Soul of Searing Steel

In the Hall of Revival within the crystal obelisk, everything within the hall had been bound in manifested Holy Light shackles as if time itself had passed. Whether it was the escort guards from the Order of the Ashes trying to unsheathe their heated blades from their hip or the High Judge who kept mustering his combat aura to shrug free from the shackles, everything was suppressed by a gentle energy. Though they were not harmed at all, they were stripped off any freedom of movement at the same time.

Meanwhile in the air, Igor, who was now fully revived and had cleared away every trace of Chaos in range of his senses, hence slowly landed on the ground.

He raised a hand and frowned slightly.

"This is quite jarring…isn't this body a little too young?"

The body was only sixteen—actually fifteen, at best. Even if the mind and body was at its peak relative to one's peak and reflexes were at its sharpest, it was actually just right for the clergy. On the other hand, the physical body was only an appearance for Legendary champions, and they were always at their peak in any given moment and any given time.

There was no need to become so young at all, really.

"Well, it is actually nothing. I am resurrected after all, and the rest is trivial."

Lowering his hand, the blonde youth form of Igor moved his hand to stroke his chin, although the beard he was used to have was not there. Still, he maintained his thought process.

"It is weird, come to think of it…I clearly remember being obliterated so entirely by an attack from a Demi Saint Evil God that not even my soul remained—my soul fragments would have been infected by the Chaos, and reasonably speaking, not even the Seven Gods could have brought me back. It is probably only the with purpoted power which the Sage revived the Seven Gods that I could be pulled by force back into the world of the living…"

Be that as it may, it would have taken the Sage some effort to do such a thing if he actually wanted to as well.

"So, Joshua had actually become so powerful."

Igor looked up and around himself, at the familiar silver crystal, the simple interior structure and adornments, along with the familiarly adorable scrawling left by Silver Fairies, and could not help but show a faint smile. "I should say thank you when the time comes—even if I am more than a hundred and twenty thousand years late for that."

With the information left in the Restoration Beam, Igor learned that the crystal obelisk was an advanced revival equipment that Joshua had used in the past to revive the many heroic spirits of civilizations within the body of the Evil God of Death. At the same time, he also knew that to restore him, the crystal obelisk had combined the countless and unimaginably miniscule fragments in his soul to the point that it was identical to his living state, a process which had taken over a hundred thousand years…

Or to be precise, 129,600 years.

It was a cosmic number, even for a champion such as Igor who was an Ultimate Legend—he himself did not live any more than a quarter of that period, but he was not panicking.

After all, the obelisk existed, and the fact that he could be revived was evidence that Joshua was still there, while the Mycroft civilization—or indeed the heirs to the civilization—was still alive, along with all beings of Order.

And as long as Order still stood, everything was the same. He was not so greedy as to desire for everything to be same after a hundred and twenty thousand years had passed, but he only hoped that the Flame of Order was still burning, that humans could bask in its warmth and radiance to live in happiness.

"That being said, what is going on with these little guys?"

Organizing his thoughts since those brought back from the dead had always tend to have overflowing emotions, Igor turned to the followers of the Order of the Ashes, as well as the one who had awoken him with Silver Fairy-accented Mycroft Basic…

Uh, a mixed-blood Silver Fairy? I mean, another one? Could intermarriage between humans and fairies have become the norm?

"…what is with the lot of you?"

With a twitch of Igor's mind, everyone was freed from the shackles of the Holy Light. Still, there were certainly none who would dare to make a false move, since everyone present was no idiot. In the company of a prehistoric champion who was at least High Legend or perhaps even stronger, none dared to even breathe a little too loudly, be it the hostile members of the Order or friendly Alpha.

"Right, let me put it in another way—why are you guys inside this crystal obelisk? Where are the Silver Fairies who should be standing watch, and Joshua's security measures? And what era is it now, and which civilization or faction do all of you belong to?"

Able to tell that most of the others with him did not understand Mycroft Basic, Igor began to utilize direct communication through spiritual link, even cautiously buffing them with a strong steel will to avoid leaving them unable to think under his spiritual pressure. Nevertheless, his question was still too broad, with the words not comprehensible to the people present and as such, they simply did not know where to start.

Even so, the entire hall was once again left in cool, awkward atmosphere.

Then, an energetic and vibrant feminine voice cleared the air.

"Igor, let me enlighten you, instead of having you to interrogate these ignorant juniors."

Alpha quickly looked up towards the familiar voice to find two women with silver hair and red eyes beneath the stairs leading to this hall, and slowly making their way to its center.

"Professor Karlis!"

Struggling to get up after having been stricken by Grong's momentum and later unnerved by Igor's presence, Alpha fell again and would have almost broken his teeth, but was caught by a gentle force just when his face was about to hit the ground—both Igor and Karlis had moved to tenderly pick him up.

"I'm sorry, Alpha, to have put you through so much. But now is not the time for explanations—that would come later, and I will tell you about every piece of truth."

Clapping Alpha on his shoulder from across thin air, Karlis slid a quick glance towards Grong and the crowd of guards from the Order of the Ashes before turning away nonchalantly to study Igor, shrugging. "Do you still remember me, Pope of the world of Mycroft?"

"Former pope, you mean—and heaven knows how many generations and holders have passed since I held office."

Correcting Karlis, Igor looked towards the two silver-haired women, his expression becoming puzzled. "As for you…your presence…right, weren't you the Steel Python who was always beside Johsua? And you…"

As Igor turned toward Mycroft, his face had become rigid. "You, you are…"

"Weren't you children the ones who had worked together to seal me?"

Former Steel Python and present Royal Scholar, Mycroft stood forward and confidently spread herself to give Igor a hug, before handily lifting her hand to stroke his cheek. "So, you've recognized me? Huh… that's quite the young face! No wonder you would always keep that elderly man appearance in public—because you really do not exude any stature otherwise. Hard to imagine that you had looked like this back when you're young!"

The single notion stirred the Holy Light. Struggling and freeing himself out of Mycroft's embrace, there was complete befuddlement and shock on Igor's face now. "Mother of All…your Chaos corruption has been utterly cleared? Right, technological development would only be certain after such a long time has passed…but what is going on? How could Steel Python appear in human form upon the world? Moreover, weren't all of you fused into a single body with Joshua…"

Wait a moment. Wouldn't that actually be unusual?

If Joshua could revive him, he certainly would have been able to bring more back to life. In addition, perhaps that was the only way that actually dispelled the Chaos corruption which extended into the very essence on the body of Mycroft, the Steel Python?

Nonetheless, the change was too major in itself. Igor's own memories were still actually soaked in the ancient battle—to protect Joshua and the new world, in the single instant when he was about to be obliterated by the attack from an Demi Saint Evil God, he had faced his own resurrection and the stillness of a hundred thousand-year sleep with nothing but the stalwart, assured resolve of a Legendary champion.

Now, however, all sorts of bizarre turns of events were occurring, one after another. The two groups had recklessly intruded within Joshua's obelisk, with one being Karlis's own student. The Steel Python herself, who had once fused as one with Joshua, had also been separated away into a human form, not to mention that they clearly had their own intentions in coming to the place where he would be brought back to life.

Furthermore, those many things were no longer a matter where stalwart resolves mattered.

None amongst them could stay calm.

"I won't spare any time for nonsense. Igor, the situation at the moment is perhaps a lot worse than you would imagine."

Slightly turning the corner of her eyes to cast a sideway glance at the very quiet and motionless members from the Order of the Ashes, she deliberately linked herself to Igor in spirit, although she was also speaking loudly in the Lightchaser language. "Joshua van Radcliffe—in other words, the Creator of the Three Worlds and Nine Skies, the Holy Father of all life, had all perished in Divine Death in the battle against the infinite Chaos and after using power far exceeding his own limits, and hence assimilated into the Root 129,600 years ago."

"Right now, we are all inside the world within his body—this is the place where he had sealed the Demi Saint Evil Gods in the past, at the cost of his own being."

However, the words from her mouth were far less agile than the exchange in spirit. By the time Karlis had finished speaking, she had already relayed every bit of the information she obtained and memories she recalled in recent years to Igor. It was then that Igor, who had initially appeared calm, gaped, his face full of bewilderment.

"What—Joshua has actually fallen to Divine Death?!"

Igor looked up by reflex towards the roof of the crystalline hall, and tried to use his Holy Light to erode the obelisk, which really worked though rather strenuous—and although the crystal structure appeared fragile, it was in fact an eternally unchanging wall. That alone was sufficient evidence that the crystal obelisk contained Joshua's power, because if it had been any being apart of Joshua, the brunt of his Holy Light which altered the universal constants of the speed of light would definitely be severely harmed.

"His power is still clearly here. But…"

Having ascertained the fact, Igor shook his head as he still would not dare to believe it. "Although I am still shocked, but rationality allows me to believe your words…actually, I do have an inkling of Joshua's plan of insanity, although I choose to place things on the hands of fate…still, if that is the case, how was I actually revived? And as for you two…"

As he spoke, there was a clear doubt in his words. "Based on what all of you are saying, wouldn't we be pulled into the Root as well, and therefore falling to Divine Death alongside Joshua?"

"The reason for your revival is actually simple. 'Resurrect every martyr' had been one of the last commands which Joshua left into his own body, and with you having incidentally died near to his core world, the collection of soul fragments proved to very complete, even if there had been a lot of broken pieces. In turn, resurrection is quite convenient, although it just needs a lot more time."

Karlis patiently answered the old former pontiff's question, although she seemed to be puzzled by his last question. "In truth, I am not really sure about that last question. Back then, Mycroft, myself, and the multitude of Steel Pythons had surely reached the threshold of Divine Death alongside Joshua himself—he could hold on a little longer, but not too long. Either way, we should have been dead without a doubt, but all of us are here now in this realm of Three Worlds and Nine Skies, which could only be the world inside Joshua body.

"Actually, Karlis and myself had only slowly awakened in the last few decades, our memories as Steel Pythons hence recovered."

Mycroft joined the conversation then, and while her tone was almost lazy, her seriousness was palpable. "How should I describe it? It is a mysterious feeling: I felt as it I had been an immeasurably warm and peaceful place one moment, but I had already become the Mycroft of this present existence in the next, regaining my pre-existing memories along the way—it is such an erratic perception that cannot be understood unless personally experienced."

Karlis nodded in agreement with Mycroft, adding, "In fact, Igor, this obelisk you were in has only been animated in the last decade—it had always been nothing else other than a mountain in the distant past, and it was only until seventeen years ago when Mycroft and I had detected different, unusual bursts of Steel Strength ripples that we had come to find this obelisk.

"Well, why didn't you revive me earlier?"

Igor had silently listened to the ladies' description. Everything that had happened until now was strange and unreal, but those were the facts and it was not anything untoward. That being said, he still had questions he could not understand. "If I had been awakened seventeen years ago, we could have worked together earlier on."

"We do not have the authority."

Karlis said pointedly, turning towards and gesturing at Alpha who was completely at a loss, not understanding what his own mentor and the prehistoric champion were actually saying. "Every other Silver Fairy had died in the war against the Chaos, sacrificing themselves in battle against the endless legions of Chaos fifty thousand years ago. Those remaining had also volunteered themselves and headed out to the Sky Blade Realm and the Earthen Axe Realm to become divine armaments and assist all living beings. However, each obelisk needed a Silver Fairy to be opened from their 'locked' state—any obelisk which was without Silver Fairies would enter alert mode and attack anyone who approached it without clearance, but would be in open mode if there had been one: a safe and public facility."

"Although the power of Steel Pythons is a little useful in that respect, all we get is a 'visitor clearance' that does not allow us to control the Obelisk. All we can do is enter or exit, which is why we had spent a long time combing the entire world for people who possessed Silver Fairy bloodline, and whether it could be purified and reverted to its ancient form, thereby creating new management clearance of Silver Fairies. It was only when Alpha's daughter was born that we discovered that there was one right beside us, and it was also regrettable that Alpha's bloodline was a gradual process. In addition, when Mycroft and I had awakened seventeen years ago, we did not have much power, not to mention that the Order of the Orders—which is that outfit over there—had their eyes on us, and so we could only do what we could to leave the Radiant Domain as quickly as possible, escaping into the Nightfall Zone."

Beside them, compared to Alpha, who knew none of that secret information and so could only listen and understand half of what his own mentor was saying, Grong, the High Judge of the Order of the Ashes, was left as stunned as he would have been in the epicenter of a level twelve earthquake after he heard what Karlis had to say.

Had the Father really died in the battle against the Chaos? And was everyone now living inside his body? And was the prehistoric champion really one who had fought the Chaos alongside Father? And more than that—had he died, but was revived by Father?

As for the Silver Fairies…there had been certainly a lot of information about them recorded in the historical text of the Order. They had been a race who flourished in the depths of the Nightfall Zone during the Age of the Gods, always settling down around loft peaks—in other words, the vicinity of various concealed obelisks! Because they did not have to migrate and rarely headed out to the Radiant Domain, they often kept to themselves and as such were not really known, nor were there famed accomplishments by their kind.

It was simply unimaginable that the mysterious race from a time past would hold authority of those great crystal obelisks. And Alpha himself had that bloodline to control everything?

If that was the case, their purpose would be too…

***

At the moment, Igor was still speaking to Karlis and Mycroft. Now largely aware about most of the things that had happened after his death, he had also generally learned most norms and history in the world they were presently in.

"In a nutshell, Joshua's consciousness must still be inside the Root right now. Although ours have returned for some unknown reason, he is still showing no signs of awakening."

Summing up the meaning that both Steel Pythons were conveying, Igor said somberly, "And what you two are trying to do is attempt to awaken Joshua—of course, before that happens, you would first try to awaken others who could be revived like myself and consolidate power capable of fighting against the present world Order."

"It is indeed as you have imagined. And we should not only stop at reviving the others—of the Three Worlds, the Sky Sword Realm and the Earthen Axe Realm must be Ying and Ling's true forms. They are probably in slumber and are yet to awaken as well, and we must awaken them first if we can, because being Joshua's weapons, their bloodlines are linked to his. They would most definitely hold higher authority as compared to the Silver Fairies."

Karlis lifted her eyes towards the silver crystal roof of the hall, a faint melancholy in her voice. "Whatever the case may be, we have all returned from Divine Death…that might be Joshua's backup measures taking action, or because we had really been dragged into the Root and only returned after a very long time. Still, I would never believe that Joshua would die so simply—he would certainly return from the Initial Flame."

"Still, with what I understand about that man…when push comes to shove, he might have a new World Will be born unto this world—one which belongs to the Three Worlds and Nine Skies, and not Joshua's. In turn, that World Will would take his place and continued the eternal battle."

That naturally sounded like something Joshua would do. Igor became quiet as he listened on, before he eventually caught Karlis's cold words.

"But I won't allow that."

"The Joshua I want is that Joshua. Don't he dare try to shrug off his own responsibilities! If he wants to save the Multiverse, let him do it himself! Whatever the cost along the way, I would have him come back!"

"Even if the price for that is to destroy everything present in this world."

There was nothing more important than Joshua's revival.

Such was Karlis's will and resolve—so firm and clear that everyone there would understand even if it was not said out loud.

"Still, regardless, there has been ancient ruins coming back to live in the few recent decades. I am also convinced that the Steel Pythons who had recovered memories from their previous existence would not just be us few—those are all opportunities."

Mycroft's tone was calm and unhurried, and much more composed as compared to Karlis's. "And we would need this little one's strength with such opportunities—that is, his Silver Fairy clearance."

As eyes were turned towards Alpha once more, he nervously shuddered by reflex for an instant. Still, as Igor leveled his gaze at his own, he felt warmth and strength from the tender gaze of the Mycroftian pontiff which was just like a bonfire, and hence no longer feeling nervous or fearful.

If he was being truthful, Alpha neither understood what Karlis or Mycroft were saying. He had at best comprehended that the true identities of his mentor and superior were probably reincarnated forms of prehistoric deities, and that they were acquainted with the Father…and now, as the many stars of the Three Worlds and Nine Skies are about to die out, they would revive the Father and save the Multiverse.

That being said…what is the Multiverse? Was that another name for the Three Worlds and Nine Skies?

"What should we do with those members from the Order of the Ashes?"

Turning, Mycroft glanced at the group of Order members who had been silent in a corner, frowning. "Kill them?"

"There's no need."

Karlis's reply came quickly. Even if there was a cold glint in her gaze and she knew too well how they had been hunting her in the last dozen years, she showed no inclination of ending their lives. "There is no need to kill them—we still need them to lead us to the Godly Summit and the location of other obelisks. Moreover, with the Steel Python Authority of the Children of the Stars, they must have already claimed the power of many restored champions who were not awakened for their own uses, adapting them as living batteries to move the stars…stop stroking your chin, Igor. If it is not for us being here, you would have almost ended up as a battery providing Holy Light."

"And what should that be named? Solar Holy Light?" Mycroft continued the good-nature teasing.

***

Meanwhile, as the ancient champions from the Age of Starfall began to be jovial, Grong, High Judge of the Order of the Ashes could no longer hold back.

He knew that he was an enemy of Karlis and the rest, and that the Order of the Ashes were always pursuing them.

He knew that they were hesitating about killing them.

He also knew that those champions were from the same era as the Father, champions so ancient that it was impossible to imagine…and they probably thought nothing of the Lightchasers, the people of the Three Worlds and Nine Skies.

He knew it all—but Grong would still have to speak out. He had to make a stand because it had to do with saving the world, just as it was his duty as a member of the Order of the Ashes.

"All of you…are champions? From which era? I can scarcely imagine it, but it must be from a long time in the past, and your origins more ancient than Lightchaser history…"

Slowly stepping forward, Grong gritted his teeth despite the presence of several Legendary champions, never faltering even half a step. "But whether all of you had known each other or were close, are you not a part of this world now?" he growled quietly with a hoarse voice. "All of you are within the Three Worlds and Nine Skies…don't you know about the state of this world?!"

"It…it is about to fall…"

Igor did not release his aura to suppress Grong, but neither Karlis nor Mycroft had any intention to allow the High Priest to come any closer. Hence, after moving forward over a dozen meters, he could no longer approach them—the old white-haired man was usually so spirited that he did not appear advanced in age at all. Now, however, despite his robust form and usual vigor in speech, there was gulping in his tone. "Don't all of you live in this world too? No matter what any of you think about our Order, what you think about me—whatever you would think, for that matter…could you tell us if you have another way of saving this world?"

"Really, whatever solution there would be, we will do it…"

"We beg you!"

The other escort guards of the Order had knelt on the floor then, exclaiming together, "We would definitely do it—whatever the cost!"

Even if they were foes, the sincerity and determination in their words could be heard.

Watching as Grong tearfully went down on his knees to earnestly beg them to reveal a measure with which they could save the world, along with his guards who were on all fours behind him, Karlis stayed silent for a moment before eventually breathing a sigh.

"That is why I do not want to kill any of you…it is just that it would be rather cruel if I say it."

At that very moment, the former Steel Python started to speak softly—not in Lightchaser language, but in Mycroft Basic instead. "Although you would not understand me, Grong, but what you and the Order of the Ashes had done in the beginning was right. Fifty thousand years ago, before the Steel Pythons had yet to awaken and the many former champions are still being healed, when Joshua's return was still so far away it seemed to take forever and we had yet to return from the Root, it was all of you who had continued the Flame and maintained the center of the Three worlds and Nine Skies. It is actually the lingering warmth of Joshua's core engine, and that had been what kept this world going—your kind had definitely saved the world, and laid the foundations that are here now."

"Now, however, things are different. All of us have now returned, and though the chance for Joshua's resurrection was fractional, it is not actually impossible. Even so, our objective is basically not to save this world—this Three Worlds and Nine Skies that is about to die…or indeed, I should say that what I would do, is destroy it and extinguish its every Flame."

"That would be the only way that the core engine in Joshua's world which had came to a stop so long ago, can undergo a full post-stall reactivation. It would be in that very moment—the split second when they warrior's body once again obtains vigor—that we are able to gain such a faint chance of awakening him."

***

It was matter which severely lacked any better option.

The entire Three Worlds and Nine Skies—the heart of the Steel Continent—was in reality Joshua's core engine which had long since stopped running. One hundred and twenty thousand years after the warrior had met his Divine Death, all sufficiently powerful Chaos was wiped out, whereas the core engine had also long since stopped working after losing its objectives. In turn, it led to a tremendous plummeting of warmth for the entire Steel Continent, with countless stars dying out one after another.

In order to keep the world alive, the Order of the Ashes had used the Children of the Stars, who were actually Steel Pythons, along with the strength of the champions slumbering within obelisks and awaiting their resurrection. By boosting the children's power with the obelisks to move the endless stars and keep the light shining inside the Radiant Domain, it would also simultaneously maintain the remaining warmth of the core engine—the giant dark star. All of those things had kept the world alive, but it had also prevented the core engine from cooling entirely and hence reactivating.

Karlis the Steel Python, who had fused into one body with Joshua in the past and fought alongside each other, was very sure about the warrior's inner body structure and the principles in which it operated.

And such was the only solution she could come up with.

"It is only after the old Flame would die entirely that a new greater Flame could be ignited…we are not powerful enough to have it both ways, and if I were to choose, I would only ever pick Joshua."

Karlis's words was firm and determined. To bring Joshua back to life, she would not hesitate to sacrifice any part of herself.

Meanwhile, Mycroft's expression was entirely unconcerned. She knew very well that as compared to something as insignificant as the Three Worlds and Nine Skies or some lifeforms which had been grown inside the world within Joshua's body, all of the Multiverse had a greater need for the warrior's power.

On the other hand, Igor simply stayed silent and said nothing. He was the pontiff of the people of Mycroft and also Joshua's friend, not to mention that he had once sacrificed himself for Joshua, while Joshua himself had also resurrected him—did he even have to think about making the choice? Still, since every element at stake were civilizations serving Order, if it was possible, the elderly former pontiff would do all that he could to protect the Lightchasers in the moment that the Flame goes out.

Regardless, everyone had already resolved themselves and made their decision.

All at once, the entire hall was left in silence.

***

Over at a corner, Alpha could feel that his mentor, whom he was so familiar with, had changed—even if she was still that determined and decisive teacher of his who held great courage in making choices, she was now very much no longer the famed scholar and the great explorer from the Radiant Domain.

Now, she was a champion belonging to an ancient period far gone, and not even a foreigner of this world.

Had his own choice really been the right one?

Alpha was unsure about that, but what he did know was that it was only by following his own mentor that he stood a chance of saving his own family from the Order of the Ashes.

As for the other people living in this world…

Sigh.

In the very end, he himself was a selfish person as well…

Hence, after a long silence, it was the time to leave with resolve.

"And that is it. We shall take action at once—we will first head out to other markers on the star map and have Alpha revive the other champions.

Turning around and heading for the stairs of the crystal hall, Karlis was clearly no longer intending to waste time. "After that, we will proceed to the Radiant Domain and rescue the Children of the Stars—there is no lack of champions in the Three Worlds and Nine Skies, however, with the duo of the Heavenly Blade Empress and the Demon Cleaving Ruler probably obtaining a part of Ying and Ling's power as weapons of Joshua. Both of them possess the ability of Ultimate Legends, not to mention that the Order of the Ashes controls almost every divine item. We do not have numbers on our side, and might not be able to take down their headquarters."

 "And then what?" Igor sighed as he followed right behind Karlis. "What can we still do after quenching the Flame?"

"In the end, we shall head for the edge of the Steel Continent, to the Edge of the World."

There was no hint of hesitation in Karlis's words even as she stared straight ahead. "The Steel Continent is infinitely vast, but the Edge of the World is different—it is a wound that Joshua himself had torn open, and it must have been a passage that he paved to seal the many Demi Saint Evil Gods. That passage has now become an edge of the boundless realm to a certain extent: the World Barrier, which could never have been broken or bypassed, would probably appear when the Flame is at its weakest, creating a gap connecting us to the Multiverse beyond."