1229——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I was taken aback by Susanoo’s words.

“There’s going to be a Great Flood? You’re saying it will happen again like it did in ancient times?”

[That’s right. It will definitely happen.]

“What’s your proof?”

In response to my question, Susanoo answered.

[The moment I arrived on this land for recovery and touched the dragon vein, I could feel it. An unknown pulse was continuing from the underlying flow of the estate known as the dragon vein. And that flow of pulse is getting stronger, meaning soon the tectonic plates will make a massive shift.]

“Tectonic plates? What’s that?”

[Hmm….]

Susanoo looked like he was having a hard time answering, and I could hear Zhuge Sa’s voice in my head.

[Heh. Let me break it down with the ancient knowledge I learned as a Demon Sorcerer.]

Zhuge Sa began explaining.

[On this planet called Earth, the continents are continuously moving. Even the maps from ten thousand years ago are quite different from today. The reason the continents move is due to the existence of tectonic plates in the Earth’s crust, which flow from the massive lava layers deep in the Earth. This is a phenomenon caused by the heat source in the Earth’s core, and many other planets often lack these lava layers and tectonic plates.]

[…….]

[And what Susanoo sensed was that the intensity of that flow has strengthened to the point where all the plates will simultaneously shift, causing the continents above them to move, leading to the Great Flood.]

Hmm…. What does that even mean?

I honestly admitted I didn’t understand.

[Sorry… that sounds like gibberish to me….]

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

[Having experienced an era of androids and orbital elevators, your knowledge of geology is quite lacking, heh. Well, it must be overwhelming just to understand the important trends in the world, let alone having the time to learn Earth sciences from Professor Sima Ling.]

[…….]

[Anyway, Susanoo has a point. Keep going.]

[Thanks!]

I’m not sure, but if Zhuge Sa says so, then so be it!

I spoke to Susanoo.

“So you’re saying that because of the anomaly in the dragon vein, the tectonic plates are going to collide, and you plan to stop that collision with your strength?”

[That’s right. The colliding tectonic plates are what will artificially cause floods worldwide. If you understand the intention behind it, stopping it won’t be too difficult. Just a slight adjustment to that artificial flow should suffice.]

“Hmm.”

I pondered.

‘Can I leave Susanoo alone for three years?’

The idea of gathering strength over three years to stop a natural disaster using divine power is fantastic. But can I really take Susanoo’s words at face value?

The fact that Jeon Wook and Jeogok teamed up means that they might be strong enough to take down two of the Five Divinities rapidly. If Susanoo changed his words and went on a rampage after restoring his powers, that would be catastrophic.

Regardless, Susanoo is a creator god, comparable to Amaterasu. Right now, I might match Susanoo, but later it would look like an elephant fighting a cat.

‘It’s still true that now is the optimal time to take down a weakened Susanoo. Hmmm….’

I mulled it over, then thought to Zhuge Sa.

[Zhuge Sa, what should I do?]

[Heh…. This isn’t a matter for me to advise on. Whether you want to take him down or follow Susanoo’s words, it’s up to you.]

[What? Is that really okay?]

[You seem worried about being betrayed, but if you get betrayed, then that’s that. At least you’ll know Susanoo isn’t trustworthy.]

[…….]

[Isn’t that the privilege of a reborn person? You’ve thought this way before, and in truth, the more troubling the issue, the less you should worry about it.]

[Usually, that would be true, but right now I can’t recklessly use obsidian to gather more companions…. If this situation continues into the next cycle, being betrayed now would be a major hit.]

[That’s a fair point. But I’ve already thought of some alternative solutions, so don’t worry.]

[Alternative solutions?]

[Heh. For now, keep negotiating with Susanoo.]

After I finished talking with Zhuge Sa, I turned to Susanoo and said.

“…I’ll trust you for now. I won’t fight you.”

Just as Zhuge Sa said, even if I’m betrayed, if the other party can’t halt my rebirth, that choice itself will just become part of my experience. It’s less about trusting Susanoo and more about trusting my rebirth ability.

[Haha. This is the first time I’ve seen such a kind apostle since the creation of heaven and earth.]

“Are you mocking me?”

[I’m serious. I truly appreciate your decision.]

Susanoo chuckled and then said.

[So can we say we’re shaking hands on it?]

“An alliance… Hmm… I can’t guarantee that. I won’t necessarily help you when you’re in trouble.”

[You have a point. Then let’s make it a non-aggression pact at least.]

“That’ll do.”

[So has your business here in Kyoto concluded?]

I glanced behind the pillar at Miho before answering his question.

“I have something to discuss with Miho….”

I hesitated as I started to speak.

‘…Since I can’t use obsidian, I can’t have Miho as a companion. There’s no way Miho can withstand the demands right now.’

In this situation, trying to persuade Miho with words won’t be effective at all. It would just be taken as the ramblings of a monster. If I were to successfully convince her through words, I’d have to share my deepest secrets, and the problem is that powerful divine beings like Susanoo and Kaku Tsuchi are currently dominating Kyoto. I couldn’t even guess what variables would arise if the secret about my rebirth ability leaked in a situation where I couldn’t fully trust them.

For various reasons, it was too risky, so I had no choice but to give up speaking to Miho.

“…No, it’s fine. I just want to say, Susanoo, please take good care of that nine-tailed fox, Miho.”

[Oh…. What kind of connection is that?]

“I like foxes. If you can’t protect Miho, I will be angry.”

[Understood. I will do my best to protect her.]

I skirted around the topic, but Susanoo didn’t pry further. Then Zhuge Sa’s words echoed in my head.

[Heh…. Looks like Miho is your weakness and she’s going to spill everything.]

[Sorry. But I’d risk it all just for Miho’s safety.]

[If that’s your will.]

Just as Zhuge Sa seemed satisfied with my answer, suddenly, the fiery turtle spirit, Hinokakuzuchi, exclaimed in surprise.

[Lord Susanoo! The Seven Lucky Gods who were on guard have reported an intruder near Kyoto!]

[Intruder?]

[Yes. It appears to be a powerful otherworldly demon beast.]

[Hmm….]

Susanoo pondered for a moment before speaking to me.

[Apostle Baek Woong, I hate to ask, but could you help us deal with this otherworldly demon beast?]

“Why should I? I’m busy too. Plus, you have the power to deal with it yourself, don’t you?”

[Every time I use my strength, my recovery period increases. The three years I promised you might stretch even longer. Plus, the Seven Lucky Gods are formidable local deities in their own right; if they consider it strong….]

Sounds like it’s quite a capable high-level otherworldly race.

‘Tch. I really don’t want to help others…’

I thought it was annoying, but this is part of my journey, so I needed to get some intel. I nodded.

“Let’s go.”

[Hinokakuzuchi. Open the door to there.]

[Understood.]

Whoosh!

From Hinokakuzuchi’s mouth erupted a massive fireball, which scorched the space and formed an ancient-style door in its place. As Susanoo stepped through that door, Dracula and I also followed him in.

Rumble…

“It’s dark.”

Upon arriving on the mountain of a remote beach, the sky was completely covered in dark clouds, and barely any light was visible. And on the gloomy coastline, there were small villages scattered here and there.

“I can’t see anything! I thought the Seven Lucky Gods would be fighting that monster.”

Hinokakuzuchi, accompanying us, replied.

[The monster is still lying in wait in the nearby deep sea. The Seven Lucky Gods are using their power from the nearby torii and shrine to cast a barrier.]

“I think we better attack first. I don’t have time to waste.”

Whoosh!

As I summoned my sword, Susanoo looked intrigued.

[Oh. Is that the Sword of Cause and Effect… It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.]

I jumped at his words and asked back.

“Do you know swordsmanship?”

[I don’t know the name of the technique, but I’ve seen the Heavenly Mysterious Woman from the Celestial Realm use it occasionally.]

“How did she use it?”

[Well…. We’re not allies, so I can’t tell you that, haha!]

“……”

[Maybe I’ll let you know if we form an alliance later.]

Is he sulking because we didn’t form an alliance yet?

Susanoo casually laughed and summoned a sword into his right hand.

[I have a pretty decent sword too. Let’s fight together.]

Crunch!

The sword summoned in his hand was a broken half-sword. Knowing that a half-sword wouldn’t function as a weapon, I was left dumbfounded.

“That’s your decent sword? It’s broken.”

[It’s called Totsuka no Tsurugi. Originally, it was truly a powerful sword, but now it’s just decent.]

“……”

Ah, is that what you meant?

I shook my head and scanned the front.

‘Once again, it’s not easy to spot high-level otherworldly beings even with Fire Eye Golden Spirit. They must be lying in wait to strike all at once…’

Well, then, I have a way.

I pulled out the National Seal and said.

“National Seal! Search for powerful otherworldly beings in this area!”

[Searching….]

A moment later, the National Seal shone brightly and suddenly a bright silver light soared from across the sea. That silver light took the shape of the Eight-Scaled Fish I was familiar with.

“……!!”

That’s enormous! The body stretched out in the deep sea looked close to 2 li in size, and each leg seemed to be three times longer than that. At that size, it was practically a calamity, and by the standards of the flood, it could be considered a super-sized demon beast. I couldn’t help but exclaim in shock at this gigantic Eight-Scaled Fish.

“What’s with that massive size? Is that just an otherworldly being?”

[Hmm…. It looks like….]

“Got any guesses?”

Susanoo pondered deeply before responding.

[It’s not high-level otherworldly.]

“Huh?”

[If anything, it’s a mid-level otherworldly. It doesn’t possess great intelligence and only bullies enemies with its enormous body. I’ve seen something like it during the war back then.]

“What? How can a mid-level otherworldly being make even gods and demon kings nervous?”

Susanoo’s following words made my face stiffen slightly.

[The special part is that it’s a servant race of the Evil God. And it seems to have grown ten times larger than its average size….]

ROOOAR!

In the next moment, the silver Eight-Scaled Fish, which had been sensed and glowing, suddenly gathered its eight legs and leapt high into the sky. Then, spreading its body wide in the air, it began spewing out a dark mist in all directions.

Whoosh!

“What’s that?”

[It’s a parasitic spore. Creatures that inhale this mist will become the seeds of the otherworldly being, and the tentacles will feast on the blood relations….]

“Damn it! That’s exactly the kind of lowly ability a low-level otherworldly being would have!!”

I had fought with otherworldly beings in the floods before. So even without hearing it, I could tell how despicable that ability was, and I frowned. I shouted to Dracula, who was next to me.

“Burn it all!”

[Understood!]

Whoosh!!

Dracula transformed into a black dragon and flew forward, exhaling the breath of black flames. The extreme heat and curses contained in Dracula’s breath instantly burned away the parasitic mist from the Eight-Scaled Fish, and at the same time, I leapt forward.

Thunder Sword!

Swish!

My blade extended into dozens of lengths, splitting the part that looked like the Eight-Scaled Fish’s head wide open. It felt as if the blade of lightning was slicing through meat, and I saw the Eight-Scaled Fish’s head split into a cross.

[ROAAAAR!!]

The Eight-Scaled Fish screamed, floating in the air, suddenly a massive Bloodletting Eye burst out from the split head. I noticed that eye aimed at me and quickly unleashed a blood-red beam.

Zing!!

BOOM!

I used my Thunder Sword to counter the blood-red beam, but felt a sharp pressure in one arm and flinched.

‘What is this power?!’

If even my internal strength feels that heavy, what kind of actual strength does that blood-red beam carry?

Just then, Susanoo, who had followed me, yelled angrily and attacked the Eight-Scaled Fish.

[Be annihilated!!]

Divine Technique

Heavenly Feather Brilliance

Totsuka no Tsurugi shot out like a flying sword technique, splitting into hundreds of thousands of sword shadows. Each shadow transformed into a pillar of light, piercing through the entire body of the Eight-Scaled Fish.

FWOOSH!!

[URGH.]

Splut!

The Eight-Scaled Fish screamed in horror as it lost most of its body, exploding in a rain of blood. It seemed like a rather empty ending, but Susanoo quickly extended his hand forward and said.

[Everyone, don’t let the血粹（blood residue）fall into the sea! It will revive.]

That’s probably based on experience! Dracula and Hinokakuzuchi reacted to that and unleashed flames again to burn all the blood residue, while I also spread my Thunder Blade to scorch as many blood vessels as possible with lightning.

Gurgle…

But we weren’t able to completely stop all of it, and some of the blood fell into the sea, and I watched as it quickly swelled into an Eight-Scaled Fish monster, nearly the size of my palm. Instantly, dozens of those Eight-Scaled Fish monsters sprang up, leaving me in shock.

“Whoa…. What is that…?”

Truly an unbelievable regeneration! It might not be as big as the massive monstrosity I just witnessed, but it was definitely a spawn. Susanoo grimaced, as if he had anticipated it.

[Back in the arenas, they weren’t that big, so this method could often be used to eliminate them, but now they’re just too big to deal with.]

“Damn it! We need to eliminate all of those as well.”

[At this point, we’ve still managed well. Let’s go take care of them right now.]

BOOM!

Then, for the next while, the three of us continued beating down the Eight-Scaled Fish monsters together. I lost track of how many times I shredded those giant Eight-Scaled Fish, but only then did they finally stop regenerating, allowing me to confirm their complete destruction.

I felt drained and irritated.

“This cannot be a mid-level otherworldly being! Even high-level beings aren’t this meticulous.”

[That’s right…. It seems that the entire clan of the Evil God has become very, very strong.]

“……”

[Baek Woong! I’m going to ask you urgently this time!]

Susanoo looked me in the eye and said firmly.

[Make an alliance with me. I beg you.]

I fell silent for a moment.

Then I nodded.

“I suppose there’s no choice. Let’s form an alliance.”

This wasn’t a matter of choice.

‘Damn it. How did things turn out like this…’

The image that popped into my head—

It was an absurd nightmare of thinking just how strong [the high-level underlings of the Evil God] would be.