The corrupted World Tree, Mirckdrasil, is located deep in the west, specifically in the notoriously strange terrain known as Westmarch.
Westmarch was once a gathering place for the forgotten Elven race. However, with the corruption of the World Tree, it faded from the memories of people.
The reason I remember this place is simple. In the original story, the protagonist wanders around seeking a fateful encounter and happens upon Westmarch, where he discovers a massive tree emitting an aura of death.
The tree’s name is Mirckdrasil. It is the Doomsday Tree that grew by consuming the blood of Elves, infamously known in the original story as the Corrupted World Tree.
I recall Mirckdrasil’s existence because in the original story, it was depicted as the only method to control Rudine’s “Thousand Kill Nature.”
From the office located at the entrance of Blackmore to Westmarch, it was naturally a very long distance, and thus the expected travel time was significant. The terrain wasn’t suitable for carriages, so there was no choice but to walk endlessly.
And now.
“Luke.”
“…”
“This feels like the way we just came from.”
“…Yeah.”
Rudine and I had lost our way. Or rather, we didn’t even know where we were. I murmured while checking the compass that pointed west.
“The direction seems correct, but…”
I had somewhat anticipated this. Even though I knew the location of Westmarch, I wasn’t confident I could find it without wandering.
After all, this world isn’t like the fictional one in the book, is it? There’s an unimaginable gap between the places described in text and actually navigating to them. Blackmore’s absurdly large size makes that gap even wider.
Most importantly, the original story skips over the process of finding the way. Through the convenience of perspective shifts, the entire journey was omitted. So, it was only natural to be lost like this.
I glanced around.
“Thick undergrowth, fading light, gnarled black trunks, and ash-gray earth…”
The descriptions matched to some degree. The compass direction matched as well.
However, the forest of the Magic Realm was vast. Could we really find our way relying on such fragmentary information in this immense wilderness? Still, as we’d made marks along the way, we knew how to return. Nonetheless, I felt a bit uneasy.
And then,
Rustle.
Something moved through the bushes.
Grrrr-!
It was a Demon Beast, resembling a bear but abnormally enormous, with sharp curved forelimbs like scythes. Its eyes glimmered in the darkness as it stared at us. Starving, black drool dripped from its fangs.
“…”
Cough!
I tried to maintain composure as I turned my head, noticing Rudine had activated her Red Eye abilities.
“Rudine.”
“Yeah.”
Swish!
Before I could finish calling her name, her dagger sliced through the air, cleanly bisecting the Demon Beast.
“Good job.”
At least during the journey, we wouldn’t need to worry about Demon Beasts. Fortunately.
Deeper we went, the more frequently Demon Beasts appeared. As if to ensure it was the ‘Magic Realm,’ each one was a Grade-Qui (怪)-level Demon Beast at the very least.
Demon Beasts are classified by the danger level they pose into five categories: Xiong(凶), Qui(怪), Ma(魔), Zai(災), and Mie(滅).
The danger increases with each level, especially from Qui-level upwards, due to their ability to use magical energy, making them exponentially more hazardous.
“Qui-level shouldn’t be a problem.”
I nodded, looking at Rudine leading the way. Despite her Thousand Kill Nature not fully blossoming, she was a naturally talented warrior. Qui-level Demon Beasts didn’t stand a chance against her.
“Maybe Zai(災)-level onwards would be tough though.”
It wasn’t particularly consequential, as Zai-level Demon Beasts were rare, and I had no recollection of them appearing along the route to Westmarch.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Demon Beasts emerged without warning, only to be decimated by Rudine’s sword. It was a one-sided slaughter, enabled by the specialized ability of her Red Eye to perceive the weaknesses of weaker opponents.
“Luke.”
“Hm?”
“I like it here.”
“Is that so?”
Rudine smiled brightly, her face covered in blood. This place, where she could freely indulge in slaughter without restraint, suited her.
“Walks have been smooth.”
Initially, we had been lost, but as we continued, we began to recognize new paths.
Walking during the day, camping at night, and then resuming our journey at sunrise became our routine. When Demon Beasts appeared, we cut them down, and when hunger struck, we paused to eat.
We had sufficient supplies and no pressing urgency.
While walking at our leisure,
“From here on, it’s a cliff.”
Rudine stopped and declared it. Sure enough, there was a precipice ahead.
“We’re on the right path.”
“Eh? A cliff?”
“Exactly. We’re on the correct route.”
With one step down the sheer cliff, Westmarch awaited. Technically, we had arrived. The dilemma now was how to descend this cliff.
“It’s awfully high.”
“I know.”
“There’s nowhere to place our feet.”
“True.”
“Wouldn’t we die if we just jumped?”
We would. In a free fall like that.
“Rudine, come here.”
“Huh?”
“Come here and climb onto my back.”
“What?”
Rudine’s eyes narrowed as she looked at me, as if asking, ‘What is this absurd suggestion?’
“Do you not trust me?”
“…”
“At this height, even descending with magical protection would be dangerous. Stop being stubborn and get on my back.”
Rudine hesitantly stepped closer. Her hesitant demeanor was unexpectedly endearing. I bent a knee to lower my posture.
“Hurry.”
Rudine slowly approached and leaned against my back. The soft touch felt surprisingly gentle, as she cautiously wrapped her arms around me, like a kitten.
“Am I heavy?”
“Not at all.”
I responded briefly, grabbing her legs. She felt lighter than expected for someone with a Thousand Kill Nature.
“Grab on tightly.”
Hooof!
The fall lasted but a moment.
Whoosh!
The wind tore past my ears, surrounding my body. My vision blurred faster as the speed increased.
The rugged cliff face rushed past—a blend of brown and gray smearing like watercolors.
“…”
I felt Rudine’s breath on my back. Calm on the surface, her body trembled slightly against me.
Through the blur, I caught sight of the barren ground below. Though we were falling incredibly fast, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
‘Yet.’
Far below, I spotted the ruins among dead trees—Westmarch.
100 meters left.
My heart pounded.
50 meters.
Rudine’s arms tightened around my neck.
30 meters.
“Acceleration.”
The tattoo beneath my right eye glowed blue. Steam-like magic wrapped around Rudine and me, countering the rush of time’s pressure.
And,
10 meters.
“Reverse.”
At that instant, everything around froze.
The air, gravity, time—everything—including Rudine and me hurtling down—halted.
Boom.
The residual shockwaves of our descent swept through the area. Ash-gray dirt dispersed and settled.
‘Whew, my heart.’
Seriously, I nearly had a heart attack. I exhaled deeply, releasing my ability, and landed softly before Rudine dismounted from my back.
“…”
Rudine stood still, seemingly lost in thought. Following her gaze revealed nothing unusual to my eyes. Then, she quietly spoke.
“…There’s something here.”
Her voice was hushed as if trapped. She abruptly moved forward.
‘Why is she like that?’
Was she this surprised?
It wasn’t a big deal since we’d finally reached our long-sought destination.
‘Where is she going?’
I followed Rudine casually. Given her highly acute senses, it was unlikely she’d react without reason.
Just as I began to feel uneasy,
I froze, overwhelmed by the sight.
“Insane.”
There it was.
A skeletal horse-like creature, its emaciated body barely covered by rotting skin.
I’ve seen it before.
An abyssal nightmare, a curse that drags lost souls behind it.
The Plague Horse, Hellheist.
A Zai(災)-level Demon Beast.
“What is it?”
Rudine’s rigid pupils trembled. Her Red Eye pierced through the essence of living beings, yet she couldn’t sense anything from this one—not through her perception or sight.
I’ve experienced this before. It was the same when I first met Arkhan—a woman whose overwhelming power rendered her presence imperceptible. Even with her Red Eye forcefully activated, the pressure emanating from the space around her made blood trickle down her face.
“…Dangerous.”
Rudine’s cunning is uncanny.
This creature is a true monster. Completely different from those we’ve handled so far, its massive and pure aura was overwhelming.
‘What is…’
The creature’s gaze met mine. Just from this exchange, I felt the massive pressure making my legs wobble.
Any desire to fight vanished. While Rudine loves hunting, this was not her prey.
I should run, but somehow my feet were stuck to the ground.
However,
“…Luke?”
Luke, standing idly by, leisurely raised his right arm. Murmuring the familiar incantation,
“Acceleration.”
Wooom. A bluish mist emanated from his fingertips. A surging power, swirling in a spiral, rushed toward the monster.
“Return.”
The shards of light illuminating the air aligned as if given purpose, connecting dots into lines and lines into surfaces. Soon, a radiant white orb emerged, enclosing the monster in an instant.
“Time.”
The shards tore through space indiscriminately. The overwhelming flow of time surged within the gaps, collapsing and binding space and time. A smirk crept onto Luke’s lips.
“End.”
Creeeak!
The space buckled. The compressed time-pressure tore apart the space, collapsing into a singular point.
And,
“!!!”
It was an instant.
The massive creature shriveled like a mummy and disintegrated into ash, scattering with the wind.
