When the surfaceās traitors (thatās how the surfaced referred to the underground denizens) were chased out, they were forced to struggle desperately to survive.
As the surface dwellers had exiled them out of fear and envy, there were several talented individuals amongst them. And there were some whose authorities rivaled even Godās.
[This will be our new nation. Weāll live here. ā¦And survive.]
Of course, the one with the most talent was Jissehanu, the second prince who inherited the royal familyās barrier ability (which was based on the darkness element).
Although he hadnāt been able to break through the Magic Emperorās barrier, heĀ hadĀ managed to expand the space underground, create a barrier that stabilized it and kept it from collapsing, and protected the people.
And thus, he had become ruler of the Underground Empire, the Emperor.
[Nature can flourish underground as well. The spirits will help us with that.]
The Elementalist Leader, who had formed an alliance with Jissehanu, recreated the miracle of mother nature over the vast land that Jissehanu had acquired.
The earth spirits would either flatten or uplift the land, while the water spirits were gathered to create rivers; even more water spirits were gathered to create the sea. The fire spirits provided them with much needed heat so that they could survive.
And thus, that woman became one of the Emperorās consorts.
[My lord, I will create the sun with my light. One that shines even brighter than the surfaceās.]
[If youāre in charge of the day, then Iāll take care of the night. Letās support this newly formed Empire together.]
The two with the brightest light and the blackest darkness worked together to create the Underground Empireās sun. The light user would be responsible for sunrise, while its descent would be managed by the darkness user. The sun wouldnāt shine upon the Empire without either one of them.
Thus, they formed a new clan and were responsible for helping the Emperor maintain the Empire. Until the day of their dissent.
[You wouldnāt have known, Arema, as one whoās come from above. That my family was responsible for maintaining this sun for several years. And nowā¦ Iāve fused together with it!]
It was impossible for Seagald to control the artificial sun by himself. Thatās why heād sought to transform the capital into Anti-Skull through the Heaven Rending Cannon, but heād failed, so he decided to enter the capital directly. He lured the Lich out and then stole the other sun controller from him.
Lee Shin Woo and his group had interfered in the middle, which had made this a lot more complicated, but in the end, Seagald had succeeded. With his controller, he drew the sun towards him, and with the Lichās controller, he was able to fuse with it.
While they were fighting, Seagald had looked up into the air; that hadnāt been him acknowledging his defeat or giving up. He was trying to figure out how much time he needed to buy before he could counterattack. Though Lee Shin Woo was called the Heaven Defying General, even he couldnāt have predicted this. Seagald had surprised him a second time.
[ā¦Ha, you risked your life to enter the capital for that? Youāll soon disappear without a trace, so whatās the point?]
[Hoo, hoo. I applaud your bravery, Arema. I know just how much youāve changed in such a short period of time. But nowā¦ itās over. If your mana was just a tiny bit stronger, then I wouldnāt be here right now. You were so close.]
Seagald, having successfully fused with the artificial sun, acted triumphantly, as if he hadnāt been struggling against him before.
Lee Shin Woo had disabled at least half of Seagaldās body, but it didnāt matter. What would he fear, now that he had access to the artificial sun? After all, the most powerful source of light in this world was now in his grasp!
[I grieve over the loss of Anti-Skull. If they were here, then they wouldāve been happy to see a new world ahead of them!]
[Ha, are you going to use that sun to turn the undead in the capital into psychos?]
[Itās called Anti-Skull. The moment we become able to move forward, despite being undead, is the moment we become perfect existences. A perfect existence which can coexist with both light and darknessā¦ A new species that can challenge God herself!]
Lee Shin Woo looked up at Seagald. It didnāt matter that Seagald hadnāt mastered the light element. Right now, he was light itself. In other words, he was fused with an almighty item that bumped his light element to its max. It was an item on the level of his Titan!
āThis bastard. His plan really came together. Moreover, he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve his goalā¦ I really am unlucky.ā
Lee Shin Woo had no choice but to acknowledge him. Seagald had managed to control the super artifact that had shined upon the Underground Empire for so many years, so he must be feeling invincible.
āI had my suspicions. I thought it was starting to feel hotter, but I thought it was just because of Seagaldās ability.ā
To think it was caused by the artificial sunās descent; he couldnāt even imagine it. He thought Seagaldās objective was the Lich, but he was wrong; his objective had been to steal the Lichās artifact and take full control over the artificial sun!
āEach and every thing he does surpasses my imagination. Heāll probably try to use that thing to turn the undead into Anti-Skull. If missiles donāt work, then fire a nuke, huh.ā
Lee Shin Woo looked at the giant sun that shined before him, as well asā¦ Seagald, who was completely hidden within the sun, and just muttered in astonishment. Now he understood; there was no way even his darkness would be able to sense him if he was in that thing.
āKeuk. To think even the artifact wonāt workā¦!ā
[That pathetic darkness of yours canāt protect you against this light. Give it up.]
Whereas, the Light General stared at the man whoād cowardly brought a nuke with himā¦ No, Seagald, whoād assimilated with the artificial sun, and activated the Dark Red Solar Eclipse. She was gritting her teeth, as the artifact had absolutely no effect.
Ultimately, the Dark Red Solar Eclipse was nothing more than an artifact that used the undead curse. Even if it gathered all of the darkness in the area, it wouldnāt be able to block the sunās light (which was further amplified by Seagald).
[Guaaaaaaaah!]
[Y-Yourā¦ Majestyā¦!]
[Kik. Kihiiiiii!]
The Vampires were unable to withstand the light and burned away, and the Light General instinctively foresaw her impending doom. Lee Shin Woo knew that sheād given up.
[Run away.]
āI canāt do that.ā
Unfortunately, he hadnāt been able to use her much, but she still had a job to do on the surface, so the best choice would be to send her back. She shouldnāt die here.
But as expected, she didnāt obey his orders. Lee Shin Woo wasnāt planning on dragging this out and inwardly sighed. He then activated both āCommandā and āInstigateā simultaneously and yelled.
[Sorura Von Lilaine! I told you to run!]
āKeuk! Y-You cowardā¦! Are you trying to bear the burden alone again!?ā
[Lilaineā¦?]
Surprisingly, Seagald reacted to that name.
[Lilaineā¦ Ah, I see. You come from a branch family. So they were still alive.]
Seagaldās voice resounded far and wide, revealing a secret that he really didnāt care for. As expected, there was a reason she could originally wield the light element. ā¦Though that really didnāt matter right now.
[To think Iād have to kill a descendent of a branch family. But I suppose this too is fate. It seems like God has always given us such a cruel fate.]
āThe Retadane name has long since been removed from the family register. You traitor, youāre just a terrorist attempting to spread the curse all across the world. Donāt get so cocky!ā
Seagaldās words actually reinvigorated the Light General. She raised both her arms, causing the sunās light to subside ever so slightly. She was really trying to fight that giant light crystal with light mana? He was absolutely gobsmacked.
āIāve long surpassed the Retadanes. Iāll make you regret using that light against me!ā
[Youāre talented enough to talk big. I didnāt think a level 8 would show up in a branch family. Unfortunatelyā¦ it seems like you havenāt achieved ābalanceā yet.]
[Sorura!]
His Wild Card skill wasnāt entirely ineffective against Seagald. The artificial sun accumulated mana above their heads, and Lee Shin Woo, sensing danger, rushed over to the Light General with Jin and stood in front of her.
[Kuooooooooh!]
Pure light shot out from the sun. One single propertyā¦ the ability to annihilate the darkness that made up the undead, had been maximized.
Even if she could wield light, it didnāt matter. The blast could kill her instantly! He covered her, as if he were embracing her, and then screamed.
[Guaaaaaaaah!]
[Youāre enduring it quite well, Arema.]
āArema!ā
His scream sounded as though the very world was on the verge of collapse; in addition, his outer shell was being melted away by the light! Seagald was satisfied by his newly acquired strength, and the Light General wept as she looked up at Lee Shin Woo from his embrace. Lee Shin Woo gritted his teethā¦ and then spoke once more.
[Soruraā¦ Iāll be briefā¦ Run away!]
āButā¦!ā
Her voice was even more anguished than Lee Shin Wooās. However, he opened his eyes wide and then spoke even louder, so that she wouldnāt forget his words.
[I said run away! Arenāt you going to get revenge for us both!?]
āKeukā¦! But Iāmā¦!ā
[When you get back, make sure you take revengeā¦]
Lee Shin Woo opened a gate behind Sorura. Heād obviously created it through the Heaven Doorās Key, but she didnāt need to know that.
No one would expect an artifact of its kind to exist, as it could infinitely create portals between the underground and the surface; most people would think it was a one-time use item.
āArema! Are you going to leave me again!?ā
[You should be able to do it with their help. ā¦Iāll leave it to you.]
āAremaā¦ Aremaaaaaaa!ā
Lee Shin Woo softly pushed the screaming Light General back. Her body disappeared within the gateā¦ and soon the gate closed shut. Seagald was shocked at the realization that she was no longer here.
[That abilityā¦!?]
[Hooā¦ You donāt need to know. But there is something Iāve been wanting to ask you.]
Lee Shin Woo was speaking so calmly, despite screaming so loudly before.
He sighed lengthily as if enjoying Seagaldās subtle gaze. Lee Shin Woo had used every means available to him to analyze Seagaldās state after heād fused with the sun and had come to the conclusion thatā¦
[You canāt properly use the Annihilation Flame in that state, can you?]
[Mmā¦?]
Was he surprised by his question? Or was he surprised that his way of speaking had changed? The sunās light abated momentarily. It seemed like he was using the special passive skill āArroganceā, which was used when a strong opponent āwas sure of their victoryā, as he obliged him.
[While the Annihilation Flame is indeed my specialty, itās not enough to control this giant artifact, which has condensed light energy for hundreds of years. But this is good enough. I can fulfill all my goals with this lightā¦!]
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[Ah, so thatās how it is. I was wondering. So you can only wield light in your current state, huh? Only ālightāā¦]
If thatās the case, then this battleā¦
āThis battle is already over.ā
Lee Shin Woo, the wielder of Max Light Resistance, shed his golem skin and smiled.
The performerās smile lit up blindingly beneath the underground sun.