247th Chapter
Ray began to move, his nerves on edge.
The resonance of the Authority had thoroughly confused Ray.
Authority was a force that transcended the natural. It was entirely different from magic.
While Ray still struggled to fully grasp many aspects of magic, it operated under certain unchanging rules and structured theories.
In contrast, Authority deviated from this framework.
It seemed more like something that defied the principles of the world.
For instance, Ray’s Decipher Authority manifested phenomena without any discernible process, and there was no clear way to counteract it.
Ultimately, the Authority Ray wielded appeared to be either a fragment or a replica of the overwhelming power possessed by transcendental beings.
Likewise, the Apostles of the Dark God exercised their Authority under the Blessing of the Dark God.
Throughout numerous battles against those who worshipped the Dark God, Ray had never once experienced such a resonance between their Authorities.
“Even if Authority is granted by a transcendental being, it doesn’t necessarily mean it always resonates… So then… Was the entity that granted this Authority the same?”
This was the most plausible hypothesis Ray could currently deduce.
He allowed himself a moment to imagine further.
“Could the bastard who reincarnated me here have mass-produced other victims like me?”
If that were true, perhaps even his friend had been dragged into this world by some higher power.
Thinking as far as this, Ray smirked faintly.
Though it was a pleasant thought, it was nothing more than baseless speculation.
Moreover, Ray didn’t wish for his friend to suffer in this world alongside him.
“Regardless… If the assumption that the entity granting Authority to the one I’m chasing is the same one who reincarnated me holds true…”
Then logically, Ray thought, the probability leaned toward them being friendly rather than hostile.
Still maintaining his tension, Ray quickly traversed the streets of the Imperial Capital while reactivating his Decipher Authority.
“Hmm…”
Unlike before, a powerful resonance didn’t overwhelm his control this time.
However, he could still sense the presence of someone else whose Authority resonated with his.
Ray accelerated towards whatever was moving away.
People walking along the street momentarily panicked when they saw Ray gripping his sword hilt and rushing forward at high speed. But upon noticing his Izhise academy uniform, they assumed he was chasing down a thief and relaxed, stepping aside to let him pass.
As the distance between him and his target failed to close, Ray briefly considered using Spatial Blade to intercept.
“That would be insane.”
To initiate an attack within the capital without the other party drawing their weapon first?
Not only would dealing with the consequences be difficult, but Ray hadn’t yet figured out the intentions of his pursuer.
He needed to catch up, see their face, and then decide whether to draw his sword.
Kung!
In the end, Ray leaped onto rooftops, pursuing the figure with all his might.
Gradually, the distance shortened until a shadowy figure cloaked in a hooded mantle briefly entered his field of vision.
Seeing the figure heading toward a dead-end alley, Ray plummeted straight into it from the towering rooftop above.
Attempting to land lightly, Ray was surprised when…
Plop!
“?! What—”
Instead of solid stone, his feet sank downward, plunging him into water.
The darkness below resembled the deep sea, and he tasted salt on his tongue.
Pushing aside his confusion, Ray focused on assessing the situation.
“Barrier?”
The immediate thought was a magical barrier.
Barriers designed to manipulate one’s perception or distort space to alter the scenery.
Such barriers could produce effects like this.
But Ray soon realized his mistake.
Despite activating his Decipher Authority and scanning his surroundings, no clear information crystallized in his mind.
If this phenomenon were caused by magic, his Authority should have revealed definitive clues.
Its failure implied that some form of Authority was involved in creating this space.
“Damn.”
Just as Ray muttered this curse under his breath…
A massive wave surged beneath him.
Turning toward the source of the disturbance, Ray found himself face-to-face with a colossal rabbit.
“…”
A giant rabbit underwater.
Though absurd, Ray couldn’t laugh.
He remembered seeing something similar—a bizarre C-grade horror movie from his previous life. A monstrous rabbit had emerged, matching exactly what he now faced.
Crack!!
The rabbit’s mouth split open, revealing another mouth filled with teeth inside.
As Ray scanned his surroundings irritably, grotesque creatures began approaching from all sides.
Each of these creatures was strongly tied to the fears etched deeply into Ray’s memory.
Bubbles floated upward as Ray sighed underwater.
As these manifestations of fear drew closer, Ray felt the dread from those days creeping back into his heart.
Sensing his consciousness slipping into fear, Ray clenched his fists tightly.
Although he couldn’t decipher the exact mechanics and structure governing this space, Ray decided not to waste time analyzing it.
Instead, he simultaneously spun his Magic Circle and Core.
The legacy left behind by Harshia—the power to shatter anomalies.
Even if it involved the Authority of a transcendental being, hastily constructed illusions would crumble instantly.
Crackling!!
Cold spread outward.
The frozen seawater shattered, splitting apart with a resounding crack.
Reaching out, Ray tore through the fractured view and stepped forward.
Shatter!!
With the sound of something breaking, Ray stepped back onto the alleyway.
Momentarily disoriented by the sudden change in scenery, Ray regained his balance and looked around.
He had successfully escaped the bizarre illusion.
However, the presence that had resonated with his Authority was no longer detectable nearby.
Clucking his tongue, Ray glanced around several times before exhaling in disappointment.
“Escaped…?”
Ray felt uneasy.
It unsettled him that the opponent had fled, and even more so that they had identified him unilaterally.
Scratching the back of his head, Ray hesitated for a moment before suddenly gripping his sword hilt.
At the far end of the alley, Anthonyus appeared.
For a brief moment, both Ray and Anthonyus stared at each other before speaking simultaneously.
“No, it isn’t you.”
“Not you.”
Relaxing his tension, Ray asked Anthonyus,
“What brings you here?”
“I sensed a unique power fluctuation and came to investigate.”
“So did I. I chased after it but lost the trail.”
“I see.”
Though the situation warranted suspicion, Anthonyus accepted Ray’s explanation readily.
Being a formidable expert, Anthonyus had been aware of Ray’s movements atop the buildings and confirmed that the peculiar power fluctuations originated from another entity.
After surveying the area once more, Anthonyus approached Ray.
“Let’s finish the conversation we didn’t complete earlier.”
“Hm… Is there anything left to discuss?”
Ray advanced while deploying a soundproof barrier.
“Isn’t that story already concluded?”
“Do you remain silent about the Sacred Maiden?”
“I do not dare divulge divine revelations. Not only am I afraid of divine punishment, but…”
Ray shrugged.
“If the fact that the two of you are related becomes known, it won’t cause major problems, will it?”
Based on the various pieces of information Ray had gathered over the past few days, he reached this conclusion.
Of course, there might be complex issues unknown to outsiders within the Church, but Anthonyus wouldn’t openly discuss them easily.
“…”
Anthonyus gazed coldly at Ray for a moment before changing the subject.
“Are you working with the royal family?”
“Well… You could say that.”
“Why not collaborate with the Church?”
The implication was clear: Why align with the empire instead of the Church?
Without hesitation, Ray responded,
“Even if I support the South or the Church now, it will only escalate conflicts. The Sacred Maiden herself wouldn’t be pleased.”
“Do not speak of the Sacred Maiden so casually.”
“Ah, don’t misunderstand me. My point is… Supporting the Church and supporting the Sacred Maiden are not necessarily the same thing. And there’s also a difference between benefiting the Church and benefiting the world, right?”
“…”
“If I bolster the South and the Church now, it will only intensify internal conflicts within the Empire.”
“…”
“If the internal strife within the Empire grows, the Devil Worshippers will thrive, leading to chaos, which will only increase the burden on the Sacred Maiden. Isn’t that correct?”
It was a reasonable argument.
Though devout believers who regarded human sacrifices for the Church and El-Lam as inevitable wouldn’t accept this stance, Anthonyus’ faith centered around his sister rather than a deity, making Ray’s reasoning persuasive.
After forming a rapport of sorts with Anthonyus through his eloquence, Ray suddenly glanced toward the distant sky.
Following Ray’s gaze, Anthonyus asked curiously,
“What is it?”
“Oh, nothing. Anyway… Let us pray that El-Lam blesses us.”
*
Under the flowing winds of the sky.
The physical form of a woman floating in mid-air transformed into translucent particles and scattered.
Behind the veil of concealment, the upper body and face of a woman, now partially deteriorated, stared down at Ray below with glowing eyes.
“Just a single human—not even a new race…”
Recalling the unexpected encounter and situation, the woman sneered.
“It’s different from back then, isn’t it?”
In the darkest era of the world.
Back then, all races were weak, but humanity especially so.
There was no proper system for training knights, and studies related to magic were even worse.
Without a system to support them, overturning fate with just a handful of superhumans was impossible.
Time was needed for the living beings of this world to develop the ability to protect themselves.
And during that time, something powerful enough to maintain the world against the encroaching darkness was required.
Thus, the transcendental existence bent the natural order.
The newly born race gained immense power from the moment of their creation…
And their end was predetermined.
Impurities that harm purity were destined to vanish once their purpose was fulfilled.
Hence, the woman now stood alone.
“If the chosen sacrifice this time is merely a human, then yes, it seems too easy.”
But will everything go according to your plans?
The woman doubted it.
Tsuk—
Her transparent particles dispersed, leaving only her face remaining.
From her position high above, the woman spoke one last time.
“As I look upon you…”
Simultaneously, her eyes slit vertically.
“I shall bestow my pity.”
And with that, she vanished completely.
Prologue (1)
