<h4>Chapter 423 - Dragon Temple (10)</h4>


    Valdebich was the first friend Jeong-woo had made after he stepped inside the Tutorial. He was also one of the founding members of Arthia, along with Vieira Dune. He was a pitiful person who was never certain of his identity as a half-Giant, but at the same time, he was a warrior who could decimate his enemies as they showed up, making everyone fear him.


    Why would the person who had disappeared without a reason and hurt Jeong-woo take care of him in his final moments? Why? The pocket watch trembled. Ktus’ casual answer was too shocking.


    “What...happened?” Yeon-woo quieted his turbulent mind. However, the voice that escaped from between his tightened lips boiled with anger. Valdebich hadn’t been there when Jeong-woo needed him, but he had appeared at the end—for what reason? Was it out of pity? Or was he feeling guilty? Neither was eptable to Yeon-woo.


    『Of course, as expected, your first question is about Jeong-woo.』


    “There’s no one more important to me. What happened?”


    『Your brotherly love is really second to none. Until the end, that child Jeong-woo thought of you, as well.』


    Yeon-woo’s eyes shed. “I get it, so please stop changing the subject. Where is Jeong-woo’s soul?”


    [5th Step Dragon Body Awakening]


    Yeon-woo released the power of his Demonic Divine Draconic Body right away, operating his Dragon Heart and Philosopher’s Stone simultaneously. Scales rose along his skin, and when his tail sprang out, a fierce energy storm whirled around him. He pulled Vigrid out of subspace and raised it high. It was a silent demonstration that he wouldn’t stay quiet if Ktus continued to avoid his questions.


    『You’ve improved on what I gave you. In the past, I would’ve grimaced at this mutation, but...it’s not too bad.』 Ktus nodded as he looked Yeon-woo up and down, satisfied. However, he also had a bittersweet feeling when he realized that no pure-blooded dragons were left in the Tower since Yeon-woo had other energies in him, too.


    Yeon-woo’s eyebrows twitched. He was just about to swing Vigrid.


    『I didn’t know that child named Valdebich knew about thisbyrinth.』


    Yeon-woo’s hand paused. Ktus had never told Valebich about thebyrinth? That could only mean one thing.


    『Jeong-woo probably told him about it a long time ago.』


    Yeon-woo was silent.


    『At the time, it hadn’t been that long since I’d awakened from my slumber. This body is a temporary fix created for emergencies.』 When the ancient dragon Ktus had been alive, he had only wished for one thing: that the species that had gone extinct from his mistake would be revived. He wished for Draconic Factors to remain in the Tower for a long time.


    However, that hope dimmed after Jeong-woo died, and Ktus’ vestige had awakened in Laputa so that he coulde up with another solution to find a new sessor.


    『In the middle of all that, the half-Giant child appeared and asked me if he could take Jeong-woo’s body. He said he wanted to send his body home.』


    Yeon-woo still didn’t speak.


    『So I opened the gate to Earth...and he disappeared again after the funeral.』


    Yeon-woo ground his teeth. “Do you know where he went?”


    『No. I can only stay in Laputa and my senses are restricted here too.』


    Yeon-woo clenched his fists. What had Valdebich been up to for so long, and why did he appear as though he’d been expecting Jeong-woo’s end? The trembling pocket watch stilled. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll find him, no matter what.’ Yeon-woo muttered as he stroked the watch. He’d always intended on facing Valdebich, but it seemed like he would have to look for him immediately after resolving his business here.


    Unfortunately, no one knew where he was, and even the Night Watch from the Outer District couldn’t find a single trace of him. Still, since he was now at Laputa, Yeon-woo thought he might be able to retrace Valdebich’s steps and perhaps uncover some clues. Yeon-woo looked up at Ktus. Valdebich was important, but there was something of greater priority to him. “Where is Jeong-woo’s soul?”


    『Where it’s supposed to be.』


    Where it’s supposed to be? Yeon-woo narrowed his eyes. “What are you...!”


    『In a deep abyss, an egg where darkness and confusion have merged. The ce where countless beingse to life and die. That thing, that ce. Anyway, there are many words to describe this, but wemonly call it...』 Ktus’ eyes narrowed. 『Emptiness or darkness.』


    Suddenly, the Cast of the ck King around Yeon-woo’s wrists, ankles, and neck, trembled. Urrrrng. They nearly fell off from a vibration that was so intense that it caused Yeon-woo pain. Yeon-woo was so shocked that he shouted without thinking, “Why would Jeong-woo...!”


    『Just as salmon return home after they’re fully grown, your brother followed his instinct and returned to his origin.』


    Instinct?


    『Do you think it’s a coincidence that the ck King’s inheritance was passed down to you? Or that your brother had the talent of Perfect Adaptability and was chosen by me?』


    Urrrrrng. The trembling grew even more intense.


    『You and your brother are two sides of a mirror, and you cannot be divided..!』 Ktus was forced to stop in the middle of his sentence by a long cry in the sky. The world seemed to ring and


    Laputa shook as though it were about to copse.


    Ooooo.


    Ooooooo.


    Crack. Cracks began to appear on the ceiling of the castle as though they were eggshells falling apart. ck tentacles began to squeeze through them—the Crawling Chaos, which had always wanted to swallow Laputa, was making its move.


    Ktus smiled ruefully as he looked at the ceiling and bowed to Yeon-woo. 『I asked for time, but it seems that it hasn’t been enough. I wish to speak with you further, but I really do not have much time left.』


    “Where are you going?! We still have more to...!”


    『Before I leave, I’ll tell you this: if you want to find Jeong-woo’s soul—although I don’t know if his soul is still at the ce that swallows everything—but if you want to find it...』 Ktus looked at Yeon-woo sadly. 『Return to darkness. Your path will be there!』


    Crack. ng! The ceiling broke, and the tentacles almost reached Ktus. 『But the darkness may swallow you since you don’t have divinity yet. Simply getting there will be an arduous journey.』


    Crackle. As the tentacles dug into Ktus’ vestige, it began to create static. Believing Ktus would truly disappear at this rate, Yeon-woo brandished Vigrid. There were still so many things he wanted Ktus to tell him. Why was Jeong-woo’s soul in that emptiness or darkness, and what did he mean about looking for the path there? Was it rted to the ck King or the Demonism? If so, how much did he know? Why didn’t Ktus exin what it was? Yeon-woo couldn’t allow him to vanish after leaving behind all those riddles.


    [The hidden true name of ‘Vigrid-???,’ ‘Durendal,’ is released.]


    [Folklore: Cutting in two with one strike of the sword]


    Swish. When Wave of Fire and Heaven Bracket mixed with the extreme pressure from Vigrid, a storm of mes swept through half of the castle andshed at the ck tentacles. Whoosh. The mes tried to rise along the ck tentacles and climb up, but as soon as they touched the tentacles, they disappeared.


    More tentacles slid out, tightening around Ktus. No matter how many times Yeon-woo swung Vigrid, the tentacles didn’t disappear but only grewrger. Before the darkness overwhelmed him, Ktus shouted at Yeon-woo with a pitying gaze. 『Please, fulfill the goal that Jeong-woo and I couldn’t...o new speaker. The n house, search that...!』


    Fizz. Ktus’ vestige scattered like a sandcastle hit by a wave, and the tentacles began to suck it up.


    Oooo. Ooooo.


    Satisfied, the Crawling Chaos retracted its tentacles and returned to the sky. The cosmic being that stained the entire thermosphere ck was attempting to return to where it came from.


    “Where do you think you’re going?!”


    [The Channel with Nergal has been restored.]


    [The Channel with Halphas has been restored.]


    [The Channel with Vimcitra has been restored.]


    ...


    [The reconnected gods quickly confirm the situation.]


    [The reconnected demons are taken aback by the being you’re facing.]


    [A message from Agares has arrived.]


    [Message: No! I don’t know what’s going on, but you mustn’t touch that!


    [A message from Agares has arrived.]


    [Message: Listen to m...!]


    [Messages have been blocked with the user’s authorization.]


    Since the owner of the curse that covered thebyrinth had disappeared, the Channels were being restored. Yeon-woo gathered the channels together and spread his wings.


    [All powers have been released.]


    The Fire Wings on Yeon-woo’s backbined with his dragon wings and transformed into threeyers of ck wings: Sky Wings. With them, he soared up to the sky and sted out with all of the skills and powers he had, attempting to make the being let go of Ktus.


    However, he only left a few holes in the quavering darkness. Most of the Crawling Chaos had already moved past the gate and was fading away.


    “Damn it!” Pushing his Dragon Heart and Philosopher’s Stone to their limits, Yeon-woo raised Vigird. A column of fire skyrocketed up and set all of Laputa ame, splitting the sky in two. The sparks that bounced out of it exploded as well and filled the stage.


    Through the dark clouds, tiny eyes watched Yeon-woo. In an instant,nguages and information that couldn’t be put into words poured into him, his dragon-like thinking helping him make sense of it all.


    Darkness.


    Not.


    Yet.


    Oooooo.


    The Crawling Chaos eventually disappeared through the gate, leaving Laputa in mes at the center of thebyrinth. The sky was now a gloomy color.


    Yeon-woo ground his teeth. He had been defeated by another transcendent being after Mother Earth and Allforone. The more he tried to uncover information about his brother, the less he understood. It seemed like his path was blocked by transcendent beings and he couldn’t find more clues. Did it have to end like this?


    No. He knew he still had onest hope: the thing squirming inside of the Philosopher’s Stone. “Demonism.”


    There was no answer.


    “I know you’re watching. Help me. Please.”


    It was still quiet.


    “Dammit!”


    The Demonism didn’t even budge, as though it had nothing to do with him. Yeon-woo punched the ground helplessly. Was his only option to gain transcendence first?


    At that moment, the space in front of him opened and Boo appeared. He was severely injured, and even his magic power had been damaged by his investigation of the Crawling Chaos. However, he held a glowing golden eye in hisrge hand.


    「I...pulled out...Ktus’ eye...from...the Crawling Chaos....」


    When had he done it? “You?”


    「You must...open the path...to darkness.」 At those words, Boo departed for the dungeons to heal his grave injuries.


    Yeon-woo tightened his hold on Kalutus’ eye and activated the power of the ck King. The three Casts were still shaking.


    [‘Summon of the Dead’ has activated.]


    [Who would you like to summon?]


    “Ktus.”


    Ktus’ golden eye scattered into the air and floated up.


    [The designated item has been infected.]


    [The being you are attempting to summon cannot be found.]


    ...


    [The being you have summoned has been affected for some unknown reason, and a search for a simr being is being undertaken.]


    [The ‘Demonic Dragon of Chaos’ infected by ‘Crawling Chaos’ is being summoned forcibly.]


    Swoosh. The curse that protected Laputa and the center of thebyrinth exploded.