Chapter 266 (Finale)
“Caballan! Bahamut!”
Momon shouted fiercely as he invaded the dark space.
“…….”
Bahamut, witnessing this, frowned. It was a familiar aura.
After a brief moment, a smile appeared on Bahamut’s lips.
“Momon? Did you come from the Blade Mountains?”
He knew of Momon’s existence. He knew about Momon’s hatred towards him, his transformation into the undead to avoid rusting away over time, and his acceptance of the despised dark arts.
Bahamut was aware of everything.
“I thought you would rot away in the Blade Mountains forever. Last I checked ten years ago, you were sleeping quietly, weren’t you?”
Despite Bahamut’s questions, Momon did not respond. He didn’t feel the need to.
Swoosh!
Momon tore through the space and lunged at Bahamut.
Thud!
As Momon waved his hand, a pure white lotus flower appeared in the previously dark space. It rapidly grew in size until it filled the surroundings. Bahamut laughed sarcastically at the sight.
“The White Lotus? Do you know what it means to unfold that domain here?”
The White Lotus was a manifestation of Momon’s domain, symbolizing his belief in spreading the flower of knowledge everywhere. Momon’s prowess far exceeded the second rank. Though he hadn’t reached transcendence, in his prime, he was strong enough to handle even the Four Dukes with ease.
The power of his domain, the White Lotus, was formidable. Its destructive force could surpass even the Imperial Crown Prince’s domain, the Sun, making it the strongest in the empire. However, Bahamut felt no need to be overly cautious here.
Why?
“Seeing how you are closely acquainted with this vessel, aren’t you weak against emotions?”
This place was none other than Yan’s mindscape.
Hearing this, Momon, who had been glaring at Bahamut, briefly glanced at Yan. He saw Yan clutching his head in pain.
‘If I’m not careful, the mindscape could collapse entirely, leaving him a simpleton.’
Despite the irony of the situation, Momon trusted Yan. He believed this was all part of Yan’s calculation.
At that moment, Momon smirked.
“Hmph! As cunning as ever!”
He saw a smile forming on Yan’s lips as he clutched his head.
“As thorough as always.”
It was Yan’s signal that he would handle the White Lotus. And it meant Yan had this situation under control. Thus, Momon could unleash his full power, confident that Yan would endure.
“Then I will show you my full strength, without mercy! You brat!”
The White Lotus, now filling the entire mindscape, began to reveal its bud.
* * *
Externally, the White Lotus looked like an ordinary lotus flower, but it was actually a formation created by connecting a hundred magic circles. Due to this, its use was specific.
It was used to confront an army alone. During the past racial wars, Momon used it to defeat many races, sometimes single-handedly annihilating millions.
However, the White Lotus was unsuitable for protecting someone or in one-on-one combat. Its vast range of magic could easily sweep away allies, and in personal combat, the overwhelming power often defeated the opponent before all magic could be used, leading to significant mana wastage.
But now, Momon had no one to protect and was facing his lifelong nemesis. Bahamut was not someone easily defeated with a hundred petals.
Therefore, Momon had to give his all.
Boom!
Bahamut had already neutralized ninety-nine of Momon’s spells, proving that his past reputation was not just empty talk.
“As expected of the founder of the Magic Tower. To use over twenty grand spells that even a grand mage could use only once or twice.”
But Bahamut’s clothes were torn in places, and his body bore numerous wounds. His well-kept hair was disheveled, and he had lost an arm. Despite being a hero of the racial wars, Momon was a monster who could contend for the title of the greatest mage of all time. Each spell he cast could easily destroy a territory.
Despite becoming battered while facing such spells, Bahamut did not utter a single groan. But this time was different.
“……Hmm, this must be the last.”
A fist-sized object was falling from above. Due to its speed, a blue flame formed around it, and it grew larger with time. Initially fist-sized, it became as large as a boulder in seconds, and by the time it seemed close, it was the size of a small mountain.
The heat radiating from it felt intense enough to scorch everything just by proximity. If this were the real world, the imperial capital would have exploded from the heat alone.
“Yes, this is what the greatest mage’s spell should be.”
A legendary spell, a 9th circle grand magic.
Meteor.
A spell capable of destroying continents was cast. Bahamut steadied his breath and gripped his sword.
“Though there wouldn’t be any significant problem if I don’t block it… damaging the vessel’s mindscape could cause issues later.”
Swoosh!
The blade of Bahamut’s sword, Nailin, elongated, matching the approaching meteor in length. This was Bahamut’s mindscape.
Distortion.
The ability to alter unchangeable laws at will. Although not fully reaching the first rank, Bahamut’s mindscape had left its mark in Yan’s mindscape through this unstable, shortcut method.
And then, he slashed the falling meteor.
Whoosh!
“……?!”
Bahamut’s face contorted in confusion. When you cut something, you should feel the impact through the blade, but he felt nothing. However, Bahamut soon realized what had happened.
He laughed bitterly and looked up at the floating Momon.
“Could it be that I lacked power?”
Momon, with his eyes closed, nodded.
“Yes. But…….”
Bahamut, who was laughing at Momon’s acknowledgment, felt a sense of unease.
‘……Wait.’
Seeing Momon without any trace of resentment made Bahamut uneasy. Then,
Smirk.
Momon opened his eyes and grinned.
“I achieved my purpose.”
Bahamut slowly turned his head.
He looked towards Yan. Yan, who had been clutching his head in pain, was now looking at him with a similar smile to Momon’s.
“You’re smiling?”
“I’ve realized what the first rank is.”
Yan held Ascalon.
At that moment, Bahamut felt a chill down his spine.
Simultaneously, Yan spoke.
“So get out of my mindscape.”
* * *
Yan had never thought Momon would defeat Bahamut from the beginning.
It was only natural.
Momon, who turned into a lich and accumulated mana artificially, could not possibly defeat Bahamut, who had consumed all possible elixirs over a thousand years.
However, Momon was skilled.
Therefore, it was possible to mimic his prime, provoking Bahamut to reveal his full power.
Momon also noticed Yan’s intention and poured all his strength into ninety-nine of the hundred spells.
Making them seem real, thus making the last one appear real as well.
As a result, Bahamut was deceived by the ‘fake meteor,’ revealing his true power and hints of the first rank.
Yan then immediately analyzed Bahamut’s mindscape that intruded into his mind.
How to leave a mark on the world, its structure, and how it manifested.
If this were the outside world, it would have been impossible, but ironically, because it was Yan’s mindscape, he could observe everything in detail.
The method was similar to how Sloth invaded Helena’s mindscape.
So, what is the first rank?
Bahamut said it was the immortality of the mindscape, marking the world with one’s presence.
‘No.’
Even Bahamut couldn’t realize this… or rather, his mindset made it impossible for him to realize.
‘The first rank is not about embedding one’s mindscape into the world.’
Then what is it?
‘It’s about accepting the world into oneself.’
Clearly understanding one’s existence and harmonizing it with the world.
That was the answer to reaching the first rank.
Bahamut prioritized control over harmony, making realization impossible.
Yan stopped thinking and looked ahead.
He could see dark energies surging everywhere.
Although these were not physically visible, Yan could see them clearly.
In addition, he could see things that ordinary eyes couldn’t perceive.
The inherent mana of objects and the mana floating in the air.
Yan realized.
‘This is how Vila saw the world.’
Of course, Vila, who had the divine eyes (神眼) due to mutation, might be inferior to what Yan could see after his enlightenment.
However, it was still remarkable.
Yan understood why Vila was so powerful.
Seeing all the mana like this made being weak strange.
‘That’s not the point.’
Yan chuckled and looked around.
His senses had expanded significantly, allowing him to detect the presence of magical formations engraved across the entire Avalon capital.
Had he known this earlier, fear would have overwhelmed him, but now was different.
He was confident in stopping it.
Following the ominous, dirty energies led him to Bahamut.
Yan observed him with clear eyes.
Bahamut held a much stronger aura than all the Four Dukes combined, but it didn’t stir any particular emotion in Yan.
* * *
Bahamut stared at Yan in astonishment.
He had been expelled from Yan’s mindscape.
How did a mere novice who had just grasped the domain do this?
It was shocking for Bahamut, who had reached this far by controlling and devouring everything.
“……How did you do it?”
“Because I realized.”
“What?”
“That transcendence you talked about.”
Bahamut’s eyes widened at Yan’s response.
“Where did
you hear such nonsense……!”
Bahamut lunged at Yan, far faster than before.
Faster than even the Four Dukes could react.
The magic circle spread across the entire capital was aiding him.
But to Yan, it seemed exceedingly slow.
All the information in the world was converging towards him.
Through his ears, eyes, mouth, skin, and the air’s vibrations, he knew exactly when and how Bahamut would strike.
“You were wrong.”
Yan spoke, dodging Bahamut’s charge like a bullfighter and grabbing his ankle.
“It wasn’t control but harmony.”
“I was wrong?! Nonsense!”
Bahamut, grinding his teeth, swung Nailin at Yan’s wrist.
Swoosh!
Nailin, slicing through the air, aimed for Yan’s wrist.
But,
Thud!
Nailin’s blade stopped at a certain point.
Bahamut’s eyes widened at the sight.
If Yan had blocked it, he wouldn’t have been so surprised.
But.
“How…without even expanding a domain.”
The space itself seemed to reject Nailin.
There was no sense of energy or mana flow.
It was incomprehensible.
How could this happen without expanding a domain!
“What you achieved wasn’t as great as you thought.”
Yan realized this upon reaching the first rank.
Transcendence was not control but harmony, becoming one with the world.
If he were attacked, it would be like the world being attacked, and the world would twist physical laws to protect itself.
Thus, Bahamut’s attacks could never reach Yan.
His mindscape’s distortion, a mere illusion before the vast nature, was useless.
The world, to protect Yan, altered physical laws, rendering illusions ineffective.
At that moment, Yan drew Ascalon.
Seeing this, Bahamut quickly retrieved his sword and tried to escape.
Though he didn’t know why, he instinctively felt that getting attacked now would render his distortion useless.
However,
“……!”
Bahamut couldn’t move.
His body disobeyed him, making his eyes widen in shock, and Yan kindly explained.
“The world tries to eliminate threats. It’s a form of self-purification. The world is now trying to eliminate you. Thus, all its laws have become your enemy.”
Moving was impossible.
Bahamut could only stare in fear.
Ascalon slowly approached his heart.
Pierce!
It stabbed into his chest.
Ascalon shattered his heart, blood spurting out.
Bahamut’s face turned pale, and the light in his eyes gradually faded.
Longing for transcendence and immortality by consuming descendants’ bodies, he faced a futile death.
Yan whispered in Bahamut’s ear.
“You were too greedy.”
Bahamut’s eyes seemed to ask.
‘Was my belief and goal really greed? I created a world for humans, didn’t I deserve this?’
Yan chuckled and answered Bahamut, who seemed to ask silently.
“Yes. It was greed.”
Whisper!
Bahamut’s body turned to dust and scattered into the air.
It was a rather futile end for someone who had conspired for a thousand years.
Yan silently watched before looking to the side.
Leon Caballan, inside a glass coffin, looked like he was in a deep sleep.
Yan chuckled and approached the glass coffin.
Massive amounts of information continued to pour in.
How to awaken Leon, what the glass coffin was—all of it.
Standing before the glass coffin, Yan smiled and extended his hand.
“Wake up and handle the aftermath.”
Moments later, Leon awoke from his deep sleep.
* * *
With Bahamut’s death, those playing their roles elsewhere also experienced changes.
First was Duke Beowulf’s team, attacking the city walls.
“……Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Beside him stood the Pirate Queen.
Alliances forged in defiance of the Empire!
Yet both remained still, observing the Royal Knights encased in mana-bound shackles.
They understood that the invaders breaching the palace were of greater consequence.
And soon enough, it became evident.
Beowulf, who had been fixated on the palace, raised a subtle eyebrow.
“It’s over,” he murmured.
“Indeed,” the Pirate Queen agreed.
* * *
Next were Cruel and Roman, who guarded the palace’s main gate.
Blocking even an ant from entering the palace, they had to face numerous soldiers and knights for several hours.
“Huff, huff.”
Cruel, nearly at his limit, gasped for breath while fending off attacking swords. Roman’s determined expression had faded, replaced by a look longing for the end of this time.
Just then, a powerful energy surged from the palace, followed by a loud proclamation.
“The Crown Prince… No, I, the 23rd Emperor, Leon Caballan, declare. Cease all combat and…….”
Following the emperor’s declaration, the forces opposing Cruel and Roman quickly knelt on one knee.
Both Cruel and Roman lay on the ground, panting heavily.
“It’s finally over.”
“Hah! Almost died!”
* * *
Lastly, Kasa.
He leaned against a wall, looking like a vagrant, eyes closed.
Around him were neatly arranged bodies of numerous test subjects.
In the distance, the magic circle dismantling team was approaching, among them the missing Special Commander Demian.
Supported by Argon, Demian didn’t seem to be in great shape but was at least alive.
The first to arrive, Hwan Yo, checked Kasa’s condition.
“How’s your body? No lethal wounds, it seems.”
“The mental scars seem worse.”
Seeing Kasa’s dark expression, Argon spoke with sympathy.
The others’ faces also darkened. A young man just twenty had to kill his family, who had turned into test subjects. How could he feel?
Kasa forced a bitter smile and shook his head.
“I’m fine. It’s better this way. At least I ended my family’s suffering.”
Despite Kasa’s words, no one else could speak. They knew well what Kasa was feeling.
“Did I do the right thing?”
Kasa looked up, his tired face showing.
At that moment,
“The Crown Prince… No, I, the 23rd Emperor, Leon Caballan, declare. Cease all combat and release any hostility towards those who aided me…….”
The declaration of Crown Prince Leon, now the new Emperor, echoed.
Kasa closed his eyes and chuckled.
“It seems I did the right thing.”
* * *
A few years later, on a hill.
Several people were climbing the hill.
A man with a scar near his eye sneered at a blond man beside him.
“Who would’ve thought you, who were so obsessed with saving your family, would become the head of an orphanage. Life sure is unpredictable.”
The large man walking with them chuckled.
“Heh, it’s not as bad as you, who aimed to become the head of your family, becoming a third-rate mercenary. You can’t even get clients because of your temper, can you?”
“What the hell, you bastard?!”
A beautiful woman walking beside them frowned.
“Cruel! Roman! Aren’t you too old to keep fighting like children?”
At her shout, the two men’s necks retracted like turtles.
“Sigh, who would’ve thought he’d be the most successful among us. Life really is unpredictable.”
“If the Royal Knights’ Captain says it, you should listen. Captain Kyle cherishes Charles so much, doesn’t he?”
A silver-haired woman gently laughed, chiding them, and Charles linked arms with her.
“Still, compared to Lady Lorena, who became the head of the Beowulf family, I’m still far behind! Why hasn’t the previous Duke of Beowulf given up his position among the Four Dukes yet?”
“Unlike the head position, the Four Dukes’ position can only be passed when one is qualified. Sigh, if my brother had become the head, he would’ve been confirmed as one of the Four Dukes already.”
“He’s a free spirit. Isn’t Lady Lorena lenient because Theo is engaged in relief activities everywhere?”
“Sigh…….”
Chatting away, they finally reached the hill’s end.
A small hut came into view, where two people were sweating while chopping wood.
An elderly man with white hair and a broad-shouldered young man.
Noticing the visitors, the elderly man glanced around and smiled upon seeing them.
He tapped the young man’s back, who was chopping wood.
“Father?”
The elderly man gestured toward the visitors.
The four people smiled at the sight of the young man who looked at them.
“The Emperor begged you to become his aide, but you refused and are chopping wood instead?”
“That’s why he can trust him. He doesn’t cling to power.”
“Is that so.”
“Hey! We’re here!”
At Lorena’s shout, the young man’s eyes widened.
Living a humble life with his father, Yan smiled.
“Welcome.”
<The End>