Killian was sitting in the training ground, making his Mana Heart and Hollyheart communicate with each other.‘The Mana Heart is my will, and the Hollyheart is the will of the God Murus.’
Two artificial hearts refined within a single body.
Using the two powers individually was not a difficult task.
However, what Killian wanted was more than just that.
‘I must reach the realm of fusion, moving beyond simple switching.’
The method the Emperor used to reach transcendence.
The mana Killian used in ancient times was a power that had reached transcendence.
It should be no different now.
If I raise my status by accumulating appropriate karma, I will be able to reach transcendence with mana alone.
‘The problem is time.’
Even if I reach 7-star, 8-star, and 9-star.
‘9-star is not transcendence.’
Ultimately, I must reach the realm I once stood in—the 10-star.
Some mages chose methods like becoming a Lich to cross the wall, but that was the wrong way.
If one becomes a Lich, they might somehow reach 8-star, but the 8-star reached that way is different from an 8-star achieved purely.
One can never become a perfect 9-star through such means.
The reason the Emperor's 9-star was unstable was likely because of that.
‘I do not consider the method of reaching transcendence by mixing divine power.’
He, who was called Adamas, was a human who had reached transcendence.
‘I will raise each of the two powers to the realm of a transcendent.’
His thoughts on that method did not last long.
“I’ll need double the training time.”
At the simple calculation, the quiet Murus spoke lowly.
[You lunatic…….]
It was one of the three divine personalities, the hot-tempered Murus.
[You are a lunatic, Adamas.]
‘Is it difficult to hold on with just one personality for long? Or perhaps they are being considerate of the newly acquired apostle among themselves.’
[Hehehe. Your thoughts are read quite clearly. But since you’ve become my apostle, I’ll work you to the bone.]
Killian, who had been concentrating while sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes.
“Murus. Have you not been hit enough yet?”
[Insolent brat. If we were to face off properly, a God would never lose to a mere human…….]
“Making excuses is the same whether you're a human or a God. Well, I suppose that’s why the temple is in that state.”
[Since you’ve become an apostle, it would be wise to adopt a fitting attitude. Otherwise, I can shatter that precious Mana Heart of yours this instant.]
Killian snorted at the reaction, which seemed sincerely meant.
“I thought you were completely useless, but you have a talent for saying insolent things in an amusing way.”
I was just in the middle of training, and I couldn't concentrate at all because he kept talking.
‘This is a good time to crush him and make him realize his situation.’
Another Murus seemed to have a different thought.
[Adamas. Please understand.]
A voice that was more than just somber; it was depressed.
It was another one of the beings making up Murus’s godhood.
[A godhood also oxidizes when sacrificed for a long time. Our state is exactly like that.]
“A nuisance goes in and a headache comes out.”
[A headache…… it is natural for you to perceive me as such. I, in fact, feel like crossing the boundary of death every single day.]
“…….”
[You think conversation is impossible unless it’s with the rational Murus.]
“Where is he?”
[He is resting. Beyond that is…….]
‘A prohibition. Well, he was out alone for too long.’
[Stop talking nonsense!]
The hot-tempered Murus and the depressed Murus took turns swapping the godhood back and forth.
[Adamas. Could you please forgive the actions we committed in ancient times?]
[Apologizing to such a guy! Are you crazy?]
[Going crazy would actually make it easier to maintain a clear mind.]
[You’ve finally lost it, damn Murus!]
[I am Murus, and you are also Murus. We are all Murus.]
[Nonsense! If you intend to defile the divine will, then crawl into a corner and stay there!]
“You’re being noisy.”
[My apologies, Adamas.]
[I told you not to apologize!!]
Vwoom!
The Hollyheart vomited divine power as if it were going berserk.
It was because the hot-tempered Murus had forcibly utilized the divine power.
It was possible because they had made a direct contract by Killian becoming an apostle.
“Hot-head. Know when to stop.”
Szzzz.
The Mana Heart rotated, and blue mana rose.
For a moment, the blue mana and the gray divine power mixed and vied for dominance, but soon the mana began to suppress the divine power.
The level of the newly refined Hollyheart had not reached 8-star, and because it was being operated forcibly, its full power could not be drawn out.
[This brat…….]
The mana from the Mana Heart, passing through the heart, surrounded the Hollyheart.
And then.
Squeeze.
[……!!]
It firmly compressed it, forcibly stopping the movement of the Hollyheart.
“Unless you plan to vanish from my body, you’d better not come out recklessly.”
Killian had become the apostle of Murus, and the Temple of Barrier had practically fallen into his hands.
The possibility of whether the divine will, which Murus valued so much, would be executed or not also lay with him.
[I understand.]
The depressed Murus answered readily.
[You idiot!]
The hot-tempered Murus refused, but.
“Swear upon your godhood.”
[I swear upon my godhood.]
One God making the covenant was enough.
[N-No!!]
[There is nothing that cannot be done. I, Murus, will wait for the call of the apostle except in unavoidable circumstances.]
The depressed Murus proceeded with the covenant swiftly.
“Now, stay quiet until I call you. Ideally, I’d prefer the rational Murus to come out.”
[Aaargh! What are you doing right now……!!]
[I will try my best to do so.]
With that depressed voice as the last, the voices echoing in his head disappeared.
“That’s much better.”
“What is better?”
Before he knew it, Serena was standing beside him.
He hadn't noticed her because Murus had been chattering so much.
“I came because there was a clash between mana and divine power.”
“I was training.”
Anyone else would have dismissed it as nonsense, but this was an answer from Killian Eurasia. Serena accepted it without any particular doubt.
“Is that the only reason you came?”
Serena shook her head.
“I also came to give a regular report.”
Since he spent more time in the training ground than in the Annihilation Squad Leader’s office even after returning, it seemed she had come here directly.
“If you’re going to keep acting like this, you might as well hand over the position of Annihilation Squad Leader.”
“Hmm. Should I?”
“I’m joking.”
“I’m serious, though.”
“…….”
I wanted to tease her more, but if I did, I would have to face her cold gaze for a while.
“Shall I hear the report?”
“The coordinate work connecting the Temple of Barrier and Eurasia has been completed.”
“Julian must have gone through some trouble.”
The small Warp Gate installed in Brussels, the capital of Eurasia, had completed its expansion into a medium-sized one while Killian was in the northern frontier.
It now connected the Pantera Temple to the east, the Cornelia Kingdom to the west, the Silvana Temple to the south, and both the Styx Temple and the Murus Temple to the north.
‘Relations with the Papal Office in the center of the Continent are improving. With this, geographical disadvantages have been considerably overcome.’
Two hundred years ago, I had to rely on Cornelia's Warp Stones because the Holy Nation took a closed-off attitude.
If it had been before refining the Hollyheart, I would have felt some reluctance to use divine power, but…….
“Well, the tool doesn't matter when it comes to beating down a God.”
“Pardon?”
“It's nothing.”
The report continued.
Almadin was visiting the Arden Mine, Aron was in Elvenheim, Portran and Gala were visiting the families in the eastern frontier, and Philip and Zodiac were visiting Hennessy and Absinthe, respectively, to gather information.
And.
“Miller has sent a letter.”
“It’s been a while.”
He was the one who had entered Eurasia as a Guest Instructor for the Blue Knight Order's swordsmanship before catching Killian's eye and joining the Annihilation Squad.
Since then, he had been assigned a long-term mission and had been sending updates on his status through letters and carrier pigeons.
Serena handed over the letter.
As Killian quickly read through the not-so-long letter, the corners of his mouth twitched.
“He says he’s made contact with the Mercenary King.”
Mercenary King Babato.
A monster who, rare among mercenaries, had crossed the wall to become a superhuman and was even on the verge of reaching 8-star.
Since there were thousands of mercenaries following him, each kingdom tried to recruit him, but he was an eccentric who belonged to nowhere and moved only for jobs that offered massive sums.
“He is a man with a cranky disposition who does not talk to anyone other than mercenaries.”
“But if we can pull him to our side, he will be a reliable ally.”
Originally, mercenaries were such a crude group that it was embarrassing to call them knights, but Eurasia already had a history of transforming mercenary groups into knight orders.
Twice, in fact.
“Since we have a record of operating the Blue Knight Order and the Yellow Knight Order, it should be something for them to consider at least once.”
In reality, if one makes a name for themselves as a knight, even commoners are granted titles and surnames.
Most mercenaries are those who failed to become knights.
Although they were making their fame known under the name of the Mercenary King, there was no way they had no desire for advancement.
“Currently, Miller is ranked about fifteenth in Babato’s mercenary corps.”
Miller had also grown into a knight at the start of the 6-star rank.
Despite that, seeing as there were fourteen more ahead of him, it seemed that not only the size but also the level of the mercenary corps exceeded expectations.
“Send a reply saying we’ll move as soon as things are ready on their side.”
Mercenary Agnil.
He was about to bring out the alias he had used in the previous war in Cornelia once again.
“You’re planning to move personally.”
“It’s about catching a big fish. We should prepare properly on our end too.”
“…….”
“I’m telling you in advance, this is something I can’t help.”
It was definitely not because paperwork was bothersome.
As Killian spoke as if driving the point home, Serena replied reluctantly.
“I understand.”
Following the corners of his mouth, his eyes also formed crescents.
“Since we’re a mercenary duo in name, I should call Hazard back soon.”
“I will contact him.”
“Right, I think I’ll need a bit more time, so you go on ahead.”
Closing his eyes again, Killian quickly pulled up his concentration.
“…….”
Serena quietly gazed at Killian.
Subjugating the Night Walkers of Hennessy and Absinthe, hunting the superhumans of the Empire and the vassal states, and cutting down the divine will and the fragments of the Grotesquery.
They were all missions that would have been impossible if not for Killian Eurasia.
‘Stabilize 7-star as soon as possible. And master it.’
Right now, that was the only way she could be of help to him.
Leaving Killian behind, who had already fallen into his own world, she quietly left the training ground.
***
In the center of the Continent.
The Second Prince’s Palace located in the Imperial Capital.
Isaac Heinrich had been drinking since broad daylight.
He did not look like the superhuman who had mastered 7-star at a young age and competed for the throne until the very end; his appearance was disheveled.
There was an old man quietly looking down at that sight.
Isaac, who belatedly read the other's presence, opened his mouth.
“Look who it is. If it isn't the great Chief Mage of the Imperial Family.”
“It has been a long time.”
The White Duke, Rastian Arken, politely expressed his respects.
“The competition for the throne is over, so what brings you here with such etiquette? You surely know that the Great Sun has issued a prohibition order against anyone approaching me?”
After the previous meeting with the Emperor, an order had been issued that no one was to be allowed to approach Isaac.
“There will be no problem even if I meet with the Prince.”
“Heh, indeed, a statement worthy of the Empire's best mage. Yes, I heard that you’ve also taken over the management of the Black Magic Tower? The Master of two magic towers…… is that not something unprecedented even in the thousand-year history of the Empire?”
“I have merely decided to temporarily take charge of the Black Magic Tower until a new Tower Master is elected. However, once the new magic tower is completed, the statement that I am the Master of two magic towers will not be incorrect.”
The White Duke had received permission to construct a new magic tower and was spurring that project forward.
In the process of raising those funds and establishing the formulas, a few small kingdoms would be sacrificed.
“It is something you gained by sacrificing Crusty.”
“I do not know what you are talking about.”
“Tsk.”
Seeing the White Duke feigning innocence, Isaac tilted his wine bottle.
“Did you want to become 9-star that badly?”
“Becoming a 9-star is the dream of every mage and knight. Surely it is the same for the Prince as well.”
“Yes. But now I am nothing more than a spare part for emergencies, just waiting for the day everything will be taken away.”
With a bitter face, Isaac emptied his glass, his gaze turning toward the White Duke.
“You are still plotting something, aren't you?”
“The Black Duke praised you until his mouth was dry, and indeed, your insight is remarkable.”
“Just tell me the reason you visited a loser.”
Isaac waved the hand holding the wine bottle as if it were a nuisance.
At that moment.
“Would you like to join hands with me?”
“……?”
“I shall make you the moon of the Empire.”
An unexpected proposal burst from the White Duke's mouth.
Chapter 223: Chapter 223
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