〈 Chapter 343 〉 ■■ ■■(4）
*
The Sword of Yeocheon.
Centuries ago, a knight forged this bizarre swordsmanship, its essence defying the heavens. A sword from beyond the world’s restrictions, breaking the rules, laws, and providence inscribed by the sky.
A sword that defies providence.
If a human body cannot escape providence, yet they must escape it… I shall sever providence with a single sword. Thus resolved, the First Hero succeeded in cleaving through the sky.
He stripped the Demon Lord of the right to be king.
And now, after centuries have passed, the Sword of Yeocheon has been revived by a knight who inherited Ganikalt’s will. Of course, it is not an exact replica. This is Kyle’s own way of crafting his sword.
Zing!
The shadow that hung over the heavens was lifted.
The waves of curse crashing down were cut apart by the sword. Amidst the pouring light from the cleared sky, Kyle saw what he had severed.
The First Hero, Ganikalt van Galatrick.
He pulled the complete God down to an incomplete existence.
What did he, who follows in the footsteps of such a hero, sever? Kyle quickly realized the answer. He had severed the immortality of God. He sliced through the justification for God’s existence in this land.
“The stars only open paths.”
“What you ultimately have to believe in is not the stars.”
“Only yourself.”
Recalling those words, Kyle swung his sword.
He needed no God.
God is merely a push from behind, and decisions must be made solely by one’s own hand. It was only in the final moments that Kyle came to understand this truth and swung his sword, infused with his life.
The outcome is this.
The Demon Lord lost immortality and justification.
In the shaking of its very essence, the God fell into a monster beyond an incomplete existence.
Now it is something that can be struck down, burned, and killed. This is undoubtedly worthy of being called a great achievement. Maintaining his poised stance, Kyle slowly lifted his gaze to the sky.
The shadow had lifted, revealing the sky.
Stars sparkled above.
【You have confirmed overcoming the trial.】
【The contract is established.】
【I shall fulfill the promised contents.】
The stars whispered to Kyle.
A stiff and always indifferent voice.
【……..】
But.
After a moment’s pause, a woman’s breathless sound echoed in Kyle’s ear. Swallowing her breath, her voice squeezed out as if clearing her throat.
【…Hero, Kyle Toven.】
The woman whispered into Kyle’s ear.
For some reason, her voice resembled that of Raniel from the future. Kyle chuckled softly.
【To the human who has cleaved the shadow, respect.】
…So she became a God in the future, and this was possible too. Kyle smiled, bowing his head.
She must have been watching him from afar, and upon hearing her words, Kyle couldn’t help but smile. In her world, he must have surely failed. Yet here, he succeeded in striking down the Demon Lord.
“How much has changed, I wonder…”
The future she knew must have changed like this.
Could this be the catalyst for her to rise again? Kyle firmly believed so. After all, even the smallest thing can cause a human to stand up.
“…Ah ha.”
Kyle burst into laughter.
Lighter than ever, fresher than ever.
He recreated the fabled strike of a hero.
He showed off a splendid side to her, who had favored him. He achieved the deed he had turned his back on, proving another possibility to the one from the future.
“Well, somewhat…”
Standing at the end of the path, Kyle looked back.
The hazy road was disappearing.
Though it was vanishing, reading the shape of the road, Kyle wore a bittersweet smile. It was not a perfect path. It was not a glorious path. But still, without a doubt…
“It’s not a bad life.”
One regret is that he couldn’t apologize to her. But leaving one thing unfulfilled is what life is about, isn’t it? With thoughts like those of an old man nearing the end of life, Kyle slowly exhaled.
…It was a strike to which he sacrificed everything.
A single blow that contained all the paths he had walked and the paths he would walk. He laid his whole life upon one single sword strike.
The past. The present. The future.
He committed everything to swinging the sword, rendering the present Kyle akin to an empty vessel. There was nothing left for Kyle now.
“…Is this it?”
Kyle exhaled his final breath.
“Is this my end?”
The boy who dreamed of being a hero became a young man.
He achieved a great feat at the very last moment.
…A man who accomplished greatness became a hero.
And, as most fairy tales go.
The words of a hero are not particularly beautiful.
Clang!
The sword held by Kyle fell.
2.
The Goddess of Ashes bowed her head.
Having confirmed Kyle’s end, Raniel lowered her head. Her shoulders trembled as she bowed. The trembling lips emitted words that did not make sense. They could be a moan or a scream.
“Ugh, huff…”
Swallowing flowing tears, Raniel wiped her face with her tattered sleeves and spat out her stifled breath.
‘…For real.’
What a madman.
For real, a crazy madman.
He really did it in the end.
Kyle Toven succeeded in slaying the Demon Lord. This was different from the past that Raniel had to endure. The current Kyle showcased perfect swordplay that reached the essence of the Demon Lord.
As a God, Raniel knew.
She could see how marvelous Kyle’s swordsmanship was and how much the Demon Lord would lose to his blade.
Kyle Toven achieved greatness.
Unlike the past, he inherited the Sword of Yeocheon.
For Raniel, that fact signifies something else. There’s only one incident that separates success from failure.
“Let me die.”
“Is it worth saving me like this? Just, just let me die already.”
That day, recalling the harsh words she had poured onto Kyle, Raniel bit her lip. Though she had imagined that future countless times, the moment it was proven true, Raniel felt a deeper loathing for herself.
…But thank goodness.
A future like mine didn’t come.
“…How nice it would be if I could think like that.”
Raniel muttered emptily.
“In the end.”
An empty laugh hung at her lips.
Yes, things had changed from the past. But Raniel knew very well that the future could not be so easily altered.
“In the end…”
Raniel murmured in a voiceless tone.
“In the end, it comes to this.”
Kyle is dead.
Yet, Kyle shall not find rest.
Slowly, Raniel lifted her head. She looked at the wasteland with vacant eyes. Gazing at the wasteland, Raniel recalled the past. Remembering the past, she muttered in a dry voice.
“A disaster is being born again.”
*
“He really did it…”
Sara’s eyes widened in shock.
Sara saw it. The sword of Kyle slashing through the shadow that enshrouded the heavens, ultimately slaying the indescribable being… Sara witnessed it.
The shapeless shadow flowed away.
The shadow that covered the sky was lifted.
And as the beams of light poured down, it illuminated the ruins of the kingdom that perished centuries ago and the wasteland where dark grass grew. Feeling the gaze of the stars, Sara covered her mouth.
He really did it.
He managed to really do it.
Stumbling, Sara started walking towards Kyle. After taking a few steps, she broke into a run, calling out Kyle’s name.
“Kyle!”
Sara laughed with joy.
Kyle achieved greatness and became a hero. He became the hero he had longed to be. Knowing that she was beside him when Kyle realized his dream filled her with joy. With a bright smile, Sara dashed forward.
But.
“K…yle?”
Her steps didn’t last long.
The closer she got to Kyle, the more anxiety consumed her. It was a familiar sense of unease. Though Sara had saved many people, there were just as many she couldn’t save. She had seen countless lives and deaths.
That instinct cried out to her.
“Kyle.”
The man before her.
“Kyle, please answer me. Kyle.”
Kyle Toven is dead.
“Kyle!”
Gripping Kyle’s stiff, sword-wielding arm, Sara felt the rigid posture that wouldn’t drop. Only the sword that should have been in his hand lay on the ground.
Sara inspected Kyle’s body.
She looked at Kyle’s closed eyes and listened closely to the heart that no longer beat. Even without confirming it, she knew Kyle was dead, but Sara continued to examine his body.
「He is dead.」
「There’s no saving him.」
「Give up.」
Typically, Sara lightly judged matters of life and death, but in this moment, she couldn’t act that way. She breathed blessings into Kyle’s cooling body, well aware it would be in vain.
“Don’t do this.”
Sara bit her lip.
Her head bowed as she grabbed Kyle by the collar.
“…Why?”
Sara’s voice quivered.
Leaning her forehead against Kyle’s chest, she pleaded as if begging. Though she knew it wouldn’t reach him and that Kyle was already dead, she kept speaking.
“Why must you die? I… I…”
In that very moment she murmured.
Kyle’s body twitched.
Sara whipped her head up. With wide eyes, she looked at Kyle’s face.
“…Kyle?”
“Sarah.”
A pale face.
A heart that still hasn’t beaten.
A corpse of one who is already dead.
“Step back!”
However, Kyle moved.
Crack, Crunch!
With sounds of breaking, Kyle’s body awkwardly shifted. He forcibly restrained Sara’s arm. He pushed her backward.
Though his body was already dead.
Kyle’s soul hadn’t departed yet.
“Run, Sara.”
Knowing that he still had things left to do.
3.
Kyle looked ahead.
The shapeless shadow, the Demon Lord who must be reduced to nothingness by the light. Even now, it swayed, about to disappear.
【■■■. ■■■ ■■■.】
The wrath of a fallen human.
Words that were understandably unintelligible in a normal context, but Kyle, on the brink between life and death, could hear their sound. Kyle listened intently to the shadow’s voice.
【A body. A new vessel.】
The shadow shed its form, resembling a human appearance.
The human that became the shadow approached Kyle.
【Vessel.】
The hero’s body is a vessel to contain the stars.
And now, a star was departing from Kyle’s body.
What stood before him was an empty vessel.
【New vessel.】
Then.
The monster that had fallen from divinity sought a vessel.
The outstretched fingertip pointed toward Kyle.
【I’ve found it.】
The shadow smiled.
Seething mud surged forth and engulfed Kyle.
*
Raniel watched as Kyle was consumed by the shadow.
She knew what kind of future would be drawn from this. And she also knew that her second plan would be put into action.
“……”
Raniel watched Kyle, swallowed by the shadow, with empty eyes.
The Goddess of Ashes, unable to interfere with reality, could only stand by. She turned her gaze away from the impossible. Casting aside unnecessary emotions, Raniel stood up.
In the end, the incident occurred.
There is no best outcome.
She must move to avert the worst.
For the past thirteen years, Raniel’s inner self had been shattered beyond repair. She no longer pursued ideals. She acted to avoid the worst instead of striving for the uncertain best. She had to live a life of discarding and discarding.
It would be the same again this time.
Still, if it meant a future that was not the same as hers… Would it not suffice as long as it wasn’t a future where everything burns away? Thus reassured, Raniel attempted to move on.
“I believe in you.”
“In the end, you are still Raniel van Trias.”
She paused.
“The you I know is still one who rises.”
Her steps halted.
“You are that kind of person, Raniel.”
Raniel turned back.
She saw Kyle being consumed by shadow.
In that horrific sight that reminded her of her own past, wanting to turn away, Raniel remained fixated on Kyle, her eyes wide open.
Wiggle.
Even while being swallowed by the shadow, Kyle’s fingers moved. Seeing this, a hollow smile spread across Raniel’s lips.
“What a madman.”
Indeed.
“For real.”
Raniel reached out.
She knew. She knew that it would likely be in vain. That it wouldn’t create a significant miracle despite consuming the time she had left.
“For real…”
At best, she could only move a small object.
Compared to the power of a deity, this was practically trifling.
She didn’t think she could change the future with only that, nor did she rationally judge it as a sound decision to consume her given time.
Yet, despite knowing this.
Raniel clenched her hand.
With a face ready to cry, she opened her mouth.
“Go, Kyle.”
As she clenched her hand, she murmured like she did thirteen years ago. Clinging to the overly luxurious hope that maybe this could be a small variable.
Flash!
Ash swirled up.
The rising ash surrounded the fallen holy sword. The holy sword wrapped in ash rose before Kyle, engulfed by the shadow.
“If only I can wield the sword.”
…A god is a being that answers to the wind.
“I shall resist until the very end.”
To Kyle Toven’s wish, the Goddess of Ashes responded.
The moment Kyle saw the sword floating before him, his eyes widened. He stretched out his arm and grasped the holy sword that had risen before him.
*
