Chapter 410 – The Final Battle (5)
The representative of the World Tree is a vessel capable of containing the divine persona.
The ultimate lifeform, perfected through rigorous training.
A weapon of war, born with the full support of the World Tree, based on its exceptional potential.
Flower God.
-Kwad deuk!
“Ah, Edward…?”
It is said that the power of a representative who has embraced a deity is akin to the realm.
Of course, opinions differ as to whether their combat prowess rivals that of the Heavenly Demon and the Sword Saint. However, no one can deny that they are the World Tree’s last bastion.
Ascending to the realm signifies that their abilities are comparable to, or even surpass, the Five Great World Trees.
There is an inherent absurdity, regardless of the deity they embrace.
The assessment of their actual combat strength is similar to that of the Three Disasters (삼재).
If they gather in great numbers, they can even subdue the Heavenly Demon and the Sword Saint. It is also possible to inflict lethal wounds should they be willing to risk their lives.
In other words,
A formidable force with scarcely any rivals.
“…Hmph!?”
The man who should be closest to the divine,
was faltering in his strength.
A fleeting moment, merely lasting a few seconds,
The ground rippled like a lake, giving rise to vibrant yellow waves.
Waves that spread like the melodies of insects in the grass at early evening.
Delicate yellow flowers, more heartrending than ancient tales, quietly dispersed along the undulating surface.
-Groan!
With the corpse in his arms, its torso marred by rotting, gruesome wounds turning dark,
He enveloped the injuries, and the scales that blossomed atop the lacerated flesh were draped around like armor.
Regarding the Cornus tree,
Do you know the lines of a poem?
“….”
Above the enigmatic lake that emerged in the city, the feet of all who confronted her were bound.
Ripples formed where the blood-red eyes were directed.
-Snap!
An exploding head.
There, at the feet of Cornus, lay Lee Si-heon’s body.
The torso, riddled with decay, exposed horrid scars.
Limbs severed here and there, the entire body contorted and twisted.
She mulled over her torments time and again. What meaning could there be in the petals she had managed to bloom?
【 Liberation 】
Amidst her gentle song, a jagged note intermittently emerged.
As if the forest, enraged, concealed the path.
As if the river, furious, caused rapids to surge.
The shapeless sword she held in her grasp glowed a bright yellow, creating a binding barrier from which her foe could never escape.
The golden magic: ‘Protection.’
Trees sprouted and enveloped Cornus’s body, transforming her into the visage of a knight clad in heavy armor.
All scars and traces of frailty vanished. Immortality thus achieved.
【 Stone Jujube (石棗) · Cornus 】
Blooming red clusters · The malice of the lake
A sword thrust extended in a straight line.
A clear blade, unleashed like a waterfall at a single point, devoured Edward’s new form.
-Bang!
Utilizing divine power, yet insufficient. The sword swung down with one hand resonated like a trumpet, causing the surrounding air to tremble.
【 Stone Jujube: Eight Qi Rakshas 】
Cornus’ sword technique swirling rapidly at high speed, occasionally turning the opponent’s strength against them.
The sword that should have prioritized swiftness devoured the World Tree of Strength with crude, unrefined force.
A crimson streak marked Edward’s eyes. Disregarding the cascading magic, Cornus’ blade struck the heart of Edward’s armor.
-Crunch!
Shattered armor. Blood seeped through the fragmented pieces. Unable to withstand the shock, the flesh peeled away, exposing bone.
Though it regenerated instantly, the firepower could not be ignored. Simple, yet unmistakable.
“Edward!”
“…Step back.”
A mysterious heavily armored female knight appeared. Her name and appearance unknown.
“…The curse?”
“It’s futile. It seems that magic is absorbed and transformed into one’s own power.”
Sansuyu’s weakness remained hidden. It should be subdued using the power of the World Tree or some enigmatic force. The way her body reacted was not only intricate, but her characteristics were so peculiar that it was nearly impossible to contend with her.
Sansuyu brandished her sword once in the air. The surrounding priests perished in an instant, and the minor wounds caused by arrows or bullets were healed immediately.
Edward made a decision.
“…I’ll handle this. Call for reinforcements. Minimize civilian casualties as much as possible… It’s the World Tree’s command.”
“Yes, sir!”
“No matter how desperate the situation, we must look out for those around us. The moment we lose that, our faith is finished.”
The more one accepts the power of the World Tree, the greater the burden it places on the vessel.
However, there are times when one must risk their life. Countless civilians held their breath, watching Sansuyu closely from the perimeter.
It was as if they were staring at a monster, but what did it matter? In the end, it was the World Tree of Justice’s mistake that led her to draw her sword today.
Edward shattered the golden bracelet wrapped around his wrist. As he did so, a surge of red magic erupted, and as he assumed his stance and moved, Cornus’s body bent backwards.
– Bang!
As their swords clashed and locked together, craters formed around them.
* * * * * * * * * *
“The movement of Mokrang has vanished. The subjugation failed, and we must consider it a miss,” someone reported.
“It’s fine,” Angelica reassured, eyes filled with the power of the World Tree of Justice. The Zodiac barely hung in their gaze.
“…If I just kill that wench, the immediate damage won’t matter,” they mused.
Eighty percent of the troops amassed in Seoul were focused on a single individual.
The Heavenly Demon of the present era. As if the name itself was not a mockery, the figure stood overwhelming the entire force. However, the sheer magnitude of the troops’ collective power was not something one person could triumph over.
A massive barrier, the size of a square, was erected from the convergence of dozens of magic circles. All the sacred artifacts, imbued with the divine energy of the World Tree, were directed towards her.
Her body, weakened after countless onslaughts, and a curse gnawing away at her sanity.
“Black Illusion, the spirit of Orbis, the Five Illusions… From innumerable national treasures to Astra, and even the sacred relics. All preparations are complete.”
Although the majority of these mystical artifacts had been destroyed in the conflict with King Mokryeong and the skirmish with the Heavenly Demon, the remnants still held enigmatic power.
No matter how formidable one’s abilities, escaping from this place was impossible. With even the thorn in their side, Lee Si-heon, eliminated, their task was straightforward.
“…”
One of Zodiac’s blood-soaked eyes closed.
Eyes trembling as if dizzy.
“…Ah!”
A red flame enveloped her body and burst once. A hot wind blew, causing Angelica’s clothes to flutter.
“Anyway, if we can just extract the statue…”
Angelica, having poured a potion onto his wound, called out to her.
“Are you talking about the disciple of four years?”
“…”
“I just got the news. He’s dead.”
As power was applied to the sword, yellow magic fell onto the blade, spreading eerily like a blood vessel, staining it. His judgment is that of the World Tree.
“For the sake of order, I killed him. His head was split in half.”
Harsh words spilled out, fueled by the excitement of battle. Zodiac, who had been listening, closed her mouth.
– Flash!
The new form suddenly vanished.
Zodiac’s hand appeared before Angelica’s nose, attempting to roughly tear at her neck.
【Seven Swords Lacquer】
Angelica’s sword and Hwangdo’s hand narrowly brushed past each other, interlocking in their dance of battle.
*Crack!*
Blood splattered, and Angelica’s face burned and melted away. Hwangdo glared at her, hands shaking as if paralyzed, as though she wanted to kill her.
“The Red Seal is… a sacred artifact that seals an opponent’s magic. Did you think you could move freely against the power of our ancestors from the past?”
Long ago, there were many more formidable beings than there are now. The Five Great World Trees are merely the survivors from that time. Even mightier entities, greater than the current gods, once opposed King Mokryeong.
The Red Seal, which just now suppressed Hwangdo’s magic, was one of the treasures created during that era.
That was the reason why Cheondo didn’t consider resisting the World Tree through brute force.
“Nevertheless, I acknowledge your use of spatial magic.”
“…”
“Even the wisest sage could not escape this prison.”
In the distant past, this seal was used to thwart the impulsive actions of a sage who often met with the gods.
Whether the sage truly attempted to escape that place was secondary; it was said to be an object capable of being used for such a purpose.
Angelica taunted.
“Summon Heavenly Demon. This is not a place where a mere mage like you should intervene.”
No matter how thorough one’s calculations, nothing can be accomplished within the confines of overlapping curses.
They had endured enough. Now, only two remained. As this thought crossed their minds, Zodiac moved once more.
【 Flicker 】
Zodiac’s magic, which overloaded her brain, sought to tear at Angelica’s throat again. Her enlarged eyes focused solely on Angelica’s throat, which had mocked her lover.
An elder appeared, attempting to kick Zodiac’s body.
– Bang!
In a flash, White Peach, her hair color shifting to white, intervened and blocked Mugung’s strike before retreating.
“…You must be injured.”
“Heh. I saved your life, and yet not even a common greeting is offered.”
Mugung stood before Angelica, drawing his white sword, and narrowed his eyes.
“Little one. Does sitting in a place filled with resentment make you feel important?”
“….”
“Heh. Just you stepping on this land makes my teeth chatter. Heavenly Demon would be better, at least he’s a man of conviction.”
“….”
“Save your feeble provocations for home.”
The swordsman unleashed her hair and channeled magic into her sword.
“From now on, who knows who might die.”
Life force doubled in size. Incredibly, everyone here had reached their own peak, yet not a single one could move a finger against White Peach’s resolve.
Pressure more intense than when Zodiac first exerted her power.
– Koo-goo-goo!
The building sank downwards.
A blue vein throbbed on her forehead. What thoughts filled the woman who had reached the pinnacle? White Peach, her eyes blank, slowly clenched her fists and looked down upon her opponents.
“To the Tewa family, now even the third-class disciple is lost.”
His voice trembled as if excited, but his face remained cold.
“…Father was right. It fits perfectly.”
As if realizing something, he let out a hollow laugh and began giggling. The surrounding atmosphere grew tense with laughter bordering on madness. Mugung also licked his dry lips.
“From the beginning, this world was destined to collapse.”
Thump.
Was it just a feeling, or did someone else’s voice overlap with Baekdo’s words?
Her white hair turned red, and a pitch-black sword appeared in her hand. The anger was quiet. She didn’t lose her reason, she simply calmly revealed her strength, bit by bit.
“…”
Once more.
What would happen if she went through the process of drawing out all her power?
Just as humans have limitations, wooden beings have limits as well.
Liberation beyond the realm’s boundaries.
If one with the characteristics akin to an Ent were to harness their power upon achieving liberation,
The liberation of those who have reached such a state would transform into a force resembling that of a wood spirit.
However, the power of this realm is both distant and potent,
Depleting the user of all their strength, leading them to the brink of death.
The only beings who could wield such power freely were those who received King Mokryeong’s blessing.
– I apologize for not being able to become your proud disciple.
“… I, too, wish to inquire.”
Trees began to sprout around Heaven.
A vast expanse spanning tens of kilometers.
As if plants were growing in a ruined city, the roots of the trees emerged, and the entire world became awash with peach blossoms.
【 Liberation 】
Heaven’s sclera turned black. Her reddened irises trembled like jewels on the verge of shattering.
【 Peach Blossoms Fill the World (桃李滿天下) 】
Peach trees lined the roadsides, evoking memories of Do-won’s past.
Not only did it stretch to the ground, but also to the sky, scattering its petals, and each leaf appeared to possess a consciousness, causing the trees to tremble with sorrow.
– Pararararack!
In the instant when the barrier meant to subdue the Heavenly Demon reverted into the space created by the Heavenly Demon himself.
The man known as the Sword Saint, too, had imbued his sword with determination, prepared for death.
Heaven’s closed eyes gradually rose.
“Was I a proud teacher to you?”
* * * * * * * *
The man’s lifeless body, sprawled on the ground, was trampled and crushed underfoot.
Sansuyu, who had been intently staring at the deceased Edward’s corpse, steadied her breath and gathered her strength.
No matter how unsettling it felt, it was already over. At some point, her arms and legs had been severed to the point of being unusable. She had regenerated them all, but her body was growing weary.
The heavy armor encasing Sansuyu crumbled, and the watercourses around her vanished.
“… Siheon. Why did you go alone?”
She murmured desolately. In the end, the Cornus family’s desires were fulfilled with her generation.
But what did it matter? She had lost someone far more precious than her family’s aspirations.
Sansuyu walked toward Lee Si-heon’s lifeless body.
The corpses, melted and dismembered beyond recognition, were torn apart and scattered in every direction by the recently unfolded battle. Why had Siheon made such a choice? On the verge of questioning amidst her grief, a faint voice echoed from behind her.
“Stay away.”
-Paang!
The arisen magic power struck Sansuyu’s back. The woman who appeared pointed at Sansuyu’s body with an artifact in one hand and smiled bitterly.
Although weary from her life-and-death struggle with Edward, she could still fight. At the moment when an amorphous sword was about to form in Sansuyu’s hand once again,
– Flinch!
The body at Sansuyu’s feet stirred, and her head snapped downward.
“…Siheon?!”
But her words were cut off mid-sentence and vanished. The woman who remained in the city after Sansuyu’s disappearance looked down at Lee Si-heon’s lifeless form and clicked her tongue.
“Should I call it selfish or foolish?”
Sargenti stood beside Lee Si-heon and flicked his fingers lightly.
“Three minutes. If you don’t rise by then, as you said… I’ll seize that power and hand it over to Tae-yang or others.”
She closed her eyes, measuring time without a smile. Lee Si-heon’s body was cold.
“…”
One minute.
“…Perhaps if you awaken now, you won’t be able to meet your lovers for at least a few years. Because that was your plan.”
Two minutes. Sargenti knelt by the roadside, chattering like a bird.
“The termites, as you mentioned, have all returned to their daily routines. We were all orphans who led sorrowful lives, but thanks to you, I found my purpose in life. When the termites collapse, the World Tree and the Flower will truly believe that King Mokryeong is dead. It’s a double victory.”
– Clank.
The peripheral vision darkens and becomes obstructed. Only Sargenti could see Lee Si-heon’s body.
“Yuli has entered the embrace of Taeyang and Aori. I am truly excited to see how she will seduce Taeyang. But that’s beside the point.”
“Lee Se-Young and Byul? Those two are fine. Korea’s jurisdiction is beyond the reach of the World Tree. It’s the elderly Mugung who’s pulling the strings… He’s not completely inflexible, so he won’t be able to harm them. In fact, he is considering Byul as a potential candidate for the next president of the association.”
How do you know that, perhaps Lee Si-heon would ask that question at this point.
Sargenti didn’t reply. She was always a spiteful woman.
“As you perished, the dungeon gate burst open. You’ve been curious about where I came from. It’s that dungeon, actually.”
“That’s why I can take your power. I could assist you with your plans. As for why I helped… Like Tae-yang, I also view you in a somewhat positive light. Although the other servants may not.”
Just before three minutes had passed, Sargenti added a minute to the timer.
“Wait a moment, let me extend the time… Okay. You resemble that person quite a bit. Foolishness and all, this and that.”
The heir to King Mokryeong met his death. Consequently, the gates of countless dungeons exploded, and the war was brought to the brink of its end.
Whether it’s a Flower or a World Tree, great efforts would be poured into calming the dungeons.
If they realized what was inside that dungeon, they would abandon the war and concentrate on conquering the dungeon.
Ages ago, the world of Hunters would return.
“As the king planned, all the lovers lived. No… Are the three a bit precarious? It’s a foolish plan, already flawed, isn’t it?”
Sargenti scoffed at him.
“I must rise now~ The mentors you cherished so much are in danger.”
– Flinch.
Once more, branches sprouted from the pulsating corpse.
Fine roots filling the severed head.
“…”
Sargenti’s hand, which was about to seize Lee Si-heon’s heart, halted.
The fourth minute.
She closed her eyes.
【Fate】
“…As expected. I knew it.”
It was a very brief moment, but it was consistent with what she had witnessed.
“Such a foolish person.”
Lee Si-heon’s arm rose and pierced Sargenti’s chest.
Droplets of blood fell to the floor.
Drawing Sargenti’s life force as it was, his diminished body swelled.
“Do you not think she’s far too valuable to use? I wonder how this will be recorded in your autobiography.”
“……”
“Perhaps just a minor character who suddenly appeared… But, do you know? The World Tree that sent me is closely connected to you.”
– Squelch, squish!
“Anyway.”
The tree that sprouted from Lee Si-heon’s body engulfed Sargenti’s form.
“May fortune favor you. Your Majesty.”