My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness

Oath of Heaven’s Defiance.

Their ill-fated relationship dated back to the first day he entered Auterica.

The village Hans first visited after arriving in this world happened to be their secret base.

And they were in the middle of maturing the ‘Immortal King’s Fragment’.

‘Of course, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me.’

Even after their first encounter, he continued to clash with those Heaven’s Defiance bastards.

From rescuing Cecily in the Northern Mountains to the recent Obaifo Clan incident in the Republic.

‘I’ve eliminated most of them… but it wasn’t easy to completely eradicate them, as they’re a decentralized network.’

Hans stroked his chin, staring at the small metal fragment before him.

It was a small clue he had found at the site of the abyssal gate incident, arguably their biggest operation.

It seemed to be a part of a thin chain, perhaps used as a necklace.

[Kuhut— Yes, his name was Termal Gardias, wasn’t it?]

The one who had sacrificed everything to open the abyss and become the host of madness.

Of course, he had already investigated him thoroughly.

He had mobilized his intelligence network as soon as he obtained information from Baltheon, the High Chieftain who had orchestrated the incident in the south.

‘His story is tragic…’

He could roughly understand why Termal had opened the abyssal gate and plotted the continent’s destruction.

People who lost something precious and resented the world were a dime a dozen.

But he just happened to have the power to actually threaten the world, and he had acted on it.

‘A victim turned perpetrator. Come to think of it, the tragedy that befell him was probably also orchestrated by Heaven’s Turn Society.’

Driving a capable individual to despair and then corrupting them was a classic villain tactic.

But it was a meaningless speculation now.

‘Anyway, the important thing is—’

He had become the host of madness, the Revolutionary had taken that madness, and Hans could now locate him through the catalyst.

The Revolutionary, whom he had been tracking for a long time but couldn't find.

Wooong—

Hans looked at the vibrating metal fragment, then pocketed it and left the lab.

The preparations were complete. It was time to begin the ritual to track him down. He would meticulously prepare and hunt him down without fail.

He didn’t know what tricks the troublesome bastard had up his sleeve.

[You have emerged… My King… Olivia… greets the great Immortal King…]

Banshee Queen Olivia appeared before him and prostrated herself.

He hadn’t summoned her, but she had rushed over as soon as she sensed the disturbance in the Immortal Fortress.

A truly reliable subordinate.

[Yes. You’ve arrived just in time, Olivia.]

[Command me… I will carry out your orders with my life…]

It had been longer than he expected.

He hadn’t thought it would take this long to find him, even with his numerous intelligence networks and his ability to oversee the world’s information. ṝÃΝỒꞖÊṤ

‘I have to admit, he’s a formidable opponent.’

But all games had to end eventually.

He was getting bored, so it was time to finish this.

[Summon all the executives.]

He wouldn’t give up.

This wasn’t hide-and-seek, it was a deathmatch.

He would find him, no matter what.

Hans, the one who turned a children’s game into a deadly battle.

__________________

An official announcement was finally made by the Azerion imperial family.

The one everyone had been expecting.

Riley would be officially appointed as Crown Princess, replacing Simon.

“Hmm… It’s about time. They can’t keep waiting for Prince Simon after all this.”

“Hahaha! Long live Crown Princess Riley Carte Azerion!”

“The succession struggle is practically over. This is… unexpected, yet also expected.”

There wasn’t much opposition, as the situation had already been decided.

Simon’s biggest supporter, the Hermanheart ducal family, who were also behind Riley’s kidnapping, were too busy defending themselves against her counterattack to intervene.

They were in a constant power struggle, even though it hadn’t escalated into open warfare, so they didn’t have the resources to spare.

“I’d like to send a gift to Viscount… no, Count Isea Pristine… but she’s currently on expedition… Should I send it to her residence in the capital?”

“Approaching her through Count Pristine is still the best option. …Hmm? Wait, what if we use this opportunity to approach the Crown Princess’s lover…?”

Isea had also been promoted from Viscount to Count, but the other nobles didn't pay much attention.

She had been a Viscount because of her lack of achievements under Riley, but everyone knew she wouldn’t stay in that position for long.

And it wouldn’t end with Count either.

If she survived the final battle against the Immortal King, her status would be high enough to warrant a Marquis title, and after Riley ascended to the throne, she would probably become a Duke.

It was only natural for the nobles to try and curry favor with her.

Of course, that would only happen if she didn’t return to Earth.

And…

As the Empire’s political landscape shifted amidst the chaos…

The Main God Church, another major power, was facing an even more drastic change.

“…Liesta, are you alright?”

“…Ah… um… yes.”

Heinrich, his face filled with concern, cautiously called out to Saintess Liesta, but she just gave a vague reply, as if her mind was elsewhere.

Her usually lively face was pale, her lips and the corners of her eyes trembling slightly.

“We’ll arrive at the cathedral soon. I’ve already requested them to prepare the gate, so we can leave immediately.”

“…But are you sure it’s alright? For us to leave like this…?”

“The others can handle it. It’s been a while since the last giant sighting. We can leave as soon as one appears.”

“…R-right… yes…”

Her reply was uncharacteristically absentminded.

Heinrich, leading the group through the city, glanced at her.

He had never seen her so flustered, so it felt a bit strange.

She hadn’t even reacted like this when dealing with the Immortal King…

‘Well, it’s understandable.’

He recalled the message the Church had sent them and nodded.

Considering the gravity of the situation, her reaction was only natural.

After all, the message was—.

…an urgent report that Pope Hatianuss the Second was on his deathbed.

‘There must have been several signs… He probably asked them to keep it a secret.’

To avoid worrying those who were away.

And now, at the very end, his close aides must have finally contacted them.

“We’ve been waiting. Please come this way.”

“We’ll activate the gate immediately.”

Everyone in the cathedral was like family to Liesta, but the Pope held a special place in her heart.

He was the one who had adopted her when she was young and brought her to the Church.

He was practically her first real family.

“Welcome, Saintess, Saint. His Holiness awaits you.”

“Please come this way. I’ll guide you to your lodgings.”

Heinrich knew that Liesta visited the Pope every day, even with her busy schedule, whenever she was at the Roselia Cathedral.

She never missed a single day, even if it meant giving up on her beloved garden.

‘Unlike me, who just occasionally asks how he’s doing. Come to think of it, it’s been a while since I last saw him. Was it during the summit?’

Of course, he had been busy with the hero party… but he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

“Grandfather!”

“Hahaha, what’s the rush? I thought you were all grown up and ready to get married, but you’re still a child.”

“Grandfather…”

Liesta rushed to the Pope, who was sitting up in bed, and hugged him tightly.

Heinrich, after greeting the Pope, quietly stood back and waited.

He wanted to give them some privacy, but the Pope had asked him to stay.

And their conversation finally began after Liesta calmed down.

“Ahem, my apologies for keeping you waiting, Saint.”

“It’s fine. It’s an honor to witness the bond between you two.”

“Hahaha, thank you.”

He looked surprisingly healthy for someone on his deathbed, but Heinrich could clearly sense it.

His last remaining life force was blazing brightly.

Liesta must have also sensed it, as her hand, which was holding the Pope’s, trembled slightly.

“I’ve asked you here because there’s something I must tell you.”

“…Something you must tell me?”

Heinrich’s expression became serious.

There was no need to ask who the message was from.

The Pope nodded heavily, and then slowly opened his mouth.

__________________

Thump— Thump—

A loud heartbeat echoed through the chaotic and empty boundary region of the abyss.

The sound was distorted and scattered as it traveled through the warped space, but its presence lingered, slowly encroaching on the surroundings.

“Ah— My Lord.”

A faint whisper, barely audible, escaped from the heart of the disturbance.

It was so distorted and fragmented that it was hard to tell if it was even human, but the madness and fanaticism it contained were enough to drive anyone insane.

‘My death is approaching.’

The being, whose ears were perked up, listening to the whispers of the world, sighed softly.

He didn’t have much time left.

An unknown death, its cause still a mystery, was slowly closing in, taking shape and constricting him.

‘But I can’t end it here.’

Even if he perished here… he had a duty to plant the seeds for the next generation of ‘him’.

Just like he had been able to proceed smoothly thanks to inheriting the will of his predecessor, after becoming the Lord’s apostle.

‘It’s a shame that I won’t be able to see it through… but it can’t be helped. I’ll gladly become nourishment for the next generation, so that they may blossom.’

Twitch— Twitch—

His body, fused with the Seed of Madness, twitched repeatedly.

It was a side effect of the incomplete fusion with his new body.

He had sensed his approaching death and rushed the process, but it was still incomplete.

‘Faster… More efficiently… More thoroughly…’

As he struggled to control his body, consumed by his obsession,

Splash—

Something emerged from the depths of the abyss and collided with him.

[———!]

He slowly turned his head.

It was a humanoid figure, its body white as snow, barely reaching his chest, a being he had encountered countless times before.

“Ah, you’re a bit late. I’ve been waiting.”

His face lit up, and he reached out, grabbing its shoulders.

And then—.

“Now, under His grace… you will become one with me.”

Crack— Crunch!

He opened his mouth wide and swallowed its head whole.

It was a gruesome sight.

But he continued to devour the remaining fragments, his mouth working busily, and…

When he was done,

He was slightly larger, and his unstable body had become more refined and closer to completion.

Thump— Thump—

And his heartbeat echoed through the surroundings once again.

“…This is a shame. I should have started earlier… If only my plans had gone smoothly…”

He sighed softly, looking down at his writhing body.

A pure white body, smooth and flawless, unlike the filthy creatures of the surface world.

This was the ultimate human form, the new humanity.

‘It’s finally done…’

And so, the former Revolutionary, the founder of Oath of Heaven’s Defiance…

The current ‘King of Madness’, was about to be born.

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