1204——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Pangu Summon…!!

In that moment, memories of the past flitted through my mind, events that happened in the Land and Earth Diagram.

‘When Nüwa and Fuxi summoned Pangu, the Emperor and Fuxi were in a stalemate!’

To be precise, the two heirs of Pangu, the Three Sovereigns, each summoned half of Pangu’s soul, and that alone was enough to battle against the Emperor’s true body. It wasn’t like Nüwa was collaborating with the Emperor at that time, so if they had both been in perfect condition, Nüwa and Fuxi could have ambushed the Emperor and he wouldn’t have stood a chance!

But – I simultaneously thought, is this even logical?

The conditions for summoning Pangu, or what is called the Pangu Summon, required an offering.

That offering was none other than the Five Elements Divine Jade!

The Five Elements Divine Jade, managed by Nüwa, was the very law of the Five Elements, a fundamental concept of the physical laws present in this world, and a colossal tool of cause and effect. By offering it, the world was instantly plunged into imminent destruction, and the Three Sovereigns earned the hatred of all the Old Ruler!

Let alone the fact that the Five Elements Divine Jade doesn’t even exist now, and neither does Nüwa who managed it.

In this state, would Mangnyang offering the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens even summon Pangu?!

I looked into Mangnyang’s eyes, which were still brimming with spirit and the mental strength of a sage enduring indescribable pain. I stared at Mangnyang with trembling eyes and said,

“…Mangnyang. Why…?”

The next words couldn’t come out. But Mangnyang likely knew what I wanted to say.

Maybe that’s why Mangnyang’s eyes briefly showed a melancholic light before returning to their original state.

[I’m sorry. There’s no point in saying anything to you here. Broken trust can’t be restored…. However, it is indeed true that this is the final choice of this life….]

“……”

Mangnyang’s gaze turned to me.

[Baek Woong. The vessel has toppled and broken. Can you still trust me?]

He asked.

I felt that his asking me that question was his way of giving me a challenge until the end. If Mangnyang had asked me to [believe in him], I would have still followed his wish, even with some lingering doubts.

That was an action unrelated to trust. Even if I reached rock bottom, it was out of the compassion and loyalty I still felt for Mangnyang.

However, Mangnyang didn’t demand it and specifically asked. It was a task to determine my trust at my own will, unhindered by even a speck of compassion! It felt brutally sharp.

‘If only he had forced it upon me, I might have felt better….’

Maybe it was because we had been together for so long.

I could feel Mangnyang’s will even in a trivial word.

Tears….

But that only made it sadder. An overwhelming wave of emotion flooded my heart, making it almost impossible to keep steady. The pain I felt when the Heavenly Demon pierced my body felt less intense compared to this ache that filled my heart and made my throat sting.

Maybe right now I’m getting punished?

Punished for the first time when I killed Mangnyang….

Visions swirled around.

My head, a chaotic mess, felt as disordered as a field of weeds. I was in a state where I couldn’t even tell what I was thinking. Strange, colorful strands of formlessness drifted before my eyes. As I watched those strands in a trance, no thoughts followed; only emotions remained, continuously hurting my heart.

But –

[I have lived as myself. As Mangnyang, not Zhuge Hyun.]

[I was destined to live like this from the start…. Perhaps since the day I first met you….]

The story of Mangnyang from within the [Knot].

Although the tale was a dream, the beings within it had wills of their own. What Mangnyang had told me back then seeped into my heart, and for some reason, I came to understand his true feelings.

I couldn’t bring myself to hate him.

And only when I reached a point where my thoughts wouldn’t scatter anymore could I absently mutter a single phrase.

“I believe you.”

Why did I respond like that?

I was still full of bitterness towards Mangnyang, who might have betrayed me.

I wanted to scream and question him right away as to why he did it.

But that was exactly it… I am who I am.

I couldn’t abandon the part of myself that trusts Mangnyang, nor was Mangnyang tied to me.

Even if the entire world forsook Mangnyang, I couldn’t do the same.

Because he was my right-hand man.

[I’ve been waiting for those words.]

Oh!

In the next moment, Mangnyang grasped the spirit of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens and tossed her soul to me. The moment I quickly snatched the sun’s soul, I heard a roar from the enormous Emperor shadowing the horizon.

[You can substitute for the Five Elements Divine Jade, but how do you plan to summon if you’ve got not even Pangu or the law of cause and effect?]

Boom!!

The Emperor’s hand slammed down as if to cover heaven and earth. In an instant, every corner of my vision was pressed down, leaving no room for even a mouse to escape. We thought we’d be squashed like flies, but unexpectedly, Mangnyang and I remained unscathed, holding the soul and light radiating golden from our bodies.

Whoa!

Slowly, our bodies began to become translucent, defying the Emperor’s hand, and we rose into the void.

‘I can feel it.’

The true power of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens was clearly wrapped around us through her soul and spirit, protecting us.

[Up to here was according to plan.]

Mangnyang spoke after using the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit to evade the Emperor’s attack.

[Emperor, as you said, we are neither heirs of Pangu nor the sanctity of order like Fuxi and Nüwa. Even if we offer the Heavenly Mysterious Woman as a sacrifice, we cannot obtain that symbolism or the law of cause and effect.]

[Indeed. And you haven’t formally contracted with the Three Sovereigns to transfer authority from them. I verified that myself!]

[But there’s one thing you forgot, no?]

[What are you saying?]

Mangnyang’s gaze turned towards me.

[In the ‘dream,’ Baek Woong has indeed cleared the Trial of the 100th floor of the Celestial Realm and received that right from me. Isn’t that so?]

[……]

[Though it didn’t occur in reality.]

The Emperor glanced at me as if he couldn’t believe it. Then, with an air of disbelief, he spoke.

[Do you really think such a loophole would work!! Dreams are just dreams!]

[But Baek Woong has brought even the power of the Wheel King into this world, albeit skimming the surface. Though the law of cause and effect hasn’t been properly established and the Book of Life and Death cannot be used, even in this state, the paradox of having two Wheel Kings in the world still holds true….]

Mangnyang smiled gently.

[The right to summon Pangu cannot be denied. Pangu, the source of order, is by no means lesser than the realm of dreams!]

[…You bastard….]

I was listening to their conversation, trying to comprehend what was being said.

‘So that’s it!’

Within the [Knot], I had indeed received the right to summon Pangu from Mangnyang after clearing all the trials of the 100th floor of the Celestial Realm. But I had thought that it was inconsequential since it had happened in a dream, within the [Knot].

The events that occurred within the [Knot] are inherited into reality.

Simply forgetting it because it was merely a [dream] wouldn’t make it disappear.

Even if it were in an incomplete form!

In an instant, I realized something and looked at Mangnyang with disbelief.

“…Could it be, you calculated that too?”

Mangnyang didn’t answer my question, instead showing a mysterious expression. But it meant a look of certainty, and I felt goosebumps as I realized that Mangnyang’s devilish intellect was beyond human comprehension.

“……”

He’s a monster.

Compared to action-takers like Zhuge Sa or Zhuge Yulong, Mangnyang’s notable exploits had been scant. I had some dissatisfaction with his role of merely drawing the big picture.

But that wasn’t Mangnyang’s flaw. It’s that when he didn’t have power, it was merely a shortcoming. If Mangnyang’s areas of influence were to expand, the story would change. His unique talent for [drawing the big picture and crafting strategies] could transform into the potential to become the greatest adviser of all time!

‘So this is why Zhuge Sa said Mangnyang had the talent of a king…!!’

It felt vaguely clear.

The great game Mangnyang was playing against the Emperor!

It seemed the Emperor sensed this reality as he hesitated to attack us carelessly, merely watching. Mangnyang handed me the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit and said,

[Indeed, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit alone is a bit lacking compared to the Five Elements Divine Jade. Use the Soul Exchange Technique and match it with mine.]

Huh?

I didn’t grasp the meaning right away, but the next moment, I sensed a powerful suction force emanating from the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit that Mangnyang held.

Swoosh!!

“Ugh.”

Realizing that if I left that suction unattended, my own soul would be sucked into and absorbed by the spirit, I hurriedly invoked the essence of the Soul Exchange Technique to maintain my spirit. As the suction between our souls and spirits reached an equilibrium, I could see the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit gradually swelling.

Boom!!

It increased in size by over two times! I couldn’t help but be astonished.

“Th-this is…”

[The Evil King Technique, Twin Shadow of the Great Mirror. It’s the ultimate Soul Exchange Technique that can only be used when two or more individuals have attained mastery of the technique. It artificially enlarges the spirit, temporarily increasing the quality of the offering.]

“…….”

[Zhuge Clan thought your proficiency was insufficient and had refrained from training you hastily, but now we have no choice but to take risks.]

That meant Mangnyang had been mastering the Soul Exchange Technique for five hundred years along with everything else?!

While I was gaping, Mangnyang maximized the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s spirit and threw it into the air.

[Summon it!]

Swoosh!

The moment I hurled my soul towards the spirit, hitting it perfectly. A colossal light erupted, and the reality seemed to boil as the swirling space was summoned, and it hit me what I needed to do.

“Pangu Summon!!”

The moment my command burst forth, a gigantic divine finger began to emerge, wriggling from that space. It was undoubtedly that of the primordial deity, Pangu, and upon confirming that finger, the Emperor spoke.

[Considering this as a last-ditch effort, it’s quite impressive.]

[Emperor, what will you do?]

As Pangu’s physical form gradually grew larger, Mangnyang spoke casually.

[You can either continue fighting the supreme deity of order, Pangu, from the realm of the divine, or you could release Baek Woong’s soul from the boundary of life and death!]

[…….]

[Originally, I would summon the Coming Chaos to ease this crisis, but you have already utilized that right in the dream….]

[…] Hahaha…. Did you really think you could manipulate me as you wish?

The Emperor chuckled softly as he spoke.

[Very well…. Let’s see how it unfolds in reality….]

Swoosh!!

Suddenly, the enormous divine form of the Emperor that had covered heaven and earth vanished. And once again, the boundary of life and death unfolded, leaving me alone with Mangnyang in the darkness. I didn’t know what had happened, but I thought we had managed to get through the crisis.

“Mangnyang…!! Did we drive the Emperor off?!”

[…….]

However, to my surprise, Mangnyang stood there with a serious face. He muttered something I couldn’t grasp.

[Baek Woong. We’ll soon be moving back to reality. And the Emperor will channel all his strength into the Heavenly Demon, coming at us with everything he’s got…. We will have no hope except to rely on Pangu.]

“Pangu should be enough to win, right?!”

[…The Emperor will likely use his subordinates to engage in a war of attrition…. We are absolutely lacking in power.]

Mangnyang glanced despondently into the void before saying,

[Baek Woong…. It’s clear we’ll lose to the Heavenly Demon, but I have no more strategies left. Will you still stick with me until the end?]

“……”

That look in his eyes was sincere.

I didn’t know how far Mangnyang’s foresight went, but he had deduced the Emperor’s remaining power and concluded that even the Pangu Summon wouldn’t suffice anymore. And considering Mangnyang’s insight, he was likely correct that we wouldn’t stand a chance in prolonged combat with the Emperor.

But I shook my head and replied.

“Stop saying such things. I chose to trust you to the very end.”

[…I should be grateful to the priest.]

“No. Certainly, Cheon Woo-jin’s words played a role, but that’s not the whole story.”

I clenched my fist tightly and continued,

“Honestly, I’m an idiot with no talent. Yet here I am, grateful for everyone sticking by me on this day. And the only way I can repay you all, who are ready to give your lives for me, is to offer my back.”

[……]

“I’m prepared to die and trust my companions. That is the only way I can repay you.”

[…Baek Woong.]

In that instant, Mangnyang’s expression crumbled significantly. His eyes, previously maintaining an iron will, wavered, and he looked like he might collapse at any moment. Then he sighed heavily and said,

[Huh! It’s too late to say this now, but the Emperor is far too meticulous. He has been watching my every move, and any scheme I devised would often be thwarted midway. So, to truly deceive him and create a gap, I needed to genuinely betray you.]

“Hmm….”

[In the end, I had to lead you into the dream and give you the position of Wheel King to ensure you wouldn’t die easily in the Emperor’s scheme…. I had to cling to the faint hope that the Zhuge Clan would save you. Thanks to your uncle helping you, the chance for a counterattack with the Wheel King’s power arose….]

Mangnyang bowed deeply.

[I’m a traitor who has betrayed you. If you cast me into hell, it would rather give me peace of mind….]

But Mangnyang’s words hardly reached my ears.

No, now that my heart was settled, I didn’t need those lengthy explanations anymore.

“Hmph! What do you think you’re saying now?”

I retorted bluntly, flashing a smile.

“If you’re sorry, just die with me. That’s how we’ll settle this.”

Just like back then.

As if sensing something from my words, Mangnyang, with a dazed expression, finally broke into a relief-filled smile.

[Huh! The one who dies first treats the other to a meal in the next life.]

“That sounds good.”

Swoosh!

A moment later, Mangnyang and I found ourselves back in the real world. I opened my eyes to see Mangnyang standing beside me, already dressed in black, pointing at me.

[Baek Woong. Pull out the Vajra sticking in your heart. I will nullify the wound with the power of the Wheel King.]

“Ugh.”

With a crackling sound of electricity, I pulled out the Vajra, and as the blood spurted out, it vanished on its own. It was a severe wound that pierced my heart, but with a single gesture from Mangnyang, the injury completely healed.

And before us floated the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon, resembling Sagong Lin with blonde hair and blue eyes, stared at us expressionlessly and spoke.

“I thought you’d try every means possible to commit suicide at that boundary, but are you truly challenging me? Do you really think the Pangu Summon can defeat me?”

[No. But I intend to try everything I can.]

“You’re being reckless. What exactly is your goal? Do you truly think you can beat me?”

The Heavenly Demon asked, seeming baffled. Mangnyang shot him a sharp glare and said,

[…At the very least, I have to sever all of your dualities!]

“……”

[Only then will Baek Woong’s minimum freedom be assured.]

“How foolish a thought.”

The Heavenly Demon spoke as if he were truly looking down on us.

“If that happens, you will experience a hell far worse than you can imagine. That being is no lesser than me. You should realize that submitting to me and becoming my subordinate would be the better option?”

[Such talk is meaningless. Baek Woong has decided to erase everything he encounters, and we merely follow our king.]

“How pathetic…. And how frustrating.”

The Heavenly Demon’s eyes narrowed.

“You may leave now, Vishnu.”

At the Heavenly Demon’s command, Vishnu, who had been battling Zhuge Sa and Miho in the air until then, responded.

[That won’t do! It’s quite evident that the primordial deity Pangu’s body will soon be summoned to this world, and even you pose a risk….]

“Shut up and return.”

The Heavenly Demon growled.

“I intend to teach true fear to these insects.”

[…….]

Swoosh!

As soon as Vishnu finished his response to the Heavenly Demon’s words, he vanished. He could not defy the order of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, the master of the Divine Temple.

And Zhuge Sa smirked at the Heavenly Demon.

[So, you’re disposing of your own hand, huh? Given that Hyun has succeeded in summoning Pangu, shouldn’t you be escaping now?]

Zhuge Sa chuckled mockingly.

[True, with the seals of the 108 constellations in place, escaping to the main body from the Heavenly Demon is impossible now!!]

“Hmph. You’re quite arrogant, Zhuge Yulong….”

The Heavenly Demon muttered dismissively and then raised his hand a moment later.

“I’ll quickly remove such troublesome seals.”

[No matter how much of a monster you are, gathering 108 constellations… might exhaust even you.]

The Heavenly Demon said with a touch of emotion in his voice.

“It would be a waste to give up something so valuable. You will pay a steep price for this!”

Boom!!

In that moment, a sound like an explosion rang as the Heavenly Demon’s right arm ruptured. The seal enveloping his entire body disappeared. Upon seeing this, Zhuge Sa and even Miho looked astounded.

[……!!]

[How?!]

However, standing among them, only Mangnyang seemed to have anticipated the Heavenly Demon’s might, gritting his teeth.

[One has already been depleted. Just two more deaths….]

The Heavenly Demon burst into wild laughter.

“Hahahahahahaha!!!”

Boom!

In the next moment, an apparition of Jeon Wook arose from the Heavenly Demon’s left arm, and an apparition of Shao Hao rose from his right leg.

No….

That’s not an apparition….

That’s his true body!!

“……?!”

What on earth is this…?

‘What’s happening right now?’

What in the world is happening?!

“Once, during the Offering Ceremony, Jeon Wook had said this to you, Baek Woong.”

While everyone stood frozen in shock, the Heavenly Demon spoke up.

“When the Five Rulers were born and realized their innate authority, the root of all of them was me.”