Chapter 1027: War Speech
"This is what we know: Koll is inciting war across the entire continent. And with recent events, I’d say he’s already succeeded. Every nation in the Central Plains will react to the devastation that swept through Fhugal.
"Not just that—different militaries, led by different inexperienced Paragons, are striking different nations with no justifiable objective. And it makes perfect sense why they’d do that.
"He just needed enough reason to ignite the war. Once it started, reason vanished, and everyone is slowly being consumed by madness."
Bairan paused, scanning the devastated land.
"This is the very sign that all is unfolding according to his plan—the destruction and the fact that we’re about to take action too."
Annette looked at the Sword King strangely. Before she could speak, though, Bairan continued, his gaze fixed directly on her.
"No, I’m not saying we should do nothing. What I’m trying to make you all realize is that what you’re about to do cannot stop what has already been set in motion. Whatever they want to tear down is already crumbling. They’ve cooked it, and it’s done. Koll has won."
Annette frowned darkly, as did Helena and Vida. Only Raven maintained an indifferent expression and asked.
"So... what do we do?"
Bairan looked to his side where she was standing.
"We fight."
Raven furrowed her brows.
"Fight... what?"
Bairan shrugged.
"Whatever it is that’s coming. We fight it."
"If what we suspect it to be is really what it is, that’s impossible. Paragons cannot even stand before an Origin. They are the first voice of a concept, and beings meant not to belong to this world. Mere mortals cannot fight Origins."
Bairan looked at Raven silently, then at the rest of them. Then he smiled. However, his smile seemed to mock them.
"Defeated already without fighting. Hya... what a disappointment."
Annette scowled.
"You don’t know. You didn’t see what we saw. If that thing had descended that day, we would have no world right now."
She looked at the others.
"I think we should find a way to reseal him..."
Bairan’s calm voice cut through.
"And for how long before they unseal him again? Are you trying to trap yourself in a vicious cycle? What if your generation passes and the generation that comes is unable to contain it? Then it finally breaks free. Not to mention the fact that your enemy behind the seal will only keep growing smarter—you’re giving him more time to fester and devour the world anyway."
Annette lowered her gaze and muttered:
"I... I never really saw it that way..."
Bairan looked at all of them directly.
"Nobody sees it that way. But would any of you be dealing with this if you had just handled it at the time—even if it came at a great cost?"
They were all silent. Bairan’s words were cutting deep.
"What you all simply did was procrastinate. And it’s a little disappointing that it’s what you’re all resorting to again."
The words hung heavily in the air before Raven’s voice sliced through like a frost blade.
"But... fighting an Origin... is..."
Bairan raised his index finger.
"It is ONE Origin... just one."
He pointed at them.
"All of you cannot take down... just one Origin?"
Something was wrong with the question.
Of course, they all couldn’t take care of one Origin—that was normal. They all didn’t know how strong Origins were supposed to be. But those creatures, from the little that Drifters have studied of them, did things like moving the day star, resting on the moon for fresh air, drinking an ocean dry.
Really bizarre things in diverse and creative manners. No mortal, no Drifter, in their right mind would want to fight an Origin.
But... why did it feel so shameful?
They should say no—it was the normal thing to say—but the words stuck in their throats, refusing to come out.
It felt so shameful that all of them couldn’t take down Origins. What they didn’t know was exactly why. Was it because of the eyes staring at them, or was it because for a minute they had mistaken themselves to be strong?
Bairan looked at them with half-closed, bored eyes. Then he exhaled.
"My master is more than enough to take care of an Origin. I mean, he even has a Tyrant serving him after all."
Their brows twitched in that instant.
Bairan moved his head and was distracted by the enormous airship crafted with concrete that slowly floated towards them.
"It’s settled. We shall go back to the main city and inform the guilds as the Master has said. In the meantime, do the little that you can do to save as many people as you can save. As much as the schemes of these people are concerning and you all want to make sure we’re not simply falling into their laid-out trap—but I think it’s too late now."
Bairan held out his hand and clenched it.
"What we should do now is fight. But do not fight to kill. Fight to save. Fight to save the warriors from themselves, fight to save the poor and weak civilians, and folks who are caught up in this mess."
He slowly removed his other hand from inside his garment.
"I’m not good at war speeches, neither do I think any of you need those. However, I think you all should be very careful about staying safe. Give my master a little time to rest—he will join us soon and all this will come to an end.
"In the meantime, you have the full support of the entire summons of the Limitless Void."
As he spoke, the space seemed to shimmer, and from the ground and the space behind Bairan, they began to emerge.
Raven, Annette, Vida and Helena paled when they saw a four-armed monster, holding a staff, walk out of the spatial rift. There was a knight with white cloak and golden helmet, there was a strange small creature with horizontal pupils that kept making a strange bleating sound.
There was a young man with black hair and pale face. He looked like everything in the world irritated him, and on a deeper look, he bore a certain resemblance to Northern.
There was a crimson statue dwarfing all of them. It seemed like its skin was liquid crimson, flowing but never touching the ground. A large white wolf along with a black hunched-back humanoid creature also emerged from the rift.
Lastly, walking like a human was a lithe figure with sharp slitted eyes, emanating white glow.
Suddenly the air around felt so tight, and Annette, Helena... they all couldn’t help but feel so small.