I can't see anything.
I can't hear anything.
I can't feel anything.
My entire body isn't hot or cold.
'I've lost sensation.'
Cale opened his mouth.He didn't know what he was saying.He just said whatever came to mind.
If I stop breathing.If I stop talking.
'I'll die.'
Yes. I could die, he thought.
-Cale, Cale!
-Damn it, I should've stopped you! No, if I had stopped you back then, we all would've died!
-Damn it!
-Waaaah!
No.
Only the voices of the Ancient Powers echoed.
-Cale.
Super Rock spoke.
-Don't lose consciousness.
Yes, if the Ancient Powers weren't constantly talking to him, Cale would've lost consciousness.
-Don't close your eyes.
Cale didn't know if his eyes were open or closed.Simply because Super Rock told him not to close them, he kept strength in his eyelids.But he couldn't see anything.Just being alive meant that the others were alive too.
'…No.'
Half-Blood Dragon!
That bastard!
That damned bastard!
'Did you think they would praise you for sacrificing yourself like that? Huh?'
Cale was furious.
-Oh, oh…! Cale, that's it! Get mad! Don't lose consciousness!
He ignored the words of the Fire of Destruction.
"Haa, haa, haa-"
His breathing became heavy.
Cale didn't even realize it. Therefore, he wasn't aware of the state of those watching him.
"…Cale-nim…"
Choi Han didn't notice that his voice was trembling. His hands were shaking. The explosion that rocked the walls and the battle of dragons and mages to protect it. The image of Raon bleeding from the nose. All of it worried him, but he was seeing less and less.
It's cracking.
It wasn't like Cale's skin was tearing.His body was cracking.The Plate was breaking.All of this felt unreal.Because in an instant, not even a second, Cale ended up like this.
Time.
Choi Han felt how terrifying the power of time was before he could fully comprehend it.And now, time was still passing far too terrifyingly.
"…No, this is-"
No matter how much he tried to stay calm, he couldn't.Cale's arm, just lightly touching it.That arm was cooling down.It was becoming cold.From burning hot like fire, it was cooling down.
"Haa, haa-"
His breathing was getting weaker.
"Damn it!"
Dragon Mila was releasing more and more beige threads trying to repair Cale's cracked skin, but...
"Damn it!"
It only increased her anger, unable to properly fix the cracks.
Choi Han quickly realized that her voice didn't hold anger but fear.
Fear of losing someone.
'I'm powerless.'
Choi Han couldn't do anything here. He really couldn't do anything. He only knew how to cut and kill, not save, not protect.
"Haa, haa-"
Then.
"I, haa, in this state-"
Cale's voice was heard.
Boom
The shield and explosion clashed with a bang, and the ground trembled. But Cale's voice was clearly heard.
And Choi Han smiled.
'Yes.'
He knew what Cale was going to say next.
'Do you think I'll die like this?'
That's what he would want to say. This is the Cale I know.
At that moment…
"…Haa, haa, that, 'Elemental-'"
When Cale barely said a word.
'Elemental?'
Cale couldn't continue speaking and was gasping for air. Choi Han thought of the words that would follow.
But it wasn't necessary.
"Lady Tasha!"
The butler Ron's voice was heard. With a face calmer than anyone else, he was constantly wiping the blood flowing from Cale's body. Unlike Beacrox, whose face was pale as he assisted, Ron was the calmest one there.
The name he called out, 'Tasha.'
'Could it be?'
The moment Choi Han's eyes lit up.
"Yes, yes?"
Tasha ran hurriedly. But there was someone faster.
Whoosh
The wind.
'A Wind Elemental!'
The moment Choi Han looked at Ron. Ron was already looking at Cale.
"Young master. Are you referring to an Elemental?"
Cale couldn't hear him. Ron, Choi Han, and everyone knew it. And Cale also knew his own state well.
"Haa. Haa."
Even so. Between difficult breaths. Cale somehow, knowing how, managed to speak again.
"Mu- Haa-"
A world where mana is unstable. The only thing that could move quickly was. Only an Elemental.
And the being that Elemental wanted to reach.
"The World Tree!"
The moment the dark elf Tasha shouted, she trembled. The swirl mark on her arm, left by the Wind Elemental King, heated up.
-I have to help.
The Wind Elemental King.
It was his voice.
When Tasha realized this, the Wind Elemental was already on the move. Not just Tasha's Elemental.
Whoosh~
Whoosh~
A powerful wind moved everywhere.
What was happening?
Choi Han didn't have time to question it.
But he was sure of one thing.
'There is a way.'
Cale-nim found a way. And that statement was true.
'Damn it!'
Cale couldn't contain his irritation.
It didn't hurt at all.
Knowing how dangerous this situation was, Cale was a little amazed that he was still maintaining consciousness.
It wouldn't be strange to lose it immediately and collapse.
-Cale. Yes, it's the Source of the World.
The World Tree.
The companions thought he was referring to the World Tree.
But what Cale wanted was the Source of the World.
-Just hang on a little longer!
Super Rock kept shouting.
-Just wait a bit more and the Source of the World will do something!
The Source of the World had told Cale.
'If you become my representative and sweep away the energy of this world, it will be enough!'
The way of using Cale as an air purifier. No, the process of entrusting Cale with restructuring the world. And what Cale would gain from it.
'After doing this, your cracks will disappear, and your Plate, that is, your Plate, will become very strong!'
Cale thought this was his only card.
Now, Mila would undoubtedly try to heal him.
Even so, instead of improving, the sensation in his body was disappearing more and more.
It was as if his soul was drifting away from his body.
As if he was becoming something else in this world.
Therefore, Cale-
'This is the only way.'
Restructuring the world. He didn't know if the process would mend the cracks in his Plate, which was already breaking. But at least it wouldn't harm him.
'No, beyond worrying about that, I have to try something!'
Isn't that right?
If I die-
'Human, I'm okay!'
How could I see Raon's face?
How could I see the faces of my companions?
And-
"…Half-Blood Dragon… That damn, I won't let you die…"
I even thought a lot about giving you a name. Do you understand? I thought a lot.
You.
I'll save you.
Somehow, I'll save you.
"…Do you think I'll die like this…?"
I won't die.
I have too many attachments to die.
-Cale, it's coming! It's coming! This energy!
Super Rock's voice rang with joy. And Cale felt it.
Even in the midst of not seeing, not hearing, not smelling anything. The only thing he felt.
Life.
The force of life. Feeling how that force wrapped around him, Cale, full of irritation, spoke.
"…Damn… it..."
"…Damn… it…."
Why did it take so long?
Well. It's fine.
'Purifier.'
Let's try it!
-Yes, Cale. This is worth trying!
With Super Rock's words, Cale felt a great vital energy enveloping him.
There was someone who reacted first to that force.
-Waaaah-!
The Crybaby, whose heart was beating vigorously.
Boom!
Cale felt his heart thumping.
The first energy he felt.
His heart reacted to the vital energy.
'Ah.'
With the vital energy filling his whole body, Cale breathed. He breathed easily. And as he inhaled, he felt the energy entering through his nose.
-I'm here too.
It was a tree. The fresh scent of grass and the perfume of flowers stimulated Cale's nose. Just by smelling it, Cale could feel it.
The vital energy of countless plants, animals, and living beings in Apitoyu.
And then, he heard a sound.
Splash-
It was the sound of water. Yes. That was the sound of water.
Why was he hearing the sound of water now?
Cale heard various sounds of water reaching his ears.
Chaaaa--
The sound of rushing water.
Tutuk, tutuk.
The sound of rain softly hitting newly sprouted leaves in spring.
Jol jol jol-
The sound of water flowing through a small stream where one could soak their feet in summer. The various sounds of water stimulated Cale's ears.
-Cale, you're still alive. Are you going to help me finish off the God of War?
He also heard the clear voice of the Sky Eating Water.Yes, all the water was around him, in the world.But it wasn't just water that existed.
'It's warm.'
Even though he was hearing the refreshing sound of water, Cale felt warmth.
-Hahaha!
Naturally, he ignored the laughter.
The warmth enveloping his body.
That warmth was like that of a campfire in winter.
Cale finally realized that his body was as cold as ice.
His body slowly relaxed as it received the warmth.
'It's not a bad feeling.'
At the same time, Cale felt more than the small warmth, a great flame. Like his heart that was now beating powerfully. Like this great vital energy.
A pulsing fire. A force that boasted it would burn brighter and hotter, even if it consumed his entire body.
Whooooosh--
But that fire didn't reach Cale. A cool breeze saved him from the fire.
-Cale, you still have many things to resolve.
The fire, upon meeting the wind, blazed more brilliantly. As if it wanted to emit the most beautiful light in the world. Cale seemed to see that radiant scene.
'Ah.'
Yes. I see it. I'm not in darkness.
-Cale.
Within a dazzling light. These beautiful colors wrapping around me are undoubtedly the origin of the world.
Cale could feel the origin of the world spreading in all directions as it flowed through him. But what Cale saw wasn't those bright colors.
'I can see it.'
Beyond the multicolored glow. He vaguely saw those standing and watching him. There was no need to wonder who they were.
-Waaaah. Now I want to work.
The figure of the Crybaby.
-It looks delicious. I want to eat it.
The Glutton Priestess swallowing saliva.
-Haha.
The Sound of the Wind gently patting that priestess's head with a satisfied expression.
-This is my moment,
-Shut up, stupid fire.
The loud laughter of the Fire of Destruction.
The Sky Eating Water silenced the Fire of Destruction with one blow.
And-
-Cale.
Even the terrifying Super Rock looking at him.
The five natural Ancient Powers were standing beyond the veil.
An old man sobbing and a young woman like a child, a middle-aged woman with her eyes closed. A cheerful young man and a serene-looking woman with a face full of discontent.
Along with a large, sturdy man standing firm like a rock.
-You, can't see us clearly, can you?
The large man, no, Super Rock, spoke smiling from the other side of the veil.
-You still can't see us.
He sounded relieved.
-Cale.
Cale smiled at the Ancient Powers watching him. With his usual arrogant expression, with a corner of his mouth raised insolently. The Ancient Powers told him.
-Let's survive.
To which Cale responded.
"Of course."
When he closed his eyes, the darkness returned.But Cale entrusted his body to the energy touching all his senses.
He didn't know what was happening to his body.
-Angel, angel!
But.
-I'll share my energy with you!
While listening to the voice of the origin of the world, Cale was sure.
'This body right now-'
It's reviving.A great vital energy.Like a tsunami, that energy surging towards him, he embraced it fully and let it flow through his body.His heart.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
It was beating faster and stronger.
'I can live.'
No, I will definitely live.Cale focused with his eyes closed.From the sensations awakened by the Ancient Powers, gradually extending, he observed his body.
Not the shattered, wounded, cut, and broken body...
Not the skin.
Inside.
Searching for the Plate, Cale focused all his mind.Therefore, paradoxically, all sensations drifted away from Cale again.
Only the sound of his heart remained with him.
So he didn't hear the mutter of the Cheapskate.
-Huh? This, huh? This is getting worse than I thought.
He didn't hear what the Ancient Powers began to say.
-Hey, hey! Little one, this could be more than a problem for Cale's Plate!
-Problem? Stupid fire! This is a good thing! Now that we not only have to face dragons but also gods, we need to strengthen ourselves to this level.
-Hmm. This tastes better than the Source of the World.
At the last words of the Glutton Priestess, the Ancient Powers fell silent.
The Glutton Priestess, the shield, spoke.
-Life.
The Source of the World. Within it, among the many energies. The force that all living beings, including humans, plants, and animals, possess.
Life.
-This tastes good.
Crunch crunch.
With the sound of the Glutton Priestess eating something, the Ancient Powers fell silent.
-…It's scary…
Of course, everyone ignored the words whispered by the Dominating Aura that had been silent until now.
And there were beings who couldn't remain silent or ignore.
"Ah-"
Eruhaben sighed. His head was lifted, looking at the sky.
The earth and the sky. The multicolored radiance descending through the rift between them.
An enormous energy he had never encountered before. The flow of that brilliant light.
Just looking at it made his skin tingle, and standing was all he could do. That flow, at the center of that pillar of light.
"That, that-"
"Our human is really something different!"
Nyaa!
Nyaa!
Cale was there.
And the great energy emanating from him was spreading from the flow of light, the pillar, to all parts of the world.
And that energy was so fresh and warm, refreshing and clear, yet cold and hot, even painfully cold.
As if-
"Yes. It's nature."
The Heavenly Demon muttered without realizing it while watching the magnificent sight.
In his ear, he heard a low voice.
"The world-"
No.
"The world is returning to its course."
The enemy dragon couldn't hide its astonishment.
"The world is returning to normal."
Though not everyone heard that voice, they felt it.
The world is being restructured.
Returning to its original state.
That meant only one thing.
What they had desperately wished for.
Wisha, the White Snake of the Purple Blood clan, couldn't contain her excitement and shouted.
"The world is reviving!"
Apitoyu is reviving.
And we survived too.
No, we'll live longer.
Here.
-