Chapter 611

Book 1 Chapter 611

611.

Elsie did not resemble a typical arch-spirit.

These entities are unique lifeforms.

Right from their inception, innumerable lesser spirits assemble to celebrate the arrival of a fresh arch-spirit.

They occupy an elevated status, naturally endowed with the authority to command other spirits from their first breath, alongside carrying monumental strength.

Consequently, they grew used to receiving veneration, which invariably made them arrogant and dominant figures.

But Elsie stood apart from them.

The epoch of her birth was shrouded in unprecedented darkness.

Her awakening occurred amidst a bloody war zone where lives were actively fading, and upon opening her eyes, no souls were present to celebrate her existence.

The people aware of Elsie’s arrival begged her to rip their adversaries to pieces.

Granting their requests, Elsie engaged in combat against Tartaros.

Yet, all she gained from it was the sight of unending casualties.

Ultimately, she chose to reside within Schatten, a blade that devoured gloom, and roamed the war-torn lands alongside Agon, the Guardian of the Azure Sky.

Following those times, she concealed who she truly was, spending her days among the youth at the orphanage founded by Agon.

It would have been natural for her personality to become warped under such circumstances.

Nonetheless, Elsie remained untainted.

On the contrary, her desire was to rescue the world.

Her motivation lacked the grandiose nature typical of her peers.

It was a modest, yet profoundly deep aspiration: simply to gaze upon the stellar lights glittering in the evening heavens.

‘Furthermore, humanity filled me with despair.’

This sentiment belonged to an Elsie of a later time—an entity unfamiliar to the present Elsie, who had manifested as the prize for overcoming the Hero Record.

That future version of Elsie, having looked past the wickedness of Tartaros to see the cruelty harboring within the surface dwellers, grew deeply disillusioned by existence.

Detestation for reality filled her heart.

Even with those feelings, she chose in the end not to abandon the realm of her birth.

She refused to forsake the magnificent landscape she had yet to truly experience.

Siding with Kyle rather than Lysianas, she endeavored to discover a justification for the continuation of this reality.

In the grand finale, she offered up her own life for the sake of the cosmos.

Every single time Leo looked at Elsie, reflections filled his mind.

What would have transpired if Elsie had never faded away during that ancient era?

What if she had managed to endure until the conclusion, finally beholding the constellations in the dark sky?

‘In all likelihood… her behavior would mirror her current self.’

Truly, even in the present, she beams with joy each night while looking up at the celestial bodies above.

The minor details of life bring her immense pleasure, and her delight is entirely sincere.

This exact trait separated her completely from the rest of her kind.

She was an entity of such profound gentleness that the concept of rage was foreign to her.

Elsie, the Shadow Spirit, who would offer nothing but a soft grin whenever faced with scoffs or slurs.

That Elsie was now experiencing true wrath.

Leo felt completely taken aback by the unprecedented fierceness radiating from her.

“Has this made you upset?”

-This is entirely intolerable.

Elsie answered, her tone completely devoid of warmth.

-Directing such a gaze toward Leo.

Right at that moment, Istar glared at Leo with an expression reserved for something utterly repulsive.

This particular stare deeply irritated Elsie.

For her, Leo held the position of a savior prior to being a contract ally.

He was a savior to whom offering her entire being would still fall short as repayment, considering he had granted her the view of the star-filled heavens she thought lost to her, and bestowed a tranquility she never anticipated experiencing.

During her encounters with Ignis and Laaruel.

Ignis and Laaruel had disparaged and ridiculed Elsie.

But Elsie had paid no heed to their taunts.

Viewing things through their lens, such behavior was only to be expected.

Since she was nothing more than an echo from bygone eras, their dismissive attitude carried no surprise.

Conversely, treating Leo with disrespect was a line that could not be crossed.

Leo chimed in to address Elsie’s deadpan remarks.

“For now, try to compose yourself.”

Just as Leo attempted to pacify her.

“Hmph.”

A mocking sneer resounded from Istar.

“A lesser minion belonging to Ignis? Bah! That treacherous bastard appears incapable of keeping a minor elemental under proper control.”

Restating his chin upon his hand while lounging on his seat of power, Istar dismissed Elsie entirely to lock eyes with Leo.

“What an insolent brat. Your purpose here is to establish a pact with me, is it not?”

“That is correct.”

“Bah! Your demeanor is riddled with pride and discourtesy. You likely believe you are above the world simply because you secured bonds with the entities representing the Abyss and Radiance.”

-It is your own eyes that are blind to reality!

“Hmph. You ancient crone. Has your mind deteriorated with age?”

Manifesting right next to Leo, Laaruel spoke out in a panicked rush.

-Istar! Your intentions are clear to me! However, you must at the very least give Sir Leo the basic respect due to a potential pact bound partner!

“Ha! Sir Leo, you say? How thoroughly discouraging! Spirit of Radiance! Though my personal opinion of you was never high, I held your nature in great esteem and recognition! Yet here you are, an apex elemental who has existed across millennia, addressing a common mortal with formal reverence!”

Istar’s gaze expanded with outrage.

“The mortal partner of a supreme elemental is meant to look up to and obey that very entity! To put it plainly, a servant! And yet you employ formal language for such an inferior partner! No doubt the Spirit of the Abyss behaves in an identical fashion! Both of you bring deep shame upon our kind!”

-…What an obtuse old geezer. He lacks any ability to grasp the tension here, doesn’t he?

Kieran whispered, looking thoroughly bewildered.

Istar continued to glare at Leo with utter revulsion.

It seemed he found the very presence of Leo utterly unendurable—a human who had already claimed pacts with prime elementals along with the three great beast-gods, and now stood before him seeking another alliance.

‘Under standard circumstances, I would have personally handled anyone uttering such garbage, however…’

Leo cast a brief look toward Elsie.

He let out a silent breath upon observing her demeanor, which perfectly mirrored the icy Shadow Spirit he had encountered initially.

‘It appears Elsie is going to take action before I even get the chance.’

“Allow me to demonstrate the proper dynamic between a supreme elemental and their mortal link.”

Clack-!

With a smug twist of his lips, Istar let out a sharp snap of his fingers.

Following the sound, Celia stepped forward from the shadows behind his seat.

Seeing her, Elsie’s gaze turned sharp and focused.

-Leo.

“Correct, she is completely blacked out.”

Clad in a striking, vibrant crimson gown and holding a magnificent red blade rather than her familiar Flame Storm weapon, Celia showed no signs of awareness.

‘Those armaments and garments are undoubtedly high-ranking entities of fire.’

Celia’s crimson eyes gleamed unnaturally.

“An implementation of Spirit Armored through non-consensual possession?”

“Oh? Quite impressive. Your perception is remarkably sharp for an individual who merely formed bonds with a pair of prime elementals,” Istar remarked, a smirk forming on his face. “Rumors suggest you have delved into the intricacies of magical matrices, manipulating them in a highly distinctive manner.”

Witnessing this display left Laaruel completely shocked.

-Istar! This crosses the line regardless of your reasons! Dominating an lower spirit to execute a forced Spirit Armored transformation while suppressing her mind is a total degradation of your human partner! On top of that, Celia Zerdineger possesses zero talent for spiritual arts! Her physical vessel will inevitably suffer immense damage under this strain!

“Bah! The lineage of Tungkang is something I comprehend better than anyone else. Even if Celia Zerdineger lacks the innate talent of a spiritualist, her spiritual resonance is highly compatible with the element of fire!”

Istar’s gaze flashed with dangerous conviction.

“Following the loss of my irreplaceable human ally decades ago, I swore a vow! I shall never permit a repeat of that tragedy! The life and death of my bonded vessel shall be governed entirely by my dictates!”

-You… No… You wretched creature.

In an instant, Elsie’s tone dropped to a freezing temperature.

Catching the tone of her voice, a grin touched Leo’s lips.

‘Her patience has shattered entirely.’

Her current presence was a perfect mirror of her demeanor during her wrathful battles five millennia in the past.

Leo carefully shifted a few paces away from her.

The behavior Istar exhibited was something she fundamentally could not abide.

Back in the Age of Calamity, she had yearned intensely for a human to bind with—a partner who would stand beside her to deliver the world from ruin.

Simultaneously, doubts had plagued her back then about whether such an individual could even be found in those bleak times.

Unlike the contemporary world, where one could easily decline an alliance over personal preferences, that era offered no such luxuries.

For Elsie, an individual like Istar, who viewed a human partner as nothing more than a tool, was completely unforgivable.

“You have done nothing but spew haughty rubbish for a common minor dark elemental since the moment you—!”

Before Istar could finish voicing his annoyance.

The darkness surrounding his throne erupted violently upward.

Kwagagagagang! Kwang! Kugagagang!

The succession of deafening crashes obliterated the space where the ruler sat.

“Leo.”

Leo turned his head to the side.

A striking lady with dark tresses was gazing at him.

It was the authentic appearance of Elsie.

“Allow me to handle this entity myself.”

Leo signaled his agreement with a nod.

Thud- Thud-

With steady footsteps, Elsie advanced toward the previous site of the throne.

A massive crater now occupied the space.

Staring down into the abyss with a vacant countenance, she descended into the cavern.

Observing this, Kieran whispered.

-I will ensure I never cross Elsie in the future.

Cheep! Cheep!

Fiona chirped in agreement, nodding her head.

-My lord, will she emerge unharmed from this?

Arti inquired, anxiety visible on her features.

Laaruel chimed in with frantic words.

-Sir Leo! Initiating a conflict in this location places Lady Elsie at a severe disadvantage!

This territory belonged entirely to Istar.

Even when two prime elementals possessed matching capabilities, entering combat inside an opponent’s sovereign realm carried extreme peril.

Engaging in battle here meant facing more than just the Spirit of Purification; every single fire elemental occupying this area would turn against her.

Laaruel maintained an advantage compared to her, as she also held sway over numerous minor elementals, even if the count fell short of Istar’s forces.

Conversely, Elsie possessed no allies here.

Taking in the warnings from Arti and Laaruel, Leo fixed his eyes on the approaching figure of Celia.

“There is no need for concern.”

Screech-!

With a sharp ringing sound, he unsheathed his blade.

“She possesses a rather unique nature.”

-What?

Leo let out a small, knowing chuckle.

The Shadow Spirit whom Lysianas had once deemed the most potent of all elementals.

‘The issue lay entirely in my own lack of proficiency, preventing me from channeling her full potential until this moment. In all likelihood, Elsie remains unaware of it herself.’

Five millennia ago.

Her authentic strength had effortlessly wiped out the army of the Necromancer King, a force widely heralded as the most formidable legion in existence.

Thud-thud-thud-

Stumbling upward, Istar picked himself up from the depths of the subterranean crater where he had been driven.

Thump-!

With a muted thud, Elsie touched down directly before him, her face remaining devoid of any emotion.

“It appears my assessment was wrong; you are far from a basic lesser minion.”

Istar’s muscular frame tightened with a dangerous energy.

“The strength you wield matches that of a prime elemental. By what means did you acquire this? Has the Spirit of the Abyss perished, allowing a fresh prime elemental of shadow to emerge without my awareness?”

“Ignis is in perfectly fine health.”

Elsie responded in a tranquil manner.

“In that case, who are you exactly?”

“My identity is Elsie, the Shadow Spirit. The prime elemental of darkness from a bygone age.”

“Oh, really?”

Istar murmured, brushing his hand against his chin.

Under normal circumstances, he would have roared at her to stop speaking such absurdities.

Yet, despite his long isolation within this sanctuary, he kept track of the external realm.

The current epoch was one where legendary champions arose, deities manifested, and wonders occurred regularly.

“So, the manifestation of an ancient prime elemental in this current age is completely plausible? Fascinating.”

Istar threw his arms wide.

“Given the circumstances, I must extend to you the reception appropriate for a fellow prime entity.”

Kwaaaaaaaaah-!

An explosion of sapphire fire erupted violently.

“Ahahaha! Prepare to be cleansed, ancient entity!”

Hwarrrrrrruk-!

“Kneel before me! This represents the ablaze of the Spirit of Purification, hailed as the preeminent elemental of this age!”

A colossal inferno enveloped Elsie entirely.

Istar, letting out a wild laugh, lightly touched his chin.

“Ah. Was the temperature perhaps too extreme for an ancient relic?”

“You should focus on enduring this yourself.”

“What?”

Istar recoiled as the words sounded unexpectedly right at his back.

Wrapped in deep shadows, Elsie’s fist slammed directly into Istar’s visage with immense force.

Kwagagagang-!

“Ugh!”

Istar was driven into the dirt, pinned by an immense weight.

Staring down at his fallen form, Elsie spoke calmly.

“Should you offer a formal apology for your insolent glare toward Leo and your reckless mishandling of Celia, I shall likewise apologize for initiating this assault.”

“Do not mock me!”

Istar roared, throwing himself back up.

“A prime elemental stands at the absolute pinnacle of their element! Do you truly believe I would lower my gaze and offer regrets to anyone?!”

Hearing this, Elsie blinked in confusion.

“Is this not merely a fundamental disagreement on perspectives? Must we truly turn this into a mortal struggle? Personally, my mood improved slightly after landing that single blow on your face.”

“This goes far beyond such trivialities!”

The fire radiating from Istar’s frame intensified dramatically.

“A supreme elemental is an elite entity! Whatever I declare becomes the decree, and subsequently, absolute reality!”

“…”

Elsie could only stare, completely speechless.

‘Attempting to dialogue with him is entirely pointless.’

Never before had she encountered an entity so consumed by vanity.

“There.”

With a casual gesture of her finger, a trace of shadow reached out and snuffed out Istar’s ablaze.

“What?!”

Shocked, Istar triggered his heat once more, only for Elsie to smother it effortlessly a second time.

“It appears that my energy eclipses yours, does it not?”

“Argh! I refuse to acknowledge this!”

Hwarrrrrrruk-!

The entire vicinity caught fire instantaneously.

Startled by the sudden change, Elsie examined her surroundings.

-See? This is precisely why I suggested we coordinate our efforts.

-You insisted on your solo victory out of sheer obstinacy. Look at the humiliating predicament you’ve landed us in.

The newcomers turning up were none other than the elite Fire Spirits.

“Greetings.”

Elsie uttered, offering them a respectful nod.

Her courteous reception left the elite Fire Spirits completely taken aback.

It was beyond their imagination that a prime elemental, even one originating from antiquity, would offer formal greetings to entities of lesser status such as themselves.

“Pardon the interruption, but I am currently holding a discussion with this entity. Would you mind granting us a brief interval?”

In response to Elsie’s query, a stunning elemental adorned with blazing tresses trailing down to her midsection let out a helpless chuckle.

-My apologies, but that request cannot be accommodated.

“Oh?”

-To an inferior elemental, the edicts issued by the supreme entity they answer to are entirely non-negotiable.

Hwarrrrrrruk-!

The elite elementals unleashed a volley of heat.

Concurrently, a torrent of powerful heat began to radiate from Istar once more.

Elsie’s expression grew tense as she noted the escalating intensity of his fire.

Catching her reaction, Istar smirked.

“You shall harvest the consequences of initiating a brawl inside my realm, Shadow Spirit.”

Kwagagagagang-!

A colossal detonation of raw fire consumed Elsie entirely.

Elsie sensed her awareness slipping away.

‘Wait, have I been knocked to the ground?’

Alarmed, she pieced together the events that had just transpired.

‘Right… my opponent was the Spirit of Purification.’

It seemed that a devastating strike had caused her to briefly lose her senses.

‘I must stand up.’

She attempted to force her limbs to move, but her form refused to cooperate.

Her brow furrowed as she lay there.

“You hold a unique existence among elementals, Elsie.”

The voice resonated with a strange familiarity.

Elsie shifted her gaze toward the sound.

She observed a graceful woman with dark hair smiling down at her.

‘Who could this be…’

Her features were recognizable.

‘Could it be the King of Wisdom…?’

Lysianas stepped closer and leaned down next to Elsie.

“For shadows serve as an extension of my own self.”

The obsidian dragon standing before her grasped the essence of darkness just as deeply as any entity born of shadow.

“Furthermore, no entity across existence can exist devoid of a shadow.”

Lysianas offered a gentle expression.

“Therefore, employ that strength to assist Kyle.”

‘This dialogue… where have I encountered it?’

Elsie’s gaze expanded.

She possessed no recollection of participating in such a discussion with Lysianas.

Frankly, she had never crossed paths with the actual Lysianas at any point.

Yet… a faint echo lingered in her thoughts.

She felt certain she had spoken these exact phrases with Lysianas at some point.

‘Oh…’

Her eyes grew wide with realization.

‘Could these be recollections from an alternate version of myself?’

Grab-!

A sudden grip seized Elsie’s tresses.

The elite Fire Spirit who had previously addressed Elsie voiced her concern.

-Is it truly your intention to destroy her? Doing so risks creating an adversary out of Leo Plov.

“Bah. Such matters do not concern me in the slightest.”

-Honestly… acting entirely on impulse as usual. Do try to show some maturity.

“Repeat those words right now, Alsia!”

-It was nothing.

As Alsia, the elite Fire Spirit, let out a weary breath and prepared to react to her immature master’s antics, a quiet voice sounded.

“So, your designation is Alsia.”

Turning her head at the gentle call, Alsia locked eyes with Elsie, feeling a sudden, heavy sensation settle within her chest.

Offering a serene smile, Elsie spoke.

“Alsia.”

-Yes?

“Would it please you to step inside my shadow?”

The moment Alsia’s crimson gaze locked onto Elsie’s dark eyes, a deep shade of black began to overtake her vision.