The Divine Twilight's Return

Chapter 188: Star, Execution Sword (4)

Chang-Sun and Xue Yong weren’t the only ones who ended up on ‘Twilight-Setting Battlefield,’ which manifested over Surtr’s heart. Jin Prezia, Chang-Sun’s subordinate, was on the battlefield because he was nearby when they entered the divine ground. Jin trembled in excitement upon learning about Chang-Sun’s real identity, which had always been a mystery to him.

「A C-Celestial!」Jin shouted. The ‘Divine Twilight’ was the fiend who had killed a myriad of deities and made countless stars plummet from the sky!

Worshiping the ‘Divine Twilight’ was also quite common in Arcadia because many stories told that that was where he was from. Some had even claimed that his way of fighting resembled that of the ‘Cane-Holding Father of Warriors,’ the already deceased Ruling Celestial of <Asgard>, but the ‘Divine Twilight’ was as notorious as he was famous. Hence, he eventually fell, unable to withstand numerous Celestials’ attacks.

‘I can’t believe he’s that Celestial!’ Jin clenched his fists.

Although the Prezia Family was famous, their fame was nothing before that notorious fiend. Jin was lucky enough to become the first subordinate of the man who used to be the ‘Divine Twilight,’ which was a very significant feat. Of course, it wouldn’t be meaningful forever since there were many others in the Undead Army who were equally or even more skilled than him. The Elfin Root and Sinmara alone were beings Jin couldn’t mess around with.

Jin was certain that the warriors who were going to join the Undead Army In the future would be more talented than its current members. Hence, he thought he should become stronger to not lose his title. Jin was certainly still determined to defeat Chang-Sun, but he would only consider that option if Chang-Sun was no longer worthy to be his master.

‘From the looks of it, that’s probably never going to happen.’?Jin shrugged, then thought he should put an end to his battle so he could join Chang-Sun.

When Jin put more energy into the [Frost King’s Greatsword], a powerful [Snowstorm] raged over the ground with him in the center.

Woosh!

「We have unfinished business, don’t we?」Jin said, bringing Czestochowa, who was blankly watching the fight between Chang-Sun and Xue Yong, back to reality. She quickly pulled out a new weapon, but although it was subtle, Jin could certainly see her hands trembling.

The clash between the two Celestials probably came as a big shock to Czestochowa, but it was understandable in some way. For a mortal living in their own small well, a Celestial was capable of breaking their every common knowledge. Unlike Czestochowa, however, Jin was from Arcadia, which was still in the Myth Era. Hence, Jin watched the fight from a totally different perspective. That would be the key factor in determining the victor of this fight.

[Your Subordinate ‘Jin Prezia’ has activated the Skill ‘Frozen Realm’!]

Woosh, woosh, woosh!

From every direction, snow-chilled winds blew and surrounded Jin and Czestochowa.

* * *

『Mireille! Please save Mireille!』

Armand screamed multiple times in Chang-Sun’s head. Holding Mireille Aliano dearly, finding out that Mireille had not only been killed but also used by Armand’s enemy to get to where she was greatly shocked her.

Not wanting to hear Armand’s scream anymore, Chang-Sun deactivated his link with her. Since he did use Armand to lure out Czestochowa, he was already expecting how she would react. With his mind now quiet, Chang-Sun focused on listening to the iron mask’s voice.

[The Effect of the Trait ‘Close-Combat Master’ has been activated, reading the item’s energy!]

The iron mask had been wriggling around from a moment ago as if it wanted to say something.

「… What are you trying to do?」Simon Magus, the man sealed in the iron mask, asked, unable to tell Chang-Sun’s plan at all. Although finding out that Chang-Sun was actually a <Fallen Star> also shocked Simon, it did explain how Chang-Sun crushed him. In fact, Simon felt kind of comforted in knowing that he was defeated by a Celestial.

On top of that, Chang-Sun didn’t only revive the iron mask, which was Simon’s real body. He also engraved into it the part of [Bestla’s Poem] that Simon lacked, giving Simon even greater power, just as he wanted. Even though his power had been reduced because of the limitations of Chang-Sun’s Class, it would be restored—no, Simon might just finally achieve <Transcendence> as soon as Chang-Sun regained his original Class.

However, Simon hadn’t sworn his loyalty to Chang-Sun yet. Born free and evil, he would surely look for an opportunity to stab Chang-Sun in the back. Chang-Sun had to be aware of that as well…

‘So why is he giving me such great power?’ Simon wondered.

If Chang-Sun just wanted Simon’s magic, then erasing Simon’s personality and imbuing a new one in the mask would’ve been his best option. Through the Trait [Close-Combat Master], Chang-Sun could hear Simon’s every question, so Chang-Sun concisely replied, “You’re better than me at utilizing the runes to use <Epic> buffs.”

Chang-Sun also held a deep knowledge of rune magic as Gramps had taught him a great deal about them, but Chang-Sun only used runes as a supplementary tool. He was a fighter, not a wizard. Hence, his rune magic was limited.

If Chang-Sun tried to use an <Epic> that was made up of runes, he naturally wouldn’t be able to activate it. In combat, he would have to put all his attention on the fight at hand, leaving him no time to calculate and cast magic spells that were more advanced than rune magic. However, he really didn’t want to let [Bestla’s Poem] go to waste since he had a feeling that it would be perfect in drawing out his power as a Giant.

That was why Chang-Sun decided to use Simon. Since Cadmus was already in charge of casting magic spells for Chang-Sun’s army of the dead, Chang-Sun could use Simon for personal reasons. Fortunately, Simon had spent over a thousand years studying rune magic, so he had created an organized way of using [Bestla’s Poem]. If Chang-Sun put him in charge of making every necessary preparation to activate [Bestla’s Poem], Simon would prove to be a big help to him. However, doing so would risk putting him in danger.

「Are you asking me to live as your parasite? Have you not considered the possibility of me putting you in danger instead of cooperating?」

Simon couldn’t help feeling pissed about the fact that Chang-Sun was shamelessly daring to enslave him.

“You can say no if you don’t want to since I can do it myself. It’ll take time, but I’ll manage somehow,” Chang-Sun just nonchalantly answered, however.

Simon was momentarily rendered speechless. He knew Chang-Sun wasn’t bluffing about somehow learning how to use [Bestla’s Poem]. After all, Chang-Sun was the one who transcribed every existing part of the poem to the iron mask, which meant his knowledge of runes was just as deep as Simon’s or even greater.

Noticing Simon feeling conflicted, Chang-Sun thought he should give Simon a ‘carrot’ this time. Hence, he offered, “If you promise me your full cooperation, I’ll create a body for you later and grant you a wish.”

Simon realized Chang-Sun had formed a [Mana Pledge] just now. As the word “wish” made Simon’s heart pound, he quietly muttered,「… I might break my promise again.」

“You won’t be able to. You can’t escape from me for as long as you’re my ‘weapon.’” Chang-Sun reminded Simon.

Chang-Sun was right. Simon couldn’t escape Chang-Sun’s control because of his Trait [Close-Combat Master]. The [Zhan Lu Sword] tried to resist fiercely against Chang-Sun, refusing to acknowledge him as its master, but even it was forced to yield in the end. Likewise, if Chang-Sun forced Simon into submission, Simon would have no means to retaliate. As a result, he thought should accept Chang-Sun’s deal while it was still on the table.

“What are you going to do?” Chang-Sun asked for the last time, making Simon come to a decision.

Simon didn’t care about protecting his pride anyway. He had given up on that when Peter the Apostle killed him and put his soul in an iron mask, which was so long ago. Using any means necessary, he would survive and become stronger. That was Simon’s remaining yet ardent desire!

「Fine, I’ll take the deal, but I have one condition.」

“What is it?”

「The Immortal Overlord… Seal the Immortal Overlord’s Guardian too. If you promise to do so, you’ll have my full cooperation.」Simon sincerely requested.

Chang-Sun wondered who the Immortal Overlord Jacque Valentine—the Revenant Clan leader and ‘king’ of France—was to put Simon on such high alert.

“Sure, I’ll do that,” Chang-Sun eventually replied, completing the alliance between the <Fallen Star> and the demigod.

Woosh―!

[Your Subordinate ‘Simon Magus’ has sworn his absolute loyalty to you.]

[His Affection has increased by 50.]

[Your Control over your Subordinate has increased by 60.]

…

[Reciting someone’s ‘Epic’ that is carved inside ‘Bestla’s Mask.’]

[Partially recreating the lost ‘Myth.’]

…

[Activating ‘Bestla’s Poem’!]

The iron mask that Chang-Sun was wearing shone brilliantly. At the same time, dozens of runes flew out from the mask and danced around him. They then landed on and absorbed into Chang-Sun’s collar, arms, waist, legs, and back. Soon after, blinding light illuminated the entire battlefield.

Woosh!

The navy-blue fire that had been swirling around Chang-Sun simultaneously became bigger and more intense. Like a snake climbing up a tree to find food, the fire crawled up Chang-Sun’s arms to get to his upper body, forming a layer over both the [Yuchang Sword] and [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth].

Ooooong!

The divine and demonic swords howled and created different colored Aura Blades. The Spiral Aura, which Chang-Sun had created and developed after passing the Fire Giants’ trials, was about to change once more.

[‘Bestla’s Poem’ has partially been applied to the <Muspelheim> fire!]

[Your Retribution Fire is transforming.]

[Your Control over your Retribution Fire has increased.]

[The density of your Retribution Fire has increased.]

[The compressibility of your Retribution Fire has increased.]

…

After compressing the Retribution Fire, he twisted it into a Spiral Aura, then condensed and twisted it again… Repeating the process several times, the Retribution Fire, which had become an Aura, transformed into something completely different.

[Your Retribution Fire has been compressed to its limit!]

[The heat of your Retribution Fire has reached the maximum level, causing it to transform. Your Retribution Fire has acquired the property of lightning.]

Pzz, pzzzz―!

The most advanced, intense, and hottest form of yang energy was lightning, not fire. A lightning bolt moved across the world, leaving severe damage in its path. With small sparks, the navy-blue lightning energy, which started from the ends of Chang-Sun’s two swords, engulfed him. This was the foundation of <Blood Lightning>, which Chang-Sun hoped to someday acquire and turn into his signature skill!

Charging toward Xue Yong, Chang-Sun fiercely swung the [Yuchang Sword] upward, the lightning energy that sparked from it instantly creating a colossal pillar of fire.

[A verse of ‘Bestla’s Poem’ has been applied: “When Her Majesty swung her sword, a lighting bolt swept across the battlefield.”]

[The Skill ‘Black Mountain King’s First Claw’ has been activated.]

[A flaming lightning bolt rages!]

Rumble!

『Argggh!』

The flaming lightning bolt struck Xue Yong, severing his legs one after another. The sight was truly bizarre.

『You bastard, you bastaaarddd!!!』

As Xue Yong screamed at the top of his lungs, Chang-Sun swung [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] downward. Even at that moment, the lightning energy, which Chang-Sun made by compressing his Retribution Fire, kept developing under the effect of [Bestla’s Poem]. Synchronizing with his [Stigma], the lightning energy merged with the <Darkness> little by little. The myth of the ‘Divine Twilight’ blended into the energy as well, changing its form.

Its color soon changed from navy blue to dark navy. Adding scarlet into it, the energy’s color mutated into violet, then to pure purple. At that very moment, as he assisted Chang-Sun, the color reminded Simon of something.

‘Twilight,’?Simon thought.

As the sun set, marking the end of the day and the beginning of the night, the sky would slowly change from red to violet, then finally becoming tinged with purple. While purple represented a holy king’s authority and nobility, it also sometimes ominously symbolized death, madness, and violence.

‘He’s infusing twilight into the sword.’?

Since twilight’s other name was dusk, perhaps Chang-Sun’s lightning energy could be called…

Dusk Lightning.

There seemed to be no better name for Chang-Sun—no, the ‘Divine Twilight.’

As Simon was having such thoughts…

Slash!

A flaming lightning bolt slashed Xue Yong, destroying his [Human Face].

Crack, boom!

His [Human Face] soon burst like fireworks. In pain, Xue Yong screamed and writhed, his tail fiercely swinging in the air. Before it could hit Chang-Sun’s head, the flaming lightning bolt cut it completely off. His tail, head, sturdy shell… Xue Yong was now completely covered with cracks. The lightning energy of Chang-Sun’s Retribution Fire also scorched the rest of Xue Yong’s body.

Chang-Sun approached Xue Yong, then used the [Yuchang Sword] and [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth], which had been greatly infused with the purple lightning energy, to stab where Xue Yong’s neidan would be with.

Crack.

From deep inside Xue Yong, the sound of something cracking echoed.

『N…o…!』

Xue Yong writhed as hard as he could.

“Yes,” Chang-Sun concisely said, crossing his two swords.

[The Skills ‘Black Mountain King’s Second Claw’ and ‘Black Mountain King’s Third Claw’ has been activated, overlapping each other!]

Two flaming lightning bolts collided and exploded, turning Xue Yong’s insides into pulps.

Woosh…!

At the same time, the navy-blue Fire Giant that had been protecting Chang-Sun—no, the Giant that was now blazing up with purple lightning energy fiercely smacked down Xue Yong's head.

Smash.

The attack instantly pulverized Xue Yong’s head, splattering its pieces all over the place.

Pzzz―!

[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ looks at his disciple with mixed emotions.]