Chapter 570

Ian’s heart, climbing along the secret, was astonishingly calm. So peaceful that he almost doubted whether he truly existed in reality at that moment.

Tap, tap, tap!

The colossal secret lunged at Ian with its opposite hand, trying to seize him, but he lightly leapt over it and kept moving forward. Though its form and nature had changed, this was still—Ian himself.

Ian Verosion.

Even if the shadow of being a betrayed emperor loomed over part of his life, he was undeniably the one who carried on Bariel’s glory. Bariel, a hundred years from now.

Ian Verosion.

Ian felt as if this alien secret was referring to his very existence.

In the heart of Gaia’s land—not a rift zone—stood a towering, dark blue-black presence like a demon lord. Wasn’t it truly bizarre?

Being somewhere it shouldn’t be meant it was referring to a version of himself living on a different timeline.

Ian Verosion.

A soft chuckle escaped him.

What did reclaiming his name even mean? What did it mean to take back the colossal secret he had handed over to the Gypsies?

“Protect the name Ian Verosion. Our time has stopped here, and so has history. Because it was never written, it was never erased. Your Majesty, protect it.”

Those words from Naum in the abyss were the answer.

Protect the name Ian Verosion. Then, restart the halted history and cherish the history written by my own hand.

Just like Jin Verosion.

A life lived, guarded, and created.

By reclaiming his name.

Whoosh!

Ian realized what the secret wanted.

It wanted to return to its own body.

It didn’t care if its host’s body was torn apart; its desire to exist as a secret, as before, was clear.

It must be separated. The original secret from the part tainted by the Gypsies.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

He swung his sword from the secret’s left side to the right, slicing through. In truth, it was no different from plunging the sword in and running swiftly.

“…It’s useless.”

Jin muttered quietly as he watched. The speed of the slash was transcendental, but the rate at which it healed was just as relentless, like cutting through water.

“Sir Ian! Cutting won’t work! You have to finish it all at once!”

Maxim Tweller shouted loudly, though it was uncertain if Ian heard him.

Then—

Boom!

A heavy roar as a red dragon fell from the sky. Its scales were stripped, and its neck and back bore severe wounds.

Everyone looked up simultaneously at the dragon’s crash.

Screeeech!

Seven blue dragons overwhelmed the single red dragon.

Watching the roaring dragons, people suddenly recalled a past from thousands of years ago—the source of mighty power that had been mobilized in war to bring ruin to the world. Though the gods had stripped them of their abilities out of concern, these spiritual beasts alone far surpassed human military strength.

“There are too many dragons!”

Roar! Roar!

As the officer shouted, explosions erupted one after another. Luswena’s mages joined their dragon squads, using the dragons as shields to lead the charge while continuously launching attacks through the gaps.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

Bariel’s mages intercepted the incoming magical attacks. Hail, Nakina, and Tommy deflected the airborne spells, while others formed protective barriers in front of Bariel’s lines.

“Captain! Orders!”

“What orders? Amplify!”

“Yes, sir!”

At Hail’s command, the mages simultaneously activated their amplifiers.

Seeing this, Luswena’s mages couldn’t stand idly by. They bit down on small pills, and Akorella bared her fangs with an amused grin.

“Oh? Is that so? Let’s see whose drug is stronger!”

“Nakina! Tommy!”

“Imperial Guard, support them!”

Whoosh!

Nakina and Tommy swiftly darted between dragons, drawing their Dera weapons. Useless against the mages, but against dragons, it was a different story.

They lunged at the dragons, swinging their weapons, and the beasts instinctively dodged. They sensed the danger.

“Damn it!”

A loud curse came from behind.

It was Beric. Crawling out from the rubble, he kept retching. Forget the explosions, the stench was unbearable—he hadn’t fainted from a smell since Bratz.

Beric pushed his sweat-soaked hair back and looked down at his crushed leg. Damn it, it wouldn’t move as he wished.

Roar! Roar!

For some reason, Ian was facing a black figure, while on the other side, mages with dragons were locked in battle.

Beric kept crawling forward, shouting.

“Kyu! Come here!”

At his call, Kyu, lying weakly and gasping, lifted her head. Ignoring the soldiers’ hands, she staggered and slowly began to flap her wings.

Kyuuuu!

“That’s right! You can’t just collapse in the middle of a fight! Come and give me a ride!”

Whoosh!

Thud!

As the dragon soared powerfully, Beric grabbed its leg and climbed up using only his arms. He drew a Dera weapon from his waist and braced himself.

“Let’s gooo!”

Clang! Clang!

Roar!

Under the mages’ protective barrier, Jin watched the incredible scene without missing a single detail. The Imperial Defense Department and soldiers did the same. Every second was a humbling reminder of how fragile humans truly were.

Ziiing! Ziiing!

And then—

Before the boy named Ian Hielo, it became even clearer.

“Many Leaves (萬葉).”

Thrum!

A world tree, tens of meters tall, sprouted from the ground, tightly binding the secret’s limbs. It froze in place, unable to move. Though it had no facial features, the secret’s gaze was clearly fixed on Ian.

Before finishing Many Leaves, Ian swiftly extended his hand as if commanding and drew a new magic circle.

Whoosh!

“Recollection (回祿).”

A massive flame burst from Ian’s palm.

Its intensity was so fierce it seemed capable of melting anything instantly. Even Jin and those in Bariel’s camp, far away, turned their heads to avoid the heat.

Screeeech!

The dark blue aura surrounding the secret clashed with the flames and quickly faded.

In that moment, Ian spotted something gleaming near its chest and instinctively knew—it was his pure secret, his identity.

Ian drew out the Idgal sword and plunged toward the newly updated target.

Whoosh!

Where he passed, heat and dark energy scattered, leaving a deep trace. In an instant, Ian had entered the secret.

Jin, watching, couldn’t help but call out.

“Sir Ian!”

His worry to warn him of danger and order caution faded silently. It was because of the unfamiliar figure.

“…What is that?”

“……!”

Inside the secret’s black body, it was clear Ian was repeatedly unleashing Recollection. The secret’s form darkened and brightened in cycles, and the flickering light was proof.

Flash—!

Light golden hair.

Eyes filled with chilling clarity.

Flash—!

Sharp gaze and icy skin.

Flash—!

And graceful swordsmanship.

Each time the darkness cleared and light flashed, the stranger’s figure became vivid. Jin and all of Bariel gazed up at him, entranced.

They instinctively knew.

This was a precious one.

Loved by the gods, carrying all the glory of the world.

Whoosh!

Beric, who had just been slashing at Luswena’s dragons’ necks, turned around in surprise.

“…Ian?”

It was definitely Ian, yet not Ian. Was this what it meant to be stunned?

Even the mages froze, staring blankly at the familiar yet strange man.

“Ian!”

“Beric! No! Stop!”

Was something going wrong? As Beric shouted Ian’s name and tried to rush forward, Jin barked at him to halt. Beric’s expression was indescribable.

“Sir Ian said he would reclaim his name.”

“But—”

“Trust and wait. That is our role.”

Beric bit his lower lip hard. What if the Ian they knew disappeared? What if he got lost in his secret like he did in the abyss? Look at him now—he’s already showing a strange form, and he wanted to shout that out loud.

“…My goodness. Ian.”

The mages all gasped, covering their mouths. Doubts about Ian flashed rapidly through their minds, but that was all.

No one could voice them, for the light Ian radiated was too brilliant.

Roar! Boom! Bang!

Screeeech!

Inside the secret’s body, Ian kept fending off the black energy pouring onto him and pushed forward.

His name was close. Once, twice, thrice. The swirling smoke made his vision dizzy, but even then, Ian’s heart was utterly serene.

I will reclaim it.

Because of the firm conviction that he could find his name again.

Ian finally unearthed the secret buried deep within his very being and seized it without hesitation.

Crack.

The colossal secret screamed out like a heart being twisted in agony, but outside, a warm and gentle silence swiftly blanketed the world.

It was a light too blinding to look at directly; everyone averted their eyes, enduring that moment that felt like an eternity.

“…!”

“…!”

How much time had passed?

The towering secret that once reached toward the sky had vanished without a trace, leaving only swirling dust in the air.

For a brief moment, everyone looked around, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The first to move was Berrick.

“Ian! Ian!”

“Lord Ian!”

Then the mages followed, waving their hands through the dust, desperately searching for the unseen Ian. But there was no response. Hearts sank as they prepared to rush toward the Agiar Barrier—

Tap, tap.

Quiet footsteps echoed.

Ian slowly appeared.

His radiant golden hair and fresh green eyes were just as they had been in his youth. Everyone froze, staring at him, and Jin found himself stepping forward without realizing it.

“L-Lord Ian…”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“W-What happened?”

“I was too late.”

Ian smiled gently and brushed his hair back. Though he hadn’t crawled through a pit of dirt, his appearance was disheveled overall. Yet, no one noticed, distracted by the purity of his smile.

“You’re not late, Lord Ian. Never.”

Even in the moment he saved himself from Marib’s sword—

Even on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, when he bore the weight of ten years—

It was never too late.

But Ian shook his head and added softly,

“No, Your Majesty. It’s only now, as I reveal my name to you, that I am truly late.”

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed with the formal grace of the imperial court. As his hair fell gently with the motion, a serene smile graced his lips.

“My name is Ian Veroshion. I come from Bariel, a hundred years in the future—”

Joy welled up in his eyes.

With a smile he had never shown before, Ian whispered,

“I am the Emperor.”