Chapter 38

“Did His Grace also witness it there?”

“Yes. At that time, my brother and I were quite close with Areubo, and it was difficult to refuse his request.”

Ah, so that was why Areubo acted particularly friendly towards me. Now it made sense.

The Grand Duke paused momentarily after my question before continuing his words.

“The prey has gathered in abundance.”

The wolves that reached the forest were anything but calm.

The King of Giants and the First Knight each brandished a spear and a sword, the Queen of Edelvine her bow, and all of them were under the blessing of the World Tree.

The army, composed of giants, humans, and elves, clashed against the beasts that had followed the wolves. Overseeing the battlefield, three dragons observed everything.

The first to make a move was the King of Giants.

His spear, which could shrink to the size of an ant or expand to be larger than a mountain according to his will, enlarged as it was hurled toward the wolf.

“Hmph.”

With a simple swing of its front paw, the wolf deflected the spear.

That single swipe created a massive gust of wind that sent the allied forces flying, yet under the blessing of the World Tree , none suffered fatal injuries or perished.

When the King of Giants′ attack failed to achieve any notable results, the next to step forward was the First Knight .

Compared to the towering figures of the King of Giants and the wolf, the knight seemed as small as an insect, but he was by no means insignificant.

The knight leaped toward the wolf.

With a single bound, he soared above the wolf’s head and drew his sword.

“King of Beasts, take this.”

The sword of the knight, known as a king by some and a god by others, carved its slow yet deliberate trajectory.

In response, the wolf once again swung its front paw, and the clash between aura and wind pressure erupted with a deafening roar.

The knight was sent flying, but the wolf bled.

How long had it been since it last bled?

How long had it been since it last felt pain?

The wolf admired the knight.

Before devouring the World Tree, it thought, it would like to whet its appetite with this knight first.

With that thought in mind, the wolf shifted its gaze to the World Tree.

Even from such a great distance, the fragrant scent of grass wafted through the air.

What would it be like to sink its fangs into the World Tree, to chew its branches and leaves, savoring their aroma?

Saliva pooled in the wolf’s mouth at the thought. Observing this, the Green Dragon seethed with rage.

“Beast, I will pluck out your eyes so that you may never look at her again.”

A magic circle, far larger than the mountain-sized wolf, formed above it.

The King of Giants, who had previously believed his magic to be on par with the dragons, realized the arrogance of his assumptions.

Even in the era known as the primordial times, Areubo had been an ancient dragon.

Sensing the threat, the wolf widened its maw.

The wolf possessed the power to devour anything—whether it be magic circles or spells already cast, it could consume them all.

““Shut your mouth, beast.””

The wolf’s half-open jaws slammed shut with a resounding clang.

It was not by the wolf’s own will.

As the Black Dragon and White Dragon gazed upon it, the wolf’s mouth was forced closed.

The wolf knew exactly what kind of power this was.

Even the dragons that had perished after being bitten by him had used such power, and each time, his body had momentarily lost control.

However, once he surpassed a certain threshold, that trick no longer worked on him—but this time was different.

Was it because there were two of them? Or was it because the Black Dragon was that powerful?

The wolf also knew the Black Dragon.

Before he had grown as massive as he was now, the dragon had visited him multiple times, looking down with a disapproving gaze before leaving.

At that time, what had he done?

Ah, yes. He had been afraid.

Now, he was towering over that dragon, who was so much smaller than him—and yet, he still feared it.

“Grrrrr...”

As the memory surfaced, the wolf felt a surge of displeasure.

Once again, he opened his jaws, intent on devouring the Black Dragon.

However, before he could, Areubo’s magic was complete.

Fire. Lightning. Wind. Water. Earth. Ice.

The powers of various gods manifested through the dragon’s will.

The flames that engulfed the wolf burned hotter than those of the Spirit King yet slightly weaker than the flames of the Fire God .

Water, enough to fill a vast lake, compressed and compressed again until it formed a spear that rained down upon the wolf, assisted by lightning and wind.

The wolf’s legs froze, the ground became shackles that bound his feet.

A spear forged of water, wind, and lightning was fired directly at the wolf’s eyes.

“Areubo is truly that strong?”

“Hmm. Indeed. But you need not worry. He has stagnated, while Ihave grown stronger. Now, I will not lose to him.”

“Then, what about the Guardian Dragon?”

“Hmm. My brother is even stronger than him. Far stronger than I am now. If not for my brother, we would never have been able to seal the wolf that day.”

“Seal...?”

A seal.

“Was sealing it truly necessary?”

“It was not a matter of necessity. It was the only option. We could not kill the wolf.”

“What...?”

If the Grand Duke’s words were true, then the King of Giants, the Knight God Sarion, the World Tree, and three dragons had all gathered in one place—and yet, they had been unable to kill a single wolf?

“That is too much of a joke.”

“If only it were a joke.”

The Grand Duke’s voice was so serious that I could do nothing but stiffen.

“That kind of monster... has awakened?”

If so, that was a catastrophe.

Something comparable to the Demon King—no, perhaps even more dangerous.

The Demon King described in Chronicles of Xian had been as strong as a dragon, but he had never been powerful enough to face six transcendents at once.

“Not yet. If he had truly awakened, I would have known. However, they must have found a way to wake him, which is why the beastfolk have begun to move. Even if he does awaken, he will have weakened due to his long imprisonment, so he will not be as strong as before.”

Damn it.

I had thought this would be a war we could win, even if we took heavy losses.

But if such a monster was our enemy, could we truly claim victory?

...There was a way.

“Master, if you and I worked together, could we restrain the wolf?”

“For a time, yes.”

“Then, that is enough.”

The Empire had no World Tree, no elves, no giants, and no Knight God Sarion.

“Master, please take command of the beastfolk’s main forces. I will prepare for the wolf.”

But the Empire had the Mage Corps, the Knight Order.

It also had the Hero and myself.

Chronicles of Xian..

Despite the title, Xian’s life did not end in the game’s conclusion.

There was undoubtedly a sequel—one that must have told the stories of Xian and the many gods and transcendents.

I did not know what role Xian played in that story, but I was certain he was not meant to be a powerless victim.

And above all, I was here.

A thousand years.

For a millennium, the Empire had secured its place upon this land.

The most sacred Kiriyado, the most wicked being dwelling in the abyss.

Even the dragons.

All recognized this land as the Empire.

For a thousand years, the Empire had etched itself deep into the continent, becoming a law unto itself.

Thus, this land did not belong to the gods nor to the Dragon Lords; it belonged solely to the Empero.

Though no Emperor in a thousand years had realized this truth, and its true power had never been revealed—now, I was here.

No matter how strong the ancient beast was, I would not fall helplessly before it.

During my communication with the Grand Duke, I sensed another transcendent stepping into the Imperial Capital.

“Then, Master, please take care of the beastfolk.”

“And you?”

“I will first settle Edelvine and then join you.”

Before facing the wolf, it was time to conclude a three-hundred-year-old feud.

“Your Majesty, Duke Fael has arrived.”

Good, the timing was perfect.

Accompanied by Imperial Knight Commander Feltz , Duke Fael , and the Mage Corps Commander Kraol, I proceeded toward the source of the transcendent energy.

There, we found the King of Tamiel and the Knight of the Crimson Greatsword. Alongside them stood a silver-haired mage and a man wearing a jewel-adorned mask, awaiting us.

“Are you Roderon ?”

“Indeed. And you must be Arhan?”

At his insolent tone, Feltz  and Duke Fael drew their swords, prompting the Knight of the Crimson Greatsword to do the same.

Wanting to converse before engaging in battle, I raised a hand to halt them and replied.

“Yes, I am Arhan, just as you are.”

Whether through my father’s lineage or my mother’s.

If he carried the blood of Arhan, then he, too, was Arhan.

Had it not been for the war with Edelvine , Roderon  would likely have taken the Arhan name as well.

“I am Edelvine .”

As if unable to bear the revulsion of being called Arhan, he spat out each syllable with force.

“Is that so.”

In truth, once one reached the level of a transcendent, how they perceived themselves was of utmost importance.

Even if the entire world saw Roderon  as the heir of Arhan, if he himself believed he was Edelvine , then Edelvine  he was.

“Edelvine , why have you allied with the beastfolk?”

“Not just the beastfolk. If it means burning your wretched Empire to the ground, I would even join hands with demons.”

“Even if the demons return, they will not burn the Empire.”

“Perhaps not, but by then, the Empire will already be reduced to ashes!”

With that cry, Roderon  activated a barrier.

“Your Majesty!”

Duke Fael called out in warning, but from the moment I first saw Roderon , I knew he was no match for me.

This was my first true battle as a transcendent, yet upon facing another transcendent, I realized just how supreme my level had become.

“Duke, Sir Feltz , Sir Kraol. Handle Roderon ’s subordinates.”

Having issued my command, I stepped forward into Roderon ’s barrier.