Overpowered Extra Noble in a Novel

135.

A hammer-like pain struck the back of my head.

“Aagh!”

Without thinking, I raised my hands to cover my face, and between my knuckles, a sticky liquid trickled down.

The corners of my eyes itched.

The acrid smell of iron. The world was red.

“Damn.”

When I wiped my eyes roughly, the world returned to normal. It seemed that my vision had turned red from the tears of blood. The droplets of blood on the back of my hand were scattered into the air by a fierce gust of wind.

My body, which had finished leaping, was falling back into the ruins. Amidst the cacophony of roaring sounds, the violent wind howled in a chaotic mix.

After shaking off the reddening view, I first raised my senses to scan the surrounding area.

“…Both of them are safe.”

I faintly heard Reinbight’s shout and Pesaha’s panicked cry.

Though the distance made it hard to discern clearly, they were certainly alive. The sounds moving erratically around the ruins were probably the White Beast.

Bang!

In a rush, I created a makeshift platform any which way to stop the fall.

Crunch. Crunch.

The more chaotic the situation, the more important it is to remain calm. As I composed myself, the unstable platform gradually stabilized.

‘This and that, definitely not a good situation.’

Next, I unleashed all the force I had been suppressing.

The mana core boiled over violently, greedily pulling in external mana.

At the same time, the movement of the world began to slow down.

Consciousness and perception transcended the ordinary human world into a supersonic realm.

The noise and headaches ringing in my ears subsided slightly. It was as if, gazing at the eye-storm that seemed frozen in time, I let out a sigh.

Even for a fleeting moment, I had managed to buy time to assess the situation.

“Hmm…”

Even though I couldn’t have predicted it, a mental attack managed to breach my defenses, on the verge of transcending.

Such an assault could only be from Dark Cultists.

Among them, one so capable of delivering meaningful damage must be quite formidable.

Could it be that, rather than just a guide, an Apostle has made an appearance?

‘There’s nobody here though.’

Barring a Transcender, there was no presence that could evade my detection. Even Charles, the Master-level assassin, had movements that were clearly visible to me.

Yet, even now, with all my strength summoned, the only traces I sense are those of Reinbight, Pesaha, and the White Beast.

‘Given the outburst of the mark, the Dark Cultists are certainly involved.’

As I stroked my neck, which felt like it might tear apart, I scanned the ruins once again.

The panoramic view of Vulkon, disheveled with broken building remains.

Hovering above it was a massive figure of dark light.

‘No, it’s not really a shape.’

A colossal eye.

An eye-like shape, as if modeled after a human’s, was depicted over the ruins.

It was quite familiar.

A symbol drawn on a rotten tree.

And the eye-shaped figure drawn on the corpse of Vulkon.

‘Keltarren.’

An eye that gazes upon all things.

It’s a rather grand name for something categorized as an evil deity. True to that grand title, it’s also a rather unpleasant image shaped like a human eye.

“Tch.”

The current situation must be a phenomenon caused by this eye of Keltarren. I don’t know its exact purpose, but it’ll do to just get rid of this eye for now.

Gripping the sword hilt, I studied the eye floating over the ruins to determine the strike point.

Then,

Through the noise roaring in my ears, a majestic voice echoed.

“The eye is the window of the soul and the measure of defining the world.”

What?

“All things maintain their forms through recognizing each other. Child. Open your eyes, your heart, and reflect your soul. Then, you will surely face one truth amid a world steeped in falsehood.”

My body stiffened.

The hand that was about to draw the sword didn’t move.

The grand voice resonated in my mind as if etched into it.

“Even though you stand in the world, in essence, you scarcely differ from a point. Life is fleeting, and the world is nothing but a handful of dust. It all converges into a point. Hence, what began from a point will return there. That way we become one.”

It was incomprehensible.

Despite confusion flooding my mind, on the other hand, there was also an acceptance of the words.

“I am human.”

But from a universal perspective, we’re no different from a tiny speck.

The omnipotent being declared:

“I am a point, and we are points.”

“Our essence is the same; it’s time to become one.”

“Open the eyes.”

Looking intently at the colossal eye painted on the ruins.

The colossal eye also gazed back at me.

“Open the heart.”

I read the ages contained within the colossal eye.

It, in turn, read my memories.

“Reflect the soul.”

I sensed the grandeur of Keltarren.

I witnessed the transcendent world he beheld.

And I glimpsed the tiny world under his gaze.

My standing was infinitesimally small.

Hardly even a speck of dust.

“…I’m scared.”

My body trembled.

I was terrified of the grand presence looking down at me from a great height.

What are we, who flicker and disappear in an instant?

Is this how small insects perceive humans?

We were bugs.

“Be not afraid.”

At that moment, the great entity spoke.

“For we are all one, and you are not different from me.”

The world was melting.

I was melting as well.

Everything melted as it converged on the great entity.

Yes,

Becoming one.

It was the only way for me to truly exist.

Let me offer myself to the great entity.

From a point to a bug, from a bug to a great entity.

I could feel the great entity’s approval.

I was happy.

I could see clearly. It was truly a beautiful and grand world.

I would happily live as a part of this paradise.

“All things will become one and usher in the true world…”

“Shut up.”

What?

Unconsciously, I touched my lips.

“Disgusting bastard. Still going on about nonsense while relying on your superiority. You haven’t changed.”

My mouth was moving on its own.

The world that was melting returned to its original form.

My mouth opened unbidden again.

“Thousands of souls are seen, Keltarren. Have you tempted and stolen the spirits of mortals once more? And now, you even covet my Cain?”

“…Hmm. To take such a risk and manifest forcibly, you’ve weakened the light significantly. Even though it was just a piece of flesh and not a holy maiden. Is this bug so precious to you?”

“Lightless insignificant star… shut your filthy mouth.”

“Kekeke. Very good. But it’s already too late. Sun. This bug has seen me, and I have seen this bug.”

“…”

My body, as I casually clicked my tongue, gripped the sword.

At the same moment, an intense light engulfed the surroundings.

Swoosh-

As I drew the sword, my mouth moved on its own.

“Cain. Calm your mind.”

“…My Lady of the Goddess?”

The dazed consciousness returned to clarity.

As I carefully organized the returning sensations, the beautiful voice of the Goddess echoed in my mind.

“I’ve momentarily repelled Keltarren’s interference. Ideally, I would destroy the eye entirely, but with your body not being Myna’s, this is my limit.”

The explanation was brief, but the situation was clear instantly.

Keltarren had subjected me to various mind games, including mental interference, but the intervention of the Goddess at a critical moment blocked it.

If she had descended upon the Apostle Myna, she could’ve annihilated Keltarren’s power, but because she descended upon me, the half-apostle, that was impossible.

Certainly, the Goddess didn’t proceed without any plan.

Then, using my strength, it might be possible to erase Keltarren.

“…Thank you, Goddess.”

“It’s just doing what needs to be done. Focus on that fellow first. Neither you nor I have much time. From now on, I will sever this connection; first, ward off the interference with divine grace.”

Following her words, as I bestowed a blessing, the Goddess left one final phrase and then ceased speaking.

“Your strength is sufficient to handle this.”

At the same time, something sharply pierced my mind. However,

Crackle.

The sword, touched by the blessing, was enveloped in flames.

It seemed Keltarren’s power had been repelled by the blessing.

With this, mental interference had been somewhat blocked. Now, all that’s left is to burst that enormous eyeball floating above the ruins.

“Pointless resistance.”

The colossal voice reverberating in my mind.

I raised my forefinger toward the ruins and glanced to check on the others.

Fortunately, the White Beast was protected against Keltarren’s influence due to its connection with me.

The problem lies with Reinbight and Pesaha. The two, devoid of any divine protection, were exposed to Keltarren’s power.

With my heightened awareness, there’s yet to be any apparent reaction for now. But it won’t last long.

“I’ll finish it in one go.”

Gripping the sword in reverse, I silently gathered mana.

The enormous eye, floating over the vast ruins of Vulkon.

What’s the way to dispel the power of the evil deity?

“The weakness of the dark cultists.”

The symbol on the decayed tree was destroyed by driving in a seal mark.

This time, it’s not a mere symbol but a situation where Keltarren’s power itself has been enacted. There’s a high possibility that a seal mark alone won’t be enough to dispel the power.

“And there’s no seal mark.”

Just in case, I had given the seal mark to Charles.

I need to find another method. What’s available?

“The dark cultists were scorched by the blessing.”

The event at Yelkin comes to mind.

Their being extremely incompatible with sanctity.

And the flames.

Would flames imbued with sanctity make Keltarren uncomfortable?

“…Let’s say it’s like practice for now.”

After deciding, I immediately turned the mana core forcefully.

Nature’s mana was full of impurities.

A prime example is the time when my body froze upon absorbing northern mana during the core-creation process. Filtering out the cold from the mana began to freeze me entirely.

What’s needed now isn’t cold.

Pure heat.

An overwhelming heat that purifies everything.

Although the north is full of cold, gathering heat isn’t difficult. I already possessed the heat.

“Focus only on gathering the heat, not the mana.”

The powerful strength obtained since awakening my past life.

The intense heat that spontaneously erupted during the core formation was refined through the mana core and extended onto the sword.

Crackle.

A single streak of flame at the tip of the sword. Simultaneously, my body, feeling as though thrown into a desert, flared up, and oppressive heat surged out.

“Aagh…!”

The entire body burns like being thrown into a crucible.

Even with a small amount of heat extracted, the aftereffects were absurd. The snowstorm surrounding me not only melted but evaporated, and the ruins, which were dark, began to illuminate.

“Crazy.”

The debris of destroyed buildings stacked in the ruins caught fire. If left alone, the two individuals could be melted away by the heat’s effects. I quickly attempted to compress the heat.

“You… How dare you, you insignificant bug, to command one of the origins…!”

Grrk.

 Bang!

The ruins collapsed with a thud, and black tentacles burst out.

The size of the tentacles rapidly approaching was enormous. An intimidating momentum capable of easily crushing high-rise buildings. Shouted by Keltarren, the tentacles shot toward me like arrows.

“It’s too late, you eye-monster brat!”

I released the platform and fell, instantly diving between the tentacles.

Gaaaang!

A deafening roar shakes the ears.

The shockwave from the collision of Keltarren’s tentacles alone reverberated, causing my falling body to wobble violently.

As his tentacles hastily changed direction to chase after me,

Puck.

The sword, infused with compressed heat, pierced through the center of the colossal eye.

Bang!

The ruins began to violently shake as if an earthquake had struck. Like wriggling off a bug, it was his flailing. An enraged voice struck my mind.

“Grrrr! You! Puppet of the sun!”

The feeling of consciousness melting was so disgusting that I never wanted to experience it again.

I lifted my middle finger toward the colossal eyeball one more time, with the final compressed heat augmented by a blessing.

“Sora forever! Disappear back to the North!”

Paat!

I immediately exploded the blazing white flames.

Instantly, Vulkon’s ruined area, engulfed in the flash, belched out a roar before collapsing.

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