전생검신 90권 07화

KUAH!!

With the simultaneous attack from the five gods, the numerous higher beings guarding the Heavenly Mysterious Woman of Nine Heavens screamed like banshees. At the same time, the magical power in the venue surged and roiled, and the time and space became even more obstructed, leading to a gradual darkening around me. This dense magical energy created quite a massive shockwave, making even me wobble slightly from afar. It became clear that the dozens of divine beings summoned there weren’t just pushovers either.

‘Are these the elites of the Divine Temple?’

But at that moment, the three great divine beasts—Eungui, Shenglong, and Qilin—opened their mouths almost simultaneously. As they exhaled breaths infused with their powers, something terrifying happened.

BAM –

A gigantic beam tinged with the power of lightning swept across the ground, eradicating every being in its path. Literally, everything got wiped out, turning dozens of entities into dust in an instant, while that beam struck through the Heavenly Mysterious Woman like a hot knife through butter.

UGHH!

A rainbow-colored shield formed around the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, blocking the attack, but I could see that her winged robe was instantly ripped apart into tatters. And she seemed severely impacted, swaying slightly, giving me a good idea of how powerful the attack from the three divine beasts was.

‘No matter how released the Heavenly Mysterious Woman is… it’s too much for her to handle all three divine beasts at once!’

Of course, I had to consider that she was in the middle of a significant ceremony and couldn’t fight properly, but the situation seemed dire for her. Even if she fought back, I couldn’t say she would have the upper hand!

[HAHAHA!!]

[Do you think mere minions can stop us!]

Moreover, once the attack from the three divine beasts overwhelmed the space, Shiva and Vishnu dove into the fray and began their assault on the remaining forces of the Divine Temple. Vishnu chanted an incantation, conjuring a whirlwind in mid-air, while Shiva swung his weapons, starting a massacre alongside bloodshed.

SWOOOSH

CRACK!!

It looked almost one-sided as Shiva and Vishnu attacked like wolves among a flock of sheep, slaughtering all enemies. I noticed that among the elite of the Divine Temple, there were a few lower-ranked [Old Rulers] who didn’t compare to the Demon King level, yet seeing their indifference made me realize what this joint attack truly meant.

When five great gods band together, it’s nothing short of apocalyptic!

If an equally ranked force didn’t counter, there’d be no chance whatsoever!

Before long, Shiva and Vishnu swept away everything before them, followed by Shiva’s powerful spiritual beads striking hard against the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s protective barrier.

[Die!!]

BOOM!!

Almost simultaneously, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s winged robe was nearly torn apart, and at that moment, I felt it was just the beginning and gritted my teeth.

CRACKLE –

What broke apart revealed something indescribably different from a human woman’s naked body! It was as if the essence of a star was condensed into a luminous orb, emanating a bright blue light as vibrant as life itself, with a bizarre, iridescent skin swirling around like circuitry.

Her entire being shattered like glass, fractures spreading everywhere. In the midst of it all, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman coldly uttered one last phrase in her final human shape.

[If you all attack me, there’s no choice… I must halt the ceremony and reveal my true body!]

As those words faded, light began to radiate from her entire being. Upon seeing that, I felt a surge of tension.

‘She abandoned her human form…!! Now the real deal begins!’

BANG!!

In the next moment, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman transformed, glowing brightly.

WHUM – WHUM – WHUM –

Nahoo and Kyeongdo’s dual stars were summoned.

Those two stars are known to appear at the end of times as the constellations of despair and indeed make their entrance with the Guardian in the final stretch of the trial of the Seven Luminaries. As soon as Nahoo and Kyeongdo appeared, I glanced at the distant Shenglong.

‘And at that time, Shenglong had drawn upon the power of the solar system in the ultimate move… Of course, when backed by the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, its powers were considerably amplified…’

Though I managed to fend it off using the Blessing of the Sky back then, it was clear that the Shenglong, empowered by both the Seven Luminaries and the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, was not someone I could routinely defeat. In fact, even now, with my true form’s spiritual power, I couldn’t confidently claim I could win.

And comparing just the raw powers, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman was several times stronger than back then, leaving me quite tense.

ZZZZZZZ –

At last, amid the wiggling Nahoo and Kyeongdo stars, a completely unexpected form began to emerge.

[……!!]

[What?!]

[How can you be in that form…….]

Finally summoned was the true body of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman!

Seeing her true form shocked the three divine beasts immensely. Eungui, Shenglong, and Qilin were taken aback, frozen in astonishment. This meant that the form she had just summoned triggered profound significance for them.

I wasn’t surprised at their reaction. I too was utterly stunned at that moment.

[……?!]

W-why does she look like that……?

Is this even real?

With endlessly beautiful wings of light, resembling a bird but in a dimension far removed from earthly creatures – I had seen this form when I traveled with Fuxi to the edge of the Takrok Era. Having spoken directly with her, I could never forget that image.

I inadvertently yelled in shock.

[Phoenix……!! W-why!!]

That’s right. The form the Heavenly Mysterious Woman had taken was that of the four divine beasts’ Phoenix!!

I hadn’t seen her true form with my own eyes even during the trial of the Seven Luminaries. I had been curious about what she looked like, and to learn now that it resembled the Phoenix, the original and strongest of the divine beasts…!

The Heavenly Mysterious Woman then glanced at me and said,

[Indeed, a Reborn Person… it seems you have met the Phoenix already… This form I assume is indeed that of the Phoenix.]

[Why have you taken on that form?]

At her next answer, both the three divine beasts and I were dazed.

[In the primordial solar system, the Phoenix did not grant its powers solely to these three divine beasts… The Phoenix bestowed its blessings upon the entire planet Earth, and thanks to it, I have acquired immense strength.]

[……!!]

[Did you think it was mere coincidence that the will of a single planet could be this powerful? While hundreds of Old Rulers wield their tremendous magical powers, the world could only endure due to the Phoenix’s blessings… I will take on the form of that one who was the most powerful in the memory of the stars.]

C-Could it be… the Heavenly Mysterious Woman was also a being who received powers from the Phoenix!

SSSSS –

As Nahoo and Kyeongdo began to move toward her true body, I felt a wave of clarity and shouted.

[Drawing the Dragon with a Pointed Brush!! The Heavenly Mysterious Woman must not gain Nahoo and Kyeongdo!! Stop her!]

Based on my experience from the trial of the Seven Luminaries, I knew that was dangerous!

‘The moment Nahoo and Kyeongdo embed themselves as her pupils, her strength will amplify exponentially!’

Back then, my losing condition was if Nahoo and Kyeongdo formed the pattern of the dragon’s pupils, but the likelihood of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman employing the same tactic was awfully high!

[Ugh!!]

[Let’s go!]

At my shout, the gods attacked the Heavenly Mysterious Woman simultaneously. Consequently, Nahoo and Kyeongdo began to spin in an oval around her, blocking the combined assault of the gods, which seemed leagues apart from how the Heavenly Mysterious Woman had shielded herself in human form.

BOOM!!

Even Shiva’s full-power attack with his beads was deflected by Nahoo! Shiva, a god comparable to Jeon Wook in force, found his assault easily blocked, showing that the divine strength bestowed upon the two stars exceeded imagination. Vishnu, who observed the scene behind, frowned.

[What the… you’ve already laid out the formation of the Seven Luminaries here? Truly meticulous… and to think you hid this from us, your allies.]

Vishnu’s implication was crystal clear. The restoration ceremony of the Three Sovereigns was underway, as well as a rite to summon the powers of the Seven Luminaries! Because of that, even if the Heavenly Mysterious Woman revealed her form, she couldn’t withstand the combined power of the five gods. However, thanks to the power of the Seven Luminaries, she could engage in a similar battle.

Then the Heavenly Mysterious Woman spoke.

[Someone in the Divine Temple foresaw a betrayal… I didn’t anticipate it to turn out like this, but I needed to prepare for any treachery.]

[…… Ha, ha, ha. Your omniscience isn’t completely useless, huh? Then let’s back off for now, Shiva.]

SWISH!

Vishnu laughed heartily and suddenly retreated from the frontline. Both Vishnu and Shiva transformed into their human forms and moved aside.

I was dumbfounded by their sudden appearance.

[What the hell? Why aren’t you fighting?! If you give the Heavenly Mysterious Woman time, she’ll absorb Nahoo and Kyeongdo and become even stronger…!]

Cutting me off, Vishnu responded.

“I know. But haphazardly attacking can’t breach the dual star’s defense that the current Heavenly Mysterious Woman has set. Against a Heavily Empowered Heavenly Mysterious Woman, we’d just be wasting time.”

By then, Vishnu had already adopted the powerful divine body of Krishna, raising a voice filled with authority.

[…… So?]

Vishnu, in the form of Krishna, gazed at me.

“Your answer is in your hands, Baek Woong.”

[In my hands?]

“That’s right.”

As Vishnu continued, I finally understood why both Vishnu and Shiva had taken on human forms.

“We’re going to use the Trimurti together.”

[……!!]

Trimurti!!

Shocked, I couldn’t even fathom Vishnu’s suggestion. Could he really be talking about the Trimurti?

With a spark of hope, I asked.

[Wait, are you telling me you transformed into humans to sync with me for the Trimurti activation?]

“Otherwise, why would we take on human form at a time like this?”

[…… The Trimurti was typically a technique I used solo. Brahma would only use it personally, but is it possible to use it together now?]

My tone was laced with skepticism as I replied to Vishnu, who let out a small laugh.

“It seems Brahma didn’t clearly convey that. You know we fought many gods in ancient times… What allowed us to turn the tide in our numbers was the power of the Trimurti cast when we three were together. It’s at its strongest when all three of us are combined.”

[……!!]

“Yet since Brahma went missing, we haven’t had a chance to properly use the Trimurti’s strength and were subdued by the Emperor’s Divine Temple… Unlike Brahma, we can’t use the Trimurti individually…”

With a distant gaze, Vishnu slowly opened his eyes.

“Baek Woong… if you truly hold Brahma’s will as the successor of the Trimurti, then surely you can cast it alongside us… With that power, you could break through the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s defense!”

[Hmm…!!]

SWISH

As I grasped the situation, Vishnu and Shiva extended their palms, placing them together. With a natural instinct, I knew where I was meant to stand, and I placed my palms against both Vishnu and Shiva’s.

With our hands forming a triangular shape in the three talents formation, Vishnu calmly spoke.

“We will elevate your meager divine strength, enhancing the power of the Trimurti technique. You could say we’re raising the average.”

I understood what Vishnu meant. My divine strength was pitiful, but by forcefully elevating me with the power of two gods, the strength of the technique could be maximized. That meant I could safely guarantee that it would surpass the power I had wielded alone in the past with the Trimurti.

[So… I need to lead the Trimurti?]

“That’s right. Ultimately, it’s all dependent on your mastery of the Trimurti. That’s beyond our help… Are you confident?”

[…….]

I fell silent. While it seemed easy to say, it was undeniably a colossal challenge.

The overwhelming divine strength pouring from two gods!

Balancing my power amid their might and striving for the desired effect would require extraordinary skill.

If I wanted to maintain that balance while achieving the desired outcome, it would indeed be akin to an extraordinary act, a difficulty incomparable to what I had achieved in the Trimurti before.

But, instead, I smirked and said.

[Heh… Vishnu. What have you fought to the end for?]

“…… To see Brahma again. To seize the chance to rule the universe alongside him.”

[Powerful wish, befitting a strong divinity. But I couldn’t care less about that.]

“What?”

Seeing Vishnu’s incredulity, I candidly confessed my usual twisted sentiment.

[I’m willing to do anything to screw over anyone who tries to use me!! If we all die together, it’d be fair game!]

“……!!”

As Vishnu looked shocked, I saw fire in my eyes.

[Now that I’m serious, I’m determined to destroy this damn world!!]

And thus began the most challenging phase of my life’s Trimurti.

In that moment, I felt a halo forming as a circle appeared behind me, sensing a unified consciousness with Shiva and Vishnu.

‘Oh!!’

‘This is…’

‘The moment has arrived.’

This was an incredibly bizarre experience. My thoughts became Shiva’s thoughts, which became Vishnu’s. Even their thoughts felt alive, perfectly shared. Though I had shared thoughts and perspectives before, never had I been this deeply intertwined and harmonized.

Dizzy.

So overwhelming.

So complex.

So… high-dimensional…

‘Agh… ugh…’

As this state prolonged, I felt my mind gradually clouding. This was due to how incredibly advanced the consciousness of Shiva and Vishnu was, far beyond what my human brain could handle. The very memories of beings who weren’t even organisms, retaining memories spanning billions of years, could easily shatter a human mind.

Yet in that chaos, I clung to my sanity like a flickering candle. I realized that in my mental fortress, laid out by the previous Cheon Woo-jin, there were likely some latent safeguards he had implemented. By now, in a human brain, this should have been a prime recipe for disaster.

‘Ah, there’s that mental blueprint…’

The existence of a peculiar tree diagram nestled within my psyche seemed to allow me to bear the responsibility of the gods’ consciousness. I recognized this as the achievements of my training thus far.

‘Sephira…!!’

Choosing the “power” of Sephira elevated my mental defenses even more.

It felt as if a robust tree was firmly upholding my psyche, preventing it from being uprooted.

Regardless, I concluded that due to these various factors, I could endure sharing minds with the gods. As I finally steadied myself, Shiva’s wonder struck me telepathically.

‘You truly are a Reborn Person… possessing this level of mental strength in that meager flesh.’

‘Shiva, what’s the point in denying it now? The author is on the verge of blooming possibilities that could surpass the gods…’

‘Hmmm…’

‘That must be why Fuxi connected with the Reborn Person…’

Vishnu said, communicating telepathically to me.

‘Baek Woong… your mental resonance has stabilized. Now, what will you create with the Trimurti?’

‘…….’

‘Just a point of reference… previously, Brahma once performed a miracle amplifying all our strengths at a similar instance… creating miracles is certainly a divine ability…’

I responded to Vishnu’s words.

‘At present, such miracles carry no significance…’

‘Exactly, your strength is still too weak compared to the two of us… The amplification rate is best when balancing all three powers, yet the balance right now is way off….’

‘…….’

‘So, what will you do? Simply increasing strength won’t win you the current battle… What will you create with the Trimurti to reverse the battle’s momentum?’

Vishnu’s probing felt like a crucial trial before me.

Thinking thoroughly, amplifying strength would likely be the simplest and most effective route. Indeed, Brahma must have had reasons to wield such strategic maneuvers with his brothers during ancient wars. The amplified divine beings of the Seven Luminaries could probably stand toe-to-toe against a powerful god like the Emperor or an evil god.

Yet as Vishnu indicated, I couldn’t employ the strategy Brahma had used. At this moment, I felt I might even fall short of matching a mere Demon King.

What exactly should I create with the Trimurti?

What must I create to defeat the true body of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and prevent her from merging with Nahoo and Kyeongdo?

How can I achieve both…?

‘……?’

In that instance, realization dawned upon me that I was thinking about it all wrong.

‘Is there a need to do both?’

I merely had to do what I could.

The outcome would still differ, right?

‘Hmm… then!’

With that thought, I quickly found inspiration and envisioned what I would ‘create.’

The moment I conjured that image in my head, the two divine beings, Shiva and Vishnu, stood speechless.

‘… Huh?’

‘Wow… what a crazy thought.’

Both looked shocked, but I firmly asserted my belief.

‘Trust me, you guys! Even if things go south, I’m fine!’

‘Are you the only one who’s fine?’

I flinched but rallied defiantly.

‘Caught me…!! But what are you gonna do about it?’

‘… HAHAHA!! Sounds fun! Should we try it!’

‘Umm. It can’t be helped….’

With Shiva’s hearty laughter resonating, Vishnu reluctantly deferred to me as well.

As they conceded to my idea, the Trimurti was established, and in the midst of the three of us with our hands clasped together, something began to manifest in the white light at the heart of our triangular formation.

FWOOSH!!

Finally summoned through the power of the Trimurti, I gripped the two white orbs in my hands. Though they differed in size from those floating in the firmament, being created by the power of the Trimurti from two gods, I could assert their essence remained the same.

I glanced at Shiva and Vishnu, who focused on the orbs I held, having already shared my intent mentally.

SWISH!!

In that moment, Shiva and Vishnu’s forms vanished, completely absorbed into the orbs!

‘Done.’

With my preparations complete, I held the two orbs while my eyes glinted with anticipation.

[If you desire those pupils, I’ll gift them to you, Heavenly Mysterious Woman!!]

The next moment, I summoned every martial art I had toward the Heavenly Mysterious Woman.

Technique of All Things (萬象之偸)

Secret Divine Technique (神偸秘技)

[Return the Sleeve!!]

ZAP!!

At that moment, the two orbs in my hands disappeared with a whoosh.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, who had been staring at me, began thrashing in utter disbelief.

[This… What is this…!!]

GUGUGUGU!!

The power of the Heavenly Mysterious Woman suddenly surged tremendously—much more than it had been just moments before, to the point where it could rival that of Tezcatlipoca!

However, she couldn’t attack me with that power and merely stood there, struggling as if resisting something, flapping her phoenix wings wildly.

[Aaaah… Haaaah!!]

As the Heavenly Mysterious Woman exhibited peculiar behavior, Eungui, the Phoenix, hovering above, seemed puzzled and asked me.

[Baek Woong, what did you do? Why is the Heavenly Mysterious Woman unable to attack us after absorbing Nahoo and Kyeongdo?]

[…….]

I gazed silently at the Heavenly Mysterious Woman from a distance, then smirked.

[Because those aren’t her eyes!]

[……?]

Just as I affirmed, Shenglong suddenly seemed to grasp something.

[So Nahoo and Kyeongdo… are still there! No way?]

[Exactly that.]

[You’re really insane, aren’t you…?]

Eungui looked at me with awe, trembling in a subdued voice.

[The Nahoo and Kyeongdo that the Heavenly Mysterious Woman obtained… are actually Shiva and Vishnu!!]

I nodded.

[You got it!!]

That’s right.

What I created with the Trimurti was precisely Nahoo and Kyeongdo!

Then when those two stars merged their divine essences with Shiva and Vishnu, I used the Technique of All Things to embed them into the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s eyes!

It goes without saying that what I created as Nahoo and Kyeongdo through the Trimurti was genuine, meeting all conditions for enhancement, which meant the Heavenly Mysterious Woman’s powers would also amplify. However, since Nahoo and Kyeongdo were now endowed with Shiva and Vishnu’s essence, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman was now locked in a daunting struggle against them inside her own body.

The Qilin uttered in disbelief.

[How did you come up with such a bizarre plan?]

[I’ve had similar experiences.]

I replied, casting a steady look towards Shenglong.

[……?]

Of course, Shenglong looked puzzled as to why I was staring at him, but I couldn’t help but smile frantically within.

‘This all comes from experience.’

When I had grappled with the question of how to defeat the summoned Shenglong during the trial of the Seven Luminaries, I concluded that controlling the Nahoo and Kyeongdo’s presence in their eyes held the key to a slim chance of winning. Back then, if I could rule over their pupils, I could at least secure some odds, and the strategy I employed then had proven itself once again.

What if I had already seized control over those eyes…?

And instead of using the real Nahoo and Kyeongdo, I had implanted their essences in my enemy’s body?

The unfolding result was standing right in front of me.

With the Heavenly Mysterious Woman suffering from severe internal injuries, she could only tremble helplessly before the combined might of Shiva and Vishnu.

[Aaaaah… Aaaaaah!!]

BOOM!!

A moment later, the Heavenly Mysterious Woman bellowed, her immense pain resonating across the space, and she burst into a scattering of light!

As I saw that, my fist clenched with determination.

[That’s it!! Bye-bye, Heavenly Mysterious Woman!]

[…….]

[…….]

[Why are you all looking at me like that?]

Seeing the three divine beasts regarding me with strange eyes, I expressed my indignation.

Qilin reluctantly spoke up.

[You’re the scariest human I’ve ever encountered.]