Chapter 267:
Valgard looked at the Goliath squad outside the ravine.
It was an impressive size of over 100 units, but he felt no tension at all.
That was because he was a champion of Altema, and what he was riding was Goliath Albion, made by the dwarf master craftsmen.
There was no Goliath in the current Astera that could surpass Albion in output.
Except for the monster that was being made exclusively for Leobold, that is.
He would have been a beast that could devour all the gods and dragons even if he had appeared during the Great War.
He was an incredible creature that synchronized three super-high-output cores to extract ether.
And the king is getting stronger and stronger
He felt that he was at least on par with Altema, or even more, when he first met him, but now he couldnt even guess how far he had reached.
The halo behind his head was quite visible even during the Great War, but the ether he felt at a glance made him shiver.
Is he really trying to become a god? Why does he want to revive Altema then?
It would be better to have as many beings as possible that could become his allies, but Leobold was far beyond that category.
He could hold the whole Astera in his palm, so why would he need Altema?
Maybe it was because of her uniqueness as the first dragon born by the Creator God Rasa.
Maybe he expected to find some connection with her, since there is a legend that she was the first dragon created by Rasa.
In fact, Valgard could find the reason why Leobold wanted to collect Altemas soul from Margaretas notes.
Her notes contained various records of the Great War, and among them there was one written by someone who had directly talked with Altema.
According to the record, Altemas goal was to dominate humans, but beyond that, she wanted to summon the Creator God Rasa.
He didnt know how or by what means, but it seemed to be quite famous among the dragons at that time.
Zigaleon, who was an outsider, didnt seem to know anything about it.
Was her purpose to sweep away the Demon Kings of another world? She made a decision opposite to those cowards who chose to hide in fear.
Her goal overlapped with Leobolds, but it wasnt exactly the same.
No one could be sure that the Creator God Rasa and the prophet he was looking for were the same being.
And Leobold didnt want to ask anything from the prophet.
He just wanted to meet him I wonder what he went through on Earth that made him become like a fanatic.
Anyway, Valgard judged that Altemas revival was certain.
He didnt mean that she would revive physically, but judging from what he did with the branches of Yggdrasil, it seemed possible to collect her soul.
What should he do if she revived?
My contract is to serve her until her goal is achieved So I cant just follow the king when their goals clash
Fortunately, their goals might coincide, but there was also a high chance that they would differ.
In the end, Valgard had no choice but to follow Altemas fate.
Even if Altemas power couldnt match Leobolds.
That would be my repayment to Altema who gave me a new life. But before that
He wanted to finish off the descendants of Gram cleanly.
What did these bastards do?
They were divided into three families and fought each other. It was ridiculous.
Bagram was easy enough to subdue, but Grams family in Galisto had considerable power, and in Gram Kingdom they were even royalty.
He had a headache thinking about how to unite them.
I will reap what I sowed as an ancestor.
He didnt remember sowing anything and it was another world, but they were still people who had Gram as their surname.
He couldnt stand seeing them tarnish his name.
To do that, I have to deal with these guys first.
Valgard activated his ether heart and put strength into his whole body.
A faint golden aura covered Albion, which was almost his avatar, and intangible blades were formed on his horns, claws, and tail.
This ether blade looked inferior compared to Leobolds, but it was a meritorious service that tore apart countless enemies during the Great War.
I dont need weapons. My body itself is a weapon!
He burst out ether and Altemas roar echoed.
Kwooooh!
The Galisto army flinched at the fierce roar that shook the ground, but they couldnt stop at this point.
They would be afraid of what the king would say if they retreated after even participating in the High Knight of Zaium.
There is no retreat! Dont even have fear!
We will win! For the glory of Grams family!
For Galisto!
The Goliaths rushed into the ravine, and Valgard Gram was enraged.
How dare these mongrels use the name of Gram?
The wings on Albions back flapped briefly and he showed a jumping power that was unthinkable for a Goliath, flying up.
Boom!
The Goliaths were swept away by the shockwave of his fall, as if they were paper.
Valgard attacked the surrounding Goliaths wildly and shouted.
My name is Valgard Gram! Come out, you bastards who use the name of Gram! Ill kill you!
The Goliaths heavy armor was torn apart like paper.
Dozens of Goliaths surrounded him.
***
What? All destroyed? All 100 units?
Yes According to the report, not a single one escaped.
Palkus II collapsed as if he had lost his strength.
The officials around him hurriedly supported him, but he couldnt get up.
Instead, he muttered in a dazed voice.
How could this be That was a unit that should never have collapsed They were all elites
His words were true.
The 100 Goliaths gathered in the south were piloted by the best knights from all over Galisto.
Not to mention that many High Knights from Zaium were also mobilized, so it was a unit that could not afford to fail.
But they were vaporized by a single Goliath.
Palkus II was so shocked that he couldnt even think of getting up.
It must be Vandus doing No doubt. Vandus broke his promise and showed up on the battlefield
The officials looked at each others faces and one of them finally stepped forward.
Excuse me, Your Majesty. King Vandus was not in this battle. He was in Rozelon yesterday, receiving a special envoy from Zaium.
Palkus IIs neck snapped back.
Zaium? Dont tell me he agreed to peace? No, thats not the problem. What about that monstrous Goliath? Who did my knights fight against?
The last thing confirmed was the name Valgard Gram and this one record.
Palkus II didnt even notice the name Gram as he looked at the dragon-shaped Goliath in the record magic.
What is this? A dragon? No, its definitely smaller than that Zigaleon guy.
It is presumed to be a Goliath that mimics the combat method of a dragon.
Some people in the palace claim that it resembles Albion, a Goliath that was active during the Great War.
Palkus II looked at him as if he was crazy at his absurd words.
David of the War Generation? Thats just a legend made up by the losers.
Your Majesty, Valgard Gram is a distant ancestor of the Gram family. He was a royal knight of the Gram Empire and the champion of Altema.
It was a logical statement, but it sounded like an excuse to the angry king.
Thats impossible! The ones who lost in battle are just using legends as an excuse! Weve already lost 100 Goliaths, how are we going to stop them? The Archduke is waiting for your answer!
King Palkus II rambled on endlessly.
The situation turned in favor of Bagran after Galistos defeat.
The 100 Goliaths that were lost this time were, as King Palkus II said, the elite of Galisto.
The Hayston outpost was a strategic point that had to be captured, and they had invested their best troops there, but they were wiped out without a trace, leaving them with few remaining forces.
They still had 350 Goliaths, but most of them were outdated models that couldnt even output normally, so they couldnt expect much from them.
Meanwhile, the Gram Duke family in Galisto paid attention to the name Valgard Gram, who performed brilliantly in this battle.
Is it really Valgard Gram?
Yes. His machine is confirmed to be Albion, a dragon-shaped model. The legend has finally revealed itself.
The champion of Altema
The Duke of Gram looked out the window and fell into deep thought.
Most of the records from the war era were incomplete, but the major families that were active at that time still had a legend or two.
The Gram Duke family even possessed a chronicle compiled by the empire at that time.
It would not be easy to get away with it if the royal family found out, but they couldnt give up their roots.
They still remembered the glory of the Gram Empire in the past.
Two hundred years ago, our family ruled the Gram Empire. We had influence over every part of Astera, and even those elves acknowledged us. But now, the Gram family is ruined.
Your Grace, you are a hero of Galisto and also the commander of the capital defense. And arent you also respected by many nobles?
The Duke of Gram shook his head.
Im nothing but a mere noble of Galisto. Im not even a direct descendant of Gram, but a branch that was raised by someone who fell out and founded a country without any foundation.
Your Grace, that remark
The aides looked around nervously to see if anyone was listening.
The dukes remark would not go unnoticed by the kings ears.
Of course, they couldnt easily dispose of him because of the prestige of the Gram family, but it would be a huge blow to fall out of favor with the king.
But the Duke of Gram didnt seem to care at all.
This war is over. This country will rise again with the Gram royal family at its center. We will rebuild the Gram Empire that once dominated the whole continent!
At this point, it was hard to tell if it was delusion or serious.
It was clear that Galisto was no match for Bagran.
But behind Galisto was Archduke Pangral, and behind him was the Zaium Empire.
No matter how strong King Vandus was, he couldnt face them all.
On the other hand, at the Zaium imperial palace, more serious and grave discussions were taking place.
Barak, who had just ascended to the throne as emperor, rejected Archduke Pangrals proposal outright.
He did not show up on the battlefield as promised, nor did he send out Zigarion. And yet he wants us to use Meteor Strike? Thats unreasonable.
Your Majesty, we must kill him here and now. If we dont, he will surpass Zaium someday.
Do you think he will go that far
The champion of Altema
The majority of nobles, including Emperor Barak, denied it, but according to the information they received, it seemed to be Valgard himself.
They didnt know how a person from the past appeared, but it was hard to deny his thrilling combat power.
Archduke Pangral started to go crazy from then on.
He insisted that they had to kill King Vandus at this opportunity.
But Emperor Barak was skeptical.
According to our envoy, he is satisfied with Galisto. So lets stop here. He is still a loyal servant of Zaium anyway. It wont be a big problem even if he becomes one with her.
Archduke Pangral was furious at the emperors absurd perception of reality.
Where was the guarantee that he would be satisfied with Galisto?
The emperor must have been scared by the halo of Altemas champion.
The next thing hell do after absorbing Galisto is me. Ill kill him before that happens.
He couldnt use Meteor Strike right away because one of the reasons was that Leobold didnt break his promise.
Unlike Elvrande, the procedure for activating Zaiums mass-destruction magic was extremely complicated.
He couldnt use magic with his will alone.
At least I need a pretext.
For example, Countess Croitz
The companion of Vandus, she did not return from Bagran despite the emperors order to return.
The core forces also disappeared and there were only servants in the territory.
If I attack Croitzs territory, that bastard Vandus wont be able to sit still.
It was an old truth that no man could endure when a woman wetted her pillow with tears in bed.
They said it was a business relationship, but she was a bait to lure him out. And then he would drop Meteor Strike on Roseron.
It was a pity to destroy the prosperous city, but it was too strong to capture.
So he had no choice but to crush it.
Archduke Pangral cut off the communication with the emperor who called him.
He couldnt back down any more.
The only way for him to live was to kill Leobold Vandus.
***
Delfina, who stole the artifact of God, headed straight to the palace of Bagran.
There was hardly anything rough for her, who had Nocton in her arms.
She broke through the strict security during the war as if it was nothing and wandered around the bustling streets of Roseron as if it was her own home.
But when she tried to infiltrate the palace, it was no joke.
Are you kidding me What kind of magic did they put up like this?
The ether she felt outside was enough to make her shiver.
Of course, she had Noctons power, which made her immune to such magic.
But she had to give up her mission when she saw Leobold, who accompanied Margareta as if he was her escort.
That halo Its not magic or a trick. Its proof that he has a divine nature.
He was a monster when she met him on the coast of Vandus village, but now she didnt even dare to touch him.
The ether that emanated from him warmed the people.
The citizens of Roseron cleared the way for him as if they were bewitched and knelt before him.
There was no gap, but Delfina gave up her mission after their eyes met.
My life is more important than killing the princess.
But why did Margareta look happy?
Surprisingly, she looked cheerful and light-footed by Leobolds side.
She didnt look like a princess of misfortune who was captured by a human kingdom.
Delfina gritted her teeth at her.
My people are wandering without finding a land to rest, and you, as a royal
Her smiling white face was hateful.
She wanted to ruin everything about her and then strangle her to death.
But if she jumped out now, she would be the one on the stake.
I cant act rashly The only way to kill him is to go back to the past.
The possibility was low, but if there was no other way, she had to try it.
Delfina gave up on killing the princess and returned to Elvrandee.
Unexpectedly, Drizden didnt scold her.
You failed to kill the princess. Well, I didnt expect much as long as Tirendell is there.
Its not Tirendell, but that Leobold guy whos the problem. He clearly has a divine nature, and if we dont do something
Thats why we got the artifact of Terahawk, right? Give it to me.
She hesitated for a moment and handed over the watch.
Once the deal was done, her fate, her peoples fate, and even the future were in Drizdens hands.
He grinned with his aged face.
Lets start right away without wasting time. Come to the lab I designated.
At a secret lab on the outskirts of Elvrandee, the process of contacting Terahawks soul began.
The white ether lump that appeared in the glass tube answered Drizdens questions obediently, as if it knew its situation.
Leobold Vandus. The name of the one we are looking for. O manager of time and space, how old is he exactly?
I dont know All I know is that someone came here 53 years ago
Here? What do you mean? Do you mean this Astera continent?
Astera is just a small continent in the vast space that surrounds us
So beyond that is the realm of gods.
If there were dwarves here, they would have been happy to confirm their hypothesis that there was another space beyond the sky, but Drizden interpreted it differently.
To him, beyond the sky was a space that should not be approached.
So his age is 53 years old?
All I can say is that it has been 53 years since he came here
What about before that? Where was he? How old was he?
He guessed it was a human who kept asking about his age, so he wanted to send Delfina back to his childhood and kill him.
Even the champion of god and dragon couldnt escape the problem of lifespan, and it was common sense for Drizden that human lifespan was very short.
He thought Leobold couldnt escape that fate either.
But in fact, Leobold came from somewhere other than ether civilization and his current age was close to 125 years old.
Drizden didnt know that and kept asking when his childhood was, but Terahawks soul refused to answer.
I dont know what he did or what state he was in 53 years ago. Can you turn back the clock before then?
Thats impossible That space is beyond my power Even if I borrow the power of Yggdrasil, it would only be a few months at most
Damn it.
He asked a few more questions, but there was no information coming out.
At this rate, the name of god of time and space would be meaningless, but Asteras gods were like this.
Thats why the elves who hated them became their guardians.
Drizden decided after some thought and turned his eyes to Delfina.
Im sorry, but youll have to go.
A few months before 53 years ago? Are you sure its okay without any certainty that its his childhood?
There arent many options left if you fail. Only then can Astera be peaceful and prosperous.
The few options left were total war, Meteor Shower, and the end of the world.
He had to try everything he could to kill Leobold before it came to that.
Delfina nodded slowly.
Her future as a shadow elf was already decided.
Would she hold on to the slim possibility of settling in Elvrandee, or would she be swept away by the humans as they were?
Its okay. Ill go back to the past and kill him.
Good. Then, go in here.
His finger pointed to the Fountain of Souls.
She took off her clothes and went in, and the fountain and the surrounding area were filled with golden ether.
The whole lab buzzed and spat out light.
Delfina closed her eyes and felt her consciousness being sucked somewhere.
Im dizzy
She wanted to vomit, but barely held it back.
After some time passed, the light that flickered on her eyelids disappeared.
She opened her eyes cautiously.
A space she had never seen before greeted her.
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