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“Is this really happening?!”

Gong Gong, looking like he was ready to bail, flailed his arms and tore open a ‘door’ in space, but the moment Nüwa shot him a glare, the door slammed shut. His surprise was palpable.

“No?!

Sploosh!

It was a complete and utter defeat, one that left Gong Gong in a pitiful state against Nüwa. Not only was the power difference massive, but the location was also on her side. Ultimately, Gong Gong could no longer hold on and decided to abandon his spirit. He chose to let his main body survive, leaving me, a mere apostle, behind.

KAPOW!

As his spirit disappeared, I realized I was now floating in the void, a wreck of myself. Control had returned to my body, yet nothing had changed, leaving me feeling grim. If Nüwa uttered just one incantation, I would burst into nothingness.

“Running won’t do you any good, Gong Gong…”

Nüwa laughed mockingly, then turned her gaze towards me and spoke.

“Human. You will forever be punished. You shall burn in the fires of doom for eternity.”

Her calm tone bore no malice, yet the implications were clear: my fate was going to be absolutely horrific. After extracting everything I knew, she would undoubtedly unleash a punishment beyond human imagination.

But I was prepared for this. I had already discussed it with Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang beforehand. I felt oddly at ease and raised my hand.

“Nüwa, I have just one question.”

Nüwa seemed intrigued by my question.

“What is it?”

“Will humanity be saved in the end? What becomes of the human race when the great ancient being returns on that day of revelation?”

“……”

Perhaps I had struck a nerve; Nüwa hesitated for a moment. With an emotionless expression, she replied,

“It is destined to be salvaged selectively. That is the utmost mercy that we Three Sovereigns can bestow upon you.”

“How will you salvage selectively?”

“Do you not understand why the Underworld was created?”

As Nüwa mumbled something, she reached her hand toward me.

“There’s no more reason to converse. Farewell.”

Realizing the time had come, I understood that there was no point in further dialogue. With her declaration, I felt a mingling of regret and resignation, but I had no choice but to accept it.

‘Damn it…’

If only I could take things slow and gather myself, but it felt like a landslide of numerous events had suddenly overwhelmed me. I let out an inward grumble and shouted:

“O Constellation of Destruction! I, imploring your power, do worship the dawning millennium!”

The incantation of the Evil God!

But as I chanted the incantation, I did not release its power against my enemy. This technique was taught to me by Zhuge Sa—a method of storing the power of the incantation before unleashing it.

‘For now, just hold on.’

The Heretical Sect’s secret technique,

Definitive Incantation Realm

The reason for using this secret technique was typically to enhance the application of spells. Different sects had similar techniques, but mine involved the Heretical Sect. The reason I halted my incantation in the middle was different.

‘The target… is me!!’

My hand struck my heart with force.

CRASH!

In the next moment, I felt a fatal order that would normally descend from the Evil God to assault or seal an enemy come crashing down upon me instead. Nüwa looked at me in disbelief as I embraced the power of the Evil God, but I fought to cling to my sanity, even as my entire being felt like it was melting into chaos.

‘I can’t lose consciousness…’

I extended my hands. Using the searing heat that now coated my body, I focused my mind on the ‘something’ beyond strength.

Zhuge Sa’s words floated back to me.

“Listen carefully. Even if the Law of Cause and Effect continues in your next life, do you not understand why the connection to the divine being was set?”

“So… if the Queen Mother of the West is indeed Nüwa, then we must summon a divine being that can at least match her. Unfortunately, such beings are very rare among the Old Rulers…”

“I’ve considered various methods, but summoning the ruler of the Abyss through the Nameless Ritual Book is far too risky. That being is incredibly cunning and tricky, making it essentially impossible to summon. While I, a master of Demon Path techniques, managed it, you as a beginner wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Then we have no choice but to gamble. The evidence that your cause and effect has continued from your past life lies right there!”

Zhuge Sa stated.

The incantation of the Evil God, which could only be used once per life—a direct evidence that a connection existed between the Evil God and me, like the power of Jeon Wook as one of the Three Sovereigns.

Therefore, all I had to do was ‘speak’ along that tether. Just as that entity had summoned me in my thirteenth life, I would now reach out!

Woosh!

‘It’s hot! My body feels… like it’s burning away!’

I felt as though my skin was melting off completely, and I stifled a scream. My voice was stuck in my throat. However, amidst it all, I distinctly felt a connection being made with another existence.

The abyssal darkness.

A colossal entity, as vast as a dragon, kraken, and human combined, locked eyes with me. Ordinarily, one would go insane the moment they faced such a gaze, yet curiously, I remained unfazed. Perhaps the being realized this too, for it stared back without a flicker of fear.

Summoning whatever courage I had, I shouted.

“O Evil God! I, Baek Woong, offer you the Fire Spirits Xu You and Jin Yo! Come forth and eliminate Nüwa!”

At last, a response rang out clearly.

“Understood.”

Fwoosh!

From the vast cosmos, a chaotic energy surged around me. Moments later, five streams of light burst forth from the dark shadowy realm, forming a constellation, and slowly, the Evil God began to extend its form.

WOOOSH!

The world twisted.

With an ominous sound resembling flames seeping from the depths of the celestial realm, the Evil God descended onto this plane.

It pierced through space like a river cutting through the land, bearing an overwhelmingly giant form. The Evil God silently gazed upon Nüwa, who floated before the gray moon, and she spoke in a murderous tone.

“Evil God. Are you really responding to a mortal’s summoning? How astonishing.”

The Evil God appeared to smile silently, as though considering the question unworthy of an answer.

“Do you truly consider yourself a prophet? Just because you possess the tablet of prophecy does not mean you should be so arrogant.”

The Evil God quietly retorted.

“Like a banquet laid out for a king, accept your fate.”

BAM!

The tablet the Evil God held burst forth radiant light.

“Ugh…”

Nüwa staggered back, her composure faltering, not daring to attack the Evil God first. I realized then that the strength with which the Evil God had once easily smote the Old Ruler of the Imperial Palace was stemming from that very tablet.

‘What the heck is going on?’

Even in her own realm, Nüwa was powerless against the Evil God. She seemed to be flailing, while the Evil God pondered how best to strike.

Sensing a deep wound threatening to end my life, a realization hit me.

‘…Damn it, this isn’t the time for such thoughts. I need to survive a bit longer.’

Being in such chaos, I decided to take whatever measures necessary. It was clear that whether the Evil God or Nüwa emerged victorious, the human world was doomed. The moment I resolved myself, Jeon Wook’s power activated.

WHIRL

Having been slightly aware of it but not yet used it, Jeon Wook’s [Time Control] ability snapped into action, returning my body to its original state. All the while, I could hear a massive roar echoing from the depths of my mind.

“You, mortal! How dare you wield my power freely…!!”

I recognized the brand of Jeon Wook, but my attention was fully on the impending clash of the Evil God and Nüwa, rendering me unimpressed by his anger. If I was doomed to die anyway, what was there to fear, regardless of his rants? Plus, I hardly had anything important left to lose.

Instead, I chuckled, raising my glass to Jeon Wook.

“Jeon Wook, I offer you the Fire Spirit Jin Yo! Will you join this king’s feast?”

“What did you say?”

“I won’t ask again. What say you?”

“…Very well.”

Jeon Wook seemed to agree, participating in the ruse. I had offered two Fire Spirits to the Evil God while devoting Jin Yo to Jeon Wook. What the future might hold after this reckless deal was something I couldn’t afford to think about. No matter what, if I survived this ordeal, I’d be torn apart by either the Three Sovereigns or the Evil God.

BANG!

In the next moment, as Jeon Wook’s figure materialized, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace appeared in this space. Upon his summoning, he quickly identified the tension in the air and glanced back and forth between the two deities.

“Nüwa, you plan to face the Evil God?”

“Is there any need for discussion? I will lend my strength.”

“……”

After a brief silence, Jeon Wook turned to the Evil God.

“O Evil God! I have a question.”

As their gazes locked, Jeon Wook continued,

“Do you truly know what will happen after the prediction?”

The Evil God remained silent for a moment before replying.

“The Book of Rebirth will judge everything.”

“Is that the Grimoire?”

“Do you not know that those beings were born from chaos?”

With a sneer, the Evil God spoke.

“The final end and judgement… is merely a means to gain the right to transcend.”

“…… ”

Even Jeon Wook and Nüwa seemed perplexed about what the Evil God was saying. But the situation was clear. The Evil God knew something about a world beyond the apocalypse, even the Three Sovereigns were unaware.

Holding up the Fire Spirit, Jeon Wook declared,

“This battle shall be recorded for eternity.”

In the next moment, both Jeon Wook and Nüwa lunged at the Evil God simultaneously, and the Evil God met their assault with the shining tablet. As the Two Sovereigns clashed against the Evil God, blinding light filled the air, rendering me unable to see anything, and I felt the dimensions crumbling, throwing me off into the abyss.

THUD!

“AAAGGGHHH!”

I screamed as I crashed into a rocky mountain. The sheer force and speed of the impact left me unable to shield myself with even the Protection Energy Technique. Though I was free from the shadow dimension, I was gravely injured once more. Still, I couldn’t just lay down and die, so I borrowed Jeon Wook’s power to recover my body.

With both the Evil God and Nüwa occupied, they likely wouldn’t focus on me too much. I staggered, crawled up, and moved forward.

‘What do I do now?’

Following Zhuge Sa’s plan, I summoned the Evil God and dragged Jeon Wook into the mess as well. Originally, I would have called forth the Old Ruler from the North using the Nameless Ritual Book and started a ruckus, but that plan was obliterated by the Queen Mother’s strike.

However, I had no future ahead of me now. It was clear that no matter who won, I would get captured by the gods and tortured forever or simply be ripped apart. Neither side was going to take pity on me, and they would undoubtedly force me to spill all my secrets.

A hollow laugh escaped me. While I might barely skirt death for now, inevitable ruin awaited me. In this situation, I could never save humanity. Neither Nüwa nor the Evil God considered mortals of our kind worth more than the dirt beneath their nails. What could I possibly do?

Just then, a familiar voice called out.

“Baek Woong. It’s been a while.”

I turned, eyes wide in shock.

“C-Cheon Woo-jin?!”

Indeed, the Illusory God Cheon Woo-jin stood right behind me!

We were in the shadow dimension near the Southern Continent, and since no one had known my whereabouts until now, how on earth did Cheon Woo-jin manage to follow me? Not to mention, he was supposed to have received severe punishment for his actions in the Celestial Realm, and until now, he had vanished!

Cheon Woo-jin wore similar attire to before, but a noticeable difference was the enormous hat he sported.

Seeing my astonishment, he said, “There’s no need to be shocked. I have reached the true realm of the Illusory God and can now glimpse the world’s dreams.”

“……?!”

“I’ve fooled the eyes of the Celestial Realm and submerged myself in the 108 regions of Pangu, looking for an opportunity to disrupt things. Thanks to how well you performed, I didn’t need to risk my life there.”

“You…?”

My shock deepened. If what he said was true, then his illusions were powerful enough to fool even the deities in the Celestial Realm, including Nüwa’s avatar, the Queen Mother. Moreover, he seemed to have become adept at traversing the world like it was his home. Cheon Woo-jin, the martial arts prodigy, probably reached astonishing heights in skills after fifty years!

He glanced back briefly, then said, “Baek Woong, as expected of you, making quite the mess just as it’s time for you to die. Perhaps you did so without thinking of the consequences, being the Reborn Person you are.”

“……”

Following that, Cheon Woo-jin continued.

“Soon, you will have nowhere to escape; both the Three Sovereigns and the Old Ruler will chase you to your death. Do you still have desires you wish to fulfill?”

“I… “

I didn’t know what to say. Did I have things still left to do?

Of course, I did. I wanted to see how this situation would unfold, to witness what would happen once the Fire Spirits were unleashed, and to understand what this apocalypse truly entailed. But it was clear I wouldn’t have the time to express any of that.

In that moment, one thought surfaced in my mind.

“…I want to know what’s happened to you.”

“I see. That’s a suitable request.”

Swish!

Cheon Woo-jin’s form transformed into a mist of light and began to dissipate. Soon, my own body also morphed into a crystal of light, swirling with vibrant energy, causing me to glance around in surprise.

Cheon Woo-jin crossed his arms, gazing skyward.

“As I thought, the Three Sovereigns are starting to descend.”

RUMBLE!

From the dark sky came a massive hand, clearly visible. Countless tiny wings adorned that hand, while red eyes gleamed ominously at the palm.

“What?!”

“Given the shape of that hand, it must be Jeogok. The Law of Cause and Effect must be ruined now, there’s no need to pretend—it’s coming for you!”

Damn it!

I never imagined the Three Sovereigns would disregard the Law of Cause and Effect and actively hunt me down. I thought it would devolve into chaos, but now it looked like I had no viable strategies left!

As if indifferent, Cheon Woo-jin waved his hand, and soon enough, we realized that the ominous hand had vanished.

“No?! How did you do that?!”

I cried out in astonishment as Cheon Woo-jin replied.

“Illusory God Realm. I have transformed this space into my ‘dream’ world. Unless you break this chain of dream within a dream, even the Three Sovereigns cannot easily dispel my spells. Extending their power will only get swallowed by my dream.”

“……!!”

“Unless they are Taihao Fuxi himself, the creator of spellcraft…”

What level has this guy reached?!

As I stood there gaping, Cheon Woo-jin smirked ruefully.

“You won’t last long. I merely borrowed my master’s power for a short while. If the Three Sovereigns really mean business, this barrier will break.”

“Does that mean you’ve become Mangnyang’s apostle?”

“You’ve caught on quickly. This makes things easier…”

Cheon Woo-jin collapsed to the ground, gesturing for me to sit as he did. Once I mirrored him, he tossed a flask of liquor my way. I caught it and inhaled its aroma—it was the rich scent of plum wine.

“Drink it. It’s homemade plum wine.”

As I took a sip, the refreshing yet tangy plum flavor coursed through me. Though it wasn’t some divine brew, it certainly felt like it calmed my nerves in this frantic moment. I took a deep breath, and Cheon Woo-jin resumed.

“To summarize, I achieved the final level of sorcery, the Illusory God Realm, because I reached the ‘Record of the World’ momentarily. Thanks to this, I grasped the nature of the Illusory God and touched upon its essence, receiving acknowledgment and ascending to the rank of an Apostle.”

“…The Record of the World?”

This was the first I’d heard of it. As I pondered, Cheon Woo-jin continued.

“You’re familiar with the Blessing of the Sky, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard explanations about it multiple times.”

“The Blessing of the Sky is Mangnyang’s power, but it is also a colossal law and axis originating directly from the Record of the World. Because of that, it wields powers almost equal to the Law of Cause and Effect, making it capable of defeating even the Old Rulers.”

So the Blessing of the Sky is derived from the Record of the World?

Focused on Cheon Woo-jin’s explanation, I listened intently.

“If you ever reincarnate, advise the past me to read the Record of the World. Without that clue, you will never reach that level.”

“What are you saying? Didn’t you reach the Illusory God Realm because of your own talent?”

“…It was my Master’s mercy. On my own, it would take millennia to reach such heights.”

Cheon Woo-jin’s voice became somber.

“Sensing that mankind couldn’t withstand the Evil God’s grasp, my Master sought to make me a ‘Guardian’, deliberately giving me clues. Though I only reached the Illusory God Realm a few years prior, I still lacked the strength to change the tides.”

“……”

“Damn it.”

Cheon Woo-jin sighed deeply and swallowed down his share of the plum wine. Looking me in the eye, he said,

“Baek Woong. If we are to possess the strength to take down even one of the Three Sovereigns, you would need to die at least twenty times. Are you really up for it?”

I lifted the flask towards him defiantly.

“Of course! I vowed to die a hundred times if needed, what do I have to fear?”

Chuckle.

Cheon Woo-jin laughed weakly, then added,

“Lastly, if possible, it would be wise to aid Miho in enhancing her abilities. She’ll be the key to defeating Nüwa in the end.”

“You think so?”

“That’s all for now. It’s time for me to let you die.”

“Huh?”

I stared blankly at Cheon Woo-jin, but his eyes were dead serious. He summoned a Fallen Spirit right on his palm and said nonchalantly,

“Now there’s no way for you to live. There’s no one to protect you, no way to escape. Every god in existence is gunning for you; even if you tried to kill yourself, the Underworld would chase you down to torture you. It’s kinder to just let you die here.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Feeling strangely uneasy, I scratched my head.

“Dying at your hands just feels…off!”

Cheon Woo-jin smirked, saying, “Heh… I’ve waited fifty years for this moment.”

“No! Why would you say something like that?!”

Cheon Woo-jin said that either jokingly or seriously, then grinned.

“Just kidding, but I really do plan to kill you while simultaneously attempting to seal your spirit.”

Indeed.

It seemed like he hadn’t been intending to kill me for no reason.

Yet still, I couldn’t shake off the feeling his intentions weren’t entirely selfless, so I looked at the Fallen Spirit with anxious eyes as Cheon Woo-jin said,

“Then take care.”

SHINK!

The Fallen Spirit pierced through my forehead. At once, my strength drained, and my vision began to blur as Cheon Woo-jin’s voice echoed faintly.

“The seal didn’t succeed?! As expected… Baek Woong, your Rebirth Ability is…”

Sleepiness washed over me.

That marked my twenty-third death.

 

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