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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 244
The castle discovered on the far side of the moon was not in a normal state.
The lower part of the castle was buried in the ground, with only the upper part protruding above the surface.
Even the parts that were exposed were cracked and crumbling in places.
At a glance, it looked like a castle abandoned and left in neglect.
‘I can feel dark mana.’
However, Kaylen could sense an immense dark mana surging from within.
He recalled the story the Celestial Demon God had just told him.
‘The Dark Castle… was it said to be the stronghold to preserve the clan’s lineage?’
A castle the Theia clan built as their final structure in the solar power plant.
Perhaps because it was their last legacy, even in its half-destroyed state, it still contained such dark mana.
[Lord Kaylen. Are you thinking of entering that place?]
“I am.”
The will of the Water God, dwelling in Kaylen’s sword, spoke to him.
[However, there is now barely any mana left in the Six Sword.]
“I know. If I use Moon Slayer one more time, that’ll be the end.”
[Then wouldn’t it be better to go to the near side of the moon and replenish your strength?]
“You mean by absorbing sunstones?”
[Yes.]
“That would be the safer route, true. But if we waste time like that, who knows what the Celestial Demon God might do. Dragging out the battle on the moon seems like exactly what he wants.”
[Is that so……]
Though he wasn’t certain what the Celestial Demon God was aiming for, Kaylen felt that he couldn’t afford to delay any longer.
It was closer to a hunch than a conclusion based on solid evidence.
But Kaylen trusted his instincts completely.
[However, if you use that sword one more time… Lord Kaylen, your very existence may disappear.]
“It’s fine. I exist on Earth.”
Of the Six Swords, two were on Earth.
That was enough.
At least that’s what Kaylen believed, but the Water God’s voice was heavy.
[Do you really believe that is the same being as the current Lord Kaylen? Four swords crossed to the moon, and two remain on Earth. No matter how you look at it, the true self is you here on the moon. What’s on Earth is merely a clone.]
“……What exactly are you trying to say?”
[Instead of willingly walking into death by entering the Dark Castle, I’m asking you to value your life.]
He understood what the Water God’s will was trying to say.
Even if two swords remained on Earth, they were not Kaylen himself, but mere avatars of him.
So it was telling him not to recklessly throw away his life just because of that, not to wield the sword at the cost of his own self.
And this—
“This sounds like your own situation. Fragment of the Water God.”
It was a message that also applied to the Water God’s will, if the roles were reversed.
[……Yes. That is correct.]
And the Water God’s fragment readily admitted to Kaylen’s words.
[The moment I left Earth and came to the moon, I effectively became an independent being, separate from the Water God. At this distance, even the Water God cannot control me.]
“So now that you’re on the verge of vanishing like this… you’ve started to want to live.”
[Yes, that’s right. If you draw out all the power of the Six Swords, then I too will have no choice but to disappear, just like the Earth God did earlier.]
“I see.”
Step. Step.
Kaylen began walking toward the Dark Castle.
The Kaylen on Earth and the Kaylen on the Moon—
They were the same person, but ever since their mana connection was severed upon arriving on the Moon,
they had become two separate beings.
Which one was the “real” Kaylen probably didn’t matter much.
They were both the real Kaylen; it was just that they had split afterward.
‘And now that I’ve become separated from the one on Earth… if the Kaylen on the Moon dies, then that’s the end of me.’
If he used Moon Slayer even once more here, he would inevitably die from mana depletion.
Even if he were lucky enough to hold out by absorbing sunstones and lunar mana, that would only be barely sustaining his life—never a fundamental solution.
‘If I burn my last remaining strength with Moon Slayer, it’ll be near impossible to build up power again from the bottom.’
Right now, the mana he retained from Earth was what kept his core stable. Thanks to that, he could refine and absorb the Moon’s mana.
But if he used up all his strength with Moon Slayer, things would change.
His shaken foundation would become even more unstable as he absorbed the Moon’s mana.
Having reached the peak of the Six Sword Path, Kaylen might no longer be able to maintain the Golden Sword.
That’s how incompatible the mana of the Moon was.
If the mana of Earth, his foundation, were completely gone, it would be akin to having his very roots overturned.
From a logical standpoint, the Water God’s advice was correct.
It would be better to replenish his depleted mana and then return.
If he steadily absorbed both the sunstones on the Moon’s front side and the dark mana on its far side, he could probably build up enough mana to use Moon Slayer one more time.
“But that’s unfortunate. I’m going forward.”
[……I see.]
Subduing the Celestial Demon God was more important than his own death.
Kaylen’s resolve was unshakable.
[You truly are unwavering. Just as I believed.]
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Then, as Kaylen pressed forward, a bluish light filled the Six Swords that followed behind him.
A torrent of new mana surged into the swords.
It was the mana released by the Water God within the Water Sword.
“……What is this?”
[Just in case something like this happened… I prepared it. My will that resides in the sword will now finish its role by supplying you with mana.]
As Kaylen received the Water God’s mana, he furrowed his brow.
He appreciated the mana, but if she was going to give it, she could’ve just done so from the start.
“That question from before… were you testing me?”
[I apologize. I had no choice but to see which you valued more: destroying the Celestial Demon God, or survival.]
“You could’ve just given it from the start… tch.”
[I’m truly sorry.]
Even as he clicked his tongue, Kaylen absorbed all the mana the Water God provided without leaving a trace behind.
The mana the Water God had stored and passed on through the sword was substantial.
‘At this level, I won’t cease to exist even if I use Moon Slayer.’
It wasn’t to the extent that he needed to use Moon Slayer twice.
Even after using that sword, he no longer needed to fear death.
Kaylen continued walking, sensing the will of the Water God within the sword fading away.
‘This place… it’s almost like the source of all dark mana.’
Inside the Dark Castle.
As Kaylen observed the interior, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.
From the outside, it simply looked like a fortress made of black rock.
But from the inside, the stone walls were densely embedded with black mana stones—Moonstones.
Srrr—
As the uninvited guest Kaylen entered the castle, dark mana erupted all at once from the Moonstones and tried to engulf him.
Kaylen welcomed it instead.
‘I should absorb this as well.’
Earth’s mana was still serving as his core.
That meant he could devour the Moon’s dark mana and refine it into his own.
If it came to him on its own like this, he had no reason to refuse.
“Devour it.”
At Kaylen’s command—
His six golden swords flew out all at once toward the dark mana.
Just like the eclipse method that had extinguished the Earth God.
They began converting the dark power of the Black Castle into his own.
‘My mana is steadily filling.’
Even as he continued forward without slowing his steps, Kaylen absorbed all the mana approaching him.
The dark mana could not resist the Six Swords at all.
Still, it instinctively poured forth, only to be absorbed by the swords moments later.
Eventually, the situation came to an end.
[Withdraw.]
A voice echoed from deep within the castle—it was the voice of the Celestial Demon God.
At that command, the dark mana vanished as if it had never been there.
Only the Moonstones embedded in the walls remained, quietly emitting faint traces of dark mana.
It was clear that the Celestial Demon God had complete control over the Dark Castle.
“You really are alive and well.”
Though he had been thoroughly pierced by Moon Slayer earlier, the Celestial Demon God’s voice was calm and composed.
Watching the dark mana disappear, Kaylen muttered those words.
Then, from beyond the castle in the depths of the darkened space, the Celestial Demon God’s voice rang out.
[So, you’ve followed me all the way here.]
“I have to see this through to the end, Celestial Demon God.”
[Swordsman, will you not return? I will open a gate for you to Earth.]
The Celestial Demon God’s calm voice resounded throughout the fortress.
[I have already obtained the Divine Word and fulfilled my goal. I have found a way to revive the people of Theia without having to destroy Earth.]
“So what?”
[I will not interfere in the affairs of Earth any longer. If the moonlight touching Earth concerns you, I can even withdraw that. So return, swordsman. I am no longer your enemy.]
“I’ll return you to Earth, so spare me.”
In the end, that was the gist of what the Celestial Demon God was saying.
Kaylen heard those words and let out a small laugh.
“How unlike you… pretending to be weak. If anything, that just gives me more reason to press forward and subdue you.”
[Pretending to be weak, you say. Hah… Is that truly what you think? This is mercy. If you come in here, I’ll take damage too… but you will surely die. You were born of Earth. How long do you think you can keep wielding that piercing sword? Once you run out of mana, you’ll vanish for good.]
Step. Step.
Kaylen didn’t stop walking. In fact, he began to move faster. The dark mana did not obstruct his steps—rather, it withdrew.
Deep within the Dark Castle.
The path he took did not grow darker. Instead, it was gradually illuminated by the golden light of Kaylen’s sword.
[So you choose to reject my mercy.]
“I intend to leave nothing behind to cause future harm.”
[Very well. Erder.]
The Celestial Demon God chanted his Divine Word.
Chiiiiik—
Smoke rose from the Moonstones that had been emitting dark mana from all directions.
Soon after, the dark mana completely vanished.
At the same time, cracks ran all across the black stones that formed the castle.
[The will of my people… will now fully gather as one.]
Ku-ku-ku-kung—!
The entire castle shook violently and began collapsing rapidly.
Kaylen quickened his pace, dodging the black stones falling from the ceiling, racing toward the heart of the castle where the mana raged.
The Moon’s low gravity—
Before the broken fragments of the castle could fully crash down,
Kaylen’s form arrived at the place where the Celestial Demon God’s mana was pouring out.
“That is…”
The center of the castle.
It should have been the darkest place in the Dark Castle, but instead, it was the brightest.
There, a blood-red magic circle had been layered seventeen times over.
And he was there, too.
The Celestial Demon God—his core destroyed.
Only fragments of his face and wings of light remained as he turned to face Kaylen.
[It is… over now—]
Kaylen didn’t let him finish. He summoned all six swords together.
Six Sword Path, Transcendence Realm — Moon Slayer.
‘That magic circle… it cannot be left alone.’
Kaylen’s instincts were screaming that the true fight wasn’t just with the Celestial Demon God, but that ominous magic circle.
Without hesitation, he unleashed Moon Slayer.
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[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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