Episode 225
Light clashed with ash.
In the dazzling brilliance scattered by the Peacemaker, the ashes of annihilation swirled into a storm.
The Black Knight, clad in the armor of the Night Raven, charged forward.
Moments passed, and the distance closed. The hilt of the Peacemaker’s sword cleaved the Lord of Ashes in two.
The split body of the Demon King disintegrated into ash, and the warrior from another world donned the armor of the Abyss on his arm. From the Avatar of the Shadow Lord, the chill of the apocalypse surged forth.
Simultaneously, the Demon King began to unleash the same apocalyptic chill shown by the otherworldly warrior.
By merging with Ray Uris’s heart, the “Book of Cold Ashes” and the consciousness of the Demon King never ceased to grow. Even if Ray didn’t understand its significance.
And what Ray Uris had built would never be in vain, in some sense.
Moreover, the apocalyptic chill unleashed by the Demon King was incomparable to Ray’s. As the two frosts collided, the worlds of ash and winter night began to freeze.
“Seems like you’ve been sightseeing the world quite comfortably.”
“Ray was the heir to the Empire of Fire and Light. And I promised to willingly become the ideology of that child. That child taught me many things.”
“I never thought the Lord of Ashes would be compatible with the heir of red.”
“Fire and ash, life and death. What do you think is different?”
Enveloped in the chill of the apocalypse, the Lord of Ashes finally took form. It wasn’t just one warrior that was growing.
The Lord of Ash and Cold stood there.
“Ray’s lies were truer than truth. A lord of deceit and trickery, incomparable to you.”
“So, you refuse to join hands with me and plan to avenge your old host?”
Dale gripped the hilt of the Peacemaker’s sword tighter, a cold sneer on his lips. The swirling storm of ash came to a halt.
“The ‘Mother of Old Darkness’ already resides in your heart.”
The Demon King spoke.
“How do you intend to join hands with me when you are already merging with a grimoire?”
“A wizard can only contract with one grimoire.”
In an instant, the aura avatar surrounding the otherworldly warrior dissipated. Saxon’s Dale continued.
“And Saxon’s ‘Black Prince’ has engraved the ‘Book of the Black Goat’ into his heart. As you said, I can’t merge with another grimoire. But…”
He paused, and then the aura exploded around Dale’s body once more. The otherworldly warrior, clad in the armor of the Night Raven, removed his helmet. At last, the warrior’s face was revealed.
“The otherworldly warrior is different.”
”…!”
“I wish to make a pact with you not as the ‘Black Prince,’ but as the ‘warrior’ that I am.”
The warrior declared.
“Are you aware of the consequences of such an act?”
“I’m prepared.”
“Why go to such lengths?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
The warrior retorted.
“Do you still think the otherworldly warrior was driven by overwhelming duty and patriotism to defeat the Demon King for world peace?”
“Of course not.”
The Demon King scoffed, and Dale tilted his head in response.
“Then what are you hesitating for?”
”…”
“Even if you fail, the warrior you despise will die, and if you succeed, I will gladly grant you new life as your host.”
“How amusing.”
The Demon King laughed. The world of ash swirled once more, and the Black Prince turned his head.
“Shub, can you help me?”
─ Of course! Do you think I’d miss such an entertaining spectacle?
Shub giggled beside Dale.
Once again, the armor of the Night Raven enveloped him, and the otherworldly warrior steeled his resolve.
Saxon’s Dale had already reached the realm of the sixth circle, a level incomparable to the elders before him. Thus, this was a gamble worth attempting.
Dale’s existence as the ‘otherworldly warrior’ was not merely a suit of ideology. The otherworldly warrior was not just an avatar, but another self.
With that clear realization, he began to project his heart, not as Dale, but as the warrior.
Not the heart of the Black Prince fused with Shub’s tendrils, but the heart of a fallen lion in the white and dark winter night.
Magic is the projection of ideology. And now, what Dale projected was another self.
He wasn’t trying to physically create two hearts.
Towards the heart of the sixth circle fused with the ‘Book of the Black Goat,’ the artifact ‘Shadow Cloak,’ reborn as part of his body, began to move.
A shadow was cast over the heart of the Black Prince.
Shadow Heart.
The otherworldly warrior extended his arm, and the world of ash began to distort.
The world of the Shadow Lord engulfed the world of ash, and the swallowed world of ash was merging with the Shadow Heart.
The Shadow Heart, fused with the ‘Book of Cold Ashes.’
Swoosh!
Simultaneously, the ‘Book of the Black Goat’ fused with Dale’s heart began to writhe, spewing tendrils.
The shadow cast over the heart, the Shadow Heart, was enveloped by the tendrils of pitch black, as if devouring it.
The final stitch in this intricate process was her responsibility.
─ Hey, brother.
Shub couldn’t contain her excitement as she spoke.
─ Who exactly are you?
In the face of that question, the Shadow Lord fell silent for a moment.
“Me.”
After a pause, Dale replied.
The world of ideology faded, and they found themselves on the land within the Grand Duchy of Lancaster, where the War of the Roses was unfolding.
John Lancaster’s camp, but no one remained loyal to him there.
All the survivors knelt, and the rightful heir of Lancaster, who had claimed victory, stood there.
Charlotte Lancaster.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Dale.”
She had deliberately refrained from intervening in the world of ideology created by Dale and Ray. Even though she was capable of doing so.
For her, who possessed the martial prowess of the Celestial Sword, subduing the ragtag army ensnared in the blue spider web was not a difficult task.
Moreover, their leader, John Lancaster, lay as a lifeless corpse.
The red heir, Ray, who once bore the names Uris and Lancaster, was no exception.
“You defeated the red heir…”
The world of ideology created by the two had vanished, leaving only Dale behind. Charlotte understood the significance.
“Yes.”
“The war will begin.”
“Begin?”
Dale chuckled bitterly at her words.
“Look around, Charlotte.”
”…”
“The war has already begun. There’s nothing left to turn back.”
“Perhaps you’re right.”
Charlotte replied with a bitter smile.
“But this war is over.”
Yet, all around them lay the flesh, blood, and bones of their enemies, and the only surviving foes were those who had surrendered and knelt.
“What do you plan to do with the prisoners?”
Charlotte asked. Dale responded as if her question was absurd.
“What do you expect me to do with your prisoners, Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Lancaster?”
The title of Grand Duke of Lancaster was spoken, and no one dared to object.
One war had ended. And soon, a new war would begin.
But the war that was about to come would not be fought in this empire.
John Lancaster and Ray Lancaster were dead. Shortly after, the remnants within the Grand Duchy of Lancaster surrendered and knelt before Charlotte. The tide of battle had not only turned but had reached its conclusion.
“We humbly greet Your Grace, the Grand Duke of Lancaster!”
“We greet the head of the House of Roses!”
Charlotte sat on the throne of Lancaster Castle, as the foremost noblewoman of the empire, bearing the name of the Celestial Sword.
Some time later, in the bedroom of Lancaster Castle.
Charlotte and Dale were there. As the Grand Duke of Lancaster and her man, and as a couple bearing the name of Saxon.
A festival had erupted in the Grand Duchy following their victory and Charlotte’s succession. Afterward, efforts would be made to recover from the war’s damage and restore peace to the land.
In the name of the great noble who ruled this territory.
And that meant only one thing.
”…You’re leaving alone again.”
Charlotte said bitterly, and Dale smiled silently.
“It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”
“I know.”
Charlotte forced a cheerful smile.
“It’s different from before. No, even then, you never truly left my side.”
Even when Charlotte left Dale, Dale never left Charlotte.
“It’s a knight’s duty to willingly carry out the orders of their lord.”
“Now I’m afraid to give orders carelessly.”
Charlotte laughed at Dale’s words. Silence fell. After a pause, Charlotte spoke.
”…So tonight is your last night in my land.”
“Yes.”
“Then, could you grant me one last request?”
Charlotte asked cautiously, and Dale nodded silently.
As soon as he nodded, Charlotte pressed her lips to his. Dale reached out and wrapped his arm around her neck. The moonlight was faint and distant.
Charlotte remained in Lancaster, taking on the responsibilities of the estate she was now to govern, while Dale of Saxon returned to where he rightfully belonged.
Having secured victory in the Third War of the Roses, tales of the “Black Prince’s” ruthlessness and infamy spread like wildfire through the mouths of gossipers.
The fall of the Red Heir, Ray Eurys, at Dale’s hands sent shockwaves throughout the entire empire, creating ripples that could not be undone.
Things that had been stagnant began to stir, accelerating to a pace that no one could halt.
Irreversible events unfolded across the continent, and even the Duchy of Saxon was not immune.
The Black Prince had returned, and as always, his father, the Duke of Saxon, welcomed his proud son with open arms.
Alongside him was Elena, Dale’s mother and the Duke’s wife.
“Welcome home, Dale.”
Elena beamed warmly from the Duke’s side.
“We couldn’t be happier to see you back safe and sound.”
“Of course, he’s our son,” the Duke replied, a soft smile playing on his lips, unable to hide the pride of a father.
“Yes, our proud son,” Elena echoed with a laugh.
But Dale could not bring himself to smile.