EP.186 Omen (5)
A superman is a being outside of human beings, but is still human.
They are not blessed by stars.
They were not chosen by the stars.
They were not loved by the stars.
It’s still good though.
It is good even if you are not blessed, chosen, or loved. You will reach the state as just a human being, without the help of any transcendent being.
Naturally, it is not an easy path.
By giving up on something, becoming obsessed with something, or getting angry at something, they break down their own limitations. All superhumans reach the realm of superhumans broken. As if that was the price.
Here, there are three superhumans.
They each rose to the rank of superhuman in their own way.
The sword demon, Draka, is both hatred and obsession.
He wanted revenge for his daughter.
The oath he couldn’t keep, his lost territory, and his daughter’s terrible death broke him. He became a ghost chasing only apostates and wandered the battlefield.
Kuntel, a swordsman, is persistent.
He wanted to break Ganichalt, the sword of death.
In the past, it was impossible to even lift a sword in the face of disaster. Thus, the past of having to give up his hometown made Kuntel take up the sword. Kuntel devoted his entire life to training while holding a sword.
Lastly, the madman.
The madman, Kelhalm.
A wizard who has lived in madness for a hundred years.
“Celestia von Arta, my disciple.”
“Artia, my homeland.”
“All those who were reduced to ashes on this day, in this place.”
“I swear before you.”
A person who became a superhuman while being consumed by madness.
“I will live this eternal life that you gave me, this long life that I don’t know when it will end, solely for you.”
He endured the life of a madman for one oath.
* * *
Aplia was enveloped in darkness.
Aplia, swallowed up by the black barrier, is quiet. Everyone fell asleep in the barrier. They will be wandering through a nightmare they cannot wake from. In the artificial silence that came, several loud noises rang out.
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!
Explosions occur one after another in the air.
The storms that arose as mana collided shook Aplia one after another.
『It’s laughable.』
The smoke from the explosion clears.
What is revealed through the cleared smoke is an ancient lich.
『Do you think there will be enlightenment in just one hundred years of life? I have lived a life spanning hundreds of years.』
He lifts his bone-on-bone arm.
As if responding, dozens of circuits filled the air. It shines in the dark like moonlight.
『Look.』
The moon and the moon merge together.
Four huge moons rise.
『Aren’t you still human?』
The ancient lich flicks his wrist.
The moon, shining in the darkness, fell to the ground. When it falls, it is no longer a circuit. It is a flame as big as a house, a wind like a storm, and a tearing thunderbolt.
“Split.”
As if responding, the madman waved his finger.
Dozens of loaded circuits were split all at once. Dozens of circuits split into hundreds, and hundreds of circuits split into thousands.
Disrupted circuits shine.
A spell split into thousands follows the four spells cast by the ancient lich. A stream of water pierced the core of the flames. A pile of rocks blocks the lightning bolt. If one isn’t enough, there are dozens, if dozens aren’t enough, there are hundreds, and if hundreds aren’t enough, there are thousands of orders.
Quaaaaaaaaa!
The roar echoes once again.
The madman, having canceled out another spell, exhaled.
『It’s a crude method.』
The ancient lich frowned at that sight.
In Skeval’s opinion, Kelhalm’s spell was extremely crude. Split one order. We break it down again and again and push it with quantity.
『Are you just standing there saying you will deal with me in that way?』
“well.”
Kelhalm’s expression does not change.
As the restrictions are lifted one by one, the fire burning in those eyes only grows.
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
The madman, Kelhalm.
A wizard-type superhuman.
Swish.
He waved his finger. It only swings once, but the number of completed circuits reaches dozens. The circuit unfolded noisily in the air.
C’mon!
Sword adepts who have passed through life and death within a narrow gap between themselves and their opponents while holding a single sword possess an extra sense that is close to precognition of the future. So, what does a wizard-type superhuman have?
‘Acceleration of thinking, simultaneous computation.’
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It is acceleration of computation.
I build a circuit in my head and connect the formulas of the spell. While the super senses possessed by sword adepts ensure that they are always one step ahead of their opponents, the speed of their calculations allows them to respond to everything.
That feeling is coming back now.
Kelhalm opened his mouth, awakening one by one the senses that had been suppressed in order to gain reason.
“Hundreds of years of life, a hundred years of life. “A life close to eternity.”
Kelhalm said, waving his finger.
“What’s the use of it all?”
The unfolded circuit shines.
“For a hundred years of my life, I never got what I wanted. “You, who lived hundreds of years, also didn’t get what you wanted.”
Skebal’s eyes narrowed.
A sneer appeared on Kelhalm’s lips. As his restrictions are lifted, he returns to his original form.
Boom, boom!
As spells collide and a roar rings out, Kelrhalm continues speaking.
“Time is always relative.”
Because it is relative.
“The absolute amount of time is meaningless.”
The gap in time can be overtaken at any time.
The hundreds of years of that ancient Lich may be but a moment to some. Kelhalm does not think it is him. Because he doesn’t overconfident himself.
However, such a wizard knows one thing.
‘An ancient Lich wizard who has transcended hundreds of years.’
A wizard who became very famous.
“Ashen wizard.”
Kelhalm laughed as he said that name.
“Hundreds of years have passed since I was overtaken by that kid who was only 20 years old. “It must have been a truly meaningful hundreds of years.”
Wiggle, and do it.
Skebal’s eyes are shaking.
“that word.”
A voice that seems to scratch your bones.
『You will regret it.』
Black eye lights flashed.
Indugup’s robe covered with skebal fluttered and water flowed down. The pouring sediment turns into black bones and wriggles on the floor.
“···Phew.”
Kelhalm lets out a short breath.
As madness consumes the body, reason becomes distant. There wasn’t as much time to hold on as I thought.
‘Before I completely lose my reason.’
Kelhalm raised his head.
‘Deal with that.’
The gaze is not directed at the ancient lich. Beyond that, it was heading toward the shadows and starlight colliding one after another.
2.
The black magic tower lord looked out the window blankly.
A huge twist occurred at the location where Aplia would be. The twist that occurred was soon wrapped in a black barrier and disappeared…
‘What on earth is it?’
Wait, just a few seconds.
It was only for a moment that I noticed the twist, but the image never left my mind.
‘Clash of mana? torsion? shadow···?’
I can not know.
can not understand.
It is the shape of something that cannot be explained in language.
“Let me ask you one thing.”
It was around this time that Yetual was feeling confused by a phenomenon that was beyond his knowledge.
“Do you know anything about that situation?”
Kalt opened his mouth and asked a question.
He saw an unidentified elf standing next to him. Kalt is an expert at reading people’s facial expressions. In Kalt’s eyes, this elf had an expression that made him think he had seen that situation before.
“······.”
Cardi turned his head and looked at Kalt.
He was silent for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“···I don’t know for sure. Because it is so small compared to what happened in my time. But, I think I can make a rough guess.”
“Could you please explain?”
“It is impossible to explain the situation.”
But, he opened his mouth.
“I think we can provide some countermeasures. However, keep this one thing in mind.”
Cardi continued with unintelligible words.
“This is a choice of the lesser evil, to avoid the worst. “I only know this way.”
The elf’s eyes narrow.
What is in those eyes is coolness. Also, the eyes seem to be reminiscing about something that happened sometime ago.
“Someone has to be sacrificed.”
sacrifice.
“It means that someone has to be a vessel.”
3.
Restrictions are lifted. Madness is coming.
Mania is like a fire. It burns reason and spreads even further. Kelhalm feels that his reason is gradually becoming paralyzed.
Clap la la la rock.
It’s just executing orders.
A computation that is close to instinct continues. The spells cast unconsciously emit light one after another.
‘This can’t be done.’
Spells that cannot be intercepted are pouring in.
Kelhalm judges instinctively. It retreats and changes all the spells it was trying to intercept to defensive spells.
Waves of spells surround you.
The moment you try to cast a spell to solidify it, something goes wrong in the circuit.
『How long do you think you can keep it at bay?』
An ancient lich intervenes in the circuit.
So far, it hasn’t been a problem if one or two spells are stolen because I split the spells into small pieces. But this case is different.
Damn.
Orders that have not yet been solidified.
The ice wall surrounding you cracks. The earthen wall collapses. The wall of flames begins to disintegrate.
『The speed at which orders are put together is worth seeing. But, I think that’s it.』
Skebal snaps his fingers.
Black flames fall on Kelhalm’s head. Flames the size of a house cannot be blocked with an incomplete spell. Kelhalm grits his teeth.
Woe!
As soon as the fireball hits the floor, the barrier built by Kelhalm disappears as if evaporating. The defensive spell surrounding Kelhalm is torn apart like a piece of paper.
Cheeeeeeeek!
Kelhalm, covered in water, escapes the fireball. The skin is tanned, and fluid drips from the body. As the fireball came out, the black bone soldiers aimed their spears at him. The body is pierced by a spear knife.
Patter.
Blood is dripping. My vision is shaking.
However, it endures.
Shock.
Push away the black bone soldiers and stamp your feet on the ground. The completed spell flows across the floor. There are dozens of completed spells, but half of them are stolen.
Kwasik!
The index finger that was drawing the circuit is bent by the recoil of the spell. Even in pain, Kelhalm moves his body. Half was robbed, but half remained.
‘Use what’s left.’
The ground shakes. It’s overturned.
It overturns the ground and buries the Black Bone Soldiers, and raises the ground to block Skebal’s spells.
『It’s pitiful.』
You can’t block everything.
The wounds are increasing. My vision is blurry and my mind is fading. Nevertheless, Kelhalm decides his next move with his eyes wide open.
Split.
Split the order. Split and split again.
The power of each spell, understanding of the circuit, everything else is superior to the opponent. That’s why Kelhalm constantly seeks answers.
‘I knew.’
The ancient lich, Skeval.
That existence is like a nightmare for wizards. It is nearly impossible to win in a battle of pure strength against an ancient magician who has lived for hundreds of years.
‘but.’
Kelhalm knows a better opponent than this.
He remembers a hundred years ago.
“Isn’t it funny?”
A woman who laughed in front of him.
That abominable summoner was so strong that it could not be compared to the lich in front of him. Compared to that, the black bone soldiers in front of me are laughable.
According to Kelhalm’s original expectations, the person he would face here was not an ancient lich.
‘The one who should be here is that apostate.’
With that apostate in mind, Kelhalm lived by imposing restrictions on himself. Of course, he prepared the means to deal with the summoner.
And now.
Kelhalm presents it to the ancient lich.
“dissolution.”
one word.
As if reacting to that single word, the remaining part of the chain falls off with a clang. The mana that had been bound together with madness for over a hundred years is flowing out.
Squeak, squeak.
The air distorts toward the center of Kelhalm.
Skebal’s eyes narrow at that sight.
‘five.’
There are five remaining constraints.
It is a restriction that holds one’s heart in the form of a hand. Among them, the constraint corresponding to the little finger crumbles.
‘four.’
A constraint that binds a heart containing mana.
And, the restrictions that bound the soul that was broken by raising life expectancy to the scale a hundred years ago.
‘three.’
Madness consumes the mind.
Reason breaks down. Madness takes its place.
‘two.’
There is only one remaining limitation.
A chain embedded in the heart. Can’t solve it. Even if you lose your reason, you must not lose your purpose.
Pop, pop, pop.
The released mana fluctuates.
Kelhalm opened his eyes wide.
‘iced coffee.’
What he sees is not only disaster.
The shadows and starlight behind the disaster also come into Kelrhalm’s field of vision. Kelhalm knows that well. More than anyone else.
In the past, Artia was a city of academics.
Kelhalm saw it there too.
“Ah, ah, ah!”
A beam of light extends from Celestia’s body.
The shadow cast beneath the beam of light flowed backwards along the beam of light. It swallowed the starlight and entered Celestia’s body again.
And, Celestia could no longer sing about the beauty of the stars.
“S-sir.”
Black mist flowed from her eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and every hole. At that moment, she was just a vessel to contain something. The human spirit of Celestia was not what a vessel needed.
Is that why it was destroyed?
“Ahhh. ah.”
Celestia collapsed.
Her soul crumbled in a black fog. An empty vessel made like that. The shadow devoured the vessel that once contained starlight.
It didn’t last long.
The bowl could not contain a shadow.
In this way, Celestia’s body also crumbled.
That was a hundred years ago. At that time, after losing Celestia, Kelhalm continued to worry about what he should do and what he could do.
I was faced with an incomprehensible concept.
There was no way to understand.
But there was plenty of time.
eternal life. 100 years of time. For those countless hours, Kelhalm thought and thought. He then realized that the shadow he had seen was a concept called shadow. He learned a lot more than that.
Because I know and know again.
As time goes by like that.
“iced coffee.”
He is standing here now.
It’s different from back then.
The opponents are also different.
‘so.’
What you have to do is also different from then.
“you.”
Skebal cracks the bone and breaks it.
Hundreds of spells completed in an instant fill Kelhalm’s field of vision. Kelhalm stopped, looking at it. He exhaled.
Squeak, squeak.
The released mana fluctuates.
In order to take a step towards the right answer, Kelhalm takes out the weapon he has sharpened over and over again for a hundred years.
Swish.
Kelhalm swings his broken finger. The trajectory of a broken finger draws a circle. Flames burned along the trajectory. Skebal, seeing this, frowns.
‘An unseen spell.’
Since this is my first time seeing this spell, I don’t understand it. Skebal cannot rob it. Instead, choose to stamp with hundreds of spells. Skebal swings his hand.
Hundreds of spells are fired targeting Kelhalm.
A wave of spells crashes from the sky. On the ground, black bone soldiers aim at Kelhalm and raise their weapons. However, Kelhalm does not stop drawing circles.
Hwareuk.
A dot appears in the rotating flame.
Tick, tidididik.
Flame is sucked into one point.
The flames, the condensed mana collected over a hundred years, all gather into one point. In this way, one order is completed. Kelhalm speaks its name.
“One-Off.”
It is a spell containing a person’s life.
This is a spell developed by humans to deal with disaster.
Clean up.
Originally, a spell intended to deal with apostates. Therefore, it focuses on burning a huge area ‘in an instant’.
Flash!
The spot on Kelhalm’s fingertip emits a flash of light for a moment. A flash of light strikes the surroundings, and a massive heat engulfs everything that approaches Kelhalm.
The Black Bone Soldier burns away and disappears.
All of the hundreds of spells that Skebal presented burned up and disappeared. Even the mana scattered around is erased in an instant. Most of Skeval’s body was blown away by the heat storm, but he is still alive.
“cheeky!”
However, there is a temporary lull in order for the bones to join together. Skeval was wary of the ‘next’ spell that Kelhalm would present, but the next one did not come.
widely.
Kelhalm is running.
He hits the floor and creates a stone pillar. With his completely damaged body, he runs on a stone pillar erected at an angle.
The gaze is not directed at Skebal.
Kelhalm’s eyes had been looking at only one place since the moment he recited the spell.
‘Stars and shade.’
A place where light and shadow mix.
Kelhalm runs towards there.
Boom, boom!
Light and shadow collide, continuously vibrating. Although the decision has not yet been made, it is not difficult to predict the outcome.
‘The shadow will swallow up the light.’
As it was in the past.
‘Even though the light can resist more and can suppress the shadow, it will not do so.’
In the past, as the stars did.
‘The stars will give up again. I’ll leave it to be swallowed up by the shadows.’
The result is visible in Kelhalm’s eyes.
In fact, Starlight gives up resistance and moves to leave the child she chose. It is not visible where the three branches of starlight are connected.
However, Kelhalm knows one of the children connected to the starlight.
‘A child who resembles Celestia.’
That child who looks so similar.
Purple hair and purple eyes. Even her voice resembled that girl, shaking her own limitations. Kelhalm looked at the girl like his own student.
‘What should I have done then?’
Kelhalm sees the past in the present.
When Celestia was swallowed up by the shadows. What choice did you have to make at that time and there?
I didn’t know at the time.
But, now I know.
A hundred years of struggle to keep the oath. In the end, a mere human reached the answer. Kelhalm remembers the answer.
‘I swallow it.’
A sentence engraved on the one remaining constraint.
“Swallow the shade.”
Kelhalm carries out the sentence.
This is the moment when Kelhalm reaches out for the shade.
『You’re making the wrong choice.』
Skebal sneered.
Kelhalm does not understand the meaning of ridicule. Without understanding, he comes into contact with the shadows.
Grumble.
A turbulent shadow engulfed Kelhalm.
A word from the author (author review)
As I kept thinking about including this and that, I became greedy and the volume increased. Forgive me for being late…!
