Episode 1092
Chapter 256: Morganiel (1)
What never changes.
Having conquered over a hundred dimensions, Octavia had, at some point, caught Keliak’s attention.
Not because she was especially powerful or remarkable. In fact, Octavia had never shone as brightly as the members of the Balmel Union or Kinzello in any world.
“Gray.”
Octavia flinched.
“In all those countless worlds, you always stood in the gray zone.”
—Andrei was a crude, talentless fool. But he was an impeccable accomplice. No matter how dirty my schemes or vile my experiments, I never had to explain anything to Andrei. He always understood me.
—Ah…
—But what about you? When we conducted all those experiments with Sandra and Veradin, you participated in every atrocity. Yet you always wore that uneasy expression, your attitude ambiguous. You never tried to cross the line, nor did you try to stay clear of it. You simply rationalized it all as being for the family’s sake, standing firmly in the gray zone.
The word “gray” immediately brought back Keliak’s words from the 677th dimension. It was the most humiliating moment in Octavia’s life.
“Isn’t it strange? Even idiots like Bubar Gaston or Ainas Caligo awakened as heroes in some worlds. But you? Your disgusting attitude never changed. Not once.”
Keliak recalled the versions of Octavia he had seen across dimensions.
Half of them he had personally killed while slaying the Keliak of that world; the other half met their end anyway—either purged for failing to adapt to the Unified Ziphl, or driven to suicide by despair.
“…What are you trying to say?”
“There’s still something in this world that even my eyes can’t see. You could call it fate, destiny—old concepts. No matter the circumstances or variables, certain outcomes are inevitable. Like you, always standing in the gray zone, or Orgal of Kinzello, who always defies me. I don’t like that.”
“That’s hard to understand.”
“That’s fine. You don’t need to understand. But this time, I intend to protect you. If anyone in the Demon Realm tries to purge you, I will crush them. And I won’t allow you to end your own life.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I’m curious whether, even with my direct intervention, you’ll still stand in the gray zone as always. Orgal—I’ve never created a world where he didn’t resist me. My power isn’t yet enough to change the fate of someone so exceptional. But you? You don’t have that greatness.”
Octavia showed no sign of displeasure—not out of fear of Keliak, but because she couldn’t deny his assessment.
“So you want to test me. To see if I possess the power to change what never changes. Maybe not to the level of Orgal, but at least to alter the fate of a worthless person like me. If I don’t, then I must not kill Malugia.”
“Hoo.”
“Survive and live a long life. Becoming a shining being at least once wouldn’t be so bad. Or becoming a monster like me, one the world will never see again—that’s fine too. After all, you are my sister.”
Octavia said nothing, only looked up at Keliak. The light flickering in his eyes seemed to hold both madness and affection.
A colossal golden sphere blotted out the sky.
The Union members gazed up in awe. The airborne fortress Lafrarosa—the final weapon of the Pluto race—had made its first appearance in Tikan.
Though smaller than the ancient warship Ram or the Tower of Stories, its size only made it more imposing.
Inside the hull were auxiliary power sources equivalent to two hundred golden chests, and Beltian, transformed into a power source, was restrained within.
Every time Lafrarosa moved slightly, the surrounding space warped. The sheer force of its power was enough to distort reality.
“Hmph, just a decade ago, Kojek was said to be a weapon capable of destroying the world… but now, compared to this airborne fortress, that sounds laughable. Right, son-in-law?”
Talaris looked up at Lafrarosa and said.
“According to Orgal, the Kojek held by the Demon Realm still holds that status.”
“That’s fine. Siron will return soon. Though the world is dark and rotten, just thinking that we’ll soon see someone worthy of calling a friend again… it’s strangely comforting. When Siron comes, we should visit Ron together. Your father would have wanted to honor Ron.”
“Of course.”
The Union members headed toward the Black Sea, boarding the fortress and their ships. Jin observed them, his thoughts turning to their enemies—especially Malugia.
‘Malugia deliberately didn’t affect the Beltian.’
Jin was certain.
The power Malugia displayed that day in the Empire could have easily freed the Beltian, no matter the distance to Tikan.
‘He didn’t release the Beltian because he wanted us to use it to complete the airborne fortress. That’s why he wanted us to lead with the fortress to the Black Sea, to confront the Demon Realm.’
Since the Empire’s fall, Jin and the Balmel Union had been used by Malugia—drawn into a swampy situation they couldn’t escape.
But Jin didn’t resent it.
‘Malugia using me is actually a good thing. It means the Union is needed for now. I can turn that to my advantage.’
Malugia’s design was as solid as stalactites formed over ages.
Jin would find the tiny flaw hidden within and strike. Until that moment came, being used by Malugia was preferable to being destroyed by Keliak.
All Union members bound for the Black Sea took their places aboard the fortress and ships. When Jin finally boarded the flagship Sara, Pokal and Silkia began opening the dimensional gate.
[Jin, we’re starting. Silkia.]
“Yes, Lord Pokal.”
The combined power of the Solar Machine and Silkia formed a massive glowing ring above Tikan’s territorial waters.
“Wow, what a sight.”
The ring unfolded forward like stacked sheets of paper, slicing diagonally through the sky, piercing the clouds in an instant.
The ring stretched so far it was impossible to follow with the naked eye. When it completely covered the horizon, Pokal and Silkia nodded.
[All set. Go, Jin. We’ll follow behind and keep the path open.]
Ssshhh!
The airborne fortress Lafrarosa was the first to pass through the endless ring. It spun briefly as if sucked into a vortex, then vanished from the Union’s sight in an instant.
The fleet followed the same pattern. Moments later, those who passed through the dimensional gate faced the Black Sea.
“My god… this is truly the depths of the Black Sea. Right near the domain of the Five Kings of the Black Sea, the very core…”
Luna couldn’t help but be shocked.
With the truth of the multiverse revealed, the world had changed rapidly. Though the Union had gained great power to match the new formidable enemies, it was still hard to grasp how easily they had reached the Black Sea’s depths.
“It took my father and me years to get this far. Including the days when my father alone opened the path in his youth, it’s been decades. It feels… hollow.”
[Don’t think like that, Luna. Silkia and I couldn’t have created the dimensional gate to get here if he hadn’t opened the way beforehand.]
“You don’t have to comfort me like that, Lord Pokal. I spoke foolishly.”
[It’s sincere. The Black Sea is still an unknown realm to me as well. Siron Runkandel is truly an extraordinary mortal…]
Pokal was genuinely impressed. Before gaining the powers of the Pluto race or the Solar God, Siron had pioneered this land purely through his own ability—a fact that sent chills down his spine.
“Lord Pokal, I believe we can open the path even deeper. Siron is creating an opening for us.”
[Yes, Silkia. I felt it too. Siron Runkandel welcomes our arrival. Jin, you’ll meet your father sooner than you thought.]
Silkia and Pokal opened the dimensional gate again. This time, the rings formed even faster, thanks to Siron’s influence.
In other words, he was ‘allowing’ the Balmel Union to enter the Black Sea. Without his permission, even Pokal couldn’t have created a gate this far.
“Proceed.”
“Yes!”
As the fleet passed through the ring once more, the scenery changed rapidly.
This time, the fleet arrived at a place so pristine and white it was impossible to believe it was the Black Sea.
Like a midday snowfield, the landscape was dazzlingly bright—something even Luna, a key member of the expedition, had never seen before.
“Where… is this? We never saw a place like this during the expedition.”
Snow-like particles fell from the sky, truly resembling snow. The sacred energy that filled the air was unlike anything expected in the Black Sea. It radiated from a man seated in the center of the land.
Siron Runkandel slowly rose and opened his eyes.
“You’ve come, Jin. Luna.”
“Father!”
Luna was the first to leap out beyond the bridge. Without hesitation, she pulled Siron into an embrace, looking just like a father and daughter reunited after a long time apart.
“Getting older and turning more childish, huh, Luna? You’ve got quite the audience.”
“Well, I guess that’s what happens when you’re happy to see someone. It’s so dark out here—I’ve never missed you this much before. By the way, Father, where exactly are we?”
Siron met her gaze and replied, “Morganyel. This is his domain.”