Chapter 319

“The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍air is heavy.”

Evil ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Energy and Fighting Spirit intertwined, creating an unnatural current.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the ominous atmosphere that settled over a mountain range just before a Wave.

Even ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so, the man's steps were light.

Rastian ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Arken, the Mixed-Color Duke.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍mage who, like the Emperor, had reached 9-Star.

No monster in any mountain range could stand in his way.

That remained true even for a savage ruler of the mountains—a monster that had sent countless Superhumans to their deaths.

“Disappointing.”

After a brief search, the Mixed-Color Duke found the ruler and gave his assessment.

[GRAAAAAH!]

A red shell.

A bipedal body.

Evil Energy wrapped around its entire frame.

The creature, comparable to an 8-Star Superhuman, roared for a moment.

[GRRRK— KRRK—]

After taking several spells head-on, the ruler curled inward, producing a wet, blood-choked growl.

“Originally, you would have been no more than a 7-Star Master. You have obtained power beyond your station.”

He muttered while collecting the ruler's blood in a container he had brought with him.

Since the Monster Lord's birth, the Presence of monsters had risen by at least one stage.

That was why a creature that should have remained at 7-Star could release Fighting Spirit at the 8-Star level.

[GRRRRR—]

The ruler could not move even as Rastian approached.

SQUELCH—

He drove a specially made Magic Tool into its neck.

Its purpose was to extract Evil Energy.

SSSSSS—

Turbid Mana rose from the Mixed-Color Duke's body.

[KAAAA—AAAA—!!]

The ruler screamed as though its voice itself were being torn apart.

“Good. That is how you make Evil Energy fluctuate.”

Once he had collected enough of the ruler's Evil Energy and blood, the Mixed-Color Duke turned away with a satisfied expression.

THUD—

The ruler lowered its trembling head.

Instinct had imprinted the truth into it.

The human before it was an existence comparable to their king, the Monster Lord.

If it bared its fangs at someone like that, death would not come easily.

“A monster with good instincts.”

The Mixed-Color Duke smiled, apparently pleased.

“Now, then.”

He flicked his hand lightly.

CLATTER— CLATTER—

Chains manifested in the air and bound the ruler's body.

[Krrk. Krrk.]

The ruler trembled without even attempting to resist.

“I cannot conduct meaningful experiments unless the subject is at least 8-Star. You will contribute to the advancement of my research.”

With a single snap of his fingers, he could send the creature to the Magic Tower.

But then—

“…….”

A sudden chill made the Mixed-Color Duke stop activating the spell.

SWISH.

The ruler's trembling subsided.

It raised its head.

[You are doing something amusing in my mountains.]

The Mana around them subtly distorted, and Evil Energy began taking form.

“You finally moved that heavy rear of yours, Monster Lord.”

The Mixed-Color Duke watched the ruler tear his chains apart as though they were nothing.

In an instant, the ruler's Presence rose by two full stages.

An ability resembling an Authority: the Monster Lord could move freely among countless mountain ranges and wield monsters' bodies like avatars.

The title King of Monsters hardly seemed excessive.

Even so, what was happening before Rastian was unexpected.

‘He should be under the Dragon Lord's surveillance.’

Rastian himself had prepared the hidden chamber in the Imperial Palace.

“You waited until the Dragon Lord left his post.”

The Mixed-Color Duke inferred the situation calmly.

The Evil Energy flowing beneath his feet writhed as though alive.

Without realizing it, he had already entered the Monster Lord's Domain.

[I will ask again. What are you doing in my mountains?]

‘He can interfere across this much distance without his main body. Excellent data.’

The Monster Lord wore a human form, yet the more Rastian learned about that body, the more he wanted it.

‘If I could obtain that body…….’

The corners of the Mixed-Color Duke's mouth twisted on their own.

He had glimpsed the end of magic—the goal he had pursued all his life.

[…….]

“…….”

Their eyes met for a brief moment.

[You are entertaining an interesting thought.]

“You can read my thoughts?”

The Mixed-Color Duke showed little concern as he surveyed the Evil Energy around him.

This Domain had been manifested through the mountain range itself as a medium.

Breaking it would consume a considerable amount of power.

The Emperor did not want an unnecessary confrontation, but that was not Rastian's concern.

He was just about to raise his Presence and cast 9-Star magic when—

[If you desire my body, I will give it to you.]

“…….”

[Not an incomplete human body, but a perfected body that has endured for thousands of years. With this body, you could accelerate the results of your research. Is that not what you were thinking?]

“You truly do have the tongue of a snake, just as I heard.”

[Heh heh heh. That is hardly something I should hear from a man thinking like a snake himself. You distrust the Emperor, do you not?]

“Hmm. You read that far?”

The Mixed-Color Duke frowned as though inconvenienced.

His ambition to reach the end of magic had always included the willingness to use even his liege, the Emperor, as experimental material.

And eventually, that was exactly what he intended to do.

[I am the same. I have no intention of surrendering my potential to the Emperor.]

“What are you trying to say?”

[I am offering you an opportunity. One that will let you achieve your objective.]

An opportunity to complete his research using the Emperor, who stood on the verge of Transcendence, as a sacrifice.

“…….”

[You are useful to me.]

Rastian had crossed the wall in a human body that possessed a Mana Heart.

Later, he accepted the power of both Gods and the Anomaly and reached 9-Star.

Having repeatedly evolved beyond the limitations of his species, the Mixed-Color Duke was suitable to the current Monster Lord as ‘a host capable of sustained evolution.’

[To think human genes could produce a form like this. It is almost astonishing.]

“…….”

The Mixed-Color Duke quietly closed his eyes.

FWOOSH—

A black magic circle bloomed behind him.

Threefold, sixfold, ninefold—complex circuits layered over one another.

A strange prayer circled within them.

It was his Secret Magic, created by fusing the Authorities of the Gods.

“You and I have different goals.”

[There are goals that can only be achieved by becoming one.]

Radiance formed around the Mixed-Color Duke and wrapped around him.

“…….”

To the Monster Lord, silence was as good as agreement.

[I will leave control of the body to you.]

Evil Energy seeped inward.

A mental body floated free.

Then—

CRASH!

With the sound of rupture, the auras of the two beings became one.

An existence containing the Monster Lord's Presence, something that could be called an avatar of him, flowed into the Mixed-Color Duke.

They resonated.

They fused.

And so, a new individual was born.

“At last, I have it.”

He could no longer be called the Mixed-Color Duke.

Nor was he the Monster Lord.

A new form of Transcendent, one that would erode the order of the world.

In the silence, the mountain range began to tremble again.

“Is this Transcendence?”

The Mixed-Color Duke's now-yellow eyes rose toward the sky.

***

“Haa.”

Ashirian de Silvana.

The Queen of the elves let out a deep breath.

“At last, complete Synchronization.”

It had not been easy.

The moment Divine Tree Wigdrazil was remodeled into a Magic Tower, it ceased to be merely a tree and became an architectural structure.

Even Ashirian had never imagined that the elves' communion with it would prove so delicate and sensitive.

It had been quite some time since Wigdrazil was remodeled into the Green Magic Tower.

All that time, she had concentrated solely on adapting.

But that was now behind her.

ZZZZZZ—

Ten separate fields of vision opened before her through the Magic Tower with which she was synchronized.

They belonged to those who could be called the pillars of Elvenheim.

There were ten now, but in time she would expand that number to dozens, then hundreds.

“This is hardly a role suited to one born a knight.”

Then—

“…….”

Her gaze trembled.

Hidden memories and forgotten emotions had awakened together through the flow of Mana.

“Killian…… Eurasia…….”

The name lingered in her ears.

Before she could grasp what it meant, someone quietly approached.

“Queen Ashirian……. That memory just now…….”

A knight who used the Mana of the elves despite being human.

Serena Constantine, standing nearby, spoke in confusion.

Ashirian quietly looked at her.

“You too…… had forgotten Killian.”

Serena slowly nodded.

Synchronizing with the Green Magic Tower had restored memories she had lost.

Even those were not complete.

“My memories of His Highness are still vague. It feels as though someone deliberately cut them out.”

“This way.”

Ashirian led her to the center of the Magic Tower.

A place where the Mana of life and spirit was condensed.

The moment Ashirian took Serena's hand and sent Mana through her—

SSSSSS—

green Mana rose from Serena's body.

She had achieved a level of Magic Tower Synchronization equal to Ashirian's own.

The color of her Mana deepened until it seemed almost capable of surpassing the Queen.

Then—

the trace of a great existence sleeping within that Mana awakened.

[That bastard…… what in the world is he doing……!!]

The God of the Forest, bearer of the Authority of Life.

“Lady Silvana. As I expected, you were dwelling within this child.”

Ashirian spoke the God's name as though she had anticipated it.

Silvana snorted.

[Child, you had the nerve to remodel my Divine Tree however you pleased.]

Ashirian bowed her head.

“It was unavoidable for the sake of the new world.”

The Great War against the Empire.

The Holy Tower and Violet Magic Tower possessed by the Kingdom Alliance could not stop three Magic Towers on their own.

The Green Magic Tower had to play its part.

“If Lady Silvana had continued watching over us, none of this would have happened.”

Her tone remained respectful, but she did not soften the accusation.

[……Insolent child. But I will accept that.]

ZZZZZ—

With those words, the Mana manifesting from Serena's body wrapped around Ashirian.

“This is…….”

Ashirian had spoken despite knowing she might provoke a God's wrath.

[If something happens to that bastard, I will have to return to the Divine Realm as well.]

Despite the cryptic words, Ashirian's Synchronization with the Magic Tower rose to its absolute limit.

The Magic Tower containing Silvana's power was reborn as a true Tower of Life.

Serena's face, through which Silvana had manifested, twisted as though the God had remembered something.

Then Silvana did.

[……My memories are returning.]

She remembered the distant past.

The age when she had helped create the Divine Realm.

[Grant life to all things.]

That had been her duty.

For the Gods who wished to enjoy endless life, she had breathed life into the forests, beasts, and everything else in the Divine Realm.

Then one day, all life there vanished at once.

Startled, Silvana went to Cronis to learn why.

[Beware of Lord.]

It was the final warning he left her.

Then Cronis disappeared.

Afterward, Silvana too began losing her memories little by little.

Cronis's warning.

The fact that she had built the Divine Realm together with Lord.

All of it faded.

Naturally, she lost her power and had no choice but to hide in the Middle Realm through her Divine Tree.

“The laws of the world…….”

Ashirian murmured.

[Yes. And Adamas is the one who made it possible.]

The laws of the world had been absolute.

But one clause within them—

‘Gods enjoy eternal life.’

—was now collapsing.

Once that clause vanished, lower divinities were forcibly erased.

Silvana, too, had unconsciously fled the Divine Realm and taken refuge in the Middle Realm.

[Someone must have prepared all of this deliberately.]

She could no longer sense the trace she had left within Killian Eurasia's body.

It meant a part of her had already melted into him.

[Child, now you are all I have left.]

The elves' Green Magic Tower and Serena Constantine.

Those two mediums would replace her physical body.

Serena's eyes quietly closed.

This time—

[I will watch until the end.]

Even if that end meant cutting down a God.

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