Chapter 260

Chapter 260
## Chapter 260

Hide-and-Seek (2)

Oath of Heaven’s Defiance.

Their hostile entanglement began on the very first afternoon he set foot in Auterica.

The initial settlement Hans had chanced upon when he entered this reality happened to serve as their hidden stronghold.

At that exact moment, they were in the process of nurturing the ‘Immortal King’s Fragment’.

‘Though in retrospect, it turned out to be quite a fortunate stroke of luck for me.’

Following that initial clash, his paths crossed and collided with those zealots of Heaven’s Defiance time and again.

From rescuing Cecily within the perilous peaks of the Northern Mountains to the more recent conflict involving the Obaifo Clan inside the Republic.

‘I have wiped out the vast majority of their cells… yet truly pulling them up by the roots has proven slippery, given their scattered, decentralized organization.’

Hans rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, keeping his gaze fixed upon the diminutive metallic shard resting on the surface before him.

It was a minor remnant he had salvaged from the wreckage of the abyssal gate disaster, which had undoubtedly been their most massive undertaking.

The object resembled a link from a slender chain, the sort one might wear around their neck holding a pendant.

[Kuhut— Indeed, his name was Termal Gardias, if I recall correctly?]

The tragic figure who had surrendered his entire existence to tear open the void and offer himself up as a vessel for pure insanity.

Naturally, he had already conducted a exhaustive investigation into the man’s background.

The moment he extracted the necessary intelligence from Baltheon, the High Chieftain who had directed the catastrophe in the southern lands, he had put his entire spy network into motion.

‘His history is quite a miserable one… ’

It was not difficult to grasp the underlying reasons that drove Termal to unseal the abyssal gate and design the utter ruin of the continent.

Individuals who had been stripped of what they held most dear and grew to detest existence itself were common enough in the world.

However, he uniquely possessed the actual capability to bring about global annihilation, and he chose to execute that dark desire.

‘A broken soul who transformed into a monster. Reflecting on it, the ruin that shattered his life was almost certainly engineered by the Heaven’s Turn Society.’

Pushing a person of exceptional talent into utter hopelessness and steering them toward corruption was a classic ploy used by syndicates of evil.

Yet, indulging in such theories now was entirely pointless.

‘Regardless, the crucial element is—’

The man had transformed into the vessel of insanity, the Revolutionary had subsequently claimed that very madness, and Hans now possessed the ability to pinpoint his location using this specific medium.

The elusive Revolutionary, whom he had pursued across vast distances for an extended period without ever catching a glimpse of his shadow.

Wooong—

Hans watched the small metal scrap as it began to hum and shake, then slid it into his garments and strode out of the laboratory space.

The necessary arrangements were entirely complete. It was time to commence the tracking ceremony to locate his quarry. He intended to arrange everything flawlessly and hunt the man down without a single mistake.

There was no telling what sort of desperate maneuvers that irritating rat might attempt to pull.

[You have come forth… My Sovereign… Olivia… offers her deepest respects to the magnificent Immortal King…]

The Banshee Queen Olivia materialized in the space ahead of him, dropping low to the floor in a gesture of absolute submission.

He had not actively called for her presence, but she had rushed to his side the instant she registered the mystical ripples vibrating through the Immortal Fortress.

She truly was an impeccably devoted follower.

[Very well. Your timing is impeccable, Olivia.]

[Instruct me… I shall execute your will even if it demands my very existence…]

The pursuit had stretched out far longer than he had originally anticipated.

He never imagined it would require this much time to corner the man, particularly given his vast arrays of informants and his absolute authority to peer into the world’s hidden truths.

‘I must grant him credit; he has proven to be a highly capable adversary.’

Even so, every contest must eventually reach its conclusion.

The amusement was growing stale, making this the ideal moment to bring the curtain down.

[Gather all of the high-ranking officers.]

He had no intention of relenting.

This was no longer a simple game of evasion; it was an absolute war of attrition.

He would track him down, regardless of the obstacles.

Hans was the sort of individual who could take a simple game of children and reshape it into a lethal conflict.

—

The ruling household of the Azerion Empire finally released the long-awaited public decree.

It was the precise declaration that the populace had been anticipating for weeks.

Riley was to be formally elevated to the position of Crown Princess, taking the place originally held by Simon.

“Mmh… It was bound to happen. They could hardly leave the throne hanging in limbo for Prince Simon indefinitely given the current state of affairs.”

“Ha-ha! Long live the illustrious Crown Princess Riley Carte Azerion!”

“The political battle for the throne is effectively concluded. This outcome is… startling, yet entirely logical when you think about it.”

Public friction regarding the matter was minimal, as the political tides had already set this course in stone.

The most formidable faction backing Simon, the noble house of Duke Hermanheart—who had also masterminded the plot to abduct Riley—were currently far too preoccupied shielding themselves from her swift political reprisals to mount an opposition.

They found themselves locked in a ceaseless struggle for survival, and though it had not broken out into open military engagement, they lacked any extra capability to project power outward.

“I am considering sending an official token of congratulations to Viscount… ah, rather, Count Isea Pristine… but she is currently deployed on the warfront… Do you think it best to deliver it directly to her estate within the grand capital?”

“Attempting to build a connection through Count Pristine remains our most viable path… Oh? Hold on a moment, what if we seized this occasion to build rapport with the future Crown Princess’s companion…?”

Isea had indeed received an advancement in her noble standing from Viscount to Count, though the upper nobility did not display much shock over the matter.

She had previously retained a lower rank solely because her personal accolades under Riley’s banner had gone unrecorded, but anyone with political sense knew her station would rise rapidly.

Furthermore, a countship would hardly be her final destination.

Should she manage to endure the ultimate campaign against the dreaded Immortal King, her prestige would easily command the title of Marquis, and once Riley formally took the crown, a elevation to Duke was highly probable.

It was only expected that the local aristocracy would scramble to secure her good graces ahead of time.

Naturally, all of these grand designs hinged entirely on the condition that she chose not to journey back to Earth.

And meanwhile…

While the internal power structures of the Empire were shifting rapidly amidst the global turmoil…

The Main God Church, representing another titan of global influence, was experiencing an even more jarring internal upheaval.

“…Liesta, are you doing alright?”

“…Ah… oh… yes, I am fine.”

Heinrich, his features clouded with intense worry, spoke in a quiet, cautious tone to Saintess Liesta, but her reply was thoroughly unfocused, as though her consciousness were drifting leagues away.

Her countenance, typically vibrant and animated, was drained of color, and both her mouth and the corners of her eyes twitched with a subtle nervousness.

“The grand cathedral is just ahead of us. I have already sent word ahead to ensure the teleportation gateway is fully prepped, allowing us to depart without a moment’s delay.”

“…But are we absolutely certain this is appropriate? To simply walk away from our posts like this…?”

“The remaining forces are more than capable of managing the defensive lines. A considerable amount of time has slipped by since the prior sighting of a giant. We can always redeploy the moment one shows its face.”

“…I… I suppose that is true… yes…”

Her voice lacked its standard sharpness and sounded entirely disconnected.

Heinrich, keeping himself at the front as they navigated the urban thoroughfares, stole a quiet look back at her.

He had never witnessed her appearing so visibly shaken, which cast a highly unusual air over the entire journey.

She had not displayed this level of agitation even when confronting the terrifying might of the Immortal King…

‘Then again, it is completely reasonable.’

He reflected on the urgent missive that had reached them from the holy headquarters and gave a slow nod of understanding.

Given the sheer weight of what had transpired, her distraught state was perfectly natural.

After all, the dispatch stated—.

…a critical bulletin revealing that Pope Hatianuss the Second was on the verge of breathing his last.

‘There must have been multiple warnings regarding his failing health… He likely ordered his attendants to keep the matter strictly concealed.’

All to prevent casting a shadow of anxiety over those who were deployed far from home.

Now, with his final moments arrived, his innermost circle had at last reached out to summon them home.

“We have been awaiting your arrival. Kindly follow us this way.”

“We shall engage the teleportation gateway immediately.”

The inhabitants of the holy cathedral were akin to an extended family to Liesta, but the aging pontiff occupied an entirely unique realm within her heart.

He was the very individual who had taken her in as an orphaned youth and introduced her to the sanctuary of the Church.

To her, he represented her very first genuine parental figure.

“Welcome back, Saintess, Saint. His Holiness is holding onto life in anticipation of your presence.”

“Please step this way. I will show you directly to your quarters.”

Heinrich was well aware that Liesta made it a point to visit the elderly Pope every single day without fail whenever her duties brought her to the Roselia Cathedral, regardless of how exhausting her agenda might be.

She refused to omit a single visit, even if it required abandoning her beloved botanical gardens.

‘Quite unlike my own behavior, as I merely offered casual inquiries regarding his well-being from time to time. Reflecting on it, a significant period has passed since I last stood in his presence. Was it back during the international alliance council?’

Granted, his responsibilities alongside the legendary hero party had been immense… but he could not entirely shake off a sudden prick of remorse.

“Grandfather!”

“Ha-ha-ha, what is all this reckless rushing about? I was under the impression you had grown into a mature lady prepared for a wedding, yet here you are, acting like a little girl.”

“Grandfather…”

Liesta sprinted straight toward the bed where the Pope was propped up against the pillows, throwing her arms around him in a desperate embrace.

Heinrich, having offered a formal bow of respect to the holy leader, stepped back into the shadows of the room to afford them space.

He intended to leave the two to their private reunion, but the frail Pope motioned with his hand, signaling for him to remain in the chamber.

Their true discussion commenced only after Liesta managed to steady her weeping.

“Ahem, my deepest regrets for forcing you to stand by, young Saint.”

“Think nothing of it, Your Holiness. It is a true privilege to bear witness to the deep affection between the two of you.”

“Ha-ha-ha, you have my gratitude.”

The elderly man appeared remarkably lucid for an individual reportedly on the threshold of passing, yet Heinrich could perceive the underlying truth with absolute clarity.

The final remnants of his vital spark were flaring with a brilliant, desperate intensity before burning out forever.

Liesta had undoubtedly perceived this reality as well, given that the fingers she kept wrapped around the Pope’s trembled with an uncontrollable shaking.

“I have summoned you both to this chamber because there is a revelation of monumental importance that I must pass down to you.”

“…A revelation you must pass down?”

Heinrich’s posture straightened as his expression turned intensely focused.

There was absolutely no necessity to inquire as to the true origin of such a sacred message.

The Pope gave a profound, slow nod of his head, and then carefully began to speak.

—

Thump— Thump—

A heavy, echoing pulse reverberated through the turbulent, desolate frontier territory of the dark abyss.

The rhythm sounded warped and fragmented as it rippled outward through the twisted geometry of the space, yet its fundamental resonance persisted, gradually sweeping across the entire domain.

“Ah— Almighty Master.”

A quiet murmur, barely distinguishable from the silence, drifted out from the absolute center of the localized phenomenon.

The sound was so broken and deformed that identifying it as an organic voice was nearly impossible, yet the sheer intensity of the delusion and religious zeal woven into it possessed the power to shatter the sanity of any ordinary listener.

‘My demise is drawing close.’

The entity, keeping its senses finely tuned to catch the quiet murmurs of the cosmic fabric, let out a soft breath.

The time remaining to him was slipping away rapidly.

An unidentifiable mortality, its true origin still shrouded in obscurity, was gradually pressing in on his position, crystallizing into a definite shape and strangling the life from him.

‘Yet I am forbidden from allowing the story to conclude here.’

Even if my physical form dissolves into nothingness within this void… I bear an absolute obligation to scatter the genesis material for the subsequent manifestation of ‘him’.

Precisely in the same manner that I was permitted to advance without complication due to inheriting the sacred purpose of my forerunner, following my ascension to the rank of the Master’s chosen herald.

‘It brings a touch of regret that I shall be denied the chance to witness the ultimate realization of this design… but such is the hand of fate. I shall joyfully transform myself into the basic nutrients for the next iteration, ensuring their spectacular awakening.’

Twitch— Twitch—

The musculature of his form, fully integrated with the Seed of Madness, spasmed in repeating intervals.

This was the direct consequence of a rushed, imperfect blending process with his newly adopted physical structure.

He had become acutely aware of his impending death and consequently forced the metamorphosis forward too quickly, leaving the transition incomplete.

‘With greater speed… With heightened precision… With absolute thoroughness… ’

While he fought a desperate internal war to command his own flesh, utterly possessed by his singular fixation,

Splash—

An entity broke through the lower depths of the dark void and drifted directly into his immediate space.

[———!]

He adjusted his gaze with a deliberate slowness.

The newcomer possessed a distinctly bipedal appearance, its skin as colorless as fresh winter snow, standing only high enough to reach the midpoint of his sternum—a species of entity he had crossed paths with on numerous prior occasions.

“Ah, your arrival comes a bit behind schedule. I have been maintaining my vigil for you.”

His countenance twisted into a grotesque display of delight, and he shot his arms forward, clamping his fingers onto the creature’s upper frame.

And at that moment—.

“Now, through the divine benevolence of His blessing… you shall be completely integrated into my being.”

Crack— Crunch!

He separated his jaws to an impossible width and plunged his teeth down, consuming the entity’s skull in a single motion.

It presented an utterly horrific and stomach-turning display.

Nevertheless, he proceeded to gorge himself on the remaining pieces, his jaws grinding away with rhythmic efficiency, and…

The moment the feeding reached its conclusion,

His overall physical stature expanded slightly, and the volatile nature of his morphing tissue stabilized into a far sleeker, highly optimized configuration that approached absolute perfection.

Thump— Thump—

And that powerful, deep thudding pulse went echoing out through the void once more.

“…What a tragic turn of events. I ought to have initiated this transformation far earlier… Had my strategies only progressed without these unforeseen complications…”

He released a quiet breath of dissatisfaction, casting his eyes down along the shifting surfaces of his transforming flesh.

A pristine, milk-white physique, completely sleek and devoid of any imperfection, bearing no resemblance whatsoever to the contaminated inhabitants crawling upon the surface of the world.

This represented the pinnacle of humanoid architecture, the blueprint for a clean breed of mankind.

‘The work is finally brought to fruition… ’

With those final developments, the individual who once led the revolutionaries, the original architect of the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance…

The entity now designated as the ‘King of Madness’, stood on the very precipice of his dark awakening.