Chapter 527

Episode 527. The Beginning of War (6)

Red blood flowed over the jet-black armor, billowing like a cape.

Seeing the 전쟁의 업좌, who had shed his armor with a screeching sound as if words were not enough protection, Alon felt a chill that made his skin crawl.

‘Can I win?’

It was a stinging sensation that numbed his limbs. His heart beat frantically and cold sweat ran down his back; before the overwhelming presence of that being, Alon let out a ragged breath.

‘… I don’t know.’

No, in reality, he knew the answer. He had already reached a conclusion within himself. However, unfortunately, Alon could not afford to waver. He frowned deeply and forced his mind to work.

‘Can I receive support?’

He glanced around. The landscape looked like a simple crumbling ruin, but Alon could perceive the existence of a massive “Wall” erected to isolate him and the Throne.

… Did its size span the entire student pavilion of the academy?

For a moment, Alon thought that he could somehow collaborate with his companions outside, but he soon dismissed the idea. This space was divided into multiple strata, and he realized that the “Wall” would not break by simple physical destruction.

‘The structure of the wall is strange. It’s not that it cuts off the outside, but rather distorts it. Creating an exit through conventional magic seems impossible.’

Having reached that conclusion, he looked forward. He could not count on external help; he would have to achieve it by himself. Alon only had a handful of certainties.

The first was that his enemy was a “Throne,” the next level of a Divine Blood.

The second, that he held the throne of War.

The third was the nature of the ability he used.

‘… If at least I can use my ability, maybe—’

Alon continued to analyze the 전쟁의 업좌, who continued to observe him with a crimson glow in his eyes. If he could decipher the emotions of that being, perhaps he would find a feeling that would allow him to seize victory. As far as he knew, the abilities of a Throne are heterogeneous; beyond unusual, they are irrational and break all logic.

However, he knew that such powers usually carried a “Penalty” linked to real emotions. Just as he was trying to devise a plan to unravel that feeling:

[From now on, I shall proclaim the rules.]

The Throne, still scattering red blood, suddenly opened his mouth heavily.

[First: surprise attacks are prohibited.]

He spoke with a noble solemnity, as if reciting a devout prayer.

[Second: flight is prohibited.]

[Third.]

[As long as one of the parties does not surrender, the war shall not end.]

He recited the precepts.

[He who violates them shall be expelled from the waters of the Grand Judgment and suffer eternal death.]

And finally:

[To conclude, do you have any questions?]

At the words of the 전쟁의 업좌, which sounded like an official proclamation, Alon looked at him stunned.

‘Has he… shared the rules with me?’.

Just as Alon suspected, the ability of War was related to rules. However, despite having discovered it, his eyes were filled with doubt. The reason was that the Throne had revealed them openly.

“—… Why have you told me the rules?”

Alon could easily grasp the character of the Throne. He adored war and, therefore, seemed to loathe cowardice. But even so, revealing the norms to the enemy you must fight implied an immense risk. Although his rules did not seem like much at first glance, depending on how they were used, they could be as lethal as those of his apostles.

Alon weighed two hypotheses. One: that the Throne considered him so weak that he believed Alon could not win even knowing the rules. The other: that he had not revealed all the norms, hiding traps among them.

… Of course, if he intended to play dirty from the beginning, he wouldn’t have torn off his own arm.

While Alon tried to process the situation, the 전쟁의 업좌 emitted a crimson flash from his eyes.

[Because my ability must be used solely to wage a holy war.]

“—Is that… the reason?”

[What other reason do you need?]

At the response, Alon closed his mouth. It was not because of the pressure he felt, nor because of his bone-chilling presence. The reason for Alon’s silence…

“—Ha…”

… was that in that voice full of doubts, he perceived absolute sincerity. A sincerity that bordered on madness. And after recognizing that:

[Forget the complications.]

The 전쟁의 업좌 continued:

[Forget the reason why you are here, the motive for your struggle, what you must protect… discard those grandiose thoughts about political reasons or saving the world. Or rather, there is no need for you to discard them.]

For the first time, he showed a fierce smile on his face.

[I will make you lose them.]

He appeared in front of Alon.

Splat!

Piercing through his heart.

[Star Eater.]

“—…”

Alon’s eyes widened.

“—Cough… ugh…?”

The first thing that crossed his mind upon seeing his chest pierced was: When? At what moment did this happen?

“—Cough!”

With the cough, scarlet blood welled up, flowing incessantly to emphasize that this situation was not a dream, but a harsh reality. The 전쟁의 업좌, who was smiling with glee, made a move:

Slash!

He jerked the hand embedded in Alon’s heart, sending him flying far away.

Thud! Crack!

Rolling across the ground without any kind of magical protection, his body shattered into pieces in an instant. Alon, with a perforated heart, tried to lift his trembling hands toward his chest without even having time to worry about the rest of his wounds.

Unfortunately, the Throne prevented him by approaching swiftly to deliver a kick to his abdomen.

K-BOOOOM!

Alon shot out as if a bomb had exploded, crashing through the wall of a ruined school building.

“—Alon-nim!!!”

Penia, who was hiding next to Blackie panting under the pressure of the Throne’s aura, screamed with wide eyes and fell into despair. She had seen it too. She saw the hole in Alon’s heart and how he was crushed against the ruins without being able to deploy his magic. Knowing that Alon’s body, without magic, was nothing more than that of an ordinary human, Penia was about to transform her despair into fury against the Throne when…

“—Cough!”

A familiar coughing sound came from among the rubble. Penia turned her head immediately.

“—Alon-nim!!”

She could see him. Alon was struggling out of the ruins, but the hole in his heart had already closed.

“—How… how is it possible?”

Penia felt relief, but the next logical question was “How?”. The attack Alon received was impossible to survive. However, unlike Penia’s doubts, Alon, while coughing, had reached a revelation. Or rather, he had understood the Rule.

“As long as one of the parties does not surrender, the war shall not end.”

Alon had a small doubt when he heard that rule for the first time. There being so many ways to end a war, the condition was simply “as long as one does not surrender.” And now he understood.

‘The rule is not ambiguous.’

Alon observed his own body. Although he felt an indescribable and atrocious pain, his wounds regenerated at an astonishing speed, as if he were a transcendental being. As if he had never been attacked.

‘Literally, if you don’t surrender, you don’t die.’

Alon confirmed that his body was fully recovered and looked down. There, the one-armed being, whose wounds were no longer bleeding, looked at him with eyes full of ecstasy and joy.

“—Ha.”

Alon let out a dry laugh. The Throne knew perfectly well that he had descended in a weakened state because Alon sabotaged the ritual. But in his eyes, there was not a trace of anger. What was there was madness. Seeing those eyes that simply enjoyed the situation, Alon determined:

‘It won’t be easy.’

This combat would only end when someone surrendered. And his opponent was a madman hungry for battle. However, Alon still had a chance to win. And if a chance existed…

“—Fuu.”

… he had always emerged victorious.

“—Reverse Heaven (逆天).“

He murmured in a low voice. The stars began to fill the dark sky again.

The Throne had three Divine Bloods that followed him. Unlike the others, they were deeply imbued with his ideology and served only him. They were creatures that had waited until now to descend alongside their lord.

Among them, the one known as the “Blood-Letting Bird”, who was so linked to his lord that he could use his abilities, enjoyed the idea of the imminent massacre. Where there is war, there is slaughter, and under his lord’s ability, he could enjoy an eternal carnage.

Therefore, with a pounding heart, the being descended to the commercial area and showed a slimy smile upon seeing the crowd of humans… until he found her.

Tac.

The whisper of a young girl was heard. A small murmur devoid of any particular emotion. However…

Splat!

At that simple murmur, the body of the Blood-Letting Bird instantly exploded.

Tac.

His body twisted in a grotesque way.

Tac.

His body was compressed.

With each word pronounced firmly, the Blood-Letting Bird met death. Over and over again. Without rest. He died as if he could not escape a predetermined causality. In an extremely cold, extremely calm manner.

The Blood-Letting Bird wanted to scream something at her. At first, it was mockery; he wanted to scoff at her saying he wouldn’t die no matter how much she killed him. Then it was fury; he wanted to scream that he would tear her apart and kill everything she loved. Then it was negotiation.

Then…

Then…

Then…

Then…

[Aaaaaah… aaah!]

… it was terror. Because he finally understood. The young girl in front of him…

The girl with white hair and red eyes.

“—Shhh.”

She raised a hand to her lips.

“—… Please, die in silence, okay?”

Her gaze shifted from left to right.

“—I have come because I need your sword.”