Chapter 1096
Episode 256. Morganiel (5)
“You think you understand it now?”
“Oh? Is that a good thing?”
Luna and Murakan exclaimed simultaneously.
“I can’t say I understand everything yet. But one thing is clear—I can feel it. Once I step inside, I’ll be able to wield this power.”
“The black energy that forms this space?”
“…Yes, sister.”
The moment Jin touched the entrance, he realized the truth.
It wasn’t spiritual energy.
It was black energy.
This power couldn’t even be named yet. As far as Jin and the Changsung knew, this black energy had never appeared in the world before.
“Then it’s likely a power Solderet prepared specifically for you. Jin, how does it feel? We still can’t sense anything from the black energy that makes up this space. It’s just darkness.”
“It’s not spiritual energy or soul energy. It seems to be a higher-dimensional power… something beyond that, Brother Toushin.”
The Changsung’s eyes widened. Murakan, in particular, was so shocked his mouth hung open.
Spiritual energy.
The status of that power, symbolizing Solderet, had always been supreme. Whether aura, magic, the brain power of the Meiwang clan, or the highest gods’ abilities—none could surpass spiritual energy in pure rank.
The powers wielded by the solar gods’ selves might have some superiority over spiritual energy, but even then, it couldn’t be said to be clearly superior.
Only the perfectly resurrected ‘Kinzelro’s’ power could be considered higher than spiritual energy. At least, everyone familiar with spiritual energy recognized it that way.
And now, Jin was talking about a power even greater than that. It was hard to believe.
“The youngest wouldn’t be talking nonsense… so that’s good news. If you gain that power, you’ll become stronger, right?”
Become stronger.
At Luna’s simple question, Jin hesitated to answer.
‘…Stronger. But that’s a human standard… this power doesn’t fit that measure.’
A god.
Not the so-called gods who were immortal beings born from the solar gods’ energies after their deaths, but truly transcendent beings worthy of the name.
The darkness Jin felt now was such a power.
He was afraid—afraid that grasping such power as a human might be wrong. If he embraced this darkness, he might no longer be human.
His hands trembled.
More than the overwhelming enemies Keliak and Malugia, suddenly he feared himself. Yet even in his terror, one thing was clear.
‘If I seize this power, I can win. I can defeat them. At least, I’ll be able to face them much more easily than now.’
So it wasn’t a choice.
He had to accept it. If he gave up being human, the war that once seemed hopeless would become a fight worth fighting.
‘What… will I become?’
Everything he had built as a human, as a warrior, as Jin.
Strength, power, honor.
And the people he cherished and loved.
All of it seemed to be swept away by this darkness, disappearing into a realm Jin the human could never understand, a place Jin the human could never love.
“Jin.”
“Ah… Father?”
Shiron’s firm hand gently shook Jin’s shoulder. Jin was breathing heavily, drenched in cold sweat without realizing it.
“You’re afraid.”
“…I showed a shameful side.”
“What scares you so?”
“I… don’t really know.”
“Jin, I don’t know exactly what you saw just now. But in the end, our fate is one of two things: to win or lose, to fight or to stop, to live or to die. Whatever you become, that fact doesn’t change.”
Jin’s breathing was still uneven.
“We can kill hundreds of thousands, even millions, with a single strike if we choose. The fear those people feel, knowing they could be swept away so easily, is no less than what you feel now. But you must not tremble in fear like them. Do you know why?”
Jin didn’t answer, meeting Shiron’s gaze. Though his tone was reproachful, Shiron smiled faintly.
“There’s no special reason. I just don’t want to see you like this.”
“Huh?”
“You’re my son, and I’ve never given you love. So seeing you shake like this stirs something uncomfortable inside me. Maybe it’s guilt, remorse—ordinary feelings I’ve long forgotten. I just finished ending Morganiel and fulfilling my destiny. Don’t ruin my mood. Do you want me to writhe in guilt?”
It was an absurd logic. Jin blinked, feeling as if his head had been struck by a hammer a dozen times.
“You’re quite shameless, Father.”
Luna was startled, glancing back and forth between Jin and Shiron. Though it was just a joke, she had never imagined any of her brothers speaking to Shiron like that. And Shiron joking like this was just as surprising.
‘It’s not all just a joke. Father has been feeling guilty since surpassing the demonization.’
Soon, Luna spoke up, looking at Shiron.
“The youngest is right, Father. You should just wallow in your guilt.”
“The head and the sub-head are talking—how dare the rider butt in.”
“Hmph…”
“Anyway, youngest, you have no choice but to accept my shameless demand.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you’re the sub-head and I’m the head. You must obey orders.”
Shiron, Jin, and Luna all burst out laughing at once.
By now, Jin’s breathing had calmed, and his previously wavering eyes steadied.
“That’s better, Father. If I go wrong or change after receiving this power, I’m sure everyone here will handle the aftermath. I was just overreacting. Let’s head back. When I touched the door, I felt that both the first head’s body and Barisada must be present to enter. We’ll have to wait for Ameris to lift the curse.”
“Strange. Solderet said he chose you a thousand years ago, so why make it necessary to have both?”
“Now that you mention it, it is odd.”
“If Solderet is inside, be sure to ask him.”
“Yes, Father. If possible, come with me.”
“That would be fine.”
Shiron, Jin, and Luna looked more relaxed than ever. Murakan and Ban exchanged glances and shrugged.
“Tch, what a shame. Shiron, because of you, I missed my chance for revenge.”
“What do you mean, Murakan?”
“I’ve had a few moments where I suddenly lost my mind like a kid, mostly because of memories from a thousand years ago. Each time, the kid would smack the back of my head to snap me out of it. So I thought this time it was finally my turn. I was going to give him a good, sharp hit.”
“If you regret it, don’t miss the next chance.”
“How dare a head speak informally to a guardian dragon.”
“You told me to.”
Not long after, the Changsung stepped back outside the black line. Morganiel’s domain still glowed bright yellow, and the airborne fortress Laprarosa remained in the sky.
They had taken three cautious hours to get here, but returned at a faster pace. The Changsung quickly returned to their base.
“Ah, you’re back, sir!”
Ozdok rushed out and bowed deeply. He had been away from the battlefield during Morganiel’s pursuit and was found by the golden ship on guard, brought here.
“Sir, it’s my lifelong regret that I couldn’t witness the great moment when you defeated all five kings of the Black Sea. Congratulations, sir!”
Ozdok wasn’t just flattering as usual—he was genuinely moved to tears. The Black Sea expedition had been the most overwhelming and difficult experience of his life.
“You’ve worked hard too, Ozdok.”
“Hehe, what hardship? Thanks to you, even a lowly creature like me can live a meaningful life… Young master!” (At this, Ozdok grabbed Jin’s hand.) “Thanks to you as well! It’s been a while, young master!”
“I heard from Luna how important your role was in the expedition. If there’s anything you want, just say it. I’ll grant it.”
Ozdok had indeed played a crucial role in the Black Sea expedition. Without him, Shiron’s path beyond demonization would have been far more painful.
“Really!? Then about the internal elixir you took last time…! Of course, it’s not for any other reason, just because I felt empty. Sniff, sniff. Wait, I smell my elixir here… Young master? Did you melt my elixir into your sword?”
“Ahem, sorry. If you want something else…”
Ozdok choked up for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s fine… I’m going to be the butler of the Runkandel family from now on anyway, so I can live without the elixir. Oh no! What’s that!?”
Suddenly, Ozdok gasped and pointed to the sky.
‘…A dimensional gate!?’
A dimensional gate had opened unexpectedly in the sky, resembling the one seen in the previous battle in the empire.
Like Malugia’s eye, the Milky Way flowed beyond the gate. But what emerged wasn’t her.
It was the fleet of the Demon God Corps.