Turning Chapter 809

Chapter 809

"Let's have the conversation we couldn't have back then, shall we? A very honest conversation."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"If you don't understand, let me enlighten you. I now clearly know what your abilities are and how they have affected me."

"..."

"Why, did you truly not anticipate such a day would come?"

Diemon was utterly baffled by what Nahan was saying.

But so were the others. Was there really anyone there who fully grasped the conflict between Nahan and the sage?

"There's nothing more to discuss with you. Your actions now are ruining us all."

"Trying to escape even from here?"

"Open your eyes, everyone! It is Nahan who betrayed the Star of Nagran. Don't be fooled by false words, trust this person!"

The conversation ended before it even began. As the sage shouted loudly, the people flinched. Some, regaining their senses, rushed towards them. But not everyone did.

"Come to your senses. Remember the truth I showed you."

Diemon noticed, not without difficulty, that those who remained defiant to the end were mostly those who had followed Nahan for a long time. They surrounded Nahan, looking at the sage with eyes full of betrayal.

"We believed in you, sage. We believed you went to protect us all... but you did not return until the village came to this state!"

"Bring back Sera and the others who left under your command! Return them!"

"Believe you? Based on what? I really don't know anymore."

"Answer us!"

A great commotion ensued. People, divided into two groups over the sage and Nahan, fought and eventually started to unleash their powers.

Diemon struggled desperately to protect the sage but was overwhelmed. Where had the gentle people who believed and followed the sage gone, replaced by those filled with chaos and rage, recklessly reaching out to grab hold? It was like hell on earth.

The sage continued to shout hoarsely to bring them to their senses, but Nahan merely watched and laughed.

It was a smile as if to say, try as much as you can. Honestly, that smile was twice as terrifying as his dreadful illusion ability.

At the end of the turmoil, when the sage told people to stop and back off, he only replied with one sentence.

"If that's what you want, then speak the truth and keep your promise for the sake of the Star of Nagran."

In a moment of dire crisis with no escape, Diemon had an idea.

He could only copy and use one ability at a time. To use an ability he had copied before, he had to find its original owner and go through the process of recopying it, which was impossible in such chaos.

But that was only for powers copied in the usual way.

There was one time in Diemon's life when he had properly obtained 'permission' from the original owner of an ability and went through all the preliminary steps to perfectly replicate every aspect of that power. Considering that most Awakeners disliked having their abilities copied, this was an astonishing feat.

The power to control monsters.

It was an ability he copied before going to the capital, at the sage's suggestion.

The original owner of that power was a boy who had not long arrived from the East, who, upon hearing the sage's earnest request, changed his reluctant mind and allowed Diemon to perfectly replicate his power.

At that moment, Diemon realized the extent of his greatness when he perfectly copied another's ability. Unlike before, when he could only use a degraded version of others' powers, this time he was able to use the power at almost the same level as the original owner. It was thanks to this that he was able to summon a monster right in the middle of the imperial palace.

Although the boy, the original owner of the ability, seemed drained of life as Diemon copied his power, that was none of Diemon's concern.

"Yes. With that power, it might be possible to bring it forth again. I copied it perfectly... if only I can use it now!"

In a life-or-death situation, Diemon miraculously caused the ground to rumble and explode, revealing a giant centipede-like monster.

This was a method of escape taught to him by the boy, the original owner of the ability.

The appearance of the monster elicited screams from the people.

Their village, built through their collective strength, was crumbling. A burning smell pierced through the thick smoke.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Diemon fled with the sage, severely injuring his arm from a power someone had unleashed, yet he hardly felt the pain.

Just before leaving, Diemon briefly glanced back amidst the chaos.

There stood Nahan, his figure grotesquely twisted. With his broken limbs and face exposed, he smiled brightly amidst the flames, saying something unbelievable.

Strangely, his lip movements formed words that echoed clearly in Diemon's mind.

"Farewell. And let's meet again soon, brother."

Escaping was a miracle, but the aftermath was catastrophic.

First, Diemon's injured arm worsened and did not heal. He had been struck by a power mixed with fire and poison. But worse was when he first saw his reflection in the water upon arriving in Charloine.

"Is... is that person me? That's me?"

Diemon had aged. The reflection in the water showed him having aged about 20 years, his state wrinkled and frail. To anyone looking, he was unrecognizable from the young man he once was.

At least his hair hadn't thinned, making him look a bit younger than the sage. But what did that matter?

No matter how much he felt his face, he couldn't reverse the transformation. Had he known that using his power to its limits would leave such aftereffects, he would have never used it! Diemon was in deep despair.

But like deepening pain, his despair was not the end.

“Huh…”

Diemon stared at the closed door beyond the empty warehouse. He could have endured these terrible pains if he believed they were sacrifices made to protect the sage.

But where was the sage he had risked so much to save?

“....”

Yes. The Sage had hardly been around since they arrived in Charloine. The reasons were varied.

At first, he went out to bring a doctor.

Next, he said he was meeting people who could help them.

And then... what did he say next time?

Diemon couldn't remember. Each time the sage returned, he begged him to stay and treat him, but the sage did not comply.

The reasons were varied then too. Nahan was tracking them, he said. It was difficult to find allies. Sera and the others might be captured by the Cavalry. The Cavalry was spread throughout the city.

Then, gradually, even such responses ceased to come.

Each time the sage returned from outside, he grew increasingly somber. His appearance became dirtier day by day, his eyes bloodshot. Clearly, things were not going as planned.

‘Still, when he last returned the day before yesterday, he didn't look so bad.’

Diemon groped through his foggy mind to recall what the sage had said then.

"There's going to be a funeral for the second son of the Herne family. A noble from the Apeto family who had helped us before is attending. I plan to meet him there. Although I haven't met this person face-to-face, the reputation of Duke Diarca and the Crown Prince will surely be of help."

"And me? Please let me come with you. It's dangerous to be alone. You know that I'm the only one who can truly help you, sage...?"

Diemon pleaded pitifully. The sage said nothing, then gave a sorrowful smile.

"Diemon, you are in a lot of pain right now. Rest up. When this person returns from there, I will definitely bring a doctor along with an ally."

That was the last thing he said before leaving. And the sage had not yet returned.

"Ugh... Uuu..."

Diemon kept crying.

It was unbearable for any human to grasp his festering arm in a place that wasn't even a proper shelter and repeatedly faint and wake up several times a day. The fear that he might really die from this made his head feel like it would turn white.

"Save me... Please... When are you coming back, sage.......... I protected you. I'm the only truly useful, real Star of Nagran........ Take me with you...... me too!"

Where could the sage be wandering now? Would he ever return here?

With each cry of pain from his arm, Diemon's head throbbed as if it would split, and doubt slowly crept in.

The fear intensifying in Diemon's heart gradually extinguished his blind faith in the sage, as well as the pride he felt in having finally succeeded where other Awakeners had gradually faded. Taking their place and growing in size were equally dark and sinister emotions.

The sound of rats squeaking echoed in the darkness. Those creatures gnawed at his hands and feet whenever Diemon lost consciousness. Was there anything more terrifying than the thought of these beasts, ready to devour him upon his death? Diemon writhed and groaned, trying to shake off the rats.

"No. I don't want this......... I don't want to die like this......!"

It was then.

The door opened, letting in a thin light.