"So, it's the Mana mixed with the Abyss that corrupts them?"
"If everyone has Mana within their bodies, aren't they all potentially corrupted by the Abyss?" Evan asked.
"Not really. It's highly unlikely that someone will be corrupted by the Abyss simply because they're angry. It's just that what those heroes felt wasn't simply anger and disappointment."
"Well, if the zombies from the black gate inject Abyss energy directly into the bodies of those they bite." Zain said.
"And the zombies and Undead from that gate are the same as the ones we encountered earlier? They're dead, but because their souls' desires remain, they're bound by chains and become inhabitants of the Abyss." Evan said.
"Yes, more or less like that." Zain nodded.
"I see... I understand."
"But Zain, what about the knight who defeated the black dragon? I remember the dragon saying it sensed Abyss energy from that knight?"
"He didn't turn into an undead or a zombie, nor did he become another creature like those heroes. Instead, he gained the power to defeat the black dragon.
"What happened?" Evan asked.
"You want to know?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
"Because I'm genuinely curious."
"..." Zain paused.
Seeing the silence, Evan asked.
"Am I not allowed to know?"
"No, it's not like that. It's just that I'm a little confused about how to explain it."
Silence fell again.
"So, it's like this," Zain began to explain.
"The Abyss isn't just one form or one definition. Within the abyss of darkness, there are various things. Some of them are Abyss energy, Abyss creatures, Abyss denizens, Abyss territories, the core or bottom of the Abyss, Abyss rivers, and more."
"The heroes were corrupted by Abyss energy because their emotions detonated the Abyss energy contained in their mana. In other words, they were slowly being corrupted by Abyss energy."
"Meanwhile, the Undead from the Black Gate are inhabitants of the Abyss. Their entire bodies contain the Abyss. Therefore, anyone who is bitten or directly touched will be injected with Abyss energy, and their bodies, unable to withstand it, will explode and transform into the same creatures."
"Well, both of these things have one thing in common, energy corruption. The heroes become different beings but retain their powers because their souls and bodies are fundamentally different from ordinary people."
"Because their souls are blessed directly by the gods?"
"Yes."
"Then this one is a little different. The region close enough to the center of the Abyss that has been completely contaminated with Abyss energy is called the Abyss territories."
"That black dragon wasn't originally a creature of the Abyss. It wasn't born from Abyss energy like the demon race."
Although Evan had a shocked expression on his face, he continued to listen.
"The Abyss holds many secrets, and one of them is the Abyss River."
"That river doesn't flow like a normal river. The water of the Abyss River is very black and dark. Although it looks like water, it's more like flowing darkness."
"When I say Abyss energy, what form do you imagine?"
"Um... Like air or smoke?" Evan replied.
"Can you touch it?"
"No."
"Then what about the Abyss River?"
"I imagine it as a river with pitch-black, terrifying water."
"Can you touch it?"
"I can... But that's impossible, right?"
"Because it's terrifying?"
"Of course."
"Well, when you breathe, you're not aware of the shape of the air you inhale and exhale, so it's difficult to truly feel the oxygen flowing through your body."
"But what about when you drink water?"
"I can see its form and feel the sensation of it flowing down my throat."
"And you can probably imagine water sitting in your stomach more easily than the air in your lungs, right?"
"Yes... I think so."
"The Forest of Darkness is a region of the Abyss, and within that forest lies the Abyss River."
"The dragon drank water from the Abyss River."
"What? Why?!" Evan asked in a surprised tone.
"Because he was curious." Zain replied casually.
"No, wait... doesn't encountering anything related to the Abyss carry a high risk of death? Didn't he think he might be corrupted? What if he became a zombie dragon roaming around terrifyingly?"
"But that didn't happen."
"But did he think he was such a great and powerful dragon that he could drink something dangerous just out of curiosity?"
"He did."
"It caused the destruction of the world!"
"But the world wasn't completely destroyed."
"Yes... yes, that's true... But, it was a foolish act."
"Why do you think that?"
"All sorts of terrible possibilities could happen because of his curiosity. He didn't consider the risks!"
"Why should he care?"
"... Yes... That... Ah, that's right. He's a dragon..."
"You know, Evan, even though dragons are powerful, they aren't absolute creatures. With certain strategies, skills, and strength, even humans can kill a dragon."
"Really?"
"Yes. If dragons can't be defeated, wouldn't it be impossible for humans to survive in that world?"
"Yes, you're right."
"So, that black dragon..."
"Yes, he's an anomaly in that world."
Evan nodded in understanding.
"Wait. Don't tell me the Abyss energy the dragon sensed from that knight came from the Abyss River too?"
Zain nodded.
"Isn't he an ordinary human? How could he dare drink water from the Abyss River? Also... how did he know he could gain power from it?" Evan's eyes widened in surprise.
"I don't know." Zain just shrugged.
Evan sighed.
"Then wouldn't the dragon and the knight have become denizens of the Abyss?"
"Only the dragon, not the knight."
"Why?"
"Because he rejected it."
"Is that possible?"
"It's possible, but it's nearly impossible. Because he has a strong soul, he managed to survive. Like heroes, the knight became another being. But he retained more of his humanity because he consumed Abyss energy, not being corrupted."
"And every being that consumes Abyss energy forms a gem within their body. An Abyss Gem."
"Abyss Gem?"
"Yes. A dense mass of Abyss energy that doesn't spread throughout the body, so the knight doesn't change much and can control his powers more easily."
"I see..."
"And one more thing."
"??"
"When the body dies, the gem will remain intact, and if it isn't destroyed, someone else could consume it or use it as a weapon."
Evan fell silent upon hearing that.
"What kind of weapon?"
"I don't know, like a magic wand perhaps?"
"Is that possible in this world?"
"I don't know. I don't know either."
"..."
"You know, sometimes knowing too much isn't always a good thing. It adds to the burden on the mind." Evan said.
Zain nodded in agreement.
"Honestly, hearing that makes me quite worried. However, I won't let it weigh me down. If something's meant to happen, it will happen." Evan reassured himself.
"That's good." Zain said, still expressionless.
"..."
"Zain, the Haechi creature was created from the souls of heroes?"
"More like it descended. Haechi has existed for a long time, but no one knows of its existence. Just like dragons, which are considered legends."
"So, the Gods sent Haechi to the world because the souls of heroes became their bridge, or rather, their price?"
"Yes, that's right."
"A creature that embodies itself as a judge and a scale of justice... That's interesting."
"If Haechi existed in this world, perhaps everyone in that city would disappear in an instant." Evan smiled sarcastically.
"So, the world was destroyed a second time?" Evan asked.
"Yes, that's how it is." Zain replied with his usual flat expression.
"But why? Can't the scales uphold justice better than the council?"
"What if the intention to throw a rock at someone's head counted as a crime?"
"Only intentions?"
"Yes."
"Then it's too much." Evan answered a little absent-mindedly.
"Hmm... but if that's the case, then the world won't even survive just one day when that creature descends." Evan said to Zain in a questioning tone.
"There is only one Haechi in one kingdom. If he is in the middle of Lumiville city now, can he see this way?" Zain answered Evan's question.
"Yeah... he won't know." Evan answered in a slightly doubtful tone.
"If that's the case, then people will go looking for a place to live far away from where he is."
"No, they wouldn't be able to. Just as you know this place, wouldn't the decreasing population of a bustling city raise suspicions?"
"And sooner or later we will find out too..." Evan muttered.
"Then, how will Haechi bring justice to a place he can't reach?" Evan asked.
"Someone will bring the criminals before Haechi."
"What if the person who brought them also has thoughts that aren't evil, but simply resentment?"
"Haechi's scales see the soul. Ordinary people can't see what's behind the walls, but Haechi can."
"Intentions or thoughts alone don't constitute the entire soul. It's like putting sugar in a glass and then adding water."
"The sugar is your thoughts, and the water is your soul. If you just leave them alone, the sugar will stay at the bottom and the water will remain stagnant."
"But what if you stir them?" Zain looked at Evan.
"Then the sugar will dissolve and become one with the water." Evan replied, slightly taken aback.
"If their souls are evil, then their thoughts must be evil too." Evan thought to himself.
"But you said earlier that even if it was just intention." Evan said in a slightly dismissive tone.
Zain looked at Evan again.
"If the sugar continues to sink in the water, what will happen?"
"Then... the sugar will eventually dissolve..." Evan paused for a moment after saying that.
"Yes. A soul filled with evil thoughts will eventually become polluted." Zain said.
"Yes... that's right... By the way, Zain, I never even thought of such a sentence."
"Everyone's understanding is different." Zain replied, his face expressionless.
"..."
"Zain."
"What?"
"Isn't being a hero very difficult? They even have to prioritize the well-being of others over their own."
"Yes, that is indeed their destiny."
"A terrible destiny." Evan said.
"But also beautiful." Zain said with a nostalgic look.