1.
Dalan dreamed.
A warm dream of spending the rest of his days with the woman he loved, whom he met at the end of freedom.
And so, Ruby also dreamed.
A brave dream of protecting this village, full of those she loved, with her own strength.
But a dream is only a dream.
Before their hopes could bloom properly, they were trampled and withered.
Unfulfilled dreams become lingering regrets, and trampled happiness returns as rage. Now that the regrets and rage they had suppressed their whole lives have burst forth—
“It’s all… because of me…”
“I will, soon, fol… low… you.”
【Warning.】
【The <Seed of Regret> embedded in <Ruby Red (S+)> is blooming.】
【The <Seed of Regret> embedded in <Dalan Esteban (SS+)> is blooming.】
【The lingering regrets of <???? ?? ??> manifest in this world by borrowing their bodies.】
Just the same, other buried regrets and rage slithered out through the cracks of the blooming seeds and took control of the two’s bodies—
【Rank is increasing.】
【<Ruby Red (S+)> → <Black Wolf Restriction Released: Ruby Red (SS+)> → <Seed of Regret Bloomed: Ruby Red (SSS-)>】
【<Dalan Esteban (SS+)> → <Seed of Regret Bloomed: Dalan Esteban (SSS+)>】
Now dominated by regret, the two turned their heads to seek someone who could console them—
【Warning.】
【The aimless regret and rage directly strike toward the <Savior>.】
It was the very moment when a blind, almost instinctive outburst began.
【<Ruby Red (SSS-)> activates Skill No.1 – <Corpse Alchemy (SSS-)>!】
【Enhancement Effect: <Legion of the Dead (SSS-)> is activated.】
Crunch, crunch-crack…!!
A legion of countless dead rose from the shattered ground—
【<Dalan (SSS+)> activates Skill No.1 – <Feast of Dragons (SSS-)>!】
【Enhancement Effect: <Great Dead Dragon General – Dead Dragon (SS+)> is selected.】
Crack.
Summoned before anyone realized, the dead dragon that took control of the surroundings brought death to all it grazed.
Even if some <Black Wolf> members had been nearby, they would have needed to be prepared to sacrifice at least an arm to barely survive.
Such was the power of <Black Wolf>’s restriction release and the transcendence brought on by the <Seed of Regret>.
Yet Nahan— The Black Wolf—did not retreat.
Because he saw through it all.
‘The string of mana raises the dead. Dalan’s Aura controls the dragon.’
With eyes glowing black, Nahan understood the structure of the skills.
And then, someone came to his mind.
Long platinum hair, blood-red lips, golden eyes—
Once a prominent imperial successor and the pinnacle of martial and scholarly excellence, she had once said.
— I was born a ruler, and so I gained powers matching my immense Aura. A power truly meant only for me in this world.
— Therefore, no matter how much one tries to learn it, without the talent from birth, it’s impossible.
— [Word Command] is that kind of power.
— Even if I wanted to teach you, not even you, Captain, would find it easy.
A few days ago, when Lactea had genuinely looked regretful, Nahan replied with a smile:
— It’s fine. I’ve already learned it.”
— …What?
Word Command.
A supreme ability that forcibly controls the situation with words—almost akin to divine authority.
But after obtaining the Black Wolf’s power and closely observing Lactea, Nahan had fully grasped the activation principle behind the skill.
First.
【Activating <Veil of Shadows>.】
【Output – [30%]】
He seizes control of the surrounding space in an “absolute” manner.
‘Like filling a massive tank with water, he densely floods the controlled space with Aura.’
Then, it becomes simple.
The released Aura is like his own limbs—so as he speaks, it immediately takes form.
For example—
“【Aura restriction, Mana restriction.】”
The moment such a <Word Command> is uttered, it extracts the opponent’s Aura and the mana in the air out of the space the caster has seized.
Just as objects float more easily in saltier seawater, the heavier and denser the caster’s Aura is, the easier it becomes to remove other impurities.
“…!!”
“……”
In an instant, Ruby and Dalan’s skills were canceled, and the two staggered back.
But it was futile.
The current area where Nahan’s <Word Command> holds sway was roughly 100 meters.
“【Bind, Suppress.】”
Boom!!
“Gahk!!”
“Khugh…!!”
“Ow…”
Overwhelmed by the massive amount of Aura, the two were slammed to the ground without even a moment to resist.
Nahan looked down at the two and let out a small, incredulous laugh without realizing it.
Even though he had only unleashed 30% of his power, they had been pushed to the brink of Aura exhaustion with just four <Word Commands>.
‘How does Lactea use something so absurd with such ease?’
Maybe the final goal wasn’t the salvation of the Empress or the Hero, but Lactea’s salvation instead…
“I… I still…!!”
“Rose…!!!”
“…Could you both calm down a bit?”
Leaving future thoughts for later, Nahan approached the two who lay on the ground.
‘The black aura blooming near their hearts… It’s just like what I saw with Cheonmyeong before.’
Currently, Dalan and Ruby were being dominated by that thing called the <Seed of Regret>.
‘If I destroy that, they should naturally snap out of it.’
But—
‘…Then what about salvation?’
With Luna and Han-Ryang, during battle, people from their past had directly appeared due to the enemy’s abilities.
So after directly consoling Luna and Han-Ryang, they vanished—redeemed.
But this time, the situation was different.
Though the past was being re-enacted, no one existed here who could directly console the two.
Within this immense nightmare, the only living beings were Ruby, Dalan, and Nahan.
There was no “Rose” who could fully understand and embrace their “regrets.”
Even if the <Black Flower> blooming near their hearts was destroyed, the two would have to live on bearing the same guilt as before.
…Clench.
With his fist tightly balled, Nahan looked silently at the area near their hearts.
“What should I do for you?”
A question spoken without expecting an answer.
“I…!! Because of me, my whole clan…!!!”
“…Rose.”
The two only continued to struggle, crying with empty eyes.
That’s what guilt was.
Unless you directly faced the person and apologized—and were directly forgiven—you could never escape it.
Even as he pondered, time continued to pass.
— A forest that only the Great Ten can reach…
— In the bright yellow desert…
— I love you, Rose.
— Ah, ahhh…!!
Each time they fell into despair, they returned to happiness. And from happiness, again flowed into despair.
Every time they touched despair, the fragrance of distant flowers grew stronger, and the time it took to fall into despair again grew shorter.
【<Flower of Regret> is growing.】
【<Flower of Regret> is growing.】
【<Flower of Regret> is growing.】
.
.
And then, when the continuously blooming flower gave Dalan and Ruby the strength to rise again—
“…I’m sorry, sister. I’m sorry… everyone.”
Crack!
The woman burdened with her entire clan’s lives shed tears of blood as she reached out toward Nahan.
“I shouldn’t have ignored the prophecy.”
Crackkk!
In an instant, a tree trunk made of the arms of corpses shot up from the ground and grabbed his ankles.
“I’m sorry, Rose.”
Crack, Crackkk!
At last, the old general stood on the ground, grabbing his sword with empty eyes.
“Because I surrendered to fate… an innocent you was caught up and taken away.”
Crunch.
The sword hilt was pitifully crushed.
“Living while struggling… I will soon follow.”
The guilt etched into the two gave them strength to resist the Black Wolf—strength that moved their bodies.
【<Regret> is being released.】
【<Regret> is being released.】
It was a power not of this world—one capable of even tearing through the <Veil of Shadows> of the Black Wolf.
“Because of me!!!”
“…Rose.”
Dalan’s dusky-black sword shot like lightning toward Nahan, who was completely bound.
A power not of this world—one that could not be predicted if not dodged.
Yet Nahan did not move.
Still restrained, he only pulled out one arm and embraced Dalan, who came charging, and Ruby, who threw herself after him.
“You idiots.”
He simply hugged them.
Crack!
Crrackkk…!!
Even as Dalan’s sword struck him directly in the neck, and Ruby’s vines coiled tightly around his body—
【Activating Skill No.2 – <Unyielding>】
With unshaken calm, Nahan firmly embraced the two and whispered.
“Don’t forget—remember, but don’t live imprisoned by it.”
It was something his only friend had said, just before departing this world ahead of him.
Nahan, who spoke so rarely, had no more words to give beyond that—
“…”
“…”
Their struggling ceased.
A flicker of life returned to Ruby’s tear-stained eyes and Dalan’s dull, lifeless gaze—but only for a fleeting moment.
【<Flower of Regret> is growing.】
As the flower of regret grew once more, the two were again swallowed by it.
It was inevitable.
No matter how kind the words, to one who suffers misfortune, they are only a momentary comfort.
【Warning.】
【If the individuals <Ruby Red> and <Dalan Esteban> refuse salvation, you will also be unable to escape.】
【The exit is beginning to disappear.】
As Nahan bit his lip unconsciously, staring at the closing exit—
Amid the time that flowed around them, Ruby looked at Dalan and muttered.
“[…Such a foolish man.]”
2.
Rose had a peculiar habit.
“…Ro… se…?”
“[That’s right. So don’t cry.]”
“…Ah…”
A habit of sometimes muttering incomprehensible things as she stared into empty space.
“[Thank you for protecting me, Savior. From now on, I will take over.]”
Just who was she talking to?
“…Can you see me?”
“[I am the Great Prophetess, born alongside the world. The answers I leave in the past will surely reach you in the future.]”
What exactly did the eyes of this solitary prophetess see?
“[So, from now on—I’ll take over.]”
“…Please do.”
“[Thank you, oh Savior.]”
But it was only a mystery.
“[…Are you conscious, Dalan?]”
“…Is it… truly… truly you?”
“[Of course, my love.]”
The moment life returned to Dalan’s empty eyes, Rose embraced him.
“…Look at me, I’m a wreck… Don’t you hate this kind of man?”
“[Of course not. You’re still so very lovely.]”
“…Rose.”
“[Yes, Dalan.]”
The two shared their love.
“[Listen carefully, Dalan. Everything I mumbled before I died—it was all for this very moment.]”
“Ah… In the end, you…”
So any strange things—
“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
“[…Such a foolish man.]”
—Meant nothing to them.
