The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 179



Only Krnovel

Episode 179. Unexpected Reunion (4)

Melissa had gone off somewhere and was now vacant. Only a damp silence hung over the ‘Hall of Eternal Dreams’.

Kadim quickly got out of there with Duncan. When he asked how he found him, Duncan explained the whole story.

No matter how much time passed, the lord did not come out, so I looked inside the hall, and since the archmage was absent, I was able to sneak inside, and I found the lord’s figure on the large orb in the center, so I touched its surface and…

“… …Suddenly, waves spread out like water, and Hibap, that’s how you got out… … .”

“I see. Well done, Duncan. I really owe you a big debt this time. In the future, in addition to forging weapons, I will make sure to give you a large reward.”

“Phew, yes… … Thank you, Your Majesty… … . Hib.”

But Duncan was so devastated that he couldn’t even express his joy properly. When asked why, he trembled and spoke pitifully.

“Well, my lord… … . Did I… … see something?”

“What does that mean?”

“I think I… … saw… … hell.”

“……what?”

“Yes, it may be hard to believe, but… … . I, I, followed your orders and went up to the root of the World Tree, right? After overcoming the danger of death several times, I finally reached the end… … .”

The sight of the huge crack that spread to the end of the world, and the roots of the World Tree blocking it, was enough to overwhelm the mind and body. However, the true magic world that burns the soul like tinder was beyond the crack.

His five senses went as dark as an abyss, and Duncan, who had barely opened his eyes, was able to see.

“Those who refused to enter had insects pouring out of every pore in their bodies… … . Mothers whose skin had been peeled off crawled on their backs carrying their children who had lost their legs… … . A monster made of only teeth and intestines ripped off human heads and ate them like peas… … . The humans who poured into the pit of fire that gave off a terrible sulfur smell exploded into leathery bags of pus and blisters… … .”

Bloody testimonies flowed out like a torrent. The more I talked, the more my soul became blurred. My pupils lost focus and an intense fear rose up and invaded my mind.

“There were demons, monstrous demons swarming there… … ! There were countless demons, like grains of sand in the wilderness, like swarms of hungry fire ants! But that was not the end… … ! Beyond the mountains of burning corpses, the hills of fire pits that instantly evaporated blood into red steam… … .”

“[Oh, let all who have life fear! For from the white valleys, where maggots and bones swarm, come the ruin and death of men! When the star that devours darkness seeks the fragments of the shattered soul, and the axe of the adversary is shattered, then shall great evil come upon this earth again… … ! Matum, Gehenna, Matum, Golgatha, Matum, and… … .]”

The coming slap on the cheek stopped Ecstatic’s testimony.

Slap – !

“… … Huh!”

The shock of my jawbone coming back to me. Duncan clutches his swollen cheek. When Kadim raised his hand as if he was going to slap him repeatedly, he recoiled in horror.

“Huh! “Why, why are you doing this, better!”

“… … Are you coming to your senses? “I don’t think I should let you keep talking.”

“Huh? What, what did I just say?”

“He was talking nonsense similar to what a demon possessed person would say. I guess it would be best not to think about that place anymore.”

“Ugh, huh, yeah… … .”

It ended at this level because he had inherited Kadim’s blood and was able to resist the magic. If he were a normal person, he would have gone crazy or become possessed the moment he saw the scenery.

Anyway, looking at the reaction, I couldn’t help but believe what I just heard. A fierce surge arose within Kadim.

What the peddler witnessed was not simply a horrific scene of murder.

‘The reason why demons ran rampant across the continent, Hydra’s words that the mastermind was one of his former comrades, the true nature of the great magic that depleted all the mana in the world, the reason why the heavenly god who was unmoved by the rampant demons descended to this land… … .’

That was a crucial clue that concluded the countless questions that arose in the second episode.

And the conclusion drawn as a result is… … There was only one thing.

I feel like my heart is falling like a piece of lead. No matter how much I tried to control my thoughts, I couldn’t stop my mouth from drying out. Duncan asked, shaking with anxiety.

“I, Your Majesty… … But half of the roots of the World Tree have already fallen off… … What if the crack collapses and all those demons run rampant in this world?”

“If possible, we should somehow prevent it before that happens. or not… … .”

“… … .”

“… … Or just kill all the rampant devil brood.”

Duncan is speechless and just blinks.

Next, Kadim briefly told what happened with Melissa. Duncan, who realized that the archmage’s mind was truly not sound, looked like a corpse and looked like a corpse.

However, there was no time to delay. The two of them decided to first escape the World Tree. Whether they were coming up with countermeasures, talking, or making a big deal, it was a wise choice to first leave the Archmage’s sphere of influence.

As I went down the passage, I immediately encountered an obstacle.

Clank, clank –

“Huh, Your Majesty… …? This won’t open?”

Thick wooden walls, locked in layers, blocking the way ahead. Even when I used the bronze wooden key I had used when I came in, it wouldn’t open. Melissa must have completely sealed it off.

It was difficult to break through several layers of the World Tree’s wooden barrier. However, he was able to find a way through without much difficulty. Kadim tapped his feet on the floor, and when he reached the part where the hollow sound was the loudest, he took out Atala’s Judgement.

“[Atala, God of Strife and the Wilderness, look down upon your champions, and lead them into battle with torches… … .]”

―――――― Kwagwagwagagagak – !

The axe blade rushed forward, scattering yellow shadows, and the shallow floor was shattered and sunk in. Kadim picked up Duncan and jumped into the hole without hesitation.

The place that appeared unexpectedly was not a passageway.

A vast cavity with a hemispherical curved ceiling.

The point where they came down was relatively low, but the highest point in the center was high enough to be 20 meters high. And in that place was a huge sphere that could not be ignored.

Gulp, gurgle, gurgle… … .

Beyond the translucent surface of the fibers, the liquids that had filled up were rippling. The red color that was enough to hurt the cornea and the familiar bloody smell clearly revealed the liquid’s identity.

“Hey, I’ll be better… … ! “Isn’t that all blood?”

“… … .”

Blood, it was a huge amount of blood that could easily have been squeezed out from tens of thousands of people.

Upon closer inspection, the sphere was similar in shape to a ‘sanguis’, a fruit containing blood. Its size was incomparably enormous.

Kadim frowned vaguely. Other pieces of mystery began to come together in my head.

From the looks of it, it seemed like it was a collection of blood donated by the elves. However, it didn’t seem like it was being used as nutrients for the World Tree. In fact, its roots were drying up and clogging the cracks.

‘Then this must be used for… ‘

There was no need to try harder to organize my thoughts.

Suddenly, the origin of all things appeared.

“… … “You just got out of there, Kadim.”

“Ugh!!”

“I came back because I felt really bad about going there, and it was a good thing I did.”

A reddish light flickered in a dark corner. Its eerie eyes stared at Duncan, who was shivering.

“Yeah, I forgot you were here. That must have been great, right? I just didn’t do anything special and just touched the ‘World Tree’s Dream’, but I ended up being the benefactor who rescued the Great Warrior of Atala… … .”

“Huh… … .”

“But that’s because they made it easy to enter and exit so that you don’t miss any news about Kadim, not so that a rat like you can kick someone out… …?”

“Ugh, ugh ugh… … .”

Although she seemed playful at first glance, Melissa’s personality was filled with a creepy murderous intent. Kadim hurriedly pushed Duncan back, his expression as hard as a copper mask.

“Don’t mess with this guy, Melissa. Rather, what is this huge bag of blood?”

“… … .”

Melissa paused briefly and answered with a twisted sneer.

“It’s a simple matter, Kadim. As you know, there are three ways for a human to live beyond their appointed lifespan.”

There was no way he didn’t know. Making a contract with the devil, receiving the blessing of the gods, and drinking elf blood.

“Then, how should a wizard who hates the devil like an insect, doesn’t believe in God even a little, and has to wait for someone for a long time without any promise… … prolong his life?”

“… … .”

An attitude as if it was inevitable. Kadim’s brow furrowed fiercely.

“Is it because they drained so much blood that the elves’ lifespans were all shortened?”

“Yes, it was an unexpected discovery. The source of the elves’ long life was this blood. If there had been a research journal left in the magic tower, I would have definitely recorded it without fail.”

“… … You don’t feel any remorse, do you, Melissa? “What you have done is no different from the evil deeds of those dirty devils.”

The tired eyes opened wide.

“No!! Different!!!”

Whoosh whoosh – !

A retort that was almost a scream echoed. A red flame rose above her hair, and her eyes, devoid of reason, shook unsteadily.

“I, I am different from the demons… … . Anyway, anyway… … Those bastards didn’t need me… … . No matter how long I live, I won’t be able to enjoy it all anyway… … . It would be better for them to give everything to me and be thrown into the ‘World Tree’s Dream’ as soon as possible… … .”

“How do you know that elves won’t be able to enjoy their titles?”

At those words, the atmosphere changed once again.

Melissa pondered the silence and remembered a smile that was as crumbly as cremated remains. Then, slowly, very slowly, she lifted her burnt-smelling tongue and declared each syllable with a soot-stained conviction.

“This world will soon be destroyed, Kadim.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

A dull, descending silence.

The texture of the air became bitter and heavy, like the bottom of an abyss. The pressure pressing down on my rib cage made it impossible for me to even inflate my heart and lungs.

It wasn’t some empty eschatology. It was not a statement based on an uncertain scripture or an ambiguous prophecy from a prophet. Kadim already knew very well what the basis for that declaration was.

“… …Why did you open a rift leading to ‘hell’ here, Melissa?”

A distorted distortion rose above the expressionless blank space.

The answer was extremely concise compared to the scale of the atrocities committed.

“just.”

“… … .”

“I just, just opened it. I thought you might have gone there. I thought you might be there in the other world if you weren’t in this world, so I just opened it.”

Kadim didn’t believe that.

Could know. It can’t be such a simple situation. Beyond that twist and void, there was undoubtedly a story that festered and exploded because it could not be told to anyone.

But Melissa kept her heart locked tightly, and would not confess the last truth. No matter how much she was questioned, she would only repeat self-destructive confessions that everything was intentional and that she had no idea of ​​the aftermath of that rift.

Khadim wordlessly asked if there was a way to close the rift. The answer that came back was not much different from what I expected.

“No. Opening it was possible with just my power, but closing it was impossible even with the power of a god. Look, even though the god of the elves descended as the World Tree, he was only able to block the center of the crack.”

“… … .”

The reason why the heavenly god, who did not move even during the rampage of the great demons, descended was because the crack leading to hell had opened. If hell and the real world were completely connected, the world would have been destroyed without any room to do anything.

The reason demons spread across the continent was because they escaped through cracks that could not be prevented. No matter how huge the World Tree was, it would have been impossible to completely blockade all the way to the end of the world.

The most dangerous center was tightly blocked with roots… … .

“… … Now even that has reached its limit. Well, it’s easy to endure this much with the damaged body and godhood that descended. When the roots of the world tree fall off and the center of the crack opens… … There will be a ‘great outbreak’ in which all the devils of hell will arrive. “Demons who die in this world will only return to hell, so from then on, no matter how many demons you catch and kill, it will be meaningless.”

“… … .”

“So, the destruction of this world is certain, Khadim. “It was pointless in the end to try so hard to get that servant to escape.”

Duncan, who was sneaking out of the room, flinched and stopped. When Kadim ignored him and urged him to hurry, he ran away slowly. Melissa didn’t pay any more attention to him.

“But ‘Dream of the World Tree’ is different. Even if this world is destroyed, I can protect the dream of the World Tree. If you use the stored elf blood, you don’t have to worry about lifespan. So, Kadim, you must stay there with me.”

“Then what will we do with the other comrades who will be left behind in this world?”

A commotion rose in her irises, but it subsided like a wave. Kadim repeated his question sternly.

“What are Cyril, Gordon, and Gale going to do?”

“… … If you want, I will recreate it exactly as you remember. No, it actually worked out well. Even if you have already died in this world, you can at least be revived in the dream of the World Tree.”

Those words drove a wedge into Kadim’s heart.

He gave me a cold look and scolded my brain as if chewing it up and spitting it out.

“You’re not Melissa.”

“……what?”

“The Melissa I knew was a girl who acted tough, but deep down she cared for her colleagues more than anyone else. Even though she engraved sentences about wanting to give up on every page of her own records, she was a girl who did not give up until the end and saved the world. “She is not a coward who runs away, ignoring the disaster she caused with her own hands, and turns her colleagues into ghosts.”

“… … .”

A bitter smile spread across his withered face, and dry responses followed.

“Yes, the girl is dead. 300 years ago, at the very moment when her man, who had been the reason for enduring terrible hardships, left without a word.”

“… … .”

“But the woman who was left behind survived for 300 years… … and gained the power to manipulate the man who returned.”

Goooooong ――――――

A vast distortion engulfed the background, surrounding the hemispherical hideout and blocking any escape route, preventing even a speck of dust from escaping.

――――――――――――――――――――――― !!

The whole world was boiling with heat. A storm of flames raged, a fireball rose like the sun. Countless magic circles appeared simultaneously, calling forth a fiery flame that would burn even the darkness of the night like a raging fire.

“From now on, I won’t care about your will, Kadim. If you won’t listen to me, I will force you to… … I will pull what’s inside you out, and make you live forever in the ‘World Tree’s Dream.’”

Kadim did not give in and held tight to Atala’s judgment.

“The girl is not dead.”

“… … ?”

“A twisted and polluted beggar buried in a mountain of pain and despair. If you chop it down with an axe, it will regain some of its original form.”

The burning army twitched and convulsed.

“Put that axe down, Kadim. Even if this isn’t a dream, you have no chance. You can never stand a chance against me with your own strength.”

“Of course, it’s going to be difficult ‘right now’ with just my strength.”

“… … ?”

“But what if it was ‘that time’ that you remember so well?”

At that moment, Melissa gave a suspicious look.

Kadim activated ‘Tattoo of Pevilatus’.

Pingrrrrrr –

He held the blue pocket watch and shook it upside down, and the spirit of destruction was coming. The muscles of his entire body swelled like strange rocks. A cool oppressive feeling pressed down on the scorching heat. It sounded an alarm in an instant in the battle situation that had been tilted unilaterally.

The first light warrior gave a heartless greeting of reunion.

“… … I’ll break your skull open and bring you to your senses, Melissa.”

“… … .”

――――― Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa – !!!

Melissa poured out her magic all at once, burning her soul with explosive anger and love and hatred.