Chapter 583
Yeah, Just One Like Me. (3)
In his hazy consciousness, Jerome recalled his childhood. As a child, he had once asked his master,
“Why does our tower hide its identity and name?”
Even though they lived in secrecy, passing down their teachings in a single lineage, they still used the false name Tower of Dawn.
His master had twirled his beard and replied,
“Well… we’ve just been told to do so for a long time, so we do it.”
“But it’s still a magic tower. Shouldn’t there be proper records?”
“I don’t know. It’s just been passed down that way. But…”
“But?”
“They say the founder of our tower made some kind of mistake in a war long ago. Or was it an error? I can’t quite remember. Anyway, something happened.”
“What kind of mistake? What kind of error?”
“I don’t know that either. I just heard something like that.”
“Master, is there anything you do know?”
Smack!
“Ouch!”
After giving Jerome a flick on the forehead, his master clicked his tongue and continued,
“Ahem, since we’re on the topic, shall I tell you an interesting story? You’re about the right age to know.”
“Yes!”
“Alright. So, a very long time ago, there was a great war. Terrifying monsters appeared in this world.”
The story his master told was a common legend.
Long ago, darkness covered the world, and a hero fought against it.
Of course, the tale ended with the hero vanquishing the darkness. At first glance, it seemed no different from the fairy tales that circulated among the common folk.
The only difference was that the magic tower was somehow involved in this story.
“The founder of our tower was a companion of that hero.”
“Wow.”
His master spoke with pride, and young Jerome listened in awe.
Driving out the darkness had been an arduous task. They had barely succeeded at the cost of great sacrifices, but the founder of the tower believed that it wasn’t truly over.
“The one who led the darkness was called the ‘Adversary of the Goddess.’ The founder believed that adversary would return someday.”
“How would they know that? I thought the darkness was defeated.”
“Who knows? According to the stories, the founder could see the future.”
“The future?”
“Yes. Hmm… well…”
His master tilted his head slightly. No doubt, over time, details had been lost or distorted.
He hesitated over whether to relay the tale as it was.
But traditions were not meant to be arbitrarily altered, so he chose to tell the truth as he had learned it.
“Honestly, they say the founder of the tower was a rather eccentric person. They suddenly claimed to have seen the future, insisted that a person from the future had possessed them… even talked about how results could change causes.”
“Come on, Master. A cause leads to a result. How can a result change the cause? The past comes first, then the future follows. How could the future change the past? That makes no sense.”
“Ahem, that’s why I said they were a strange person. Anyway, it’s an ancient story, so it may not be entirely accurate. Details might have been added over time.”
“That’s true. It must be an incredibly old story.”
“Yes. A magician has a high probability of developing mental illness -cough, anyway, the founder must have been anxious because they started researching a new kind of magic all on their own.”
“What kind of magic?”
The master grinned as he spoke.
“It’s a spell meant to confront the Adversary when they reappear. It’s said that its creator devoted their entire life to developing it. And when they finally took on a disciple and secretly passed it down, that was the beginning of our Tower.”
“Wow! Then it must be an incredible spell! What’s it called?”
“There is no name.”
“Huh?”
“It has no name. It was simply called the Final Spell of our Tower. Since no one from the previous generations ever bothered naming it, I gave it one myself out of boredom.”
“What did you name it?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Ugh, why are you making such a big deal out of just a name?”
The master chuckled at Jerome’s reaction before continuing.
“From what I’ve studied of the spell’s formula, it seems absurdly powerful. I haven’t had the chance to use it myself, though.”
To young Jerome, it all just sounded cool. He was eager to learn that spell as soon as possible.
As he pestered his master to teach it to him immediately, the master spoke with a solemn expression.
“Of course, once you reach a higher level, you will learn it too. But this spell is dangerous. It must only be used when the Adversary appears. That is the reason our Tower exists, and it is our duty.”
“What if the Adversary never appears?”
“Then you pass it on to your disciple and spend your life lazing around, just like I have.”
“I hope they never show up.”
“Puhaha! It’s just a legend. If the world ever falls into chaos, we just step in, flex our powers a little, and lend a hand.”
One of the duties of the Tower was to help those in need. Jerome’s master had also spent his younger years traveling from battlefield to battlefield, aiding people.
In this way, they upheld their own form of justice from the shadows.
That was why the selection of disciples was done with great care not just talent, but character was equally important.
“In any case, they say that one day, far in the future, the world will plunge into turmoil once more, and the Adversary will rise again. I don’t know if that’s true, but if it happens… at that moment, you must face the Adversary, help the people, and fulfill our duty. Never forget that. Whether it’s real or not.”
“Hmm… I don’t want to fight, though…”
“Even if you don’t want to, if the Adversary really appears, you’ll have to. That’s when you’ll use the Final Spell. They say that’s the only way to find the true light…”
“I don’t get what that means.”
“Neither do I. Anyway, when that time comes, we can finally reveal our true name.”
Jerome nodded. Everything sounded so vague, and even his master didn’t seem to know all the details.
But the spell itself existed, so it couldn’t all be nonsense.
Curious, Jerome asked,
“How powerful is this Final Spell?”
The master let out a small chuckle before answering immediately.
“The moment that spell is cast… there will be no being in this world stronger than you.”
That was how powerful the spell was. That was why the master had emphasized to Jerome never to use it recklessly until he reached the 9th Circle.
Even if he did reach the 9th Circle, it was still a spell so powerful that he would have to be prepared for death.
It was a spell that should be used solely to face the Adversary, something his master had stressed countless times.
Reaching the 9th Circle was no easy feat. That was why Jerome pouted and asked back,
“What if the Adversary appears before I reach the 9th Circle?”
The master hesitated for a moment before his expression hardened.
“If that truly happens… then use it. Even if it means your death.”
“You’re telling me to use it?”
“Yes. That’s the only way to prevent the annihilation of humanity.”
* * *
‘Master…’
The final spell, meant to counter the Adversary.
Because of that, it was a spell that should never be used until the Adversary appeared no matter what happened.
At first, Jerome had wondered if Gartros, the leader of the Salvation Church, was the Adversary.
His god-like appearance made it all the more convincing.
But soon, Jerome discarded that thought.
Gartros was undoubtedly powerful, but he lacked something to be the legendary Adversary.
Even so, Jerome cast the final spell.
‘I’m sorry, Master.’
Jerome shut his eyes tightly. A single tear fell from his eyes.
He couldn't stand by and let all those people die before him. And he trusted his friends.
‘Ghislain, Julien.’
Beyond them, the allied forces were filled with numerous extraordinary beings.
Even if the Adversary did appear, if they combined their strength, they would be able to stop it. He believed that.
So he…
Would save the people here.
End this war.
And die.
Flash!
When Jerome opened his eyes again, a final light burst forth from them.
Rumble…
As the Meteor of Light manifested, brilliant radiance spread in all directions, illuminating everything.
Dawn. The faint light of daybreak.
Because they had waited for the right moment, they called themselves Dawn, holding onto hope.
And now, by Jerome’s hand, that light transformed into something dazzling and beautiful, an overwhelming radiance.
The name they would reclaim after casting this spell and eradicating the Adversary.
The Tower of Radiance.
That was the true name of the tower to which Jerome belonged.
Kwaaaaaaah!
The Meteor of Light descended slowly but with immense weight. And yet, Gartros could not evade it, even as he stared at it.
“O… Oooooo… Oooooooo!”
Even before the meteor touched him, the light spreading around it was already erasing his energy.
This was not divine power. And yet, the principles contained within the light refused to accept his existence.
“How can such a spell exist?!”
This was magic beyond common sense. Even Gartros, who knew countless legends and secrets, couldn’t comprehend it at all.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
An overwhelming pressure surged forth. Not even the slightest energy could move. Gartros’ energy was rapidly dissipating.
But that wasn’t all.
“M-My soul…!”
That light was burning even his soul. No, to say it was burning was inaccurate.
Some unknown force was interfering. It was slowly stripping away the deep, viscous energy that clung to his soul.
What kind of magic could possibly produce such a bizarre effect?
“N-No! This can’t happen!”
If even his soul was cleansed, he would cease to be himself. He would forget his purpose. Everything he had done until now would be in vain.
His soul would ascend to the heavens, forgetting everything.
Salvation.
This was another form of salvation.
One he absolutely did not desire.
“Graaahhhhhh!”
Gartros screamed as he desperately gathered his energy. He absorbed every last trace of the black energy surrounding him.
Yet, the black energy could not resist the light at all. It simply continued to burn away and vanish.
And within that energy, there was another being screaming.
— Holy shit! This is insane! What the hell is this?! I’m gonna die…!
Hidden within the black mist, Dark was obliterated before he could even touch the light.
During the battle, he had flown into the mist to hide. Even Gartros hadn’t noticed his presence.
Not only was he small, but he had also fused seamlessly with the energy, becoming one with it.
To Dark, that magic was terrifying beyond words. If his consciousness hadn’t been separate, he would have been erased in an instant.
Kukukukukuku!
At last, the meteor of light collided with Gartros’ massive form.
The black energy burned wildly as it was drawn into the meteor. Every place the light touched was the same.
Gartros was slowly dying.
Without being able to resist at all.
— To think I would die even with such power… What kind of magic is this…?
As he despaired, drowning in fear that constricted his very soul—
The bracelet on Gartros’ true body suddenly emitted light.
Fwaaaaaaash!
The Saintess’ Bracelet.
It radiated immense divine power, pushing back the meteor of light.
Seeing this, Jerome, who had been on the verge of death, wore a look of utter despair.
— Why?
Why was divine power stopping this light?
Why was it protecting that demon?!
Drdrdrdrk!
The meteor of light cracked. Even the magic circles drawn in midair began to fracture.
If Jerome had reached the 9th Circle, he would have been able to complete the spell despite the interference.
But right now, he was barely maintaining the magic.
With divine power obstructing him, he could no longer sustain the spell.
“Gghhhh…!”
Jerome gritted his teeth, trying to hold the magic together. He wanted to annihilate Gartros and the Atrodean Army in one fell swoop.
Kwaaaaaah!
However, the divine power only grew stronger, bursting forth and spreading in all directions.
A portion of the spreading divine power touched Jerome.
In that instant, he felt something. There was no voice, yet the will contained within the divine power was conveyed to him.
“…I see.”
There was no proof, but Jerome somehow understood.
He was not yet meant to use this magic.
And if he stopped now, he might still have a chance to live.
“…Not like I could hold out any longer anyway.”
With a bitter laugh, Jerome abandoned the spell.
Crack !
The meteor of light and the magic circles shattered completely.
Countless fragments of light scattered in all directions like stars. It resembled a Milky Way stretching across the night sky.
Even the radiant golden threads that had embroidered the air soon disappeared.
At the same time, Jerome began to plummet from the sky.