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Chapter 222
Beyond the space invisible to the naked eye, something slowly began to take shape.
It was still unseen by others.
What was fully revealed was something that far exceeded my expectations.
Its diameter appeared to be several kilometers wide—an immense size.
Countless tentacles stretched out through the great forest, creeping not only toward the elven cities but also slithering toward the World Tree.
The tentacles are covered in grotesque eyes and mouths filled with sharp teeth, so numerous that they are impossible to count.
And those tentacles all connect to a single body.
And the moment I saw what was above that body—
Cough!
I coughed a few times and spat out the blood that had pooled in my mouth.
“Shit. That’s beyond even an ancient god.”
Just attempting to analyze its true form caused a system overload.
Only a handful of powerful entities I encountered in Labyrinthos were this difficult to comprehend.
The being in front of me now is on that same level.
If my intuition is right, this thing might be a physical manifestation of the Red Moon itself.
Of course, there are plenty of entities that can drive someone mad just by looking at them, but in those cases, resistance is possible.
However, attempting to analyze something like this from its very origin—as I did—brings a backlash completely unlike mere observation.
This is something that should not be understood.
I gave up on analyzing it without hesitation.
One thing is certain at least.
Whether that thing is the core of the Red Moon or not, once the red mist it emits spreads, it’s all over.
Think about it.
That thing deemed me enough of a threat to imprison me.
So, what options do I have to stop it in this situation?
With the sword of intent I can now use freely beyond the wall, I might be able to land a hit, but that won’t address the root of the problem.
“If that thing’s revolting mist covers the city, it’s game over.”
Already, the mist is slowly oozing out from the creature and extending toward the city.
The red mist wraps around the vegetation of the great forest, twisting everything it touches in strange and unnatural ways.
To stop something of that magnitude, I’d need power on the level of divine authority.
Thanatos, the power of death?
Or perhaps the mechanical god’s heart?
As I pondered, I realized a difference between myself and the others.
“The core of the Red Moon.”
Until now, every Red Moon phenomenon could be nullified by eliminating the central core.
Others seemed to face the same enemies even after defeating them, but when I destroyed the core with my own hands, it never resurrected.
“Librarian.”
[Confirmed.]
“Find the core that's causing the Red Moon.”
[The core currently causing the Red Moon exists inside the being you are observing.]
“Goddamn disease.”
This difficulty is just brutal.
Even for me, wielding the full power of a Mind Master, eliminating that thing would be hard.
It’s like the final boss appeared where only a mid-boss should be showing up.
Just attempting to analyze it broke through my immense defenses and counterattacked.
A way to break through that monster’s guard...
The only possible option is Luna, but unfortunately, she used up most of her power from the bracelet when she defeated the demon dragon Baril.
She no longer has the strength to forcibly neutralize a being this powerful.
“Damn it!! Hold them off!!”
“AAAAARGHH!!!”
“Healers! Over here!!”
Screams echoed from all directions.
The undead fought bravely, and Baril, now a Shadow Dragon, unleashed breath after breath toward the enemy, but their numbers didn’t dwindle.
If we don’t deal with the root cause, the elven city will be destroyed tonight.
“Where is Lord Romila!?”
The head of the Ocelon family, who had been firing arrows at my appearance, rushed to me and asked.
I briefly explained the situation over there.
“He’s injured and receiving treatment. The situation here seemed urgent, so I came first.”
I told him we took down the demon tree, but that something far worse remained.
“W-What is that…?”
Just then, an elf collapsed to the ground and spoke in a trembling voice.
And as if it were contagious, other elves stopped fighting and stared blankly toward the other side of the forest.
Ah.
They’re starting to see it now too.
That thing is spreading red mist and feeding on the power of the World Tree, gradually making its presence known.
Even the tallest trees of the great forest seem like children’s toys in comparison.
Its overwhelming presence seems to reach the clouds themselves.
“Elder Ocelon. How much can you see right now?”
At my question, he trembled and answered,
“Endless tentacles… and a horrific body… but I cannot see above that.”
“That’s fortunate. It’s better not to know.”
That thing... No, I can't even imagine what would happen if they saw what’s above it.
“It—it’s coming!!”
As the creature, which had been standing still while emitting mist, began slowly advancing toward the World Tree, the elves turned pale and screamed.
“Baril.”
At my command, the Shadow Dragon Baril, who had been firing breath attacks, descended behind me.
Chhhhzzzzz...
He dug his claws firmly into the massive barrier, drew an immense amount of high-pressure energy into his mouth, and unleashed it.
ZZZZZZZZZAAAAANG!!!
The crimson breath burned through everything in its path as it flew toward the creature.
But it did not stop the monster’s advance.
Baril drove his claws even deeper into the wall and, after stopping his breath, began gathering mana again.
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This time, the energy was more intense than before.
BOOOOM!!!
With a tearing sound, a blackened breath exploded forth, carving a massive scar into the earth and striking the creature.
It was like a beam slicing upward toward the sky.
The impact was so great that even Baril’s massive body was pushed backward from the recoil, and the elves, stunned, forgot to breathe as they stared blankly at the sight.
Everything within the breath's range was reduced to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
Moreover, the rapidly advancing enemies nearby were also completely turned to dust and scattered in the wind.
But the creature remained unscathed.
That must mean brute force alone wouldn’t work.
Baril let out a short growl as he looked at the still-intact monster, then began preparing another breath.
“Baril, stop. Just deal with the ones approaching.”
That massive thing isn’t the only enemy here.
If it doesn’t work, there’s no need to waste it.
“Stop… Young elves, prepare to retreat.”
“Lord Ocelon?!”
“That thing cannot be stopped. Not even a Swordmaster’s Aura would leave a scratch. No, even getting close would lead to death by contamination.”
His voice echoed across the barrier.
“So flee. We’ll stay and make our final stand here.”
He had made his decision.
If it couldn’t be stopped, then at least the young elves should escape, while he and the others stayed behind to fight until the end.
“I’m sorry, young lord. I won’t be able to keep my promise.”
In such a situation, it would’ve been understandable for him to shout, “It’s all your fault this happened!”
But he didn’t.
Of course, this situation wasn’t something I orchestrated, and even if I hadn’t been here, the same outcome would’ve likely occurred.
I let out a short sigh and replied.
“That won’t do.”
Why did I go through all this trouble?
I helped, and now you’re all going to die?
Slowly, I drew my cursed blade and neatly gathered the aura within my body.
After crossing the wall, I gained full control over the power wielded by those who had become Mind Masters.
It was different from before when, as a Swordmaster, I merely overclocked myself to mimic a Mind Master’s strength.
While my overwhelming physical abilities allowed me to easily defeat other Swordmasters, and my experience let me gain an edge against higher-level Mind Masters, that was only possible because I had once walked that path myself.
[Intent – Strength]
The elves around me flinched and looked my way.
Even with the overwhelming monster in front of them, their gazes shifted toward me.
[Blue]
My Aura Blade burned with a bright blue light, like the glow of a blue dwarf star.
It held a density dozens of times greater than an ordinary Aura Blade, threatening to burst from the pressure — the power derived from that, combined with the true strength of a Mind Master: the power of intent imbued in the blade.
BOOM!!!
With a twist of my wrist, I raised the sword high above my shoulder.
The blade tip pointed diagonally downward behind my head, burning with blue flame.
“A… a sword imbued with intent… No way…”
Then I dashed forward with a powerful step and swung the sword.
CRACK!!!
The blue slash was released at a speed beyond comprehension.
It far exceeded the speed of sound and carved a massive scar straight through the forest, striking the monstrous figure of the Red Moon.
KRRAK!!
Even though it had previously shrugged off Baril’s breath attack as if it didn’t exist, it couldn’t ignore a blade imbued with a Mind Master’s intent — a massive wound was carved into its body.
The creature staggered heavily and let out a piercing shriek, almost like a ringing in the ears.
This time, unlike with that demonic tree, I won't get stabbed in the back after thinking I killed it.
Its tricks are mostly revealed, and it’s time for me to start unveiling mine.
“Elder Ocelon. I’m going to take that thing down now.”
“Wha… what?! Do you have a way?!”
“Yes. There’s one. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
Despite my bold words, the situation continued to deteriorate.
At least, on the surface.
The World Tree had already lost all its strength and offered no resistance.
The violet corruption coiled tighter around it with each moment.
I couldn’t sense the power of Falling Blossom anymore either.
Something must’ve gone wrong deep within its roots…
“I’ve managed to disable it for a bit. But that won’t mean much unless we deal with the root of the problem.”
“That sword just now… it was imbued with intent? Are you a Mind Master…?”
“Yes.”
“This is unbelievable. But in that case, isn’t this even worse? If a Mind Master-level strike can’t take it down…”
“It’s fine. I confirmed that it can be hurt. Now I just need to keep chipping away at its defenses.”
Hearing my response, Lord Ocelon looked puzzled.
“My lord, how long can you hold out?”
“Not long. Without the World Tree’s blessing, our proud high elemental magic can’t be used.”
“A short while is all I need.”
“Where are you going?!”
“I need to head into the root’s depths for a bit. I need Falling Blossom.”
“Wait! That area is still sealed—”
BOOOOM!!!
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