Chapter 237 : Chapter 237

Chapter 237

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍White Duke quietly closed his eyes.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thick ancient book lay open before him.

Its ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pages were so old they seemed as though they would crumble if touched, and the text was written in an old hand.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍its contents still seemed to shine.

“Rastian. ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍A Human life is limited.”

His ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍master, the previous master of the White Magic Tower, had always said that.

He was a man who burned through his short life in pursuit of the pinnacle of magic.

He knocked on the threshold of 9-Star more passionately than anyone, but ultimately failed and ended his life.

The White Duke remembered that moment.

His master’s final gaze held an unrealized dream, despair, and boundless longing.

“9-Star.”

He murmured.

Countless Superhumans had looked toward that place, and countless Superhumans had fallen on the path leading to it.

At first, he, too, believed that he would meet a different end from his master.

That he was different.

He was confident that, if he ground down his talent and obsession, he could reach 9-Star.

After crossing wall upon wall and reaching 8-Star, he realized.

That talent alone could never reach 9-Star.

“That is why...”

Rustle.

He turned a page.

His eyes stopped on records about the Transcendents.

Beings who had surpassed the rank of mortals.

The Gods who ruled over every part of this world.

The Grotesqueries, assessed as beings equal to them.

The power they possessed made even the realm of 8-Star seem laughable.

That was why the Magic Tower Masters of the past studied the Transcendents’ power. They wanted to analyze the rank they possessed and find a clue for reaching 9-Star.

At just the right time, support came from the imperial family.

“Research the Transcendents.”

And then.

“He proved it.”

Emperor Pergius Heinrich surpassed 8-Star faster than his master. And he reached 9-Star.

But he was not satisfied merely with reaching 9-Star.

He wanted to surpass Edan Eurasia, who had mastered it and was called the strongest knight.

He believed that doing so would allow him to reach the rank of Transcendence.

The White Duke was no different in his dissatisfaction.

“What I desire is...”

Whoosh.

He infused Mana into his fingertips and turned a page.

The light flowing from his fingertips made the letters inscribed on the page ripple.

“To see the end of Mana.”

As one who had entered the path of magic rather than the path of the sword, he wanted to fully command the realm of 9-Star.

The Queen of Cornelia, who had invaded the Empire hundreds of years ago and killed two Magic Tower Masters.

The strongest mage, who was presumed to have mastered 9-Star before her death.

If the Emperor used Edan Eurasia as his benchmark, then his benchmark was Diana Cornelia.

He would research by any means necessary and understand and possess the end of the realm.

That was his only goal, and he had run toward it until now.

Thus, he had reached incomplete 9-Star.

And with the Emperor, he began to dream a new dream.

A stage of Transcendence with no record and no proof, a realm passed down only as myth.

“10-Star.”

The corner of the White Duke’s mouth slowly rose.

Light rippled in his eyes.

He was no longer simply one who explored Human magic.

After the Black Duke’s death, he had rapidly mastered what the Black Duke had been researching.

Through the Authorities of Gods and the Curses of Grotesqueries, he came to understand the Transcendents’ domain.

He was preparing to possess that power.

“I will reach 10-Star.”

To do so, his priority was to make 9-Star wholly his own and master it.

His priority was to establish the rank of 9-Star in the Emperor’s reincarnated body.

He put the book back on the shelf.

“Hmm. Is entering the Secret Repository in the form of a mental body too much?”

He took in his surroundings.

He had invaded the mind of Sharle Cornelia, who had come into contact with Transcendent fragments, and entered the Violet Magic Tower.

He had not entered physically; he was merely peering into the Magic Tower in her memories.

That alone gave him great pleasure.

The interior of the Violet Magic Tower was no different from an ordinary Magic Tower. It was filled with corridors and laboratories used by mages.

When he went deeper in, there was a faint magical pattern running horizontally along one wall.

The White Duke slowly brought his hand toward the pattern.

When the Mana flowing from his fingertips came into contact with the pattern, what had looked like a small crack slowly began changing into geometric forms.

Glowing lines connected.

Rrrrrumble.

A heavy sound echoed, like a gigantic lock being released.

Whoosh.

What was revealed was a hidden space.

“A secret space in the Magic Tower that even Sharle Cornelia does not recognize.”

The inside differed from an ordinary laboratory.

The ceiling was so high that its end could not be seen, and the walls were made of violet crystals.

Mysterious rays of light flowed continuously across the crystal surfaces, spreading faintly through the air and creating a magical aura.

In the center stood a huge circular table, upon which various ancient books and spellbooks lay scattered haphazardly.

All kinds of machines and tools crowded around the table, each appearing to be a magical tool fused with Mana.

Near the wall stood a massive glass tube filled with violet liquid.

Within the liquid, a shape too indistinct to identify drifted slowly. It moved like a living creature and occasionally emitted a faint light.

The White Duke walked as he slowly looked around the space.

He opened one ancient book on the table.

The first page of the old, torn book bore the title, ‘Essence of Mana.’

“Could this be... a Seed?”

An essence of Mana that could be left behind only with a slim chance after mastering at least 8-Star.

One of the five materials that formed the foundation for the Emperor’s reincarnation.

The White Duke’s eyes narrowed.

“Such pure Mana... Whose could it be?”

He murmured in a low voice as he turned the page.

At that moment, the shape inside the glass tube suddenly gave off light and shook violently.

The entire space trembled, and the crystals in the walls began emitting an intense light and shattering.

Whoosh.

In an instant, his mental body was transported away.

Only then did he realize that the Magic Tower had noticed him and responded.

“I have obtained an unexpected treasure.”

He could not use his original power as a mental body.

He had brought an item for just such a circumstance.

Whoosh.

The White Duke pulled the Magic God Stone from within his robes.

“Rampage. Fragments of the Transcendents.”

***

The moment Killian Eurasia’s sword swung down.

‘The flow of the space changed.’

The White Duke’s eyes narrowed.

Killian Eurasia.

His strength, too, should have been limited in this place.

Because Sharle Cornelia’s Mind Image was combined with the Violet Magic Tower and could not exert its complete power.

All he could do was disrupt it with the Magic God Stone he had brought.

Therefore.

‘Killian Eurasia cannot handle me alone.’

That thought had not been wrong until the Violet Magic Tower chose Killian Eurasia as Sharle Cornelia’s guardian.

‘Did he unfold a new domain?’

The White Duke quietly examined his surroundings.

Nothing appeared to have changed.

Then.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

“...”

The Magic God Stone in his hand shook violently.

Not long after.

Crack.

The space split open, drawing in the Transcendents’ power that had been gnawing at the Magic Tower.

“What...?”

“Even if they are merely fragments, they are not the sort to entrust their lives to a mortal.”

“...”

Only then did he realize that what Killian Eurasia had cut was the Magic God Stone.

To survive, the Magic God Stone was drawing in power and attempting to recover.

Even so, it did not recover easily and appeared ready to rampage.

Slash.

The White Duke’s mental body wavered.

Killian Eurasia had cut through his body before he could react.

From the moment the Violet Magic Tower permitted it, Killian Eurasia seemed to have regained his full strength.

There was no way he could react while in the form of a mental body.

“What were you plotting while hiding like a rat?”

Killian asked.

“The Magic Tower’s chosen betrothed... Do not think this is over.”

“...”

“Even if I vanish here, the fragments that make up the Magic God Stone are not merely one or two.”

He looked at the vacant-faced Sharle Cornelia.

“She must be accepting the Seed... Can you really protect her perfectly with a rampaging Magic God Stone before you?”

He warned that even the slightest shock would cause Sharle Cornelia’s mind to collapse along with the Seed.

His voice was full of mockery, but also regret over the Seed he could not possess.

“Since you are the Emperor’s dog, even your dying nonsense is the same.”

“The day you can be so arrogant will not last long.”

Whoosh.

Killian swung his sword once more.

The White Duke’s mental body began to scatter faster.

“It seems you crossed the Boundary.”

Below his chest, the things that made up the White Duke’s body disappeared.

“What did you see?”

The corner of the White Duke’s mouth twisted.

“I saw the destruction of the world.”

With those words, the White Duke’s mental body completely vanished.

Killian calmly looked at the item he had left behind.

“Fragments of the Transcendents.”

It seemed that Divine Power had combined with what Isaac Heinrich or the Black Duke had used.

‘It will be dangerous unless I meet this head-on.’

Because the Violet Magic Tower had chosen him as guardian, he could fully use his strength as an 8-Star knight.

The problem was Sharle, who was accepting the Seed.

“...”

Killian turned to look at Sharle.

She was still unconscious.

She was inheriting the essence of a 9-Star mage.

It would require no small amount of time.

The Violet Magic Tower had chosen him as her guardian.

Holding Adamas, Killian stepped before her.

Shhhhh.

As though responding, the Magic Tower raised a curtain of violet Mana between her and him.

“It might be different if we were trying to destroy it, but there is a limit to how long we can hold out.”

He said he would do his utmost, but would not be able to endure for long.

He told the Magic Tower to do its very best to help Sharle accept the Seed.

Ding.

[The Violet Magic Tower promises that it will do so.]

A faint violet light bloomed around Sharle.

Her expression softened.

It was likely because all of the Violet Magic Tower’s capabilities were focused on her.

Killian raised his sword.

All he had been given was his personal martial strength and a replica of Adamas, a gift from the Violet Magic Tower.

He took his stance and faced the fragments of the God and the Grotesquery.

[Adamas.]

A God called to him.

[Eurasia.]

A Grotesquery called to him.

“Do not pretend that we are close.”

Violet Mana rose from Killian’s body.

Rumble, rumble, rumble.

The space began to shake.

The curtain created by the Violet Magic Tower would not be able to completely block the aftermath of battle.

“Murus.”

[You only call me when you need something.]

Whoosh. Whoosh.

The Hollyheart moved and erected a Barrier before the curtain.

[Fragments of a Godhead fused with a strange Grotesquery.]

Shhhhh.

Five Barriers surrounded the rampaging Magic God Stone.

[I will help you specially.]

“As expected, Rational Murus is easy to talk to.”

They might not be able to erase it, but they needed to decisively seize the initiative.

Adamas Style – Sal.

“Sal.”

A simple draw of the sword.

The swiftly swung blade cut through the Barrier.

Crunch.

The first sound was that of the Barrier breaking.

Then.

Crack.

The Magic God Stone contained by the Barrier shattered into pieces.

What appeared before him was different from before: the fragment of the Grotesquery and the fragment of the God were separated.

[Adamas.]

[Killian.]

“Let us begin.”

He took a step forward.

Rumble.

He unleashed the Haki he had been restraining.

The battle of those who had reached Transcendence began.