------------------
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
------------------
Chapter 226
Western border region of the Kingdom of Rahendra.
Fwoooosh—
The Dragon God's flames still burned fiercely outside the fortress.
Completely blocked by a pure white barrier, but to those inside the castle, it looked as if the flames could engulf them at any moment.
Because of that, most people had long fled the castle, abandoning their homeland, and only a few fearless mages remained, watching the clash of gods with awe-struck expressions.
“The fire mana is still beautiful today…”
“Fire mana? That flame contains all powers. As a Water Meister, I can say for certain. Even water mana is adding its strength to that flame.”
“How does that make any sense? How can opposing mana types combine their power?”
“That’s exactly why that flame is extraordinary.”
The mages fearlessly approached the front of the light barrier and stared at the Dragon God’s flame.
Perhaps it was because they had long grown indifferent to the fire that had been burning for dozens of days.
Their curiosity outweighed their concern for their own safety.
“Water mana in that flame… That’s nonsense. You’re just spouting nonsense because we’re inside the barrier.”
“Come now. You know my skills, don’t you? I’m a 4-circle Water Meister.”
“Hah. Trying to flex your circle rank? I’m a 4-circle Fire Meister myself. I’m telling you, that’s pure flame.”
“Um… I don’t think it’s pure flame. I can clearly sense wind mana too.”
As the Fire and Water Meisters were arguing—
The Wind Meister standing nearby quietly spoke up.
“No way! That’s pure flame!”
“I-I’m sure of it.”
“See? They’re saying other elemental mana is mixed in too.”
The Fire Meister simply couldn’t believe it.
That unending flame, while a disaster for the city—
To him, as a Fire Meister, it was so magnificent that he had dreamed of recreating it at least once before he died.
And now they’re saying that this great flame is just a mishmash of various elemental mana?
“Hmph! What do you all know about flame magic! That’s pure fire mana!”
Bang. Bang.
The Fire Meister pounded the barrier and shouted.
Startled by his actions, the surrounding mages raised their voices in shock.
“You hit the barrier? A-Are you insane?”
What if the barrier, bestowed directly by the Celestial God, were to break?
As the surrounding mages shouted, the Fire Meister flinched—
But he couldn’t back down like this.
With a stubborn expression, he retorted.
“It’s a barrier given by the Celestial God. Something like this won’t damage it!”
“Good grief. That stubbornness… Fine, let’s just say you’re right. Now take your hand off it.”
“Hmph. Hmph. Why’d you have to bring up pointless stuff…”
Ssshh.
As the Water Meister said that, the Fire Meister—unable to bear the sharp gazes of the people around him—slowly removed his hand.
However—
“Uh…”
“L-Look over there…!”
“A handprint…”
On the Celestial God's barrier—
There was a clearly visible handprint, unmistakably belonging to the Fire Meister.
And from that very spot,
The barrier slowly began to fade.
At the same time,
Flames surged in through the small breach.
“Th-That lunatic…!”
“G-Get back!”
The Meisters were shocked and all began to flee, hastily activating their mana suits.
No matter how dedicated they were to magic research, no one could ignore a situation where the barrier was breaking.
“Uh… Uh… This can’t be happening… N-No!”
But the one who had caused all this—
Only the Fire Meister was frozen in panic, denying the situation.
Over a petty argument, he had touched the barrier and personally brought down the protective shield of humanity…
‘There’s no way the divine barrier would fall from just a simple touch like that!’
As he stood in denial, unable to move—
The massive flames came rushing toward him.
Boom!
Something fell from the sky, and a powerful shockwave struck him, sending his body flying.
“M-My mana suit…!”
Only after being flung from the flames by the shock did the Fire Meister snap back to his senses and hurriedly equip his mana suit.
And then, looking up at the sky—
He saw a man with blue skin standing where he had just been.
‘That man…’
Six large swords floated behind his back, and he stood unfazed before the massive wall of flames.
Seeing that, the Meister recalled a certain individual.
‘Six swords. That’s… the Emperor’s?’
The Emperor of the Starn Empire had suddenly appeared.
He was said to wield six swords and command divine power.
‘But… was his skin always that color?’
That final question passed through his mind—
As the Meister’s body fell from the fortress wall.
Boom!
‘I didn’t expect a human would touch the Celestial God’s barrier.’
Even if many mages were obsessed with research—
To be experimenting right in front of the Dragon God’s flames, which threatened to engulf the fortress—
And even go so far as to tamper with the barrier?
‘I was originally supposed to be the one to break it…’
Kaylen recalled the order given by the Celestial Demon God this morning.
[After absorbing the Six Swords, you said you remembered your vow to protect humanity?]
“…Yes.”
[Then you break through the Empire’s border. Since you have to protect humanity, you should be able to draw out even more power.]
This was after Kaylen had torn Arashiel to shreds yesterday.
From the beginning, the Celestial Demon had planned to use the card that was Kaylen.
Because it was unclear how Kaylen would act after reclaiming the Six Swords, the Celestial Demon intended to wear him out.
‘So the Celestial Demon is attacking the Dragon God from a different direction.’
Without explaining the details of the operation—
He simply ordered Kaylen to extinguish the dragon’s flames at the border.
It felt like he didn’t fully trust him.
[What are you doing! Move!]
And above Kaylen, Arashiel—reduced to a fragment of Sun Stone—was shouting.
As if she'd forgotten how completely she was torn apart yesterday, her voice was nothing short of hysterical.
“What?”
[Ah. N-No… I meant hurry up and go.]
But when Kaylen looked up at her with a piercing gaze, her tone immediately shrank.
If she messed around again while the Six Swords were fully colored, her Sun Stone body might be shattered next.
‘Well, since I’m being watched... I guess I’ll pretend to fight.’
Six Sword Path
Second Sword
Sword Rain
The Sword of Wind and the Sword of Light flew into the sky, where the flames of the Dragon God raged.
They soon merged, rapidly expanded, and took the place of the clouds in the sky.
“Fall.”
At Kaylen’s downward gesture—
The blades quickly fragmented and scattered.
Each piece became a raindrop of swords that began to fall.
Chiiiiiik—!
As the sword rain fell—
The flames that had begun melting the fortress walls after the Celestial God’s barrier was broken began to slowly weaken.
‘T-That… is putting out the fire?’
From above, Arashiel couldn’t believe the sight she was seeing.
Even the Celestial Demon had struggled to suppress the Dragon God’s flames—
‘This kind of sword rain… feels like even I… could do it…’
Even though she’d been shredded by Kaylen, Arashiel was still a veteran among the Moon Clan.
With the level of mana displayed by the Third Sword (이검 三劍), she too could replicate it.
‘Does he really… have a special way to suppress the Dragon God?’
Chiik—
Chiiiiiiik—!
The fire that seemed like it would never die, even in a thousand years, gradually faded.
And in contrast, the sword rain expanded its range.
It extinguished the flames creeping toward the fortress walls and even blocked the waves of fire completely.
Kaylen watched the vanishing flames and smiled faintly.
—Dragon God. You’re putting on quite the show.
The Six Sword of Alzass, practically Kaylen’s true body,
Spoke from that place, directing his voice to the Six Sword slumbering within the Dragon God’s body.
—…Did the Celestial Demon really say today was the day of the operation?
—Yes. Can’t you tell by the way the Moon Clan has transformed?
—That’s why… I can’t trust you so easily.
Kaylen furrowed his brow.
The Celestial Demon, the Dragon God—
These so-called gods were all too suspicious.
—The flames right in front of you. Your Infinity is spreading so wide, doesn't that actually make it easier to erase them? If I had turned into your enemy, I would’ve used Starfall right away. Wouldn’t I?
—Th-That’s…
—Or what, should I really switch sides now? I mean, I’ve already turned into one of the Moon Clan anyway.
At Kaylen’s irritated voice, the Water God within the Dragon God quickly intervened.
—I-I’m sorry, Lord Kaylen. I’ll rein them in.
—Good. I hope this doesn’t happen again.
—…My apologies.
Right after Kaylen spoke—
Thududududuk—!
Even before the sword rain fell, the flames began to retreat on their own.
Earlier, the clash between fire and swords looked somewhat convincing.
But now, the flames vanished even before the rain reached them.
[W-What is this…?]
In her Sun Stone state, Arashiel couldn’t begin to comprehend what was happening.
‘Tch. Should’ve kept up the act like before.’
They should’ve clashed a bit before fading.
What’s the point of getting scared off before anything even happens?
Though thinking that to himself, Kaylen outwardly acted cocky and spoke deliberately.
“Do you see how the flames flee on their own? This is the rain of swords—infused with the blade that can destroy stars.”
[…Keh. Still, you do have some petty tricks.]
“So now, I just keep advancing?”
As Kaylen pointed toward the flames retreating like the ebb of the tide,
The Sun Stone shimmered a few times, and instead of Arashiel, the voice of the Celestial Demon came through.
[Yes. Keep advancing for now. I’ll also strike from the north and south soon.]
“Understood.”
In front of the Celestial Demon’s voice, Kaylen bowed respectfully.
Outwardly, he continued spreading the sword rain across the field.
“Vanish.”
He bombarded the Dragon God’s flames—
—The Celestial Demon says he’ll attack from the north and south.
—…Really?
—He doesn’t trust me completely either, just like you. So don’t pretend to know too much ahead of time or act like you’re too prepared.
—Of course! Since I’ll retreat to Geysir anyway, I’ll pretend to panic and run away like it’s a surprise attack.
—Water God… Can you control things too?
—Of course. I’m the one controlling the flames in front of you right now.
So that’s why he was so cooperative.
It had been the Water God manipulating them.
—Good. Let me know if more information comes in.
—Okay! Thanks!
Outwardly, Kaylen kept dousing the flames—
But through his true body, he continued receiving detailed updates on the Celestial Demon’s movements.
At first, their collaboration seemed shaky,
But thanks to the Water God’s active support, it was working out well.
‘At this rate, we’ll all reach the target without taking heavy losses.’
And their final destination—
The place where they’d strike back at the Celestial Demon—
Was the imperial capital of Geysir, where the Dragon God had once resurrected.
------------------
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
------------------
