전생검신 92권 14화

The Role of the Meat Shield?!

“Hey, watch your words…”

I was taken aback by Zhuge Sa’s extreme choice of words. I mean, how could anyone be so blatant about calling someone a meat shield, especially with everyone around us fully tuned in? This was certainly not something an ordinary person would do. Surprisingly, though, the reaction was quite muted as Zhuge Sa continued.

“This isn’t the time for face-saving. I’ll explain the operation once, so listen carefully. Baek Woong, you’ve got the most to do here.”

“Me?”

“Of course! You’re more than 90% of our power. It might get a bit tricky, so put some effort into it. If anything slips, it could mean total annihilation.”

“Ugh… Got it.”

A little while later, Zhuge Sa finished explaining the operation, leaving me confused.

“Is such a plan even possible…? No way, isn’t that way too much of a gamble?!”

It seemed somewhat reasonable at first, but honestly, I couldn’t buy it. The fact that everything could result in total annihilation if even a single detail went wrong wasn’t just rhetoric. Besides, it was uncertain if those wicked demon gods would even act as we anticipated. Then Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“If you don’t believe me, the best move would be to just give up right now. Witnessing your comrades get wiped out won’t do your mental health any good as a reborn person, right?”

“…”

“So, what will it be?”

I was in deep thought. Until now, I had claimed I could never give up on saving Seo Mun-hye due to my beliefs, but the operation Zhuge Sa proposed felt way too risky. Honestly, it felt like trying to smash an egg against a rock. On top of that, since it literally involved using a meat shield, I felt an intense guilt towards my comrades.

While I was pondering, Asura, who was next to me, spoke up.

“Do it, Baek Woong!”

“Asura.”

“He called you a meat shield, but there’s truth in it. Even if we grow stronger, to true gods, we still amount to nothing more than bugs. But if we could inflict even the slightest damage to those once untouchable beings, what’s wrong with being a meat shield?!”

“…!”

Asura’s eyes shone brightly.

“Those newly made apostles might not get it, but the higher you ascend, the more painfully obvious it is how vast the gap above you is. Closing that gap is a blessing, wouldn’t you say? I’m willing to endure any pain that equals death!”

His words were incredibly firm, filled with an unwavering will. After all, he had felt the divine realm indirectly for a long time while being one of the Eight Divine Parts, so his perception was bound to be different.

Then, the Master of the White Lotus Sect added his two cents.

“Asura is right. As humans, we have no right to be picky about our methods. The very fact that we can even engage in battle with such higher beings is astounding.”

“Master.”

After a moment, he kneeled before me.

“Great One! Please allow our White Lotus Sect to serve as a meat shield!”

“…”

Seeing everyone’s resolve, I couldn’t help but steel myself as well. I clenched my teeth and thought for a long while before saying,

“Let’s do it.”

This might be hypocrisy or deception. Perhaps it’s a wickedness that utilizes desperation to benefit myself.

But if I’m going to embrace chaos and commit evil, I have no choice but to achieve victory.

As the leader, I must bear all responsibilities and produce results.

Only victory holds significance—that is the only truth in this world of survival of the fittest.

For a while, we began crafting our plan. Time passed and my anxiety grew, but fortunately, there were no signs of an attack.

Kugugu

Soon, the Yi Seong-gye began to advance forward. Since the enemy was waiting rather than attacking, we had no choice but to move first. Zhuge Sa, standing on the bridge, smiled coldly.

“By the dignity of the demon gods, they’re allowing us to strike first. Very well… since starting is half the battle, if we suppress the beginning, we’ve already won half.”

“Zhuge Sa, are you really going through with this?”

This crazy plan…?

“Yes. Be prepared to settle everything with the first move.”

Damn… here we go.

“Four Great Spirit Deities… the Water God Varuna! Grant me protection!”

Whoosh!

The water barrier of Varuna encircled my body.

After setting up the protective shield, I activated my true power.

“Come… Mask of Explosive Light!”

The mask that Jeon Wook bestowed upon me, the Mask of Explosive Light!

This mask had the ability to amplify strength infinitely. In fact, it felt strangely simplistic compared to either the Deception Mask of Shao Hao Jin Tian or the Plot Mask with divine power interpretation that Jeogok possessed. Yet, Zhuge Sa, who faintly shared my memories, concluded that the Mask of Explosive Light was the most powerful one.

I recalled what Zhuge Sa had said earlier.

[You won’t be able to use Indra, the strongest attack method, right.]

[Right. It’s too dangerous.]

[Then it’s best not to use an uncontrollable variable. Let’s go for the second-best option.]

[The second best is?]

[The enemy is arrogant, so they will likely concede the first strike. Jeon Wook’s power, the Mask of Explosive Light, delivers optimal performance when hitting unsuspecting victims. Utilizing this characteristic could give us a chance to turn the strategy in our favor.]

[Even if my strength increases indefinitely, I’ll need time to elevate it…]

[Hehe! With your diverse divine powers, you’re worried about that? As long as you combine it well, it’s a ridiculously powerful power. You should research more on how to apply your abilities.]

Swish!

“Trimurti!”

As the Mask of Explosive Light was summoned and engulfed my face, I used Trimurti to insert the Mask of Explosive Light. I placed different divine powers in the other two slots.

Heat (?): [Small Cycle Manipulation]!

Shiva’s [Destruction] Power!

Kurururu!

At that moment, time suddenly froze. All my comrades paused, and even time and space stopped moving, leaving only me wearing the Mask of Explosive Light, continuously unleashing soaring divine power. With a raucous and violent sound like a wheel turning, I felt time flow by at an incredible speed in front of me.

‘Grrrrrr…!’

I shuddered at a terrible feeling as if strength were being drained from my entire body. This was because I was manipulating the [Small Cycle] with time rushing toward the [future] at an astounding rate. Fortunately, I had shielded against the effects of the [Small Cycle] in advance with Varuna, which allowed me to avoid aging into death, but the burden of time’s pressure on my body was nothing to scoff at.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh

‘500 years… 1000 years… 2000 years…!’

With a breathtakingly fast sensation of time flowing by!

I had hardly ever adjusted the [Small Cycle] to such an extreme, so I started feeling dizzy. While manipulating time, I felt oddly able to measure the flowing time’s units, but that only made the struggle even more mentally taxing.

Kugugu

When I surpassed a feeling of 10,000 years, I felt like I was about to vomit from the dizziness. And then I realized this was probably the limit of what my body and Varuna’s barrier could bear.

‘10,000… 2,000 years…? Is this my limit…?’

This time frame signified a simple reality.

The amount of strength I condensed for 12,000 years with the Mask of Explosive Light was presently concentrated in my arms!

To have infinite strength rising meant I could keep packing it until I reached my limit!

As I gathered as much strength as I could, I clenched my fists and felt it.

Gooo!

“…!”

It couldn’t be measured. Normally, even the most powerful force would have a degree of measurement, but the strength accumulating in my arms was utterly beyond imagination. This force warranted discussion not in mortal units, but in the terms of stars or galaxies—beyond anything I could comprehend.

‘This should be enough…!’

Tydaht

As soon as I was ready, I used my divine power to leap through space and appeared right in front of a magic general that resembled a giant sea anemone. Upon my appearance, the general’s enormous eye attached to its body grew wide, and it introduced itself.

[Challenger! Give it your best shot! I am Aldebaran, the great magic general serving the mighty god…!]

“Understood. Die!”

In a flash,

I unleashed the Soul Removal Technique with all my might and charged at Aldebaran like a body slam. Although it seemed like I would strike Aldebaran including right now, the distance between us didn’t shrink, and Aldebaran sneered.

[Did you think you could attack me easily with hundreds of layers of dimensional barriers erected by my divine power? You truly are an arrogant little god!]

A divine-level fighter’s dimensional barriers would warp time and space, making it impossible to reach using typical methods. Moreover, I felt like multiple dimensions were layered in defense, so any great sorcerer or demon king would surely despair at just the thought of reaching out to it. It would take an immense amount of divine power and a long-lasting effort to break through, while typically, a battle involving divine beings would see a flurry of divine power and techniques.

But if I fought a conventional battle, it was doomed to lose—

That’s why Zhuge Sa’s strategy was simply outlined.

[One-hit kill.]

Zhuge Sa’s advice echoed in my head.

[The premise is to kill one magic general with your first strike. If you fail, it’s over.]

I clenched my fist tightly, summoning my greatest battle cry.

“Die!!!”

Super Extreme Power!

Jeon Wook’s Thunder God Fist!

At that moment, the deadly technique of the Thunder God Fist, imbued with the condensed power from the Mask of Explosive Light, spread from my fist, and something unbelievable happened.

Boom!

Just my fist grazing the air split dimensions! I felt an explosion as massive barriers of countless parallel dimensions that had been blocking my fist shattered like glass.

Kuwakuwakuwakuwak!

The pure force stretched out. It was a ghastly potential that I couldn’t even fathom, swirling with a power that started to feel more potent than a dragon’s breath. The rising might of my spiraling giant fist began shattering the world around me, and the physical laws started collapsing.

Zshuaaah!

A mock dimension opened! As the dimension’s stability became nearly void, a cosmic phenomenon emerged, realizing that all barriers separating me and Aldebaran had been eradicated.

Aldebaran appeared as if it couldn’t believe its eyes. Afterward, it tried to construct dimension barriers like the Milky Way again in a vain effort.

[No… this insane…]

Puwakowak!

That was Aldebaran’s dying breath. The cosmic force contained in my punch obliterated Aldebaran’s body, which was the size of a planet, into countless fragments. Judging by the gradually dispersing dimensional veil like the Milky Way, it seemed it struggled until the last moment but could not withstand the power accumulated over 12,000 years by wearing the Mask of Explosive Light.

Creak!

‘Guh…!’

I had severed the magic general in one strike, but at that moment, I felt an ignorant pain and severing sensation enveloping my entire body. It felt like being eaten alive by ants in the chaos of the universe, and I realized my blood vessels were snapping one by one.

‘My divine power is nearly drained… My body is on the verge of collapse…!’

It felt as if my body were gravely damaged, comparable to the state right after using Great Destruction. Even if I had absorbed most of my power with divine energy, the strength from the Mask of Explosive Light I unleashed moments ago had severely exceeded what a human body could bear. Moreover, since I committed all my energy into that single strike, I had now exhausted a substantial amount of my divine power.

My head was spinning. I couldn’t move my body. I was losing too much blood…

As I teetered on the brink of fainting, I heard Zhuge Sa’s voice ringing in my head.

[Stay conscious! The other two are about to attack!]

Fwoosh!

As he said, no sooner had Aldebaran perished than the other two magical generals flew towards me. One resembled Asura, adorned with numerous arms, and the other looked like a grasshopper, emitting a bluish-green glow.

The beastly general in the form of Dabii shouted.

[Killing Aldebaran in a single blow is quite impressive! I see why the Lord is watching you.]

“…”

[I am Betelgeuse, the magic general! Try to withstand my attack…!]

Roar!

A gigantic magic circle appeared before Betelgeuse, and unfathomable magical power radiated from it. It was a magical energy of cosmic proportions, and from the power level, it was evident that this being qualified as a high-level god. If something was unleashed from that magic circle, even a mere star was bound to easily vanish. Like Aldebaran, Betelgeuse wouldn’t guarantee victory even if my body was functioning properly.

‘…Is he gathering power over time? Even with Varuna’s barrier, if I get hit directly by that, it will break through… Originally, this could be the end… but…’

Zhuge Sa’s strategy took shape here.

I gathered every ounce of power into one arm. Then reciting the phrase Zhuge Sa taught me, I spoke:

“Child of the distant stars… I inscribe the tears born of blood upon this!”

Zziiing!

At that moment, the magical formula that I had prepared earlier etched itself upon my arm. It was a power-arm specializing in soul absorption crafted from Zhuge Sa’s magical knowledge, merging automatically with the divine energy I infused. As the eerie aura began to pulse from the arm inscribed with the mysterious magical language, Zhuge Sa’s words surfaced in my mind.

[I’m no Dharma, but as a rather high-level sorcerer, I can create a good arm for soul control. My contribution is just to support your divine power.]

[Why create an arm?]

[Isn’t it obvious? This is your chance to replicate the greatest feat you once achieved with an energy arm.]

Right now is that moment.

With my eyes shining, I located the soul of the magic general Aldebaran drifting within this space. I swiftly swung the power-arm and cast the technique.

Technique of All Things!

Swoosh…!

“Ugh!”

I instantly felt Aldebaran’s soul being absorbed into my palm, and it felt like my whole body was on the verge of tearing apart. I struggled to suppress a scream amidst the agony as if my entire being were being ripped apart alive.

‘Ughhhh…! This…! It isn’t! Even with the power-arm from Dharma… this colossal soul is too much for me to seize right now!’

I had achieved the feat of snatching the soul of Tezcatlipoca in the past, but the overwhelming credit largely went to Dharma, and Tezcatlipoca had cooperated relatively calmly. Right before me, Aldebaran was mortally hostile, and I lacked mystical tools like Dharma’s power-arm; my present condition was likewise at its worst.

Even attempting to steal it felt like my entire body was being shattered beneath the weight of the soul! It was a stark realization of how unbelievable Dharma’s power-arm was. While Zhuge Sa’s magical craft aided, it couldn’t fundamentally grant me enough durability to snatch a divine soul.

‘But… I executed Zhuge Sa’s plan!’

For now, I just needed to seize it!

Crash!

Finally, my arm couldn’t withstand the weight of the soul any longer and exploded. As my arm shattered into bloody pieces, Betelgeuse looked on with pity.

[How pathetic… did you think the soul of a god could easily be manipulated?]

“…”

[Farewell, reborn one!]

Kuwakuwak!

At that moment, the voluminous magical energy of Betelgeuse unleashed upon me. The breadth was reminiscent of a planetary orbit, making it apparent that there was no way to avoid this onslaught.

And just then, Zhuge Sa’s words echoed in my mind once more.

[Now’s your chance!]

I cleared my mind and shouted.

“I, as a Grade 3 Front Demon… will trade this soul and redistribute all resources to my apostles!”

Commerce power activated!

Jingling…!

In that instant, I heard the sound of Aldebaran’s soul turning into a massive sum of currency in my hands. Shortly afterward, the enormous currency vanished, and instantly before me appeared a multitude of Yi Seong-gye’s apostles.

[Kraaaah.]

[Stop them!]

[T-this incomprehensible force…!]

[Ugh!]

Boom!

And what unfolded before my eyes was spectacular.

The moment Betelgeuse unleashed his magic storm towards me, all my apostles, having pooled their strengths together, managed to block the attack! I felt relief and amazement while witnessing this scene.

‘Wha… This actually works?!’

Zhuge Sa’s plan had succeeded in its entirety!

[It’s absolutely imperative to crush a magic general with your first move. Whether they are three or four, it makes all the difference.]

[But going all out makes it hard to endure the follow-up assault. That’s why we need a meat shield.]

[A meat shield needs to be sizable too. In the current state, it can barely withstand one attack from the enemies. Just taking down one will leave us exhausted, so a single block won’t suffice.]

[Thus, we need to boost the meat shield’s size during battle. We crush the divine body, capture the soul drifting in this space, and straight-away trade it for resources using the commerce power. Normally, in the outside space, the divine soul would move to another location, but in this special space, this soul has been confirmed to wander around.]

[The Grade 3 Front Demon’s privilege allows for the trading of ‘Portraits,’ ‘Souls,’ ‘Constellations,’ ‘Stars,’ ‘Galactic Energy,’ ‘Laws,’ and ‘Dimensions.’ This is also an essential ability for the plan.]

[As soon as we crush their divine body, they can resurrect shortly after, but by trading the soul, we also inhibit their chances of resurrection—two birds with one stone.]

[Once the meat shield’s size is increased, the rest will be smooth sailing. Following the next plan…]

Honestly, as I listened, I thought it was ridiculously reckless. Each tactic seemed borderline miraculous, and it felt like any slight hiccup would spell disaster. Yet somehow, Zhuge Sa’s strategy had unfolded perfectly to this point!

‘Does Zhuge Sa see strategic avenues distinct from a plain commoner like me?!’

While I was dumbfounded by this notion, Zhuge Sa’s words rang in my head.

[I will transfer strength through Yi Seong-gye now. Catch it well.]

Whirrrrr!

Suddenly, a bright light surged from Yi Seong-gye, shooting rays towards me. Without dodging, I absorbed the rays of energy, and rapidly felt my entire body healing and power surging.

“Whoa!”

This was pure, high-grade divine energy…!

Though not fully restored, it felt like I had surged back to 40% from rock bottom. After recuperating with divine energy, I was astonished and tapped Zhuge Sa’s consciousness.

[Zhuge Sa! Yi Seong-gye had a recovery ability too?! I had no idea…!]

[That ability doesn’t exist.]

[Huh? Then what was this restoration…?]

[Five of the White Lotus Sect’s senior members just perished. When apostles die, I set up a magic circle within Yi Seong-gye that returns the same amount of magical power given to those apostles back to you.]

[…?!]

Wha-what?!

In a hurry, I glanced at the apostles that were shielding me. To my dismay, I saw five corpses floating in the void of space among the rows. Each one was a senior expert from the White Lotus Sect, likely having succumbed to the overwhelming impact of Betelgeuse’s attack earlier.

In other words, Zhuge Sa treated even the loss of apostles as a waste of resources, converting it into my recovery method?!

“Damn it! What the hell are you doing, Zhuge Sa?!”

[It’s the right thing to do! Since your divine power has been restored, waste no time and target Betelgeuse!]

“…!”

[While the apostles lead the charge as the meat shield, you can attack freely! If you want to save your comrades, you’d better take out one more enemy quickly.]

“Ugh!”

[I already told you what to do, didn’t I?]

With Zhuge Sa’s words, I had no choice but to grit my teeth and refocus. I hadn’t been prepared to exploit my allies’ sacrifices. However, as Zhuge Sa pointed out, grieving over our comrades’ deaths would be a luxury we couldn’t afford. I steeled myself.

‘…For now, let’s trust Zhuge Sa completely and stick to the plan!’

Zshua

I summoned the Wind God Vayu and gripped it tightly.

[Wait, that’s!]

Seeing Vayu made Betelgeuse flinch and retreat a bit, but it was already too late. I immediately blew into Vayu’s horn, wishing,

‘Send Betelgeuse flying into the future!’

Whiiiiiir!

Wind howled through the universe, and I sensed Betelgeuse’s very existence being pushed through time and space. In a desperate effort, he struggled against the gale by pouring out his divine power, but it seemed that resisting like this consumed an immense amount of his power.

[Wooooh!]

Just then, a grasshopper-like creature nearby gave off a turquoise glow and exclaimed,

[How pathetic, Betelgeuse! Didn’t I tell you not to attack recklessly!]

Vroom…!

Devastating Charge Power!

The moment the grasshopper-like magic general shook its wings to unleash a resonance. Betelgeuse, as he battled against Vayu’s winds, was suddenly enveloped in vibrations and began to tremble. Slowly, it looked like he regained his composure. I raised an eyebrow, watching with keen interest.

‘Vayu is struggling to push him through time and space, but the effect’s definitely weakened!’

This meant Betelgeuse was expending significantly less divine power!

Betelgeuse seemed to regain clarity.

[Albi Leo! Wasn’t it agreed upon that you’d counter the wind’s power from the start? Isn’t that a given?]

[Shut your mouth. We must collaborate to follow the Lord’s orders!]

[……]

Now that I realized, the grasshopper-like general was named Albi Leo, and it appeared that its powers were associated with [wind]. That was why it had the capability to weaken Vayu’s strength. Only after witnessing their responses did it hit me that Zhuge Sa’s point was valid.

[Why not use Vayu in the first turn? They aren’t foolish.]

[If they appeared as a group, they could all be swept away by Vayu. It means they must have a way to counter Vayu.]

[Therefore, initially using Vayu is wise as it allows you to deplete the enemy’s powers once the strategy succeeds.]

While I once thought Zhuge Sa was overly cautious, his assertions rang true.

Magic general Albi Leo is almost like a nemesis of the Wind God Vayu!

I would have never expected an [Old Ruler] to exist like this, and I felt my perspective broaden.

‘If that’s the case, other divine weapons likely also have [Old Rulers] as nemeses… I need to be wary.’

Perhaps Albi Leo held back from attacking to anticipate when I would use Vayu.

As I was deep in thought, Zhuge Sa’s voice cut through my mind.

[Although sending one with Vayu failed, their movements have slowed dramatically. Focus on the One Who Turns the Stars now.]

I cast my gaze towards the One Who Turns the Stars, who remained stoic with crossed arms.

[He’s been like that all along, but now he’s going to move?]

[Chances are. Don’t act rashly. If he attempts any spell, be ready to attack immediately.]

He showed no signs of movement, yet was likely to act?

I regarded Zhuge Sa’s comment skeptically but nonetheless focused my full attention on the One Who Turns the Stars.

Kuuuuuh…!

Meanwhile, the two magic generals’ presence started to saturate the area. Betelgeuse unleashed a guttural roar as he created hundreds of magical energy projectiles that rained down towards us.

[Kraaaah!]

Boom!

Compared to the earlier concentrated attacks, these individual strikes seemed weaker. As the apostles stood tall like a wall, they managed to shield off the onslaught without taking significant damage.

“Grrr.”

“Baek Woong, my divine one. Conserve your strength.”

Was it because Asura and the Master of the White Lotus Sect were taking the majority of the defenses? They looked particularly strained but didn’t falter even as their entire bodies were drenched in blood. Understanding their intentions, I resolved to conserve my strength.

‘…The reason they’re opting for the meat shield role… is because if I waste any divine power now, we won’t stand a chance!’

I needed 100% of my divine power focused on attack!

And after a brief moment, I noticed the One Who Turns the Stars starting to make subtle movements with his hands.

‘It’s real!’

Had I focused too much on the two in front of me, I might have missed it entirely!

As soon as I spotted this, I summoned the Flame God Agni and aimed it at the One Who Turns the Stars.

Swoosh!

[Hmm!]

As Agni’s flame bullets cut through time and space, the One Who Turns the Stars hastily attempted to evade. Even he couldn’t disregard Agni’s attacking power. Taking flight, he flapped his wings and said with amusement,

[Hehe… I heard you were quite the simpleton, but your every move is surprisingly seasoned and strategic. That advisor of yours must be quite capable.]

Assuredly, I had evaded his ambush thanks to Zhuge Sa’s advice.

I curtly shot back at him,

“I have nothing to say to a petty trickster like you.”

[We, underlings, have no choice but to use every means necessary to fulfill our duties. Thus, I will reach your brains first and sever them!]

Swish!

“Wha?!”

In the next moment, the One Who Turns the Stars vanished from view, and I spun around in shock. There, hovering over the Yi Seong-gye, the One Who Turns the Stars had summoned tens of thousands of magic circles around his body.

‘Is he aiming for Yi Seong-gye…?!’

Unforeseen ambush!

Before I could even react, the One Who Turns the Stars unleashed a tremendous wave of magical energy, obliterating Yi Seong-gye.

Boom!

“…!”

My vision turned black. I never anticipated a being of such stature, an [Old Ruler], would play so treacherously! I had expected them to fight me head-on, following a demon god’s dignity, not try to wipe out Zhuge Sa and Yi Seong-gye first.

‘Zhuge Sa… has he died…?’

…Again… right before my eyes…?

As my mind began to spiral into shock, I heard Zhuge Sa’s voice echoing through time and space.

“You cunning and treacherous lord of demon arts, I knew you would resort to this.”

What?

I thought I had misheard Zhuge Sa, so I looked back at Yi Seong-gye. No matter how I looked, it had been utterly obliterated without a trace, and Zhuge Sa seemed to have perished in the chaos as well. I could only consider his recent words to be an echo.

But in the unfolding scenario, I felt yet another incomprehensible situation unfold before my eyes.

[Urrg… aaarrrgh!]

The One Who Turns the Stars, after obliterating Yi Seong-gye, suddenly clutched his head, acting erratic.

Why is he doing that?

With his wailing howl, I began to grasp the situation.

[How dare a mortal parasite into my mind!]

As if he understood, Zhuge Sa’s mocking words resounded within me as well.

[Kekeke… Now that I’m an apostle, I can attempt a merger with an [Old Ruler] once upon sacrificing all of my flesh and soul.]

[This guy…!]

[You understand, don’t you, my lord.]

With his subsequent words, I realized that Zhuge Sa had made the situation in the arena advantageous from the very beginning.

[Whether I lose or win, I stand to gain nothing.]

The Soul Exchange Technique’s ultimate secret, the Transference of Soul!

Zhuge Sa had aimed to seize the physical body of the One Who Turns the Stars from the start, fully aware he’d lose his own.

“`

 

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