Chapter 78: Promise of Ruin

Ash stood at the top of the stairs, watching as the haze dispersed to reveal a glorious expanse of lava cradling the scattered mountainous islands. Its molten glow painted the black stone in shifting shades of crimson and gold.

Far below, at the bottom of the stairs, Cross slaughtered one monster after another.

Yet...

No drops were left behind, only intact corpses.

It was unlike what happened when a monster killed another monster or Ash killed one.

’Hmm...’

It was a curious phenomenon.

In a game world, it would be logical for the inhabitants to follow the same set of rules as the players. That they seemingly followed a different set made Ash question what kind of world he inhabited... and what role he occupied within it.

The question had lingered in the back of his mind since his arrival in the Fold of Existence, resurfacing only during rare moments of inaction.

"Is this a game-like reality, a reality made game-like, or a true game made real?"

The inconsistency between the rules governing the supposed NPCs and those governing the players only blurred the distinction further.

He had previously reasoned that it must be a game made real. The world defied conventional physics, and his very existence within it supported that conclusion. Yet the scene unfolding below suggested another possibility.

’I’m sure the answer will come one day.’

For now, all he could do was relegate the question to the back of his mind.

He watched Cross fight for a while, then returned to his mana sense training. Several hours passed before the faint sounds of fighting dwindled into near silence. Ash opened his eyes just in time to see Cross fly away into the distance, leaving behind a sea of corpses strewn across the molten-lit stone.

Not a single monster from the original horde remained, though others would eventually take their place.

The horde was unlikely to grow so large again. Marked by the [Scrawler’s Eye], Cross would draw most of the surrounding monsters after him.

Once Cross vanished beyond the islands, Ash stood and turned toward the grand entrance. Beyond its looming frame waited only a cavernous darkness, broken only by the distant flicker of silver Ash knew must have been Idolan’s gaze.

For a few moments, he remained motionless, weighing the risk. If his read on the king was wrong, his plans would go up in flames—or, more accurately, he would.

’But... using him would make everything cleaner.’

Ash stepped forward.

The instant he passed the threshold, pillars of fire surged upward to greet him.

After making his way through the cavernous hall, he once again found himself before the chained king of Evercrest.

Ash stopped beyond the reach of the flames encircling the throne.

"Idolan... I have a proposition for you."

The weary man smiled, fixing his silver eyes on Ash through the long strands of hair veiling his face.

A trace of curiosity stirred beneath his exhaustion.

"Oh? Let’s hear it."

Ash drew a deep breath.

"Cross may have told you — or perhaps you hear everything that occurs within this space — but... I have a bet with him."

One corner of the king’s mouth curled upward.

"That you will fight Winter alone... I’m aware. Though I’m also aware that you have no chance of victory."

’No chance, huh...’

Ash’s gaze sharpened.

"I don’t care for your acknowledgement or your assessment of my abilities... but you say that even after I bested your son?"

Idolan’s glare intensified. With Cross gone, there was a new fire smoldering within his silver eyes — a ruthless and unrelenting blaze of purpose.

"You bested my son at his worst."

Ash scoffed.

"I’m the reason he was at his worst."

Idolan settled against his restraints, the chains groaning beneath the subtle shift of his weight.

"So you say..."

’They really are related.’

Same quips and all.

’The old me would have never engaged in such indolent buffoonery.’

Rather than entertain the exchange any longer, Ash forcibly moved the conversation along.

"I ask only one simple thing... during my duel with Winter, unshackle yourself."

Idolan’s brow furrowed.

"...?"

Ash tilted his head.

"Why do you seem confused? Were my basic words difficult to understand? Even if it’s only for a moment, restore her power."

The king’s chains rattled as his posture stiffened.

"Are you mad? Cross explained why I’m chained, correct?"

Ash smiled.

"Of course."

"You’re an arrogant thing, that’s for sure. You already have no chance against Winter in her current state. What chance do you think you have against Winter at full strength?"

Ash clicked his tongue.

"I’m aware I cannot defeat her by normal means, which is why I am requesting this of you."

Suspicion crept into Idolan’s expression.

"Oh...? Then why?"

"Because I made a promise."

Idolan rose from his throne, pulling the chains taut. A metallic groan echoed throughout the chamber as his scars began to glow beneath his skin.

"The promise to save my daughter?"

"Correct."

Pure, unadulterated confusion crossed the king’s face. Then his head tipped back, and booming laughter rolled through the hall.

"For a moment there, the look on your face had me convinced you truly possessed some remarkable plan! I see now that this was nothing more than a strange joke! Well done, jester, you granted me a good laugh! Bahaha!"

Ash scowled.

"Your daughter... wished for ruin. If that is still her will, I’ll grant it. At the very least, I’ll deny Winter the chance to use her as she wishes."

The king’s laughter died at once. The last echoes faded into the cavern as his eyes widened with realization.

"Wait... surely you don’t mean—"

"That is one way I’m prepared for it to end — unless her will has changed. After all, I’m nothing like Cross. I will not force a future upon someone and call it the fulfillment of their wish."

’If I hadn’t made a promise, I’d do whatever was in accordance with my will, and my will alone. But because I have...’

Ash held the king’s gaze without wavering.

"I have a duty to see it through to the end. So, Idolan, will you grant my request?"

The king studied him in silence. The glow beneath his scars slowly dimmed, and the tension in his chains eased before he released a heavy sigh.

"I still don’t entirely understand you or the future you foresee, but if it truly comes to pass, I can die with a smile."

Ash huffed.

"You know my death is necessary for your future, yet you make such a bold claim to my face."

Idolan raised one hand to his head and swept back his hair, fully revealing the hard glint in his silver eyes.

"I have earned the strength to support my arrogance. Even if you succeed through petty tricks against Winter, there’s no trick that will save you from me."

Ash’s lips curled faintly.

"But I have many I could use against Cross."

Idolan’s expression darkened, though a reluctant hint of amusement touched his voice.

"That you do..."

With that, their brief discussion came to an end.

Ash turned and retraced his path through the hall. The pillars of fire sank behind him as he crossed the threshold, surrendering the chamber to darkness once more.

Eventually, he settled beneath the shadow of the nearest fallen chain, its immense silhouette stretching across the stone beneath the lava’s distant glow. There, he closed his eyes.

It would be the last time he slept within the instance.