Side Story – Coronation [2]
[2]
The central hub of the Royal Magic Tower, the Obelisk.
During the battle in the Imperial Capital, Luna had received assistance from the internal systems of the Obelisk.
Now, however, the connection between Luna and the Obelisk has been severed.
Despite this, records of Luna’s use of the system were relatively undamaged and preserved within the Obelisk.
The leadership of the Royal Magic Tower reviewed these records, allowing them to make a relatively accurate assessment of Luna’s capabilities as a mage.
Even by the standards of the Royal Magic Tower’s leaders, Luna’s talent was on an unfathomable level.
Since her extraordinary talent had yet to fully bloom, it was imperative to resolve any conflict with Luna as quickly as possible.
If time dragged on unnecessarily, it could lead to irreversible consequences—a fact they were well aware of.
Fortunately, the southern region of the Empire was actively involved in reclaiming the Imperial Capital, so excessive delays were not anticipated.
However, during the planning stages for the operation to retake the Imperial Capital, the main forces of the southern region collapsed.
Alexander perished, Anthonyus went missing, and the senior members of the Holy Order were almost entirely wiped out. Moreover, the Crown Prince’s survival remained unconfirmed.
At this point, it was already questionable whether the chaos of the continent could be resolved.
To make matters worse, the expansion of the Demonic Realm was beginning.
Based on the information they originally possessed, the leadership of the Royal Magic Tower swiftly recognized the severity of the situation and, as the cool-headed group of mages they were, promptly gathered opinions.
Currently, simultaneously suppressing the continent’s chaos, addressing the expansion of the Demonic Realm, and recapturing the Imperial Capital occupied by rebels was simply impossible.
With the near collapse of groups that could serve as a focal point of strength and symbolism, there was no longer the potential for the kind of unity seen during the “Expedition to the Demonic Realm.”
In this situation, opposing Luna, one of the few confirmed Lords still standing, would be tantamount to sealing humanity’s self-destruction.
Collaboration is necessary for survival. The leadership of the Royal Magic Tower made the most rational judgment, devoid of emotion.
Step!
Hayden then arrived at the Imperial Capital on behalf of the Royal Magic Tower.
Of course, this movement was not publicly announced.
While walking through the ruins of the Imperial Capital, Hayden appeared rather relaxed.
In reality, Hayden believed he would remain safe.
The current disadvantageous position wasn’t just limited to the Royal Magic Tower.
Luna was cut off from accessing the Obelisk system, and without the cooperation of the Royal Magic Tower, utilizing the Obelisk system would be impossible.
Although the absence of Luna’s “Master Code” also limited the Royal Magic Tower’s mages from using the Obelisk system, Hayden had no intention of revealing this fact.
Regardless, even though Luna was of Lord rank, the limitations of being an individual still existed.
She was blocked from the Obelisk system, and most of the defensive systems of the Imperial Capital were destroyed and non-functional.
In such a situation, all Luna could rely on was the mana flowing through the spirit vein beneath the Imperial Capital.
Thus, Luna couldn’t easily leave the Imperial Capital.
The moment she did, there would be countless people ready to ambush her, and without the support of the spirit vein’s mana, confronting high-level forces alone would be highly threatening to her as well.
Step!
Hayden finally reached the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace.
He looked up.
A girl with blue hair stood at the entrance to the palace, looking down at Hayden from a great height.
“Speak.”
There was no greeting.
Luna briefly asked Hayden about his purpose.
Hayden met her gaze, cold like silver, and unconsciously shrugged his shoulders.
However, unaware of the warning his instincts sent, Hayden maintained his original plan and smiled casually.
“We are willing to sponsor you.”
“…”
Luna remained silent, and Hayden didn’t care about her silence.
Given Luna’s abilities, she must have already indirectly grasped the impending expansion of the Demonic Realm.
Without needing detailed explanations from Hayden, Luna was the type who could easily see through the general state of affairs on the continent.
Therefore, Hayden confidently moved his fingers.
“We do not want unnecessary losses as calamity approaches.”
Crack!
Mana flowed from Hayden’s fingertips, forming a chair on the ground.
Hayden sat down while observing Luna’s silence.
‘Both sides are in regrettable positions.’
Luna needed the cooperation of the Royal Magic Tower to utilize the Obelisk system.
Her current isolated situation in the Imperial Capital made the Royal Magic Tower’s assistance all the more critical.
‘…It’s absurd for either side to completely give in when both are in difficult situations.’
Even if he bowed, it would only make him look ridiculous.
Thus, Hayden did not lower his head rashly.
“Are you willing to cooperate with us? If not, I’ll take my leave.”
“…To you.”
Luna broke the silence.
Breaking the silence, Luna, with her ever-unemotional silver eyes directed at Hayden, purely questioned.
“Was there another option left?”
“…”
Crack!
Mana began to move.
Responding to Luna’s will, mana started swirling into a vortex.
Hayden tensed but did not panic.
He had anticipated that Luna might exert her power to pressure him.
Hayden tried to maintain composure despite the overwhelming display.
However.
This was Hayden’s excessive arrogance.
Crack!
The five circles surrounding Luna’s heart suddenly opened without warning.
The mana wrapped around the five circles surged forth like a tidal wave, instantly swallowing the space where Hayden sat.
As a high-ranking mage, Hayden clearly understood how fantastical the scene unfolding before his eyes was.
Crack!
The tidal wave of mana pressing against Hayden grew denser and more compressed.
Hayden’s expression slightly distorted in bewilderment before returning to normal.
Hayden realized that Luna was controlling the vast amount of dense mana with complete ease, something that should have made anyone feel nauseous just by observing.
“…”
Hayden wavered slightly while seated on the chair before straightening his back again.
The density of the surrounding mana had increased so much that the mana in Hayden’s own circle began to resonate and fluctuate with the denser mana.
Hayden realized he had misjudged the situation.
Before entering the Imperial Capital, Hayden assumed Luna’s abilities to be sufficiently high and prepared for her display of power.
However, the actual extent of Luna’s power far exceeded his impoverished imagination.
“…”
Hayden barely suppressed his nausea and tightened his jaw.
Although Luna’s power was beyond what he imagined, Hayden’s task remained unchanged.
There was no need to bow his head just because he was overpowered in this mutual disadvantage scenario.
Snap!
Hayden began using his circle to protect himself.
No matter how unconventional Luna’s power might be, it couldn’t harm Hayden with simple pressure alone.
After activating his circle, Hayden regained some composure and attempted to steady his breathing and thoughts.
But at that very moment.
The flow of mana Hayden had built up like a protective wall began to waver.
“…?”
For a moment, Hayden thought he had made a mistake in controlling the mana.
He mistakenly assumed that dealing with the unprecedentedly high-density mana in this space caused small errors in controlling his circle’s mana.
However, the phenomenon Hayden thought was a mistake did not end there.
The mana barrier Hayden tried to create kept malfunctioning repeatedly.
‘Why…?’
Even basic spells kept unraveling.
Instantaneously, Hayden recalled the Swordmaster’s Absolute Domain.
If a Swordmaster’s Absolute Domain, which exercises dominion over mana, could disrupt even fundamental spells like this.
But there was no Swordmaster here, so Hayden focused his mind to find the cause of why the flow of mana kept wavering.
Crack!
Finally, after concentrating all his mental energy,
Hayden managed to identify the cause of the strange phenomenon happening right before his eyes.
“…”
The bizarre force emanating from Luna.
The instant that strange force interfered with the mana Hayden controlled, a minuscule amount of mana reversed its natural flow.
That was why the flow of mana kept twisting.
“…”
Most mages would have concluded that they were simply overwhelmed by sheer force in such a situation.
However, since Hayden was considered a rare genius even in the Empire,
He was able to perceive the essence of the phenomenon he faced.
‘…It reversed.’
The infinitesimal amount of mana affected by the mysterious force created by Luna changed back to its original form, reversing the changes that had already occurred.
Essentially, it was no different from a charred piece of wood reverting to its pre-burnt state.
“…”
This wasn’t magic.
This was something entirely different from magic.
Though incredibly minute and nearly imperceptible, it was undoubtedly…
A manifestation worthy of calling a Divine Power.
“…”
Hayden realized he had completely misjudged the situation.
The enigmatic talent that Luna possessed had already placed her on the threshold of entering an incomprehensible realm.
With his meager talent, Hayden could not comprehend the domain Luna was attempting to step into.
If they had to oppose Luna, now was the last chance.
They absolutely had to eliminate her before she took her next step.
If that was impossible…
All that remained was submission.
Crack!
The clumsy barrier Hayden erected collapsed.
Simultaneously, the tidal wave of mana that had surrounded and battered Hayden disappeared.
And there stood Luna, right before Hayden.
“To you.”
Luna asked again.
“Were there any other options available?”
Ray had dismantled the system that once supported the continent.
He dismantled entities that could serve as the center of the continent with their powerful strength and symbolism and guided the inevitable catastrophe.
And as a result, Ray gave ‘time’ to Luna.
Yet, she was asking if there were any other options left for them.
This wasn’t a matter of negotiating or compromising.
It was simply a choice between accepting honorable destruction or choosing subjugation.
As Luna took another step closer to Hayden, she moved her lips.
“Answer.”
“…”
Hayden forcibly swallowed the blood dripping from his nose and mouth.
Regaining the ability to speak, Hayden lifted his head and looked directly at Luna.
“For my dullness…”
Faced with the few remaining choices,
“I beg your forgiveness.”
Hayden chose survival as a human.
*
The force that had been suppressing the expansion of the Demonic Realm weakened.
Under the reddening sky, the Blessing of the Dark God began spreading across the continent.
Beings permitted to live solely in the Demonic Realm turned their eyes to the land touched by the spreading blessing of the Dark God.
The new land belonged to whoever claimed it first.
With laughter akin to scratching sounds, competition began.
Many demons chose to move toward the sea instead of taking the land route connected to the mainland.
Even though the Empire had fragmented, weakened, and reached the brink of collapse…
Nevertheless, the nations across the sea appeared to the demons as easier prey.
