Dragon Maken War - Chapter 264

Chapter 264: 264

Chapter 264 - Epilogue (3)

7

He was called the White Sword Count in the Rios kingdom .  It had been awhile since Bokard Lakardi was able to return to his castle .  

It had been two months since he had participated in the final battle as a member of the suicide squad .

During those two months, he hadn’t been able to rest .  The Plain of Darkness had meddled in the affairs of the world, so his country had been fighting a war against the Rulain kingdom .  He had been ordered to lead the troops into the war .  

Fortunately, the war hadn’t reached a point where the relationship between the two kingdoms couldn’t be salvaged .  In the end, the two kingdoms reached an end-of-war agreement .  It was all thanks to the effort made by the members of the Guardian Shadow in both countries .  They patched up the relationship between the two kingdoms .   

Bokard had been of those members .  When the agreement to end the war was finalized, he returned to his castle, and he headed straight towards the field in the back .

It was a graveyard .  It was where his parents, who had died at the hands of the Dragon Demon king worshippers, had been buried .  Moreover, there was also a new grave placed next to the old graves .

“Our dreams will come true soon .  Please look over us, Eileen . ”

He poured alcohol straight from the bottle over the grave .  Bokard was wearing an eye patch .  He had lost his left eye in the fight within the Dragon Demon castle .

However, his loss was small compared to his other loss .  In the final battle, he had lost his beloved little sister .  He had lost Eileen Lakardi .

He was pouring a brand of liquor that Eileen had enjoyed in life .

“Oppa, you’ve returned . ”

While he was remembering Eileen, his remaining siblings arrived behind him .  Sarah and Jierens held the same brand of liquor as they approached the grave .  Bokardi turned to look at them .

“Yes .  Did you hear about the cessation of war?”

“You did good . ”

“What about you guys?  How was count Karzark?”

“He is still ridiculous as ever . ”

Sarah burst into laughter .

While Bokard participated in the delegation that had brought about the cessation of the war, Sarah and Jierens had accompanied Azell’s party .  

Their enemy had been one of the pillars of Darkness .  He was a transcendent being called the King of Emptiness .  The party had made many preparations .  However, it was unnecessary .  The fight was fierce but short .  They were able to kill the King of Emptiness .

Bokard spoke after he listened to their account of the fight .

“I see .  I wanted to join you guys in that fight .  However, you guys did your part in achieving our dream .  Eileen would have been happy . ”

“Oppa…… . ”

Sarah’s eyes were filled with sadness .

In the final battle, around half of the suicide squad had died .  Everyone had been prepared for the possibility of death .  Their deaths had not been in vain . In death, they were able to achieve their goals .  

Still, one of his blood had died .  Of course, he was sad .  Each Lakardi sibling felt as if a piece of their soul had been torn away .  They were still in the grips of sadness .

Bokard looked at his siblings for a moment then he changed the topic .

“Did count Karzark leave behind any message?”

“He did . ”

“What did he say?”

“He said he’ll head towards the Bijes kingdom after the last pillar is destroyed .  He’ll focus his energy in rebuilding the County of Karzark .  He asked you to visit when he succeeds in his task . ”

“What else?”

“He said he’ll freely shared Atein’s research material in regards to the Demon problem .  He looks forward to working with you  in solving the problem . ”

Atein had left behind a homework for humanity .  The remaining Guardian Shadows had to work in place of the Dragon Demon king worshippers .  They’ll have to fight against the calamity that would befall on the humans in the distant future .

Bakard spoke .

“We still have work to do .  Of course, I’m willing to cooperate with him .  However, I put more importance on both your input than mine . ”

“Of course, we are of the same mind as you . ”

She passed the liquor bottle as she spoke .

“Eileen would have wanted that . ”

“Yes, she would have… . ”

The three of them mourned the loss of their sibling as they drank the alcohol .

8

It was a bright moonlit night .

The bluish moon was at the center of the night sky, and countless stars surrounded it .  Darkness was rising into the sky like a geyser .

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa……!

The darkness pierced the sky, and on the ground, it spread like wildfire into the surrounding as the darkness dissipated .

This place had been a reservoir for magic, and it had encompassed the whole continent .  The destruction of this reservoir was the last step in destroying the Great Darkness .

-Now…… .

Kayalia was watching this sight when she opened her mouth .

-My work is done .

She had her back to the moonlight, so she looked like a forest fairy .  She let out a bright smile as she looked at her party .

Azell’s party and the phantoms of the Guardian Shadows were the only ones to participate in the destruction of the last pillar .  Azell, Laura, Kairen, Leticia and Arrieta were standing in front of Kayalia .

“Kayalia…… . ”

As he called out her name, Azell felt a lump in his throat .

She knew what her fate would be if she accomplished this task .  Despite knowing what would happen, she went through with it .

Kayalia watched Azell bite his lips .  She flew through the air as if she was a fish in water .  Her half translucent hand stroked Azell’s cheek .

Of course, it was pretense .  She was an illusion, so she could never touch Azell .

-Thank you .

“…… . ”

-Azell oppa accepted me .  I can end my life without any regret .

She was reborn in this state thanks to Atein .  It had always felt as if she was no longer alive .  It didn’t feel as if she was a part of this world .

The only meaning she could find in this world was her ties to her old life .  If there was no connection to her past, she couldn’t find any meaning in this life .

It was as if she was dreaming a never-ending dream .  Her life should have ended a long time ago, yet she continued to work towards the moment when her incomplete life would be completed .  

That moment had finally arrived .

“You…… . ”

-Shhh .

Kayalia put her finger on his lips as she let out a bright smile .  It was a mischievous smile .

-Please don’t say anything sad .  I want you to laugh .  I want to remember your laughing face .

At her words, Azell tried to force a smile onto his face .  It was a really awkward smile, yet he had done his best .

-I really like oppa’s smiling face .  When I was a human, it was that face that I always remembered .

Kayalia let out timid laughter as she nodded her head .

At some point, white figures lined up behind her .  They were the Guardian Shadows .

「Prophecy…… . 」

「Prophesied person…… . 」

「Our long wish…… . 」

「It has been granted…… . 」

The forest had been destroyed from the battle, yet Azell could hear whispers emanating from his surroundings .

No matter where he looked, he could see the Guardian Shadows .  Their numbers had dwindled a lot through the continuous fights, yet there were over 2,000 of them gathered at this location .

However, he would have to say farewell to them too .

They were in the same boat as Kayalia .  Their existence had root in the Great Darkness .  Soon, the Great Darkness will be no more, and their existence would end soon .

Despite knowing this, the Guardian Shadows weren’t sad .  They had given up on their eternal rest to become the Guardian Shadows .  This was the first time they were happy .  Their whispers rang out in the forest, and it sounded like an ode to joy .

-Azell oppa .

As the song rang out, Kayalia retreated backwards as she spoke .

-Please be happy .  

“…… . ”

-Good bye .

She let out a bright smile as she melted into the darkness .

Then her world changed .

Her connection to reality was severed .  Instead, her consciousness flowed into the world of the Great Darkness .  It was where her essence had been stored .

At one point, everyone within the Great Darkness had once existed in the real world .  It was a world made out their experiences in life .  This world was falling apart .  The Great Darkness had lost all its pillars, yet it didn’t mean this world would immediately disappear .  Still, the destruction of this world was right around the corner .

Kayalia was within this world as she looked at the memories that made her who she was .

She watched the distant past when she started walking this world as a parentless Dragon Demon .

She remembered her fear of death .  It drove her to create the Reincarnation technique .

Then she watched herself go through reincarnations, and she saw the first moment when she started losing herself .  She started changing into different existences… .

‘Kaydika . ’

She saw her twin brother, who had fallen under the weight of his sad fate .  Since a single entity had been split into two, Kaydika couldn’t withstand the hatred that had been awakened within him towards Kayalia .  He had lived a luckless life .

When Kayalia approached the figure in her memories, he laughed .  This was him before he was crushed under his cruel fate .  He had treasured her as someone that was of his flesh and blood .

Kayalia continued to fly through the world of memories .

Countless people passed by her .  She couldn’t even remember the names of most of the people in her memories .  It was rare for anyone to evoke any meaningful emotions within her .

‘Atein . ’

Amongst all of them, there were figures that she couldn’t forget .

They were part of her memory, yet the shadows of their former selves still remained within the Great Darkness .  Atein was smiling towards her, and Aincera was next to her .  She was smiling too .  It was a smile that Kayalia had never seen before from Aincera .

‘You’ve acquired your salvation . ’

As the world continued to deteriorate, the shadows of the dead looked at each other as they laughed .

Kaylia flew past them, and she flew deeper into the world .  She wanted to meet all of the remaining shadows within the Great Darkness .

Almaricked looked as if he had no regrets .  The two of them showed respect towards each other as they brushed past each other .

‘Hey .  You did a good job . ’

Unlike the other beings, there was a being that spoke in a carefree manner .  He was a Dragon Demon with an unusually large body .

When Kayalia saw him, her eyes widened in surprise .

‘Reygus . ’

Her surprise lasted only for a brief moment .  Soon, she put on a gentle smile as she flew into his arms .

The two shadows, who had finally lived a life with no regret, smiled at each other .  They greeted their final moment of peace .

9

There was a strange echo as the whispers filled the forest .

Each Guardian Shadows followed Kayalia’s example .  They started disappearing in ones and twos .  It was as if they were melting into the moonlight .

The sound of their whispers started to sound distant as each Guardian Shadows exited this world .  It had sounded as if several hundred children had been whispering to each other, but the unnatural sound started to die away .  In the end, every one of them as gone .  The only thing left behind was silence .

“…please rest in peace . ”

Azell murmured to himself as he touched his cheek .  It was where Kaylia had placed her hand .  

There was no way this could be true, but somehow, he could still feel her warmth on his cheek .

10

He was the Dragon Demon prince of the Rulain kingdom .  Seigar Weil Rulain had participated in the final battle as a member of the suicide squad, and he had survived until the end .  After the battle ended, he departed from Azell’s party .  He returned to the Rulain kingdom, and he gave his report to his mother, the Dragon Demon Queen .  Afterwards, he ceased doing his public duties .

Seigar ventured out of his residence after four months had passed after the final battle .

He hadn’t gone out, because he had to fulfill his duties as the Dragon Demon prince .  

Seigar took couple talented bodyguards as he headed towards the County of Michael .

After he shifted all duties to his successor, Count Michael was currently enjoying his retirement .  Seigar had traveled here to meet archmage Beorein Michael .

“Welcome, prince . ”

“It has been awhile . ”

Seigar gave a respectful greeting .  

Beorein had also participated in the final fight as a member of the suicide squad, and he was a fellow survivor .  This was why there was mutual respect in both their gazes even if there was a gap in age and station .

Beorein spoke .

“Did you achieve your goal?”

“Yes, it took a long time . ”

“May you show it to me?”

“Of course . ”

Seigar closed his eyes, and at the same time, a powerful wave of Dragon Demon magic was emitted from his body .

-Release Dragon Soul!

A half translucent blue dragon appeared as it wound itself around Seigar’s entire body .  At the same time, sparks started to erupt from his surroundings .

Beorein looked impressed as he asked a question .

“As expected, your Dragon Soul is a Thunder Dragon . ”

“It is .  My sister probably has the same Dragon Soul . ”

Seigar unsummoned his Dragon Soul .

He had been holed up in his residence, because he had wanted to perfect his Dragon Soul .  In the final battle, he had been lacking in power, so he hadn’t been able to play a significant role in the fight .  It  had frustrated him .

Beorein asked him a question .  

“What brings you to this retired old man?”

The County of Michael was pretty far from the capital .  Seigar had went through the trouble of coming here, so he must have some business with Beorein .  

Seigar spoke .

“I would like to commission you to make me a Dragon sword . ”

“You want a Dragon sword?”

Dragon sword was a weapon created by Kairen and Michael .  Of course, several more people had collaborated in the endeavor, but the two of them was crucial to the process .  If one wanted to make a Dragon weapon, either Kairen or Beorein had to be involved .  If they were excluded, it was impossible to make the Dragon sword .

“Yes, the crown acquired all the ingredients .  I’ll be sure to compensate you very well too . ”

Since Seigar had awaken the Dragon Soul, he would never be able to acquire a Dragon Demon weapon .  Aside from the Dragon Demon weapons, the Dragon sword was the best weapon in the world, and he wanted one .

“Also, I would like to leave behind the Dragon sword to my descendants . ”

Unlike the Dragon Demon weapon, Dragon Soul was part of oneself, so it couldn’t be passed on .  Moreover, the Albatan Forest had put a strict restriction on who can learn the Dragon Soul .  This was why he wouldn't be able to teach the Dragon Soul to his descendants .

He wanted a Dragon sword the more he thought about it .  He’ll marry someday .  If he had a son, he wanted to leave behind a weapon for him .

Beorein nodded his head .

“I see .  Alright .  This might be a good opportunity . ”

“A good opportunity?”

“It is time for me to start teaching my pupils on how to create the Dragon weapon .  I cannot take this precious technique to my grave . ”

“I see . ”

Seigar laughed .  

Beorein had spoken some wise words .

Seigar suddenly asked a question .

“Are you solely focused on teaching your pupils now?”

“I’ve taken my hands off from the family affairs, so I guess so .  However, that isn’t the only reason why I’m doing this . ”

“Then why?”

“I’m looking into the research material given to us by sir Karzark .  We are furthering Atein’s research with the other members of the Guardian Shadows . ”

“Ah…… . ”

This was the first time he had heard such news .  Azell’s party had handed over Atein’s research materials in regards to the Demon race .  Azell had suggested they should collaborate in furthering the research, but the offer had been made to mostly magicians .  This was why Seigar hadn’t heard about it .

Beorein stroked his beard as he laughed .

“It’ll be something that’ll happen in the distant future .  We have to steadily make preparations, so we’ll be able to escape Atein’s prediction .  I never expected to find so much motivation in my latter years . ”

“I see .  If you need my help, please ask .  I’d be happy to help . ”

“Understood .  I’ll be asking the throne for support when I’ll be expanding my research .  Please support my endeavors when the time comes . ”