Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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The sea, split by the Breath, began to merge back together over time. Monsters that had either been frozen by Dragon’s Pier or killed by the Breath’s impact started to be swept away by the waves.

“Swoosh!”

The black seawater that had been scattered into the sky fell like raindrops. Amidst the falling rain, Runox’s voice could be heard.

“What in the world… was that just now?”

I felt Runox’s gaze turning toward me. The sharp, shimmering ice spear had not disappeared, but its tip seemed to lose direction and trembled weakly.

“Are you… really a human…?”

As Runox’s question drifted away, a massive amount of mana flooded into my overheated body. Even after expelling all the mana inside, the four circles continued to spin, indicating that the mana was recovering at a swift pace.

If only I had a bit more time, I felt I could unleash the Breath I had just expunged once more.

I did not answer Runox’s question, as I could not define myself as human either. Having absorbed dragon mana and become partially monsterified, could I really call myself a human now?

A slight doubt crossed my mind, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.

The sea, once again merging into one, began to churn violently and move faster. The presence of a giant creature sensed beneath the inky waters was undoubtedly that of the Sea God.

“This is…”

“I think it’s best we run…”

Runox’s face paled as he too seemed to sense the Sea God’s presence. The feeling was different from when we spotted it from a distance. While Runox had spoken of the Sea God’s demise back at Dawn Castle, he could not dare to utter a word now.

An overwhelming presence. It felt suffocating, even more so than when I faced the dragon’s will. Despite being much stronger than at that time, that thought did not change.

The instinct that arose from receiving dragon mana whispered to me: victory was not guaranteed. For now, it was wise to escape this place.

“Grumble!”

Did I notice the Sea God rising from the depths of the black sea? The fishman monsters, frozen like ice by Dragon’s Pier, began to move once more.

Their movements were still awkward, as their muscles had not completely relaxed, but as thousands of monsters began converging, there was no choice but to flee.

Monsters alone could be dealt with. But with the Sea God rising from below, defeat was assured. I shouted, riding on the back of the Nightmare.

“Run!”

“Grrr!”

The Nightmare surged forth like a black gale. Picking up speed rapidly, the distance between Runox and me widened significantly. At this rate, Runox would be left behind. He was running fast too, but the rising seawater was coming at an even quicker pace.

‘Quick, help me out!’

I summoned the spirit that always hovered nearby. The tiny breeze that gathered onto my palm flew off towards Runox, lending him its power.

“Whoosh!”

“W-what!”

“Don’t panic! Just follow the wind!”

“H-huh… What the heck is this…?”

Runox was usually quite skilled. His flustered expression vanished in an instant, replaced by determination as his body glided in sync with the wind, keeping pace with the Nightmare.

“I think I might have poked a hornet’s nest…”

“…What are you saying, you’re the one who started it.”

As Runox muttered that, he reached behind him. The mana that gathered in his hand manifested into a chilling ice spear that intercepted the monsters charging across the waves.

I too wouldn’t be idle. Manipulating the Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword with mana, I also drew out the short bow slung over my shoulder and began shooting Crystal Stone Arrows.

In just a second, I had killed more than ten monsters, yet the army of fishmen riding the black waves showed no signs of thinning.

And then, at that moment, the black sea surged violently, revealing the form of a gigantic being.

“ROAAAAAR!”

The emergence of its body sent the black seawater crashing about as if an earthquake had struck. Beyond the tidal wave that rose like a tsunami, intense eyes shone forth.

“Grah…!”

Runox, running while moaning in mental agony as he merely looked, staggered on the verge of collapse but was saved from falling thanks to the wind spirit’s support.

Just then, as the black curtain that hid me from the Sea God sank due to gravity, realization struck. The statue of the Sea God erected in the central city of Dawn Castle was not a complete depiction of him.

It couldn’t be helped. A regular stonecutter would surely go mad facing the true form of the Sea God.

The appearance of the god was changing in real-time. Long, outstretched tentacles became human hands, then human heads, and then transformed back into squid-like tentacles. The long-slit eyes remained unchanged, yet the rest of the body shifted continuously with each moment of recognition.

-Formless Fear

That was the name that came to mind the moment I faced him. A gaze filled with malice. In that instant, the creature’s tentacles spread out, unleashing a colossal wail.

“[■■■■]”

It sounded as if it were crawling up from the depths of the ocean. I furrowed my brow and clashed the Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword together.

“Clank!”

“[GRAAAA!]”

The Dragon’s Pier erupted once more, colliding with the Sea God’s howl. The moment the sounds clashed, the atmosphere trembled, and a thunderous boom echoed through the air.

“Pwoosh!”

The Nightmare’s breathing became heavy. Given its usual stamina, that was an unusual reaction. It wasn’t just the Nightmare; Runox also gasped for breath, his face pale. Judging by the ice spears floating around him, he seemed to have lost the energy to cast magic.

At that moment, the Sea God’s massive body accelerated. As he moved, the ocean roiled violently, quickly transforming into a tsunami.

“Swoosh!”

Just before the black wave could engulf us, I activated Blink. Not just transporting myself, but also incorporating Runox and the Nightmare.

“Whoosh!”

In the instant that a tiny starlight sparkled, I arrived on a deserted island. Turning to look back at the Sea God, a sharp gaze brushed past me.

The Sea God’s gaze shifted in an unusual direction. Having been in a rush to close in on me, he stopped and began to look around, seemingly searching for me.

“Huff, huff… huff…”

“Fwooo!”

The Nightmare and Runox appeared to be unable to run any further, slumping down. The Nightmare panted with its long tongue hanging out, while Runox had a nosebleed.

As I dismounted from the Nightmare, I frowned. The Sea God altered its direction, pushing through the ocean yet passing this island.

Was it a trick by the Sea God?

No, that couldn’t be it. It seemed to genuinely not detect us. Just then, a little white-furred wolf emerged from the bushes atop the island.

I aimed my sword at the wolf. Its presence was almost undetectable. It was no ordinary wolf.

Then, the wolf opened its mouth.

[Why is the dragon’s child here alone…]

“Who are you…?”

[If you wish to avoid the Sea God’s gaze, you must temper your spirit.]

The opponent gave off no detectable aura. But I had no choice but to comply. I sheathed the Ice Dragon Sword and Flowing Flame Sword.

The white wolf and the name of this unknown island suddenly reminded me of the contents of [The Comprehensive Mythology of Janghon] that I had recently read.

“Could this be Nangrang Island…?”

[That’s what it’s called.]

“Who exactly are you?”

At that moment, a fishman suddenly emerged from the churning black sea, eyeing me with its bulging eyes and twitching head, which was quite disgusting.

“Grrr…!”

[Stay still.]

When I attempted to cast magic at the fishman monster, the white wolf quickly blocked me. I didn’t even notice it approach due to its undetectable presence. I stepped back, cold sweat dripping from me.

The white wolf stared silently at the fishman monster. In that moment, the fishman seemed enchanted and dove back into the sea from the shore it had come from.

After sending the fishman monster away, the wolf turned to face me, its transparent eyes reflecting a feeling of incredulity.

[Did your parents send you?]

“No…”

[Then what on earth drove you up from down there? Surely, you knew about the fragment of the Demon God here…?]

I glanced at Runox and the Nightmare, both collapsed on the ground. They both looked faint but seemed fine otherwise. I stepped closer and replied.

“A fragment of the Demon God?”

I felt as if another secret of this world had leapt forward at me. It wasn’t an illusion. The word that flowed from the white wolf’s mouth was engraved in my mind.

Dragon, wolf, below, fragment of the Demon God.

Through the memory of Kashpa’s will I had faced in the past, I recognized that there was another world beneath this one. Although I couldn’t gather more information, it seemed this wolf knew something about that place.

[Strange… the dragon’s child knows nothing of the fragment of the Demon God…?]

“I’m not the dragon’s child.”

[Hah… I have no intention of entertaining your tricks. It’s best not to provoke the fragment of the Demon God and return to where you were.]

The white wolf seemed to convey everything it wanted to, then abruptly vanished. Having never sensed its presence to begin with, I didn’t even realize its departure for a long time.

“No…?”

I looked around, bewildered. However, no matter where I scanned the island, the wolf did not reappear.

Reluctantly, I lit a campfire and began preparing to camp out. Runox and the Nightmare finally woke late that evening.

When Runox rose from his place, he silently stared at the campfire. The Nightmare, whimpering, burrowed into my chest, likely scared by the Sea God. I stroked the Nightmare’s mane and asked Runox.

“Can you kill the Sea God?”

Runox did not respond. He continued staring wordlessly at the dying fire for a long time. How much time had passed? Eventually, he spoke.

“Seris. We need to liberate the ignorant from that monster.”

“But you saw it earlier. That’s…”

“We must believe.”

Runox silently gazed down at his hands. The rough calloused hands glimmered with blue mana.

“Magic starts with a firm belief in the mystery…”

Runox’s glasses gleamed in the firelight. His words stirred a small ripple deep within my heart. I stood up and pulled out the Fire Dragon Sword strapped at my waist.

“Swish!”

“Seris? What are you…?”

The energy from the Fire Dragon Sword caused the campfire to flare up. Without hesitation, I plunged the Fire Dragon Sword into the ground.

“Fwoosh!”

The white wolf had said, if I wished to avoid the gaze of the Sea God, I should withdraw my spirit. He presumably meant he would be troublesome if his position were exposed to the Sea God.

If it doesn’t come out, I’ll just have to summon it.

I released a hot stream of mana beneath the island.

“Whoooosh!”

The temperature of the entire island began to rise rapidly. At that moment, as the surrounding seawater began to bubble and boil, the white wolf reappeared once more.

“Hello there, Wolf.”

The wolf did not respond to my greeting. It merely bared its teeth in silence.