Chapter 360 Cha Jeong-woo (6)
Team: HH, Yahiko, thursdays
Actually, from the Martial King’s standpoint, it was understandable that it was ridiculous.
We had only passed by each other a few times during the “Ball of Kings.” It was extremely rude to come to the village like this. He was probably already holding back, having met me like this.
But since I suddenly brought Allforone up, of course he would get angry.
Everyone knew how deep the enmity he had towards Allforone was.
The same went for me.
Allforone had killed all the Draconic species in the Tower.
The reason why the ancient dragon Kalatus, who was like a father to me, had been pained until the end was because of the aftereffects of Allforone. Fortunately, he had returned to the arms of nature now, but I could still clearly remember how he closed his eyes for the last time in the temple of dragons.
“Please.”
But that was this, and this was this.
I had to meet Allforone.
He had never descended from the 77th floor all this time and ruled as a wall for players. He had crushed my wish of reaching the top of the Tower.
Then all that was left was the elixir.
The problem was that I couldn’t get it at all.
Even though I was considered to be a Nine King and Arthia had grown to be equal to the Eight Large Clans, the elixir was a mysterious medicine that was hard to attain.
I learned the reason why later.
‘Because Allforone has it.’
I didn’t know why he had it–just that he came across it hundreds of years ago. He might’ve used it in that time.
Still, it was important, so I could only dream of meeting Allforone.
However, the problem was that if I met him, I would be his enemy.
I had only ever seen Allforone twice.
Once was right before there was a great war when the fight between the Large Clans was so bad that he suddenly appeared to settle the situation.
At the time, I only felt that he was extremely strong. Because my Draconic Eyes weren’t fully grown yet, I couldn’t tell how great he was.
But it was different the second time.
After a long search, when I finally secretly had Soulstones in my possession, the stones of Superbia and Luxuria, I had been exhilarated thinking I could learn Luciel’s power when he suddenly appeared.
Allforone was wrapped around in shadows, not completely revealing a body.
-You again.
It didn’t speak physically. It was a language that I didn’t know. It was hard to tell if Allforone was a man, woman, young, or old. But strangely, I could understand. [TN: We will continue our convention of referring to Allforone by he/him pronouns for simplicity’s sake.]
But he seemed to be familiar with me already.
-Was it nine times or ten times? Because you kept on returning, I thought you ran out of the strength to come all the way here. But you’re here. Still. Yes. Your fate is twisted, and your life is short. It’s not different at all. You have the fate of failing many times, and you’ll fail more times in the future.
He continued to speak about what I couldn’t understand. But it was definitely unpleasant.
Failure. Fate. Those were the words I hated the most.
I was annoyed, but I couldn’t talk back.
The “existence” of Allforone that I saw through Draconic Eyes was so great.
It was bigger than the ancient dragon Kalatus, vaster than the unnamed god who sent me Blessings, and more extravagant than the demon Agares.
A colossal amount of soul power that not only filled the stage but could probably crush it if the being wanted.
An imposing soul pressure, like he was the only existence between the sky and the ground.
I couldn’t believe he was a mortal like me.
I hadn’t seen many gods and demons until now, but I could guarantee that he couldn’t be compared to any of them.
He was the world, and the world was him.
All the laws in the Tower revolved around him.
Like how satellites circled around planets, he was the center of the world.
He was continuing the passion of the Draconic species, the beings who wanted to make all laws of the world theirs.
Only then was I able to realize how the great Draconic species fell without being able to injure him in the slightest.
Why players hadn’t been able to get past the 77th floor for thousands of years.
Why the gods and demons were ripped apart from him when they tried to leave the 98th floor.
If such a being existed smack dab in the middle, who’d be able to stop him?
Also, the moment that the eyes hidden in the shadow met mine, I felt like my soul and body were being split apart.
-Oho! There’s still been some improvement. You can look me in the eye now?
The hidden eyes were definitely smiling.
-Having the right eyes, but not being able to see your path. It’s a sad fate. That might be why you’re continuing to dream–to find the path hidden by darkness. But you still haven’t found the light. What a shame, child.
Out of the words Allforone said, the word “dream” lingered in my head.
I thought of the benefit I still hadn’t mustered the will to use because I didn’t understand. Had Allforone seen it?
-I hope Luciel’s fire can brighten your path. Right now, it’s just a candle that’ll go out powerlessly. Grow it. Using any means possible. If you use the same method again, you’ll just repeat things over and over again. You’ll only get hurt if you walk in place.
Allforone added on more, like he pitied me.
-I hope “his” light can shine on your path.
Allforone disappeared, having only spoken what he wanted to.
I didn’t speak of this to anyone and kept it to myself.
I tried to uncover the meaning behind his words.
The three main skills of Allforone were Shukuchi, Immortality, and Thousand Li Eyes.
However, the ancient dragon Kalatus told me a few more.
‘Foresight.’
Not only could he see the future of someone, but he could also see their present and past.
A person with such power wouldn’t speak nonsense.
But still, I didn’t understand what he said.
I wanted to ask about it, along with the whereabouts of the elixir.
What did he mean when he said I’d fail multiple times?
However, there was no way for me to get to the 77th floor where Allforone resided. The Red Dragon on the 76th floor would never let me through.
I wasn’t on bad terms with the Summer Queen, but things weren’t good between us either.
If I touched her trauma, Allforone, she would shoot her Breath at me without any hesitation.
The Martial King was different.
He knew a shortcut to the 77th floor, Allforone’s territory.
The problem was.....
“Do you know about what kind of being Allforone is?”
He didn’t seem to want to help me.
“I do.”
“No. You don’t know what kind of being he is.”
“.......”
“He’s the apostle of the Tower. He’s the laws of the Tower themselves. You can stand against that? No way.”
I clenched my teeth.
“You’re not going to open the path until the end?”
The Martial King raised a corner of his lips.
“Why should I? I don’t have the loyalty nor reason to. Why should I bother myself?”
“Then.....”
I spread my Sky Wings apart. Dragon Slayer was held in my hands.
“I’ll have to make you.”
* * *
“What’s up with your face?”
“I don’t know. Don’t ask.”
Leonhardt pointed at my face, but I just covered it with a grumble.
That damned geezer. It wasn’t fair that he went for my eyes as soon as we started. Thanks to him, I returned to the clan house with a black eye like a panda.
The Martial King probably let me off easily. Still, I felt wronged. Dammit.
‘There’s something there.’
The relationship between the Martial King and Allforone. I didn’t know what it was, but I was sure of one thing.
I didn’t have the power to enter it.
There was only one option left.
Climbing the Tower on my own strength and meeting Allforone then.
I became dizzy just thinking about it. The time I spent until now wasn’t few at all, but how much more time did I have to spend here now? I was worried that Mom’s illness became worse because she was worried about me. Hyung was probably worried too.
But I couldn’t return to Earth. Then, I’d be marked as “eliminated” and not be able to return.
“Right, Sadi and Kun Khr are here.”
The members who joined the latest after the clan was created. Arthia was currently being watched and threatened by many. We were preparing for war against the Blood Land because the Gluttony Emperor wanted to “prey” on me.
Our clan members were visiting different Large Clans for allies.
I heard they had gone to Devil Army and the Sea of Time.
I didn’t know about the Devil Army, but there was a chance for the Sea of Time.
But.....
“Nothing.”
Leonhardt shook his head dejectedly and added on.
“Discussions with Blood Land have come to an end too. They want you.”
Leonhardt was famous for being wise while he was an outstanding sword-wielder. If he said the discussions were over, it meant there really wasn’t any way.
“......So in the end, it’s another war.”
I sighed, laying against a chair. It hadn’t been that long since we fought a war, but there was another war.
I wasn’t scared.
However, it would just eat at the time I needed to climb the Tower. I felt frustrated.
* * *
“I’d like to leave the clan.”
The shocking announcement that Kun Khr made in the announcement shook Arthia.
“Hey, why so suddenly? We were drinking together just fine yesterday.”
“Is it because of Sadi? How about you think about it again.....”
“No. It’s the decision I came to after thinking about it all night. If you’d like to punish me, I’ll take it gladly.”
Kun Khr seemed to be firm. It was probably because of Sadi, who passed away in battle some time ago. Sadi and Kun Khr were lovers. They were thinking about getting married after the war was over. The war had broken everything apart.
“Alright.”
“Hey! Cha Jeong-woo! You can’t just send him like that.....!”
“Stay well. Don’t be beat up anywhere. If you are, I’m gonna find you and beat you up.”
“Thank you for everything.”
Kun Khr left after bowing for a while.
The other clan members looked disconcerted. The reason why they had been able to endure all the wars was because of our tight camaraderie. But with one gone, it was expected to feel low-spirited.
What was more, Kun Khr was my disciple, so they probably felt even more betrayed.
Kun Khr looked guilty until the end, but I sent him away with a smile.
I was the one who should’ve been feeling guilty.
“Hey hey! Why does everyone look so depressed? It’ll be fine if we just do what we’re supposed to do.”
I didn’t like a downcast atmosphere. I tried to get up, clapping my hands together.
“......Huh?”
The world spun, and I found myself falling over. When I tried to catch my balance, I couldn’t put strength in my legs.
I could see the clan members running frantically over while shouting my name, but I couldn’t hear anything because of the ringing in my ear. The world was still spinning, and something poured out from my mouth.
It was a clump of blood with black liquid.
The toxic smell of Devil Poison stung my nose.
I felt something go wrong in my heart.