Episode 962
Chapter 236: Flames of Ruin, Cruel Past (5)
“Ugh, kaaah…! Aah!”
Elona screamed, clutching the laurel wreath hovering above her head.
Only about ten seconds had passed, but memories stretching back 2,500 years were searing into her mind like nails.
Since episode 1559, the countless experiments Elona endured under Reginald’s captivity in Ziphl had been etched deeply into her consciousness.
Reginald’s original goal was revenge.
Yet, every time he tried to kill Elona during the experiments, he hesitated—her resemblance to Vichellin, his sister, stirred a twisted mix of longing and rage that slowly drove him mad.
In the end, the aged Reginald decided to remake Elona as a ‘human’ replacement for Vichellin, even giving her one of Vichellin’s aliases: Elona.
“The experiments continued for over a thousand years. Even after the death of Reginald Ziphl, the fourth head of the family, his successors carried on his will to turn you into a human…”
As time passed, the heirs’ attitudes toward Elona shifted.
Some sought to honor Reginald’s memory by fulfilling his wish; others, fearing the uncontrollable outbursts during experiments, neglected her; and some simply wanted to harness her limitless power.
All that blind devotion, fear, and desire culminated in the birth of the Elona Ziphl we see now. The data and technology gleaned from her experiments formed the foundation of Ziphl’s current mind-control techniques.
“Do you understand now, ancestor? From birth, you were the embodiment of destruction and slaughter. You were never truly human. You were a divine being born to annihilate the world, but in the end, we at Ziphl remade you into a war machine resembling a human.”
The pressure emanating from the laurel wreath intensified. With it, Elona felt her consciousness slipping away.
All the thoughts and feelings she had recognized as ‘human’—her love and worry for Veradin, the insights and meaning she gained through Jin—were being erased.
Yet, she could neither remove nor destroy the wreath.
“The laurel wreath you wear was made from the sacred tree in the holy land. You cannot defy it. It’s the ultimate fail-safe, designed for when a weapon dares to develop a will of its own.”
“No… no! Aaaah!”
“A thousand years ago, my incompetent ancestors lost that wreath for some reason, and thus failed to control you properly. But that won’t happen again. Just hold on a little longer; soon, you’ll find peace.”
The strength drained from her hands gripping the wreath.
As Keliak said, the fierce emotions that had been blazing inside her were rapidly subsiding.
<Experiment 985: Subject’s resistance to external stimuli increased.>
<Experiment 1417: Subject experienced an outburst; presumed unable to accept damage to the sacred tree.>
<Experiment 1430: Subject still reacted violently to damage to the tree.>
<Experiment 1501: Subject finally recognized that the tree’s form could change; deemed possible to create a powerful control device through the tree.>
<Experiment 1539: ‘Sacred Laurel Wreath’ completed.>
<Experiment 1567: Partial control of subject achieved without the wreath; some of the subject’s power transferred to the wreath. What did we miss?>
<Experiment 1568: Reason for power transfer to wreath unknown; subject’s combat ability remained intact despite power dispersion.>
<Experiment 1570: Large amount of information injected to form memories; no rejection observed. Subject expected to become a family member soon.>
<Experiment 1599: Experiment concluded. ‘Elona Ziphl’ completed. Researchers eliminated. Records transferred to the Sacred Laurel Wreath.>
The experiment logs streamed into Elona’s mind through the wreath.
Soon, her vision darkened. The roaring flames of destruction and Keliak’s voice faded away.
The faces she longed to see—Veradin’s, Jin’s, Murakan’s—vanished from her awareness.
Though a deep sorrow and helplessness welled up inside her, it was fleeting, just as Keliak had said.
“Beginning self-restoration. Estimated completion: 30 seconds. Recipient of the Sacred Laurel Wreath, please protect me during this time. Beginning self-restoration. Estimated completion: 23 seconds. Recipient of the Sacred Laurel Wreath, please protect me during this time. Beginning self-restoration…”
A smile crept onto Keliak’s lips.
If no unexpected variables arose within the next twenty seconds, Elona would once again become a loyal war machine of Ziphl.
No one could break through this inferno of destruction to rescue her—not Jin, not Murakan.
They were already pushed far away, struggling to contain the spreading flames of ruin.
Though Keliak felt a twinge of unease, he recalled the mysterious ‘power of existence’ that had created inexplicable variables at critical moments.
15… 14… 13… 12…
With each passing second, Keliak sharpened his senses to track Jin and Murakan’s approximate positions. Time seemed to crawl.
Thirty seconds passed.
Keliak spoke, locking eyes with the restored Elona Ziphl. Her galaxy-like eyes sparkled brighter than before, and her hair shimmered with a deeper radiance.
Elona scanned her surroundings briefly, then activated a protective barrier enveloping both herself and Keliak. She knelt before him.
“You have ascended to Changseong, and the world aids you… but this time, victory is mine, Jin Runkandel.”
“You are the Ziphl who awakened me. My life is now yours—I will do anything for you. Tell me your name.”
Elona had completely lost all thoughts, memories, and emotions she had gained since awakening in the secret palace. Now, she could only act according to the settings encoded in the Sacred Laurel Wreath—just like the demon tribes brainwashed by Zito.
“Keliak Ziphl. Current head of Ziphl, the sole fruit of incompetent ancestors.”
“This place is dangerous. Though you unleashed the Flames of Ruin, two powerful enemies stand against you. They’re trying to stop the flames from spreading… Do you intend to kill them?”
“Yes. Is it possible?”
Elona read their energies for a moment, then shook her head.
“Not at this time. According to the records in the wreath, the last time I used this power was a thousand years ago. I need some adjustment time to use my abilities properly. If there were only one enemy, maybe.”
“I see. It’s unfortunate, but there’s no choice.”
“I advise you to escape, Keliak Ziphl. If the enemies ignore the spreading flames and target you, damage is inevitable. My adjustments aren’t complete yet. It’s not that your combat ability is lacking, but either of us could get hurt—or even die.”
Keliak nodded at Elona’s assessment. Wearing the Sacred Laurel Wreath, she possessed a cold, precise awareness unlike before.
Elona had no weaknesses now. With the wreath, she was the perfect war machine.
“Understood.”
“Which way should I escape? This space isn’t recorded in the wreath. Please give me a direction.”
Keliak pointed beyond the flames with his finger.
“Ah, of course. This is the underworld. We should head that way and gather our allies.”
“Allies?”
“A demon named Lagal. A useful ally. And Lagal is pursuing some people. Capture the woman with red hair among them.”
“Lagal… That name annoys me for some reason. Understood. Moving immediately.”
The protective barrier surrounding Elona and Keliak began to float. It moved like a flying ship, cutting swiftly through the flames.
Its explosive acceleration was unmatched by any dragon or warship. Keliak controlled the Flames of Ruin, clearing a path toward Lagal.
At that moment, Jin and Murakan sensed a sinister shift.
‘Is that… Elona’s energy?’
But the familiar energy they had fought alongside was now darkened, directed toward Valeria.
“Kid! I’ll hold them off for now—head toward the Immortal Path!” Murakan shouted, exhaling a breath of power. Jin trusted him and was already opening a path toward Valeria.
Pushing back the clinging flames, Jin reached Valeria first—thankfully, before Elona.
“Valeria! Veil!”
“Jin!”
Veil was shielding their comrades from the Flames of Ruin and Lagal’s poison. Valeria, Veradin, and Betty looked up at Jin from within Veil’s golden aura.
If Jin hadn’t arrived in time, Veil would have been fatally struck by Elona’s magic.
Screeeech!
A sharp beam of light passed through Lagal, aiming for Veil. Just as Elona’s attack was about to pierce the barrier, a jet-black sword energy fell in a straight line, blocking the light.
“What have you done to Lady Elona, Keliak?”
“I made her realize who she truly is.”
Elona didn’t move closer to Jin but stared at Keliak.
“Ugh! Ke-Kek!”
Elona grabbed Lagal by the back of the neck. Lagal’s throat felt like it was about to be crushed by her brutal grip.
“Keliak, friend, uh, ugh, what is—cough—please, take it easy. Ugh. This is embarrassing.”
Ignoring the flailing Raghal, Elona locked eyes with the enemies.
“Keliak, this is a failure. Capturing alive is impossible, and fighting is too risky. We’ll escape with this one.”
“Lady Elona…!”
It was Veradin’s voice. Elona’s unfamiliar and hostile attitude left both him and Jin confused.
Even seeing Veradin’s twisted expression stirred no reaction in Elona. She only wondered why someone who looked like a pureblood Ziplo was under the enemies’ protection.
Keliak shrugged, accepting Elona’s decision.
“Understood. Let’s head back—to the family.”
Jin couldn’t stop Keliak and Elona as they turned to leave. The moment they started fighting, the lives of their comrades and the Jin Demon Realm would be lost.
“Lady Elona! Don’t forget—I will come back for you!”
Veradin shouted. That was all he could do now.
Elona poured her magic into the flames of destruction engulfing Jin’s group, carving out a path to retreat.
“Don’t forget! Please, don’t forget…!”
Veradin’s voice faded, swallowed by the roaring fire.