Karnak, Monarch of Death

The archliches weren’t just tasked with expanding the Twilight Cult. The Cult of the Black God was attempting to summon the future martial kings, archmages, and high priests into this era. And for that, they required Anti-Time-Space Transcender and living bodies from the present.

In other words, if they could identify these individuals before their regression, they might be able to prevent it altogether, just like they had done with Leven.

To do that, Karnak needed detailed information on the present versions of these individuals, including their names, locations, and occupations. Thus, the archliches were also assigned to gather intelligence.

”Ho.” After hearing the full plan, Leven let out an impressed hum. ”So, you do have a somewhat human side to you, Lord Karnak.”

Serati, however, let out a bitter chuckle. ”No, he doesn’t.”

After all, Karnak had never actually intended to gather the four governors just to expand a cult. He had a different objective.

***

”I’ll intercept Tesranach’s subordinates from the future!”

Among the future’s martial kings, archmage, and the fallen popes, five had already completed their temporal regression.

From the martial kings: Lapicel Crotium, Leven Strauss, and Dreltein Thelix.

From the archmages: Elezar de Reflasion.

From the fallen popes: Saint of the Sun, Jedex.

That meant one more martial king, two archmages, and six fallen popes were still due for regression.

”They must bear the Mark of Contract too, right? Then, just like Demphis and Maloka, we should be able to claim them as subordinates!” Karnak exclaimed.

The plan was to capture their present selves, use their bodies to induce temporal regression, and brand them anew the moment their future selves returned. However, the archmage was too risky to touch.

”Diogres and Giyen Ren are beyond what I can handle right now.”

Serati, who had been listening to the plan, looked puzzled for a moment. ”Wouldn’t we have a good enough chance once you’ve taken in all four archliches?”

No matter how powerful Elezar was as a tenth circle, surely four masters of the ninth circle could match her?

”It’s just one circle, isn’t it?”

Varos shook his head. ”It’s impossible. There’s an immense wall between the ninth and tenth circles.”

Karnak added from the side. ”The only reason it’s called the tenth circle is because it’s the next number after nine, but in reality, the tenth circle is an entirely new starting point.”

The foundation of magic circles lay in the number of mana sources a mage could circulate within their internal conceptual space. A single circle formed the first circle of magic. Two intersecting circles made the second. By continuing this process and increasing the number of intersections up to nine, the final product became a perfected sphere, which was the pinnacle of the ninth circle.

For a long time, the ninth circle had been considered the ultimate achievement in magic. But around four hundred years ago, a groundbreaking concept emerged in the field of magic studies.

What if this perfected ninth circle sphere could serve as a new starting point? What if one could inscribe another single colossal mana source upon that foundation and wield it for spellcasting?

The result was nothing short of astonishing. This concept, where a completed form of magic became the starting point for an entirely new form, shattered every preconceived notion. It was a miracle beyond comprehension.

”If the ninth circle represents the limits of human magic, then the tenth circle is like the first circle of a being on a higher plane, or something similar. That’s the difference.”

Of course, with four archliches, Karnak himself joining the battle, and the combined strength of Varos, Serati, and the other aura users, they might—just barely—manage to defeat Elezar.

”Just one of them, that is.” Karnak let out a short laugh. ”But Elezar would never come alone.”

She was an imperial court mage of the Lacania Empire and one of the Three Saints of the Black God’s Church. In terms of influence, power, and subordinates, she far outmatched them.

”The same goes for the other two archmages.”

Diogres Kolon was the Master of the Tower of Dawn. He was effectively a king ruling over an army of mages. And Giyen Ren was the Supreme Guardian of the Fairies, with an army of fairy warriors and mages under his command.

Even if Karnak’s group somehow managed to invade their territories, it was questionable whether they would even get the chance to face them, let alone fight.

”On the other hand, the martial kings and popes are in a more manageable position.”

Given their ages, the fallen popes had yet to become significant figures within the Church of the Goddesses or distinguished warriors in their own right. As for the last of the four martial kings, Malican Thun, he had yet to ascend to the rank of a martial king.

”Even in the past, he lived in seclusion before he became a martial king, dedicating himself solely to swordsmanship. He probably doesn’t have much of a following.”

This meant Karnak and his group could capture them with their current strength and secure their bodies.

”Even if a future martial king regresses, we should be able to handle it at this time.”

Things had been different when future Leven had returned. Back then, Demphis had still been an enemy, and they had lacked any viable countermeasures. Karnak had been forced to use a crude method of making Leven his vassal just to expel the future version from the body.

But now? Karnak’s mana reserves had grown exponentially. Once all the archliches were gathered, there would be four ninth circle masters. With Leven and Lapicel awakened, they now had four aura users as well. There was enough time to set up all sorts of traps and barriers here.

”If we still can’t capture a martial king who’s returned in a young body after all this, we’d be the real fools.” And if they took him down the moment he returned and rebranded him right away? ”Then we’d be gaining a martial king! A completely intact one, at that!”

Serati shot Karnak a glare as he spoke excitedly. ”Saying it like that makes it sound like Sir Lapicel and Sir Leven aren’t intact.”

”They aren’t, though, are they?”

Lapicel had issues with his memory, and Leven, strictly speaking, wasn’t even a martial king yet. Of course, Malican Thun would likely be in a similar state to Varos. He would be unable to immediately regain his former strength upon regression. But still, securing another reliable subordinate was nothing to scoff at.

”That’s true.” After calmly listening to the plan, Serati let out a quiet remark. ”When will you finally act like a proper human being, Lord Karnak?”

”What? What’s wrong with my plan?”

Since this natural-born scoundrel still didn’t see the problem, she began explaining step by step. ”So, what you’re saying is, you’ll kidnap someone who’s alive and well, like Sir Leven in the present, force his future self to possess him, trample over his current soul, carve open his heart, and turn him into your slave?”

”The way you put it makes it sound like I’m doing something terrible.”

”It is terrible, you lunatic!”

Serati’s sharp reprimand made Karnak abandon the plan. He had already agreed to defer to her judgment on these matters.

So, he came up with a new plan. ”Then should I just kill them in advance?”

”Why do you always think in that direction?”

”Why? I can’t leave behind any loose ends.” No matter what, he had to disrupt Tesranach’s plans. ”If they don’t have bodies in the present, the future versions won’t be able to regress as easily.”

This plan earned him another scolding. ”So, you’re going to throw away your conscience just to eliminate future threats? Didn’t you say you weren’t going to live like you did before?”

Now that he thought about it, he really was acting just like his old self.

Karnak asked gruffly, ”Then what do you suggest?”

”We should protect them instead, from the Black God’s Cult.”

Serati’s firm response made Karnak’s expression twist. ”Ugh, living like a decent person is such a pain. How do other people do this all the time?”

***

After hearing the explanation, Leven let out a dry chuckle. Now, he finally understood Karnak’s attitude.

”That’s certainly very like Lord Karnak.”

Regardless of whether they planned to protect them or use them, they still needed to locate those who hadn’t regressed yet.

But there was a problem. They had no idea where any of them were.

”Malican only re-entered the secular world after mastering the gold aura. Before that, he was said to have lived in seclusion, dedicating himself solely to training.”

However, Varos, who had been Malican Thun’s superior during his days as a death knight, knew the hidden truth.

”In reality, during his youth, Sir Malican traveled the world under a different identity.”

No one could reach the rank of martial king by training in isolation. Real combat experience was a necessity.

”But I have no idea what identity he’s using or where he’s wandering...” Varos scratched his head awkwardly.

Leven looked at him in surprise. ”You don’t know either, Sir Varos? Wasn’t he your subordinate?”

”That’s exactly why I know this much.”

Even as a superior, he had no reason to know every detail of his subordinate’s life. As for the fallen popes, they didn’t even know who they were or where they lived.

”The only ones whose locations we know for sure are Diogres and Giyen Ren.”

The known figures were too powerful and well-protected to be targeted, while the weaker ones were so obscure that nothing was known about them. That was why Karnak’s orders were to expand the Twilight Cult while also gathering information on any formidable figures in this era who might be Malican Thun.

”The Black God’s Cult must be tracking them down too. If we clash with them, we might be able to extract some information.”

Tesranach’s forces would undoubtedly know where their past selves had been, as their future selves would have told them directly.

”Oh, right, young master.” Something seemed to occur to Varos as he asked, ”Is there any way to use this black cube to summon the other Sir Leven?”

Naturally, Leven, who was sitting beside them, stiffened. ”Are you asking me to surrender my body?”

”No, I was thinking that if we summoned him in a wraith state, we could just extract the information we need. Isn’t that your specialty, young master?”

”That won’t work. The concepts are different.”

The Anti-Time-Space Transcender didn’t function like a summoning spell that forcibly called someone.

”If a ship has already drifted to shore, what’s the point of lighting a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean? Do you think they’ll come?”

Future Leven’s soul had already settled in this era. Even if they used the Anti-Time-Space Transcender and Demphis attempted a soul invocation, there would be no response.

”For now, the best course of action is to gather intel while dealing with the Black God’s Cult.”

Once they discovered the present bodies of Malican Thun or the fallen popes, they would protect them from the cult’s clutches.

”As for the archmage, there’s no need to go that far.” Karnak suddenly hesitated. Wait, something doesn’t add up.

It was true that they couldn’t interfere with Diogres or Giyen Ren at this point.

But the Black God’s Cult is in the same position, aren’t they?

The cult wanted their bodies. This much was certain. Maloka had been assigned to Diogres, and Kalaf had been assigned to Giyen Ren.

Of course, if Elezar personally intervened, it might be possible in a one-on-one situation...

But the risk was far too great.

Is there a reason to go about this way?

If they ignored the variance in regression timing, it was possible to undergo temporal regression without using the Anti-Time-Space Transcender. Karnak, Varos, Elezar, Dreltein, and Jedex had all regressed using this method.

In that case, securing their present bodies wasn’t necessary at all. They could simply send all three archmages back first without using the transcender and have the martial kings and fallen popes regress later, once their bodies had been secured.

Yet Tesranach insisted on this method. Karnak frowned as he stared at the jet-black cube. This isn’t just about fixing temporal coordinates. There’s definitely another purpose.