341 Chapter
Preches’ last vessel was severed in two.
The first hybrid’s physical form, which had been artificially sustained for hundreds of years, finally crumbled into dust.
With the obliteration of that grotesque legacy unrecorded in the continent’s history, all mediums capable of controlling the corrupted power vanished.
Swish-swash—
The darkness that had blanketed the area began to gradually evaporate.
The shadows concealing Preches’ true form also started to dissipate.
In his final desperate struggle, Preches had consumed the Dragonheart that had been sustaining his body.
Now reduced to a decaying lump of flesh, Preches’ body collapsed along with the darkness.
This marked the end of the corrupt dragon driven by hatred that sought to consume the continent.
Crack!
Anthonyus, befitting of a High Templar, swiftly recovered his strength and swung the Sacred Sword, dispelling the remaining faint darkness.
As they approached the pit from which the darkness had peeled away, the horrifying stench and the collapsing remains of Preches’ body were revealed within.
Anthonyus pointed the still radiant Sacred Sword at Preches.
But Ray extended his hand and blocked the tip of the sword aimed at Preches.
“…”
After a brief moment of conflict, Anthonyus lowered the Sacred Sword and took a step back.
Preches, who had long since lost his eyes due to festering wounds, created dim glimmers of light to gaze at Ray.
“You are… ”
Preches twisted his broken neck further to face Ray and asked,
“Do you hate me?”
Ray slowly shook his head in response to the harsh, fractured voice.
“No, I do not hate you.”
“Even after all my spiteful acts until the very end, you truly do not hate me?”
“Yes, I do not hate you.”
With a calm nod, Ray responded in a complex tone,
“I… pity your life.”
“…I see.”
Just as Preches had once pitied Ray, Ray now pitied Preches.
Recalling that shallow bond in his final moments, Preches slowly curled up his crumbling body.
“I know your life doesn’t have much time left.”
“…”
“I pray that you find happiness in whatever little time remains.”
“Yes, and I wish that you too… may finally escape this ancient pain and find rest.”
“…To you, I offer my thanks.”
The dim glimmers faded, and soon after, Preches’ body completely collapsed.
The lingering mists of darkness around him dissipated as well.
The corrupted power that had been eroding the continent no longer existed in this world.
The expansion of the Demonic Realm had been halted, and the sky above the continent would forever remain blue, shining upon the land.
The continent was ultimately saved from the red skies foretold by the World Tree.
“It’s… over.”
Realizing his role was now fully completed, Ray wiped his face.
He felt a mix of relief, exhaustion, and an impending urge to cry, standing there for a moment.
Having secured the future of the continent, Ray’s life was nearing its end.
His organs, pushed beyond their limits, could no longer return to their original state even with divine energy, only continuing to cry out in pain.
“It’s alright…”
Turning away from the pit, Ray consoled himself.
Though his body was so damaged he could barely hold a sword, it was alright.
Having fulfilled all his duties, Ray no longer needed to fight or struggle desperately.
All Ray wanted now was to stand up straight for just a few months, walk on two legs, and that would be enough.
“It’s all alright…”
The time left for Ray was painfully short.
Because of this, Ray resolved to fill his remaining days with beauty even more.
What he desired most—what he yearned to leave behind—was a happy memory for those who would continue living in this world after he was gone.
A memory they could recall with gentle smiles…
Dreaming of the future with half-clouded eyes, Ray wobbled.
At that moment, Ramenta issued a warning.
“It’s not over yet.”
This was the depths of the Demonic Realm.
Though the forces of the Demonic Realm currently disintegrating weren’t highly threatening, one couldn’t let their guard down.
Most importantly… there was no telling what kind of transcendental entity Luna might have encountered upon crossing the boundary.
Sssst—
Space near the pit where the darkness had disappeared began to distort.
With Preches’ annihilation—the focal point of the magical formula—Luna was returning to the real dimension.
If she returned safely, it would be fortunate; however, if she had come into contact with an evil deity, unforeseen circumstances could arise.
While Ramenta kept watch on the distorting space, Anthonyus also understood the situation and once again gripped the Sacred Sword.
Ray didn’t bother stopping them.
Instead, he approached the distorting space alone to greet Luna.
*
Inside the darkened area.
Luna felt an indescribable sense of alienation and heightened her tension.
However, no matter how attentively she listened, it was difficult to clearly detect anything beyond the slight alienation.
As Luna wandered in confusion, a woman whispered to her again,
“Kill Lea.”
“…”
The woman’s voice did not reach Luna.
In fact, the woman herself knew her voice could not reach Luna.
She was an existence representing the result, and thus could never influence the main events that constituted the cause.
Even if the woman was a transcendent being capable of interfering with past timelines, reversing the causality that brought her into existence was impossible.
“…”
The woman’s whisper dissipated uselessly, and Luna continued to guard herself amidst the darkness.
After ceasing her whisper, the woman quietly observed Luna and smiled sadly.
“…I will forever regret that day’s choice.”
And suffer endlessly with regret and pain.
Tearfully clawing at her chest, lamenting, she would endure the arduous times without truly hating him.
Ultimately, that was the fate we had to accept.
Yet even so…
The woman loved him.
“To gift a happy ending to the one I love.”
We are facing each other now.
“Even if I must forever leave his side.”
Ssst—
As Preches dissolved, cracks began to appear in the darkness where Luna stood.
Luna stepped toward the light seeping through the cracks.
The woman walked alongside Luna, whispering to herself,
“Fate cannot be changed. But…”
Before it’s too late.
Before everyone he loved leaves and he is left alone.
“To allow me to reach here.”
Infusing that wish, the woman bestowed her final gift upon Luna.
The starlight flowing through the darkness followed the woman’s guidance and formed a ring-like shape above the four Circles rotating in Luna’s heart.
“!”
Detecting some change, Luna hastily tried to turn around, but by then the darkened area was already shattering.
Thus, having escaped the boundary, Luna successfully returned to the real dimension.
Though puzzled about what had happened just before leaving the darkened area, Luna was even more bewildered upon seeing the completely devastated battlefield.
“Ray!!”
“Luna.”
Calling out Ray’s name first in urgency, Luna was embraced by Ray who approached her.
Trying to check Ray’s condition, Luna attempted to take a step back, but Ray wouldn’t let go.
Eventually, Luna faced Ray and buried her face in his embrace.
“…”
Feeling Luna’s warmth, Ray forced back his sobs.
Because Luna was there, Ray had made it this far, yet he had caused her the most pain.
Apologizing repeatedly for this, holding back the tears that kept welling up, Ray kissed Luna’s forehead.
“That’s enough… let’s go home.”
Let’s go home and spend the rest of our lives pursuing happiness only for us, not for anyone else.
Feeling Ray’s trembling grip, Luna whispered back,
“…Yes, Ray. Let’s go home. Let’s put down all burdens and go home.”
So that our story, filled with adversity and hardship, can conclude happily.
“Let’s go home together, Ray.”
*
“We’ve won.”
Ulte muttered while staunching his crushed left arm.
Aquitas, who fought alongside him, was also in no condition to move properly.
Though alive, his internal organs were severely damaged and tainted by the evil deity’s influence, making movement extremely difficult.
It would take decades of dedicated treatment within the World Tree’s embrace to fully recover from today’s injuries.
Nevertheless, Ulte and Aquitas succeeded in killing Arundel.
Arundel had recklessly engaged in battle out of desperation when Preches was attacked and the expansion of the Demonic Realm was threatened.
Had Arundel thoroughly utilized his advantages, it would have been Ulte and Aquitas whose heads were shattered.
Looking at Arundel’s completely pulverized corpse, Ulte felt a strange sensation and glanced at his own hand.
“…”
Genesis.
The impure energy emanating from the dark, rotten branches was gradually fading.
“The curse on Genesis… is weakening…”
With Preches’ complete annihilation, the burden on Genesis began to decrease.
Witnessing the fulfillment of the lifelong pursuit he had chased, Ulte knelt and shed tears.
Aquitas silently observed Ulte’s sobbing figure.
Then, a breeze blew from where Ray had gone.
Ulte turned his gaze and confirmed that the battered Ray, Anthonyus, Ramenta, and Luna were approaching.
They’re alive.
The same words crossed each other’s minds as they looked at one another.
Showing Genesis, whose curse was weakening, to Ray without a word, Ulte briefly hugged him.
“I’ll keep my promise.”
Ray saved Ulte and fulfilled his lifelong wish.
Expressing gratitude to Ray, Ulte reaffirmed his vow to dedicate the rest of his life to him.
After briefly regrouping, they moved to support Alexander, who was fending off demons and demon creatures.
Before moving, Ulte checked his wound’s hemostasis and noticed the hilt Ray was holding with curiosity.
“Why are you keeping a completely broken sword…?”
Why was he holding onto a sword whose blade had shattered, leaving only the hilt?
When Ulte asked with this implication, Ray smirked.
“If I’m going to give it a name, shouldn’t I at least have the hilt?”
Ray explained this way and briefly recounted a past conversation with Zeppelin.
Upon hearing the explanation, Ulte also smiled and asked again,
“A name for the sword that cut down the fallen dragon. Do you have any ideas for it?”
“Hmm. With Zeppelin’s naming sense, he’d probably call it something like ‘Dragon Slayer.'”
“Sounds cheesy.”
“That guy’s naming skills are pretty bad.”
Together, Ray and Ulte burst out laughing.
First Vow (1)
