245th Chapter
“Impressive…! Truly impressive!”
In the midst of Vargan’s final trial.
Vargan and his companions narrowly held off Frikkanrisk’s forces.
Lafez, witnessing Vargan’s first manifested Unique Spell, Butterfly Dream, displayed a look of utter excitement.
“Organon! My dear and truthful friend! This is truly an outrageous spell! One day, it will totally shatter the fundamental structure of the world!”
Lafez was ecstatic.
Living with curiosity, he continued to ponder and analyze the phenomena shown by Vargan over and over in his mind.
“Interesting. Very interesting. The structure systematically erases the boundaries between reality and illusion…. The fact that it casts a curse based on ‘the space itself,’ not the subject matter, is particularly…!”
Vargan’s first Unique Spell.
This spell, based on Curse Magic and a vast amount of Mana, dominated ‘space.’
The range was extensive enough to engulf an entire large city and beyond.
In fact, once someone entered inside, there seemed no way to escape.
Considering it also affected tens of thousands of Monsters as well as Frikkanrisk.
Muttering to himself, Lafez mentioned the battle that had just occurred.
“It works on all living beings, friend and foe alike! And not just that! Doesn’t it also apply to objects?!”
Within Vargan’s ‘capability.’
He could manipulate the world as he wished.
He could materialize illusions, and the opposite was possible as well.
However, to manipulate actual existing objects to his liking, a certain amount of ‘time’ was needed.
This time varied by individual, but by using ‘specific conditions,’ it could be expedited.
Lafez spoke in praise of Vargan.
“In the realm of spells, aren’t you akin to the Creator?!”
“…….”
Lafez, wishing for permission to comprehend the structure of the spell.
Vargan rebuked him for speaking nonsense.
Meanwhile, Schugenharz, present in the same spot, seemed calm but had a somewhat troubled expression, as if something was bothering him.
Lafez commented.
“Schugenharz. Isn’t this related to the magic you possess too? Why does your reaction seem lackluster? Could it be… hee hee hee. Are you unappealingly jealous?”
“Not at all. I’m just relieved to see the spell I had long awaited finally materializing. However….”
A deep worry appeared in Schugenharz’s eyes.
Surely, it was a powerful magic unlike anything seen before.
It’s a powerful magic that doesn’t exist.
As Lafez said, it might just change the very fabric of the world.
But…
Schugenharz grabbed Vargan by both shoulders.
With an exceedingly serious and straight gaze, he asked him,
“Organon, do you remember what I mentioned before?”
“Wha… you want me to use it for a good cause, right?”
“Yes. I did indeed ask you to use that magic for a good purpose. But now, my mind has changed.”
“Hmm.”
Vargan raised his eyebrows as if to say, “Go on, I’m listening.”
Schugenharz sighed and continued.
“Please don’t get me wrong. I really don’t want to say this, and I don’t think I have the right either.”
“What’s with the suspense?”
“…I mean…”
Schugenharz had been watching Vargan’s efforts to create the spell from a distance.
There were many obstacles to finding the right words.
But, it was something he needed to say for Vargan’s sake.
Whether Vargan would listen or not was secondary.
“I… would hope you wouldn’t use that spell as much as possible.”
“…….”
“Schugenharz! Have you lost your mind?! Ignore what this guy is saying, Organon! He’s just jealous and spouting nonsense!”
At Schugenharz’s plea, Vargan remained silent.
Lafez erupted in protest.
He voiced the necessity of continuously using the god-like powers Vargan had displayed.
“That magic only has value if it’s used consistently! You know it’s a ‘developable’ magic, becoming more versatile and effective the more it’s used! You want me to throw that away?!”
The dream of the butterfly is like a sword.
Depending on the user’s capability, it can cut straw or steel.
But Vargan’s butterfly dream was still a dull blade.
To cut sharper and deeper, he needed to spend time honing it.
“Organon. I think you know the reasons better than anyone.”
Even against Lafez’s rebuttal, Schugenharz steadfastly conveyed his intentions to Vargan.
His gaze held no jealousy or envy.
Instead, it was concern for Vargan that he was expressing.
*
“Was that it…?”
Archbishop Bifrons, who was in a fierce battle with Vargan.
With a penetrating gaze, he finally understood all the phenomena.
Vargan’s appearance and the manifestation of the Unique Spell.
Though it operated covertly and was unconfirmed from the inside, it became visible after all conditions were met.
“You can only realize it when death is near. Given that I can’t even discern it with my own eyes, there must be very few who can notice it.”
To manipulate a spell like a mere illusion requires time.
And that time flowed faster the more he ‘perceived’ the spellcaster Vargan with his ‘five senses.’
“Was his dodging and buying time part of the plan…?”
Gurgle—!
Bifrons felt holes appearing in his body.
As he continued battling with Vargan, he lost authority over ‘himself.’
Ultimately, at this moment, his flesh and senses were entirely under Vargan’s control.
“Someday, I will make you pay for this, you wretched human.”
“One day, you’ll have to pay the price, you insignificant human.”
Bifrons’ body had already vanished more than two-thirds, making it impossible to withstand the weight of gravity.
Yet, the proud and arrogant Archbishop stood there, staring at Vargan without shedding a drop of blood.
Vargan smirked slightly and welcomed Bifrons’ final words.
“Look who’s talking, the Archbishop who ended up in such a pathetic state. So, how does it feel?”
“Feel…?”
“It’s about your first experience as the target of my Unique Spell.”
“I want to deliver divine retribution to you right now.”
“Now that’s a high compliment.”
Vargan smiled, clearly satisfied.
Both Vargan and Bifrons recognized that their fight was already over.
Further conflict held no meaning.
The winner and the loser were already decided, leaving Bifrons with nothing but a pitch-black death.
Buburbubong—!
Bifrons’ body was gradually turning into nothingness.
Before long, only the face of the Archbishop was left floating.
Bifrons spoke, his mouth full of mana.
“Do you know when was the happiest moment of killing you all over the years?”
Words that seemed to step away from the mundane world.
Bifrons, who looked detached as if he had given up everything, was actually.
“Seeing the pathetic struggle of dying until the end.”
He was still clinging to the goal of killing Vargan.
Tsukuwaaaang—!
A magic cannon composed of the four elements erupted from Bifrons’ gaping mouth.
The final strike with all his might.
The overwhelming mass and pressure felt as if the world’s matter had been gathered into one.
Although it shot forth with a grotesque sound, even greater than the magic cannon Vargan had shown moments ago.
Ts, tsuzuuu….
Ultimately, it could only reach right in front of Vargan before disappearing.
“……”
Silence descended.
Vargan was left alone on the vast stage.
In place of the Archbishop, who had exuded murderous intent just moments ago, only a small orb remained.
Tangururu—.
The orb rolled over to Vargan.
He silently looked down at it and raised his staff, placing it atop the orb.
“Finally… it seems.”
The first Unique Spell was completed.
The Staff of Gluttony, just seconds away from gathering all the required materials.
It was just one of the steps he had envisioned from the beginning.
Looking back, it hadn’t been an easy journey.
Yet, he reached this point with such pride, and he would continue to do so.
Gazing down at the Archbishop’s core, Vargan, though momentarily sentimental, slammed his staff down to crush the core.
As it split in half, the core quickly shattered into sparkling pieces, scattering like shimmering smoke.
The smoke was drawn in like a magnet, seeping into the Staff of Gluttony.
Zuuung, zuuuung—.
The glimmering blue gemstone welcomed its new power, sounding joyfully as if to say it could now consume much more, higher-quality mana.
Truly gluttony.
The source of insatiable desire, no matter how much one eats.
“……”
Vargan looked at the transformed staff.
The blue-glowing gemstone, gifted by Erica, still shone beautifully as if holding a lake, but the body had changed.
The processed branches of Yggdrasil were stained with a dark hue, infinitely deep.
The branches of Yggdrasil are stained a deep, endless shade of green.
The alien energy being emitted claims its own identity.
Judgment Weapon.
It was originally an outlier item.
Like a transcendental state, there’s no distinction in quality or difference in the original outlier, but even so, differences in performance exist.
In that sense, the Staff of Gluttony, which consumed the Judgment Weapon, harbors potential equal to that of the weapon used by the number one in the Hero Ranking, transcending the stage.
“I’ve gained the achievements and items I previously considered. What remains is…”
Vargan gazed afar.
Beyond the forest, he fixed his distant eyes on some profound being.
Even if he couldn’t see it now and it seemed impossible, soon…
Before many years pass, he must meet that creature and gain the ‘necessary power.’
Goo—.
Returning his focus to the present situation, Vargan inspected the surrounding mana while floating the staff.
Trisena, who had separated due to a sudden terrain change, is fighting off the bishops and making her way up.
Among the bishops were strong individuals, yet it appears that even if their combat abilities have waned, they still struggled against the seventh-ranked hero.
“Here… and there….”
He assessed the overall battlefield situation.
The archbishops and at least a certain caliber of heroes seemed to have noticed that Bifrons was already dead.
Though they might not see it directly, their shocked expressions were clear in his mind.
He should send them another gift.
Killing Archbishop Bifrons doesn’t mean my Unique Spell has come to an end.
Vargan thought this as he pulled out the mana.
Woo. Uuung—!
The Staff of Gluttony absorbed all that powerful mana at a terrifying speed, altering the spell that already filled the battlefield.
—Keruruk?
—Kgegekk!
—Krrruuk!
Then, something that defied common sense occurred.
The wide stage created by Archbishop Bifrons. Suddenly, a black horde appeared, filling that stage as if it were only natural.
Altife.
Twenty thousand mindless priest-level Altife.
Their skin, always a bloody red, had turned black as if shrouded by shadows.
Perhaps to emphasize they were different from regular Altife or to showcase their loyalty as Vargan’s devoted followers.
They waited, drooling, for Vargan’s command.
With a casual wave of his hand, Vargan sent that vast army down to the ground.
The twenty thousand black Altife hurried down the mountain, rushing toward the battlefield as if no one cared about who would go first.
That scene was truly hard to believe, as if it were a hero protecting humanity in accordance with the church’s command.
“Be careful. That spell could lead you to ruin someday.”
A piece of advice from Schugenhartz during trials.
The moment it popped into his mind, Vargan grinned wickedly.
A trickle of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, but he appeared rather delighted.
“Schugenhartz… Do you think I’ll die from something like this?”
Vargan looked down at the battlefield.
His eyes seemed to gaze into the far future or perhaps the distant past.
“I won’t repeat the same mistake twice. Absolutely…!”
