Chapter 587 – Reunion (1)
The prison of the Grand Hall opened, and several presences stirred primal, animalistic instincts. At the same time, the restraints were released one after another.
Beldoran, Gluttony's Third Fang, who had been imprisoned so thoroughly that even self-harm was impossible, moved his mouth slightly, loosening his jaw.
How long had it been since he could freely form words?
"I could feel the commotion outside even from here. What's going on?"
"Shut up."
Isabella slapped the one who asked so nonchalantly.
His jawbone was crushed.
Perhaps his teeth and flesh had collided too violently — blood streamed down from inside his mouth.
"Ugh… kuh!"
While Beldoran blinked in shock and pain, a speech-restraining magic item was shoved into his mouth.
Any mention of Gluttony was forbidden, and there were no plans to converse with an executive of a faction that devoured even humans.
Once Beldoran was completely restrained, they grabbed him and pushed him backward.
"He's dangerous, so have at least three people monitoring him at all times. If he shows any sign of acting up, feel free to blow off an arm or a leg."
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
Rebecca, who had just witnessed a jaw being dislocated with a single slap, nodded repeatedly, then left with the Society's Mages, leading Beldoran deep into the Grand Hall.
As a disciple of the Sage of Wisdom, there should be no problem entrusting her with the task.
"How's the battlefront?"
[The advance speed of Saturation of Jinche has noticeably decreased. However, over time, the responses of the guard golems are gradually fading. Golems alone are not sufficient for full defense.]
It seemed that the Bohemirn Magic Tower had begun to figure out how to counter golems.
"Which side took the most damage?"
[Assuming the northern side is the Grand Hall's dock, the eastern sector has sustained the heaviest losses.]
The mini golem's frame contained the signal network of the guard golems.
Though the range was limited, it could detect and command golems smoothly within about sixty percent of the stratum.
"The east…"
Following Alpha's indication, Isabella's golden eyes turned that way.
Her insides churned.
Though the distance was far beyond the reach of her magical senses, she could feel it — she knew it without any tangible proof.
That uniquely revolting, nauseating presence she could never forget — it was calling to her.
"Alpha, assemble all special guard golems on standby to the east."
[Executing.]
The air turned cold.
Nothing had physically changed, yet everyone around her felt it.
"Professor, would you take the lead?"
From the appearance of Saturation of Jinche until now, every decision Isabella had made —
They were emotional, yet coldly rational at once.
To Alderneys, Unia, and the other Mages, for some reason, Isabella seemed to overlap with Verden.
It wasn't just their imagination.
People are always influenced — and sometimes become alike — to those closest to them, and to those they wish to be close to.
"Yes, gladly."
***
"An artificial golem… that ancient technology, which even the Artison Tower only partially managed to reproduce, is in Black Hour's possession? We had no such information."
Crodon examined the remains left by a self-destructed golem. He tried to discern what kind of magical technology had been applied, but found little of worth.
Neither an imitation golem-shaped magic item, nor an artifact, nor even a type of ancient artifact — he could only reconfirm one fact. It was a genuine artificial golem.
Tilon's gaze sharpened toward the front.
"It seems Black Hour has undergone significant internal changes. Perhaps their forced overdrive of the power source three years ago was related to this."
"The Grand Hall, and now golems as well. Plenty of gifts to bring back to our master."
Though the sudden appearance of golems had surprised them and caused some losses, it was nowhere near enough to overturn the battle.
As long as they stopped the approach of the self-destruct golems, there would be no deaths from explosion or debris.
"Rather, shouldn't we begin accelerating our search? It seems unlikely that anything new will appear."
"I'm not entirely sure yet…"
"I don't know the exact size of the Grand Hall, but if we continue like this, we'll only waste time — against Black Hour, which has no Dark Moon and little remaining power."
Upon arrival, they had amplified all magic flowing through the area using the large airship's power core and composite magic circle.
If the effect worked as expected, every means of communication connected to the Grand Hall within Black Hour should now be paralyzed.
They were isolated.
"Black Hour, aside from Dark Moon, is just a pack of bastards. Remove the top executives, Carindin Lerhar and Maybel Risonia Siller, and the rest are nothing but rats. Cornered rats should just be stomped and crushed. I'll dirty my feet for it — the Grand Elder can watch in comfort."
"..."
It wasn't hard to guess that Crodon's zeal stemmed from the belief that Black Hour held Isabella, who Rayshen was supposed to have secured.
This was not normal reasoning.
'Crodon Olentia is a warped man. Especially inwardly.'
Tilon wanted to snap at him — tell him to forget that mere experiment subject and focus on subjugating Black Hour — but… it would be unwise to clash with that madness.
Above all, Crodon was already designated as the next Master of the Bohemirn Magic Tower. Even if a better candidate existed, it was too late to replace him.
Avoiding pointless friction was the most rational and strategic course.
"Understood. In that case, I'll take command."
If Crodon made a mistake, Tilon wouldn't be free from responsibility.
Better to step forward himself — with his overwhelming experience in magical warfare — to prevent any mishaps beforehand.
"As you wish, Grand Elder."
Crodon took a step back with a smile, as if yielding. His face showed satisfaction — things were proceeding as he wanted.
Hoo-oooh.
Tilon increased the flight speed, leading the elite of the elite.
The internal members of Saturation of Jinche followed in defensive formation, while Crodon and his direct subordinates advanced under heavy protection.
By the time the aftermath of battle — the blood and flesh of Mages and the broken structures of the Grand Hall — disappeared from sight, Tilon spoke.
"Stop."
At the crossroads of a corridor, several paces ahead, someone blocked their way. A man whose half-face was covered in burn scars.
"Judging by your appearance, you don't seem to be an executive of Black Hour. Have you come to surrender as a messenger?"
The man — Alderneys — tilted his head slightly instead of answering.
Then, his eyes turned toward Crodon among the Mages.
"Crodon Olentia. You entered the Academy late, so you must be quite old by now — yet you've hardly changed in appearance. Unlike your classmate, Isabella."
"Isabella?"
Crodon, reacting to the name, strode forward. Tilon tried to stop him, but Crodon violently shrugged him off and stepped out of formation.
"How do you know Isabella?"
"She told me herself. During the interrogation of Rayshen Tailroad, I also learned how the Bohemirn Tower viewed her."
"Where is Isabella?"
"Where do you think they'd keep an undying test subject? Naturally, in a laboratory."
Alderneys spoke calmly.
"Thanks to that, we're making good use of your friend."
Even though it was a lie, merely speaking of his disciple that way made him feel disgusted.
But the provocation worked.
It was a perfect wedge.
Crodon glared at Alderneys with unblinking, murderous eyes. His entire mana circuit flared to life.
Flames gathered at the tip of his staff.
"I'll cut off your limbs first, then ask again."
Four crimson blades of wind shot forth, precisely targeting Alderneys's limbs — an extraordinary rate of fire for such complex spell synthesis.
Yet the fierce gale Alderneys raised interfered and reversed their trajectory.
KWAANG! KWAANG!
The Tower's Mages skillfully shaped water currents to encircle the area, effectively blocking the explosions and heat.
…?!
Suddenly, countless mana reactions appeared — and at the same moment, ice and earth magic surged from behind Alderneys.
The watery barrier, weak against physical force, froze solid and shattered violently. Though they avoided instant death with experienced defense, some were injured.
'To compute that many spells without any mana reaction?'
What kind of concealment was this?
Tilon ordered them to guard Crodon and remain on alert in all directions.
If mana reactions could be hidden like that, ambushes were possible — not only from the flanks but also from behind.
The prediction was almost perfect.
KUUNG───! KUUNG───!
Two giant golems appeared from left and right, closing in fast.
Not self-destruct golems.
They were far too massive, and their surfaces gleamed bluish-green — coated with mithril.
KWA-AANG!
A huge arm slammed into the ground and swept across the corridor's horizon. They evaded with rapid maneuvers, but their formation completely collapsed.
Then, the Mages of Black Hour joined in, unleashing bombardment alongside peculiar golems wrapped in mana barriers.
"Struggling, are you?"
They were surrounded — but only that.
Still manageable.
Considering their losses, however, it would be wiser to retreat, regroup, and advance again.
"Olentia-nim, we should execute a tactical withdrawal───"
Tilon shouted as he used gravitational waves to stagger a giant mithril golem — but no response came.
Crodon, in the middle of the magical battle, was staring off toward a dark corridor far away.
"…Isabella?"
His pupils dilated.
Crodon soared into the air, using Flight Frequency, abandoning the battlefield.
Without even taking his direct subordinates.
"What… Crodon! Crodon Olentia! Where the hell are you—!!"
Tilon shouted furiously, his face twisted in disbelief.
He tried to chase after Crodon immediately, but the path was blocked by gravity fields and raging winds.
"Wow, honestly, I thought it wouldn't be easy to draw him out, but this actually worked? Sis said he was a crazy bastard, and turns out, he really is. That's the next Master of the Bohemirn Magic Tower? Ugh."
"Tilon Narger, you're not going anywhere."
Amid the chaos of rampaging Mages and golems, Unia and Alderneys aimed their staffs and wands toward Tilon.
"Judging by the unclear level of your mana flow, you're at least mid–6th rank. It seems the Black Hour's executive line-up has been reshuffled since I last saw it."
Tilon revealed his full power.
"I'll admit you've got quite the cunning mind. But do you really think the likes of you can stand against me?"
"Probably not. You're the Grand Elder of the Bohemirn Magic Tower, after all. But we can buy time, at least, the three of us."
"…Three?"
A sharp pressure sliced through the air.
The moment Tilon stepped back, a massive aura swept past him.
It was sword energy.
"I had no intention of intervening in a war between transcendental factions, but since you've invaded this place, standing idly by would be dishonorable."
A greatsword descended diagonally, its edge aimed straight at the enemy's heart.
"I'll lend my aid."
It was Enette — the disciple excommunicated by her master, and until recently, the seventy-first experiment subject of the Bohemirn Magic Tower — declaring her participation in battle.
***
At some point, the noise had faded, and a heavy silence enveloped the air. Crodon, who had been flying through the corridors, passed through the entrance at the end of the eastern passage.
He slowed, landing lightly on the ground.
"Isabella… Isabella, it's you, isn't it? It's you, right?"
A human figure stood at the center of the wide chamber.
Just the silhouette was enough for him to be certain.
And then, from the end of the corridor, he caught a glimpse beneath the hood.
It was her — no doubt about it.
"I didn't think you'd come chasing after me all by yourself the moment you saw me. Either you've grown overconfident in your strength, or you've gone even more insane. Well, whatever."
She pushed back the robe that had been pulled low over her face.
"It's been a while, Crodon Olentia."
Isabella activated her Brilliant Eyes.
"This will be your grave."
***
Western Continent Magic Tower Alliance, cliff fortress.
Sounds of swallowing echoed here and there. Cold sweat beaded at chins and dripped down.
Damp hair clung to skin.
They had thought the day might come when they'd face Dark Moon on the front line — but now that it was actually before them, composure was impossible.
Even the presence of the Master of the Ostea Tower and the gathered Elders of the Alliance wasn't enough to wash away the tension and fear.
The Grand Elder of the Helion Tower steadied his breathing before speaking.
"…We heard reports that he appeared and vanished across various battlefronts, but to come alone like this — what is his purpose?"
"To ask for reasons in the midst of war? Pathetic. Beyond comprehension."
Verden revealed the stature of Dark Moon.
"I heard that Balrog's disciple is here."
"…!"
"Hand him over."
A one-sided declaration.
And before anyone could respond, he scattered jet-black flames in all directions.
The Master of the Ostea Tower and the gathered Elders barely managed to block it, but none could stop Verden's movements.
BOOM───KWA-AANG!
A lower Elder of the Helion Tower took a direct hit from an explosion of annihilation at close range. With only a brief scream, he was flung into a wall.
He wasn't dead, of course.
But the injuries would leave him incapacitated for quite some time.
"Those ranked 6th and above, hold the front lines! Everyone else, fall back to the rear!"
"Surround him! Surround him, no matter what!"
At the commanders' orders, Mages moved — some in order, others in panic. The once-quiet stronghold had already become a battlefield.
Verden unleashed destruction through the magic of Infernal Flame. Magical protections were erased, structures collapsed.
Many were wounded, but none died — which in itself was strange.
"Gaaaahhhhhh!!!"
An insider from the Bohemirn Tower became a fitting sacrifice. The sight of brutal murder before their eyes made the air grow colder.
〈Yuun (Meteor Fate)〉
A meteor infused with Infernal Flame slammed into the ground, reducing everything nearby to ash. Part of the cliff fractured and fell, clouds of dust billowing high.
Then, an internal officer overseeing Rovellin's surveillance revealed his mana.
It wasn't in resistance.
He was drawing attention — deliberately exposing his position.
Rovellin had to play the bait, to lure Dahit into the trap.
There was killing intent, yes — but he was still useful.
CRRR-RRAAAASH!
The mana barrier manifested by Medrant shattered on impact. The surrounding spells were snuffed out as they collided with the black flames.
"This is… a Transcendent?"
There was no need to glorify it.
Even with so many Elders and Grand Elders, their disorder and inability to form a proper formation after the surprise attack rendered the Mage battalion completely nonthreatening.
Even more so to Verden — who had absorbed Dark Moon's experience and once single-handedly faced the Imperial fleet.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Verden advanced.
Rovellin, her face stiff, unleashed an immense explosion of fire — yet it was all extinguished.
Infernal Flame existed conceptually above ordinary fire.
CRACK.
Within mere minutes, Verden had turned the entire stronghold to rubble. With one hand, he grabbed Rovellin by the throat and lifted her into the air.
"Rayshen Tailroad, Lucard Maniacs, and now Rovellin. The only remaining successor of that halfwit is Crodon Olentia."
"Ghk, kuh…!"
"Rovellin-nim!!!"
Her closest aides, Hezen and Arril, tried desperately to pull her free, layering spell after spell — all in vain.
Even direct hits left not a single scratch on Verden's robe.
Rovellin groaned in agony, her eyes blazing with hatred.
But this — this was all an act.
'As planned.'
Rovellin struggled, stretching out her left arm.
Verden, with his free hand, gripped the bracelet on her wrist — [Final Flame]. Then, he infused it with pure mana.
Forced activation.
Originally, [Final Flame] functioned by forcibly driving Rovellin's emotions into overdrive, maximizing her peculiar traits to unleash power beyond her limits.
That power would then allow Balrog to remotely trigger his unique spatial teleportation circle — a special artificial artifact.
'I'll replace her flame's catalyst with my mana instead.'
The moment it exceeded the threshold, abnormal phenomena erupted.
Indeed.
Balrog had sensed the activation of [Final Flame] — and intervened.
RUMMMMMBLE…!
A storm of violent mana swept through.
The clouds overhead inverted, and on the ground, spatial vibrations knocked most Mages off their feet.
"Wh-what is this…!"
"That bracelet! That bracelet's the cause!"
"The disciple of the Bohemirn Tower's master? Then this phenomenon… is caused by the Tower Master himself?!"
Let them misunderstand — it served the plan perfectly.
Kiiiiiing.
Distortion began.
An immense gravitational pull seized Verden and Rovellin, refusing to release them.
When the spatial twist occurred, Verden would be transported to the stage Balrog had prepared — and Rovellin would die.
To prevent the latter, he wrapped her body gently in a shroud of spatial mana.
───When night passes, dawn breaks, and morning comes, it will all be over.
A Transcendent's technique.
Through mana, he sent his voice to Rovellin.
───I'll be back soon.
Rovellin nodded slightly.
Be careful.
He couldn't hear the words, but he could read them from the trembling of her lips.
At last.
KWA-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DU-DUK!
The spell triggered by the bracelet twisted space itself, transferring everything within its reach. Unprepared objects began to get swept away.
───!
A flash of violet light.
A thunderous roar that shook the cliffs.
THUD.
In the blink of an eye, the ground within several meters vanished completely. Only a deep, unfamiliar crater remained.
Rovellin fell into it, landing hard on the dirt.
She lifted her gaze.
Verden was nowhere to be seen.
***
"He's taken the bait…!"
Balrog smiled in triumph.
At last, Dahit Wethroel, stationed at the Allied Front, had laid his hand on Rovellin!
The unique magic circle, based on spatial distortion principles, had successfully activated — and the forced transference of the target confirmed.
"Dahit Wethroel."
Balrog too crossed the boundaries of space.
"I'll sever that stubborn thread of life."
Carrying with him every collection he'd amassed over a lifetime.