481 - Regressor of the Fallen Family
Chapter 481 "What do you expect of me, oh gods?" The remaining apostles on this earth lacked the power to deal with him. Or rather, to be precise... 'They just don't want to.' With his newfound ascension, Logan could see the threads of the soul extending from the apostles' monstrous bodies, connecting them to the higher dimension. Something he hadn't been able to perceive before. Through that channel, he could 'vaguely' guess the magnitude of their true forms. A daunting dimensional wall stood between the apostles and their main bodies, heightening the challenge. Yet, when the gods forcibly imbued part of their souls into the apostles' flesh across this barrier, Logan could approximately estimate the divine toll it took on them. 'To deal with someone like me now, they'd have to descend part of their true form, like the Gold Dragon up there, and doing so would be a significant loss for them.' With this knowledge, Logan naturally retained his composure. "Assist Ageron to organize Zibric. You seem to have enough power for that." "If you do, we'll make you our common agent, granting you eternal authority." From being the adversary of the Nine Gods to a proxy—it was an abrupt shift of fate that made him chuckle. "Are you suggesting I assimilate your souls and become your sustenance? Do you take me for a fool?" "Impudent!" "Do you mock the gods simply because you've reached a higher realm?" "A foolish human, unaccustomed to foresight, I see!" Uuuuuuuum. The combined pressure of the five apostles descended upon Logan, yet it posed no threat to his current self. Being 'halfway in' the realm of a divine being versus having 'fully surpassed' it created an unbridgeable chasm. The apostles, whose main forms were mightier than Logan, were quick to understand the situation. "…It seems you have a sense of how we expand our divine nature. But that doesn't mean we can't find common ground." The apostle of the Blue Dragon, Aeon, drew everyone's attention. "In the realm of a demigod, even your lifespan is infinite. You can become the eternal ruler of this world. All you need to do is exist as our representative." "Aeon! What nonsense are you spouting?" "He alters destiny. He's the one who returns time!" "If that guy becomes the ruler, he'll change the fate of all humankind! Our work will become ineffective!" "You think I don't know that?" A single remark was enough to dismiss the protests of the other apostles. The apostle of the Blue Dragon locked eyes with Logan's red gaze, unwavering. "You can guide that change to us." "What?" "Emphasize our divinity as a proxy of the Nine Gods, rally the power of wishes using yourself as the symbol, and offer that to us. Ultimately, your altered destinies will circle back to us." "Ho." "Indeed..." "…There's logic in that." "If you do, one day, you'll ascend to the divine rank and stand shoulder to shoulder with us." Aeon smiled at the reactions of the other apostles and watched Logan with eyes slit like a serpent. However, what Logan said next was something the apostles did not expect at all. "What if I refuse?" The response came swiftly. "Are you insane?" "Have you lost your mind?" "You need to know your place!" "You're just someone who's only just reached the 9th class, and you dare!" As the apostles unleashed their anger, a hand covered in blue scales intervened, calming the uproar. The bright yellow eyes remained particularly composed. "If you refuse, all your bloodline will become our nourishment in the afterlife. Should you die, the same fate awaits you." Aeon set his line firmly, devoid of emotion. "…Even if I manage to deal with all of you here, it'd be the same, right?" "The bodies of the apostles are not our true selves. At most, you'd merely incur our greater wrath." "If needed, we could break the thousand-year accumulation to kill you here and now." A massive red orc snorted, adding a menacing threat. Indeed, that might be the case. Even at the divine level, in their eyes, he's only of this caliber. "If I'm to accept, what of other conditions?" Logan feigned stepping back, probing the apostles. Then. "There are no other trivial conditions—" "No, we must deal with the abandoned ones." "Ah, yes. Before writing new destinies, eradicate the lives born of the altered history. That's the sole condition." As expected, it was an unacceptable clause. "Well, I had no intention of following the words of creatures who think of humans as mere sustenance." "What?" "You dare!" "It seems the euphoria of ascension has made you forget your place!" "Someone tear that insolent wretch's soul asunder! I will preserve part of your divinities!" The Blue Dragon called out, but no one dared to step forward; they were all unwilling to bear the loss. In that peculiar silence, Logan couldn't help but laugh uproariously. "Puhaha!" How could he not find it amusing? Regardless of the difference in power, humans sometimes plunge into reckless battles for family, comrades, or loved ones, sacrificing themselves willingly. And yet, for these so-called gods to behave at such a trivial level was nothing short of disgraceful. "For the sake of pride, I will never bow to insignificant beings like you." Logan clearly drew his line, scoffing at the gods. "How dare you…!" "Are you going to make an eternal mistake out of mere pride? I thought you cared for those around you?" "I do. That's why I'm doing this." "What?" "Why did I continue this pointless conversation, you foolish ones?" "…What do you mean?" "Now is the time for you gods to leave this world." With a chilly remark, Logan gathered his power. "This bastard!" In response to Logan's surging aura, the apostles unleashed their might simultaneously. Yet, Logan, ignoring their fury, focused solely on his inner self. In his rapidly accelerating consciousness, he felt the ten force cores in his heart interact, unleashing tremendous power. 'But this alone is not enough.' What he was attempting was a method only ever experimented with in vague imaginings. Now that he had ascended the ranks, the outline of its possibility had become clear, and he was attempting to manifest it for the first time. Yet, his power was still somewhat lacking. Thus, with the authority granted by reaching the 9th class, the level of a demigod... 'Manipulate causality.' It wasn't grandiose. Simply resetting a special ability that could only be used once per day. However, perhaps due to the results it would yield, an enormous amount of willpower was consumed in an instant. Yet that was acceptable. For its destructive power would be... Uuum. 'Even more immense.' As the 11th force core emerged from his heart, there was an illusion of his soul expanding endlessly. No, it wasn’t an illusion. For a moment, it felt as though the entirety of the world was within his sensory range. The omnipotence, akin to truly becoming a 'god,' sent a shiver through his soul. And in that moment, Logan was certain. That turning vague imagination into reality was indeed possible. "You dare!!!" Crash. Having ascended another level, Logan effortlessly dealt with the chattering pests around him. The blue dragon, the red orc, the green elf, the brown dwarf, and the white draconian were torn apart in an instant amidst a surge of golden brilliance. – You will surely regret this. – May you be cursed! – How dare you defy us!? – You will never ascend to the divine realm. – Mortal, I shall await your demise with great anticipation! Those with ranks far surpassing his own each left their warnings and disappeared. But Logan felt no fear. [Be gone, all of you!] At his soul's cry, the golden dragon battling fiercely in the sky had its neck snapped and plummeted to the ground. – Y-you...! Ageron, whose power seemed weaker compared to the other gods, was banished from this world before he could even utter his curse properly. Simultaneously. "How dare you?! Something even I couldn't achieve!!" An ancestor, whose hair and eye color had turned crimson, was unleashing a torrent of black energy, seemingly unaware that his opponent had vanished. Yet at that moment. "Be gone, corrupted ancestor." With Logan's words, Zibric disappeared without even a scream. A rather anticlimactic end for a hero who had once saved humanity and later sought to use all human kind as a stepping stone. But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts; the most critical task remained. 'To the souls that brought me to this time, I shall now sever your grievances permanently.' It was a pledge uttered as if to himself, yet the particularly exalted state of his soul felt as though it was their response. And at that instant, the tenth vision of the divine sword, which even its creator couldn’t reach and had only left as a dream, was effortlessly understood. 'Here I go!' Uuum. With a habitual deep breath to steady himself, Logan prepared himself, and from his hand, a sword radiating like the sun soared high as if to pierce the heavens. A massive golden sword, visible from across the continent. 'I trust that your legacy, your wish to save humanity by altering fate, lies within this, O Sword God.' Temporal Slash (時空斬). Flash. The sword that pierced the sky illuminated the world. A power capable of severing time and space, manifested by the pure might of divinity, touched the world's boundary. * * * The colossal golden pillar was distinctly visible even from across McLine. "Young... master?" No, now it’s His Majesty. ‘Oh, really...’ Ricke reproached himself for still using the term that slipped out of him even now as the Royal Chamberlain. It was because the sight of the golden pillar suddenly rising in the distance reminded him of someone. Someone whose bright golden light was his emblem. The Archduke of McLine, his master, ...an old friend. And now a person hailed as the proud king of the continent's mightiest nation. Remembering him, even this astonishing phenomenon was calmly accepted. Well, since no one was watching... "Just come back safely, Archduke. I'll have a grand feast prepared. And Laila is pregnant. I'll be a father before you. Return safely and bless my child." Ricke glanced around once more before carefully whispering. “You’ll do that, ...won’t you, brother?” For a moment, he called his lord as he used to when they were young, before they were aware of the difference in their statuses. [I shall.] "Gah!?" It felt as though he heard an impossible voice echo. Ricke, startled, looked around with a flustered expression. “...Son?” Seeing the golden pillar rising in the northern sky, Padrick suddenly thought of his eldest son. His son, who had slipped from his grasp at some point. And now grown so large that he couldn’t even fathom what burdens he was bearing. It hadn’t been long since the tale of previous lives and turning back time had struck a painful chord in his heart. His son had thrown a heavy stone into his already throbbing heart. – I’m going to end it all. He could do nothing but offer silent support when his son spoke in a somber voice and with a resolute face. ‘Oh, gods... No, of course not. If they oppose my son, they can go to hell.’ Padrick quickly shook his head, clasping his hands in earnest prayer as he gazed at the golden pillar. ‘I will repay the debt I owe—to you, or at least to your child—the debt I incurred by claiming to do what was best for you even as I neglected you. So return safely, please!’ Though he didn’t expect a reply. [I shall do so.] Feeling as though he heard his son’s voice, Padrick prayed even more fervently. "Ah, damn. I just can't concentrate." Hamar muttered to himself as he set down the knife he used for whittling wood. He’d heard that the war had ended in victory. Naturally, the workload at the magical workshop had been greatly reduced, and he now found himself with much more free time. So he was finally enjoying his hobby. ‘Why am I feeling so uneasy?’ Feeling restless, Hammar flung open the window, only to see a golden pillar erupting in the distance, as if it had been waiting for this moment. Though it was a sudden anomaly, for some reason, it didn’t surprise him. It was more than just a lack of astonishment; he felt a strange sense of nostalgia and familiarity. As he stood bewildered by these unfitting emotions, the image of his master, who was likely tidying up the battlefield nearby, came to mind. 'Now Tarren is becoming a city of dwarves, Master. You've fulfilled your promise perfectly. And my promise still has ten years left.' Ahem. It was a bit awkward to mutter such things aloud, but there was no one around to hear. "Let's have a beer when you return. For the remaining ten—no, twenty years, I'll make whatever you want, so just come back safely." [You promise?] "What the—?!" Startled by the eerie sense of hearing a voice, Hammar quickly glanced out the window but saw nothing. Meanwhile, far in the northwest of the empire, in the once-nameless mountain range—now a barren plain—and slightly within the forest: "Your Majesty!?" "Brother!?" "Darling!!!!" "Thank goodness!" The superhumans of McLine, who were swiftly making their way toward the distant mountains as per Logan's orders, erupted in cheers upon witnessing the sudden golden pillar. The mountain range had disintegrated like dust under a terrifying storm. They had tried so hard to reach their lord amid such chaos. But the overwhelming energy surging upwards, as if piercing the heavens, was undeniably their lord Logan’s. Incredible in its strength, but unmistakably his. "What is he up to this time...?" "In any case, we hope for his safety!" "Please!!" Swathed in tremendous waves of energy they dared not approach, they clasped their hands in fervent prayer. At that moment, – Awooooo! With a sudden roar, golden light similar to the pillar burst forth from Tyr’s enlarged body. Began to converge into streams of radiant gold, shooting towards the pillar as if drawn in by it. * * * ‘Sever the divine realm from this world.’ Logan’s aim with the Temporal Slash was solely this. Yet even after pouring out all of his willpower, the dimensional wall stood firm. Moreover, – Foolish one, your efforts are in vain... – A petty struggle... – Indeed, humans are pathetic. – Sacrifice yourself foolishly, human. – You shall pay in soul for your sacrilege. – Once split among us nine, our losses will be mitigated. – Foolish human. – Be destroyed. The mocking voices of ‘nine’ entities cursed from beyond the dimensional wall. Perhaps because of this, the confidence he initially had in the possibility began to wane ever so slightly. Just then, – Awoooo. A familiar roar heralded a different kind of power, blending with Logan’s. 'Tyr!' With this newfound strength came an influx of people’s sentiments, pouring in like a tide from all around. – Brother. – Son. – Master. Rick, his father, and Hammar’s voices began the cascade. – Our Majesty is a god-sent hero. – No more wars, surely. – As long as His Majesty stands unharmed, our kingdom will remain. He heard the voices of everyone within his protection. Their reasons varied, yet all were united in one sincere hope. …That their majesty, brother, son, husband, would return safely. Those heartfelt wishes steadied Logan's wavering spirit. ‘It wasn't a lack of power, but a faltering will. To have hesitated even after reaching the realm of demigods.’ The pressure of directly opposing providence had weighed heavily on his soul. But now, bolstered by others' resolve, the pressure had been pushed away. So now... ‘Let’s finish this!!’ With complete conviction, the golden blade descended. – No!!!!! It severed the gods' dimension from this world. That day, divine power vanished from the continent. Epilogue “Dada-dada.” Pat, pat. “Yes, yes. Daddy’s here. Don’t hit Daddy, now, okay?” Smooch. Gently removing the chubby little hand pressing on his face, Logan kissed the plump cheek. The baby, with red hair and blue eyes just like her mother, burst into bubbly laughter. The sight alone filled him with overwhelming joy and pride. But even before he could fully savor that happiness, a concerned voice broke in. “Oh dear, Your Majesty! You should let us take care of the princess...” Lady-in-waiting Laila looked visibly flustered as she spoke, but Logan waved it off with a smile. "No, it's alright." "Just let him be. It's his latest joy." Even Queen Eileen chimed in with a smile, but Laila remained visibly uneasy. Despite the world's safest crib crafted by golem master Clayton and the arms of the continent's mightiest, the nanny’s concern for the baby princess was unyielding. Or rather, to be precise... “Well, even as His Majesty, this is... Fine, do as you wish.” Resigning with a resigned nod, Laila retreated as Dwayne cast a silent, bug-eyed protest. Ignoring Dwayne, she turned her head briskly, leaving him to sigh deeply and lower his head toward their ruler. "Your Majesty, even so, you must attend the Great Hall now." "Why?" "Um... petitions are flooding in. Duke Ronian and Duchess Luisa are handling them, but it's overwhelming." "Is it about that again?" "Yes. The kingdom is in an uproar requesting that our illustrious Emperor, blessed hero, conduct a ritual to ask for the gods' return." “What’s the Saint doing?” “After breaking the code and marrying Sir Viktor... she’s lost quite a bit of her influence. As you know...” A chuckle. Yes, that’s how it went. "Tell them rituals are meaningless." "What?!" "If humanity lives rightly and cleanses their virtue, the gods will return whenever.” “Oh....” "Pass it on, then." "...Yes, Your Majesty." In the end, it meant Logan wasn't going to attend. Unable to hide his disappointment, Dwayne turned away despondently. Seeing the large, bearded man looking so dejected tugged at Logan's heart more than it amused him, but there was nothing else to be done. Logan himself didn't know where the dimension of the gods, severed by his Temporal Slash, now resided. It was a matter beyond reversal. 'Not that I'd bring them back even if I knew.' With a slight chuckle at the thought, Logan felt the power of aspirations, gathered from across the breadth of the McLine 'Empire,' swell once more in his hands. Most of that power, of course, was directed not towards Logan himself, but rather towards the proxy of the Nine Gods. – May the disappointed gods who departed return to us once more. Even so, it had its uses. "Hoo." With a soft breath, an energy visible only to him dispersed into the world. This energy would subtly bolster the hearts of those despairing over the absence of the gods—or rather, the absence of divine power. For now, those people may not feel the effects. But with time, as the years passed... ‘A time will come when humanity forges its own path forward, needing neither regression nor gods.’ He was determined to make that a reality. – We beseech you, Sovereign Logan the Saint, for our family's happiness... – For tomorrow's sustenance... – For successful business... – To bless us with a child... If he slightly expanded his domain of perception, countless whispers could be heard, both big and small. "At first, I only wanted to protect my family..." Somehow, the ‘family’ he protected had grown so vast. Yet he could bear the weight. And furthermore... "I will protect them." Always. With the unwavering resolve reflected in his crimson eyes, another day came to a close in the era bereft of gods. In this new age, humanity was learning to stand on its own.