Episode 1069
Chapter 252: The War Begins (8)

“What I want is simple. For now, I just want you vermin to survive until the right moment.”

The moment he heard those words, Keliak instinctively thought of Elona and Ziphl, who had recently been freed from the Demon Stone.

—Please believe me, Lord Jin. The Demon Order’s goal isn’t just victory in this world. They don’t care if this world is destroyed! As long as Lord Jin and the Alliance don’t pose a threat to the Unified Ziphl, it doesn’t matter how it happens!

That was what Elona had shouted to Jin back then.

According to her, the Demon Order was willing to sacrifice this entire world—even the Ziphl of the 677th dimension—for the sake of the Unified Ziphl.

“So, I have to survive not only the Balmel Alliance but also the Demon Order?”

“Exactly. You probably saw the Demon Order as an ally, but their leader—the Keliak Ziphl from another dimension—is someone who rose to the top of the Unified Ziphl by devouring and eliminating people like you. Now that conquest of all dimensions is within reach, they won’t welcome any variables.”

To survive, you have to prove your worth to the Unified Ziphl.

Keliak immediately understood what Lokia meant.

“You mean I have to show I can fight the Balmel Alliance well without the Demon Order’s help. Or, I need to possess something they want.”

But what could the Demon Order want?

Even Keliak found that hard to guess. He had never set foot in the Demon Order’s headquarters.

“The first option won’t help. No matter how well you fight, from the Demon Order’s perspective, destroying this world is just easier and safer.”

Of course, since he couldn’t read her mind, he couldn’t fully trust Lokia’s explanation about the Demon Order.

‘There’s no reason for Lokia to lie. She could have used the power of the Sun God to pressure me more, but she stopped here. That means she wants something from me. Still… she’s probably hiding the truth in a clever way.’

Above all, it was even less likely that Elona Ziphl had lied to Jin. The Demon Order would definitely see destruction as the safer choice.

In fact, it had already become clear back then that the Demon Order wasn’t exactly friendly toward the Ziphl of this world.

“I see.”

“The second is the real answer. There’s only one thing they want, Keliak: the complete Sun God.”

“The Sun God?”

“Yes. The Demon Order has many completed Demon Stones, but there are some things they can’t solve with those alone. They can’t resurrect the Sun God just by rewriting history, nor can they manipulate the world’s time as they please.”

“So the Demon Order must have a way to control the Sun God.”

“Probably. Anyway, your job is simple. When you can contact the Demon Order again, tell them this: that this world still holds the potential to resurrect the Sun God. Once they verify that, they’ll postpone destroying this world.”

“Understood. Is that all you want?”

“There are three more things. First, kill more lives. Like what you did today in the Old Drakka autonomous district. Well, you probably would have done that anyway. There’s no better way to torment my descendants.”

“And the second?”

“Use the power of the Demon Stone to search the depths of the Black Sea. We need to locate Siron Runcandel…”

Lokia wanted to find Siron because there was something to take from him.

Barisada.

A pocket dimension created by Lokia a thousand years ago in the Black Sea, and the key to entering Solderet’s final arrangement. Lokia herself had something she wanted to confirm there.

“Now I roughly understand why you can’t extract Malugia from the Demon Stone right now.”

“Huh?”

“Lokia Ganesto. Even if you pull Malugia out, the Demon Stone won’t be completely destroyed. It worked quite well even before Elona existed, so it would just degrade. But if that happens, you, me, and this entire world will be doomed to mutual destruction… I’m sure you’ve thought hard about how to trick me.”

“Don’t try to probe me, you filthy worm. You’re the reason I woke from my dream, and the ones who recklessly used the Demon Stone a thousand years ago, causing this terrible multidimensional disaster.”

“If you want to make a deal, at least show some respect. You’ll never be able to unleash that old hatred you have for the Ziphl as you wish. You’ve survived a thousand years—how could you choose mutual destruction? When you mentioned Siron, I bet there was something you didn’t say. Probably that you’d lend power to the Demon Stone for that purpose.”

He was right. Currently, the Demon Stone could only wield power in the Black Sea when combined with the Araksion power Lokia possessed. Without Araksion’s power, using the Demon Stone’s authority in the Black Sea would weaken their ability to defend the tower from the Balmel Alliance.

“Damn, this bastard’s really scheming…”

“Well, it’s mutual. The Ziphl and Runcandel have always been at each other’s throats. If the multidimensional disaster really started with the Ziphl a thousand years ago, it should have been stopped then. Ha… a thousand years later, and it’s still such a pain, Lokia Ganesto.”

Surprisingly, Lokia shrugged calmly.

“Yeah, it really is a pain.”

“First, kill more lives. Second, use the Demon Stone to locate Siron Runcandel. Now, the last one. What is it?”

“Hand over Airan Bimont’s body.”

“…Ah, that makes sense. If the Demon Order truly wants to resurrect the Sun God, he can’t be allowed to disappear.”

Naturally, Keliak knew that Bligiet had been captured by the Balmel Alliance.

“Yes, I plan to lift Airan’s restrictions so he can regain his original power.”

“The restrictions Airan left on Bligiet can be lifted without your help. It was said Bligiet would need half a year, but a month is enough.”

“If he’s stuck there for a month, who knows what that cutie Lucia will do to him. He’ll definitely be seriously damaged—enough to make Kinzelo’s full resurrection impossible. Should I remind you again that the Demon Order won’t leave this world alone the moment the Sun God’s selves have problems? Airan’s restrictions are an ancient Melka curse. For me, it’s not hard to solve.”

“Understood. Hand him over immediately.”

At Keliak’s gesture, a small dimensional portal opened in the air, and from it fell Airan Bimont’s dark, corpse-like body.

That was the only moment today when Lokia completely deceived Keliak. She didn’t need Airan for Bligiet.

In the first place, Bligiet’s damage had nothing to do with Kinzelo’s full resurrection. The key to resurrecting the Sun God wasn’t the preservation of the selves.

What Lokia wanted from Airan’s body was “proof.”

—What we need isn’t the royal technology or hidden numbers. Airan and Bivol themselves have no value. As I said, we only need Temar’s left arm. But Airan must have made it so that no one can use that arm without his approval. So, we have no choice but to save Airan too.

That was what Sanna, the priestess of the Sun God cult, said when she saved Airan long ago.

Lokia knew that better than anyone, even more than the ruined Sun God cult.

To enter Solderet’s final arrangement in the Black Sea—a pocket dimension created by Lokia herself—certain conditions must be met.

The key called Barisada, and the body of Temar that can use it.

From the moment Airan Bimont obtained Temar’s body, he spent a long time cursing that arm. No one could use it fully without his permission.

The restriction that tormented Bligiet was that very curse.

And according to Lokia’s judgment, no Demon Stone from any dimension could maintain and remove Temar’s arm intact.

It was because of the will and power of existence left in Temar’s body. If the Demon Stone’s authority blocked that power, the left arm would naturally be damaged.

So, the Melka ritual had to be reversed to remove the curse. And only two people currently knew how to do that.

Lokia Ganesto, and the great serpent Ameris.

‘We’ve successfully obtained Airan’s body. And the Balmel Alliance’s Temar’s left arm… we can probably get it through Lucia. If Lucia still holds the heart from a thousand years ago, she won’t refuse to trade her daughter for the dead Temar’s left arm.’

Haylin Runcandel, and the destructive self Araksion dwelling within her.

Lokia planned to separate Araksion from Haylin and then negotiate with Lucia. After all, Haylin wasn’t dead.

Once that deal succeeds at the right time, all preparations to enter Solderet’s arrangement will be complete. The location of that pocket dimension, hidden even from its creator, will be found by Siron.

Lokia gathered Airan’s corpse and opened a black dimensional portal.

“Heading back now?”

“Yes. Don’t make any mistakes. If either of us slips up, the Demon Order will erase this world entirely. And no matter what, never meet the Unified Ziphl’s Keliak in person. Someone like you would be devoured immediately. He only shares your name; he’s a monster of a different caliber.”

“You speak as if you’ve met him.”

“Let’s just say it’s close enough.”

“When will you start lending power to the Demon Stone?”

“From now on… Ah, and I say this out of concern—don’t waste the power of the Demon Stone trying to track down my hideout. Using it for battles against the Balmel Alliance and searching the Black Sea will already stretch you thin. If you squander your strength on pointless matters and end up getting beaten by the Balmel Alliance instead of the Demon Stone, how humiliating would that be?”

“I won’t forget your advice.”