The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years (Web Novel KR) Vol 1 Chapter 232

Iris' voice faded completely, and Lukas realised.

Iris' soul had just crumbled completely.

“Ah.”

He called out blankly.

Lukas looked at the darkness in front of him and recalled his conversation with Iris.

He recalled her face, her tears, and her confession.

[…So I was a bit greedy, but I can't do it. I can't change the nature of my beloved Lukas Trowman with my own hands. It would feel like I'm killing you with my own hands.]

The short, few-month journey in the illusionary world.

Those false memories were the greed that Iris was talking about.

4,000 years of devotion for only a few months.

'That's… not greed.'

Lukas grit his teeth.

He couldn't accept it.

He would never be able to accept such an ending.

“Not yet.”

Their reunion hadn't happened yet.

Paht!

A bright light rose up from Lukas' chest.

The last piece, which had been filled by Iris, caused unimaginable changes to his body.

“Iris, it's not time for you to rest just yet.”

He could no longer hear Iris' voice. The 'diary' that she'd mentioned had already come to an end.

It was her broken soul.

The soul of Iris Phisfounder who'd faced an end even crueler than death.

“So. Just wait a little bit.”

…It was slim, but there was still a chance.

Of course, it was impossible with Lukas' current power. But even that crumbling soul could be revived.

To meet him.

“I have to take down Lord.”

It would not be easy. After all, Lukas had been weakened.

Lord had taken all of his divine power. Thanks to this, his divine magic power's capacity had fallen below half of its former capacity.

With this much power, he'd only be able to use his Endtongue a few times.

However, Lord had also been weakened. So he had to go.

As he thought this, Lukas left the broken Celestial World.

He had to do this.

No matter what.

Nozdog felt his mind become overcome with a heavy sense of drowsiness.

Sleep.

This was a word that had no association to him, who had the body of a skeleton. In the first place, most Demigods did not need sleep.

Therefore, Nozdog couldn't help but feel strange when the urge to sleep overtook him.

One thing was clear at that moment.

If he relaxed for even a moment, he would immediately fall into a deep sleep. Then, he would die immediately after.

At the hands of none other than the man who was currently standing in front of him.

[…so Kaltud really was Lucifer's pawn all along.]

Of course, he had never fully trusted the red-skinned demon. What Nozdog trusted was the fact that he was a 'demon'.

Aside from his natural strength, he didn't think that the members of the Circle would be able to do anything to a being who was mostly active in Hell.

But he never thought they'd end up in an all-out war against Hell. If he'd known this would happen, he never would have taken a demon for his Apostle.

Dro murmured.

“Lucifer is dead.”

[…what?]

“Just before he died, Lucifer sent his memories to me. Did you know, Nozdog? The Lord you support so much seems to have consumed the rest of your kind.”

[What… the hell are you talking about?]

Nozdog could not conceal his shock at those words.

He couldn't afford to.

He immediately jumped up from the throne of Hitume Ikar and glared at Dro.

[Lord would never do that.]

“Whether you believe it or not, the only Demigods left in this world are you, Lord, and Elliah, who never leaves the Frozen Lands.”

[Kuk…]

Shocked, Nozdog stumbled back slightly. His body flopped back onto the throne.

[Lord… why would Lord consume our people?]

His voice was weak.

Normally, he would have exuded a dark and gloomy aura like a god of death, but now, his aura was scattered and exhausted.

“Isn't it obvious? To become stronger. Lord started treating your kind like simple chunks of energy. Like nutrient supplements that could make him healthy and strong after he consumed them.”

[…that's… impossible.]

“Stop the pointless denial. I can already tell from your attitude, Nozdog. You don't seem to be surprised. You must have expected something like this to happen.”

Nozdog shook.

It was true. From the time Lord had swallowed Leyrin, he'd thought that something like this might happen.

But he pretended not to know.

And in front of Agni, he spoke large words. He boasted that he'd trust Lord no matter what he did.

No. Until now, he'd firmly deluded himself that Lord was only taking shortcuts in order to revitalize the Demigods.

However… he had no choice but to look at the results now.

Lord had devoured all of their people.

“Lord will be here soon. Then you'll know for certain that he swallowed all of the other Demigods. I wonder. Nozdog, is that the end you want?”

[…what are you trying to say?]

“Let's work together. If you don't want to die, then help me take Lord down.”

[Stop talking nonsense.]

Nozdog spoke in a harsh voice.

Dro glanced at the door before speaking.

“We have a chance of winning. Our reinforcements have arrived.”

Crash!

The doors to the throne room were smashed open, and people could be seen walking in.

Ivan, who was standing at the front of the group, shook a piece of iron off of his hand as he said.

“We came to the right place. All the guys who were hard to find are just gathered here.”

“Hey, Dro. Did your business go well?”

After Ivan said this, Dro sighed.

“…there's no time to listen to your reproach. You guys, get ready.”

“Get ready for what?”

Jak-

Suddenly, space split open, and Lord walked out.

His sudden appearance caused the hearts of everyone in the room to freeze for a moment.

It was as though time itself had stopped.

Only Lord's head moved in this room which seemed to be frozen in time.

It wasn't long before his eyes settled on Dro.

[Here you are, Dragon Lord.]

[Because you seem to have forgotten your promise, I came to retrieve my prize.]

“I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about.”

When Dro responded with an expressionless face, Lord didn't say anything else.

They all knew that a conversation was useless in the first place.

Then, Anastasia spoke with a stiff expression on her face.

“Where is Frey?”

She was told that Frey went to Hell to stop Lord.

But now, Lord was standing in front of them. And he appeared to be heavily injured as though he'd just been in a fight with someone.

While Anastasia looked at him with anxiety, Lord replied indifferently.

[The Great Mage is dead.]

“Enough of your bullshit!”

Unlike the shocked Anastasia, Ivan growled in a low voice.

Lord's gaze finally turned to them before he nodded.

[That being… Right. This must be the shell the Great Mage used before he became transcendent.]

He was talking about Frey's physical body. Grey Trowman.

Lord spoke in an annoyed voice.

[Your presence annoys me. Die.]

Pop!

“…huh?”

Grey's body exploded without any warning, his blood covering the Great Medium who stood beside him. (TL: bruh…)

No one realised what had just happened.

Dro then shouted in an urgent voice.

“Mana or Qi! Either of them works! Draw upon your energy and protect your body! He's weak right now!”

[Even if I'm weakened, killing you is no problem.]

Just as Lord was about to reach out to them.

[Lord.]

Nozdog called out to him.

Lord lowered his hand and turned to him.

[Nozdog, your mental power is amazing. You're still awake.]

[Why did you consume our people?]

[…ah. Now that I think about it, I haven't explained it to you yet, have I? Hmmm.]

After thinking for a moment, Lord shook his head and said.

[There's no time. Just let me absorb you too. Then you'll find out.]

Juk-

A mouth appeared on Lord's face. It was the same large, hideous mouth that he'd used to devour the other Demigods.

With his mouth opened wide, he approached Nozdog.

Taht!

A wall of bones appeared from the ground, blocking this mouth.

Lord paused for a moment.

[What is this supposed to be, Nozdog?]

[…convince me. And I'll let you.]

Nozdog squeezed out those words.

[…if you convince me, I will become a part of you. Lord, you didn't consume your own kind for no reason, did you? There must be a reason. A reason that we all can understand. Tell me that. Then…]

Lord looked at Nozdog for a moment before speaking.

[Nozdog.]

[…what?]

[You talk a lot, Nozdog.]

His voice was irritated.

[Just shut up and become my food.]

Chapter end