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I was taken aback by Zhuge Hyun’s sudden remark.

“What do you mean? Thunder God Indra?”

It’s fair to say that I never even considered the possibility. Zhuge Hyun’s suggestion was so out of my understanding. With a knowing smile, he elaborated.

“It’s quite simple. I’m just an ordinary human at the moment, so how can I become a god?”

“Well… to become a god…”

I struggled to think of a method for becoming a god since I hadn’t given it much thought. Drawing from my travels, I half-formed a response.

“From what the Master of the White Lotus Sect and Master Mangnyang said, one must cultivate the realm of fusion to gain the essence of the God of Chaos.”

“That’s the most orthodox method. However, even if I had the talent for it, it’s not something I could use right now with you leaving in a month. Trying to become an immortal would only leave me far behind true gods in terms of spiritual entities compared to my goals.”

Zhuge Hyun chuckled.

“While reminiscing about your memories, I thought of another method.”

“Another method? What is it?”

“Directly making a contract with a god and accepting their power! Divine power would be granted to me without separate training and it would be the fastest and most certain route. However, to pursue this method, one must become an apostle or an avatar. That requires sufficient human sacrifices, offerings, and qualifications.”

“Mmm… Are you suggesting that instead of contracting with the Old Ruler, you want to gain the divine power through a contract with the Four Great Spirit Deities?”

“Precisely.”

Zhuge Hyun nodded vigorously.

“And from your memories, the mightiest of the Four Great Spirit Deities is none other than Thunder God Indra! If I can gain that power, I’ll soon acquire the status of a lesser god.”

“……”

“Before being sealed, Indra’s powers rivaled the Three Sovereigns, so it’s entirely possible.”

I was momentarily speechless as I gazed at him, then spoke.

“But… Indra is… quite… temperamental. Are you sure that’s okay?”

And that was the issue.

Indra felt like a monster I could hardly control. He wouldn’t follow my commands and even had a history of backstabbing me in battles against the Emperor. If Zhuge Hyun had seen my memories, I thought he would choose to make a pact with Baruna or Vayu instead of this violent Thunder God.

Zhuge Hyun laughed faintly.

“If I die, I’ll just consider it my fate. There’s no need to blame you, so don’t worry.”

“… Well, I suppose that’s fair. But honestly, I need to use Indra’s power someday too, so I can’t give it all to you….”

“Of course. What I want is a sub-contract with Thunder God Indra.”

“A sub-contract?”

“I will present conditions to Indra in exchange for which he will temporarily grant me power. It’s only natural that I, not being a true successor of the Four Great Spirit Deities, cannot gain all of Indra’s strength. I plan to become a god using the remnants of the divine power from this sub-contract.”

“Hmm… But….”

“Please.”

With Zhuge Hyun’s earnest plea, I couldn’t help but hesitate. I didn’t mind following his suggestion, but I was quite worried about him. Indra seemed truly insane even to me, making it hard to believe he would respond to a mere human contract.

It was practically guaranteed that Indra would treat Zhuge Hyun like a bug to be squashed. Even the gentle spirit deities like Baruna or Vayu looked down on humans; how much worse would it be for Indra?

‘Ugh… But I can’t see any other way to make Zhuge Hyun a god.’

If he claimed responsibility for his plan, stepping in further would just be overstepping.

After a long contemplation, I finally nodded.

“Alright! Let’s do it. What do we need to do to establish this sub-contract between you and Indra?”

“First, we must return to the Heavenly Altar of Songshan.”

“Huh? The Heavenly Altar?”

“There was an action you didn’t try during your previous life. Let’s go.”

“Got it.”

With a *crack*, I went back to Songshan with Zhuge Hyun. Upon arriving, he immediately took position atop the altar and beckoned for me to join him. After a moment, when we both stood above, he took my hand and spoke.

“This works perfectly.”

“What should we use as an offering?”

“We’ll offer the residual mystical power of the Divine Sword as a sacrifice to summon the Four Great Spirit Deities as gods.”

Still holding his hand, I exclaimed in surprise.

“……?! Is that really possible?”

“Whether it is possible or not remains to be seen. But think about it. The Four Great Spirit Deities were originally mighty celestial spirits who formed the four pillars of the universe. If they adhere to the proper ritual, there’s a high possibility they can be summoned as [Rulers] at the Heavenly Altar.”

“Umm… That sounds risky.”

I had often pulled off hasty actions without thinking, but Zhuge Hyun’s current plan was essentially a gamble. There was no guarantee of a successful summoning, and persuading a summoned Indra would be nearly impossible.

“But this is the only way I can become a god. Please.”

“……”

I glanced at Gong Gong, who stood nearby.

“Gong Gong, I will pour the mystical power of the Divine Sword onto the altar, so please proceed with the ritual.”

[Understood.]

*Woooooo*

After a moment, Gong Gong began chanting spells, infusing spirit energy while the summoning ritual commenced. As the light intensified, Zhuge Hyun said,

“Now! Think of the Four Great Spirit Deities and call upon Thunder God Indra!”

I shut my eyes tight and entered the realm of the Four Great Spirit Deities. I immediately reached towards the spot where Indra resided, proclaiming,

“Indra!! I offer a sacrifice! Make a sub-contract with Zhuge Hyun!”

…….

A moment of silence followed, and then I heard an ominous voice from Indra’s seat.

[You’re telling me to make a contract not with you but some other nobody?]

“W-well! Zhuge Hyun specifically named you!”

[How amusing… Hehe.]

Indra chuckled as if it were a joke.

[Let’s see how bold you are for a few words… ]

“Eh?!”

[I’m departing.]

*Crack!*

In an instant, I was back in the real world, and alongside me came a tremendous thunderous light from the artifact, Vajra. The summoned Vajra seemed to be devouring my energy at an astonishing rate, darkness swirling around it.

*Woom woom*

A rumble echoed. From the flashing Vajra, a booming voice resonated.

[Zhuge Hyun! I’ll grant you just one word. If it displeases me, you will burn!]

“……”

Zhuge Hyun appeared unfazed, his expression calm as if he had anticipated this. He then released my hand, shouting fiercely.

“Indra! I shall return the [Great Cycle] to you and free you from your seal!”

Huh?!

Wh-what does that mean?!

I was stunned by Zhuge Hyun’s unexpected proclamation. Even Indra seemed taken aback, his voice silenced for a brief moment. Then he finally responded.

[How so?]

With confidence, Zhuge Hyun extended his hand towards Indra, boldly asserting,

“There are many eyes watching here. I want to speak with you one-on-one! Invite me to your inner world.”

[Fine… But if you babble nonsense, I will strike you down!]

*Crack!*

“……!!”

The next second, Zhuge Hyun’s body morphed into lightning and shot toward Vajra, sucked into it. I stood there flabbergasted, utterly confounded by this sudden turn of events.

‘What on earth?’

What does Zhuge Hyun plan to achieve?

After a lengthy pause, Vajra began to tremble. The fierce wave of sound it emitted transformed into a blinding flash that painted the surroundings white. It was as if Indra’s power echoed within.

[Hahaha! Now this is fun!]

*Crackle crackle…*

In this moment, Vajra was suddenly seized by Zhuge Hyun’s hands. But in its usual form as a colossal, powerful lightning weapon, it stood transformed into a mundane Vajra, lacking its potent energy, while instead, a light like thunder surged from Zhuge Hyun’s entire being.

“Ughhhh…!!”

Smoke curled from Zhuge Hyun’s skin, and the stench of burning flesh filled the air. He struggled against severe pain, fainting and awakening repeatedly, and after a long time he finally stood, wobbling.

He turned to me, saying, “The sub-contract is a success. For a while, Vajra shall be under my control.”

“……!!”

It worked?!

Seeing Zhuge Hyun attain his goal, I couldn’t help but be astonished. He managed to pull off something that seemed impossible! Stammering, I asked,

“What on earth did you say to Indra? How did you manage to persuade that violent fellow…”

“Nothing much. I simply pointed out that Indra’s seal stemmed from the past of [Great Cycle]. In other words, if I could change [Great Cycle], it means Indra’s seal would naturally lift. I merely suggested that.”

“Change [Great Cycle]? How do you even propose to do that?!”

“……”

Zhuge Hyun glanced around, then said, “There are many eyes here. First, I’ll discuss it with Seo Mun-gbaek and return with the tales of the Sword Demon… cough.”

As if suddenly overcome, Zhuge Hyun coughed up blood. Alarmed, I checked his pulse; it had dwindled, and his muscles felt fried by electricity. Even if Indra had gone easy on him, it was evident he was on the brink of death given the toll of lightning he had endured. I swiftly poured my internal energy into Zhuge Hyun for temporary healing and turned to Gong Gong.

“Looks like he fainted. Can you use your healing spell?”

[Currently, I possess no applicable techniques. If you’re worried about that man’s welfare, I can ask the Ilpenled tribe for healing assistance.]

“Ilpenled?”

Gong Gong nodded.

[Despite appearances, they are thousands of years ahead of human medical techniques. They will treat him well.]

“Understood. Please do so.”

*Crack!*

I headed for Seo Mun-gbaek. It was time to hear the tales of the Sword Demon.

“Where is Seo Mun-gbaek?”

“Ah! Baek Woong-nim, I’ll guide you.”

With a clatter, I hopped into the military vehicle.

This was a reasonable action to avoid wasting time, but I suddenly paused, shocked at myself.

‘Hmm… Am I being too cold?’

I couldn’t figure out why, but I felt my actions were too detached. Ordinarily, if Mangnyang had sustained injuries like that, I would have stayed with him until he recovered and monitored his healing process. Why then did I not feel the same inclination towards Zhuge Hyun? Could it be because, despite being the same person, he felt different since he was from an alternate universe?

*Screech*

“We’re here.”

My tangled emotions cleared slightly as I finally exited the military vehicle and entered Seo Mun-gbaek’s quarters. As a commander, he utilized the entire five-story mansion as his personal residence, giving it an impressive air. Guided by the soldiers, as I walked into his room on the fifth floor, I found Seo Mun-gbaek seated, reading an ancient book.

Wearing an unused pair of glasses, he pushed them up with a finger and said, “You’ve arrived.”

“Any issues while I was gone?”

“How could there be any grand issues when you’ve annihilated our strong enemies? I’ve heard victorious news of your troop demolishing a powerful alien force at another frontline. By this measure, 70% of the alien forces across the Central Plains have vanished.”

Seo Mun-gbaek rose and suddenly bowed deeply before me.

“As the commander of the Northeast Asian Liberation Army, I sincerely thank you, great hero!”

What?!

I was taken aback by his unexpected behavior and quickly helped him back up.

“Great hero, my foot… I did it because it benefited me as well. Don’t burden me with that.”

“Ah… I’m entirely grateful.”

Tears streamed down Seo Mun-gbaek’s face as he wiped them away and continued.

“That feeling of powerlessness, like a child facing a soldier with a gun… When our forces lost tens of thousands while failing to take down a single alien… I wish to repay this gratitude even a hundred times over.”

Clearly, it seems humanity in this world had suffered greatly at the hands of aliens. It truly was the end times here. I addressed Seo Mun-gbaek again.

“Anyway, I’m here to hear the Sword Demon’s past. I’d like you to tell me about it.”

“Of course, I have to share that information. I’ve spent nights searching through our family’s records, and I’ve uncovered the past deeds of our ancestor, the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong…”

But as he spoke, his expression darkened abruptly, as if he were being restrained.

“……?”

What’s wrong with him?

“Is there a problem?”

“That… Umm… Uh-oh.”

I sensed something odd about Seo Mun-gbaek’s inability to speak. After some pondering, I reached a stark conclusion.

Someone is present.

‘Seo Mun-gbaek is being controlled by a binding spell.’

*Hiss*

In that moment, with the sharp intuition of the Absolute Realm’s Intent Heavenly Pillar, I immediately perceived the discomfort in the atmosphere. There was [something] in this room, and I turned my gaze in that direction.

“Who are you?”

*Step*

“I am the apostle of the great Three Sovereigns.”

It appeared as if something had walked out of thin air. The figure, revealing itself from the back of Seo Mun-gbaek’s study, donned a crane robe and emanated intense celestial energy. Also, the object in hand seemed to possess significant power.

‘If this sudden presence knows I’m an apostle…’

Has word already spread throughout the neighborhood?

“Whoa! You are…?”

But I quickly recognized his identity, much to my shock. The face was familiar.

“C-can it be… Hong Gil-dong?!”

He nodded affirmatively.

“Even before you ascended to the Celestial Realm, you recognized me, the Great Apostle. Impressive.”

It was none other than Hong Gil-dong!

The King of Yuldoguk, the Elder of the Twelve Joules, and the expert of the Absolute Realm—why on earth was he standing before me, looking like a godly artifact in hand?!

“Y-you’re telling me you ascended? So you’re the Great Immortal now?”

“Indeed.”

The great immortal Hong Gil-dong addressed me with utmost seriousness.

“I, Hong Gil-dong, have come on behalf of the great celestial beings to invite you to Kunlun Mountain. Please honor my invitation…”

“……”

“In order not to insult you, I have not harmed this human.”

I was dumbfounded, and in that moment, I drew my sword and lunged at Hong Gil-dong.

*Infinite Slash!*

WHAM!!

In an instant, the strike passed through Hong Gil-dong, and I felt no resistance whatsoever as he appeared in an unexpected position, looking surprised.

“Isn’t it surprising for the apostle of the Three Sovereigns to have such incredible martial arts? If it weren’t for the power of my artifact, the Blood Mirror, I would have certainly fallen victim to your strike.”

The red mirror he held emitted a low rumble. This was indeed the Blood Mirror artifact that must have allowed him to evade my Infinite Slash.

“…I’m sorry for the sudden attack. I just needed to confirm something.”

“Did you get to confirm what you wanted?”

“……”

I sheathed my sword, deep in thought.

‘Damn. This is ridiculous….’

It was undeniable.

That guy hadn’t used any martial arts at all. The fact that he directly evaded my attack within the Absolute Realm meant he utilized pure magical techniques, connecting only the dots.

‘He didn’t just not use it… he never learned martial arts from the beginning!’

This Hong Gil-dong was a pure sorcerer, unskilled in martial arts even in his human days!