Chapter 154

On the back of the soaring wyvern cutting across the skies, Cassandra, nestled in Ray's arms, suddenly lurched as if struck by a powerful shock.

"Cassandra, are you okay?" Ray asked, alarmed, quickly steadying her before she nearly fell off the saddle.

"Th-thank you. It seems the penalty has just taken effect," Cassandra replied with a weak smile.

Mages are beings capable of manifesting miracles, but their power always adheres to the laws of equivalent exchange. For Cassandra, using future technology meant she had little to offer in return. As a result, the laws of causality imposed a heavy toll on the persona of the Mage Empress.

Even if she returned to her original timeline, it was likely she would never again wield magic with the consciousness of the Mage Empress. Perhaps the foresight ability she relied on would permanently close.

Yet, she bore no regrets.

Even if I lose my power forever, if it means placing just one more shackle on the Nameless Sovereign, it will be worth it.

Compared to the Nameless Sovereign, who had led the world to ruin, the Mage Empress was but a speck of dust. Still, she wanted to show that even a cornered mouse could bite the cat.

And if one day, Theo manages to defeat the Nameless Sovereign, even just slightly aided by my actions…

When foresight no longer worked, it typically meant one of two things: either the future was undecided, or the distance from the current timeline was so vast that infinite possibilities unfolded.

Cassandra believed Theo belonged to the latter case. Even with the Dragon Fang Legion resurrected through the Clockwork Array, defeating the Nameless Sovereign outright seemed impossible. He would need additional assistance.

"Selperd, we need to go somewhere," Cassandra said, turning her gaze to Selperd.

For a moment, Selperd felt as though she was looking down upon the world, despite her eyes being closed.

"Where to?" he asked.

He didn’t mention his obligation to tend to Arin's injuries; as a member of the White Dragon Knights, the mission came first.

"To the manor. The place we first thought was a crypt," Cassandra replied.

The manor?

Selperd suddenly remembered the wyverns and Lezhe still stationed there and nodded in understanding. He tugged sharply on the reins.

Screech!

The wyvern flapped its wings powerfully, altering its course.

『You’re playing an amusing little game. For you, it’s ancient history, but for me, it’s as fresh as yesterday—just another sanguinary spectacle from a few days ago.』

The Nameless Sovereign chuckled, watching the Dragon Fang Legion swarm toward it like a colony of ants. Its hazy black mist twisted, its two massive eyes curving into an arc.

『Shall I play along, then?』

The black mist writhed and clumped together, birthing countless monsters of varying forms.

These are weaker than those from the Demon Sea, Theo noted confidently.

The Dragon Fang Legion, resurrected through the Mage Empress's imperfect magic, wasn’t as formidable as in its prime. But that paled compared to the penalties imposed on the Nameless Sovereign. How significant could a god summoned by the self-sacrifice of a mere bishop truly be?

The Nameless Sovereign Theo now faced felt far weaker than the entity he once encountered through the Archbishop’s possession. This was likely just a fragment or a partial incarnation.

Still, it was enough.

The shackle Theo intended to place on it, with the Mage Empress’s help, targeted its mind.

I can do this.

Theo wasn’t about to let the arrogance of the Nameless Sovereign go unpunished.

Theo, didn’t you once wish to learn magic?

The Mage Empress had granted Theo the “authority” to manipulate her mental domain, allowing him control over every chronograph within this realm.

Then try tampering with the structure of the Clockwork Array. It might help you immensely.

Theo closed his eyes momentarily, following her instructions.

[Skill: Hatchling Syncro activated. Attempting to connect to the realm.]

[Authorization from the creator confirmed. You may now wind the clockwork.]

Just as he once reached into the magical air currents beneath the Floating Archipelago, he now felt as though his fingertips touched the mechanisms of a giant clock. Memories of the Mage Empress, her struggles, despair, and painstaking efforts to construct the magical framework, flooded into his mind.

The magic system revealed itself like an enormous tree:

Its roots were the myriad research papers and magical theories she had studied.

Its trunk represented the structured systems she had meticulously crafted.

Its leaves bore the fruits of her unique magical creations.

It seemed the Mage Empress wanted to share this with him, even if he couldn’t fully comprehend it. This glimpse alone was enough to elevate Theo to new magical heights.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Chronographs appeared beneath the advancing monsters.

Theo’s fingertips felt the gears and twisted them to the left.

The monsters dissipated like illusions.

『Oh, what an amusing trick.』

The Nameless Sovereign’s eyes glimmered with interest as it summoned another wave of monsters. Yet again, Theo turned the gears, and they vanished.

『Hahahaha! How delightful! The one displaced from the axis of time is now manipulating time itself! A paradox birthed from the chaos of a fractured continuum!』

What nonsense is it babbling about?

Does it not see us?

Perhaps we should give it a refresher course in pain!

While the Nameless Sovereign cackled madly, the Dragon Fang Legion had already begun their assault, latching onto its massive body. Aura flared as blades cut into the black mist, carving wounds that bled streams of dark ichor.

Spears launched from the backs of soldiers punctured what seemed to be the creature's head, and bolts of lightning struck down from the heavens.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Rumble! Rumble! Crackle!

To maximize the damage, the chronograph affecting the Nameless Sovereign was wound forward, accelerating its injuries.

『Ah, my dear companion, you’ve been up to some mischievous antics.』

The voice of Lodbrok resonated in Theo’s mind, watching the battlefield with keen interest.

‘Perfect timing, Lodbrok.’

『Hah, and what do you intend to use me for this time?』

‘Wouldn’t the fragment of a false god make excellent material for your heart?’

『What? Hah!』

Lodbrok couldn’t help but laugh at Theo’s audacity.

『You suggest I devour that thing? Even if it’s just a fragment, it’s the Nameless Sovereign!』

‘But it’s tempting, isn’t it? Could you resist?’

Realizing Theo was serious, Lodbrok’s tone shifted.

『That being is the antithesis of us guardians. Its efficiency might not be ideal, but it’s not impossible.』

‘Then let’s do it.’

『Very well. If it works, perhaps I can finally escape that damned cave for good.』

With a grin, Lodbrok’s essence descended.

[The spirit of Lodbrok manifests!]

A blinding light split the sky as an enormous dragon materialized, crashing down onto the Nameless Sovereign.

ROAR!

The ancient dragon’s roar shook the battlefield.

That’s…!

Our guardian dragon!

Ha-ha-ha! It’s been so long since we’ve seen Lodbrok in person!

The morale of the Dragon Fang Legion surged. Theo gripped the Drake’s Edge tightly and leaped off Umbra’s back.

His divine sight revealed the core nestled deep within the Nameless Sovereign’s body.

‘That’s the target.’

Theo channeled all his power into the Drake’s Edge. The white light surrounding him grew, blazing like a massive sun.

‘This ends now!’

As the sun split in half, the blade struck.

BOOM!

The black mist shattered, revealing the core—a massive, bloodshot eye leaking dark ichor.

『You’re not ending this by merely destroying my core, are you? Surely not?』

Theo smirked beneath his helmet.

“Of course not.”

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

A massive chronograph appeared over the core as Theo spoke.

“I’m going to imprison your time, false god.”

『You’re going to imprison my time?』

"Exactly. If I can ‘pause’ your consciousness, it’ll reverberate back to your main body. A frozen mind... wouldn’t your worshippers find that amusing?"

『Even if you manage to pause my mind, it would only last for the briefest moment.』

"Of course. But," Theo’s lips curled into a sly smile, "your ‘moment’ is an eternity for us. More than enough time to grow strong enough to defeat you."

『Ah, you seek to buy time. An excellent strategy.』

"Let’s see if you’ll still be laughing when you return," Theo replied.

『You are truly… amusing.』

Theo drove the blade deeper, its hilt pressing against the Nameless Sovereign’s core.

Schluck!

『Every time we meet, you surprise me with your ingenuity. Lodbrok, your final years won’t be boring with this one around. I almost envy you.』

The hands of the chronograph spun wildly before coming to a halt at exactly twelve o’clock.

『I’m curious to see how much fun we’ll have next time... what new diversion this endless cycle might bring...』

The Nameless Sovereign’s laughter abruptly cut off.

Crunch!

Lodbrok tore out the Nameless Sovereign’s core and devoured it with a light snort.

『Heh. I have a feeling when you meet your mate again, it won’t be laughter on your face—it’ll be tears.』

At that moment, the Clockwork Realm began to collapse.

Boom! Crash!

One by one, the stopped clockwork mechanisms fell. They shattered upon hitting the ground, the cracks in the sky spreading to the clock-like ground below.

Od stared blankly at the scene.

Her heart had been pierced by both the Moonlit Sword and the Drake’s Edge long ago, her blood spilling endlessly. It was a wonder she was still alive.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Perhaps it was her extraordinary level of mastery that kept her breathing.

Or perhaps...

It was because the sight before her was one she had dreamed of since childhood—one she couldn’t bear to miss.

Grandfather! Grandfather!

Oh, my little one. What brings you here today?

Tell me that story again! The one where the captain goes KABOOM and crushes all the bad guys!

Hmm? Oh, the legend of the Gravekeeper?

Yes! I want to hear it again!

Hohoho, you little rascal. I’ve already told you twice today.

But it’s so exciting every time!

While other children played swordfights or with dolls, Od’s favorite pastime was listening to tales of the Gravekeeper.

Stories of ancestors who stood against the great Demon King and fought to save the world were far more captivating than any game.

Even after she succeeded her late grandfather as the Gravekeeper, even after she inherited the Black Ice Moon Sword Style, she always dreamed of becoming one of the legendary warriors of the Dragon Fang Legion.

And now, before her eyes, stood the very warriors of legend.

It was a sight she had wished for even in her dreams.

But...

There was no place for her among them.

That place belonged to Theo.

Od slowly lowered her head.

Yes, that place had never been hers to claim.

All this time, she had yearned for something far beyond her station.

You’ve endured so much all these years. We’ve all seen it.

A warm hand gently patted her head.

Od slowly raised her gaze.

Through her tears and blood-soaked hair, she saw a knight with a deep-set helmet looking down at her.

We were there when you were born. When you took your first steps. When your first word was “grandfather.” When you had your first innocent crush at fifteen. We watched it all.

The knight’s face somehow resembled her grandfather’s.

You. Your grandfather. His grandfather before him... we’ve always been watching.

The struggles, sacrifices, and dreams of her past didn’t seem so meaningless anymore.

A single tear rolled down Od’s cheek.

You and your ancestors are just as much a part of the proud Dragon Fang Legion as any of us. Your sacrifices were never in vain. And because of you, we were never lonely. It was truly a joy to watch over you.

The knight’s sincere words rested gently on her heart.

As her head tilted forward once more, a faint smile graced her lips.