Chapter 82

The dragon of Despair, once brimming with composure, now stood aghast.

His smile had vanished.

Eyes wide with fright, he trembled like a terrified beast.

It meant the dragon of Despair was utterly convinced that Park Chan-woo was none other than Dragon God Sephiro.

‘Why would Lord Sephiro be in a place like this…!’

Ataraxia was in a state of panic.

Though the man before him looked human, there was no doubt he was Sephiro.

There was no way he had been mistaken.

No way it was a misunderstanding.

There were simply too many reasons for Ataraxia to believe Park Chan-woo was Sephiro.

‘He nullified my magic and [Dragon Tongue] without a chant. Completely erased his presence. No, this isn’t just concealment—this is [Absolute Magic]. A flawless state of [Nonexistent]!’

It was possible to nullify spells.

But no mere human could erase the [Dragon Tongue] of Despair.

[Dragon Tongue] was a fundamental magic unique to dragons.

Fundamental magic was not even part of the hierarchy of spells—it was more akin to divine authority.

Such authority could not be countered by regular magic.

At the very least, it required magic of [Wish]-level or higher.

Above all else—

…A human could never wield [Absolute Magic].

Ataraxia was a dragon, a sovereign of magic.

A [Great Dragon of Despair], and a being recognized among dragons as a formidable force.

He could say with certainty: what Park Chan-woo had displayed was [Absolute Magic] capable of erasing existence itself.

Magic so supreme that even creators like Ahheta, the Moon’s Master, would fail to detect it.

‘[Nonexistent]—Lord Sephiro often used this Absolute Magic.’

Only dragons of Great Dragon-class or higher knew this.

Anything concerning the [Absolute Magic] wielded by Dragon God Sephiro was kept strictly confidential.

Even Ataraxia only knew of three.

And one of them was [Nonexistent]. (T/N: Ohh, so Chanwoo got lucky with this ‘debuff’.)

But that wasn’t the only reason.

If this alone had led him to believe it was Sephiro, it would have been a shallow conclusion.

Dragon God Sephiro was the pinnacle.

A singular god beyond the ultimate—a perfect and absolute lord of dragons.

‘So that’s how he did it. Conquering Arrogance, awakening [Wish]—it all makes sense now!’

Ahh!

The full picture finally came together.

The name of Arrogance that neither the Twelve Species nor the Abyss had ever conquered—

He had wondered who the human was that achieved it.

……If it had been Dragon God Sephiro himself, of course it would’ve been possible.

Indeed, Adora—nurtured by the Black Witch to become the [Witch of Death] and future [Lord of Arrogance]—might’ve piqued Sephiro’s curiosity.

‘…He did have a phase where he enjoyed filling out the [Mystery Codex].’

It was a well-known story among dragons.

Dragon God Sephiro once wandered the worlds, collecting rare treasures to complete his [Mystery Codex].

Taking the [Star of Arrogance] likely followed that same logic.

He had probably targeted it from the beginning to add it to his collection.

Look at it.

Doesn’t everything align perfectly?

Who else but Sephiro could make all of this possible?

‘Still, all of that pales in comparison to that one [Final Magic].’

The [Final Magic].

The very name sent Ataraxia into a frenzy.

Slowly, Ataraxia turned his gaze to behind Park Chan-woo.

‘…I see it. I feel it. That death looming just behind him. That monster of annihilation that destroys everything.’

At the moment he revealed himself—

The instant he shattered [Nonexistent] and came into being—

Ataraxia had clearly seen it.

The very embodiment of death, like an unavoidable fate.

The reaper of annihilation that burned all to nothingness!

He had shuddered the moment he saw it.

That was why Ataraxia had been so horrified.

All of the [Absolute Magic] was flowing from that being—death incarnate.

Most likely, it was Sephiro’s heart.

Only the heart of the great Dragon God could make such things possible.

And before that heart—before the very death incarnate—was time itself, inscribed.

512 : 21 : 36 : 40
512 : 21 : 36 : 39
512 : 21 : 36 : 38
…….

The numbers ticked down, second by second.

Of course, this was the time remaining on the [Terminal] status ailment.

But Ataraxia believed it was the countdown until the [Final Magic] activated.

‘I’ve heard of it before. That Lord Sephiro surpassed even Absolute Magic. That he completed a spell—the [Final Magic]—which uses his heart to return everything to pre-existence, a song of annihilation…!’

What else could that time possibly signify?

The dragon sovereign and god had completed the [End].

The only problem was—why in the form of a human?

At first, he’d thought it was all a game.

He’d been excited, believing Sephiro had completed the [Final Magic].

‘Ah…!’

And then he realized—

……The mistake he had made.

An enormous, unforgivable mistake.

He had acted disgracefully in front of Dragon God Sephiro.

Because Sephiro was not a being that dragons could easily meet—even those of the same kind.

Sephiro kept only those who piqued his interest near him.

He paid no attention to the countless dragons who followed him.

In truth, dragons worshipped Sephiro of their own accord.

Even Ataraxia had only seen him once long ago—from a great distance.

Even a [Great Dragon of Despair] could not meet him.

Still, all dragons revered Dragon God Sephiro.

Even without seeing him, even without approaching him, they were satisfied just to worship such a magnificent being from afar.

…That’s why he had become so excited without realizing.

Because there would never be another moment like this—to see Sephiro up close.

Even the reason the Clan of Despair, including Ataraxia, sought war was to gain Sephiro’s attention and approval.

That was the only reason.

And it was reason enough.

“Why is the Clan of Despair here?”

It happened then.

From his lips came a voice cold and devoid of emotion.

Zzzrrr…

Ataraxia felt a chill run down his spine.

Sephiro recognized him.

In his human form, he had asked why a member of the Clan of Despair had appeared in the [Second Night].

……This was bad.

If Sephiro chose to condemn them, the Clan of Despair would be annihilated—it was only a matter of time.

Yet, strangely enough, a curious feeling stirred in his chest.

The Dragon God knew the Clan of Despair.

A being who remembered nothing beyond what intrigued him… remembered them.

Thud!

Ataraxia immediately dropped to his knees.

He bowed his head low and stared only at the ground.

He didn’t even dare to meet his gaze.

What was he supposed to do?

‘I must tell the truth.’

And yet, the words would not come.

How could he possibly say he had come here under the Black Witch’s orders?

“To retrieve [Wish] and the [Star of Arrogance]… sent by the Black Witch?”

“……!!!”

As expected, he saw right through it all.

Deceiving Sephiro had never been possible to begin with.

He clearly knew everything—that Ataraxia had come here as a servant of the Black Witch.

“Then die.”

“Yes… please kill me!”

Sephiro—

No, Park Chan-woo spoke.

At this moment, Park Chan-woo was doing everything he could to imitate Sephiro.

The dragon before him had been completely fooled.

Perhaps it was the effects of [Nonexistent] and the erasure of [Dragon Tongue] that struck such a chord.

That’s why he now believed Park Chan-woo to be the real [Dragon God].

‘I can’t allow even a speck of doubt.’

Still, even if he was mistaken, he was still a dragon.

If even the slightest doubt arose that he wasn’t Sephiro, he would stop at nothing to confirm it.

The moment this deception was exposed—everything would be over.

But if it wasn’t exposed—if he could make the dragon believe beyond all doubt…

‘Then I might be able to use him.’

Even the creators of the Abyss treated dragons with caution.

The benefits of using such a being would be immeasurable.

‘…I’ll mimic the Sephiro I experienced.’

And so, Park Chan-woo began to act.

Slothful, arrogant, and cold—the attitude of a great being.

But posture alone wasn’t enough.

The dragon before him was a monster he couldn’t kill even if he wanted to.

So he had to go one step further.

This was the turning point.

He had to show something only Sephiro could do—

A miracle no one else could reproduce.

Only then would the dragon never even consider doubting.

Only then could he turn this crisis into opportunity!

Tap—

Park Chan-woo stepped forward.

He soon stood beside Lee Hyuk-soo, extended his hand, and spoke.

“Give me your sword.”

“……?”

Lee Hyuk-soo blinked.

He couldn’t begin to grasp what was going on.

After all, the magician who had attacked him earlier was now being called ‘Sephiro’ by the dragon.

And then that same dragon had rambled incoherently before dropping to his knees.

What exactly was the relationship between the two?

What was the prophet’s real identity?

He understood none of it.

And now the prophet had come closer and asked for his sword.

But apart from [Coins], nothing could be transferred to another in the Abyss.

If you handed something over, it would simply vanish.

Surely the prophet knew this basic truth… and yet he still asked for the sword?

‘The Immortal King’s Greatsword?’

……Besides, the only weapon Lee Hyuk-soo possessed was the [Immortal King’s Greatsword].

A blade inscribed with the Immortal King’s name, the very thing that allowed Lee Hyuk-soo to use the Immortal King’s magic.

If he lost that sword, he would no longer be able to use [Shadow Asphyxiation] or any of the Immortal King’s spells.

Yet here he was, suddenly being asked to hand over this priceless artifact?

Their eyes met—and Park Chan-woo gave a slight nod.

Even if he was a benefactor… wasn’t this crossing a line?

“……Alright.”

But Lee Hyuk-soo didn’t hesitate for long.

He didn’t understand what was happening, but if the prophet was acting, there had to be a reason.

Even if he lost the sword, it wouldn’t matter that much.

Lee Hyuk-soo extended the greatsword.

Thud.

Park Chan-woo calmly took hold of it.

And in that moment—

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

Both Ataraxia and Lee Hyuk-soo wore expressions of utter shock.

……Because Park Chan-woo was holding the [Immortal King’s Greatsword] without issue.

The sword hadn’t vanished.

Despite passing from Lee Hyuk-soo’s hand to Park Chan-woo’s, it remained intact.

But [Non-transferable] was an absolute law of the Abyss.

Even the Great Nine Lords could not violate it.

And now, that absolute law had been broken.

Park Chan-woo had shattered it himself.

“Ahh, of course…!”

Ataraxia cried out again, entranced.

Of course—it was Sephiro.

Before the Dragon God, no rule held meaning!

Of course, the true cause of this miracle lay elsewhere.

This was no miracle.

When Park Chan-woo conquered the [Tower of Arrogance], he had acquired the [Magic Swordsman] class and two [Hidden Traits].

One was [Eternal Magic], which destroyed the fundamental magic of species. (T/N: I’m changing Annihilation Magic to Eternal Magic moving forward.)

And the other—

[Hidden Trait ‘Eternal Sword’ has activated!]