355 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 355 - Everything for Humanity!! The descendants of Zebrick Kassel continually chanted their unique incantations, using their bizarre magic to protect the city. It was an eerie and revolting sight, not just because of the sins they had committed in their past lives. While races like orcs and lizardmen, who generally opposed humans, could be overlooked, even those friendly to humans, like elves and dwarves, turned hostile due to the persecution spearheaded by the revered mage saint, Zebrick Kassel. Persecution? Logan let out a bitter smile involuntarily at this thought. 'As expected, my ancestor conveniently left out anything unfavorable to him.' Zebrick Kassel's grudge against the ascended lords of each race, namely the Nine Gods, was dubious in its righteousness, and his subsequent actions were nothing short of deplorable. Leaving that part out when showing his descendant the journey of his life might suggest he was embarrassed about it, even to himself. ...And, of course, the matter of sacrifices. '9 Gods being lords of other races is still hard to believe, but...' If Zebrick Kassel's true nature was like that, it wouldn't be surprising if others chose not to reveal the path to ascension to him. Logan felt a surge of disdain for his ancestor as he let out a sigh. Just then, something brushed against his leg. "Hmm?" The wolf that had been yawning beside the altar nudged him with its paw, signaling him to read the book again. Having gone through and read a series of mythological stories, Logan had grown accustomed to seeing the wolf as more human-like. "Alright, alright." Logan chuckled, realizing that he had been standing the whole time while reading, and finally sat down. Upon reflection, the protruding altar probably served no purpose other than as a reading desk. Feeling more at ease in his new position, idle thoughts crept into his mind momentarily. However, the moment his eyes returned to the pages, such distractions vanished entirely. "Ah...!" The revelations in the text drew another gasp from Logan. The wolf beside him cast a sidelong glance again, but there was nothing he could do. Magnus. A word from the ancient language meaning 'great,' which also was the old name of the present capital city, Gran. Named before the founding king of Grandia and the contemporary archmages set up the massive walls and magical arrays. 'The old name of Gran...' Logan felt an unexpected fondness for the book's author. 'Indeed, it has become that.' As if responding to an unknown author, Logan recalled the founding myth of Grandia with a smile. A thousand years ago, during the great migration, no proper human nation could stand in the central continent. Hence, Gran, or Grandia, established by gathering human heroes in the eastern continent, truly became humanity's beacon of hope. With their aid during the city's defense, the public sentiment inevitably swung in their favor. Even a young man who retained memories from a previous life could barely express resentment against them. At that time, he was a mere ally who helped save the city, not a leader. He maintained a friendly facade, surreptitiously watching their movements while hiding his true feelings. Through perseverance, the young man finally detected signs similar to those in his past life. Magnus continued to grow, akin to the young man's previous incarnation. However, this time, it wasn't led by the young man and the archmages but by the descendants of Zebrick Kassel. As the city continuously expanded, a few "missing persons" cases started to crop up. The natives, busy celebrating the city's endless growth, paid little mind to the disappearance of a few outsiders. However, the young man reacted sensitively to these vanishings. Ultimately, he unmasked the culprits trying to elevate their realms by sacrificing humans. However, the outcome diverged from the young man's expectations. 'Sigh.' A sharp pang in his chest. Even though Logan hadn't done anything wrong, he felt an unfounded sense of guilt. "Hmm?" At this point, Logan's eyes gleamed with interest. While the improvement of defensive magical arrays was in place to prevent Kassel's tower magic, it was incomplete. It only worked effectively in fortified installations or large cities like Gran. Should he be able to identify those ensnared by the mental magic, it'd certainly ease his worries about them. However, upon reading the next passage, Logan's expectations crumbled. Good, yet not good enough. Learning that people turned into fools was valuable information, but the description of the time taken to fall under the hypnosis was too vague. How long was "a long time," anyway? Months? Years? '…If it's years, that's problematic.' How should he apply this? With a sigh, he thought, having a clue was better than nothing. Thinking positively, Logan continued reading the book. 'This author, my kindred spirit.' For some reason, Logan felt a sense of camaraderie and smiled contentedly. He resolved to craft meticulous strategies based on his future knowledge, as he had already vowed. It seemed easy, but in practice, it proved challenging. Observing the present diverge from the past due to his actions raised concerns of unintended changes. The only effect was increased anxiety. 'Of course, some of it is down to my personality and intellect, but... hmmm?' Come to think of it, did this person also think they weren't smart? 'Sigh.' Realizing the reason for the kinship left him feeling bittersweet. Throughout this process, the young man's power, known as Force, drew immense attention. A phrase uttered by the mage saint before disappearing: – Although not as powerful as mana, it is a discipline attainable and trainable by ordinary humans. Call it Force and spread its use and advocacy among commoners. Initially, the statement had been misinterpreted as belittling Force. It was deemed a power for those unable to wield mana. Perhaps this attitude lingered, making ancient Grandia a stronghold for knights instead? As Logan nodded along, his suspicions were confirmed by an even more astonishing story that followed. The young man and the descendants of Kassel clashed repeatedly across the continent. In most of these battles, the young man emerged victorious—against them directly, as well as against the monsters and other races they manipulated. The tome recorded each of these numerous battles. Though the accounts were condensed, offering only summaries of process and outcome, the sheer volume was staggering. However, the detailed descriptions of Kassel's tower magic and their stratagems clearly conveyed the author's intent quite effectively. "…Remarkable." The extensive length was almost overwhelming, but Logan found it thoroughly worthwhile. It was only after this lengthy record concluded that the narrative shifted to a new story. Sword God? It sounded familiar somehow. Logan tilted his head quizzically, sensing something significant was about to unfold. Isn't this enough of a contribution? Logan briefly wondered, but the reason soon became obvious. "What!?" The phrase was all too familiar. At that moment, Logan understood that the familiarity of the handwriting was no mere illusion. Despite a single additional character thrown in. It was a bit precarious, but by participating in the city's defense, I was able to thwart the orc shaman's assault. For the second time in this incarnation, I protected my city, ‘Magnus.’ Anyone aware of the circumstances couldn't possibly harbor goodwill toward those who claimed to be the heirs of Zebrick Kassel. However, among the sages gathered in Magnus, some defended them, citing the mage saint's past salvation of humanity in the war against the Dragon of Calamity centuries ago. It took a full year just to find a lead. I couldn't help but keep an eye on them without dismissing my suspicions. They were numerous, and I was alone. Even discovering the clue was sheer luck. The villains claimed it was a rogue act and severed their ties with the offender. However, the one I captured bore the legendary traits of Zebrick Kassel—red hair and red eyes. This posed a problem for them. But back then, I didn't realize that my enduring and fierce conflict with Zebrick Kassel's descendants, the Black Serpents, had begun. Despite earning fame through countless victories, I couldn't eradicate the Black Serpents at their core. Driven into a corner, they simply hid from me. Those who command the human psyche had fully concealed themselves, rendering me unable to search an entire continent alone, even if I were called the God of Swords and not an actual deity. The reader of this book likely possesses the power of will or its vision. With the confirmed disappearance of the mage saint, rebellions of other races began in the continent's center. Rumors spread that the land had become uninhabitable for humans. Even elves and dwarves, known for their benevolence, attacked humans, with shocking stories of humans being enslaved and traded in certain regions. The repercussions of the mage saint's persecution returned in full measure to humanity. This caused the population of my city, Magnus, on the continent's eastern edge, to swell. Some predicted that this place, my ancestral homeland, would one day become not just a city but humanity's beacon of hope. Despite rumors, spread among humans more than any other race, that the mage saint devoured children from all over the continent, the fear of the mage saint was indeed greater among humans. As a result, our activities faced significant restrictions. In that process, I publicly revealed that most of the city's leadership was under their mind control. The method was simple. Those exposed to their mental magic over extended periods couldn't even do simple double-digit addition or subtraction. The representative leaders of each race, renowned for intelligence, turning into fools, constituted a grave flaw. And the magical cause of this state was verified by other mages. The descendants of Kassel resisted. Their leader claimed it was a smear campaign by those envious of them. Since they hadn't exhibited mental magic previously, they strongly denied any knowledge of such methods. Aware of the truth, I couldn't help but feel enraged and acted impulsively. It was a mistake. Nevertheless, it inadvertently exposed their fangs. As soon as I attacked their leader, nearby soldiers, eyes blood-red, crazily charged at me. Their behavior was evidently unnatural. Fortunately, they were unaware of me. It proved decisive when the master of the tower attempted to cast a spell on me multiple times, only to cough up blood. Overpowered by other mages, they ultimately had to hastily flee the city. In Magnus, we declared those represented by the Black Serpent emblem as our primary adversaries, more so than any other race. As mana gradually dwindled from the world, those resonating with it dwindled too over time, yet the perception persisted. However, within Magnus, thanks to me, that perception vanished. Though it stemmed from misunderstanding that my power of will had an exceptionally counteractive effect on Kassel's descendants, I feigned ignorance. With mana disappearing, the future strength humanity must develop would be Force, not magic. I was certain of it. At some point, slightly grandiose rumors began to circulate about me. Overcoming magic with mere weaponry skills and Force, suitable for hunting weak monsters. People's view of me shifted from fascination to reverence. I was likened to the priests of the Nine Gods, performing incomprehensible feats and miracles. Consequently, I became known as the God of Weapons, or the Sword God (劍神). I had assured myself that I was doing my utmost to respond to the power of will that had granted me a second chance, but I could not find satisfaction and stop there. This was because of the ominous words left behind by Taron Ares, the archmage who had become both my ally and friend. He warned that as long as they were not completely eradicated, they would one day revive Zebrick Kassel. Even setting aside his prophetic abilities, his warning felt like a reasonable assumption to me, who had been fighting against them for decades. Yet, the reality was that there seemed no practical way to annihilate them entirely. I pondered deeply and repeatedly. Then, a thought struck me: if I couldn't uproot these foes who would inevitably resurface, why not strip them of their hope completely? Spreading the power of will, the easiest method, was not an option available to me. So I devoted myself to refining the techniques I had developed over the years in battle against them. My intention was to slay a demigod or possibly even a true god who conquered nature's force, mana, with the force of a mere mortal. Of course, this was no simple task. Yet the power of will that resided within me and the help of my dear friend Taron spurred me on. The relentless opposition from the Black Serpents, my lifelong adversaries, further fueled my inspiration. Thus, I was able to create it—the vision to slay the so-called god, Zebrick Kassel, that they wished to summon. It comprised the first three techniques that could cut through existing matter, the middle three that severed all supernatural abilities, and the final three that sliced through essence, space, and soul. And then, the one ultimate technique, which even I could not fully achieve. In total, ten techniques forged into the God-Slaying Arts. Infusing them with my will, I named this legacy I passed to future generations the 'Blade Vision of God-Slaying' (殺神劍傳).