Chapter 613. Drowning (4)

Woo-ro-ro-ro.

The [Owl of Wisdom] cried out as it flapped its wings.

Fabian, the Leader of the Explorer’s Federation, doubted his eyes and ears.

Had he ever heard such an ominous cry before?

And it wasn’t just one or two owls flying straight toward him as he had seen.

‘…What could possibly remain so important?’

Fabian had already received the news.

Antonium, the final bastion of the Arcana Continent.

The land of anomalies, Seoul.

Two different worlds.

The evil dragons that had once spewed deadly breath had fallen.

This triumphant news was undoubtedly true.

He had seen it for himself through videos made familiar by their research into anomalies.

Yes, the explorers scattered across the Arcana Continent and Seoul must have witnessed it as well.

As for the dragon’s onslaught—there should no longer be any need for the [Owl of Wisdom].

Woo-ro-ro-ro.

Yet, dozens of owls were flocking toward the headquarters of the Explorer’s Federation.

Not only did they cry out ominously, but every single one of them carried a ‘red knot.’

At that moment, the door to the Leader’s office opened.

The Romantic Explorer, Lorenzik, appeared.

Unfortunately, his presence did little to comfort Fabian.

‘For Lorenzik to make a move…’

It could only mean the situation had taken a far more dire turn.

As it turned out, Fabian’s instincts were spot on.

“B-Bael is attempting a full manifestation!”

The Demon King of the First Throne, Bael.

“Unbelievable.”

Even Lorenzik’s lips trembled as he held the parchment in his hands.

He, who was always composed, was faltering.

The implications could not have been graver.

“I returned because I saw a flock of owls heading this way…!”

Huffing and puffing, Park Hwigang hurried back to headquarters and quickly grasped the gravity of the situation.

The triumphant news of the Great Dragon Magic War paled in comparison to the heavy silence that blanketed the Explorer’s Federation Headquarters.

He nudged.

“Is something wrong? Did something bad happen?”

Straight to ending the broadcast.

Park Hwigang ended the streaming and cautiously asked after turning off the voice recording. The news at hand seemed so monumental it might cause a huge ripple just by being shared.

It was Lorenzik who answered.

“The Demon World is overflowing.”

“W-What?! The Demon World is overflowing?!”

“It seems they’ve used Behemoth, that monstrous being, as a sacrifice.”

There was no way Lorenzik, who had once stepped into hell alive, wouldn’t know about the Demon World. He also understood why the Demon World was called a living world.

“Do you know, rookie explorers? Originally, the term ‘Demon World’ referred to Behemoth’s stomach. That’s also why Behemoth’s maw was connected to the Demon World.”

Wait a moment—Park Hwigang couldn’t make sense of it.

“Hold on, Lorenzik…! Didn’t we just receive information that Behemoth’s maw was destroyed? The exact reason is unclear, but it seems it couldn’t withstand the continuous emergence of the Ten Thrones’ presence…”

“That’s correct. Your information is accurate, rookie explorer.”

“But I don’t understand. If the Demon World is just Behemoth’s stomach, wouldn’t Behemoth have burst and died long ago? Especially since there are Ten Thrones in the Demon World that far exceed Behemoth in power!”

Fabian unconsciously allowed a smile to form on his lips.

‘Sharp, despite appearances.’

It was the insight of Park Hwigang, who had gained considerable experience as an explorer while pursuing the trail of Hoyeol. Fabian thought, perhaps he could step down from the Federation Leader position in the next election.

‘An interesting rookie indeed.’

Lorenzik shared a similar sentiment, albeit expressed differently.

“You know nothing, rookie. Do you think Behemoth isn’t capable of containing a Throne? You’re underestimating Behemoth. Behemoth is an eternally growing creature, devouring entire worlds to expand its vessel.”

“Eternally growing? Is something like that even allowed to exist?!”

“Hah, you’re too quick to be surprised.”

Despite their youthful appearances, the two seemed like squabbling students.

But their back-and-forth wasn’t a laughing matter.

“Why do you think such an absurd being as Behemoth needed to keep its maw open? That’s right—the Ten Thrones have the power and intelligence to suppress and exploit even a creature like Behemoth.”

Fabian, who had been silent, spoke up.

“…To dismantle the world more efficiently through Behemoth and to use the devoured worlds as sacrifices, allowing them to fully manifest their powers.”

Clap.

Lorenzik pointed his feathered fan at Fabian.

“Correct.”

Park Hwigang, deep in thought, spoke next.

“…Doesn’t that mean this is good news for us? If they’ve used Behemoth as a sacrifice, it can no longer devour worlds. That means the Ten Thrones can’t dream of full revival anymore!”

Clap.

The feathered fan now pointed at Park Hwigang.

“That’s also correct.”

“Then if we can just overcome this crisis…!”

“The real question is, why did the Ten Thrones make such a decision in the first place?”

“…!”

For a moment, Park Hwigang felt chills all over his body.

The Ten Thrones.

They were beings beyond comprehension. Even the system messages visible to explorers in Arcana couldn’t capture anything related to the Ten Thrones.

‘Even their mere appearance messages are censored with □.’

And yet…

Would the Ten Thrones, beings far beyond ordinary explorers, make a decision based on reasons I can deduce?

‘That can’t be possible.’

Park Hwigang.

A cold sweat began trickling down his spine.

Lorenzik continued.

“From what I can gather based on my experience…”

Uncharacteristically, he trailed off.

The sheer presence of the Ten Thrones was overwhelming, even for him.

Daring to speculate, despite lacking certainty…

“This is likely a gamble, even for the Ten Thrones.”

“A… gamble?”

“By skipping the established procedures, Bael of the First Throne has stepped forward. Sacrificing Behemoth to attempt a complete manifestation. This suggests the Ten Thrones are pouring everything into this battle, staking their future.”

Crack.

‘Does that mean the current battlefield holds that much significance?’

As Lorenzik extended his hand, an [Owl of Wisdom] landed on the back of it. He checked the parchment gripped in the owl’s talons.

There was only one line of information written there.

Lorenzik opened his mouth quietly as he was currently unable to determine the shape of the Commander-in-Chief with the naked eye.

Lorenzik murmured softly.

“I hope my insight hasn’t reached into the realm of the Ten Thrones.”

*

“Brat.”

Frostnax called out.

“Have you already forgotten the decision you painstakingly made?”

Flash.

At last, Skal’s focus returned.

Yes, I had indeed made my decision.

Even if they say you are possessed by a demon from the Cloudi family…

‘He’s different from the demon I knew.’

Having observed his deeds up close,

my prejudices about demons couldn’t help but crumble.

Even so, Skal had no choice but to ask.

“Are you truly all right, Frostnax-nim?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your kin…”

A dragon knight.

Skal could see and hear it. The sight of corrupted dragons falling at the hands of the Holy War Alliance and the sound of their dying groans.

“They are being struck down by the Commander-in-Chief of the Holy War Alliance, aren’t they?”

Killing an evil dragon?

It wasn’t possible without the Commander-in-Chief’s approval.

The Commander-in-Chief had the ability to purify corrupted dragons, a fact well-known to the Holy War Alliance.

Without his permission, they wouldn’t have dared to strike down the evil dragons.

Frostnax scoffed.

“You think more of my kin than I, a dragon, do.”

“…It’s not that. I was just… concerned.”

With Frostnax’s “Dragon Eye,” he would see through Skal’s true thoughts anyway.

Thus, Skal did not hide.

In fact, he didn’t want to.

At this moment,

‘The only one I can trust is Frostnax-nim.’

Skal spoke earnestly.

“I was afraid you might oppose the Commander-in-Chief’s decision. If that were to happen, I wasn’t sure what judgment I should make. That fear… wouldn’t let me stop thinking.”

Even in the face of such an earnest confession, Frostnax still scoffed.

“Brat, what do you take me for? More than that…”

“…Yes?”

“What do you think of my kin?”

Even as his kin fell and took their last breaths,

Frostnax had a smile on his lips.

It was inevitable.

What do you think a king of all creatures is?

“Do not pity the king’s decision, fledgling dragon knight.”

Even if corrupted by strange malice,

even if they could no longer wield the wisdom accumulated over eons,

we are the kings of all creatures.

“My kin chose to lay down their lives willingly.”

Because he had once fallen to corruption himself,

Frostnax could be certain.

Even if the strange malice had completely overtaken his kin,

there must have been a shred of consciousness remaining within them.

“All of it is for his sake.”

And thus, he could be sure.

“Specifically, my kin have become nourishment for him.”

Frostnax was well aware of the power of his kin.

If they had truly sought slaughter,

there would have been no reason for them to reveal themselves openly.

Dragon breath.

Even from the highest skies, if they had unleashed their flames, the imperial capital, Antonium, would have been engulfed in a sea of fire, and the land of anomalies, Seoul, would have become a living hell.

“They chose to expose their reverse scales of their own will.”

Skal stammered at Frostnax’s words.

“Y-You want me to believe that? Out of all people, me?”

He had suffered at Frostnax’s side,

and Skal believed he had a decent grasp of a dragon’s nature.

Born as kings of all creatures,

dragons were inherently incapable of understanding the emotions of those beneath them.

In simpler terms, dragons were fundamentally arrogant.

‘Even the time they challenged the Claudi family and lost their lives…!’

Ultimately, it was because of their arrogance.

If not for the lessons imprinted on their bodies and minds,

dragons wouldn’t have feared or revered the Claudi family.

And yet…

“That’s right.”

Frostnax spoke sincerely.

“I, too, am ready to die for your sake.”

“…?”

“It’s all because of that old fool, Eunaxus.”

What is this dragon suddenly talking about?

Skal felt like he’d been struck on the back of the head,

but he didn’t even have time to feel moved.

Before long, Frostnax tore through space and began to glide.

“That’s why we must understand, at the very least.”

“Understand what?”

“We need to figure out why the Dark Dragon made such a decision.”

Frostnax’s mind was perfectly clear.

The Dark Dragon.

For reasons unknown, he had abandoned purifying the evil dragons and instead chose to take their lives.

Even his corrupted kin understood his will,

holding onto the last thread of reason as they met their deaths,

just as the ancient dragon Eunaxus had done.

Frostnax spoke with solemn resolve.

“We are the only ones who can understand both sides.”

“!”

Skal nodded instead of replying.

Could he truly grasp the Commander-in-Chief’s intent?

The weight of it was overwhelming, making it impossible to respond rashly.

But Skal gritted his teeth.

‘It’s up to us.’

We are the only ones who can understand the Commander-in-Chief.

Skal kept repeating it to himself, over and over.

But unfortunately, that resolve was soon tested.

Frostnax had no choice but to stop flapping his wings.

“This is troubling.”

Between space and space,

dimension and dimension,

in the void that existed between them,

Frostnax stared into the pitch-black darkness and spoke.

“…I cannot see it.”

“Cannot see what?”

“The exit. The exit is nowhere to be found.”

Indeed.

There was no exit to be seen.

And Skal instantly grasped the meaning behind those words.

They were trapped in this spacetime.

Frostnax’s voice trembled slightly.

“The Dark Dragon is refusing to allow us to interfere.”

[The Infinitely Deep Darkness engulfs the Arcana Continent.]

dalkag.

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tl/n: King of All Things -> King of All Creatures