C308
"Steal, destroy, and strike!"
After those words echoed in the meeting room, an absolute silence fell. The first to speak was the Heavenly Demon.
"What are we going to steal?"
"The object that has left this world in its current state."
As soon as Cale responded, Jegal Miryeo, Rosalyn, and King Denis began taking notes.
"And destroy?"
The Heavenly Demon asked again, and Cale responded, recalling his conversation with the World Tree.
"The object. Let’s call it a 'reference point.' If we steal it, Apitoyu will once again experience the chaos of the Great Catastrophe."
At these words, King Denis and Wisha, the White Snake, reacted.
"Then, the entire continent will plunge into chaos again?"
Cale raised his hand to stop Wisha, who was showing concern.
"The Source of the World and the World Tree promised to collaborate to minimize it."
During the great catastrophe, numerous anomalous phenomena occurred across the continent, causing damage in many areas. That’s why Cale had gone to see the World Tree. He remembered that moment.
"Do you want to handle the reference point before stopping the Dragon Lord?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. World Tree, what do you think?"
Cale watched as the World Tree and the Source of the World conversed.
A vast field covered in small but beautiful wildflowers.
In the center, a blossoming tree.
Looking up, the sky was filled with radiant light that illuminated the tree and the field.
Under the shade of the tree were the young World Tree, a girl with long hair, and Cale.
It was the space he had been transported to for a conversation with the World Tree.
The young World Tree smiled as it met Cale’s gaze.
"Thanks to the Dragon Lord, I was able to create this space."
The constraints of the space created by the Dragon Lord had crumbled, and the World Tree and the Source of the World filled it.
"Yes, and thanks to that, I can talk to you and our angel here comfortably."
Sniff, sniff.
The Source of the World began to sniffle.
"It’s truly touching. Our angel is pure emotion."
The eyes of the Source of the World, filled with tears, looked at Cale through its long hair.
Cale’s expression turned awkward, and the young World Tree quickly spoke.
"If the reference point stops working, there will definitely be anomalous phenomena across the continent, and the energy will become unstable."
"Sniff. Yes, chaos will come."
Cale’s expression didn’t change, and both entities responded one after the other.
"We can’t stop the energy, but we can mitigate the anomalous phenomena and predict the affected areas."
The World Tree spoke first.
"And I can also suppress the energy as much as possible."
The Source of the World looked at the World Tree.
"Because we are not alone."
Normally, Cale would have had to plant the seed of the new World Tree after everything was over, but the original World Tree had regained its place. This had made it easier for the Source of the World to regain its strength.
"With the World Tree here, we don’t need to worry about the world’s flow."
Cale crossed his arms and asked, deep in thought:
"Then, if the energy becomes unstable, will there be beings that suffer damage?"
The young World Tree pondered briefly before responding.
"Since the energy will become completely chaotic, we don’t know what situations might arise. Especially for those who use mana or aura."
The young one couldn’t finish its sentence.
"Really?"
The Source of the World and the young World Tree looked at Cale.
Cale calmly expressed his thoughts.
"During the last great catastrophe, the dragons manipulated the energy to their advantage. But in this new crisis, no one will be able to predict what will happen. Both allies and enemies will be in great chaos."
Cale smiled.
"The angel is smiling!"
The Source of the World also smiled. The young one averted its gaze and spoke.
"We’ll try to mitigate the anomalous phenomena as much as possible to reduce harm to common beings. And we’ll inform the elves about the affected areas so they can evacuate and prepare."
The elves with Wisha, who followed the Grand Elder Elf and Erza, had returned to the World Tree.
"Yes, yes."
Cale spoke to the two entities that were the foundation of Apitoyu.
"No more than an hour. Is that alright?"
With a radiant smile, the World Tree and the Source of the World nodded vigorously, though a bit intimidated.
Cale put those thoughts aside and looked at the Heavenly Demon.
"Destroy?"
Cale responded.
"When the great catastrophe happens again..."
Cale looked around the meeting room.
He looked at the leaders. And though they weren’t present, he thought of those who followed them.
Wisha, the White Snake. Her people, the Beast People, and other races. King Denis of Har Kingdom and his allies from other human kingdoms. Exion, the 3-Star Dragon, and his followers. And the Heavenly Demon, Jegal Miryeo, Sima Jung, and the Murim warriors from the Central Plains who would soon arrive.
Finally, his own companions.
"When that happens, mana and aura will fluctuate drastically, increasing or decreasing suddenly like endless waves."
In other words, total chaos.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed hard.
It was King Denis.
Cale smiled at him as he spoke.
"That means current users of mana and aura will face great difficulties."
The Hunters of the Purple Blood Family and their allies.
"Our enemies will be in a very complicated situation."
The mages and aura swordsmen won’t be able to use their powers properly.
"At least if we can block the dragons’ mana and they can only use their specialties, we’ll have already gained something."
Then...
Cale looked back at his allies.
"We don’t rely so much on aura and mana, right?"
He asked the Heavenly Demon.
"Isn’t that so?"
The Heavenly Demon extended his hand instead of speaking.
Buzz-
A dark red energy enveloped his hand.
"We use our inner energy."
The Murim warriors from the Central Plains used the ki they had accumulated in their bodies.
Although if they exhausted their ki, they would need to recharge it through internal techniques.
"Yes, we just have to hold out for an hour."
It wasn’t much time, and they could endure it.
Then, Wisha spoke.
"That’s fine. In the worst-case scenario, we’ll fight hand-to-hand."
Her smile was full of coldness. As Beast People, they couldn’t fully transform, but it wasn’t a bad battlefield.
Cale looked at his companions.
Mary, the dark elf Tasha. They all had their own specialties that didn’t rely heavily on mana and aura.
Although there was Rosalyn, Choi Han, and Clopeh.
"There are ways, so it doesn’t matter."
Choi Han, who knew how to wield aura.
"It’ll be fun."
Clopeh Sekka, who had learned to handle Dead Mana.
Smiled.
Rosalyn also smiled.
Cale looked at Eruhaben.
"Don’t worry."
The Ancient Dragon showed a confident smile. He spoke on behalf of the dragons on Cale’s side.
"I’ll capture the Dragon Lord."
Cale and Eruhaben looked at each other.
"Me, Mila, Sheritt, and Exion. The four of us will be enough."
"The Lord’s heart."
The Ancient Dragon affirmed.
"We’ll create an opportunity to pierce it."
Eruhaben confirmed it.
"Dragon Lord. His time abilities are truly an area I can’t see, so it’s almost like facing a god."
To confront him, the Dragons would have to give it their all.
Trap the Dragon Lord and strike his heart.
"But ending his life."
Piercing his heart.
"Cale Henituse, you must do it."
Apitoyu. At the moment when the world’s flow becomes unstable, the freest being will be Cale Henituse, who already has nature within his body.
In that moment of chaos,
Cale will be closer to a god than the Dragon Lord himself.
-Don’t worry.
Cale smiled as he listened to the voice of Sky Eating Water.
He spoke to the dragons.
"Just make sure to set the stage."
------------------
After the meeting, all the allies hurried to their tasks and to inform their companions.
"Tomorrow, no, today. Today at dawn."
It was past midnight.
With the new day beginning, only seven hours remained to execute the plan.
No one asked why they were rushing so much.
"Three times."
Cale looked out the window. No pillar of light could be seen.
"Since the last call, the Dragon Lord has used magic three more times."
Only Cale, Raon, and the Half-Blood Dragons noticed. That information had already been passed on to some companions.
"And the frequency is increasing."
The magic was manifesting more and more quickly. Without the continent’s creatures noticing.
What kind of magic would it be?
‘I feel uneasy.’
Cale felt a growing discomfort at the back of his neck. So he decided to move as quickly as possible. Among those leaving, King Denis approached Cale to say goodbye.
"See you on the battlefield."
Cale directed his gaze to Denis’ seat. The seat beside the king was empty. The Emperor of the Holy Empire, Alt.
He had finally allied himself with the Dragon Lord.
Despite knowing the world would be destroyed, Alt and some kings chose the Dragon Lord.
‘Did he introduce them to virtual reality?’
He didn’t know what content had led them to take the Dragon Lord’s hand.
"We humans will take care of it."
King Denis’ eyes shone with determination. Many more kingdoms had joined King Denis’ cause.
The battle among humans would be handled by them.
"I trust you."
At Cale’s words, Denis nodded firmly and withdrew. Someone approached Cale as he watched Denis leave.
It was Tang Yu, the leader of the Tang Family from Sichuan.
She approached silently, with an impassive expression, and asked in a low voice:
"Can I release the poison?"
In a scenario without mana or aura, releasing the poison.
Tang Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, having lost half of her family.
"After all, Dragons are living beings too. There’s no creature immune to poison. At the very least, we should make them bleed as much as we have bled."
Cale nodded silently. Only then did Tang Yu bow her head in gratitude and walk away.
"Um. Is it Rosalyn’s turn now?"
Finally, Rosalyn approached him.
"Hehe. Are you busy?"
With a soft laugh, Rosalyn paused before continuing.
Cale asked her directly:
"Are you disappointed?"
"…Yes."
She sighed and nodded.
"That’s right. I’ve prepared so much, but I won’t be able to use it all."
The fact that she and the magic tower couldn’t use everything they had prepared.
And also because Rosalyn had acknowledged that she was "weak."
She was frustrated in many ways.
"Still, there’s much to do. I must do my best."
Cale observed Rosalyn, who spoke with determination, and seeing that only the two of them remained in the meeting room, he spoke.
"Rosalyn. You might have much more work in the future."
Rosalyn thought Cale’s words were meant to comfort her and smiled more brightly at the awkward attempt.
"Yes. I must become stronger, find my own path, and create my aura."
"No, that’s not what I mean."
Cale was serious.
"Rosalyn."
"Yes."
His serious tone made Rosalyn serious too.
Cale looked at her silently before speaking.
"Do you know the golden rule in a group of heroes?"
"Excuse me?"
"The hero’s companion."
"Excuse me?"
"Except for the hero themselves, who is usually a swordsman, there’s the tank, the healer, and the person who seems less important but is indispensable for extra tasks."
Cale pointed at Rosalyn.
"And the mage."
Cale nodded.
"That’s the basics."
Simplicity is best. There’s a reason for the basics.
Even though Cale had to find the Hero in the game "Raising My Precious Absolute God," he was also considering who their companions would be.
‘Because the hero is likely to be a game user.’
Most likely, an ordinary person.
So he had to think about their companions. Especially the mage. For that role, a companion who could communicate would be better than an NPC.
"Yes. The mage, the best mage I know is-"
Without a doubt.
"It’s you, Rosalyn."
Cale murmured to himself while nodding repeatedly, and Rosalyn, with a strange expression, asked:
"Am I really the best mage?"
Cale responded without hesitation.
"Of course. Who else?"
Because that was the obvious answer.
"Ha, hahaha-"
Rosalyn let out a laugh. It was quite a loud laugh. After laughing for a while, she told Cale:
"Is the hero young master Cale, no, a swordsman? Then is it Choi Han?"
"No, it’s not Choi Han. I have to find him. In fact, the hero might not be a swordsman but a mage. In that case, your workload would decrease."
"I understand. In that case, I wouldn’t participate."
Rosalyn nodded despite the incomplete words.
It was enough to grasp the essentials.
And Cale got along well with Rosalyn in that way.
"Then what will young master Cale do?"
He probably wouldn’t be either a tank or a healer.
"…Um, the extra tasks?"
Rosalyn frowned.
Was he belittling himself again?
Although extra tasks aren’t easy and can sometimes be harder.
‘Extra tasks with that frail body?’
Is it even possible?
While Rosalyn was filled with disbelief, Cale spoke calmly.
"Ah. By the way, I-"
But he couldn’t continue.
‘How do I say I’m the hidden boss?’
Cale just smiled.
"It’s a secret."
"It’s a smile trying to deceive me."
"…!"
Cale’s pupils trembled, and Rosalyn laughed as she slowly headed toward the exit of the meeting room.
"Anyway, let me know if you need my help anytime. I think I can find my path and grow by staying by your side."
With those words, Rosalyn left the meeting room.
As she headed to the black castle, her expression grew stern.
Even though her conversation with Cale had relieved her a bit,
"The best mage I know is you, Rosalyn."
If that’s the best, aren’t we in trouble?
Rosalyn, who had believed she could use magic like a Dragon, realized one thing. Dragons have their Attributes even without mana.
‘And I-’
She only had magic. Rosalyn met a subordinate mage in front of the black castle.
The negativity disappeared from her face. She spoke in her usual voice.
"How is it going?"
"There’s still no progress."
"Keep looking. No, let’s go now. I want to check it personally."
The vast spell of the Dragon Lord.
She hadn’t seen the scene or detected the flow of mana.
But if it was a large-scale spell,
‘Surely it left some trace.’
Rosalyn was searching for those traces.
Even though she hadn’t shared it with anyone.
‘The World Tree and the other Dragons said they were looking for it.’
The likelihood of her finding something they hadn’t was very low.
But she trusted her adaptability and affinity with mana, so she was looking for those traces.
‘Because I have nothing else to do.’
And if she found even a small clue, it would be useful for Cale.
Rosalyn didn’t plan to rest.
---------------
Phew.
Cale let out a deep sigh.
The plan had begun.
The place where the Dragon Lord had gathered.
The Purple Blood Family and their subordinates had gathered there.
"With a large-scale Teleportation Magic Formation-"
His allies had been moved to that place. They decided to strike first.
Thump. Thump.
Cale’s heart was pounding. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and looked ahead.
"Then, let’s go."
At his calm voice, his companions nodded.
"The best combination!"
Raon shouted enthusiastically.
"Perfect for looting! We’ve always looted everything."
"Nyaa! It’s true!"
"We’ve never failed."
"…"
From Hong and On to Choi Han, who simply smiled.
Cale and his ten-year-old team, along with Choi Han. They had never failed in their looting. That’s why Cale opted for safety.
"Raon. Let’s go."
"Let’s go!"
Buzzz-
A black light rose, and the Teleportation Magic Formation activated.
While the allies attacked enemy territory.
Cale and the thieves,
Flash!
headed to the forest near the Dragon Lord Neo’s Lair.
Thump thump.
Cale’s heart was pounding. The voice of the wind whispered in his ears.
-Oh, this is exciting. Is it there?
Among the dense trees in the forest, they saw what looked like a simple hunter’s cabin.
"Human, let’s loot— I mean, destroy the reference point."
Cale and the thieves set out to loot the Dragon Lord Neo’s house.
