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981——————==

Soul of the Evil God

Hooow.

I was shaking quite a bit on the back of the Black Dragon and wished for a saddle to cushion the ride. However, the Thunder God Lineage techniques allowed me to maintain my balance even in extreme situations, and Hwa-kyung had also reached the level of a master, so it wasn’t a huge issue. As we approached the capital’s buildings from a distance, Black Dragon Dracula spoke.

[It’s dangerous to go any further here.]

“Yeah, I see that.”

When I illuminated it with Fire Eye Golden Spirit, it became clear that if we went just a hundred steps further, we’d hit a powerful detection barrier. Any enemies within that range would be detected, so if we rushed in recklessly, I wouldn’t be able to avoid a confrontation with Emperor Ivan IV. Of course, I could fight and win, but my aim right now was to find Krishna, not to engage in unnecessary battles.

‘Hmm… Is there any way to meet Krishna without triggering that barrier? He’s clearly in there…’

I had already located Krishna.

Using the National Seal’s search function, I confirmed he was indeed within the capital. His location was also clear. However, Krishna remained still in some little building, not moving at all. I couldn’t see what he was doing, and curiosity gnawed at me.

‘The Eight Parts of the Divine have also sensed Krishna’s presence in the capital. I need to meet him before others do…’

I pondered before asking the Black Dragon.

“Do you know Krishna?”

[No idea.]

Well, that was expected.

“Then let’s head back.”

Lingering here wouldn’t do us any good. If I couldn’t find a suitable method, it might be best to seek the help of the strategists.

Boom!

I returned to the headquarters of the Eastern Orthodox Church and communicated with Zhuge Sa using the Suspicious Fishhook. After hearing the situation, Zhuge Sa replied.

[Let the Black Dragon assist the Eastern Orthodox Church. And make them strike the capital of Arasa.]

[You want us to attack the capital? But with the strength of the Eight Parts of the Divine and Ivan, I don’t think the Eastern Orthodox can win…]

[Why do you care? It’s none of your business, right? While their attention is on the Eastern Orthodox allied forces and Dracula, go meet Krishna. Didn’t you intentionally release the Black Dragon from his seal for that?]

[……]

[Oh, feeling uneasy again? Want to say that we can’t sacrifice the Eastern Orthodox Church?]

[It’s not a sacrifice. If I’m provoking them into attacking…]

Zhuge Sa sneered.

[If you hadn’t involved yourself, the Eastern Orthodox Church would merely be puppets of Ivan IV, who can’t do anything to them. Since they were destined to crash into Moscow and die, why not make use of them?]

[But…]

[Well, right now, this bait is the only good way I see. If I had to suggest an alternate strategy, I’d say gather the Master of the White Lotus Sect and the Dharma Protectors for a full-on assault against the Eight Parts of the Divine. Though I think you realize that’s just nonsense.]

[Hmm… Since I’ve pinpointed Krishna’s location, what if we just leave things as they are? He’s currently doing nothing anyway.]

[…Are you seriously saying that? A powerful variable like Krishna can alter your early game strategy based on what he schemes or not. You need to contact Krishna at all costs; it’s not a choice but a necessity!]

Zhuge Sa sighed, sounding exasperated.

[Damn… Do you even realize you keep offloading all the responsibility onto us while preaching about conscience? I don’t mind accumulating bad karma, but if you weren’t a Reborn Person, the other Zhuge strategists would have plotted to take you out long ago.]

[Ugh…]

[Alright. Although it’s not the best plan… if it comes down to it, I’ll teach you a second-best or worst measure.]

I contacted the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Belov. Handing over Dracula, I said, “This will greatly assist your attack on Moscow.”

“Ohh… Great figure of the East, thank you so much!”

“This isn’t just a casual thank you; I expect two things in return.”

“Two things?”

“One is a portion of your best sacred relic, the Ten Commandments Tablet. And you must also give me the Holy Lance stored away.”

“……”

“And one more thing. I want to meet the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church.”

“That’s quite demanding!! I can concede to one of those, but not more…”

Crack!

I cracked my knuckles while glaring at Belov.

“I’ve broken the seal of the Black Dragon and forced him into submission. If you refuse my demands, I find myself unfazed by any potential repercussions!”

“You’re… threatening me?”

“My demands aren’t unreasonable, are they? After all, you have them stored without any plan to use them. There’s likely no one worthy enough to put those treasures to proper use. But if you hand them over to me, you’ll receive ample support.”

“But…”

“Fine!!”

I unleashed a powerful Lion’s Roar empowered by the Intent Heavenly Pillar. Belov’s knights and thousands of soldiers surrounding the area collapsed in shock, their eyes wide open. Among them, a couple of exceptional knights managed to withstand it, but they were also barely hanging on with their bastards swords and had lost the will to fight.

“No, no…”

Belov, however, seemed a different caliber and managed to remain standing for the moment. As he registered the shock, I said to him.

“You are too weak. If I had set my mind to it, you would have already been one of the souls lost in this mountain region.”

“I understand the difference in power. But to intimidate someone like this is against reason!”

“I’ve already granted you an undue grace by releasing the Black Dragon. I see no absurdity in my demands. Now answer me.”

“… I will accept.”

“Good.”

I replied to Belov, “Also, give me the letter meant for Catherine de Medici. It’s work that needs doing anyway, so just deliver it.”

“How… do you know about that…?”

“I know everything. I’m too lazy to explain, so just hand it over. I swear I’ll make sure to deliver it to Her Majesty.”

“Ugh… Such arrogance!”

Despite his disgust, Belov reluctantly complied with my demands. I took the fragment of the Ten Commandments Tablet and the Holy Lance, storing them in my Wooden Armor, and accepted the letter from him. Then, Belov took out his own sacred icon from within and began to chant a spell.

“The Archbishop of our church is not human. Anyone who displays rudeness like you will not go unscathed!”

“Not human? Do you mean an Otherworldly Race?”

“Not at all. Since you seem to know about the inner world, you’ll understand when you see him.”

Boom!

In that moment, a ‘door’ to see the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church opened. It seems the Archbishop was of a high enough rank that he could open a spatial gate. I recalled Zhuge Sa’s words.

[First, accept all the relics and the Holy Lance you can get. They’re all useful offering and weapons for equipment. And make sure to say you’re passing the letter as well. After that, ask to meet the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church.]

[Why the letter and the Archbishop?]

[You have no idea what’s actually in that letter, do you? Steal it along the way and bring it here. You’ll want to decipher it.]

[Oh.]

[Also, the reason for meeting the Archbishop is because he’s practically the Pope who holds real power over the Eastern Orthodox Church. He’s one of the greatest religious leaders of the West. And considering the strength of the monks under him, it would be good to meet him since you’ll be operating on a global scale.]

[What about meeting Krishna?]

[Belov is bound to be his subordinate. Seek permission about Belov’s life and death from the Archbishop. That way, your guilt over this matter can lessen.]

Following Zhuge Sa’s plans, I stepped through the doorway and found myself transported to a grand palace filled with enormous white marble pillars. Upon entering with Belov, I muttered.

“This place isn’t real. Is it a subspace?”

“Impressive. How did you notice?”

“Because I have good [eyes].”

With Fire Eye Golden Spirit, I could easily detect the dissonance between reality and subspace. Belov looked amazed and replied.

“You’re dwelling here because it’s hard to live in reality. That’s why the Archbishop has been residing in an independent realm since over two thousand five hundred years ago.”

“What exactly are you?”

“You’ll find out when you meet the Archbishop… My guidance ends here.”

Boom!

Belov vanished before a door shining with golden light. Stepping inside, I was stunned by what I saw.

“……!!”

It’s enormous!!

‘W-What is this…?’

The size could be likened to the Dragon of the Apocalypse I had seen in Yeodong-bin’s memories!! The view was so expansive that at first glance, it looked like a continent spread out before me, but as I looked closer, a tail and an unfathomably gigantic beast came into view. I had never seen a creature this massive before, though I had encountered mythical beings like the Sky Dragon or Great Dragon, so I never expected to see something like this just by meeting an Archbishop.

‘Is that, a whale or a dragon…?’

It was so peculiar that I couldn’t classify it.

Whiiiii

With a sound like a whistle, twelve rays of light, as immense as the sun, burst forth, wrapping around the beast and seemingly gliding through the air. A mysterious breeze embraced the existence, flowing like a wave, and that grand current felt like a cosmic space. Being incomparably larger than a human, I momentarily succumbed to its majesty.

Then, I straightened myself and called out to it.

“Hey!! Are you the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church?”

As I spoke, the being conversed with me mentally. Its voice held a unique resonance.

[Oh… it seems you are unaffected by my mental power… I’ve seen many beings like you over the years, but you’re the first… Yes, I am the Archbishop of the Eastern Orthodox Church.]

“My name is Baek Woong!! What is yours?”

[The name bestowed upon me by the Great Being is ‘The Life-Enhancing One’… In the human realm, I am called Behemoth…]

“So you’re Behemoth.”

I directly addressed Archbishop Behemoth.

“Behemoth! You don’t seem human; are you perhaps an [Old Ruler]?”

To this, Behemoth’s massive form quivered with laughter.

[… Hahaha… What an interesting human you are… Do I seem like an [Old Ruler] to you…? I am an enigma, it seems…]

“Um… am I wrong?”

[Those with proper strength who see me… usually don’t mistake me for an [Old Ruler]… For they are beings of chaos… But I am a being derived from the axis of order…]

“…….!!”

[I am a Divine Beast of order… the remnant left by the Great Being for the salvation of mortals… This is Behemoth.]

Right, I sensed no magical power from him. While an unmistakable divine power radiated from him, there was no trace of the evil energy associated with [Old Rulers] or Otherworldly Races. It was clear that despite the immense size that overwhelmed mortals, I realized that he was nothing like an [Old Ruler].

‘He’s a transcendental protector of order.’

As I grasped the situation, I asked.

“Then, are you an Ancient God?”

[No… The one who created me resides among the Ancient Gods… I am merely a Divine Beast created by him…]

“Hmm… I see. But why do you serve as the head of a religious organization? Someone like you should find the human world trivial by now.”

Behemoth, self-proclaimed Divine Beast, responded humbly, yet I sensed he wielded unreal might. A Divine Beast of such colossal size could only be an insignificant speck in the grand cosmos. Then, Behemoth answered.

[Divines of order find it hard to involve themselves in this land saturated with the power of chaos… So they have all departed… The dominance of cosmic laws over chaos is one reason for that… But my master, feeling pity for mortals… created me, the “Life-Enhancing One,” to grant them at least minimal salvation…]

“……”

[However, due to the Law of Cause and Effect… I can’t ordinarily venture into the material world… That’s why I’ve collaborated with the protectors of the West, to bestow power upon the believers of God… establishing the Eastern Orthodox Church to prevent the Otherworldly Races from swarming the Northern continent.]

“In other words, you are the protector of the North.”

[That would be accurate…]

Behemoth was the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, a Divine Beast left to save mortals and the Guardian of the North.

‘If he’s constrained by the Law of Cause and Effect, then seeking his direct help is improbable…’

I mused for a moment before asking Behemoth.

“Behemoth. Do you know that the Eight Parts of the Divine are occupying the capital?”

[Of course, I know…]

“Then why don’t you tell Belov or your subordinates?”

[… I told Belov to abandon the idea of retaking the capital since there is already a powerful divine being behind him. However, he seems unable to let go because he has a deep love for the Russian Empire.]

“Hmm, so it’s Belov’s unilateral decision.”

[He is also the National Master of the Russian Empire… He believes he bears responsibility for Ivan’s downfall into the Demon Path since he has known him since childhood.]

Challenging a rock with an egg, was it?

“If you fought seriously, you could defeat the Eight Parts of the Divine, right?”

[That would be possible… But while the Eight Parts of the Divine are relatively less restrained by the Law of Cause and Effect, I am subject to all constraints. Ignoring the apocalypse to deal with the Eight Parts of the Divine is counterproductive.]

“……”

[Defeating the Demon King of mortals like the Eight Parts of the Divine won’t delay the apocalypse… In my position, I can only disregard them.]

I decided to get to the point.

“Behemoth. Do you know Krishna? The truth is, I came here knowing he is in Arasa’s capital to find him.”

[Krishna…!! He graced this place, did he?]

“Do you know him?”

[He is… hmm!!]

Behemoth trembled as if surprised. Then he asked.

[Why are you looking for Lord Krishna?]

“He imparted martial arts wisdom to mortals to use against me, the Emperor of the Central Plains. I want to know his true intentions.”

[Ah, I see… Baek Woong, I understand why you’ve come so far… You wish to use our Eastern Orthodox Church to divert attention from yourself instead of facing the world directly, don’t you…?]

“……”

Ugh, how can he be so perceptive?! He figured it out instantly…

Then Behemoth said.

[Very well… I will let myself be used… I will have Belov order an attack on the capital. In the meantime, you can meet with Lord Krishna.]

It was exactly Zhuge Sa’s plan. No, it felt like both strategists were competing over who could come up with the better strategy using me as a pawn.

“Is that okay? Belov and the others will die.”

[Using the Law of Cause and Effect I intended for the ‘apocalypse,’ I’ll imbue Belov with my strength… That way, I can buy you some time.]

“Hmm.”

[I’ve already advised Belov… Looking for a place to die… It’s up to him if he wishes to do what he wants until he dies…]

“Why are you helping me?”

[I concluded that it was better to assist someone aiming to meet Krishna.]

I realized that Behemoth was a calm and collected being. For reasons unknown, he had decided to cooperate, caring little for Belov’s eventual sacrifice.

“Behemoth. And me…”

[I must refuse any connection with you. I don’t wish to become your summoned beast.]

“……”

He’s too sharp!

‘If I formed a summon contract with this guy, his power could be immensely helpful…’

Despite calling himself a Divine Beast, he appeared to possess power comparable to an [Old Ruler]. I inquired of Behemoth.

“Why not? I might not have many stronger opponents on the surface.”

[It appears so… Your divine powers are indeed remarkable… You are qualified.]

“But why?”

[Yet I can feel it, being a being derived from order… You are not a harbinger of good fortune… To intertwine with you would perhaps lead to my own demise… I do not wish to bind myself to a being like you.]

“What do you mean? Not a harbinger of good fortune…?”

[Those of chaos may find you intriguing and endearing, but… I am not one of them. Our natures do not align.]

Behemoth, who spoke with conviction, added after a moment.

[Now, be gone… beloved by chaos, we call you…]

Boom!!

I found myself back in the material world. Soon after, I noticed Belov writhing in agony, like a fiery ball of heat.

“Kugh… Aaaah….!!”

It’s divine fever.

Behemoth must have transferred some divine power to him, and after overcoming this divine fever, Belov would become drastically stronger than before. I merely needed to find Krishna while Belov and the Black Dragon engaged attention.

“……”

Beloved by chaos…

When did I gain such a capability?

‘Is it a power unique to the Heavenly Secret?’

In any case, I learned something from this.

It wouldn’t be easy for me to command those belonging to the order in the future. It seems willing to cooperate, but they seemed to loathe the massive chaotic attributes I embodied.

Soon after Belov overcame the divine fever, they organized their troops and began their march toward the capital, leading with Belov and Black Dragon Dracula at the forefront. Belov appeared to have developed immense confidence in his newfound power.

[These traitors!!]

From above the capital, Ivan IV hovered like a white cloud, roaring down at them, and Belov retorted.

“Emperor Ivan!! Today, I will eradicate the existence of demons!”

Boom Boom Boom!

Taking advantage of the ensuing chaos, I slipped into the city. Perhaps the Eight Parts of the Divine would sense my movements, but surely, they would prioritize the conflict between Ivan and the Eastern Orthodox Church, so the chances of them turning toward me were slim.

I made my way into the small building where Krishna was located.

“You’ve arrived? Baek Woong.”

Krishna, who had been changing a baby’s diaper, suddenly spoke to me.

I felt countless children’s gazes on me inside the building.

Krishna had been caring for the children.