Waltz struggled to accept the limits and reality given to him.
But Zion had far surpassed those limits.
So, perhaps it was time to achieve his wish through Zion.
"…Does that mean you recommend Zion Laird as Setinos Quasar?"
"I've already sent the recommendation to His Majesty. I even included that he should take over after I die. Is there anything more to do?"
Enrite observed Waltz’s sincerity and fell silent.
It was hard to believe that Waltz Caberdrion, the Purple Divine Archer, would show such vulnerability.
He should have been burning with determination to kill the three Great Demons and the Four Calamities with his own hands.
But the Purple Divine Archer had resigned himself as a human and was ready to entrust everything to Zion Laird.
"Purple, you can still fight. You are not weaker than before. Why are you giving up so soon?"
"Because I realized I had to give up. His Majesty only managed to defeat the Abyssal King, not kill him. Isn’t that proof enough?"
Enrite knew this but held a different view from Waltz.
The king had been confined to the palace and buried by the passing years.
Yet his magic had grown stronger, and his blade sharper.
Wouldn’t the king have somehow endured against the stronger Abyssal King?
"…His Majesty is the Golden Sword Saint. You know that."
"Right. He is a Setinos Quasar like me. I believe he has grown stronger since then. Despite the passage of time, his body remains robust."
Training both body and magic can delay aging to some extent.
Of course, balance is crucial, and any deviation accelerates aging.
Even Waltz couldn’t stop his body from aging, yet the king still retained his youth.
"But I’m not sure he can wield the same power as Zion Laird. You know that, right?"
"I knew and pretended not to."
"That wasn’t magic. What kind of power is he using?"
Even Waltz knew Zion had darkness within him.
He just didn’t think it was darkness, perceiving it as something other than magic.
"I’d like to explain, but… I don’t know."
Of course, Enrite couldn’t be ignorant of it.
It was darkness he had seen for a long time, newly born by its true owner.
But it was a different kind of darkness, unlike the Exceed Rain, suggesting another origin.
"I think… he has surpassed human limits. It’s not a power humans can possess."
"You might be right. It’s not of this world."
Zion’s darkness was an origin that didn’t exist in this world.
No one but Zion could handle that darkness.
Lesia explained that Zion had accepted the darkness of Exceed Rain, but Enrite couldn’t comprehend it.
‘Can a human possess the power of a Magic Sword?’
Even he became fully human only after escaping from El Tesoykve.
Yet Zion maintained his human body while possessing the darkness of Exceed Rain.
‘At that moment… he contained light.’
It was when Zion’s darkness attacked the Abyssal King.
Various colors shone through the indigo darkness, containing the essence of light.
Though faint, the presence of light mixed with the darkness hinted at potential.
‘Was my prediction correct?’
Enrite had been searching for a human who could wield both El Tesoykve and Exceed Rain.
Resonating the two Magic Swords alone could subdue the Demon God and dragons.
But if Zion could fully harness the darkness of Exceed Rain, what lay beyond might be possible.
‘Perhaps Zion Laird can…’
"That’s why I decided to entrust everything to Zion Laird. Do you think I’m wrong?"
"I wouldn’t say you’re wrong. I suggest we watch a bit more and help him."
"We will watch and help. Zion Laird has time, and I can endure a bit longer. But… do you think the enemies will wait?"
Currently, the Alain Kingdom faced unprecedented danger.
The Shadow Dragon invaded first, followed by the Abyssal King and the undead knights, who destroyed Arleard Castle.
Despite this, there was no chaos because they quickly eliminated the threats.
If not for the Lychness and Sylase knights, the Alain Kingdom would have suffered enormous damage and fallen into chaos and conflict.
"We are still alive. To see tomorrow, we must live today. How about focusing on the present rather than the future?"
"…You mean to live this moment fully."
Waltz nodded slowly, pondering the meaning.
He had been rushing to see the end of things that hadn’t yet happened.
Waltz and Enrite were waiting at Vodeon Castle, and Caden would soon join them.
Most importantly, with Zion Laird and the Lychness knights, they might be able to endure and counterattack.
"You might be right. I’ve been too worried."
"I understand your concern. So, I won’t say you’re wrong. How about taking a break and reconsidering?"
"That sounds good. I’m not even 40 yet, am I already senile?"
Waltz chuckled as he stood up.
Honestly, he wanted to finish everything before turning 50.
After that, he could spend his later years in the rear or retire and find a new path.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Have you heard anything about the Silver?"
"I haven’t met the Silver in the capital. Why?"
"The Silver said he would earn merit with his sword. I wondered if something might happen in the capital."
"…You mean he wielded his sword even after fighting the Abyssal King?"
"Yes. He said he would reclaim what he had turned away from."
Enrite seemed to ponder for a moment before realizing something.
If Caden decided to wield his sword, he must have resolved deeply.
It likely had something to do with Zion, perhaps aiming for a specific goal.
‘Did he receive orders from the king?’
But royal orders alone wouldn’t have driven him to pick up his sword.
If it had, he would have taken it up as soon as he became Setinos Quasar.
Only when Caden’s wish was somewhat fulfilled would his thoughts change.
‘…The king must have opened his heart.’
Enrite vaguely guessed, feeling a strange sensation.
Could emotions change so suddenly?
Various factors might have combined, but Zion’s presence must have played a part.
‘Indeed, human emotions… are unpredictable.’
Enrite cleared his mind and reflected on himself.
It seemed even his own emotions were becoming distorted.
Could this also be part of his human transformation?
‘I can’t even read my own heart anymore.’
In the Karonbelaz continent, the plague zone.
No one knew when it began, but violent tremors continuously emanated from this place.
Rubble and dark liquid frequently flew into the air, and rotting flesh and slimy clumps covered the area.
The nearby beasts fled in haste, while some intelligent ones watched the fight with curiosity.
The unpredictable outcome only heightened their interest.
“Monzlure!”
The chimera dragon, Asimokus, roared as it inflated its body.
Simultaneously, dozens of chimeras emerged, only to be covered in green slime.
The chimeras melted instantly, and the green slime relentlessly extended, trying to engulf the chimera dragon.
“You should just give up…”
The slime dragon Monzlure extended its slimy body, clinging persistently.
Knowing it would be at a disadvantage if any distance was created, it threw itself completely into the fight.
If it could devour the chimera dragon, it could restore its lost slime indefinitely.
“What are you trying to do?!”
“Become my prey, Asimokus!”
The slime dragon, driven by greed, clung to the chimera dragon.
Its slime dissolved the chimera dragon's skin and absorbed it.
As time passed, the slime dragon grew stronger, and the chimera dragon became slower, struggling even to escape.
Despite its desperate efforts to survive, the inevitable end was approaching.
“Why…”
The chimera dragon tried with all its might to escape the slime, but only sank deeper.
Meanwhile, its skin continued to melt, penetrating inside.
The slime reached its muscles and bones, rendering it immobile.
“Remember this well. Survival makes you strong, not the other way around.”
The slime dragon dissolved everything in sight and absorbed it without hesitation.
The more it devoured the chimera dragon, the stronger it became, and even the color of the slime changed.
As the Four Calamities merged, it was regaining its once complete form.
“This is why humans have survived until now, and why we ended up like this!”
“Grrrr…”
The chimera dragon, barely able to move its eyes, saw the slime dragon devouring its body.
The green slime had turned yellow, and bones and organs could be seen within it.
It finally understood why the slime dragon wanted to eat it.
“For what purpose… are you doing this…”
“To reclaim my body. After erasing everything on this land… I will head to the world's end.”
There was no reason to remain trapped in this narrow land.
It was laughable to think it ended up with this body after being defeated by humans.
Through rightful vengeance, it would bring ruin to the Karonbelaz continent and advance to a new world as a true dragon.
“……”
The chimera dragon sank into death, unable to even close its eyes.
But the slime dragon, unaware of its demise, continued to devour busily.
“I am becoming stronger! I am becoming a true dragon!”
Vodeon Castle, atop the walls.
Zion and Hanette quickly ascended the wall upon receiving the report.
Two Setinos Quasars were already present, and the lord and various knights couldn't take their eyes off the beasts.
Though Zion had anticipated this situation, he immediately noticed a variable had arisen.
‘…The chimera dragon is missing.’
Outside the castle, chimeras with mismatched body parts were approaching.
They moved slowly, losing body parts with each step.
Most notably, the chimera dragon that created them was absent.
‘Could it be… that the Four Calamities are fighting among themselves?’