Chapter 88: Touching the Great Bell of Creation

Blaze looked straight into the Bat Giant’s eyes; those blood-red eyes were diffusing. He had pierced through that massive heart. Belcimann, who had released all the Filthy Offspring, was going to die at any moment. This sinister, ambitious, frenzied, and evil Deputy Lord, who symbolized the darkness of Arcadia, died on the seat he had vainly attempted to usurp from his older brother.

This seemed like a standard turn of events, but why was it so "simple"? After the [Blood River] was entirely released, aside from shouting a few words, Belcimann put up almost no decent counterattack. It was as if he had deliberately provoked the Foreigners.

Blaze pulled his arm out and took a step back. The Bat Giant on the throne collapsed with a loud crash, leaving behind only a massive cluster of Soul Flame and the rippling Silver liquid at the center of the flame.

Blaze subconsciously reached out toward the Soul Flame. In an instant, the flame was broken. The broken fragments of the flame, carrying drops of Silver liquid, drifted toward the sky through the cracks in the King’s Chamber. They floated toward the Foreigners in Lai Kaion City and the Black Witches in the Sacrificial Stone Forest. Greenland, who was hanging above the King’s Chamber, received one as well. Meanwhile, a massive Silver flame lingered in front of Blaze before slowly entering his body. The fragments of the soul flowed into him.

...

They were atavistic Silver twins. Unlike their blood relatives who were deformed by inbreeding, they were as handsome as the former Silver Prince. Especially the older twin brother—brave and fearless, he was like the Silver King reincarnated. Everyone who laid eyes on him believed he was the omen that the Arcadians’ long night would end. He thought so too, but that didn’t mean he would let his brother search for a way to save the Arcadians all alone. This task was simply too difficult for his brother; the man was just too simple-minded. When he discovered the truth behind the Curse of the Arcadians, he was ecstatic. Given enough time, the two brothers would surely bring a true future to the Arcadians.

However, just like any other Arcadian, his brother fell in love with a girl and was gradually devoured by his bestial nature. He grew worse by the day. He still remembered the day his brother’s child was born. That day was also the day of his own downfall. He bid his brother farewell. After making all the arrangements for his brother’s plans, he lost his sense of self. By the time he regained consciousness, his mouth was filled with the taste of his brother. He had transformed into the body of a sinner. He had found a way to save the Arcadians, while his brother had only found a way to save *him*.

He didn’t have much time for sentimentality, because his mind and his chest were completely stuffed with thoughts of how to save Arcadia. Just as his brother had traded his Life to save him, he would use everything he had to save Arcadia. He couldn’t rest for even a moment. If he stopped, he would be forced to recall that night. He just hadn’t expected the night to be so endlessly long. He struggled through the endless dark night, searching for any possibility to execute his plan, until the arrival of the visitors from the Otherworld. The Foreigners became the final puzzle piece needed to complete his plan.

The turning point was the transformation of the Beastmen, a race historically defined by eternal barbarism and violence. After a Foreigner defeated the evil Beastman Priest, the bell of creation chimed, and the rules of the world changed. Foreigners were born among the Beastmen. Even though their numbers were small, every Kingdom and territory recognized the existence of Beastmen because of this, treating them as neutral or even friendly entities. He laughed. After surviving on his brother’s flesh and blood, he had never laughed so joyously. He didn’t know if the bell of creation would be willing to chime for a despicable wretch like him, so he decided to use despicable means to touch the bell of creation. This would be a massive gamble, and he would bet everything he had.

For this, there needed to be a ruthless, vicious, and utterly detestable enemy—and that enemy would be himself. For this, he needed a way to make the Foreigners willingly stand on the side of the Arcadians, manufacturing the outcome where [Foreigners would be born as Arcadians]. The only thing this body, which survived on his brother’s blood, could do was to manufacture that very result. And for that, he was forced to slowly devour the flesh and blood of the children. They smiled as they offered up their Life, saying that their ugly appearances should end along with Arcadia’s dark night. His tears had long since run dry; his blood had taken their place. In the end, all he needed to do was die by the hands of a Foreigner. Fortunately, that wasn’t difficult.

He initiated the Witch Hunting, played the role of an ambitious uncle, subtly revealed the truth of the Arcadians to the Foreigners, and sat in the King’s Chamber waiting for the Foreigners to come and kill him in Anger. But what he received in return was the excited swing of the Foreigners’ butcher knives. He saw them competing with one another, resorting to any means necessary. The Foreigners, blinded by rewards and rankings, slaughtered ruthlessly. He wondered what he should do, if the Foreigners had no hearts, and if he had failed. Terrified and panicked, he hid in the King’s Chamber until his children sacrificed their own flesh and blood, telling him through their actions that there was no turning back. His children—the children who were treated as Monsters because of their appearances.

When the Beastman Foreigner with 1.5 million supporters appeared, he was overjoyed. This was simply destiny! As long as this one person expressed goodwill toward the Arcadians, it would be equivalent to receiving the goodwill of 1.5 million Foreigners. He began shouting the most vicious things he could think of—words that made him sick to his stomach—and committed acts that tore his own heart apart. He roared, pleading for the Beastman Foreigner’s pity toward the Arcadians’ suffering.

However, the Beastman Foreigner before him was far colder than the rest, acting like an efficient combat machine. He had almost fallen into despair. That was until the other Foreigners appeared—those who had traveled thousands of miles just to defeat him, the primary culprit. He finally heard the furious curses of the Foreigners, crying out in Anger on behalf of the Arcadians’ suffering. He finally saw the Foreigners throwing themselves into danger without hesitation to protect the Arcadians. At last, the only thing left for him to do was to embrace death.

...

"Blaze!"

The doors of the King’s Chamber opened, and Audrey ran in anxiously, leading Herbie by the hand. Blaze opened his mouth, but his throat couldn’t produce a single sound.

"Au... Audrey, he... your uncle, he... Bel..."

Blaze fell into a daze for a moment as a young boy’s "SHH—" echoed in his ears. He turned his head. The young version of Belcimann was standing in the Sunshine streaming into the King’s Chamber. The silver-haired boy, with tears in his eyes, raised a finger and pressed it against his smiling lips. In his other hand, the boy gripped an ethereal rope.

[DONG—DONG—DONG—]

[World Quest: Arcadia’s Secret Part 1 / Completed]

[Optional Race Added: Arcadians]

Belcimann fell to his knees, throwing his arms open toward the Sun in the sky, tears streaming down his face endlessly.

"Ah, ahhh, ahhhh!

"Brother, the Arcadians are saved! The Arcadians are saved!

"The Sun has finally risen!

"The night is finally ending!"