Chapter 1057
Episode 251: The Adversaries (7)
Jin had naturally planned to go straight to the Jinma Realm to meet Silkia, but she summoned him to the tent of the Kingdom of Mila instead.
“Good to see you both. How have you been? I was surprised when I got your message.”
“Finding peace isn’t easy. To think there are beings worse than Jito in every dimension.”
As soon as they stepped inside, Misol and Tilius greeted Jin and Siris warmly.
“Welcome, savior of the Jinma Realm, descendant of the Bow. I should have gone to the Tikan Palace myself, but lately my powers have strangely been easier to use only around this tent area, so please forgive my rudeness.”
Silkia Arsia, captain of the Biceps.
She bowed respectfully to Jin, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Please don’t be so formal, Silkia. It’s a bit overwhelming. I was originally going to come directly to the Jinma Realm, but thanks to you, I can meet you comfortably here. Has your ability become easier to use now?”
Silkia had always used her dimensional travel powers very sparingly. During the Jinma War, even when Basset was injured, she was prevented from using her powers. But now, she had opened a path from the Jinma Realm all the way to this tent just to meet Jin.
“I actually wanted to talk to you about that. It seems connected to the information I recently received.”
The information she referred to was, of course, the truth about the world that Orgal had revealed.
“…You said it’s related?”
“Yes. Not long after I received the details Orgal mentioned, memories surfaced—things I had never experienced before, but that felt as if I had.”
Jin’s eyes widened. Silkia had experienced something similar to what others who had seen their ‘other selves’ in the Abyss Legion had gone through.
“Please, tell me everything.”
The ‘memories from another world’ Silkia recalled were as follows.
“First, I was used by a group called Ziphl in another world. When they interfered with other dimensions, they used my powers. I couldn’t refuse because they held people from the Jinma Realm hostage, just like Jito did.”
Jin’s reason for wanting to meet Silkia as soon as he grasped the truth of the world was that her power might hold the key to resisting Ziphl across the multiverse.
Indeed, Silkia’s ability had the potential to cross dimensions. It was just that other versions of her in different dimensions had been used by Ziphl before Jin.
“…Even in worlds where Jito couldn’t be resurrected, the Jinma Realm was trampled by Ziphl.”
“It’s hard to accept. Neither you nor Silkia would lie.”
“According to Silkia’s new memories, this world is the first where the Jinma Realm has been saved. In all other dimensions, it wasn’t possible.”
“I don’t clearly remember how I opened the dimensional path yet, but I think it will come back to me with time. When it does, I’ll use that power not for Ziphl, but for the Union and the safety of the world.”
For a while, Silkia detailed her memories of the multiverse. Like Orgal, recalling them was painful, and she often paused to catch her breath.
She remembered five worlds in total.
In all five dimensions, Silkia was a slave to Ziphl and a key figure in their dimensional interference.
“But the comrades who saw their other selves, including the First Generation, all recognized other dimensions through the Abyss Legion. Silkia, you recalled multiverse memories without the Abyss Legion?”
Siris spoke.
So far, only Helluram had encountered multiverse memories without the Abyss Legion.
“Siris, the Demon God Corps conducts all dimensional interference through the paths I created. Recently, one of these paths in this world was used, and I suspect my powers reacted to that event.”
When the dimensional paths used by the Demon God Corps are activated, the versions of oneself who share the same power in this world also respond.
Jin and Siris both felt Silkia’s theory made sense. Since Ziphl had recently been receiving support from other dimensions, the path created by Silkia in another world must have been used.
Though it was painful that the Demon God Corps had exploited Silkia first, and that the memories of the multiverse weighed heavily on her, Jin felt they had stumbled upon an unexpected advantage.
“Silikia, you said you think you’ll remember how to open the dimensional path with time?”
“Yes, Lord Jin.”
“Then, wouldn’t it also be possible to close the path?”
Closing the path. If that could be done, Ziphl would be fundamentally cut off from support from other dimensions.
Of course, since there are more than five Silkias in other dimensions, it might be easier for them to open new gates than for this Silkia to close one.
But it was worth trying. Even if they could disrupt Ziphl’s support just once at a critical moment, it would be a huge help.
“I was thinking the same thing, Lord Jin. The other Silkias are all exhausted and broken, and their survival is uncertain. I haven’t yet felt memories of death, but none of them are in a normal state. Once I fully awaken, I should be able to handle it alone.”
Fighting versions of herself trapped in such a terrible state. Silkia spoke calmly. For her, only this world mattered. The Jinma Realms of other dimensions were already irreversibly brainwashed and tyrannized by Ziphl.
“What worries me more is if Ziphl has reached the point where they can replicate my powers using only Demon God Stones. If that’s the case, it might be difficult for me to close the path alone.”
They wouldn’t know until they tried. For now, they had to wait until Silkia regained enough power.
“It must be painful, but thank you for staying strong, Silkia.”
“No, I will do whatever I can. This place—where our demon race finally won freedom—I want to protect it at all costs. Absolutely.”
“Don’t cry, Silkia. It’s going to be okay.”
“That’s right, Silkia. Jin saved our Jinma Realm, and now thanks to you, our realm can help the Union. We can repay our debts. Everything will be fine.”
Misol and Tilius comforted Silkia. She stopped crying and looked at Jin and Siris.
“…I was overwhelmed with emotion and showed a poor side of myself. Please forgive me. Now, we should talk about the Altar of the Sun God.”
The Altar of the Sun God, somewhere in the Jinma Realm. Silkia already knew the nature of the Sun God, thanks to her multiverse memories.
“The consciousness sleeping in that altar, named Focal, is the aspect that desires to maintain the world. Ziphl once used him as material for Demon God Stones. If awakened, he will be a powerful ally for the Union.”
Even Orgal didn’t know this. Misol puffed up proudly on Silkia’s behalf.
“Silikia’s the best, huh? Where else would we hear about a way to block dimensional interference and the Sun God Focal all at once?”
The more allies they had against Ziphl and the Demon God Corps, the better. Especially transcendent beings like the Sun God’s consciousness. Beyond mere force, their divine nature alone could be a game-changer.
Especially now, with evidence that ‘Bligiette’ had cooperated with Ziphl, having someone like Focal on their side could help restore some balance.
“Right, that’s great, Misol. Silkia, do you know the exact location of the Altar of the Sun God?”
“I do. But please don’t send valuable Union personnel to the Jinma Realm. It’s a place only I can reach with my powers. Instead, just leave the sword you brought today.”
Before meeting Jin, Silkia had asked for a sword kept in Tikan.
The Solar Sword Tetalon—the weapon of the Red-Eyed Tribe’s warrior Simat, forged from the flesh of the Sun God.
Near the end of the Laprarosa Liberation War, Simat abandoned that sword and forged a new one from violet lightning to fight Luna.
Thanks to that, Tetalon remained intact and was now in the Union’s possession.
“That sword is the key to opening Focal’s altar. It’s ironic—the Red-Eyed Tribe always wished for the world to change, yet their warrior’s sword was made from the flesh of Focal, who wants the world to remain as it is.”
Jin handed Tetalon to Tilius.
The role of the Jinma Realm as part of the Union was now clear: to block dimensional interference centered on Silkia and to revive Focal.
“That’s a heavy burden, Silkia.”
“I’m used to fighting for freedom and salvation. Please, lead us to victory again, Lord Jin.”
“You say it’s a heavy burden, but you just made my shoulders heavier, Silkia.”
“Well, I think that’s all for the meeting. Jin, how are the Union members on the surface? I’d like to meet the freed Mingwang Tribe sometime.”
They spent about an hour catching up, mostly about the Jinma Realm’s reconstruction and changes on the surface.
“Well then, we’ll be off! Please send our regards to everyone!”
“If there’s anything to report, I’ll contact you immediately, Lord Jin. Please take care.”
Silikia opened a dimensional gate. As Jin’s comrades from the Jinma Realm disappeared, the tent suddenly felt quiet.
“We gained a lot, Jin.”
“Yes, Siris. But no matter how much we prepare for the final battle, it will never be enough.”
Both wore bitter expressions.
“…Right. When the last war with Ziphl begins, many will die. Even among our comrades, there will be casualties.”
It was a reality they didn’t want to imagine or speak aloud.
“We’ll make sure it doesn’t come to that.”
“Of course. We’ll fight fiercely so those we care about don’t get hurt or die. But… lately, I’ve been feeling strange. Like I want to share pointless things with you. I guess it means I’ve been relying on you more than I realized.”
“Please feel free to say whatever’s on your mind, Siris. And honestly, I think I’ve relied on you and the Bow far more than you’ve leaned on me.”
Siris met Jin’s gaze. Then, with a slight shrug, she said,
“What am I to you, Jin Runcandel? That’s a question I only just managed to answer recently. Just yesterday, in fact.”