Episode 1068
Chapter 252: The War Begins (7)
Passage 1, Demon God Headquarters.
Each time a dimensional gate opened on the wall, the heads of the various dimension’s Ziplas gathered.
Yet among them, not a single representative from the Kelliak Zipla appeared. Across all dimensions, only two Kelliak Ziplas remained.
One sat at the head of the conference table here in the headquarters—the Kelliak Zipla of the 33rd dimension—and the other was the Kelliak Zipla of the 677th dimension, where the Barmel Alliance was active.
The Kelliak of the 33rd dimension was the supreme leader of the unified Zipla across all dimensions. Expressionless, he surveyed the assembled leaders who bowed respectfully as they greeted him.
The high-ranking executives of the unified Zipla, each a leader of their own dimension, all watched his every move carefully. The recent intervention in the 677th dimension had been proposed by these executives themselves.
“Lord Kelliak, everyone has arrived.”
At Kelliak’s gesture, the executives took their seats in unison. Most of them appeared aged, while Kelliak himself looked remarkably young.
Like a youthful emperor surrounded by his ministers, the executives could only bow their heads and wait for his judgment.
“Yesterday, I came here at your request and used my power in the 677th dimension. But the results were far from satisfactory.”
“Lord Kelliak, we made a mistake… ugh, aaargh!”
Snap!
The first executive to speak met Kelliak’s gaze and immediately exploded into pieces.
Then, at Kelliak’s signal, the shattered bones and flesh grotesquely reassembled as if nothing had happened.
Time had been rewound.
“I have not yet given you permission to speak. The Delos Zipla you just saw die should be grateful that our power has finally begun to touch time itself. Without that, he would never have seen the world again.”
“I-I’m sorry…!”
“Now, you may all speak. First, I want to know how you intend to take responsibility for this incident. You know full well how much power and resources are consumed by interfering between dimensions.”
“Lord Kelliak, it’s not entirely a failure.”
The first to speak was Rondo Zipla, the most trusted among the executives summoned here.
“In what way?”
“From what we’ve gathered, Jin Runkandel—the mutant—tends to react strongly to the deaths of innocents.”
“I know that. But slaughtering civilians is something the 677th dimension could have done on its own, without my help.”
“However, I dare say it was your power that instilled such fear. Though perhaps not entirely appropriate…”
“Fear?”
Kelliak narrowed his eyes, cutting off Rondo’s words.
“Emotions have limits. Whether immortal or mortal, once you overcome a certain level of fear, you can no longer be terrified. Do you think the Barmel Alliance in the 677th dimension, especially Jin Runkandel, fears us? Not at all. If anything, they’re burning with resolve. This will inevitably backfire.”
His voice brimmed with certainty.
As the unified Zipla’s leader, Kelliak had endured the longest and harshest battles of anyone across all dimensions. He had eliminated every other Kelliak Zipla except the one in the 677th dimension, claiming the throne of the unified Zipla alone.
“Moreover, such willpower sometimes borders on the miraculous. That’s why the strong in the 677th dimension have never been able to kill the mutant Jin Runkandel. The Barmel Alliance is a formidable enemy unlike any other dimension has faced.”
“My judgment was short-sighted.”
“Everyone believes that since we control all dimensions except the 677th, and possess the completed Demon God Stone, we can surely eliminate them. They’re wrong. Their blade is already at our necks.”
This was no exaggeration. Kelliak truly believed it.
“There are only two ways to safely and completely subdue them.”
“…May I ask what they are?”
“First, to secure the intact resurrection of the Sun God through a dimension where it’s still possible. With that power, we could finally control time itself, our last hope. Second, to marshal every possible resource and power to launch a swift and overwhelming intervention in the 677th dimension.”
The executives’ eyes widened.
Resurrecting and securing the Sun God had always been a key objective, but a ‘reckless intervention’ was never part of the plan.
“And I will begin executing the second plan starting today. There must be no more half-hearted support or sloppy results like this time. If this happens repeatedly, the enemy will inevitably grow strong enough to challenge us.”
Perhaps we’re pouring too much into just one dimension.
No one dared voice that thought. The Kelliak of the 33rd dimension was the supreme leader of the unified Zipla and the sole ruler of all dimensions except the 677th.
“Of course, directly intervening will likely cost us a great deal of power and resources. But once the 677th is dealt with, nothing will threaten us. Lost power and resources can always be restored.”
Kelliak’s gaze returned to Rondo.
“…What should we prepare first?”
“First, a passage where the Demon God Army can directly enter. Once they establish a foothold in the 677th dimension, I will personally join the battle. Also, gather all the strong warriors from each dimension who can withstand the effects of dimensional infiltration here at headquarters. We will launch an all-out war.”
677th Dimension, Tower of Stories.
Kelliak sat, staring at Elona, who was rooted like a living root at the base of the Demon God Stone. He knew someone would soon appear before them.
“You’ve come, Rokia Ganesto.”
Rokia Ganesto approached Kelliak, appearing as Haelin Runkandel had during the Laprarosa Liberation War.
“Kelliak Zipla, your descendants have been utterly crushed. Well, I was completely torn apart by Jin in Laprarosa too.”
“Impressive that you found this tower, which even the Barmel Alliance struggles to track, and came straight to its deepest core. Your skills are no joke. You’re not chaos, and you seem to wield the Sun God’s power at a fairly high level.”
“Elona Zipla, you and your kind didn’t even notice Malugia right in front of you. You’re not even on the same level.”
“What brings you here?”
“Isn’t it obvious? A deal. I hold the only card that can keep you flickering candles alive.”
“Haha…”
“Don’t laugh, you bastard. Do you think I came here out of pity? Your Zipla should have all died a thousand years ago as the pests you are. All you’ve done since your birth is ruin this world.”
Rokia smiled slyly as she stared at Kelliak. Despite the sudden insult, Kelliak remained calm.
But inside, he was unsettled. The Demon God Stone’s calculations were increasingly off, and Rokia’s ability to bypass all defenses and enter here was shocking.
Moreover, like others who had learned the truth of the world, he had only recently become aware of the multiverse, as the Demon God Army began indirectly supporting this world’s Zipla.
“You don’t really think I’m unaware of the multiverse that Orgaldo knows, that the Barmel Alliance knows, and that you know? And you don’t want to die—not now, at least. Not by the Barmel Alliance, not by me, nor by the unified Zipla.”
“I admit your power unsettles me. But if you could kill me, why threaten me with words instead of just doing it? Saying you’ll kill me if I don’t accept your offer.”
“Well, I’m about to start doing just that.”
Beeeeeeep…!
Suddenly, Kelliak was engulfed by a piercing ringing in his head. Whatever it was, it was clearly Rokia’s trick. As he prepared to counterattack—
He whipped around to look at the Demon God Stone. An enormous surge of solar energy was emanating from it.
More precisely, from Elona Zipla’s body, fused with the Demon God Stone. And that energy was resonating with Rokia.
As if they were one person using their power together, as if they had always been one.
Kelliak tried desperately to control the Demon God Stone, but it was useless. If anything, the stone seemed to respond more strongly to Rokia’s will.
“You must be confused about what’s happening, Kelliak.”
“…What is this?”
“Malugia is the greatest fragment of the Sun God’s shattered will of destruction. And the one inhabiting this body—my niece, Haelin Runkandel—is Araksion, another fragment of destruction. By the way, those two are very close.”
That was why Rokia could appear so easily here, at the deepest core of the Tower of Stories, before the Demon God Stone. Like magnets drawn together, beings sharing the same will naturally connect, no matter where they are.
“Losing control of the Demon God Stone so suddenly must be unsettling. Do you think awakening Malugia and disrupting the stone is difficult for me? As long as you cling to the stone, I can find you anywhere… and end you anytime.”
Kelliak couldn’t tell if Rokia’s words were true.
Even with the divinity he gained from fusing with Shinu, he couldn’t see through her, nor control the Demon God Stone.
But one thing was certain: even if she exaggerated, Rokia was an extremely dangerous foe. He had never imagined anyone could block the Demon God Stone’s power like this.
In the end, Kelliak had no choice but to answer her.
“…What do you want from me, Rokia Ganesto?”