Chapter 251: Madness, Adoration, and Truth (13)

Cale stared into Horns' trembling pupils and opened his mouth.

"There."

"!"

Horns looked to where Cale was pointing, he shuddered and quickly moved away from the spot Cale's finger was pointing to.

He then sat back down next to Cale.

Boom!

The ground shook again, and Horns looked back at the spot he had occupied moments ago.

Sisko, the Dragon, still unconscious and buried in the mud.

"..."

Horns ignored her. He then spoke to Cale with a serious tone once more.

"I, Horns, want to join your side. I know your true identities."

Hoo.

Cale looked at Horns, whose massive body no longer seemed as serious, with wide eyes.

"Who are we?"

The other responded without hesitation.

"The ones who saved the Xiaolen World and defeated the Blood Demon."

Cale smiled slightly and looked at Horns with interest before speaking.

"It seems you're very curious about the world beyond your immediate surroundings."

And he thought:

'Yes, by now, some of the enemies we've faced must have figured out who we are.'

Especially in Aipotu, although they didn't know Cale's exact identity, they must have realized what they had done.

"The Purple Blood Family played with the Blood Cult."

The Purple Blood Family, which pretended to have a cooperative relationship under a hierarchy, actually set a time bomb to destroy the Blood Cult.

"Yes, I have a great interest in other worlds."

"Why?"

As Cale conversed with Horns, he gestured to Eruhaben.

Understanding his meaning, Eruhaben moved his mana.

Splash, splash!

And he pulled out Sisko, still unconscious and buried in the mud, and tied her up.

Horns glanced at him, but unfazed, he spoke again.

"Because the world is about to perish."

Cale remembered the words Eruhaben had told him.

'This world doesn't have much time.'

'If the Source disappears, this world will disintegrate.'

When Cale found out about this, he remembered what the Hunter Families had tried to do secretly.

They wanted to sacrifice the world so they can offer it create a new God, an Absolute God.

In that way, the Dragons of the Purple Blood Family were doing well.

'But speaking of that...'

At that moment, Cale wondered something. It was a question he had always had in mind.

'Where do they plan to go after sacrificing the world that belongs to them?'

Of course, the Five Colored Family was nomadic, so they wouldn't have to worry about territory.

However, the same applied to the Black Blood Family of Xiaolen and the Blood Cult.

The leaders of each Family would regard their followers as a force, and that force would unite to form a power.

'And they are also competing against each other.'

And yet, would they still give up the world?

It was a choice that seemed contradictory.

'Hmm.'

That's why Cale had made some assumptions about it.

'Don't tell me—'

It seemed he had finally found a possible answer to his question.

Cale walked closer to Horns, whose massive head was almost as big as his entire body.

And he looked him in the eyes.

"What did you say earlier?"

Horns replied:

"I said I have a great interest in other worlds."

He continued:

"Because the world is about to perish."

Horns' words sounded different to Cale's ears.

"You said the world is about to perish," Cale said softly, "Do you mean Aipotu's world or all worlds?"

At that moment, Cale could discern a fleeting emotion in Horns' eyes, the Dragon Half-Blood.

"I've really made a good choice joining you."

Now, with Cale's words, Horns was confident in his choice.

Horns replied.

"I don't know everything; I'm just making a guess."

"One moment," Cale interrupted Horns before he could continue.

"First, tell me, why do you want to join us?"

There was still no clear answer to that question.

"..."

Horns looked away from Cale for a moment, gazed up at the sky, and then said.

"My death is near."

Cale fell silent for a moment.

"I see," Eruhaben said softly, and Cale looked at him.

"It seems the Dragon Half-Blood is right. Somehow, his strength seemed to wane during the battle. It must be because he doesn't have much life left."

Then Horns' voice sounded again.

"I have lived a life full of ugliness, but now that my death is near, pleasant memories of my time in this world keep coming to my mind. Even I have some cherished memories."

He really didn't have much time left to live. It wasn't about years, but days. It wouldn't be strange if he died tomorrow itself. Certainly, he would die before Pope Casillia.

And not even the Church knew.

In other words, not even his companions knew.

Dragon Half-Bloods, born with innate instability, had no specific order in which they died.

The blood of human and dragon in their veins was a delicate balance. If that balance was broken, their bodies would go out of control and eventually die.

That was their life.

As death drew near, Horns couldn't resist looking back on his life. It was a common thing to do, but also a natural one.

Horns had no attachment to this world. Honestly, he didn't care if it was destroyed.

However, he also had memories, and the people who had created those memories kept appearing in his mind.

"And now, those same people are risking their lives, no," he shook his head, "they are willing to sacrifice their lives and the rest of their existence to plunge this world into chaos."

He referred to those in the same situation as him.

"I don't want them, my loved ones, to die in despair and anger."

The other ten Dragon Half-Bloods.

They didn't share a drop of blood, but still...

"I want to save my family."

To Horns, the Dragon Half-Blood facing death, they were his only family, his friends, the only ones who had reached out to him.

That's why he was betraying them.

"Of course, my family won't want me to make this decision."

Horns could easily predict the fury and resentment they would feel at seeing this world saved and becoming a better place.

However, Horns had a wish.

"I don't want them to die in resentment, in emptiness."

In Horns' eyes shone a firm and unbreakable determination.

"I also want to see if the Dragon lineage running through my veins leads me down the right path, following this stubbornness that I consider righteous."

After all, his family only wanted even greater chaos.

"Anyway, my family wants even greater chaos. Wouldn't this be more in line with their will?"

Horns, driven by the desire to save his family and prevent them from dying in anger and resentment, decided to offer a deal to Cale.

"Since you saved Xiaolen and the Central Plains, I think it's worth a gamble."

That's why, against his usual behavior, he had presented himself to Pope Casillia to volunteer.

"You will also destroy the Purple Blood Family."

The Pope doesn't resent the world, but the Purple Blood Family and the Dragons. The same goes for the other Dragon Half-Bloods.

Because they don't belong anywhere, they have always felt an inner anger. Horns couldn't alleviate this feeling, but if he destroyed the greatest object of that resentment...

'I thought that at least they could live out the rest of their lives in peace.'

I might die before this process is completed, but that doesn't seem so bad.

"If I can destroy the Purple Blood Family and prevent the destruction of this world, I can give them everything I have."

Cale, with his arms crossed, silently observed Horns.

"First, I need to hear more about your story."

At that moment, a rumble echoed in the air. Cale turned his head and saw the three Elven Inquisitors.

"This is our chance! Now is the time!"

Peterson, surveying his surroundings, raised a gust of wind. The fierce wind enveloped him and his companions, transporting them in an instant away from Cale and Choi Han.

"Yanni, Lingling! We need to report this immediately! Lingling, open a portal!"

As Peterson exclaimed with an arrogant smile, the Elf Yanni let out an unusual sigh.

"It seems you haven't understood the situation."

She looked at her own bruised and dusty body.

"We are of Dragon class. Lingling could be considered a Dragon."

Yanni's voice was completely calm, but not because of calmness.

"However, there are three real Dragons on the other side. And there's also a human who can easily catch Sisko-nim."

It was a surrender.

"Do you think we can escape?"

Yanni asked Peterson, who was left speechless. He looked at Lingling in despair.

"What if we let ourselves be caught for now?"

Lingling shrugged with a playful tone, but her expression showed a playful smile.

"Look, they're already coming for us."

Eruhaben suddenly appeared in front of them, accompanied by Rasheel with his food basket.

"Oh."

Peterson's face twisted as he realized they were real Dragons. Unable to help it, he exclaimed:

"But if they're Dragons, why are they on the Human side?!"

Unfortunately, the two Dragons were not in the mood to respond to foolishness. And the same went for the others.

A rough aura emanated from Choi Han, Tasha, and Witira, who surrounded the group.

"Ah..."

Peterson finally lowered his arms, and the wind surrounding him dissipated.

"Damn it!"

He would like to kill the Dark Elf Tasha who was staring at him, but now is the time to surrender.

- Peterson.

At that moment, Lingling's voice reached Peterson's ears.

- I will distract their attention for a moment, so meanwhile, send your wind stealthily.

A fleeting gleam passed through Peterson's eyes.

He understood what it meant.

'Send my wind to report on this situation, right?'

However, he soon began to doubt.

'Could the Dark Elf know?'

Lingling's voice resonated in Peterson's mind as if she had grasped his thoughts.

At the same time, she raised her mana.

"Alright. It's obvious that they'll capture us, but will it be so easy to be caught?"

Despite her playful tone advancing, the voice that reached Peterson was cold.

- You are the bait. The true battleground is the one Yanni will send.

Ah.

Peterson quickly realized that the Lingling was acting strangely and felt a sense of relief.

It was at that moment...

"Damn crazy Elves!"

Lingling's red mana headed towards Rasheel, followed by resounding booms.

Bam! Kwaaang! Bam!

Peterson deliberately let Dark Elf Tasha notice his wind as he sent it in her direction.

He avoided Tasha's gaze. And he directed the wind as far away as possible.

"Hmm."

And then he smiled to himself.

The real deal is not the wind, it's the battleground!

- Peterson, don't laugh, and use all your strength.

Lingling's cold tone was heard.

As expected, she is truly the strongest Second Inquisitor!

Peterson inwardly admired her words and followed her instructions.

- Move as wildly as you can. Yanni's messenger will head towards the 'Castle'.

Peterson restrained the urge to shout with excitement.

'If it's a castle, then it's more than enough!'

The castle refers to the three sanctuaries in total in Aipotu.

The Dragon Gods who possess them are the most powerful in this world.

If he managed to reach one of them, the situation would change.

No matter how much he thinks about it, there is no one stronger than them here.

"Hehe. How convenient."

Here no one manipulates Earth Elementals.

No one will notice Yanni's power.

"Damn it!"

Peterson intentionally shouted.

"I can't collapse like this!"

Swoosh!

A storm of wind rose, and his body suddenly launched towards the enemies.

Yanni also drew his earth sword and began to run.

"Hmph."

And seeing Tasha's Wind Elemental follow him, Peterson suppressed a laugh.

The humiliation of this moment...

It will be overcome...

- Cale.

At that moment, Cale heard Super Rock's voice.

- I feel a strange movement here on the ground.

At Super Rock's unsettling words, Cale opened his mouth.

"What kind of movement?"

- ...There's a worm moving, seems to be a remnant of the Earth Elemental from before.

His gaze settled on the battlefield not far away.

Three Elven Inquisitors and two Dragon Half-Blood Knights were being easily dominated.

Easier than he expected.

Especially the red-haired Inquisitor was captured more easily than expected from what her abilities showed.

"Oh."

Cale responded enthusiastically.

"In what direction?"

- To the east.

"To the east?"

Cale's gaze turned to Horns.

"Eh."

"What's in the east?"

"!"

Horns's eyes widened before finally calming down.

"One of the Three Sanctuaries is there. The God of the Earth is there."

Cale recalled the information he had.

Ten Dragon Gods. Three of those Gods were said to be incomparably stronger than the others.

That's why they were also called the Three Stars.

Their Attributes leaked from Cale's mouth.

"God of the Earth."

The Third Star was of Earth Attribute.

"God of the Sea."

The Second Star was of Sea Attribute.

And lastly.

The First Star is...

"God of Domination."

Domination...

All of them, overseeing and ruling their respective domains.

- Cale, are we going to let the worm go?

"Oh."

The corners of Cale's lips slowly lifted at Super Rock's words.

His gaze turned to Horns.

"Transform again."

And then he pointed his house. It was the direction of the Black Castle, which was invisible due to magic.

"Let's go to my house and talk."

As he did so, he casually asked Horns. It was a topic that was left incomplete in their previous conversation.

"You said the world will soon be destroyed. Do you mean the world of Aipotu or all worlds?"

Cale asked Horns.

"What is going to be destroyed?"

Pat!

Horns, who had already returned to his huge original size, looked at Cale and opened his mouth.

"All worlds."

Horns continued speaking calmly.

However, he knew quite a bit about the Purple Blood Family, and he also knew what the Hunters were trying to do.

"To create an Absolute God in a world where Balance is already established, a new system must be built."

Horns wasn't sure.

"And it is suspected that the Hunters are the ones who have built that system. That's why they are likely trying to destroy one world at a time."

He shook his head.

"However, I don't know where or what the system they have built is. I can only guess that it will be based on the new world where they will settle."

Horns, like Cale. Thought there must be a place where the Hunter Families that had lost their lands were heading.

That's why he had been trying to find out.

"I have a clue."

He said it to gain Cale's trust. He hadn't come empty-handed.

"My father, the First Star, once said..."

Cale paused.

The First Star...

A Dragon with the Domination Attribute.

Does that mean he was Horns's father?

However, he soon looked at Horns after the following words.

"The false reality will soon become real."

And he added:

"There is a time when even the damn bastards of Transparent Blood are useful."

He continued:

"Do you know the Transparent Blood Family? They likely have clues about the new system and the world. So, if we investigate them..."

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Because Cale wasn't listening.

Instead, Cale looked into the void and murmured:

"I see."

The Hunter Families that had so far dedicated everything to sacrificing one world. However, the Transparent Blood Family seemed to be concerned about virtual reality.

That's why Cale had been thinking for a while.

Will it be, or not?

And a guess close to certainty now seized Cale's mind.

"Virtual reality..."

Virtual.

A false world.

That place becomes real.

And that's where the Absolute God is born.

"...I found it."

Finally, he found a way to catch the tail of the Absolute God.

A dark smile formed at the corner of Cale's lips.

- Human, are you going to scam someone? Why are you smiling like that?

Of course, Raon's words were ignored.

* * *

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]