Chapter 80 - Episode 12. Path of the Abyss (1)
Chapter 80: Episode 12. Path of the Abyss (1)
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“What? You want to know about the 『Lord Massacre』? Hah, it has already been a hundred years, and people are still talking about that? (A brief silence) ......Hmm. Yes. This would be the best way to put it. After that day, the 《Great Realm》 were great no longer.”
- An unknown Master of Slash, one hundred years later
The Rebirth War, brief in some ways and long in others, had ended.
《Chaos》 had been liberated.
Yet no one knew then that it was only the beginning of everything.
* * *
Gorgon Inner Keep’s hospital.
A pale patient leaned against a bed by the window, where flowers blooming in the courtyard could be seen. Jaehwan glanced at the flowers the patient had been watching, then spoke.
“You were alive. You were absent from the last meeting, so I thought you had died.”
“Still, I am one of the Ten Halls’ Hall Masters. Would I die so easily?”
The patient was Scholar Forest Hall Master Jegal Myeong.
Even with the face of someone who had barely survived death, Jegal Myeong could still speak so brazenly. Jaehwan gave a bitter smile.
At a glance, Jegal Myeong’s condition was serious. A long cut ran from his left arm to his left thigh. Both shins were bruised. The right side of his chest had been completely ruptured, and part of his lower jaw had been torn clean off. It was a wonder he had survived.
“It is all thanks to Elder Cheongheo.”
Jegal Myeong had survived because the Divine Doctor of Despair Cheongheo had returned to Gorgon at just the right time.
Jaehwan losing consciousness due to Eight Gates of Hell had been an unexpected stroke of luck for Jegal Myeong.
“I heard you defeated Samyeong Garam.”
The Dark Fragrance Lord, Samyeong Garam. Half of Jegal Myeong’s body had been shattered by Samyeong Garam. In that sense, Jaehwan had avenged Jegal Myeong.
“He was an extraordinary Lord. In every sense.”
“Did you know Samyeong Garam well?”
“Anyone from the Jegal Family knows the Samyeong Great Family well.”
Jegal Myeong’s expression turned somewhat bitter as he said it.
Where there were Jegals in the martial world, there were Samyeongs in the 《Great Realm》.
That saying only still held true in 《Chaos》.
The Jegal Family, which had originated in the martial world, had long since been driven out of the 《Great Realm》. The group that had pushed them aside and taken their place among the Five Great Families was the Samyeong Great Family.
The Samyeong Great Family produced the greatest strategists in the 《Great Realm》. Samyeong Garam had been Darkness’s Warlord, but he had also been a member of that Samyeong Great Family.
“As the Fortress Lord likely knows, we can no longer rule out the possibility of intervention from the Samyeong Great Family.”
The 《Palace of Rebirth》 had belonged not only to the Lords of the twelve zones, but also to the Five Great Families.
Now even Samyeong Garam, one of the Five Great Families’ Warlords, had died. Once word of this spread, Jaehwan would likely become a true public enemy of the 《Great Realm》.
“It is fine. They cannot come here anymore.”
Jegal Myeong’s eyes widened at the clear certainty in Jaehwan’s voice. He understood what Jaehwan’s confidence was based on.
“Could it be... You obtained the 「Narrow Gate」?”
Jaehwan nodded. A hint of relief passed over Jegal Myeong’s face.
If Jaehwan had acquired the 「Narrow Gate」, they would probably be unable to come to 《Chaos》 for a while. Even if they made a new 「Narrow Gate」, it would take at least several decades. The 「Narrow Gate」 created by dream demons was a treasure of that caliber.
“But it is too soon to relax.”
“I know.”
There was one more way to reach 《Chaos》 besides the 「Narrow Gate」.
“We just kill them again.”
Jegal Myeong unconsciously let out a sigh at the calmness of his voice.
He could believe those words now. Jaehwan was someone who had every right to say them.
“If they come after me even at the risk of death, they might be worth dealing with.”
“You really are impossible.”
Who would dare speak of Lords that way? Jegal Myeong could not help but laugh.
Faint sunlight shone through the window. Dust drifted through the rays. As he watched the dust drift through the light, Jegal Myeong finally realized that a brief peace had come to 《Chaos》.
That was right. Jaehwan was here now.
Even if the Lords’ forces rose again, Jegal Myeong felt certain that as long as Jaehwan was here, they could stop them somehow.
Of course, Jaehwan would have no answer if a massive number of General-class Adapters came pouring in. But unless the Lords of the 《Great Realm》 were complete idiots, they would not kill that many Generals just to send them to 《Chaos》.
Then, in an instant, an ominous premonition passed through Jegal Myeong’s mind.
The peace of 《Chaos》 rested entirely on the existence of one person.
And Jaehwan would leave them someday.
A voice calling for Jaehwan came from afar.
Jaehwan, who had been adjusting Jegal Myeong’s IV drip, rose from his seat.
“Take care of yourself.”
Watching Jaehwan’s back as he stood, Jegal Myeong unconsciously reached out.
He remembered the 「Path of the Wave」 Jaehwan had once shown him. That back, opening a path as it pierced through tens of thousands of Deadmans.
Jegal Myeong thought:
Perhaps the path that man walked was a path they could not follow.
Perhaps it was a path too exhausting and difficult for an ordinary person to walk.
Did this man still intend to walk that path alone?
“Fortress Lord.”
Jaehwan stopped walking.
He did not turn around.
After hesitating for a moment, Jegal Myeong lowered his hand and said,
“It is nothing.”
Jaehwan remained still for a moment, then began walking again.
Why was that?
At that moment, Jegal Myeong felt as though he would never see Jaehwan again. Even so, he could not bring himself to stop him. The path Jaehwan walked was that kind of path.
That was why Jegal Myeong was so worried about the 《Chaos》 that would remain after Jaehwan left.
* * *
Several people came looking for Jaehwan early that morning. The first to visit were Cheongheo and Cayman.
“Kid, do not think about sneaking off again.”
“If you two leave by yourselves again, I will not let it slide this time.”
They were likely thinking of the upcoming 「Abyss Expedition」.
Cheongheo and Cayman had spent two hundred years with Jaehwan, so it was not strange for them to worry about such things.
The next person to visit Jaehwan, however, was unexpected even to him.
“What brings you here?”
Golden hair. A strikingly handsome Celestial man with a silver aura draped over his shoulders. He gave Jaehwan a formal bow, then began to speak.
“There are several matters I would like to discuss, Fortress Lord.”
“Why did Yulhen not come personally?”
“The Chief Internal Administrator is busy with the task you assigned.”
The man was the Law Horn Lord, Karlton.
Karlton did not continue immediately. He looked at Jaehwan for a moment instead.
It still felt like only yesterday that Jaehwan had first entered Gorgon Fortress. The man who had ignored rules everyone else followed and refused to prove himself.
The man who had tried to fight the Fortress had now unified 《Chaos》 and become someone who stood against the Lords.
Fate truly was impossible to predict. Who could have known then that events would unfold this way?
“You have not changed.”
“Neither have you, Fortress Lord.”
They exchanged bitter smiles. One was a believer in rigid rules, the other a destroyer of rules. Two people so different had come this far toward the same goal.
“The report.”
“First, the first agenda item submitted by the Horn Lords’ meeting.”
Jaehwan found it fascinating as he watched Karlton recite the contents as though he had memorized them.
Karlton shared the Dark Fragrance Lord Samyeong Garam's stiff discipline and devotion to principles.
In some ways, Karlton was worse than Samyeong Garam. Karlton’s obsession with justice was stricter than the System’s own rules.
Come to think of it, this guy must have undergone Awakening too.
The keyword 「Doubt」 had the power to make every being possess a different Unique World. That was why Jaehwan’s Unique World differed from Cayman’s.
Then what was Karlton’s Unique World like? Jaehwan suddenly became curious.
“...And therefore... Fortress Lord. Are you listening?”
“Ah. How far had you gotten?”
“...According to Article 24, Clause 5, failing to listen during an administrative report is...”
This guy had not changed even after Awakening.
Karlton smiled faintly and changed the subject.
“I had reached the matter of the Tower.”
“What Tower?”
“The Tower of Nightmares, 《Carpe Diem》.”
Jaehwan recalled the Tower of Nightmares he had created with Meikal.
It had been a Tower hastily assembled to produce Awakened Ones.
Its structure was far better now, and it was much more stable than before.
“What about the Tower?”
“There are concerns that the Tower’s time ratio is too high.”
“That makes sense.”
“The number of people attempting Awakening who commit suicide is increasing.”
Time that was too heavily condensed harmed the soul. It was the price of overusing time.
Even Jaehwan was having contamination seep from his entire body. He had not been diligent enough about consuming Horned Beast horns.
If Jaehwan was like this, how much worse would it be for others? Even Cheongheo and Cayman, who had trained for two hundred years, sometimes suffered from time trauma and became vacant-eyed.
Still, Awakening was a power that could not be obtained without that much effort.
“The time ratio is too high now. The first floor alone is at a hundred times normal. Have Meikal adjust it.”
“Understood.”
“And tell them not to forget that Awakening cannot be achieved just by stabbing or slashing a lot.”
In truth, fewer than one in a hundred people who had achieved one billion stabs or slashes had realized a keyword of Awakening.
Awakening was that arduous. It came when realizations accumulated amid countless coincidences.
“Build a system that can cultivate Awakened Ones over the long term, but exempt those who do not want Awakening from training. Awakening is not the only answer. Adapting may be one path too.”
“...Do you truly believe that?”
“Everyone thinks differently. Awakening is not salvation. Some people may find a life through Adaptation.”
For some reason, Karlton’s expression became complicated at those words.
“...Is something wrong?”
“I have a personal issue.”
“What is it?”
“As you know, I recently passed through my third Awakening. I assume you know that.”
Jaehwan nodded. He had been curious about it himself. What exactly was this stubborn man’s Unique World?
But Karlton’s next words were unexpected.
“I cannot see my Unique World.”
“What?”
That was impossible.
Every Awakened One who reached 「Selflessness」 inevitably gained a Unique World. Its form varied completely depending on the individual’s capability, but the fact that they possessed a Unique World did not change.
Could this guy’s Unique World be...
Jaehwan recalled Samyeong Garam’s words. He had said that Awakened Ones were not the only ones who possessed a world. Every being had a world.
Perhaps Awakening and Adaptation were separated by only a hair.
They simply believed in different worlds and saw the world through the laws permitted by those worlds. If so, it would be difficult to say that either was more special.
That was why Jaehwan said,
“Do not worry too much. Perhaps your Unique World is this System itself.”
“Is that possible?”
“It is only a possibility. I do not know much about Awakening yet either.”
Karlton seemed to consider something at those words, then said,
“If my Unique World is this System itself, must I fight you someday, Fortress Lord?”
It was an unexpected question, carrying a trace of lightheartedness uncharacteristic of Karlton.
But Jaehwan answered seriously.
“That could happen. If you keep trying to protect this world.”
“You truly intend to destroy this world. ......Even if I try to protect it, your thoughts will not change, will they?”
“Then you will be destroyed with it.”
Karlton did not know why he could not hate someone who spoke so easily of such things. Perhaps it was because he felt that the destruction Jaehwan spoke of carried a nuance different from the destruction Karlton knew.
“Fortress Lord. Please take me with you.”
“Where?”
“On the expedition.”
Jaehwan’s brow twitched. He had not expected even Karlton to act like this.
Karlton was not the only one who had brought up the expedition. Perhaps they had begun to sense something strange, because all of the Ten Hall Masters caused a fuss every day, asking Jaehwan to take them on the expedition.
It was about time to choose who would accompany him to the 《Abyss》.
He could not take everyone. The 《Abyss》 was dangerous enough that even Lords feared it.
As Jaehwan remained silent, Karlton added another word, apparently growing impatient.
“According to Article 3, Clause 14 of the Gorgon Special Act, every checkpoint chief has a duty to protect the Fortress Lord in the event of an emergency.”
How shameless.
Still, Jaehwan did not dislike that shamelessness.
“You are no longer the chief of the northern checkpoint.”
“...”
“And by then, I will no longer be the Fortress Lord.”
Karlton looked somewhat shocked.
“Do you truly intend to step down as Fortress Lord?”
The 《Palace of Rebirth》 had been destroyed, and Chaos had been unified. More than ever, this was a time that needed a central figure. The Horn Lords’ meeting had even discussed crowning Jaehwan king.
Yet he intended to step down as Fortress Lord now?
“I will leave this Fortress in a week.”
“If you are gone, Gorgon will collapse. No, not just Gorgon, all of 《Chaos》...!”
“Do not worry. I have already thought of all that too.”
Yet Karlton only managed to realize how absurd that “plan” was after three whole days had passed.
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