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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 181
As soon as Cardinal Petel finished speaking, the pair of wings that had grown on his back evaporated instantly.
The disappearance of the faith of the believers and the grace of the Outer Gods, which had been condensed within them, meant that the power contained within had been used elsewhere.
Paaang—!!!
A powerful shockwave burst forth from him. Like compressed air being forced through a narrow gap, it was expelled with great force.
Even though there was nothing left to burn, the flames that had still been blazing in that spot were suppressed as if being smothered, while a thick cloud of dust rose into the air.
Domain Expansion.
A state where one who has ascended in rank manifests their spirituality and mental imagery into reality.
The intricate patterns drawn beneath his feet glowed, and a scene unfolded as if dimensions were being torn apart.
A somber hue emanated outward, enshrouding the surroundings and instantly transforming the landscape.
The forest, which had been reduced to ashes, turned into ruins in an instant.
Ian swiftly scanned the rapidly changed environment before he could react.
‘This is…’
The first thing he noticed was the stench.
The pungent smell of blood filled the air. As he turned his head, he could see tattered armor and broken weapons scattered about.
And numerous monsters were gnawing at corpses.
In this desolate place, the only sounds were the sickening squelch of tearing flesh, the crunch of bones being chewed, and eerie wails.
Something about it felt incomplete.
‘Is this really a Domain?’
The sight was somewhat disappointing. Typically, a Domain was designed to create an environment favorable to its user.
A mage who wielded fire might fill their Domain with swirling flames erupting in all directions, while a water mage could summon a torrential downpour accompanied by thunder.
Even those who wielded close-combat weapons like swords or axes were no exception.
They could become a general leading vast armies or possess the power to overturn the laws of reality through sheer will.
That was what a mental image was meant to be. However, Petel’s Domain was entirely different.
“……”
The more Ian looked around, the deeper his frown became.
Death was thickly woven into this place. It was a tragic space filled with nothing but suffering and despair.
Ian turned back to Petel. He stood there with a somewhat weary expression.
It was said that the moment after a Domain was deployed was the best time to strike its caster, and it seemed that wasn’t a lie.
However, charging in recklessly wasn’t an option when he had no idea what role this space played.
“I’ve seen many Domains before, but this is the first time I’ve encountered one as incomplete as this.”
“Is that so? Quite the harsh assessment.”
Petel gave a wry smile and nodded.
His gaze wasn’t directed at Ian but was instead focused on the surroundings, as if he were engraving them into his memory.
He appeared defenseless, yet the dense dark mana emanating from his body made it impossible to rush in recklessly.
The only silver lining was that, rather than overlaying his mental image onto the space, he had merely added it on top, which meant the flames still remained here and there.
Ian was quietly expanding their scale, seizing control of them.
Whether Petel was unaware of this or simply too confident in his Domain, he continued speaking leisurely.
“Still, for my first attempt at deploying a Domain, isn’t it rather decent? I haven’t named it yet, but I find this space quite to my liking.”
“This desolate place?”
“Of course. I had a vague idea of what it would be like. If there was a defining moment in my life, it would be this one. A scene I will never forget, that I cannot forget, that I must not forget. It isn’t beautiful. It’s grim and miserable. But at the same time, it is the past I longed to change.”
“The Outer God you believe in must have promised to change the past for you, didn’t it?”
“How could one alter a past that has already passed? No matter how great an Outer God may be, interfering with the timeline is beyond possibility. I don’t know… but the Fourth Sovereign, Hamir, possesses the Authority known as ‘Against Heaven.’”
“……”
“To overturn the heavens, to overturn the laws… Perhaps that Authority could even reverse time itself.”
Ian remained silent as he listened to Petel’s words.
His conjecture was sharp. After all, wasn’t Abella, Hamir’s Champion, the decisive factor in Ian’s regression?
Abella had achieved an unparalleled feat—slaying an Outer God.
Yet she was not satisfied with that. Instead, she claimed it was a failure and declared she would start over.
She must have been able to regress selectively. And at that moment, Ian was caught up in it.
“If that’s the case, then why is Hamir leaving this world as it is? If time can be reversed, then shouldn’t they have prevented the Outer Gods from coveting the world?”
“They might already be doing so.”
Petel’s expression shifted subtly. As if he had encountered a new perspective. He was momentarily at a loss for words, then slowly nodded.
“I see. So even this moment is part of that process? To create a better world?”
“Sovereigns are not gods. Even the Outer Gods, despite being called deities, are not omnipotent. They are simply referred to as ‘gods.’ They are transcendent beings, just like the Sovereigns.”
“…So what are you saying?”
“That your resentment is directed at the wrong target.”
Petel took a step toward Ian. Ian drew upon his mana.
“Hm, you may be right. Perhaps my blade should be aimed at the Outer Gods instead. Yes… the Sovereigns must be striving to protect this world. What I went through was simply misfortune. I was just one of many victims. But in the end, that doesn’t really matter.”
Petel clenched and unclenched his fist, lightly bouncing in place. His gaze was sharply fixed on Ian.
“Even if you are correct.”
With a cold smile, Petel slowly opened his mouth.
“I despise the Twelve Sovereigns who claim to protect the world. If they are truly protecting it, why do these tragedies keep repeating? Why is the situation not improving? Why must we still live in fear of the Outer Gods? People like us… our homes are slowly being taken from us as time goes on.”
“…Are you asking me for an answer?”
“I’m just talking. Indulge me. You see, they’re only guarding their own domains. Perhaps they are solely focused on preserving their Authority and their positions. Maybe… they are even orchestrating this situation on purpose.”
What gleamed in Petel’s eyes was distrust and suspicion toward the Sovereigns.
“If everyone were happy, who could truly define that as happiness? Happiness can only be understood in the presence of suffering and sacrifice. When one person’s desires are fulfilled, it means another has failed.”
Ian silently watched Petel while gripping his platinum sword.
“What are you trying to say?”
“If the Twelve Sovereigns are gradually losing ground to the Outer Gods due to their lack of power, then this world is bound to perish sooner or later. It’s just a matter of when. If that’s the case, then wouldn’t it be wiser to abandon the Sovereigns and seek survival by serving the Outer Gods instead?”
“Not at all. You and I must have completely opposite perspectives. The more dire the situation, the more I believe we must distance ourselves from the Outer Gods.”
“Is that so? It seems you think that by defeating the Outer Gods, you can save the people. That’s quite the hero’s mindset.”
Hearing that, Ian flicked his hand lightly.
Fwoooosh!!!
Flames burst violently along his forearm. Even in this environment, where a heavy sense of oppression weighed upon him, Bane of Evil did not waver in the slightest.
Their exchange of words, despite their intent to kill each other, served a small purpose.
For Petel, it was to alleviate the burden placed on his body after deploying his Domain.
Ian adjusted himself to this unfamiliar environment.
Now that the preparation was complete—
“Let’s stop talking.”
“Agreed. That’s exactly what I wanted as well.”
Even if it was an insignificant Domain, the act of manifesting one’s mental image consumed an immense amount of mana.
His muscles tightened, and the tension surged.
Swoosh—
Fetel took his stance.
Whoooosh—
The wind gathered around his clenched fist.
As if they had made an unspoken agreement, both took a step forward. Mana erupted from beneath their feet, propelling their bodies forward.
Clang!
The moment the fist and sword collided, a powerful recoil forced them both to a halt.
A fleeting opening. Ian was the first to strike.
The platinum blade surged toward Fetel, flames trailing in its wake, blooming like a brilliant flower in midair.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fetel swiftly extended only his right hand, deflecting each incoming slash while simultaneously gathering the scattered flames.
He was much faster than before deploying his Domain. Yet, for a Domain, the change seemed minimal.
Summoning mere ruins couldn’t be all there was to it.
If it only brought forth the remnants of an unforgettable past, there would be no reason to waste mana in a life-or-death battle.
Was he merely stalling for time? That couldn’t be it.
‘Wait… The sword?’
Laniche—the blade once called by that name—was nowhere to be seen.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, Ian sensed movement closing in from behind.
There was no sound. But he could distinctly tell someone had landed softly at his back.
Swish!
From the front, Fetel’s eyes widened as he threw a punch toward Ian’s chin, forcing him to tilt his upper body backward to dodge.
At the same time, a blade stabbed upward from below behind him. If not for his Insight, he would have focused solely on Fetel and been struck.
He didn’t block the frontal attack. Had the opponent wielded a sword, he would have had more options. Unfortunately, it was a fist, making things tricky.
But that didn’t mean he couldn’t do anything. Ian twisted his body like an acrobat.
“……!”
Fetel’s punch struck empty air. The blade from behind hesitated for a moment.
Using that brief opening, Ian stepped aside and steadied his stance.
‘A woman?’
A woman with her hair tied back stood there, holding the sword once called Laniche, gazing at him with an indifferent expression.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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