Chapter 269: Ragnarok (15)

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Asael silently looked up at Carl.

It was the familiar Sword of Justice, but he would no longer see its master.

“……Even after all this time and everything that’s happened, this damn structure is repeating itself again.”

Frowning as if annoyed, he spoke to Carl in a clipped tone.

“I know how to stop the Ragnarok ritual. I failed in the previous round because of their interference, but no one should be aware of my existence now. ……Unless, you want to become a god?”

His transparent eyes glowed with light.

Carl, who had been watching him for a moment, withdrew his energy and shook his head.

“I have no interest in such things. I only acted to prevent it from falling into someone else’s hands.”

“Then that’s even better. I don’t want to see this damn ritual continue any longer.”

Asael rattled the chains binding his arms.

“Free me first. Then I’ll tell you how to stop the ritual.”

“Tell me the method first.”

“……Persistent, aren’t you. You’ve inherited your swordmaster’s stubbornness.”

He chuckled lightly and relaxed his arms.

“It’s not that complicated. Ragnarok is a delicate ritual that requires perfect balance. That’s why it takes so long to prepare. But what do you think would happen if I, a survivor from a previous round, appeared now?”

The round Asael participated in had not concluded normally.

The Guardians had forcibly stopped it, placing it into indefinite suspension.

If Asael were to step into the Corridor of Ragnarok under such circumstances, his indefinitely suspended round would resume.

“And two rituals can’t be performed simultaneously. Then, bang!”

He gestured exaggeratedly and let out a chuckle.

“The ritual itself becomes invalid. I don’t know what shape the outcome will take, but it won’t be pleasant.”

“…….”

Carl stared at Asael.

From what he could sense, he wasn’t lying.

But of course, that didn’t mean he was telling the whole truth either.

‘So in the end, it’s like swallowing poison.’

He didn’t know what Asael was hiding.

Joining forces with someone like him carried obvious risks, but if he wanted to stop Ragnarok before it reached its end, he had no choice but to take that risk.

“So how do I release them?”

Carl looked at the chains binding Asael.

The power he sensed from Asael was far from weak.

Yet he was completely immobilized, meaning these chains were not ordinary either.

Asael tilted his head slightly and replied.

“You should ask the one inside you.”

“Carlos?”

-……They are Chains of Binding. A restraint that shackles unclean existences. Could you reach upward and touch them?

Following her instruction, Carl grabbed the chains.

A bluish-green light flared from his hand and began to dissolve the surface of the chain.

Clink.

At last, freed from his restraints, Asael rubbed his wrists and looked around with a refreshed expression.

“I didn’t think I’d be released. To think I’d become free like this.”

“Who locked you up here?”

“No one in particular. I chained myself by my own will.”

“You chained yourself?”

“Yes.”

Asael held out his arm, distorted with static.

“The place where the Ragnarok ritual unfolds is a dimensional rift. The longer one stays here, the more their existence fades. Didn’t you see it on your way here? What became of the other participants from previous rounds?”

“…….”

Carl nodded.

So that was the reason they had ended up like that.

“That’s why I imposed the restriction of self-restraint to stop the passage of time. Thanks to that, I’ve lasted until now…….”

But even that time was running out.

The imbalance between his body and mind had reached a critical level.

It wouldn’t have been strange if he blacked out and collapsed on the spot.

That was why he had to fulfill the final duty he was entrusted with before his time ran out.

“The fact that you, who inherited the will of Justice, came to find me must be destiny led by inevitability.”

“So, what must be done? The Ragnarok ritual is already nearing its end.”

“No need to worry. The moment I step into the Corridor, the ritual will shatter. Are those your companions outside?”

“Yes.”

He had left Queen and Second outside.

Just as he stepped outside to reunite with them—

“Whistle.”

Asael let out a whistle at the overwhelming presence that descended around them.

“Maybe it’s because I’ve been away so long. Lots of people here to welcome me back.”

-……Asael.

Mabel the Fairy King, along with several other bizarre beings, surrounded them with sharp gazes.

Queen and Second had already been restrained while Carl remained unaware.

Bound by a magical barrier, they looked apologetic.

“……How did you notice? This should be a place outside your line of sight.”

-There is no place within the trial site that is beyond the Guardian’s gaze. It’s merely that we were observing it as part of the test.

……No, that wasn’t right.

If Mabel’s words were true, they should have noticed the thought left behind by the Priest of ‘Rest’ during the previous event.

Did they detect Asael’s release?

-O wayward follower. Did you think we didn’t know of your existence? We merely pitied and ignored you, but of course we knew you were asleep in this place.

“Yeah, right.”

Asael chuckled and tapped Carl’s shoulder.

“Don’t believe half of what they say. If they don’t know something, they just make it sound convincing. I’d rather trust a demon’s words.”

“Mabel. At this rate, it seems the proper Ragnarok ritual has failed.”

Carl began drawing in divine power while scanning the surroundings.

Along with the Fairy King Mabel, each of them exuded a transcendental aura.

At the very least, they were all on par with Mabel in strength.

-At the very least, I thought you were someone we could communicate with.

“One cannot walk with a shadowy figure who hides his intentions.”

“Even I feel a little called out by that.”

Asael shrugged.

Carl ignored him and reached into the air.

The power of the Primordial Unity Divine Art and Carlos became one, radiating a sacred light.

“We’ll break through this place and charge toward the corridor.”

All that needed to be done was getting Asael to the corridor.

With countless Transcendents standing before them, the odds of success were slim.

But they couldn’t afford not to try.

Boom.

In an instant, the surroundings were crushed under a violent pressure.

It was the clash between Carl’s overwhelming aura and the might of the Transcendents.

“Hmm.”

Asael, who had been idly observing while stroking his chin, lightly clicked his tongue.

“Well, I did expect it to turn out like this the moment I stepped out. It was one of the 4,142,116 futures I foresaw. At least it’s not the worst case.”

“……”

Still rambling nonsense to the end, huh.

Yet, if he had the power to participate in Ragnarok, he might still be useful.

However, Asael reached out and grabbed Carl’s shoulder.

“There’s no need for a messy brawl. I told you, didn’t I? This is one of the 4,142,116 futures I foresaw.”

“Still spouting that crap……”

“No matter how amazing you and I are, fighting the monsters here is impossible. So we need to find another way.”

–Wait, you……!

The one who reacted to Asael’s words was Kylos.

He winked at Carl’s chest and spoke.

“Kylos. You know what needs to be done. Since it’s come to this, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Snap.

Before Carl could say anything, Asael snapped his fingers.

At the same time, the ticking of a second hand echoed in his ears.

Just as Mabel the Fairy King noticed something and widened his eyes to rush forward.

“See you in the next round.”

Flash─!

With those cryptic words, an intense burst of light exploded.

Carl was instantly swallowed by an unknown torrent, and after drifting aimlessly for a long time, he collapsed to the ground in near exhaustion.

“……Kh.”

He couldn’t muster any strength in his body.

A void, as though his danjeon had been hollowed out.

Just as he tried to rise and operate his internal energy—

–Don’t!

Kylos quickly stopped him.

–You mustn’t use your strength right now!

“……Why not?”

–Look around you.

“……”

Carl lifted his head and scanned the area.

Dripping lumps of flesh were roaming around the city.

As he widened his eyes in confusion, he soon realized the place looked quite familiar.

“Walpurgis Trial Grounds?”

–Limited Regression. It’s one of Asael’s abilities. He can send himself or designated targets back to the past.

“To the past? Then that means right now……!”

–Yes. Judging from the surroundings, it looks like it’s right before Ragnarok begins.

Carl let out a short breath.

To return to the past with knowledge of the future.

What an unbelievably convenient ability.

“What’s the price of regression?”

–Asael must’ve paid it. Likely something as massive as his lifespan. But that doesn’t mean you can act freely here. You can interfere with the flow of time only once. If the timeline deviates from the original world line, you’ll be returned to your original round shortly after.

“Wait, that means……”

–Yes. This world already has a Carl Leipzig. Asael granted you limited regression to give you a chance to change the future you encountered. Either way, even if Asael regressed himself, he’d remain bound by chains until you arrived.

Even if he were freed, he’d be blocked again by Mabel the Fairy King and the others.

The only answer was to regress Carl.

“The good news is, I can choose when to intervene from this side.”

–You must be careful not to reveal your identity. Another Carl Leipzig appearing in this world line is an unnatural occurrence. Since the Fairy King and other Transcendents know about Asael’s ability, they’ll quickly realize what’s happened. If that happens, the limited regression will be undone immediately.

Did he have to conceal his movements while evading the gaze of the Guardians who preside over Ragnarok?

Nothing about this was going to be easy.

Still, he had to succeed.

“If I can just forcibly halt the Ragnarok ritual……”

–Then everything will end. We don’t know what the Guardians of the Middle Realm, including the Fairy King, are truly planning, but at least we’ll be able to thwart their goal.

“……Let’s hope one of the futures Asael saw includes a successful outcome.”

Carl exhaled as he stepped deeper into the city.

Soon the situation would be contained, and he, along with others, would be summoned to the Ragnarok ritual.

He had to blend in and participate among them.

“The question is which faction to join……”

NOX was out of the question.

It would be the easiest place for his identity to be exposed.

That left either the Cult or the Imperial Palace side……

“The Imperial Palace is probably better.”

While the Cult might be better given his command of Divine Power, Kylos’ Divine Power was far too distinct from the goddess’s.

Even if he imitated it, he’d be discovered in no time.

On the other hand, the Imperial Knights could be infiltrated without difficulty if he used the Soul-Seizing Technique to erase their memories and disguise himself.

“I’ll move immediately. It shouldn’t take long.”

Through the thick underbrush, Carl quietly stepped forward.

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