Chapter 265

Chapter 265 – Exceptionally Bright Starlight

The entity that was stripping away its identity directed its awareness toward the sound coming from an unidentifiable place.

[Strength? You desire, strength?]

Those were the precise words it had perceived.

Yet, what did it require as payment?

[Everlasting life? Everlasting life?]

The circumstance had arisen completely out of the blue, though interpreting the intent behind it was not overly complicated.

To put it differently, the voice was proposing this:

Surrender your eternal existence, and I shall bestow upon you ultimate power.

Nonetheless, the entity losing its identity shook its head with great emphasis.

[Do not want, strength. I, do not require strength.]

Of what utility was raw power?

Though it had quivered in total helplessness moments before, authority was not its current necessity. Far above that…

The entity losing its identity fixed its gaze upon its companion.

[I, must rescue. Companion.]

Their remaining moments were dwindling rapidly.

The strand maintaining their bond was on the brink of tearing apart. The physical outline of the other was already turning translucent.

Throughout this critical state.

• Surrender your eternal existence.

• I shall bestow upon you ultimate power.

The sound of unknown provenance reverberated once more.

‘I, do not comprehend, such matters. I am occupied.’

The entity losing its identity channeled its remaining mystical energy into its companion. As faint as the energy was, it clung to the desire that it might preserve them. No, even deeper than that…

Its absolute core.

‘Companion, rescue.’

It recognized that this was a futile endeavor. Even so, it could do nothing but plead for an impossible occurrence.

‘Companion, incorrect. Vow, not fulfilled.’

Violating the agreement once again? It had not even provided the moonlight stones—the two during the morning hours, the single one during the dark—as it had formerly stated, and now this was happening?

As its very essence trickled away.

‘Compan……ion. Rescue……’

Perception turned increasingly dim.

Recollections slipped away alongside its dissolving perception. As recollections slipped away, communication lost its structure.

‘……. …….’

Eventually, the unidentified entity communicated its intent solely through weak glimmers of radiance, having been stripped of even basic communication.

Consequently.

Everything turned indistinct.

The actions it was performing. The identity of this dying entity. The rationale behind pouring its own existence into this organism.

Yet, whatever had formerly been a spiritual being ceased to ponder further. It merely possessed the desire to do so.

Even so.

The longing of whatever had formerly been a spiritual being resulted in nothing.

Sssssst—

A weak existence dispersing into the vacant atmosphere. Aster showed no signs of recovery or modification.

It was perhaps completely expected.

The energy of a spiritual being possessed no capability to mend physical flesh.

At that exact moment.

The sound resonated once again within its nearly unconscious intellect.

• Surrender your eternal existence.

• I shall bestow upon you ultimate power.

Inherently, the entity that had been stripped of communication could not grasp the meaning of the speech. Thus, it was incapable of even offering a reply.

……Merely.

Swaying, swaying.

The dimly fluctuating radiance spoke on behalf of its anguished center.

Thereby, the faint spark at last went out. It dissolved along with the dispersing existence, leaving no vestige behind.

Nothing stayed in place.

……Only the expiring mortal.

And the simple reality that whatever had formerly been a spiritual being had once existed.

That comprised everything.

It occurred at that point.

• Current verified.

The sound resonated without any specific recipient.

An alteration occurred immediately following it.

Whirrrrrrr—

A tempest started to sweep through the vacant atmosphere.

The dispersed existence gathered together once more. Concurrently, Aster’s lifeblood, sprayed in every direction, ascended and commenced shaping itself into a circular configuration.

It required little time before a solitary Fire Mark burned brilliantly from his chest, drifting gently in the air.

Ssssh.

Subsequently, the Fire Mark dissolved into the lifeblood.

• Specify the entity.

Upon hearing that voice… whatever had formerly been a spiritual being contemplated.

‘I, who am I?’

It possessed no knowledge. It possessed no knowledge, but… a single recognizable term manifested within its intellect.

• I, Wyvern!

Its own speech? Most likely. In that case, was its identity a wyvern?

The sound manifested once more.

• Specify the entity.

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being offered a reply.

‘I, Wy…….’

Yet at that moment.

‘Negative. Wyvern, negative.’

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being rapidly retracted its intent as a specific reality flashed through its thoughts.

For the reason that.

The wyvern it had previously been was far too devoid of strength.

Recollections were dim—the cause of that profound sense of weakness did not manifest in its thoughts—yet the burning sentiment stayed remarkably distinct.

No further weakness. It remained unaware of the reason, yet… it harbored no desire to be devoid of strength.

In that case, what form must it adopt to escape weakness?

Into the intellect of the wyvern drifted the visage of a young male. Platinum locks, eyes possessing varying coloration.

The young male was conversing cheerfully with an individual, then shifted his gaze and questioned it.

• Whenever a wyvern undergoes evolution… it transforms into that being, correct?

It was at the moment it attained that concept.

• Specify the entity.

The sound manifested yet again.

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being concentrated its thoughts upon hearing the sound. And it carved the term the young male within its recollections had uttered directly into its intellect.

……Following that event, no further sounds manifested.

Merely the alterations proceeded.

The military forces of Decullan were scaling the incline of the peak.

“Separate and conduct the search!”

“Advance!”

Anxiety tinged their expressions.

The engagement was unmistakably finished, yet no communication had arrived from the Seven Mages.

An issue had materialized.

“……Mm.”

The spellcaster commanding the backup forces suppressed an abrupt wave of trepidation while observing the searching troops with a stern expression.

‘Negative, it is fine. It must be.’

These individuals comprised the Seven Mages, after all.

The highest echelon of all Decullan spellcasters—seven individuals in total.

Two had proceeded in tandem—could an issue have befallen them? And had not two spellcaster divisions accompanied them!

Granted, those divisions were not of the Crimson Jade or Azure Ice standard, yet they represented no insignificant power.

For what duration did the search proceed?

Whooo……

A current of air blew from an unknown point.

“……Tch.”

The officer grimaced at the soil kicked aloft by the violent gust.

He manifested a protective screen to obstruct the current of air. Or attempted to do so.

If only the protective screen had not dissolved.

Crackle, crackle……

‘……?’

The protective screen dissolved the very instant it manifested.

The officer turned his head to the side, observing his palms. He attempted to manifest it once more.

Yet for what reason?

Ssssh, ssssh—

No trick of the mind.

The protective screen crackled and dissolved once more.

“What is the meaning of this?”

While he pondered over the matter, a piercing shriek rent the atmosphere from a point halfway up the distant incline.

“U, uwaaaah—!”

“A mon, a monster……!”

Frightened shouts from the troops. Several of those who had advanced ahead were retreating down the incline in dread just as the communication device pulsed.

“What is occurring?”

[……You must witness this with your own…… U, uwaaah!]

The connection severed with a concluding shriek.

“Advancing.”

Perceiving that something was terribly wrong, the officer hastened up the incline.

A handful of spellcasters followed behind him.

Shortly, indications of a struggle manifested.

The incline of the peak lay devastated from the violence.

Lifeblood marked the earth in various spots, and troops retreated in panic down the incline.

‘Worthless trash.’

He desired greatly to sever their skulls.

However, comprehending the state of affairs took precedence.

To what height had they scaled?

“Hold the line!”

“Regain your composure!”

The officer forced his way through scattered undergrowth.

And when he at last arrived at the location.

His vision expanded in shock.

“……W-What.”

Spellcasters and combatants situated in a circular arrangement.

Remains lay scattered across the middle, yet they failed to capture the officer’s focus.

At the center of the arrangement.

[……]

A solitary entity commanding terror from the spellcasters and combatants.

Upon a cursory view, it bore a resemblance to a creature of nightmare. Narrowed pupils resembling those of a serpent. Rugged armor plating covering its frame. Talons digging into the soil.

The exact likeness of a drake.

Yet if its nature were merely that of a drake, the officer would not have forfeited his composure.

For what reason then?

‘……Perilous.’

An internal alarm blared the caution the very instant their gazes connected.

That entity was no ordinary creature.

Gargantuan pinions gathered over its spine, blanketed in radiant golden armor plating, demonstrated the reality.

A creature of nightmare?

Infeasible.

In that case, what of the magical energy undulating with its respiration? And this preposterous aura his capabilities detected…?

The officer had arrived at that deduction when.

[Retreat.]

A deep utterance echoed throughout the atmosphere.

The magical energy within the environment agitated instantly.

Fwoooosh—!

A monumental concussive wave rippled through the area alongside the magical energy!

“Urgh!”

As spellcasters and combatants faltered from the force, the beating of pinions shortly struck their ears.

When the concussive wave subsided.

“What under the heavens……”

The officer gazed up at the sky in terrified astonishment.

The heavens, colored crimson by the descending sun.

The unestablished entity was traversing it. Golden armor plating shined, casting back the fading radiance.

‘A Dra……gon?’

The officer only deduced its true nature long after the entity disappeared past the line of the earth.

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being beat its pinions, traversing the crimson heavens.

To what distance did it travel?

Fwoomp, whoosh—

It settled atop a lofty mountain crest.

Fauna, flora, and abnormal beasts residing there retreated at the unfamiliar entity’s presence. An instinctual reaction.

The entire peak dissolved into immediate turmoil, yet whatever had formerly been a spiritual being paid no heed to it, cautiously lowering what it held within its front talon.

It comprised a solitary young male.

Scarcely holding onto existence.

[……]

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being observed the young male with complicated eyes, then dipped its skull, bringing its snout near.

Shortly.

Sssssss……

Magical energy emerged from its maw.

The vapor-like magical energy spun, permeating the young male’s frame. Immediately following this, the young male gasped out, “Cough!”

He ejected lifeblood, then shifted. His expression appeared far more tranquil than previously.

Yet the wonder did not conclude there.

Ssssk, ssss……

The torso injury commenced drawing together. Vitality reappeared on his deathly pale visage.

However, for some justification.

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being commenced forfeiting its strength.

Its previously brilliant golden armor plating broke apart and lost its luster. Indistinctness obscured its majestic eyes. The commanding aura withered miserably, diminishing.

It was undeniably forfeiting its vital spark, yet whatever had formerly been a spiritual being recognized this reality and displayed no reluctance.

……From the outset.

It recognized that this configuration could not endure for an extended duration.

Therefore, what cause was there for reluctance?

The illumination of an existence destined to cease flickering shortly.

Even so, it experienced appreciation.

Had it not transformed into this entity, it could not have rescued its companion.

[Companion, survives.]

Whatever had formerly been a spiritual being drew labored respirations, persisting in transferring its vital spark.

Incessantly, incessantly.

Though it lacked even the capacity to raise its skull, it did not cease imparting its vitality to the young male. And when the illumination of existence within its gaze at last went out entirely.

[Compan……ion. Sur……vives.]

Its frame dissolved into the atmosphere upon the blowing current of air. Resembling completely consumed residue.

A period later.

The sun went down, and darkness descended.

Beneath that dark sky.

Merely a solitary young male stayed behind.

And over him rested a dense coating of golden residue. As though intended to shield him.

……A night when the celestial bodies shined remarkably brilliant.