The Berserker’s Second Playthrough in the Game - Chapter 196



Only Krnovel

Episode 196. A flame that never goes out (2)

Shinyoung popped out through the crack and fell freely to the bottom of the World Tree. The body quickly approached the ground, and soon its shape could be clearly observed with the naked eye.

Those watching soon noticed something strange.

“uh… … ?”

“Uh, huh?”

Kadim, still and motionless, appeared to have lost consciousness. He could not stop his fall on his own.

In other words, if left like this, it was obvious that it would crash to the ground.

Illenia and Duncan had just guided their ‘clones’ to the World Tree and joined up with Remillion. While they were anxiously watching the upper levels of the World Tree, wondering if the clones and Lilia would work together safely and if Lilia would safely enter the World Tree’s dream, something unexpected happened.

Duncan grabbed Illenia’s skirt urgently.

“Well, well, lady! Well, how can you not? Well, it looks like I’ll just fall to the ground soon… … .”

“Well, that…” … .”

For some reason, Ilenia didn’t use the sacred method and just remained stiff. Looking at the brightly lit sky with the blackout burning and the blazing sunlight, I felt like I was a blind person seeing light for the first time in my life.

Duncan inevitably turned his gaze elsewhere. The dragon and his friend, Remillion. However, the dragon was a barely breathing corpse, and the dragon was only in a slightly better condition.

Nevertheless, Remillion did not ignore the earnest gaze of the peddler.

“… … I will fly up and catch the Kadeem ball.”

“Are you okay, Remillion? You look very unwell… … .”

“Still, I have to do it. How could I just leave the warrior of revelation who volunteered to go to hell to die?”

The dragon man wore a helmet stained with ash and spread out his burned and torn wings. He lurched up into the air, ready to receive Khadim with open arms.

From anyone’s perspective, it was an unreasonable attempt. Maybe it was because of perspective that he looked small, but Kadim’s actual size was as big as Remillion with his wings spread. If we had caught the large body that had fallen from that high with our unskilled bodies, we would both have been certain to die.

Duncan clenched his fists and made a decision.

“Hey, Remillion! Could you step aside for a moment?”

“……what?”

Huung –

In the blink of an eye, the remnants of a falling giant passed by. Les Million raised her eyes in horror.

But Kadim didn’t get into trouble because Duncan opened a distortion hole at the crash site just in time.

Goo, goo, goo!

Kadim passed through the hole and out of another hole, soaring high into the sky. Ilenia’s astonished gaze was fixed on the side of his head, but Duncan had no mind to pay attention to that.

“now!! Please accept it now, Remillion!!”

“Ugh!”

The acceleration of the body decreased as gravity was reversed. Remillion narrowly managed to catch Kadim by gliding. Duncan finally wiped off the sweat after seeing the two of them descend together safely.

Ilenia frowned curiously. How did the author… … Even though she used the dark holy method in the sun, she’s still fine, right?

It was only after looking around carefully that I realized the reason. The overlapping shadows of the remnants of the clouds and the branches of the World Tree were cleverly hiding the hole that Duncan had made.

“Phew… … .”

After taking the holy sign and thanking the forgotten god for his arrangement, she quickly ordered Duncan to close the hole. Then she whispered in a small but firm voice.

“Duncan, you did a really, really good job. However, you will have to be very careful when using dark sacred techniques from next time. So far, the ‘night shadow blackout’ has been fine as it blocks the sky… … “If you openly use holy laws under the original sun, you will be punished by heaven.”

“Huh? What is divine punishment… … .”

Something fell down and cut off his words.

―――Parerererererack, Kwa – Ang!!

“… … Hee hee!!”

The falling object sank deep into the ground, raising a cloud of dust. It turned out to be Khadim’s axe, ‘Atala’s Judgement’… But the timing was so coincidental that Duncan ended up misunderstanding it.

“S-No way… … “Is this, this, heavenly punishment?”

Ilenia laughed inwardly and thought hard.

“… … no. But, well, you could say it’s similar. “The Heavenly Punishment is the culprit that made that dragon, Mr. Rufuch-Stran, look like that.”

– Krrrrrr, krrrrr! Kruk, ugh… … .

At that moment, blood gushed out and the dragon bled profusely and vomited blood.

“… … .”

Duncan vowed never to use the dark arts again.

… … except now, when someone’s life is in danger.

*

Kadim woke up in less than an instant.

I looked around and immediately assessed the situation.

The burning Hesiliad, the sky bathed in brilliant sunlight, the dragon covered in wounds, the party looking at them with concern, Lilia and Parneo not visible, and… … the upper part of the World Tree where flames explode one after another.

… … Quagwagwang, quagwagwagwagwa… … .

It was not an explosion created by Melissa alone, but an explosion created by clashing with someone’s magic. Cold eyes turned to the priest of the forgotten god who brought the gift.

“Did you use it in the end, that alter ego?”

“… … Yes, I’m sorry. The core squad was surrounded by Infernos, so it was unavoidable to use it.”

“No, it’s all over now, so I don’t intend to blame him. More importantly, did that dark elf apostle enter the World Tree’s dream safely?”

Illenia nodded, nodded vigorously, and looked upward. Following her gaze, she saw a blue-green aura rising above the World Tree like a star cloud.

Whiuuuuuung! So bad, so bad – !

That energy regenerated the dried roots. The roots that had regained their vitality tightened and blocked the gap. The center of the crack, which contained black demonic energy, narrowed little by little. It was evidence that the true world balance keeper was in a ‘dream’ and redistributing the power of the world tree.

But for some reason, Kadim’s face didn’t look that bright.

Illenia and the others vaguely guessed that the reason was the same as theirs.

“Yes, I know what you are worried about. We have passed the most important hurdle, but there are still big hurdles left. As you know, the Archmage did not pursue Khadim. In order to complete all operations safely… … “We must subdue the ‘world-destroying fire’ up there as quickly as possible.”

“… … .”

That guess was only half correct. The empty pupils stared at the ‘crack in hell’ itself, which was closing forked above where Melissa was.

But Kadim didn’t bother to mention the circumstances. This was because the things he saw in hell were things that could not be explained to others.

Illenia took note and continued speaking cautiously.

“But as you can see, the Supreme Being is unable to fight, and her alter ego is struggling, but the chances of victory are not high. Maybe… … “Has she succeeded in equipping herself with a ‘sure victory’ in Hell, Khadim?”

“… … .”

Ignoring the anxious expectations, questions, and anxious looks, I silently blocked the view.

“… … Wait a minute, can everyone except the dragon step aside?”

Kadim speaks in a voice filled with dry exhaustion. Following Remillion’s glance to follow his will, the rest of the party left their seats and watched.

The dragon was in a horrible state that was hard to look at with open eyes. Its golden scales were torn as if they had been scraped with a large blade, its carapace was split open as if it had been struck with a hammer, and blood gushed out endlessly from the wounds where chunks of flesh had fallen off.

However, its momentum and posture were more confident than in the nest. The dragon did not even crouch, but instead proudly supported its body with its forepaws and looked down at the barbarian who had singled out me.

– 38… … 156… … no, 157.

“… … .”

– Okay, number 38… … And number 157.

“… …What are you talking about?”

– The number of divine punishments that the original dragon has blocked, and the number of divine punishments that the original dragon has received with his body. No strong person in this world, not even the original dragon’s compatriots who fell on the ‘Night of Heavenly Punishment’, could withstand this many divine punishments…

“… … .”

– ruler… … Tell me, you servant of the dust god. Do you still think Bonryong is just a coward? Does the main dragon still look like a mere gecko or reptile?

‘Heavenly punishment’ is the judgment of an absolute being that does not allow resistance.

I remembered that even Archpaladin, who was fine even after getting an ax on his forehead, trembled in pain after receiving a very mild punishment. That dragon even witnessed a thousand of his compatriots being annihilated by that beam of light right next to him.

But the fact that he didn’t back down and held out for over a hundred steps…

“No, my eyes were wrong.”

– … … .

“I swear by the name of Atala. You are not a coward. You are, beyond all doubt, the strongest creature on earth, the one who cannot be defeated by even the gods of the heavens… … You are a ‘Dragon.’”

Lapustran struggled to raise the tip of his snout. He took a deep breath and let out a bloody cry.

-Crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Anyone who sees it will think that I am facing heavenly punishment just to be recognized by you! There is no need for recognition of such insignificant things! From the age of myth to the present, the main dragon has always been a great ‘dragon’, without exception even for a single moment, without anyone’s approval… … .

Contrary to his words, he looked very happy. The bloody laughter faded away, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

After passing through the silence of the village, Lapustran asked softly.

– … … Is having the ‘means to win’ in hell a failure?

“… … .”

– No need to blame yourself, mortal… … . It was an unreasonable plan from the beginning. Hell is a place that even the real dragon is reluctant to go to. In human flesh, it’s… … Just coming back from the demons there alive is a great thing… … .

The cause and process were completely different from what the dragon had guessed… … It was true that Kadim had lost the ‘means to win’.

It was fortunate that he finally escaped hell by encountering the halo of light. The problem was that it removed the madness and scattered the accumulated blood energy. Although there was some blood energy remaining in his body, it was not enough to utilize the divine form as planned.

But he couldn’t just sit there. Kadim plucked out Atala’s Judgement, which was firmly planted in the ground.

“What you say is right. “We failed to secure the ‘means of victory’ in Hell.”

– … … .

“However, Melissa found out the reason why he became like that. If we dig into that part, there will be quite a change of heart in him. It’s unlikely, but he might stop being so tyrannical and repent.”

– … … What if that doesn’t happen?

“I will kill you. Somehow, in the name of Atala, with my life on the line, with my own hands.”

A declaration with the spirit to take one’s breath away with one’s voice.

Lapustran narrowed his brows, fluttered his eyelids, and trembled. As if I had seen an excessively bright glow. Eventually, I swallowed the fresh blood, even forgot the pain, and let out a harsh voice, immersed in a strange emotion that I had not felt in thousands of years.

– Krul… ​​… The god of darkness and chaos… … gave a revelation about 20 years ago… … that you would defeat that ‘fake Elga.’

“… … .”

– The main dragon… … does not believe in revelations from a god who has lost even his own name. However, at this moment… … what the main dragon has clearly seen… … I want to believe in your ‘light’ at least once… … .

While Kadim furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, the dragon made up his mind and made a suggestion.

– The blood of the main dragon… … Drink.

“……what?”

– Didn’t you say that to use the method you planned… … you need a huge amount of ‘blood force’… … . If it’s not necessarily the blood of the devil… … than the blood of those pitiful devils… … a single drop of the blood of the true dragon will give you an even more overwhelming ‘blood force’… … .

“… … .”

– Do not hesitate… … . Wet your soul with this blood… … . Swallow the calamity that devours the world… … . And one day, you will surely trample on the corpse of the original dragon and reach the heavens… … Destroy the false sun and cause it to crash down on this earth, great warrior of Atala… … .

Golden eyes that shine more magnificently than the sun.

The dragon’s blood flowed quietly and formed a puddle, soaking Khadim’s ankles with a heat as hot as lava.

*

With a single gesture, the entire fire died down.

Huh, Huh, … .

The acrid sparks and smoke also cleared. The scene of the ‘Hall of Eternal Dreams’, which was completely burned down by a rampaging fire, was revealed. At the same time, the fierce battle between the great wizards also revealed victory and defeat.

A past that has burned to the ground, a future that looks down on you.

“… … .”

“… … .”

The red-faced woman approached the red-faced girl.

He struggled with heroism to save the world, but was ultimately defeated, unable to overcome the gap in experience, his mana was depleted and he was completely traumatized, his flesh had melted black and it was clearly revealed that he was a counterfeit, and yet he did not lose his will and kept his record. To the girl wizard who hugged me.

“Kill me. “I have no intention of begging for my life.”

“… … .”

Melissa raised the flames of hell as if she would listen to his words right away.

At the last moment, I changed my mind when I met those straight, burning eyes.

“No, that’s too comfortable an ending for the mistake you made.”

“… … .”

“That record was something you valued more than life, right?”

Ruthless feet trampled on my black, melted thighs. She reached in and snatched the girl’s notes as the girl shuddered in her pain.

“Ugh, ah, no, turn it back… … .”

“Curse yourself for being born here and die slowly, counterfeit. In the meantime, I will come back and collect the ashes you scattered.”

Melissa turned her back, holding the records at her side. In an instant, a cold flame rose up and completely enveloped Shinyoung.

When the flames cleared, there was no sign of her arms. There was despair in the eyes of the girl she was watching, but she approached an object without giving Melissa a second glance.

A giant, translucent sphere, the ‘World Tree’s Dream’.

Let’s go inside through the hole that Kadim broke earlier.

Uuuuuung – !

Instead of the refreshing breeze of the fields, the thick green moisture rushed in.

A sanctuary filled with tangled roots, turquoise fog, and damp air.

The sanctuary, decorated with the promise of a reunion with the warrior, was transformed into a space to release the power of the World Tree. The structure is sealed on all sides like a gourd, but only the center of the ceiling is open. A dark elf woman was sitting cross-legged at her center, sending her purring energy upward.

“I don’t really like this view.”

Melissa called out my name as if spitting out a drained root.

“Lilia.”

“……balm.”

Lilia looked at her old sister with bitter eyes.