Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
Chapter 356: The King Who Kills Others, The God Who Kills Himself (10)

The Dholes found their chance.

The Golden Lord could create anything he imagined, but he didn’t make just anything.

His alchemy was used solely for the benefit of the Golden Empire and the artifacts scattered across the Fallen Dominion were merely burial offerings entombed with the Golden Empire.

The Dholes scavenging through this graveyard gratefully picked up even the lowliest of scraps.

But then came the Golden Lord’s preparations for war.

War isn’t fought with money alone, but without money, it’s impossible to wage war.

Weapons, provisions, warhorses, and supply carts—everything costs money.

While the artifacts the Golden Lord normally created were valuable, they paled in comparison to the wartime economy.

At first, the Dholes trembled at the call to prepare for war.

But their fear quickly turned to greed as wealth flowed and weaved itself before their very eyes.

“War doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”

“Wow, look at this! Just stealing one of these and selling it to another country would keep me alive for at least ten years!!”

“Sell it? Hah! These days, drifters who try to sell stuff get stabbed before they can even haggle. You’d be lucky to survive.”

This is why the Fireblastarch desired war.

War made the Fallen Dominion wealthy—not because they won their battles, but because the Golden Lord would create weapons.

Money is like a river.

It carries all sorts of riches in its current and the Golden Lord’s equipment was wealth incarnate.

The Dholes drawn to it gathered while those about to leave chose to stay.

News spread through wandering traders across the Fallen Dominion and naturally, the Dholes began to organize into armies.

Thus, the armies of the Fallen Dominion began their grand march.

But then–

“Hey, look! Over there!”

“What’s all the fuss… Oh?”

A massive serpent slithered across the land, heralding the start of war.

It appeared to be a colossal serpent crafted from the earth itself.

Its body had a diameter of over three meters, and its length was immeasurable.

The soil cracked like scales, and corn stalks grew from its surface like whiskers.

The earth serpent rumbled forward, shaking the ground as it moved.

It was clearly a monstrous being that defied natural laws.

There were stories of massive snakes in the southern Great Forest, but at least those creatures were made of flesh and blood.

“A monster snake! Run for it!”

“Wait, is it something someone made? Who the hell could’ve done this?”

The Dholes, initially ready to flee, suddenly stopped in their tracks.

“Hold on. A snake made of earth? Isn’t that one of the Golden Lord’s creations?”

“Who else could make such a monster but the Golden Lord?”

“Then it’s on our side, right? Maybe there’s someone controlling it?”

It was a reasonable assumption.

I would’ve thought the same.

The Dholes fearlessly circled the earth serpent.

When it showed no interest in them, they became convinced it was an ally and let down their guard.

Unfortunately, their assumption was wrong.

This earth serpent wasn’t an alchemical creation—it was crafted using Earthweave.

The Regressor, perched on the serpent’s head with Jizan embedded in it, reflected.

｢Right, in this timeline, I’ve been acknowledged by Jizan. I don’t have to wield it like a sword. I can use Earthweave like the Earth Sage did in the previous cycle.｣

Of course, she couldn’t match Earth Sage’s mastery.

The Regressor hadn’t studied Earthweave or gained an in-depth understanding of geology and soil dynamics.

This earth serpent was merely an imitation of Earth Sage’s technique.

It lacked its full power.

Still, its three-meter girth ensured it carried genuine mass.

Wherever it crashed, the desired effect would be achieved.

｢… Even so, walking in openly like this is indeed less suspicious. What kind of fraud has he pulled off to be this fearless? Does he have multiple lives or something?｣

Nonsense.

I only have one life, so of course I make the best moves possible.

Wandering around fighting every person she meets with this half-baked earth serpent would get her nowhere.

It’s better to act as though it’s part of the Golden Lord’s authority.

If the serpent was attacked, it would only confirm the attacker as an enemy. That would mean it was time to prepare for battle.

Convenient, isn’t it?

This is the smart way.

Playing the genocidal maniac is what’s strange.

If the goal is to reach the Golden Lord, then just focus on getting there.

As I congratulated myself on my cleverness, a voice interrupted.

“…Why exactly did you bring me along?”

Peru asked me, her tone skeptical.

Her position among us was ambiguous—not quite a hostage, but not an ally either.

We hadn’t restrained her, nor did we particularly guard against her.

If anything, we seemed to hold some expectations of her.

She herself appeared puzzled.

I answered with a small smile.

“Now, don’t take this the wrong way. There’s no malice in this.”

“…I’m already at my worst. I can’t feel worse.”

“That’s a relief! I’ll be honest, then!”

｢…I’m getting annoyed.｣

I kindly explained.

“Peru, you’re on the Golden Lord’s side, but you’re still useful to us. You can’t use your power against us, right? If you did, the Golden Palace, created with alchemy, would collapse.”

Elric had ordered Peru not to use her powers.

Even without Mind Reading, the reason was obvious—her Unique Magic.

Her power, which negates alchemy, is the Golden Lord’s antithesis.

Of course, I don’t think she could defeat him outright, but she’s undoubtedly a troublesome opponent.

“And they know this, too. That’s why they can’t unleash massive power near you.”

“…It doesn’t matter, my life.”

“No, it’s not your life they care about—it’s your Unique Magic. If they unleash power recklessly and you react, it could ruin everything for them.”

Peru might avoid using her abilities even in the face of death, but did the Golden Palace know that?

Fear comes from the unknown.

Without insight into her mind, the Golden Lord’s forces would remain wary of her.

Frankly, they should be worried.

If they push her too far and her survival instincts kick in, she might end up fighting on our side whether she wants to or not.

“See? Peru is basically on our team! I’m so proud of myself for recruiting her first!”

“…I take it back. I can feel worse.”

Of course, there’s always a lower point.

It’s a shame that point is her opinion of me, but oh well. I can’t tell them the real reason I brought her.

Peru is my contingency plan.

To breach the Golden Lord’s core defenses, I’ll need her power as a last resort.

Her Unique Magic will be the ace up my sleeve.

The perfect plan.

- Rumble

As I chuckled to myself, the serpent rumbled violently, sending us tumbling inside.

Clutching a stalk of corn for support, I froze and listened.

The jets of multiple Wyverns roared as the winged homunculi surrounded us with copies of the Fireblastarch’s Juggernauts.

One of them wreathed in flames, approached and spoke to the Regressor.

“You survived only to come crawling back to die?”

Even when facing someone who rose from the dead, the Regressor remained unfazed.

“That’s my line. You attacked me without warning. Did you think I couldn’t fight back?”

The Fireblastarch tilted his head.

“…Odd. It sounds like you’re asking for a fight.”

“Can’t understand me? Guess that comes with being a homunculus.”

The Regressor shouted sharply and thrust Jizan embedded in the serpent’s crown forward.

The ground, believed by all to be steadfast and immovable, is, in fact, constantly shifting.

Observed on a large scale, it resembles a liquid in motion.

Earthweave, a power that realizes this concept, allows the manipulation of soil and stone at will.

It’s an impressive ability—but also impractical.

Unlike alchemy, Earthweave’s practical uses in daily life were limited to digging holes—a task that didn’t necessarily require Earthweave.

After all, anyone could use a shovel, and it was far easier to learn than mastering Earthweave.

Because of this and its relatively mundane applications, Earthweave was rarely passed down outside of the Order of Gaia.

Thankfully, this scarcity had kept one truth hidden: Earthweave was more than efficient at killing humans.

I felt my body lurch backward as the earth serpent fully stretched its massive body, launching itself at the Golden Palace.

Its colossal mass, crafted entirely from flesh of Mother Earth, moved at a speed that defied its composition.

It struck the Golden Palace with a force that shook the earth itself.

- Boom!

The ground roared. A cloud of dust billowed into the sky, clinging to the wings of the homunculi and disrupting their propulsion systems.

The homunculi in the air faltered and wavered.

Amidst the chaos, a single spiraling gust of wind surged upward, filled with dirt and sand.

The wind dissolved everything in its path: scent, moisture, even the earth itself.

The wind, which left no trace behind, was the epitome of freedom and dignity.

The swirling sandstorm climbed higher and higher, resembling a dragon ascending to the heavens.

Although humans across time and cultures have differed in perceptions, they all have references to dragons.

If one were to soar to the skies right now, it would look a lot like the tornado that gathered at the tip of the Regressor’s swords.

Aerith Blade Supreme: Serpent’s Ascent.

Clutching the swirling sandstorm like a sword, the Regressor roared towards the Golden Palace.

“If you want war so much then face me first!”

With her declaration complete, the Regressor swung.

The sound of the world splitting apart echoed in its wake.

It would be hard for anyone to guess that this display of power was nothing more than a diversion.

Sure, the earth serpent and the storm were threatening attacks, but they were insufficient against a supernatural calamity like the Golden Lord.

To truly confront such a force, strategy takes precedence over brute strength.

The Regressor knew this, which is why she attacked with everything she had—to draw attention and create an opening for us to advance.

“Let’s go!”

While she distracted them, we slipped into the Golden Palace unnoticed.

From here on, it was the thief’s time to act. I emerged from our cover to push forward, but–

“Foolish.”

Standing before me was a hulking figure clad entirely in steel armor.

The homunculus, encased in impenetrable metal, stared down at me with a cold gaze.

Ah, this is bad.

Normally, I could use my Mind Reading to decide whether to retreat or advance, but these homunculi block my thoughts.

Do regular thieves always operate under such uncertainty?

I suddenly have a newfound respect for them.

“The Golden Palace is the domain of the Golden Lord, our god. Do you truly believe you could intrude without notice?”

The armored figure seemed as impregnable as a fortress.

For all I knew, there might not even be a human inside.

But what does it matter?

The armor was moving.

What’s inside is irrelevant.

The only question that matters is whether that gauntlet can crush me—and the answer dictates how I respond.

With that in mind, I needed to show proper respect to this armored opponent.

Fortunately, I’d prepared accordingly, bringing someone suited for the task.

The armor spoke again.

“Did you truly believe that such a massive presence could sneak into the Palace, Progenitor?”

I kept silent, watching the figure.

“I refrained from speaking earlier because your assumption was so absurd it needed no response. Do you truly think I would bother hiding my presence from mere creations like you?”

From within the dark maw of the earth serpent, a crimson light glimmered.

Darkness, the absence of light, becomes a source of power for the Progenitor.

Like venom, the darkness seeped from the serpent’s mouth, spreading outward and swallowing the surroundings.

Amidst this deepening gloom, Tyr appeared, unhurried and composed, as though she were merely on a pleasant stroll.

The homunculi visibly bristled with caution.

None dared approach, relying only on their abilities to maintain distance.

They seemed wary of falling under Tyr’s control.

The armored figure addressed her.

“Are you alone?”

What was the true intent behind this question?

Was it to assess Tyr’s power, or to confirm whether there were others like me hidden nearby?

If it was the former, it was fine.

If the latter, things might get a little troubling.

I silently willed them to ignore me.

Damn it, Golden Lord. If you’re going to make humans, could you at least do it properly?

Why make them defective to the point that I can’t read their thoughts?

It’s incredibly inconvenient!

While I grumbled internally, Tyr casually rested her parasol on her shoulder and smiled faintly.

“Oh? You still have the leisure to count numbers in my presence?”

- Clank, clank.

From the distance, the sound of countless footsteps echoed.

It was as if a well-trained army was marching.

Yet, no visible signs of a battalion could be found—until the footsteps drew closer.

Finally, they appeared.

Emerging from the maw of the earth serpent were Dark Knights, clad in the armor crafted by the Golden Lord himself.

Ten, twenty, thirty… the knights kept coming.

These were not mere shadowy apparitions.

They were clad in solid armor, stolen from the Golden Lord’s arsenal, and imbued with Tyr’s power.

Though they were once insignificant, outfitting them with such armor elevated them into formidable foes.

In battle, equipment is everything.

“I alone am a legion. You’d best keep counting–there may be more yet to come.”

“The Sanguine Mark!”

The armor cursed aloud.

To bind and dominate through blood is the power of a vampire.

Such was the power of the vampires whose boundaries between the world and themselves were vague, it manifested as the power to divide themselves and dominate others.

After all, once, Tyr commanded legions numbering in the tens of thousands.

Now, her power had diminished, allowing her to command only around a hundred.

Still, that’s more than enough.

｢In the past, I would have commanded over ten thousand legions… But now, even with the power of Bloodcraft, there are only about a hundred. My power has clearly weakened. However…｣

“Now!”

The armored figure suddenly launched a punch with no warning, the motion more like a projectile than a strike.

The fist, along with the entire arm, hurtled toward Tyr’s face.

Tyr’s reflexes were not her strong suit.

Unlike the Regressor, she lacked the Heavenly Counter Domain and the vital survival instincts that came with mortality.

She only noticed the strike as it was about to land.

While the blow wouldn’t have been fatal, it was aimed at her head, which she instinctively resisted.

Tyr grasped the armored fist mid-strike.

- CRUNCH.

With an overwhelming force, Tyr tore the arm clean off, flinging it aside.

The overexertion momentarily caused her own arm to dislocate, but it healed itself in an instant.

Her physical strength was clearly too much for her body.

That’s why she couldn’t control her speed.

“… Why are you holding back? Surely this isn’t the greatest the Golden Lord has to offer.”

Tyr punched a hole through the armor and sure enough, there was no one inside.

But that didn’t matter, she imbued it with her darkness, drawing the Sanguine Mark with the blood of another homunculus and turning it into her loyal servant.

With her Dark Knights charging and the homunculi responding, a miniature war erupted within the Golden Palace.

But all of this was just another diversion.

｢Go now, Hu.｣

While Tyr drew all attention to herself, I crept forward, burrowing through the earth beneath the battlefield.

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