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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 184
The flames, which had been trapped in place as if blocked by an invisible barrier, finally dispersed, creating a path.
The silhouette he had seen was no illusion. It was rising.
Petel, who should not have even left behind a trace of ash, was lifting himself up, shrouded in black magic.
Bones grew and settled into place, while nerves and muscle fibers intertwined.
Major organs, including the brain, twitched as they formed and began functioning. He was witnessing the process of a person being created in real time.
“……”
He had seen many bizarre and horrific sights, but this was a first.
The dead returning? It was as if time itself was reversing.
Ian immediately reignited the flames that had briefly receded and engulfed Petel in them.
However, the moment the fire touched Petel’s body, it was drawn in and turned purple.
Fwoooosh!
The flames darkened, shifting from purple to black. He could no longer control them.
In an instant, the fire slipped from his grasp, surrounding Petel and blocking the incoming flames. A soft, cloth-like material manifested out of nowhere, wrapping around his bare body.
The man who had returned from death slowly opened his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Ah, ah.”
He had Petel’s form and voice, yet what resided within was something entirely different.
The very atmosphere around him was different. The moment Ian met his indifferent gaze—
Boom!
“!?”
A heavy pressure bore down on him, pressing from his head to his shoulders. Before he realized it, dense black magic had saturated the space.
Ian stumbled but quickly steadied himself. Petel watched him and smirked.
“How pitiful. To look as if you might collapse from just this much.”
His tone was unbearably arrogant. But it felt entirely natural, as if this was his true nature.
Ian clenched his teeth and glared at him. The way the man scrutinized him, as if observing a specimen, was unbearable.
“Who are you?”
The one in Petel’s body widened his eyes.
“Oh? How impressive. In your condition, even staying upright must be a struggle, yet you endure.”
It wasn’t empty bravado. His limbs truly felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton.
It was suffocating, as if he were submerged in deep water. Movements that were usually effortless now felt agonizing.
The other man smiled slyly, his gaze unsettling. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he lifted his head and spoke.
“Ah, come to think of it, you asked for my name, didn’t you? I am Ramon, one of those chosen by the Morning Star. But there’s no need for you to remember that. It holds no significance for you. Now, since you’ve heard my name, it’s only fair that I hear yours. Go on, tell me who you are.”
“……”
“Or are you afraid to reveal your name to me?”
“Ian Berger.”
Ramon, wearing Petel’s flesh, smiled.
“How bold. It’s a fine sight to see. Had you tried to conceal it, I would have personally punished you on the spot. After all, I already know everything, which is why I stand before you now.”
“So, you have something to say to me?”
“Precisely. But there’s no need to fear. I am merely a messenger delivering the will of the Morning Star. I am not an executioner who has come to judge you at this moment.”
Ian felt a headache creeping in. It hadn’t been a long conversation, yet the longer it went on, the dizzier and more nauseous he became.
This was the onset of mental corruption.
‘Damn it.’
The atmosphere alone was enough to suggest something was off, but this being was far more dangerous than expected.
Even with spiritual power, it was like this—so for most, simply making eye contact rather than exchanging words would be enough to drive them mad.
‘I should probably meet Bellen, too.’
Once this is over, I’ll have to visit the magic shop, Milky Way, again as soon as possible.
For some reason, the medicine is taking longer to take effect today. In fact, it doesn’t seem as potent as usual.
I have a good guess as to why. Advancing in rank not only enhanced my physical abilities but also increased my resistance to toxins.
There’s a reason the medicine changes with every level.
Since it was produced by one of the Empire’s top pharmaceutical families, I had to settle for at least the minimum effect.
“So, can you skip the unnecessary prattle and get to the point? I’m a busy person, so I’d appreciate it if you could leave soon.”
“Should I call this boldness or blasphemy? I advise you to correct that insolent tone. Either way, it will only make you a thorn in others’ eyes.”
Ian let out a hollow chuckle. To think he was being lectured by an existence from the Outer World.
“If that’s all you showed up to say, I’m disappointed.”
Ian tilted his head slightly, his voice cold.
“Judging by your appearance, you must be an apostle of the Outer Gods. The Outer World must be quite peaceful.”
I’d heard that the dimensional barrier prevented incursions from the Outer Sea. But considering the Faceless One and how they keep finding ways around it, it seems like something they could break through if they truly set their minds to it.
“You know nothing. A truly lamentable thing.”
The angel’s voice sank deep, as if mocking his ignorance.
“Did you think the Outer World would be any different? It is no different from this world. It is teeming with countless raiders.”
“The Morning Star you revere is also one of those raiders, isn’t it?”
“No. I can say with certainty. The Morning Star is the light that illuminates the Dark Sea, the beacon guiding lost souls within it. That light will not waver, even in the midst of chaos.”
Ramon’s gaze sharpened.
“However, the light of the Morning Star is not granted to just anyone. It is a blessing given only to those who follow with faith. I shall grant you one last opportunity to choose. Will you submit? Will you wander lost in a world swallowed by darkness, or will you follow the Morning Star and move forward through the abyss?”
“Are you certain?”
“Of what?”
“That this world will be swallowed by darkness.”
“Yes. How long do you think the so-called sovereigns you follow can hold out? It won’t last long. One side has already been breached.”
Ian heard something he couldn’t ignore.
‘Breached?’
He didn’t ask for clarification. He had a vague idea of what it meant, and there was no need to be shaken by it.
Ramon, as if observing his reaction, continued speaking while holding his gaze.
“The rest will soon fall before the flow of time. You must know that this world is weakening, like a crumbling fortress wall. In the end, it will collapse like a sandcastle.”
“We’ll see about that. I believe things won’t go as you expect.”
Much had changed since the regression.
Even small actions, seemingly insignificant, had chipped away at the might of the El Carda Empire. That alone was enough to prove that hope was not lost.
He didn’t know how many more times the Hero, Abella, could regress—or which regression this was—but at the very least, in this moment, they were advancing toward a better future.
“Is that so?”
As if mocking such vain hope, Ramon spread his arms wide.
“Then behold. You have not chosen the lesser evil but the worst possible option!”
The dark energy that had blanketed the area vanished, as if it had never existed.
The breath that had been caught in his throat was released, but before he could even feel relief, a heavy surge of mana erupted from above.
Rumble—
Ian instinctively lifted his head to look at the sky.
He knew better than anyone that taking his eyes off a threatening opponent was the worst mistake one could make, but in this situation, he had no choice. He needed to grasp the situation.
Boom, boom!
Amidst the swirling storm clouds, radiant beams of light poured down in sync with the resonating tremors.
It was a spectacular sight. But within that otherworldly brilliance, a chilling sense of dread coiled around him.
Even from a distance, his skin tingled as if pricked by countless needles.
And soon, he saw figures descending as if caught in a raging current of light.
‘That is….’
Was there even a need to wonder? They must be beings akin to the monsters that followed the Fallen Star.
The light served as a bridge between the heavens and the earth, and their numbers were staggering.
Easily in the hundreds. Perhaps even thousands—or tens of thousands. Moreover, their sizes varied immensely.
“Hah.”
It was absurd. That a ritual conducted by a mere few hundred fanatics could produce a sight akin to the end of the world—it was beyond belief.
It meant that the Fallen Star was truly going all out. A shiver ran down his spine.
‘The Faceless One, the Fallen Star….’
Amusingly, both seemed deeply wounded in their pride now that their plans had gone awry.
‘How very human of them—for beings who call themselves gods.’
Pathetic. What sort of gods were they? They possessed overwhelming power, yet their minds were narrow and petty.
Ian shifted his gaze back to Ramon, who stood before him.
Perhaps he had spent all his strength opening the gate to the heavens, as his body was rapidly disintegrating, scattering like sand in the wind.
Yet, even now, his eyes remained locked onto Ian.
“This will be but a small trial upon this world. If you survive, we shall meet again soon.”
Unlike the ominous presence he exuded upon appearing, Ramon vanished in an instant.
As if he had never existed at all. Not a single trace of him remained.
Would it have been better to fight a direct apostle of an Outer God? Or was this endless horde of the Outer God's vanguard the lesser evil?
“This is really going to be a pain.”
Perhaps, considering he had been given another chance to live, the price for it wasn’t too steep. Ian let out a heavy breath.
“I caused this. So I have to take responsibility.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have recklessly volunteered to be bait for Verdan.
‘I should’ve just kept my head down.’
But what good would regrets do now? Ian let out a dry chuckle as he tightened his grip on his sword.
Wuuung—!
The platinum blade responded, as if offering its support.
Just as he was about to draw in the surrounding flames, Ian caught sight of something streaking through the night sky—a massive pillar of fire surging upward, colliding against the cascading light.
And in its wake—
KWAHAAAAAAAA!!!!
A tidal wave of flames engulfed the battlefield.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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