1206——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I was stuck in a chokehold, and a thousand thoughts swirled in my mind.

But what dominated my brain the most was an indescribable feeling of despair and self-recrimination. Had I really given it my all just to end up like this?

At the same time, another thought flitted through my mind. It was a kind of reality analysis that contrasted sharply with my despair.

If I used the Great Destruction technique, my body would be left in such a state that escape would be impossible, bordering on death. I had tried a ridiculous trick using Life Force Sharing to avoid that finality, but even that wasn’t a perfect solution. After all, when you share life force, the other party rapidly depletes in vitality and lifespan.

Right now, I was using the Great Destruction technique at its highest output. My body should be dead, but—

‘My energy… it feels the same?’

I didn’t feel the destruction of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels or the fracturing of my meridians that usually accompanied the death I was supposed to be facing. There was none of the despairing feeling of my energy leaking out like a shattered vessel. Just when I was bewildered, the Heavenly Demon, still gripping my throat, spoke.

“Could it be that destroying Sohow’s spirit and inflicting a heavy blow on Jeon Wook was too much to handle? The potential I observed when I last read the Law of Cause and Effect was nowhere near this.”

“……”

“I see… so it is the Great Destruction technique. But to think you could hide it from me until the end… Heh. You never cared about the world’s destruction from the start. If it weren’t for predetermined variables, you wouldn’t even have appeared… right?”

The Heavenly Demon smiled devilishly, taking on Sagong Lin’s face.

“After all, the world’s end doesn’t seem to bother you… Hahaha.”

Why is he laughing? What on earth is funny?

I couldn’t grasp anything, but one thing was certain: I was in a very precarious state right now.

I had missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But…

I hadn’t lost.

It might just be a mental victory, but the fact that my strength hadn’t diminished from the Great Destruction meant that indescribable power still resided within me. The Heavenly Demon was currently suppressing my energy with his Heavenly Demon Martial Art, but I still hadn’t suffered an absolute defeat! The instant I realized that, I clenched my fist tightly and tried to muster my strength once more.

‘One more time…!!’

A chill ran down my spine.

In that moment, I tried to gather all my strength to attack the Heavenly Demon, but my body failed to respond, and pure fear flooded my heart.

It was heavy.

It felt like my whole body was trapped underneath something.

[Power].

That overwhelming Heavenly Demon’s strength pressed down on my potential for Great Destruction head-on. It was as if the power within him had transformed into Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s own strength, having absorbed all the power of the Five Sovereigns.

Gugugu

I couldn’t compete. It felt like the sun was right in front of me. No, it was so immense that even that comparison fell short—pure awe-inspiring greatness! What stood before me was something completely different from the powers of the Three Sovereigns I’d felt before, and I realized that the entire essence of strength itself had completely changed.

Shuddering

My hands trembled. Though this body still held the remnants of the Great Destruction technique, the presence of the Heavenly Demon rendered it utterly insignificant. It was an absolute power that couldn’t be overcome by mere fighting spirit or intent! In that instant, it felt as strong as the combined power of the Three Sovereigns!

I hesitated momentarily before mustering the words to say to the Heavenly Demon.

“Why… why… are you doing this?”

“What are you talking about?”

“For a guy as impressive as you… what’s the catch… trying to become an Outer God and dragging everyone into your scheme…? You could’ve made the world a better place…”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon looked at me with cold eyes, not responding. I continued with a shaky voice.

“Becoming an Outer God would mean watching everything unfold from the outside… Is being engulfed in the Cycle really that important!!”

“I had my suspicions.”

The Heavenly Demon casually began to speak.

“You’re completely unaware of how enormous the authority of Rebirth truly is. Was there such a peculiar Reborn Person like you…?”

“……?”

“Your act of trying to escape me through death… While it seems pitiful at first glance, simply breaking free of the Cycle to start anew makes you less than a mere ant compared to me, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, and all others bound by the Cycle in this world.”

The golden gaze of the Heavenly Demon inched closer to me. Still clutching my throat but lowering me enough to sit, he continued.

“An Outer God is essentially an entity that constantly activates the rights of your Rebirth… Can you even begin to fathom that greatness? From birth, I realized my position and labored ceaselessly to ascend, Reborn One.”

“Labor?”

“That’s right. Labor… From primordial times until now, I’ve constantly strived to defeat those stronger than me… Enduring for billions of years, refining my strategies for millions, and plotting for tens of thousands of years. The fruits of that labor are now right before me.”

Swoosh

The Heavenly Demon released my throat. As I slumped to the ground in a heap, the Heavenly Demon looked down at me, speaking.

“When do you think a being feels their omnipotence the most?”

“……”

“It’s when they attain omniscience… Every time you’ve used the information gleaned from prior Cycles to gain even greater advantages in the next, you must have found joy in those moments. After thousands of repetitions, you will undoubtedly discover far more than anyone else in this world.”

“That’s…”

“But even you don’t know what an Outer God thinks or aims for… That’s the limit you’ll never escape from, no matter how many times you begin anew. Because…”

The intensity in the golden gaze of the Heavenly Demon grew stronger.

“Reborn Persons are bound to begin and end within the Cycle… You cannot reach the origins between each cycle.”

The pathway of reincarnation?

“I will learn more and approach the path of omniscience. And finally, I will become omnipotent.”

In an instant, the Heavenly Demon’s hair shone with a brilliant golden sheen, beginning to wave and ripple.

And I could see his power surging at a level greater than before.

“Watch as I rise to heaven and become omnipotent!!”

Gugugu!!

A colossal sound of thunder echoed from just beyond the heavens. For just a moment, enormous dark clouds appeared above, and something surged through the storm, flashing into view.

The Black Cat!

The Black Cat seemed to patiently rise from its seated position. That marked the end of the thunder, and as soon as I recognized that sight, I realized—

‘Master Mangnyang!!’

There’s no doubt about it!

Simultaneously, a chilling premonition washed over me as I looked up at the Heavenly Demon and said.

“Could it be… the battle ground in Luoyang…?”

The Heavenly Demon simply chuckled to himself.

“It’s already shattered.”

“……!!”

“Now, behold the great achievements of me, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen…”

He said, stroking his chin with a fully satisfied tone.

“Wonderful… To think the Law of Cause and Effect is boiling over like this… It’s a sight I’ve never laid eyes on in all my eons.”

As the Heavenly Demon fixed his gaze on the sky, I looked at his back, utterly clueless about what he was going on about. What in the world could the Law of Cause and Effect be boiling about?

It was clear; he was a being of a completely different dimension.

Just then…

[Baek Woong. Just one fleeting moment… can you create it?]

Mangnyang!!

As Master Mangnyang’s voice resonated in my head, I reflexively turned to look at him. Mangnyang was still surrounded by the flames of the great deity Agni as the Heavenly Demon’s attack had set him ablaze; he was still holding his ground, eyes closed. He didn’t appear to be severely injured, but it was becoming increasingly apparent that he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer as the flames intensified.

‘…This guy has become even stronger than before… He is getting stronger with every breath…. It’s impossible… there’s no chance for a break.’

With a heavy heart, I conceded.

I didn’t want to say it, but the reality was that the great Heavenly Demon’s power was pressing down on the Great Destruction I unleashed like a bad nightmare, and he was continuously gaining strength in real time.

The feeling of witnessing a being that could grow stronger by several tenths in such a short window was beyond words. Compared to when the battle started, he had grown tens of times in strength.

Charging in would only lead to my body being crushed in a single strike. No momentary openings would be granted. Having faced countless real battles till this point brought that grim reality home.

[……]

Mangnyang also seemed to fall momentarily into despair, saying nothing. Eventually, he spoke again.

[Our efforts have all been made. Now… all that remains is fate.]

‘Fate?’

[Let’s have faith… That the Law of Cause and Effect in this world won’t silently overlook the Emperor’s ascension…. And if that fleeting moment does arise….]

Mangnyang explained his plan to me. I listened intently, not missing a single word, but deep down, I could not shake off the feeling of despair. Could a single trick reverse the overwhelming disparity between an elephant and an ant? No, it wouldn’t even qualify as a gamble if fate didn’t favor us!

However, I swallowed my tears and replied flatly.

‘Understood.’

If I could seize just one opportunity… I would turn the tide.

With that thought in mind—

For those who had fallen until now… and for myself.

Rumble

The thunder rolled once more. The Heavenly Demon, who had been silently observing from above, flinched as if startled.

“…What is this!! Could it be that…?!”

This was the first time I’d ever seen the Heavenly Demon so surprised.

The being who’d maintained his cold, sinister demeanor until now was genuinely astonished.

“What?!”

“Kehehe…. Hahaha… So, that’s how it goes… Hahaha! To think someone had been planning longer than me!!”

The Heavenly Demon erupted in mad laughter.

‘What is this lunatic thinking?! Wait, is this an opening?!’

I couldn’t discern why the Heavenly Demon was so flustered, but I quickly judged that this might indeed be the opening I needed. I noticed that despite the numerous gaps in the Heavenly Demon’s demeanor, it didn’t really feel like an opening.

It was too immense.

While there were clear flaws, it didn’t mean an ant could pierce a massive elephant’s hide just because the latter had gaps.

There had to be more than subtle openings capable of impacting the Heavenly Demon himself!

“Hahaha….”

But ultimately, I sensed that fate wasn’t going to intervene. The Heavenly Demon, who had just been riding high on laughter, suddenly stopped cold and stomped on my chest.

With a dull thud, the Heavenly Demon said dryly,

“Now in Luoyang, the Coming Chaos and its prelude have begun. Even if left alone, destruction is inevitable, but I’d prefer to head over and observe as soon as possible.”

“……”

“Now, shall we wrap things up…”

At that moment, the Heavenly Demon’s expression changed abruptly, and instead of trying to crush my chest, he turned abruptly to the void and muttered in disbelief.

“…The Fruit of Good and Evil? Is this how you toy with the Law of Cause and Effect….”

“Of course.”

Boom!

Suddenly, someone’s Sword Form appeared.

What?!

Why is that guy here?!

As I laid eyes on that figure, disbelief colored my expression, and the Heavenly Demon also seemed to scrutinize him closely.

“I’ve awaited this moment endlessly, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.”

“……”

“Is it confirmed that your victory is assured in this Cycle? Then I only have one strategy that remains.”

Dressed in supernatural attire, that figure seemed to grin. In his hands, he held the Cosmic Fragment, pointed directly at the Heavenly Demon.

“This round… is forfeit.”

Master of the Twelve Joules, Ha Eun-cheon.

He had made his appearance for the ultimate final battle.

“Die.”

As soon as he arrived, the Master of the Twelve Joules uttered incomprehensible words and charged at the Heavenly Demon to crush him. The staggering power and speed of his assault seemed to transcend light itself, and if the Master of the Twelve Joules utilized his full strength, that attack was a guarantee of certain death—he couldn’t evade or block such a force.

Even with the power of the Great Destruction at my disposal, I could crush someone like the Master of the Twelve Joules within one or two techniques, but how could I possibly stand against the overwhelming strength of the Heavenly Demon that rendered even that immobile? Even if Heavenly Unrestrained Technique was flawless, it would count for nothing in the face of absolute power!

Yet at that moment, it was the Cosmic Fragment that stood against the power strong enough to shatter planets in a single blow. Specifically, one side of the Cosmic Fragment unfolded, revealing seven gem-like glows embedded within.

Chiririring!!

Heavenly Unrestrained Technique

Ultimate Truth

Chaos Counter (Deus Ex Machina)

The seven gems began to glow fiercely.

Simultaneously, a gigantic demon’s shadow rose behind the Cosmic Fragment and Ha Eun-cheon.

Humanity’s Ultimate Weapon Activation (Unitary Equation)

Crash!

“……!!”

A colossal roar erupted, and I could see the Cosmic Fragment of the Master of the Twelve Joules exploding. At the same time, the body of the Master was ripped apart, meeting a fate that belied the grand initiation that had just taken place.

However, the Heavenly Demon’s reaction after shredding the Master of the Twelve Joules was peculiar. The Heavenly Demon froze in place, his arm still extended during the attack, now trembling. It was clear that he had reached a state of paralysis, unable to move any longer!

“How could this happen…”

The Heavenly Demon struggled to conceal his astonishment.

“How did you weaponize the property of amalgamation?”

His response was one of utter disbelief, as if confronted with an impossible reality!

Some sort of unexpected trap had ensnared him without a doubt.

‘This is it, the chance!!’

Did fate truly arrive?!

I summoned the power of the Great Destruction across my body, and at that instant, I heard the Master of the Twelve Joules’ voice flowing through the venue.

[In the past, I was blocked by the Five Sovereigns before I could even use this weapon. After thousands of years, it’s finally time to show it.]

So he wasn’t truly dead?

But before I could solidify that thought, my body launched forward on its own. The moment the Heavenly Demon’s golden gaze shifted my way, I channeled all the power of the Great Destruction into my strike aimed at his side.

Boom!

‘It… didn’t connect…!!’

What kind of defense is this?!

My unimaginable strike landed on the Heavenly Demon’s body, but the sheer might he possessed was overwhelming enough that my blow felt utterly ineffective. Indeed, it seemed the Heavenly Demon didn’t even feel the need to draw upon Sohow’s spirit to ward it off, maintaining his calm demeanor.

His expression spoke of utter relaxation.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think it was over. Just as that realization dawned, I saw Mangnyang’s eyes suddenly flare wide open as he shouted.

[Flame of Agni! As the Wheel King, I command you to burn my [Mark]!!]

Boom!

In that very instant, the fire that enveloped Mangnyang burst forth at light speed and struck the Heavenly Demon. Ancient mythical inscriptions exploded into being at the point where the flames impacted him, and as those symbols arose, the flames began to seep inside them.

Fwoosh!!

“Guh…”

The Heavenly Demon responded violently, clearly in significant pain from the attack. As I observed his reaction, I understood instantly.

‘Just as I suspected!! That’s the curse left behind by the Wheel King from when he battled the Emperor in ancient times!’

Having scratched that mark with the flames of the Great Spirits, it was only natural for him to suffer such torment!

But when I assessed Mangnyang and realized that our plan to land a critical blow on the Emperor was already thwarted, despair began to wash over me. This defense was far beyond my belief, and even if I attempted another strike, it would certainly not leave a deadly mark.

…Damn it!! But I can’t back down!!

Boom!

Not behaving like an expert, I squeezed my eyes shut and threw my fist toward the area engulfed in flames. Even with the power of Great Destruction contained within it, such an attack would obviously be futile against the Heavenly Demon. Nevertheless, I had to fight to the bitter end, regardless of the outcome.

And when I felt no impact whatsoever from my strike, I completely surrendered.

‘So… it really doesn’t work…’

I’ve never encountered a monster like this before…

As I sank deeper into despair, an unexpected voice pierced through.

“Guh… you…”

The pained voice of the Heavenly Demon.

I slowly opened my eyes to see the dark giant towering behind the the Heavenly Demon, and I held my breath.

“……!!”

Jeon Wook seemed to be pressing down on the Heavenly Demon’s wound with both arms. He glared at the Heavenly Demon, eyes ablaze.

[My creator, I shall fall from the heavens, consuming myself in flames!!]

Hwoooosh!!

The moment Jeon Wook charged into the flame, Agni’s flames seemed to ignite with a fierce brilliance, the situation becoming far more intense. I couldn’t quite grasp what was occurring, but it looked like Jeon Wook had suddenly regained consciousness, choosing to shield me from the attack and instead inflict a grievous injury upon the Emperor!

“Ugh… Ughhh…”

The Heavenly Demon stumbled, wavering as he shouted.

“Do you think you can stop me!!”

Boom!

The Heavenly Demon took a forceful step forward. I felt my spirit almost crushed beneath the weight of his imperial aura.

How is this even possible?

The Wheel King’s Mangnyang, Miho, who was the proxy of the Three Sovereigns, the Great Demon King Zhuge Sa, and even the Master of the Twelve Joules had utilized their secret weapons, yet the Heavenly Demon was still holding firm despite Jeon Wook sacrificing himself to bolster Agni’s flames!

After all that, yet we couldn’t bring the Emperor down?

“Ugh… Uwaaa….”

A deep-rooted terror began to consume me. All the fighting spirit I had built up felt like a lie in the face of the gigantic monster standing before me. I couldn’t believe I was fighting such a creature, and the desperate urge to flee took root in my mind.

But just as I tried to take a step back—

[…Help me….]

A voice froze my feet in place.

[Help me, Baek Woong…]

It was Sagong Lin’s voice.

After being trapped inside due to the Emperor’s influence, the spirit of Sagong Lin—hearing that voice made all my emotions come crashing to a halt.

Everyone had said she should have been abandoned.

They had claimed she was merely a pawn of the Heavenly Demon.

But I had resolved to believe in her until the end.

If I didn’t save her, no one could.

Is the end all that matters, rather than the process…?

But that doesn’t mean…

Do I want to leave regrets behind?

Visions of a wheelbarrow turned inside out passed through my mind.

It felt like a memory from eons ago.

“Ugh… Aaaaargh!!!”

With a sickening feeling of life and death flipping upside down, I charged forward.

Could I truly accomplish what even the Divine Thief failed to do?

But in that moment, I suddenly felt a paradigm shift in my thoughts, one that even I found hard to believe.

If I were the Divine Thief, what would I have attempted to steal?

Surely the Emperor’s Mask he wore.

But that likely wasn’t a mask at all. It may have been nonexistent from the get-go.

So then—

Technique of All Things!

Clap!

My power and the Heavenly Demon’s Sword Form crossed paths.

As I sank back, I distinctly felt that undeniable sensation in my hand.

“I did it…”

I had stolen not the Emperor’s mask, but rather [Sagong Lin’s spirit].