novelraw Chapter 157: Dimension Gate (2)
Chapter 157: Dimension Gate (2)
Translator: Dreamscribe
Elves, beastkin, dwarves, orcs, fairies, and the other races that had been resurrected in Arsilan.
The cities they built on the reclaimed land of Arsilan were beautiful. Though there were still some shortcomings as they had only just been established, the bright expressions of the Arsilans filled in all the gaps.
The Heroes who had completed the main quest and the Arsilans gathered in these cities and watched the ritual with earnest hearts.
The city representatives, dressed in pure white robes, appeared at the center of the city. Once the ritual was complete, the King of Sillion, Leon, would bind the holy relic and the holy sword together to manifest a miracle.
There wasn’t much time left until the Grand Rift opened.
The ritual began in a hurry.
WingGenius, who was always with HandGenius, also led the ritual in the city of fairies. Luceren and Garsha knelt in reverence and looked up to the sky.
Mia and the Arsilans clasped their hands together and prayed earnestly. They hoped that the world of the Heroes who had protected Arsilan would be safe. Losing their home was an unspeakably cruel fate.
Mia and the beastkin were fully prepared to give their lives in battle for the Heroes.
Haebyul and the Romance Heroes stood with Mia in the center of Lunatie, gazing at Garsha. Many Heroes had flocked to Lunatie, and when the city became packed, new space was generated to accommodate everyone.
“This is kind of moving.”
“It’s emotional.”
At UruBear’s words, Haebyul nodded.
The desperation of the beastkin could be felt through the skin. It was even more earnest than that of the Heroes. Seeing this, the Heroes couldn’t help but feel their hearts stir.
Game characters, settings, those things no longer mattered.
Over-immersion?
In Arsilan, that was the norm.
“Arsilan Saga... I learned about life here.”
“Seriously, I’m so glad I was born in this era.”
“Yeah.”
“If you don’t play Arsilan Saga, you’re wasting your entire life.”
Long live the Creator God!
We’re lucky to be able to play Arsilan Saga.
The countless experiences they had in Arsilan became new eyes, allowing them to see more with a broader perspective. They felt, with their whole being, things they never would have realized without Arsilan Saga. The Heroes all watched the ritual with that belief.
[The hearts and wishes of the beastkin are beginning to take shape.]
From the chests of Mia and the beastkin flowed radiant crystals of light formed from their hearts, gathering toward Garsha. The sight was immensely beautiful. When Haebyul reached toward the crystals, she could feel the memories and emotions of the beastkin.
The crystals of the heart gathered in Garsha’s hand and merged into one large sphere.
[A holy relic is about to be born in Arsilan.]
“Ooh!”
“It’s forming!”
"Kya!"
“Looks like we’ll make it in time after all?”
As the holy relic began to form smoothly, the Heroes felt relieved. They had a real-time window open, watching the situation in Seoul, and it was clearly ominous. A larger rift than before had appeared across the entire sky, looking as though it would tear open at any moment.
Ella and Helby were spotted doing their utmost to maintain the seal.
The Heroes held their breath as they watched the glorious birth of the holy relic. Just as the relic was about to be born in Garsha’s hand,
[Darkness dwells in the heart.]
[Light has scattered, and the manifestation of the holy relic has failed!]
“Huh?”
“What the...?”
The sphere made of the heart’s crystal shattered and scattered in vain. Garsha, caught in the shock, coughed up blood and collapsed to the floor.
“Garsha nim!”
“No...!”
The beastkin tried to run toward her, but Garsha raised a hand to stop them. She wiped the blood from her lips and staggered to her feet.
“The ritual comes first.”
Haebyul and the Romance Heroes were also worried about Garsha’s condition, but they couldn’t approach.
-Elvens failed too.
-Same here.
-Looks like everyone’s failing?
-What's going on?
Haebyul was able to check information in real-time through the chat window of the broadcast. It was reported that all cities had failed to manifest the holy relic.
Garsha seemed to know the cause. She let out a deep breath and began to speak.
“Arsilan has changed. It overcame despair and came to embrace the future. So we must change as well.”
Garsha’s words reached the beastkin.
“A hundred years. It has been such a long time. In that time, we were wounded, and those wounds became scars deep within our hearts. Fear of the Erosion, and the despair that we too might fall into corruption... are such scars not still left in your hearts?”
Garsha’s words echoed to all the beastkin in Lunatie. The moment they heard her, they felt a pain in their hearts like thorns had pierced them.
Mia’s eyes trembled violently.
The persecuted past, the Invasion of Erosion, the fall of comrades and friends. Whether from the generation that had experienced the golden Arsilan or those who hadn’t, all had lost their innocence. Perhaps the word “innocence” was the most unfitting for them now.
Are we going to be powerless again?
Mia’s hand trembled. Haebyul took her hand. The trembling stopped.
“We even got rid of the Lord of Greed, so what’s the problem now?”
“You know that saying... the ground hardens after rain. Um, does that fit here?”
“Aren’t you putting it too simply?”
“Then you say something!”
“At times like this, hugging is the best thing.”
“Oh ho?”
The Romance Heroes tried their best to console her. Mia looked around. The Heroes shared in the pain with the beastkin.
There was no coercion. Just like when they had saved Arsilan, they naturally approached and stayed by their side.
Mia raised her hand.
“That’s right. We’ll kill off the Erosion and everything else! We’ve gotten stronger too!”
Mia’s shout echoed out. The fierce will embedded in her voice instantly spread among the beastkin, creating a surge of momentum.
Their fur stood on end, and sharp claws extended.
Instinct engulfed the beastkin, but they no longer wavered like before. The hearts they had gained from the Heroes helped keep them grounded.
The light of the Heroes filled the gaps left in their instincts.
“Let’s save the Heroes’ world!”
“Let’s kill that fucking bastard!”
“Oh... that sounded like a Hero. Kinda cool.”
“Did it suit me?”
The cries of the beastkin roared through Lunatie. Garsha smiled refreshingly and nodded.
“Yes, we’ve grown stronger! We will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Heroes and save the world. We’ve lost our innocence, but we’ve gained an even stronger heart. A light that doesn’t change even through pain, that is our instinct and our will!”
We have changed.
Covered in scars, but still looking forward.
We can burn with resolve without falling to our knees. That’s why we’re strong! Stronger than ever before.
“In our own way, with our own will...”
Garsha raised both hands.
“Let us create a new holy relic! For Arsilan!”
“For Arsilan!”
Arsilan.
It now held meaning for both the Heroes and the Arsilans. Lunatie was covered in shouts. Haebyul and Mia shouted together and laughed heartily.
An even larger crystal of the heart emerged from the beastkin’s chest and moved toward Garsha.
The heart’s crystal that appeared again did not shine. It was stained in parts. It was a heart covered in scars, but the beastkin felt no shame.
Because the light dwelling in the future would grow even more radiant, using those stains as nourishment.
[A new holy relic is being manifested.]
[The dark heart is beginning to merge into one!]
The darkness that had fallen from the heart’s crystal began to converge into one.
“We must face the darkness we carried within us. This painful trial- now, we can overcome it. Come, Arsilan! Let us move forward together!”
The moment Garsha’s cry ended, darkness burst out and engulfed Lunatie.
As if the space had been shifted, the surroundings changed. Haebyul and the Romance Heroes looked straight ahead. Mia and the beastkin were on high alert, tense expressions on their faces.
They were trying their best to shake off their fear.
“Mia!”
“Huh?”
As Haebyul and the Romance Heroes approached, Mia’s eyes widened.
“But this is our trial...?”
“We’re Arsilans too.”
At Haebyul’s words, Mia’s eyes welled up with tears. The same was true for the other beastkin.
“Sniff... I’m weak to this kind of stuff...”
UruBear openly burst into tears.
GRAAAHHH!
A massive beast, shrouded in darkness, bared its fangs and rose to its feet. It was a savage beast covered in scars. The beast was consumed by fear and wary of everything that approached. Then, driven by instinct, it began to rampage.
“So we just have to take that thing down?”
“Nice and simple.”
“Heh! Time to finally do something Hero-like again.”
The Romance Heroes drew their weapons and advanced toward the beast of darkness. Mia and the beastkin also glared at the dark beast, emanating a fierce killing intent.
“Mia!”
“Yes!”
Mia’s body transformed into a large feline. Haebyul climbed onto her back and drew her bowstring.
“Can I ride you?”
“Of course.”
“Yesss!”
As the beastkin transformed, the Romance Heroes climbed onto their backs.
“Charge!”
“Let’s go!”
Everyone charged at the beast of darkness.
The beast swung its sharp claws, but Mia dodged nimbly.
Swish!
Multiple arrows were fired at once from Haebyul’s bow and pierced into the beast. UruBear blocked its attacks with his shield and pushed it back, while the Romance Heroes unleashed their attacks.
[GRAAAHHH!]
The wounded beast of darkness let out a pitiful howl. The eyes of the beastkin gleamed sharply. They would no longer cry like that.
“Just disappear already!”
“So embarrassing!”
With the Heroes on their backs, the beastkin leapt at the beast and tore into it with their fangs. The Heroes pushed off from the beastkin’s backs and launched themselves into the air, falling toward the dark beast.
BOOM!
The Heroes’ skills and magic rained down on the dark beast. It staggered, then collapsed to the ground. With eyes full of only despair and pain, it looked around at everyone before peacefully closing its eyes.
Mia and the beastkin quietly watched it. Just like the dark beast vanished, the stains in their hearts began to disappear as well.
“That wasn’t so bad.”
Mia said with a smile.
With everyone together, they had not only faced the painful past, they had overcome it.
[You have overcome the darkness. The Heroes Light now dwells in the place where your darkness once was.]
[A noble soul has been born! The Erosion can no longer threaten you.]
Mia and the beastkin were startled by the sudden message. So were the Romance Heroes.
"Kya! This is it!"
“This is Arsilan!”
At last, they truly felt as one. Having overcome the wounds and fears of the past, the beastkin were reborn as true warriors of Arsilan.
Mia trembled from the overwhelming fullness in her chest.
With a radiant smile, she looked at Haebyul. Then, she noticed the information window floating in front of Haebyul.
“Huh?”
“Hm?”
Mia blinked and pointed to the information window with her hand. She hadn’t seen it until just now, but now she could.
“You can see this?”
“Yes. Huh? Is that Haebyul unnie’s world?”
“Yep!”
-Oh! That’s interesting!
-Can she see this too?
-Mia is so cute....
-What is this storyline?
-Now they can truly be together!
“Hello?”
Seeing the chat window, Mia greeted it. She had already experienced something called broadcasting before, so she could accept it quickly.
The darkness faded, and they were returned to Lunatie.
The beastkin looked at Garsha with bright expressions. In Garsha’s hands was the newly completed holy relic.
“I will now send the holy relic to the Holy Sword.”
Garsha sent the relic to Leon.
Light burst out from the holy relic and drew a long line as it headed toward Solis. The beastkin watched the situation in Seoul and other cities together with the Heroes. The other races were also overcoming the darkness.
As time passed, the holy relics were completed one by one, but time was far too tight.
[The seal has been lifted. The Grand Rift is opening.]
“The Grand Rift is opening.”
“Ah....”
Everyone’s expressions hardened.
The skies above Seoul split open, and viscous Erosion began pouring down. Unlike last time, this was happening across the entire city of Seoul.
Ella and Helby flew into the air and barely managed to hold back the Erosion, but they were nearing their limits.
The thick Erosion falling from the sky turned into sharp spikes and poured down like a rainstorm toward Ella and Helby. Though the spikes pierced their bodies, they didn’t stop trying to close the Grand Rift.
“Ugh, urgh...!”
“This is crazy.”
“No!”
All of Arsilan was swept up in overwhelming rage.
When Ella and Helby fell to the ground, that fury reached its peak. Their bodies were covered in wounds. Particles of light flowed from their injuries, and their bodies gradually began to fade.
The helplessness of having to merely watch was more unbearable than ever before.
-It’s done!
-We’re finished too!
-Now it’s our turn!
At that moment, all the holy relics were completed!
Pillars of light surged from every city, and the relics were transmitted to Leon. The relics floating around Leon turned into particles of light and were absorbed into the Holy Sword.
The Holy Sword burst into intense flames.
[The Holy Sword is reborn, infused with everyone’s hearts.]
The sword, filled with all the light and hearts of Arsilan, now held even greater power. Leon, who had moved to the front of Solis, swung the Holy Sword. Space split apart, linking beyond dimensions.
Crrrraaaack!
Light rippled through the centers of Solis, Marogo, Evanth, and all the cities of Arsilan. The space Leon had slashed connected and expanded, forming a massive gate.
The light of the Holy Sword passed through the gate and connected to Ella and Helby.
[The Dimension Gate has been completed!]
*Arsilans may inhabit a avatar created by Ella’s power to cross dimensions. The original body will be safely stored in the Dimension Gate.
*Thanks to the Guardian Dragon’s compassion, pain is significantly reduced.
*If the avatar is destroyed, you will automatically return to Arsilan. You cannot re-enter the Dimension Gate until the avatar is regenerated.
The Dimension Gate, imbued with everyone’s hearts, was finally complete!
***
The apocalypse had arrived in Seoul.
“Wow....”“Am I crazy? I can’t believe this.”
“This isn’t real, right? Erosion doesn’t exist, right?”
“Of course it doesn’t exist in real life. But still....”
It felt as if the Erosion truly did exist.
Office workers couldn’t focus on work and were too busy staring at the view of Seoul. Seen through Soul Glass, Seoul was moments away from the end. The sky had turned a dark red, and horrifying Erosion-based entities were pouring down from the gaping Grand Rift.
Many people came out into the streets of Seoul wearing Soul Glass. Those without Soul Glass watched the parallel world through their smartphones.
“Wh-What do we do?!”
"Huk!"
Even people walking along the streets stopped in place and took out their phones. Those wearing Soul Glass screamed as they watched Ella and Helby fall.
No one found the scene strange anymore. Everyone was just speechless at how serious the situation was.
“All of Seoul is....”
“Wow... how is this even possible.”
“What kind of scale is this...”
They were in shock.
The Invasion of Erosion.
Even people who had never played Arsilan Saga could understand the weight of what was happening.
Even national TV began broadcasting Seoul’s situation live as breaking news.
[The Invasion of Erosion has begun! It is pouring over the entire Seoul area!]
Heroes who had rushed in wearing Soul Glass ran toward Ella and Helby. Ella and Helby barely managed to stand and looked up at the sky.
The Grand Rift grew larger and larger, dyeing the sky black. From within the cracks, countless large and small eyes began to emerge. Just looking at them was enough to make your body freeze in place.
Ssshhhhh!
At the same time, the Erosion began to pour down over all of Seoul like a torrential downpour. As the Erosion fell from countless eyes and touched the ground, monsters began to appear.
Ella tried to muster her strength to stop it, but instead, she was thrown backward and rolled across the ground. Helby was struck by a massive monster and sent flying, crashing into a building.
[Kehuhuhuhu!]
Laughter echoed from the Grand Rift. That laugh sent chills down the spines of everyone watching.
The end had come to Seoul.
The parallel world would collapse.
It seemed as if destruction had been predetermined by fate.
Just as the monsters rose and began charging at those wearing Soul Glass,
“Huh?”
“Light?”
Light surged from Ella’s body. Helby, wrapped in starlight, walked out of the building.
Flash!
Space rippled, and a gate made of all the light in the world appeared. The one who stepped out from the gate was none other than Leon, King of Sillion.
“Wow....”
"Leon nim!"
“Waaahhh!”
Everyone watching erupted in cheers at Leon’s appearance. When Leon raised the Holy Sword high, the massive Dimension Gate was revealed.
Amidst the complex city streets, atop towering rooftops, and over the turbulent waters of the Han River,
Dimension Gates appeared throughout Seoul, scattering brilliant light and radiating an overwhelming presence.
As the gates opened, Heroes and Arsilans began to step out.
Heina and the Royal Army of Sillion, Garsha and the beastkin, Luceren and the elves, dwarves, orcs, fairies, countless beings of Arsilan crossed dimensions to arrive and save Seoul.
Leon raised the Holy Sword.
“For Arsilan! And for Earth!”
He pointed the Holy Sword at the Erosion monsters.
“Annihilate them all!”
At Leon’s cry, all of Arsilan roared back with a shout.
“For Arsilan!”
“We are Arsilan!”
“For Earth!”
“Let’s kill them all!”
“Let’s go!”
Everyone watching felt chills run down their spines.
Even those broadcasting the event were left speechless, unable to utter a word.
-This is Arsilan Saga!
-What is this... I cried...
-Taking half-day off, logging in now!
-This scale is insane.
-Aaaah! I’m going crazy! Why can’t I log in?! Manager Kim, you asshole!
-I’m American and just crossed the Dimension Gate to Seoul. There's no Hero who hasn't come to Seoul yet, right?
-I arrived too! No, why did you go to work? Are you stupid?
-Yeah, you’re stupid ㅋㅋ How could you miss this?
Every broadcast chat exploded with excitement.
They were the Army of Light.
The Army of Light began to move forward, sweeping away all that was filthy.
Arsilan’s counterattack had begun!