Chapter 476

C476. Astarotte (7)

A gruesome sound of something piercing flesh reached Alon and Seolrang’s ears.

What they saw when they turned their heads was—

A fragment embedded in the place where the Spirit Invoker’s head should be.

[He-hehahaha~!!]

Laughing madly as if he had completed a great feat.

The spear that pierced his neck and heart was soaked in bright red blood.

At first glance, it looked like he had received a fatal attack.

—Dudududuk—

But the ground began to tremble ominously from the moment the laughter erupted, spreading an unsettling sensation to everyone present.

[-]

And the force felt next was so overwhelming that it made even all the Divine Bloods gathered there lose the will to fight.

The Divine Bloods looked at the Spirit Invoker with blank expressions, as if facing the incomprehensible.

Seolrang, with an expression not much different, let out a low whisper.

Of course, Seolrang had already concluded that she couldn’t win even before the Spirit Invoker used the fragment.

Even so…

She thought she could at least buy time.

But now—

‘…Even that is not possible.’

Seolrang responded coldly in her mind.

She could do nothing more in this battle.

Not just her.

No one there could help.

In fact, the Spirit Invoker in front of them was becoming an unstoppable being.

At that thought, Seolrang unconsciously called out to Alon.

Alon’s gaze turned to her naturally.

Seeing that expressionless face, Seolrang’s lips moved instinctively.

“…Why did you do it?”

In reality, Seolrang had already heard the answer.

Even so, she didn’t understand his choice.

She knew he was a good person.

She knew he was someone who didn’t hesitate to risk his own body to save others.

But, even so…

This time there was too much at stake for him.

“This is… too irrational.”

To save Seolrang, he had to risk his life, and also the lives of those most precious to him.

And that was too much—

“No.”

Suddenly, Seolrang’s thought was cut off.

She looked up at Alon as if waking up.

The situation was the worst possible.

The Divine Bloods were falling into despair under the Spirit Invoker’s overwhelming force.

The ground trembled as if it were going to tear apart under the pressure of his aura.

The sky, which was bright moments ago, was turning absolute black again.

Yes.

Everything visible was hopelessness.

A landscape where hope did not exist.

That should be the only truth.

And yet—

“It is not irrational.”

Even in that scenario.

Even while the Spirit Invoker slowly released his power, filling everyone with helplessness—

“Even if it seems so to others—”

With a calm voice.

His eyes, unwavering, fixed on Seolrang’s, which trembled with anxiety.

“For me… this is the most logical.”

—KUUAAAAAAH!!

A horrific wave of killing intent spread in all directions.

An explosion so loud it deafened.

The screams of the Divine Bloods resonated.

But none of that reached Seolrang’s eyes.

She only saw the face of the man speaking calmly, struggling to sketch a minimal smile that wouldn’t come out, trying to comfort her.

“…Ah.”

Seolrang could only let out a whisper.

And then—

[Is this… the power?]

The awakening of the Spirit Invoker had finished.

The first thing visible: the fragment embedded right in the center of his torso.

Then: his skin, previously thin like a monk’s, turning black.

Finally: his hands.

Yes, hands.

Behind the Spirit Invoker, hundreds of hands emerged like in a thousand-armed statue.

Alon, who rarely cursed internally, couldn’t help but feel it.

The Spirit Invoker’s strength upon absorbing the fragment had far exceeded his expectations.

A desperate situation.

Even so, Alon exhaled slowly.

Although desperate, it was not an impossible situation to break.

The Law he possessed existed precisely to break moments like this.

“Hu—”

The practice had been perfect.

The preparation, complete.

And yet, Alon couldn’t activate his Law immediately.

Because he still hadn’t “decided”.

While he hesitated—

Step—

Seolrang passed by his side.

With a face full of determination.

“Help me.”

[Hmph— after treating me like trash until now…]

When Seolrang murmured, the harsh voice of the sin Alon had seen before was heard.

But only for a moment.

“I beg you.”

[Are you sure? Until now—]

“Yes.”

With those words, cutting something inside her, the sin clicked its tongue in disgust. And then, the black gauntlet on Seolrang’s arm began to release a dark mist.

Pazit—!

The mist rose, fusing with electric bolts as if they were a chemical reaction.

Explosions of black lightning emerged in a flash.

[Ho—]

But even in the face of Seolrang’s transformation, the Spirit Invoker observed her calmly.

He knew the truth.

No matter what hidden card Seolrang revealed, it would mean nothing.

Everyone felt that way.

As if watching a ridiculous play, the Spirit Invoker observed her “desperate effort”.

“Seolrang.”

When Alon called her, Seolrang turned around… and he couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was evident.

The power of the sin Seolrang was using looked unstable, dangerously unstable.

The poorly controlled lightning burst in all directions.

One of her eyes was beginning to transform like a demon’s.

Alon felt doubt.

As far as he knew, the power of sin was strong, yes, but it shouldn’t exceed Seolrang’s control capacity.

After all, she had even defeated the Poison Eater, who was stronger than the sin.

‘Yes, godfather, as you know, the Five Sins are guardian weapons. They don’t fight alone: they are made to be used.’

‘That means—’

‘That what we saw isn’t all their power.’

A memory surfaced in Alon’s mind: Rine’s words.

At the same time—

‘Everything depends on godfather’s Law.’

‘…My Law?’

‘Yes. Your Law will determine how much it can be strengthened.’

And then, the words he had forgotten returned.

“Master… I will do everything possible.”

He heard Seolrang’s voice.

She was smiling.

In this desperate instant, she smiled radiantly.

Like someone who finally found what she was looking for.

That gesture made another phrase of Rine resonate in his mind.

And an idea emerged.

It was only an idea.

He had never tested it. He didn’t know if it had flaws. And here there were too many unknown risks.

…He didn’t even know if that was what Rine had mentioned.

But if it really was…

Then it was worth trying.

Therefore—

“…Seolrang.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Can you trust me?”

Alon spoke.

“Yes.”

Seolrang responded without a millimeter of doubt.

And confirming it, Alon closed his eyes and activated his Law.

[!]

The Spirit Invoker, who had been watching the scene as if watching a drama, finally seemed unsettled.

Wuuuuung—

The world resonated.

Everything except Alon began to slow down. Vivid colors disappeared, replaced by black and white.

And then—

“Execute the Law.”

When the world returned to normal…

The Spirit Invoker showed a bewildered expression.

It was logical.

He had clearly seen that Alon had used the Law.

But nothing had changed.

The only perceptible change was that Seolrang, who had been releasing black lightning uncontrollably, now emitted none.

That’s why, while he watched—

He noticed that Seolrang began to walk toward him.

Slowly.

‘…Did she refine the lightning?’

The lightning user who couldn’t control it now controlled it perfectly.

[Ha…]

The Spirit Invoker let out a hollow laugh.

His conjecture disappeared.

[A ridiculously disappointing Law.]

He smiled mockingly looking at Alon.

The Divine Bloods who had expected something also showed open disappointment.

But Alon continued to observe calmly.

Alon’s Law was different from that of other Divine Bloods.

While Divine Bloods obtained abilities by adding something or altering their essence…

Alon’s Law began with a restriction.

Yes, a restriction.

Just like when he used the Seal and the Phrases for the first time.

Just like when he defeated the invincible Ulthultus.

His Law was based on restricting something.

By offering the most valuable thing, he obtained something even greater.

That was the essence of his Law.

…Alon looked at Seolrang.

She no longer released lightning.

It was obvious:

The restriction had snatched away the lightning.

Lightning was essential for Seolrang.

The Golden Mane Tribe used lightning.

She had mastered her essence, could use all the lightning, and that power had been everything she always wielded.

But now…

She could no longer use lightning.

She had given up her lightning as a restriction.

Her ability.

Her everything.

She had given it up in exchange for the Law.

[Let’s end this.]

In front of her was the Spirit Invoker.

As if announcing the end of this boring play.

Seolrang raised her hand.

It was incredible how she moved.

Her fist advanced slowly.

Not fast.

Without the bright electricity that always surrounded her.

Just a simple fist.

A fist that advanced slowly forward.

The Spirit Invoker imitated that movement, as if he wanted to reciprocate.

He was going to face her in hand-to-hand combat.

And yet, Alon watched calmly.

And just before the fists collided—

[!]

Instinctively, the Spirit Invoker pulled back his hand, dodging.

Seolrang’s slow fist passed by his side.

And then—

—KAAAAAAAHHHHHHH—!!!

A gigantic boom exploded.

The ground opened up from the point where the fist passed, creating a crack that reached the horizon.

“Ah.”

The Spirit Invoker’s body froze.

That was what Seolrang had gained.

The price of sacrificing the lightning, her very essence.

What she had obtained was—

“I missed the hit.”

—A physical capacity so overwhelming that it even surpassed the Divine Bloods.