few for the sake of the many has always been essential. Any justice or system built without sacrifice has never lasted long. Do you know why?”

Kai stayed silent.

“Because they don’t know its value. Because they don’t know what was sacrificed to gain it, what had to be given up. That’s why they take it for granted.”

Muldine spread both arms wide and clenched his fists tight. An overwhelming aura flowed from him as if he had the entire world in his hands.

“I will change this world. A world where no one needs to be wary of others. A world where everyone can freely act on their desires. And even then, a world where no one is punished.”

“So, a world five minutes from collapse.”

“No, the world I dream of is one freer than anything else.”

“You’re terribly mistaken,” Kai quietly refuted. “Even in the world you dream of, the weak can never truly enjoy freedom.”

“No. Anyone would be able to unleash their desires.”

“But the moment they enjoy that freedom, they’ll be killed by a stronger one who finds it offensive.”

“Then they should blame their own weakness. I only gifted them freedom. I have no intention of taking responsibility for the aftermath.”

“Eventually, it’s just an excuse. By your logic, this world is already perfectly free.”

If one had the confidence to deal with the consequences, if they had enough strength or power, they could act however they wanted.

“There’s no such thing as freedom equally enjoyed by all. Freedom enjoyed by a handful of the strong? The world doesn’t call that freedom. It's called privilege.”

Muldine gave no response. No, perhaps he couldn’t. In the end, all he held was the desire to become the master of the world.

“And why dress it up with pretty words? Just reveal your ugly greed for what it is.”

“Well... if you can’t agree with my will, you’re free to think however you want.”

With those words, Muldine lightly snapped. Hundreds, no, thousands of dark spears formed and filled the entire field. Muldine quietly stared at Kai in that state, then turned his head. His gaze landed on the walls of Arkan, the place where Helik stood.

Since he had possessed Atroc’s body, only ghostly flames blazed in his eyes. Naturally, reading emotions through that gaze was impossible.

“If you’re gonna come at me, then hurry. Stop stalling.”

As Kai said that, worried about him staring at Helik, Muldine waved his hand. Thousands of spears surged toward Kai.

These aren’t just ordinary Dark Spears...

Atroc had used Dark Spears a few times. It was a skill with overwhelming power that simply extended straight forward. However, the dark spears used by Muldine were different. It felt as if they attacked with their own will, just like the four spears Kai used.

It feels like fighting thousands of enemies at once...!

The four spears Kai wielded had already long been broken by the dark spears. He swung his sword desperately, but he couldn’t stop the wounds from piling up on his body. The only relief was that the Energy Shield absorbed all the damage.

Ethereal Body!

Kai instantly turned into blue particles and passed through the wave of spears at once.

“

Hm

.”

As Muldine let out a lazy murmur, Kai grabbed his skull and smashed the back of his head into the field. A refreshing splash echoed from the water-soaked field. As Ethereal Body was deactivated, Kai’s now-solid hand radiated golden holy power.

“Solar Photon Cannon!”

It was powerful enough to destroy the lich’s body. Muldine, who instantly lost a life, revived some distance away. Of course, Kai’s body wasn’t in good shape either.

“Absolute Zero, Gravity Field.”

He quickly cast skills toward the back, but hundreds of remaining spears pierced into his body like a hedgehog.

“

Argh!

”

The Energy Shield shrank at an absurd speed.

“Why...?” Muldine, who resurrected again, tilted his head. “No matter how I see it, this fight is unwinnable for you... What are you fighting so hard for?”

“Are you joking? If odds decided everything, why would anyone fight?”

If everyone avoided fights they thought they would lose, most battles would disappear from the world.

“But you're as weak as an insect. Do you not know your place?”

As Muldine snapped his fingers, Kai’s legs shattered to pieces on the spot.

Muldine, who had used power and lost another life, reappeared behind Kai and continued, “No matter how many times you try, how many times you fight, the world where you beat me will never come. All the calculations are done.”

“Calculations... You think the world can be calculated?”

“If I know myself and know my enemy, it’s no different from knowing the future.”

“Don’t you know what a variable is?”

“Variable? If such a trivial thing could change the outcome, then I wouldn’t have dared dream so big to begin with.”

Muldine kicked Kai in the stomach as he lay on the ground.

“Kugh!

”

Kai rolled several times across the plains and, soaked in water, barely managed to draw his holy power.

“Sunlight’s Warmth...”

Ding!

[You have been infected by Muldine’s curse.]

[Healing/Purification skills cannot be used.]

Tsk.

Kai had already expected Muldine to use debuff-type skills, but he hadn’t expected all healing and purification skills to be blocked.

He’s trickier than I thought.

His real body, not Atroc’s, would surely be even worse.

“If you stand, only pain awaits.”

Boom!

Muldine snapped his fingers, and a dark bullet struck Kai square in the head. Kai flew dozens of meters back and exhaled rough breaths. It seemed like a good moment to give up, but Kai struggled to sit up again.

Muldine watched him and said, “

Hm

... I don’t understand. This is merely my amusement. I can’t even exert full control while using Atroc’s body, yet why do you struggle so hard? I heard you passed the wall of transcendence, so I had some expectations... but in the end, you're merely a Transcendant, nothing more.”

Enormous dark fangs formed midair and tore into Kai’s entire body.

“

Gaaaah!

”

Muldine spoke with confidence. “All calculations are complete now. You all cannot stop me.”

He had only one life remaining. He walked slowly to finish Kai with that final life.

Kai’s Holy Power and Mana were completely drained. That was why Muldine could walk so confidently toward him. A swordsman who couldn't stand on two legs couldn't properly wield a sword.

But...

Kai had another sword besides the one he could hold in hand.

Formless Sword.

It was a sword grasped not by hand, but by the heart.

“I’ll come for you, so get ready and wait...”

Muldine assumed Kai had accepted death and smirked as he reached out his hand. Just before that hand twisted Kai’s neck, Muldine looked down at his own hand. The hand that was supposed to break Kai’s neck scattered like dust in the wind.

He murmured in disbelief, “When did this... no, how...”

After a moment of silence, Muldine raised his head and met Kai’s eyes.

“Just wait. I’ll come teach you what true freedom is.”

“Amusing...” Muldine chuckled and nodded. “I’ll wait.”

With those words, the lich form that had been pressuring Kai vanished.