novelraw Chapter 58.1: Episode 1 (3)
Chapter 58.1: Episode 1 (3)
Translator: Dreamscribe
It was a baptism of light.
Everyone's advance became a brilliant blessing to reclaim Arsilan.
When the heroes first came to this land, they were surely just a small ripple at first. They struggled against goblins and had a hard time with trolls and Death Knights. But now, everyone had become mighty Heroes. There were many heroes who could easily crush Death Knights. If they joined forces, even the Lord of Erosion would be no match for them.
The small ripple had now become a massive tidal wave of light covering the lost land.
Kwagagaga!
The black skull was pushed back. It tried to move forward but kept getting pushed back instead.
The attacks that contained everything from the Heroes split the surface of the black skull. The power the people of Arsilan had accumulated over time struck there, creating a massive crack.
In the final moment, the Legion of Souls, who became a fortress by squeezing out all their strength, displayed their heroic nature without holding back. Bursting through the crack, they cleanly severed one of the black skull’s arms.
The gigantic arm of the black skull fell to the ground. It was so grand it looked like dozens of massive buildings falling from the sky.
Kwaaaang!
When the gigantic arm hit the ground, the earth shattered and shot up in all directions. A cloud of dust soared, and massive debris swept the surroundings.
“Kya!”
“Uwaaah!”
“This is it!”
At the catastrophic sight, the Heroes cheered.
Just witnessing such overwhelming destruction made their hearts pound violently.
Yes, this was
“A festival!”
“This is a festival!”
It was not war, it was a festival.
[Kuhaha!]
[Let’s cut off the remaining arm too!]
The soul Knights shouted while enjoying the festival.
The Legion of Souls had clearly lost their color. They were fading, almost as if they could disappear at any moment. However, that made them shimmer more beautifully as they received the golden light of the Heroes.
The Northern Grand Duke, standing at the very front, was pushed back as she deflected the incoming debris.
Thud!
She expected to be pushed further back, but she stopped right away. It was because someone was supporting her from behind. She turned her head.
[You've gotten quite strong? I can’t even compare to you now.]
The Northern Grand Duke's eyes trembled. She looked at him and let out a small laugh.
“Hans..., you’re still the same.”
[That’s my charm.]
Hans was still wearing the Gron Village Guard uniform. He was in soul form, but nothing about him had changed. His cheerful smile remained just as it had been.
Not only the people of Gron Village, but also those who had died in the war until now began to appear. When the Northern Grand Duke extended her fist, Hans laughed and bumped his fist with hers. The golden light enveloped him as well.
“This time, I’ll take the lead.”
[Don’t worry, I’ll follow closely.]
The Northern Grand Duke tightly gripped her two-handed axe and moved forward. Behind her, Hans and the guards of Gron Village followed.
Kwaaaang!
Even the remaining arm of the black skull was severed and fell to the ground.
“Splendid.”
Heina lowered her sword as she watched that scene. When she looked to the side, many people of Arsilan were sharing the joy of reuniting with the souls. There were those meeting their families, long-separated lovers, and friends.
There was a time when the people of Arsilan, blessed by Ella, considered their long lifespan a curse. It made their despair feel longer and deeper.
Now, it was a blessing.
They were all thankful to be alive. They were being rewarded for holding on through the fierce battles.
Heina thought the same.
Knights approached her side.
[The youngest has all grown up.]
[I almost didn’t recognize you.]
[Can you handle a sword now?]
She calmly looked at the knights.
“I believe I’m the best with a sword in Arsilan. I think I could beat all of you if you came at me together.”
[Ooh!]
[Well, you did have the talent.]
The knights rejoiced and were proud of Heina’s growth. She raised her sword again. The knights also raised their swords in response to her movement.
“Let’s go with the old way.”
[Take the lead.]
[We'll follow you.]
She who had always followed behind the knights now stood at the front.
Heina smiled slightly as she moved forward.
Kwaaaa!
The skull that had lost both arms became utterly powerless. Unable to support its body, it collapsed straight onto the ground. It thrashed about, rolling its entire body in a frenzy, but the more it struggled, the more its bones cracked and shattered.
“Smash it!”
“Let’s destroy the head first!”
Everyone rushed in and launched attacks on the black skull. The black skull opened its mouth and spewed a dark current, but as the Legion of Souls charged in, the dark stream scattered into nothingness.
Jinwoo looked at the king and his companions.
They were all enjoying the game with radiant laughter. Some were teaching swordsmanship to the Heroes, others were joking around. Everyone was enjoying this game Jinwoo had prepared.
Jinwoo had long wanted to savor this moment.
He wanted to share this joy together. However, there wasn’t much time left.
Kwa-deudeuk!
The black skull’s movements ceased. The black bones slowly collapsed, and golden particles scattered, beautifully coloring the surroundings.
Thus, the black skull met its end.
“We won!”
“We did it!”
“Uwaaaaa!”
The Heroes raised their weapons and cheered.
The people of Arsilan and the Legion of Souls joined in that cheer.
“Oh!”
“I-It’s changing!”
Everyone raised their heads and looked to the sky.
The red sky, once like thick blood, and the black clouds that symbolized Erosion, gradually faded and then completely disappeared.
The beautiful blue sky of Arsilan revealed itself. At the same time, the blackened land began to return to its original state. The traces of Erosion, which seemed as though they would last forever, vanished like mist.
The lost land had reclaimed its true form.
Everyone fell silent for a moment and gazed at the scene.
Though marred by the scars of Erosion, even that appearance was dazzlingly beautiful.
It was land they had reclaimed together.
This was Arsilan.
Sseu-sseu-sseu!
Golden light that emerged from the vanished black skull settled onto the land and blossomed the Hero’s Flowers. The surrounding area was entirely covered in white waves, as if blessing the day.
Jinwoo silently turned his head to look at the king. His body was gradually fading. Particles of light flowed from his form and disintegrated.
[It was enjoyable. It was the most enjoyable time of my life.]
The king spoke quietly, only for Jinwoo to hear.
With a look of complete contentment, he took in the sight.
[What is the name of this game?]
“It’s Arsilan Saga.”
The epic, legend, and mythology of Arsilan.
The king nodded and laughed heartily.
[Our story will become a myth too, won’t it?]
“Of course. Many will remember it.”
[We've left our names in Arsilan forever! Where else could there be such joyful work!]
As the king turned around, the Legion of Souls let out a grand cheer.
[The Heroes rightly deserve their rewards.]
Jinwoo nodded and looked ahead.
This was once the site of Ella’s great temple. Countless people of Arsilan had visited and prayed for peace. The king had only ever sat there with a bored expression. Truthfully, Ella’s doctrines were boring.
‘This is a bit boring.’
‘Then let’s go out for a drink. Hehehe!’
‘Can a king do that?’
‘If they don’t like it, they can be king themselves.’
As soon as Jinwoo said that, the king took him out to have fun. It was a joyful memory.
Before the Heroes lay a massive fallen statue of the Goddess. The upper body was completely destroyed, beyond recognition.
The once-majestic temple was now reduced to barely its foundation. But it didn’t look shabby. The hero's flowers that were coloring the surroundings with white light replaced the past glory.
‘If the Heart Gem is brought to the Great Temple, a miracle might happen.’
Jinwoo liked happy endings.
No matter how much pain and despair there had been, if the end was a happy one, then everything had meaning.
It could remain as a memory.
When Jinwoo snapped his fingers, light burst forth from the Heart Gems the Heroes were carrying.
“The light...!”
“Ooooh!”
The Heart Gems floated upward.