Chapter 288: Ch 287: Shaking one’s resolve

[You don’t have sufficient power. Please complete the quest given by world magic in order to proceed.]

The clear words tried to stop Kael from activating his magic, but for the first time, he ignored them and continued to pour his magic into the spell he had cast.

He knew that it was foolish of him to hope that his spell alone would be able to change the tides of the war that even the world magic and other gods had not been able to do until now.

But he believed in himself and his magic. If this was the only way forward for him, then he was going to do his best in order to clear the way.

[Your magic power is not sufficient. You have started to suffer a backlash. Soon, your body won’t be able to handle it.]

[This shall be your last warning. Stop using magic of this caliber and follow the instructions of the world magic.]

The same warning repeated in front of Kael’s eyes, and he let out a smile as soon as he read it.

He wanted to follow the warning, and he knew that if he did, then this pain trying to tear him apart would go away.

But the risk involved was too big, and he did not want to even think about what would happen if he gave up now. He had already formed the base of his spell. Now, it only needed filling up.

"Who do you think I am? I am Grand Master Kael, the youngest Grand Master this world has ever seen. And I am going to show this world that it was not a mistake."

Kael declared as his magic kept getting sucked out of his body. It was beginning to hurt now, but the circle was nowhere close to full.

"Tsk."

The task of this magnitude was never considered to be taken up alone, and there was nothing in this world that had enough magic to cast a spell this big.

So Kael decided to take another gamble. He decided to use his body as a furnace and purify the surrounding mana in order to fuel this spell.

[Warning: Your body cannot handle the foreign mana processing. It has started to break down. Time until body ceases functioning: 4 hours.]

The world magic was likely right when it told Kael that he only had 4 hours left to live and function. But his body sure felt like it would stop functioning as soon as he released the magic.

So he knew that he could not release this magic, no matter what. He had to keep going for the sake of these people and this magic.

"This will be the end. I am going to do what no one else has been able to until now—save this world. This will be my duty as well as my legacy."

Kael did not believe that he was the reincarnation of the follower that the goddess lost, nor did he believe that it was his fault this was all happening.

It’s just...that some people he knew and felt responsible for made stupid choices in life, and as their guardian, it was his duty to undo what had already happened. And if it required a little sacrifice from him, then he was willing to make it.

The spell started to work, and the corruption started to get sucked inside the magic circle in front of him. Soon, it would be sent to a world without any magic and disappear because it would have neither a foundation nor a source to maintain its form.

Kael’s plan was working when he felt a familiar magical signature heading toward him.

The goddess who started this all was finally here, and she was going to strike Kael down. If...no, once she did that, his spell would take his life and change into the next step.

And then, it would be a race against time to see whether she could stop it or if it would engulf her. But if she did not strike Kael, then he would complete this spell and pay with his life.

’No matter what, I am going to lose this life. I just hope my next one is much more peaceful compared to this life.’

The door opened, and the goddess finally stepped inside the magical circle. Her eyes widened as she looked at all this power and then at Kael. Her lips were pulled together in a frown, and she finally opened her mouth to command Kael.

"Cease this foolishness at once and drop this magic circle. I shall only tell you this once. As your merciful goddess, I am willing to overlook your actions this one time-"

"Please, there is no need to overlook my actions. I am doing this because I want to, not because I want validation from you. So if you have a problem-"

The goddess’s temper flared at Kael’s audacity, and she struck him down using her magic. Kael could see her eyes lighting up with anger as she walked over to him.

"How dare you speak to me like this. It seems like you no longer wish to keep living. But your soul belongs to me. Very well, I shall clean this body for you and put you into a more deserving one. I will make sure you won’t be able to leave me."

The goddess raised her hand, and her power formed energy spikes before they rushed toward Kael. They collided with the barrier and were stopped, but the goddess did not look bothered.

She continued to attack Kael even if she was blocked.

"You are my good follower and just as strong as I recalled. However, there is no longer a need to be stubborn like this. I am going to take you back and keep you in a place where no one else but me will be able to see you. Don’t you want the same?"

The goddess asked in a slightly concerned voice. She was likely getting agitated at Kael’s lack of action.

But Kael knew that he could not give in and fall here. The fate of the world rested on his shoulders now.

"Looks like we are having a disagreement. This was not how I wanted our relationship to go. You are leaving me with no choice but to use force at this rate."

The goddess told Kael with a sigh, but he did not fall for her tricks. He waited to counter whatever she was going to throw at him while keeping an eye on the spell behind him at the same time.

The goddess snapped her fingers, and the surroundings started to dull. Then, the magic beside her opened a portal, and familiar figures started to step out.

"Teacher, where are you going? What are you doing? You should come back to my side."

Seraphina called out immediately, but her eyes looked dark and possessed.

She was not the only one calling out to Kael. He could hear Lyra, Elena, and Iris calling out to him with similar words.

"Master, come here!"

"Kael, it’s time to go home. You promised you would come with me."

"Mother, are you abandoning me?"

The voices were like sharp stabs to Kael’s ears, and they tried to lower his desire to use the world magic.

He wanted to deny it and think of the bodies in front of him as illusions that the goddess had conjured up to shake his faith and resolve.

But he could tell that these were the real bodies of the people that he knew. And that thought hurt more than he could care to admit.

"Master, do you want me to break this barrier down for you? If it is trapping you inside, then I can get you out."

Lyra told him as she tried to scratch the barrier with her claw. It was of no use, and all she was doing was injuring her hand by doing this, but she did not give up.

And unfortunately, she was not the only one trying to break the barrier down. The others were trying to get to him as well.

They were trying to shake his resolve, and Kael was feeling tender-hearted.

He did not drop the barrier, but he did feel like he was close to giving up when faced with this issue.

"See, they want you to come back as well. They have already accepted that you belong with us. Now, drop the barrier and come here-"

A bright divine light filled the room before it forced the females away. Even Kael had to close his eyes at the bright light before he sensed that someone stood in front of him, blocking him from the view of the goddess and the others.

"I am afraid I cannot allow you to get to Kael so easily."

Leon was finally here, and he looked tired. Despite that, he remained firmly rooted in front of Kael to act as his knight.

Kael felt a sense of relief at Leon’s arrival, but the goddess did not look happy at being interrupted.