Storm Mirien held a memory dearer to her than anything else—the recollection of when she first encountered a new life within The Rift.
Before her stood the Ruler, Actor—an omnipotent being, endlessly close to godhood. Though his face was concealed behind a mask, the turquoise glow visible through the openings revealed his intentions. He desired her, his gaze upon Mirien differing entirely from that of the Wizard who had once sought to carve her limbs and implant magical stones, treating her only as an experiment. Actor’s gaze was gentler than anything she’d ever known.
Actor extended a hand. Though incorporeal, Mirien felt a warm touch beneath the icy coldness of his gauntlets.
[A 5★ Storm Mirien of the North Sea has received a 5☆ Beating Moon’s Heart as a gift from The Rift’s Ruler, Actor.]
The artificial heart Mirien received from Actor allowed her brief reprieve from her short life. Her existence within The Rift was comforting; there, no one oppressed her, betrayed her, or accused her of sin. That way, Mirien found newfound peace under The Ruler Actor.
Nevertheless, an indefinable emotion began to form within Mirien’s heart one day. Possessing a brilliant mind, it did not take her long to define it as love. To the emotionless machine that was Mirien, this feeling of love was more valuable than anything else she’d ever experienced. Yet, there was no one she could confide this to—not even The Ruler Actor, for it would only disrupt the dimension of The Rift.
Though unspoken, she vowed to protect this feeling—the blind affection the girl Mirien held for The Ruler Actor. Even after being cast out of The Rift into a new dimension, her devotion remained unchanged.
She built a tower—stairs leading upwards for Actor’s eventual ascension.
She tamed the Storm Dragon—to rescue Actor in his weakened human form when danger arose.
She killed those who sought to harm Actor—they were all perilous individuals.
She formed an organization destined for Actor’s ascension, to function as a great driving force when Actor placed the world beneath his feet.
But Mirien’s efforts were thoroughly discarded. Actor chose The Blackened Saint Selene over her. Though she was enraged, despair did not engulf her. Selene would surely better serve Actor as a vassal. Mirien accepted this. Yet to Actor, she would forever remain an obstacle.
[S-Rank Awakened One, Nam Joo-yeon, declares attack on Yeouido Tower.]
Not long ago, when she had killed all those who intended harm towards Actor in Daejeon, she overheard it: the news that her ruler intended to invade her tower, to kill her.
‘No, it can’t be.’
It couldn’t be true. Why would Actor wish to kill her? Having tasted abandonment once, she had grown accustomed, but she loathed being thought of as an impediment to his life. Let him be harsh, ignore her, even unleash violence against her—it didn’t matter. However, the idea of being sentenced to death by Actor himself was unbearable.
‘There must be some mistake.’
Mirien denied the truth.
But not long ago, she had heard it, the declaration made openly beneath the tower:
‘It will be too late after this tower erupts. Many citizens will die. With such calamity at the heart of Seoul, I cannot stand by and do nothing. At any cost, I will eliminate this potential threat.’
From below the tower, she had overheard Actor’s announcement. She had heard the term “potential threat” escape Actor’s lips. She had heard the declaration of intent to eliminate her. There was no more escaping reality.
[An intrusion has occurred in the dungeon, 「Tower of Ascension」.]
[Activate the defense mechanisms.]
The system urged her to dispatch the intruder in a dispassionate tone. Still, Mirien did not respond. How could she, with her own hands, kill The Ruler Actor who bestowed upon her the gift of life?
And so she sat, waiting for Actor to arrive.
“….”
Ultimately, The Ruler Actor—or rather, Nam Joo-yeon—reached the uppermost floor. Mirien lifted her head to gaze at Nam Joo-yeon. The face she had so desperately longed to see, uncovered from behind the mask, was now before her. Yet instead of joy, despair overtook her.
“――Actor.”
There stood the one she longed for. The being she had whispered prayers to at night, the name of whose mention brought her heart to breaking. Fear and anger surged within her.
“…Why.”
Mirien’s shaky voice continued.
“Are you… trying to kill me?”
To this question, Actor remained silent. She longed to hear his voice, for him to call her name. Yet, she feared it terribly.
Because in her mind, she had already anticipated the reply: “I’ve come to kill you. You’re nothing but a hindrance.”
“…Huh.”
It couldn’t be true. And yet, Actor had arrived here and had made the declaration to kill her not long ago. No matter how much she shook her head to negate it, her body reacted first. Sparks of lightning floating about began to tremble. Every heartbeat sent jolts through her, making her blood feel as if it were surging backwards. Amidst her confusion, her thoughts ultimately led her to an inevitable conclusion.
“Selene, told you, didn’t she?”
Mirien knew instinctively. The source of all this unease and pain was the woman beside Actor. The Blackened Saint Selene was the one who separated her from Actor. She was the one who whispered slander and sought to have Actor slay her.
“That woman, did she drive us apart?”
If that was the case, the action to take was simple. Her lips dried, a chilling sensation spreading from her fingertips.
Before Actor could remove her,
She had to act—first.
“Mirien, listen to me, please…”
But Actor’s words were drowned out. Even Selene was exchanging amicable words with him nearby. Everything within the tower was within Mirien’s sight; nothing escaped her perception here.
“…”
In the end, Mirien could no longer endure the self-reflection. She slowly rose from her seat. Her mana flared naturally. Her feet levitated effortlessly.
“Actor, why….”
Mirien opened her mouth.
Within her, she wished to beg and plead.
But other words emerged.
“Why do you… hate me so?”
Her voice quivered.
The overwhelming sense of deprivation squeezed her chest.
“…I didn’t want it to be like this.”
If Actor truly intended to slay her—
[5★ Storm Mirien is casting 「Blessing of Thunder」.]
Then, why had she mistaken this entire time that Actor needed her?
“Lord, please step back.”
Before any further words could be exchanged, Selene stepped forward.
“No, if we clear up the misunderstanding…”
“You’re mistaken. Mirien no longer listens to others. That woman is currently a natural disaster. She is destruction in the shape of a human.”
“What?”
“It’s the same skill as what was used on the Storm Dragon.”
As soon as the words ended, Selene swung her flaming wedge spear. But her attack wasn’t preemptive. A black thunder pearl had already descended from the sky.
With practiced skill, Selene dispersed the thunder pearl with her flames. Heat from the explosion engulfed her face.
“…!”
“Lord, please move aside. We need to sever one of her limbs to subdue this foolish wizardess.”
“No, don’t talk to her like that!”
This was simply a misunderstanding. It was true that she had announced her intent to assault the tower, but it was all a show—a ruse to misdirect the public’s attention. Despite repeatedly trying to explain this truth since before, Mirien wouldn’t listen. Actually, she couldn’t hear him at all.
“…Blessing of Thunder.”
Watching the black lightning course through Mirien’s body brought memories of the Tempest Dragon operation. It was the same buff skill.
The result was a dramatic surge in her abilities.
But the penalty was significant.
Loss of sanity.
So Mirien must have lost her mind, just as she had during the Tempest Dragon fight.
“…Damn.”
Why was everyone around him so unreasonable? Was it foolish to expect rational judgment from a calamity that had once destroyed a world?
[5★ Blackened Saint Selene casts 「Hellscape Cauldron」.]
[5★ Storm Mirien casts 「Black Thunder Lance」.]
Finally, the crimson flames of Selene’s spear and Mirien’s black lightning clashed. An immense shockwave erupted.
Even from a distance, I was lifted off my feet. Helplessly airborne, I collided with the ground…
Crash!
“Oof!”
Slamming my head against a tower pillar, I blacked out immediately.
*
I awakened to an intense pain.
Followed by a burning sensation.
“…Hmph.”
With the sharp pain coursing through my skull, I lifted my head. Every inch of my body was burning. It wasn’t a delusion—before me stood a woman cloaked in flame, her ash-grey hair fluttering.
“Selene?”
“Yes, your loyal servant, Selene. Are you alright, Lord?”
“Nah, not bad.”
On hearing my words, Selene sighed in relief, evidently having stood watch by my side this whole time. Gathering myself, I queried:
“What happened?”
“There was a small clash with Mirien as you’ve seen before.”
“Did you… kill her?”
“We didn’t kill her. This is her domain, the mage wench’s, so we were at a disadvantage. But we did not lose.”
Selene emphasized the last sentence deliberately. Her competitive spirit deserved acknowledgment. Rubbing the back of my neck, I inspected her condition. My eyebrows furrowed.
“Are… you alright?”
“I am fine, Lord.”
Although she nodded offhandedly, I noticed her nun’s robe was more tattered than before. Furthermore, lightning-shaped scars, worse than burns, scarred her body.
“No, you’re clearly not alright. It’d be better to heal. We should return to base first…”
“No, Lord.”
Selene cut me off mid-sentence—an unprecedented event.
“…As you feared, my current state isn’t perfect, but considering the situation outside, I’m relatively well.”
“What’s happening outside?”
Selene stepped aside.
Through her movement, the view of the upper floor of the tower came into sight. Burn marks and traces of lightning were everywhere, but what caught my eye most was the scene outside the tower.
“…Crazed.”
Dark clouds had gathered over the entirety of Seoul, pouring down torrential rain.
At that moment, my attention turned to the status window that hovered before me.
[The dungeon 「Tower of Ascension」 is erupting.]
“…Shit.”
“That is indeed the case,” Selene said with a wry smile.
