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There are moments when the night collapses.

Even when the moon disappears.

It’s not even when the stars fail to shine because of it.

It’s not out of fear of the coming day, nor is it because the sun is rising.

It’s when there’s no one waiting for the night.

Or when there’s no one left who remembers it.

Only then does the night collapse.

The woman realized this after she had made her choice.

Yet, she did not regret it.

It had to be that way.

She had to crumble for the day to arrive; what those who remember need is not the night, but the day.

Thus,

She firmly believed it was necessary for that to happen.

However, contrary to her resolve,

If there was a slight regret, it was that she should have chosen just a tad later.

She should have taken just one more day to be lazy.

Only that was her sole regret.

*

Fuhhuuhhh—!!

The black smoke sways. The force erupting from below surged upwards. In that rising energy, it felt as though night had arrived.

A vague and colossal energy.

Watching it, Taechon squinted his eyes.

“Haha.”

What should I say? Given the sheer amount of energy itself, it’s certainly shocking. How can someone of such low caliber emit such vast might?

While it’s indeed marvelous,

The real problem is.

“I wasn’t mistaken.”

What’s contained within that energy—

As Taechon observed it, he confirmed something he had doubted.

“It’s divine status.”

The caliber contained in that energy. It’s power that a mortal being cannot possess unless they transcend the limits of existence with the world’s allowance.

Divine Status (神格).

A supreme energy that can only be possessed by the masters of a world resides within there.

“What in the world are you?”

That’s why he couldn’t understand.

“You are not the master.”

That was not the master. No matter how you looked at it, there was no sense of the master present. Even with divine status, it was not the master. What should this bizarre phenomenon be called?

Glancing back, Taechon looked behind.

“Grrr—!!!”

A creature stuck on his spear, unable to move. If he were to speak of a master, that one over there would be more fitting.

The divine status of Mankye. The power of Mankye, which is counted among the countless worlds.

The peace, mercy, and oppositional divine status of death contained within Mankye itself, too.

This is also why other masters covet Mankye; it possesses the vessel capable of containing such divine status.

“Why did Mankye…”

Why did it try to hand its divine status over to that unknown entity?

No, could it be?

“It might not have tried to hand it over.”

Not knowing the intent makes it hard to speculate. It’s clear something has occurred in Mankye, and perhaps that was an attempt to gain something for oneself.

Thinking that, Taechon shifted his gaze.

Then,

“What is that?”

What on earth is that?

I’ve never heard or seen anything like it.

“How could…?”

How can such intense divine status exist here?

That’s—

“It’s almost like a manifestation level.”

Manifestation. When a master pulls out their true self and appears in the lower realms.

Typical ground cannot bear the divine status and gets crushed, or as in this case, inflicts damage upon the very nature itself.

Even now, it’s evident.

The scarlet sky of Mankye is being engulfed and entangled by that black energy.

Seeing that, Taechon could not grasp it no matter how hard he tried.

“What are you?”

Thus, he asked the being that was looking at him from within the black energy.

In response to his question, the woman spoke.

“Well?”

It was a monotonous voice. It sounded both like she was smiling and perhaps even angry.

It was hard to perceive. Feeling that, Taechon wrinkled his face.

Not perceiving? Does that mean the presence itself is unrecognizable?

Me?

“Ha.”

Taechon let out a hollow laugh.

Since the heavens have existed, he had never once descended from there.

And yet, he cannot properly perceive that being?

“How absurd.”

Taechon chuckles.

No matter how much he has not descended directly in his true form, how can he not feel what that being is?

He cannot understand.

Crick.

Taechon grips his spear.

“Dragon Emperor. What’s your connection to that forgotten one?”

“……”

Upon mentioning the Dragon Emperor, the woman slightly extended her hand. In that moment.

Kugugugugu–!!!

The energy that was creating night paused its ascent and began to descend back to the ground.

It wobbles as it collapses into the night.

It almost felt like prey was dropping.

Thus, the falling prey soaked the ground. Night descends upon the sky and the earth.

Splash.

Stepping on the resulting prey, the woman gazes at Taechon.

“What do you think it is?”

“Isn’t it a bad method to respond to a question with another question?”

“Sorry. I want to answer back too.”

Zzrrrrrrr.

Prey swirls about.

The gathering flow converges into the woman’s hand, transforming into the shape of a sword.

“It’s just been too long since I thought of that.”

“……You say time has passed?”

Does that imply there is some relation?

That must be it. Taechon realized while looking at the woman. That is the energy of the Dragon Emperor.

The monster stirring behind. Not a small energy felt from it; this is the true energy of the Dragon Emperor.

That energy is gathered over there.

The distinctive arrogant and dense Qi. It feels violent and chaotic over there.

However,

The reason Taechon cannot be certain of it is simple.

“How could such energy construct an independent divine status?”

That’s undoubtedly the energy of the Dragon Emperor, but it cannot be called his divine status.

It’s felt. That’s not the divine status of the Dragon Emperor.

A self-constructed one.

It would be right to see it as a divine status elevated by one’s own strength. Then.

“Yet, to not be the master, how could that be?”

To create such a divine status and still not be the master.

Taechon found it incomprehensible.

The being he had fought just before.

Was it Shin Cheol? He recalls the appearance he had shown.

In the moment of penetrating the caliber of the lower realm, seeking divine status with his true strength.

Regardless, while his soul’s caliber rose, in the end, his body broke down, and he couldn’t achieve his intent.

Taechon regretted that deeply.

For a mortal to ascend to divine status.

That’s a miracle that may occur once in a great eon of time.

He regretted not witnessing it right before his eyes.

“……This is impossible.”

Not only having built an independent divine status but also applying it so skillfully?

“What in the world are you? What have you wrapped around yourself?”

Taechon continuously questioned the woman, finding it hard to believe.

“Hmm…”

Listening to his words, the woman merely let out a soft breath.

“I don’t particularly like terms like divine status or master.”

Once, long ago. In a time she didn’t even want to remember, or perhaps couldn’t even bear to recall, she was obsessed with those things.

Wouldn’t something change if she reached that point?

As for what she couldn’t achieve, she wondered if she would even find a clue if she could just reach there.

Thinking that way, she was obsessively fixated on it.

However.

“I found out that such things hold little meaning.”

Once she got there.

She realized it was of no benefit to her.

Divine status and being a master.

Even if it were to become that.

“In the end, you cannot change your fate.”

It’s too low and thin to stop what has already begun to flow.

Thus, on this matter, she had long since given up. This is but a remnant of that time.

Drip.

As all the prey soaked in, one final form was completed.

From the sword tip, black droplets fell one by one.

“……”

Taechon observed that and moved his energy.

It’s dark.

Though the extreme light of the unfolding world is this bright, how can that place be so dark?

It feels as though it’s gathering darkness alone.

It’s ominous.

You mustn’t approach that darkness. Just as that thought started to form.

“Do you know?”

The woman spoke.

Is it a mistake? Taechon felt like the woman’s voice was somehow wavering.

“You always had that expression.”

“What…?”

“Both fearful and hesitant, it seemed.”

“What are you talking about?”

It felt as if she met him once before.

He tried to recall, but all Taechon felt was confusion.

No matter how many years he lived, he couldn’t forget such an entity.

Not a single memory surfaced.

The woman chuckled as if she was familiar with that Taechon.

“Don’t worry too much. Just like always.”

And thus.

“It’s not a very important matter anyway.”

“……!”

As the moving sword caused the night to sway.

Kuaaaaaaaaaah—-!!!!

Darkness poured forth from one sword strike.

Black energy, wrapped in purple light, descended upon Taechon.

Seeing that, Taechon moved the spear he held.

Kwaghuuuuk-!!!

The collision of blue and black light erupted shocks all around.

The world shook.

As divine statuses clashed and produced a tremendous sound.

Watching the energy emitted, the woman thought inwardly.

“Hurry up.”

She couldn’t hold out much longer.

And.

“Still, just show it to me once.”

Even if everything has vanished.

If she could see that person just once.

The woman felt that once again, she could do anything.

*

At that moment.

Boom-!!

“Cough!”

Gu Yangcheong tumbled hard to the ground, spitting blood.

“Cough.”

Spitting a handful of blood, he staggered to rise.

Crunch-!

“Cough!”

His head was stomped down, and his face was pressed into the ground.

He quivered but couldn’t get up.

“Tsk tsk.”

As Gu Yangcheong’s head was stepped on, the figure above spoke.

“Incompetent fool.”

A goblin glared at Gu Yangcheong, sparking flames.

 

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