Chapter 978
Episode 242. Eltiot (1)
Two days had passed since the battle at Maysil.
During that time, the Balmur Alliance had transported various devices left behind by the Imperial family, along with the bodies of the Cheongmyeong tribe, from the Lutero Federation’s uninhabited island hideout to Tikan.
In the process, the Red Owl and Mote had performed over twenty spatial jumps, but fortunately, they had not been detected by the Ziphl.
All the massive facilities that couldn’t be moved were destroyed. Since the Solar Faith had taken possession of the Airan Bimant, leaving those behind risked them being used to their advantage.
“If Luke hadn’t been so badly injured, it wouldn’t have been so easy to gather the spoils,” Amaris remarked.
“I agree, Lord Ameris. Still, it’s a shame we couldn’t bring back the entire Cheongmyeong teleportation device. It would have been useful in many ways,” Jin added.
Though inferior to the Jeokmyeong tribe, the Cheongmyeong’s spatial leap technology was far more advanced than anything currently known.
Jin had hoped it might hold clues to rescuing the brothers trapped in Laprarosa.
“But we did manage to secure some key components. If Quaul and Valeria analyze them thoroughly, they should prove helpful,” Jin nodded.
Though they spoke of regrets, the Balmur Alliance had actually gained more tangible benefits from the Maysil battle than any other faction.
Unlike the Jeokmyeong tribe, the Imperial family, or the Solar Faith, they had suffered no casualties. The Jeokmyeong had lost four cities and Us, and had lost most of their fleet at Maysil, with two aerial fortresses partially damaged.
The Imperial family was effectively wiped out, with only Airan surviving, and absorbed into the Solar Faith. Meanwhile, Luke of the Solar Faith had been gravely wounded.
“Luke… next time I face him, it won’t be as easy as this,” Jin thought grimly.
Luke, the ancient warrior of the Myungwang tribe.
Jin pondered his formidable power. If they fought one-on-one without any conditions, could he win? It was hard to tell.
Whoever won, the other would be pushed to the brink of death. Jin considered him a stronger opponent than even Faelito.
“Whether it’s Luke or Lady Elona, fighting a Changsung-class being one-on-one is always best avoided. I need to learn more about him and the Solar Faith first.”
Just as he reached that conclusion, Zett came looking for Jin.
“My lord! The Cheongmyeong gentleman has awakened!”
“Oh? Contact Luna. She wanted to meet him in person.”
“Yes, sir!”
Eltiot had been unconscious for the past two days. Jin and Amaris immediately went to the medical bay.
Eltiot sat on the bed, staring blankly out the window.
“Eltiot, ancient warrior of the Cheongmyeong tribe. You’re finally awake.”
“You are…”
Eltiot tilted his head, as if not recognizing Jin.
“Don’t you remember me? You called me brother when I saved you.”
“And who am I?”
“Huh?”
“Where… am I?”
“Eltiot, what are you saying? You don’t remember anything? Look at me—Amaris. The one you hated so much.”
“Amaris…? I don’t remember anything…”
Amaris exhaled sharply and approached Eltiot, taking his face in her hands, checking his pulse and examining him carefully.
“His pulse is surprisingly steady, and the power I sense from his radiant heart is immense, yet his memory is impaired.”
“Uuuu…”
“Such a shame… a once-great being who once terrified the world has fallen to such a bitter state.”
Amaris wore a sorrowful expression, as if looking at a broken old comrade.
As the phrase “one you hated so much” suggests, Amaris was effectively an enemy to the Cheongmyeong tribe as well. Both the Jeokmyeong and Cheongmyeong had been buried beneath history by the great sealing she had enacted.
“I was just joking, big snake. I didn’t expect you to look at me with that face.”
Suddenly, Eltiot cracked a sly smile.
“What?”
“When you sealed us, you were so ruthless, yet now you look so sad. Isn’t that ironic? If you’re that sorry, then offer your neck now. I’ll hold a memorial for our brothers. I’ll even stuff coins in your nostrils, the way the little humanoids do.”
Amaris was momentarily speechless at the absurdity. Then she shrugged and glared at Eltiot.
“I forgot you had a screw loose. Joking right after waking up in this situation?”
“The immortal you trusted sealed the entire underground realm despite our pleas. I, weakened and asleep, became a plaything of the Melka tribe. Now I’ve opened my eyes in a strange land without a single brother. How else could I endure without joking, big snake?”
Eltiot rose from the bed and looked at Amaris.
His eyes burned with infinite depth and strength, radiating the dignity of one who had ruled a world for ages.
“The immortal I trusted.”
Unlike the Jeokmyeong, the Cheongmyeong believed the death of the Solar God must remain unchanged. So while they weren’t allies, they shared the same goal with Amaris.
“Hmph. Good to see you’ve come to your senses. Sealing the underworld was the right choice. Do you want to ask about that now?”
“If that were the case, I would have killed you when you approached me earlier, big snake. Though I’m weakened from the long seal and wounds, you’re no different. The power that even the Myungwang dared not challenge is nowhere to be found.”
Eltiot shifted his gaze to Jin.
“Jin Runcandel. That was your name, right? I vaguely remember your sister and enemies calling you that in my daze.”
“That’s right. Looks like your memory’s coming back.”
“Not completely. But I roughly remember who I am and what’s happened. You’re strange in many ways. You seem to be our distant descendant, yet you look perfectly human and have a radiant heart… What exactly are you?”
“I became a member of the Myungwang tribe as a human. As you said, my brothers seem to be distant descendants of the Cheongmyeong.”
“Are there any descendants of the Jeokmyeong left in this world? Those who wield the red brain energy?”
“No.”
“Then we Cheongmyeong must have been the victors of the Great Sealing before the Solar War. Perhaps one of our brothers survived the big snake’s gaze… and left descendants who became your brothers.”
Though it might have been hard to accept, Eltiot had already come to terms with his situation.
“But unlike us, the Jeokmyeong seem to have fully revived. You could say the second war has begun. If you and your sister hadn’t arrived in time, I would have become their prey.”
“Thanks to Lady Amaris, I was able to sense the battle underground and come here.”
“I still can’t bring myself to thank the big snake. Now, you must have many questions. How did I become a lowly slave of the Melka tribe? What did I see and hear from them? And how did I regain my senses?”
“I’d appreciate your explanation.”
“It’s simple. I was sealed in a city of our Cheongmyeong called Nilot in the Middle World. A Melka named Airan Bimant found me and kept implanting suggestions, claiming he saved us.”
The seal had lasted from what humans would call the dawn of time until now. Even Eltiot couldn’t maintain a clear mind the entire time.
“Weakened, I fell for his crude brainwashing. He showed me my brothers repeatedly… Ah, their bodies must be here now. Please let me hold a memorial for them later. Their bodies are useless to you anyway.”
“Of course.”
“Anyway, that Airan fellow first broke me, then planned to complete the brainwashing with a special device.”
“Like the Holy Water Vessel you mentioned…”
“I don’t know what that is, but it was something that could absolutely control me and a mine called Temar Bimant. It’s probably all gone now. I heard it clearly when the Jeokmyeong invaded. Our grand plan failed. From now on, we’ll have to hide and wait for another chance, the Melka said.”
“So the Jeokmyeong invaded, and the Emperor, having lost hope, fled and sought help from the Solar Faith.”
“Exactly. That guy tried to use me as a berserker just to buy time. That means my body would fall to the Jeokmyeong, and they’ve grown that strong. The Imperial family tried to control the Jeokmyeong but failed. Though the Jeokmyeong are scum, the lowly Melka paid a heavy price for trying to command the Myungwang.”
“…Temar Bimant. Do you remember anything else about that mine made from my ancestor’s body?”
“No. But the Solar Faith secured it. They even came to the battlefield with two aerial fortresses. Your ancestor’s body must be deeply connected to the Solar God’s resurrection. Otherwise, the Solar Faith wouldn’t risk so much. They lived in the same era as us and know the Myungwang’s power well.”
The connection between Temar’s body and the Solar God’s revival was something they would have to uncover gradually.
“I see. What will you do now, Eltiot? Will you seek revenge?”
“Against the Jeokmyeong? Fighting them is just part of daily life. I don’t need grudges. As for punishing the crazy Melka who used me, they’re already finished—subjugated by the Solar Faith.”
“Then I take it you intend to fight alongside us.”
“I intend to make you pay the price for saving my life. Besides, you are one of our distant descendants, so as an ancestor, isn’t it only right to help you?”
Jin’s eyes widened.
He hadn’t been without hope when rescuing him, but he never expected Elliot to become an ally so easily.
“However… no, it’s better if I talk about that later.”
Just as he said this, Luna entered the room.
“Oh, Elliot! You look much better than I expected. Do you remember who I am? I’m the one who rescued you from underground and carried you all day.”
The moment Luna appeared, Elliot’s expression went blank again.
“Who are you…? My head hurts. Who am I?”
“Ah? Could it be amnesia?”
Jin and Ameris shrugged, pretending not to know.
“Hmm, what should we do then? Should Valeria help? No, amnesia wasn’t something we anticipated.”
“You’re all so gullible. It’s fun to tease you.”
“Ah… so it was a joke. Looks like the youngest and Ameris got pranked earlier. Anyway, good to see you. The youngest and I really went through a lot to save you.”
Elliot grinned and took Luna’s outstretched hand.
“Yes, good to see you, Luna Runcandel… And you, unlike your sibling, I have some things to teach you.”