CHAPTER 499: CHAPTER 239: LET THE AGE OF MYTH END HERE (8K)

Feeling the ethereal and elusive connection coming from the endless starry sky.

In Shiayar’s eyes, the brilliance of the stars grew increasingly bright.

"Come to think of it, the last time I acted with such reckless abandon, without restraint, freely showcasing pure destructive power... it was probably in the Imaginary Zone of Escarnia."

"Many years have passed since then."

"Only now do I truly feel the rapid passage of time."

He voiced a soft sigh.

Compared to the time in the Imaginary Zone, when he was still some distance away from the Legendary Rank.

Shiayar now, in terms of strength and rank, had undoubtedly made a monumental leap.

However, the higher one stands, the more there is to consider and ponder.

Back when Shiayar was still in the Second and Third Ranks, just an ordinary senior student at St. Roland Academy, he could fight recklessly.

After all, as long as he completed the mission successfully, the Empire’s Jurisdiction Bureau or the Military Department would handle the aftermath and the repercussions.

Even if one day he caused trouble that neither the Jurisdiction Bureau nor the Military Department could solve... if worse came to worst, Shiayar could shout "Hathaway" three times, and let his powerful and mysterious Golden Elf Master cover for him.

So, at that time, although Shiayar was weak and constrained by others, he actually lived freely and comfortably, unrestrained.

Able to unleash his talents in the fields of Beastmaster and Wizard at will, turning the magnificent fantasies in his mind into reality.

However, after achieving Legendary status, Shiayar could no longer act so willfully.

An enraged legend was enough to destroy an entire prosperous city, and every action and word of a legendary figure could potentially influence the situation across the Western Continent.

A speck of dust from the times, when it falls on everyone, becomes a mountain.

And for the common folk, the word "legendary" is synonymous with the times themselves and the supreme divine will.

If legends are like this, then what about the Throne and Demigods above legends?

To this day.

Behind Shiayar, there was no longer anyone who could cover for the mess he created recklessly.

The young man who once had to grow under the wings of his mentors had become a reliance for many others.

So, he had to learn to be cautious, to think thrice before acting, to keep a way out, and choose more stable options, rather than often risking himself as he did in his youth, gambling for higher returns with high risks.

This chain named responsibility encased that willful and flamboyant young man with shackles.

Yet it also drove him forward, making the current Shiayar embrace it gladly.

Living not only for himself but also for those he cared about.

"As a child, I always thought that once I became a legend and avenged Ceylon for you, Ennie, I could completely lay back."

"Start enjoying life by reigning above the law, as in ’I don’t eat beef.’"

"But now it seems, that was merely a fantasy... After becoming legendary, the matters one needs to think about just increase."

Shiayar chuckled softly.

"But at least in the First Era."

"In this unfamiliar world where Fabled Creatures walk, and the Age of Gods still exists."

"The things I need to worry about will generally be less."

As his words fell.

Within Shiayar’s vast spiritual world—

one bright star after another began to shine incessantly.

The starlight pulsed over the ocean of his spirit, like a dreamily splendid Sea of Stars.

...

Cultivator—

This term is not limited to religious followers.

In every profession and field, there are people who keep seeking upwards and downwards.

The pursuit of the ultimate is both sweet and painful every day.

A musician seeking ultimate beauty, disregarding trends and packaging; a painter chasing perfect works, neglecting commerce and environment; a swordsman practicing ultimate sword techniques, ignoring mundanity and strife...

And Shiayar is no exception.

He constantly longs to manifest one magnificent fantasy after another from his mind into reality.

Thus, "Amaterasu" and "Moon Reading" were born.

Thus, the previously nonexistent mechanical beings "Jayee", the mecha "Black Knight", and Nuclear Explosion Magic came into being.

But—

No matter what kind of seeker, there will come a time to challenge oneself.

Music is to be heard, paintings are to be seen.

Just like the wandering poet’s tales of heroes who battle monsters to level up, honing their sword techniques, recruiting powerful allies, and gathering various countering gear, all to slay the evil dragon.

Yet at the end of the journey, if there is no evil dragon guarding a small mountain of gold and silver treasures while abducting a princess, then all the painstakingly honed sword techniques, the leveled-up ranks, the recruited allies, and the gathered countering items lose their meaning.

The same goes for Shiayar.

Although Shiayar often portrays himself as a laid-back slob, in truth, the ability to triumph over the strong with the weak, the talent for researching Magical Guided Weapons, and the ambition and desire for battle... are all ingrained in Shiayar’s soul.

If not, Isadella, as the Second Princess, wouldn’t have determined upon first seeing Shiayar that he was precisely the Swordsman she was seeking.