There were limited ways to enter the Imperial Abyss in the game. One could either gain entry by receiving recognition for accomplishments while the Emperor was still alive, or when the Emperor’s lineage remained intact after defeating Enoa Blackwind, who had infiltrated the Empire. Ultimately, apart from the Emperor, the Abyss was a place that could only be accessed later in the game. There were some items that could be used until the ending.
I looked at the large scythe displayed in front of me. It was a weapon named “Scythe of the Great One.” It had an option that increased the attack range by 40% and the damage increased proportionally based on the player’s current health. Now that it had become reality, I couldn’t know how it had been implemented.
“For now, weapons like swords and spears are unnecessary.”
I had the solid body of Radiata, a gift from Irene. It was a weapon that received boosts to strength, regeneration, and energy when fed blood. It wasn’t an elite grade weapon, but with this kind of spec, it would last until the ending. Moreover, I had no intention of using any weapon forms other than a sword. I had trained in swordsmanship for 11 years, after all; I hadn’t practiced anything else. While I could learn if I wanted to, it wouldn’t be efficient regardless. Just as I was about to turn my steps elsewhere, the Emperor, who had followed me, spoke up.
“Oh, the Scythe of Offering.”
“Your Majesty, do you know what kind of weapon this large scythe is?”
“It is a marvelous weapon whose blade grows larger with every swing. They say the blood spilled clings to the body and aids movement.”
With a trembling heart, I asked the Emperor.
“Do you happen to know the abilities of all the weapons here?”
“I do not know them all. However, I believe I can discern what weapon you are looking for.”
What? So, he knows everything.
“May I ask you?”
“That would be acceptable.”
With the Emperor’s help, I moved on to admire various weapons. There were not just large weapons but also accessories, potions, and spell books. I had seen such items in the game at least once, but seeing them like this in reality was refreshing.
In the end, I narrowed down my choices to five items. Most of it was determined by the options in the game and the Emperor’s explanations accompanying me. I mainly focused on accessories and armor.
“Rosary of the Demon Beast Slayer”
An accessory that increases physical damage by 35% against all enemies. Against demon beasts, it increases physical damage by an additional 35%. It does not increase physical damage against fusion-type targets.
“Ghost of a Thousand Threads”
An armor that has a 30% chance to create a ghost clone upon taking damage. Each clone reduces the damage taken by 7%. Up to 5 clones can be created, reducing damage by a total of 35%.
“Eye of the Corrupted Saint”
An accessory that increases critical hit probability by 80%. In reality, critical hits did not simply multiply damage out of probability when executing the same attack. It visually revealed the enemy’s weaknesses, but attacking them held no significance if not targeted.
“Falling Star Chain”
An accessory that reduces received physical damage by 60%. However, it increases fall damage by 800%, and the accessory gets destroyed upon falling.
“Ring of the Goddess of Corruption”
An accessory that restores 9% health upon defeating an enemy and provides immunity to all poisons. Enemies in the Twilight Alliance area are enhanced and become more vulnerable to spells.
Out of the five, excluding one, all were accessories. This was because armor was treated as consumables, while accessories had a lower chance of getting damaged. One of the most frequently replaced equipment in the Northern Front was armor. A few attacks from demon beasts could easily wear it down.
After some brief consideration, I chose two items. The Rosary of the Demon Beast Slayer and the Ring of the Goddess of Corruption. The reasons were simple.
A 70% increase in physical damage and immunity to all toxins in this world. And restoring 9% health upon defeating an enemy. If I had just these three options, I would be invincible; could I really resist?
“All the items you chose are for fighting demon beasts… I have understood your choices.”
The glass container, which had been tightly sealed, opened. Just because the glass container opened didn’t mean that a tremendous aura or overwhelming atmosphere was generated.
They simply looked like ordinary rings and rosaries. They appeared luxurious, yet their remarkably mundane nature felt oddly strange. Grabbing them didn’t lead to a dramatic change—
—nothing happened. Noticing my reaction, the Emperor chuckled softly and replied.
“They only exhibit their performance when worn correctly and faced with demon beasts. If there are no demon beasts before you, they will not react properly either.”
Could it be that the rosary reacts to demon beasts? The increased damage likely meant that strength boosts occur when facing them.
“Perhaps it could be used as a radar.”
Demon beasts often wandered openly, but some entities moved stealthily. A great demon beast that had a semi-transparent body during the Radiata subjugation was a prime example. I hung the rosary around my neck and slipped the ring onto my index finger. At that moment, thick veins subdermally bulged out and disappeared.
I felt a significant boost in physical spec. This augmentation effect would double against monsters. My pectorals swelled to the point of almost bursting as I clenched and opened my fists to test my strength. Suddenly, the Emperor spoke up.
“When the first demon beast was defeated, the threat of monsters and demon beasts in the North decreased significantly. This was all thanks to you.”
“It is due to the Emperor’s command.”
The Emperor let out a hearty laugh.
“Me? No, no. I believe we should clarify this. This was all your achievement. Therefore, I have a question: do you find those who have learned the Energy Accumulation Technique to be useless now?”
At that moment, a chill ran down my spine.
“Do you consider them rusty swords?”
The Emperor’s footsteps echoed as she wandered the Abyss. Her low, profound voice became an echo. The sound of her tapping against the glass echoed rhythmically.
“Old, broken swords, which have become so damaged that they now hurt their own wielder. Is that what you think?”
Demonization. The Emperor was subtly touching upon the topic of demonization. From this point, it was a sensitive matter. This was one of the Empire’s deadly secrets that Enoa would grasp someday.
The Energy Accumulation Technique, a cruel technique that turns users into demon beasts. However, the side effects of the technique were not known from the beginning. The speed at which those who learned the technique turned into monsters was slower than the rate at which they died on the front lines. But as time passed, the technique became standardized, and once aura users emerged, the situation changed. The speed of becoming a monster began to surpass the rate of dying.
A knight who retired from the front lines became a demon beast. The first instance of demonization within the Academy caused massive repercussions.
The side effects of a power meant to protect humanity actually turning humans into monsters. Faced with the first demonization incident, the Emperor made a bold decision.
He decided to cover up all the incidents that occurred within the Academy. He began to silence the cadets who witnessed the events firsthand and monitor retired soldiers. If necessary, he would not hesitate to resort to assassination. The same applied to aura users. Assassinating individuals who possessed powers equivalent to great demon beasts was impossible even for the Imperial family. Thus, the Emperor publicly proclaimed the falsehood that the first demon beast would mutate humans into demon beasts.
For the majority of aura users undergoing demonization, there were only two choices. Either to seek a solution for demonization but fail and ultimately take their own life, or to go north and defeat the first demon beast to stop it. This was precisely why there were so many human-shaped great demon beasts in the North. They had been forced to go north for 400 years.
This secret became known to the public through Enoa Blackwind shortly after the Northern Front collapsed, when it became difficult to cover up the conspiracy. Those who had learned the Energy Accumulation Technique obviously despaired, and Enoa led these individuals to the Red Star. It was a terrible situation, but that was the game setting.
“…I thought the way to wield a sword was wrong.”
“Is that the reason you created and spread a technique called the Wave Device?”
“Yes. I believed that if we only changed how we wielded the sword… it wouldn’t break.”
“Oh, now I understand why you acted the way you did.”
The Emperor fell silent for a moment, lightly dismissing the knowledge I possessed.
“However, contrary to your concerns, it has been confirmed that demonization only manifests in the dead.”
“…?”
“Moreover, not all the dead become monsters. It uniquely manifests only in those who were killed by the first demon beast.”
?
“I assure you. I have confirmed this fact.”
What?
