Chapter 466
In the Second Imperial Palace, the wizards remaining in the Magic Department all froze simultaneously. Connected by their sixth sense, they instinctively detected the brewing storm raging somewhere within the palace.
Slowly, the wizards set down their pens and turned to Hale with displeasure.
“Captain.”
Rutherford had infiltrated the palace. The one who created Idgal to threaten the wizards. The very cause undermining Bariel’s foundation and forcing Ian to leave the palace.
Hale wanted nothing more than to rush to the scene and capture those villains immediately. To make Rutherford kneel before the esteemed, securing eternal peace for Bariel.
But at the request of the Imperial Defense Department, they had no choice but to guard the Magic Department thoroughly. More precisely, to protect King Damon, who was currently imprisoned there.
“Hold your ground. Don’t waver.”
“We just felt it, didn’t we? This isn’t something ordinary.”
“Of course it’s not ordinary when there’s an intruder in the palace. Stop wasting time with nonsense and finish your reports.”
“Captain Hale! We should hand King Damon over to the Imperial Defense Department and go support the front lines! They took the Burgos delegation with them, so why not assign Damon to them too?”
“Yes, that’s right. The only power that could cause such a deep resonance is Ian’s magic. You know better than anyone that when we unite, the synergy is even stronger—because you’re the one out there on the front lines!”
“No one knows if there’s a way to bind wizards other than Idgal. I’m a wizard, but Minister Tweller is a warrior. He thinks more deeply about combat than we do, so we should respect and follow his orders.”
“Ugh, seriously! Captain!”
“Shut up, man. You think I enjoy staying here?”
“Then let’s go! Since when did you start listening so well to your superiors?”
Hale sighed, chewing on his cigarette. Across the room, through the window of the detention cell, he caught sight of Damon’s back. The way he stood there motionless for so long, lost in thought, was unsettling.
He gestured to the wizards to focus on their work, then approached the window. Thanks to the wizards’ protective barrier, the cell was essentially a sealed space.
Knock knock.
Hale tapped the glass. Damon turned his head, his expression calm to the point of indifference. He glanced behind Hale, confirmed nothing was amiss, and shrugged.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
Damon nodded slightly. His tongue had been cut out. Hale hesitated, then leaned against the window, furrowing his brow.
“Did you expect Rutherford to infiltrate the palace?”
“…”
“This is an interrogation. Answer me. Whether it’s Rutherford or that old man, the presence of an intruder changes nothing. This is the palace, and they cannot bring down Bariel.”
Damon smiled as if he found Hale’s words intriguing. Then, pressing his breath against the glass, the severed edge of his tongue became vividly visible.
Swish.
—We have an opportunity you do not.
A brief phrase written on the fogged breath. Some might see it as a curse, others as a chance. A life beyond death.
Reluctantly, Damon had accepted that he had lost—for now. But as long as he did not die, this defeat was not the true end. Knowing there was a third life, and with Rutherford, who governs gods and worlds, behind him, he had no fear. He believed he was destined to win. So what could possibly shake him?
Only Ian and Jinman knew about Damon’s reincarnation, so Hale frowned, thinking it nonsense.
Buzz!
Suddenly, a powerful force throbbed at the back of their necks. Hale and the wizards reacted again. Strangely, a mixture of familiarity and unfamiliarity washed over them. It meant two forces were at play.
The familiar—
“…The moon has risen.”
The black moon. Summoned by Ian, descending at the edge of the First Imperial Palace. Massive and dark.
The unfamiliar—
“Intruder! An intruder has arrived!”
The presence of Rutherford’s men, approaching to secure Damon.
Hale drew his sword, and the wizards rushed outside, heightening their alertness. Where was the intruder hiding? They couldn’t see him.
“Hold your assigned positions!”
“Kill them! Damn bastards.”
“If we catch you, we’ll tear you apart! Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused us? Why did you even create Idgal!?”
“Yeah. And what’s your connection to Ian?”
“Ever heard of Mama-yeon? Huh?”
The wizards shouted into the air, glaring at the intruder who must be listening somewhere. Then, a pillar of light flashed down. Hale instinctively charged and unleashed his magic, revealing a figure cloaked in black.
Buzz! Boom!
Only one? Hale wondered, but a loud crash erupted behind him, near Damon’s cell.
The wizards spread their magic like a net, erecting a barrier so no unauthorized person could take a single step forward.
Crash! Bang!
Two more black-hooded intruders appeared. As the wizards raised their hands to cast spells, another fell from the ceiling like a meteor.
The world brightened and darkened with each exchange of blows. The relentless, tense battle soon began to crack.
“…?”
The intruders suddenly hesitated and turned toward the source of the black moon—the direction of the First Imperial Palace. Their brows furrowed, clearly troubled.
“Tigmor, what do we do?”
“Did Rutherford die? Leaving us behind?”
“What? What’s wrong with Rutherford?”
“Hah, hah, you fools. Talking big because you’re losing.”
“Keep coming, you little pests!”
Sweat-drenched wizards waved red headbands as they charged the intruders. The intruders, sensing something strange, showed no hesitation.
“…Huh?”
“Why…?”
Why had the magic that once overflowed from the First Imperial Palace vanished without a trace? The wizards slowly looked up at the clear sky where the black moon had disappeared.
For Ian, it was the only right choice.
He was already dead in the name of Verosion, so he couldn’t share the same timeline with the people he met here.
If he could eliminate Rutherford and enter the Abyss to meet Naum, if he could say a word to Naum, who was dying in endless pain, if the gods allowed him to bring Naum out—any choice would be right. Absolutely.
Buzz!
“Rutherford!”
Ian’s coughing up blood was endless. It was the trace of burning everything he had, thinking this was his last moment.
Rutherford and the wizards retreated, but who could avoid a moon falling from the sky? Everyone would be swallowed. Everyone would seep into that darkness, pass through the rift, and awaken in the Abyss.
“Many Leaves.”
Shraaak!
From Ian’s back, the World Tree spread out like wings.
Rutherford and his wizards couldn’t believe what was happening. Their insides were surely being torn apart by contract magic, their hearts crushed. Yet, despite that, Ian opened a portal alone—and summoned Many Leaves?
The portal was likely connected to the Clifpoford rift. It would be closer than the northern side.
Swish!
“Rutherford! You must leave the building! This will never end!”
The wizards kept striking at the World Tree, but they sensed there was no way to stop it as long as Ian lived.
Seizing the moment, a thick tree branch climbed up Rutherford’s ankle, wrapped around his thigh and waist, and in an instant, gripped his neck. Rutherford struggled with all his might, shouting,
“You, I—!”
Ian! Ian! Ian!
Rutherford kept calling Ian’s name in his mind, invoking the sanctity of contract magic. A faint response below his chest showed the magic was still active.
Then why wouldn’t Ian fall?
Why wouldn’t he kneel again?
“Ian!”
“Y-You’re going to the Abyss…”
The injured wizards limped, calling out to Ian, but he didn’t look away. He was pouring every ounce of strength into maintaining the portal and wielding Many Leaves. If his focus wavered even slightly, everything would collapse.
Ian was desperately breaking down. Only a faint, fragile something was holding him up. What it was, he didn’t know. Was it a serene acceptance of fate? Or love for Bariel? Even thinking about it was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
As if connected by an unknown force, Ian and Rutherford were linked by the World Tree. Ian pulled toward the black moon, Rutherford resisted. Blood stained the fingertips trying to tear the branch.
Then, among the dazed wizards watching the scene, a hand reached out.
Clench.
It was Akorella. Crawling down the corridor, she grabbed Ian’s World Tree. For a moment, it seemed she might stop him. But the wizards realized she was pouring her remaining strength into Ian. Bloodied, she rubbed her face fiercely and shouted.
“Idiots, over there they’re busy trying to save the master, and here we are just standing around watching?”
“C-Captain! But—”
“But what? But what!?”
“Ian said he’s going into the Abyss…”
“Abyss or hell! It’s Ian’s call and his decision. Who are you to question it? Get your head straight! Outside, His Majesty Jin is waiting!”
If we fail to deal with Rutherford here and leave loose ends, can you take responsibility for it? Ian, our guide, has made this decision. We must trust and follow him completely.
Acorella shouted as she transferred her magic. Ian wasn’t looking their way, but he could surely hear her voice.
“Ian! Whatever else, just live!”
“Captain, please! This really isn’t right!”
“If you survive, we’ll see you again! Thanks for the Luron Stone. Now, uh… make sure you eat well.”
“Captain, no. I can’t do this. It feels like we’re pushing Ian into the Abyss—”
“Ian! Come back! We’re waiting for you!”
“Please! Don’t do this! No!”
Even among the mages, opinions were divided. Some helped Acorella by giving all their remaining magic, while others couldn’t bring themselves to do that much.
Whoosh!
Empowered by the mages’ magic, the World Tree surged upward with even greater ferocity. Ian stared only at Rutherford, never turning back. His choice was unquestionably right. From start to finish, it was the only correct decision.
So why did a sharp pain gnaw at his heart? Unaware that tears were streaming down his face, Ian threw himself toward the black moon.
Slowly, the surroundings began to fade.
The mages, the chandeliers—
The painting on the wall…
“Ah.”
The massive painting stretching all the way to the ceiling held Ian’s gaze longer than anything else. It depicted the angel Bariel blessing someone. The eyes within the frame were so finely detailed they seemed almost alive, moving subtly. Lost in that gaze, Ian suddenly realized.
“Beyond that painting… Jin is there.”
A perfectly fitting refuge. Just as the emperor had done, Gera was watching everything from behind the painting.
Ian smiled faintly and embraced the World Tree tightly. It felt like sinking into a sea of calm. The screams of Rutherford chasing after him felt distant, fading into the void.