Chapter 159

Chapter 159
## Chapter 159

The Aftermath of the Capital Invasion (3)

Deep within the boundless Northern Mountains, a territory teeming with dangerous beasts.

A lone figure sat perched atop a colossal, bear-like creature the size of a residence, gently stroking its thick coat while wearing a deep scowl.

“…What on earth is occurring here?”

The Revolutionary, the supreme commander of the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance—who had previously dismantled the Rohan Duchy before retreating into the shadows—analyzed the intelligence reports before him with an intensely grim expression.

‘A wager struck between the chosen hero and the Immortal King? A three-year cessation of hostilities? This is utterly preposterous.’

Unable to credit the validity of the data, he initiated a secondary verification process.

He entertained the possibility that his clandestine information network had suffered a breach or malfunction due to his sudden isolation after orchestrating his latest upheaval.

Yet, irrespective of how many times he cross-referenced the sources, the conclusions remained identical…

The Immortal King was not actively striving to blanket the mortal realm in a shroud of demise; instead, he was merely pursuing his own twisted amusement.

Such a development defied all logic.

‘I harbored doubts from the moment his conduct deviated from our projections… ‘

His expression darkened completely.

He had originally assumed the Immortal King was executing a deeper, more calculated machination, but the current state of affairs indicated that the monarch had entirely severed the grasp of the abyss.

‘That defies reality. No entity is capable of resisting the abyss.’

It was an absolute decree that governed every living thing within this cosmos, and when applied to a mere ‘human,’ it functioned as an immutable law of nature.

‘Could it be that the Immortal King possessed a non-human lineage in his ancestral past? No, that is irrelevant. Even if his origins were external to humanity, the fundamental principle remains unchanged.’

A singular inquiry existed that virtually every inhabitant of this world accepted without scrutiny.

Naturally, he did not dispute the reality of the Main God, nor did he look down upon the deity’s ultimate sovereignty.

It was an inquiry born of literal observation.

Every distinct species maintained their own spiritual allegiance.

The Elves directed their worship toward the immense ‘World Tree’ situated at the center of the Enamel Continent, while the Dwarves knelt before the ‘God of Fire and Metal’.

The various beast tribes adhered to primal faiths centered on the animalistic deities that represented their lineages, all of which were mere reflections of the singular ‘Beast God’.

Furthermore, these theological paths were not exclusively restricted to their primary races.

Certain belief systems had permeated human society as well, such as the veneration of the Sea God and the Earth God, though they remained marginalized sects.

Regardless, every single one of them traced their lineage back to a specific racial deity.

Why, then, did humanity lack a divine patron that could uniquely be designated as their racial god?

It was an anomaly, yet a truth that rarely prompted investigation.

‘It is accepted… simply because it has always endured as such… A universal assumption.’

The Main God, as the architect of reality, existed as a cosmic principle or an abstract decree far beyond the comprehension of mortal minds.

By that definition, such a power should not be actively meddling in earthly affairs, dispensing sacred energy and divine favors in response to mortal piety.

The deity was effectively fulfilling an external obligation, correcting anomalies to preserve equilibrium within the cosmos.

Indeed, humanity had once possessed a divine guardian of their very own.

An entity thoroughly expunged from the annals of time and the fabric of causality by the Main God, leaving behind not a single trace of remembrance, yet…

That entity had undeniably walked this world.

“This development leaves me no alternative. My apologies, Baltheon, but I must embrace the fervor of insanity. Now that the embodiment of death has broken away from its preordained path, I cannot permit others to manage this burden.”

The Revolutionary gave a sharp click of his tongue, his thoughts drifting to the formidable combatant currently occupied with assignments in the southern territories.

Though that individual stood as the most efficient asset within the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance, the current crisis demanded that personal considerations be set aside.

Abandoning his seat upon the lupine-bear beast, he stepped down and advanced with measured strides toward a nearby fracture of the abyss.

Instantly, the beast’s previously tranquil eyes ignited with a crimson fury, and with a deafening screech, it vanished into the dense thickets.

“In the name of the God of Humans.”

Whispering the phrase under his breath, he committed his body to the depths of the fracture.

He remained the solitary emissary of the forgotten ‘God of Humans,’ a deity erased from existence,

And a defiant insurrectist, completely invested in resurrecting the divine entity banished to the abyss—the dumping ground of the Auterica Dimension.

—

The core message delivered by Patrick, the chief administrator of the Mercenary Guild, during his audience with Harley was uncomplicated.

‘He intends to manage the administrative burdens entirely, leaving me with the sole task of elevating my renown. And that renown must resonate across the entire territory.’

Such was the ultimate conclusion of their extensive dialogue.

Because Harley’s current prestige did not match the caliber of his martial prowess, a concerted effort to magnify his reputation was required.

To be sure, he had successfully executed multiple assignments classified at the absolute pinnacle of difficulty during his tenure as a sellsword, and his recent exploits during the monster madness cataclysm had earned him substantial praise…

However, that admiration was confined primarily to the western expanses of the land, specifically the northern sectors of the Tulk Kingdom.

‘In truth, Harley’s journey as a registered mercenary spans less than a solitary year.’

The passage of duration remained an indispensable element in the cultivation of widespread legend.

The rival contenders vying for the title of Mercenary King were veterans who had painstakingly cultivated their status over decades to attain their current prestige.

Furthermore, their martial capabilities hovered securely at the master tier, rendering them living legends among common sellswords; thus, from an objective standpoint, the disparity in accumulated tenure was immense.

‘I possess the absolute certainty that I could demolish every single one of them in open combat!’

Yet, relying solely on such an aggressive strategy would generate a level of infamy equal to the public goodwill he would forfeit.

Regardless of how heavily physical dominance was revered within their collective, ascending to the zenith of the guild—a continent-spanning entity rather than a localized band—demanded a far more refined strategy.

In honesty, he had felt a distinct pull toward the time-honored practice of systematically challenging every prominent training hall…

Fortunately for his companions, Harley possessed a far superior alternative strategy.

Rumble—!

A cataclysmic detonation shattered the air, sending a pillar of obsidian flames skyward.

“Gah!”

“Y-you monsters! How dare you commit such atrocities!”

The Beoin County, widely detested for its tyrannical governance and ruthless taxation, was suddenly consumed by an inferno triggered by an unidentified strike force.

Multitudes of animated corpses swarmed the fortifications from every conceivable path.

“Ahahaha! Every action serves His ultimate design! This realm shall be purified through the blessing of demise!”

Forbidden sorcery, sustained by the very vitality of the casters, spread through the territory like an uncontainable wildfire.

Their pure hatred, completely detached from any instinct for self-preservation or future survival, saturated the entire region.

In reality, this specific assault was not an isolated event.

The syndicates of darkness, who had remained underground for reasons unknown, were beginning to emerge concurrently across the land.

The resources and influence they had quietly amassed over generations while operating in the world’s shadows were formidable.

This resurgence occurred precisely when the global populace was already entirely consumed by the threat of monsters.

Yet, amid this chaotic landscape, the individuals spearheading the resistance against these insurgencies were none other than—.

“Ah, our transit was flawless on this occasion. It appears our arrival is timely.”

“Your precision improves continuously. Coordinating a long-range displacement for a group of this magnitude is a monumental feat, even for a practitioner of the Archmage tier.”

“That simply confirms we are relying on this method far too frequently, which bodes ill. It reflects the sheer severity of our global circumstances.”

The quartet of individuals materializing within a brilliant cascade of luminescence were the celebrated companions.

“Hahaha! How much longer will you waste on pleasantries? I shall initiate the assault!”

“…I will… accompany you.”

A hulking warrior wielding a massive battleaxe alongside a somber, middle-aged combatant gripping a spear charged directly into the vanguard of the enemy forces.

“Ugh! Target them immediately!”

“M-our incantations yield no result?! What manner of anomaly is this?!”

“Hahaha! Attempting to flee? Stand your ground!”

Harley, leading the charge, swung his massive axe with unyielding momentum, completely disregarding the enemy’s offensive spells due to the potent magical immunity granted by his dragon scales…

Swish— Swish—!

“Hehehe! Perish alongside… Gack!”

“Mercy! Please spare… Wait, am I unharmed?”

The spear wielded by the silver-haired combatant cleaved through the air with a piercing radiance, extending salvation to those on the brink of destruction.

“Our immediate priority must be the reduction of the animated forces. For them to deploy a surprise offensive of this magnitude implies the direct involvement of the Immortal King.”

Hum—! Crash!

Simultaneously, a massive torrent of raw mana radiated from Isea’s form, instantly manifesting an advanced arcane art that annihilated hundreds of animated corpses in a single flash.

“Gah! Does she possess the gift of sight? How could their counterattack materialize with such terrifying speed?!”

The practitioner of dark sorcery directing the assault ground his teeth in frustration as he witnessed hundreds of his acolytes and thousands of his thralls dissolve like frost before a flame.

He had anticipated their intervention and had long since reconciled with his own mortality, yet… the sheer magnitude of their dominance far exceeded his calculations, instilling a deep sense of dread.

‘This ground shall serve as my final resting place.’

Even so, he refused to pass into oblivion without consequence.

Though his life was forfeit, he would etch a permanent scar upon this realm to validate his existence!

Rumble—

He immediately initiated the incantation for an ultra-tier spell normally beyond his capabilities, voluntarily consuming his own life force to aggressively overcharge the magical core within his chest.

His goal was to saturate this entire province with the essence of death at the cost of his very spirit.

“Hehehe— You arrogant, privileged aristocrats. Never forget this! Our defiance will never be extinguished. Finality is the solitary metric of true equity, bypassing all titles! We shall forge a domain cleansed of bigotry…”

“I comprehend the tenets of your philosophy, however…”

His declaration was abruptly severed—.

Thrust—

“Kegh—!”

“Your vocabulary is entirely excessive.”

“I-impossible… the defensive wards were active…”

Heinrich, having closed the distance undetected, had driven his consecrated blade directly through the sorcerer’s heart.

Naturally, the caster had maintained a multitude of defensive barriers as claimed, yet his protections were inadequate against the absolute negation of “Blessing: Holy Blade”, the inherent antithesis of dark sorcery.

The celestial energy surging from the embedded weapon entirely incinerated the corrupted mana fluctuating within his physical frame, reducing him to silent ash that dissipated into the wind without further struggle.

Shortly thereafter,

“Hooray—!”

“W-we have survived!”

Though numbering a mere four individuals, the time required to dismantle the thousands of enemy combatants was remarkably brief.

Regrettably, the majority of the ruling lineage had already perished during the initial ambush that preceded the main conflict, yet…

“May the infinite compassion of the Main God enfold them.”

Heinrich, pausing to offer a brief, silent benediction, focused his efforts on restoring the health of the wounded, intentionally overlooking the local populace as they quietly salvaged valuables from the vacant estate.

“Oh, glorious Saint, you brought us salvation, and now you bestow your healing arts upon us. Our gratitude knows no bounds!”

“Bless you! Bless you!”

“Think nothing of it. Comforting those in distress is the fundamental obligation of all who serve the Main God.”

“A truly righteous sentiment! Truly befitting Saint Heinrich of the Main God Church!”

“Ah, you praise me too highly. Your contributions were equally vital, Harley.”

Through these actions, they successfully solidified their reputations among the local populace with Harley’s calculated assistance, subsequently clustering around Isea to facilitate their next displacement.

Operatives of their elite caliber could not afford prolonged stays in a single region.

‘He proves highly capable. Both his proficiency and his temperament meet the standard, and… given the nature of his background.’

Heinrich cast a subtle glance toward the middle-aged warrior possessing silver hair and sapphire eyes, who stood cleaning his spear—Geos Calkin—and offered a quiet nod of approval.

Geos was a formidable martial artist who had volunteered his services to the champion’s circle upon learning of their crusade, and his inclusion was predicated on several distinct factors.

Primarily, his martial capability.

The reality that an un-transcended wielder of pure aura could execute an offensive strike capable of tearing through physical space indicated that the esoteric style he had perfected was extraordinarily rare.

…To a degree that inspired a touch of envy.

The tier of Mastery represented a condition where a warrior had finalized their personal martial framework, optimized their internal energy, and reached the absolute zenith of that specific trajectory.

They were universally recognized as Sword Masters or individuals who had attained the ‘Transcendent Realm’ within alternative dimensions; their continuously active internal energy augmented all physical traits, dramatically increasing the efficiency of its direct application.

The absolute concentration of the energy they commanded existed on an entirely elevated tier, making it impossible to replicate.

Conversely, Transcendence marked a state of being where a warrior had advanced further still, shattering mortal boundaries and exceeding the fundamental constraints of existence.

Such individuals could cleave through dimensions with a physical blade, alter natural phenomena through sheer cognitive intent, and instinctively decipher the threads of causality.

It defied a singular definition because the path to transcendence was entirely unique to each practitioner.

As a case in point, Conwell, the commander of the Empire’s Royal Knights, retained the capacity to sever even the miasma of the abyss as if it were mundane fabric through his unique conceptual talent to ‘bisect’ all things.

‘Reflecting on that, his particular methodology is immensely attractive. I must engineer an opportunity to subtly inquire about it once a deeper rapport is established.’

Securing that information would likely proceed smoothly.

This confidence stemmed from the secondary rationale for integrating Geos into the group—his personal history.

‘His lineage was entirely consumed during the continent-wide massacres… occurrences verified to be the handiwork of the Immortal King intended to fracture the boundaries of the abyss.’

Though holding noble status within the Lesque Kingdom, he, much like Isea, had ascended to his position purely through individual merit.

Born a commoner and raised as an orphan, he had harbored an immense devotion toward his spouse and offspring, all of whom were brutally taken from him.

Consequently, his purpose in aligning with the champion’s vanguard was born not of a grand sense of global responsibility, but exclusively out of a desire for absolute retribution against the Immortal King.

And Heinrich… found it impossible to reject a man who begged for a path to vengeance with gaze entirely devoid of the desire to live for anything else.

‘…His internal landscape mirrors my own.’

Without question, he would assist him in achieving that retribution.

A significant portion of the adversaries they had just neutralized belonged to the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance, and he would not falter until every architect of that widespread misery was utterly eradicated.

“We must depart for our next destination. Ensure you do not resist the flow of my mana.”

Hum—!

The inexhaustible magical reserves of Isea enveloped their physical forms,

And they vanished instantly from Beoin County within the Sharotti Kingdom.

Their schedule remained grueling, for even though they restricted their personal intervention to large-scale incursions, they were simultaneously tasked with issuing intelligence warnings for localized threats and formulating defensive strategies, and…

Yet, the renown of the champion Heinrich and his dedicated comrades expanded across the continent, directly reflecting the magnitude of their relentless endeavors.