1246——————==

Soul of the Evil God

As Asura and I, the priests, put down our hostile postures, we looked at each other in confusion, unsure if this guy was trying to pull a fast one on us.

‘What the heck is going on?’

Could they be planning to trick us into getting rid of us more easily?

It was only natural not to let my guard down towards someone I had just been trying to kill seconds ago, and Asura felt the same way. As we stiffened our postures, Priest Arta run bowed his head and spoke.

“Please follow us. Our god wishes to meet you.”

I responded bluntly to his earnest request.

“Do I have to just follow you because you say so? Do you really think I’d go along with you clowns in this situation?”

“How can we make you believe us?”

“Start with an explanation. Why do you want to take me somewhere, and where exactly are we going?”

Arta run replied, “The invitation you just showed was delivered to you through a servant of our god. We have a duty to guide the one who possesses that invitation to the deity.”

“……”

From that statement, I grasped part of the situation.

‘This blue gem was definitely given to me by that [Dreaming Musician], who borrowed the body of one of the blessed sacrifices of the Evil God from the Great Thunder Valley… So, does that mean these priests are on the same side as the [Dreaming Musician]?’

As I mulled it over, I spoke to Arta run.

“That [Dreaming Musician] handed that to me. Who is he?”

“Ah… that person is also a Great Being… one who descends from the Great Constellation…”

“…What do you plan to do by taking me to your god?”

“That is entirely up to our god… You will face no harm. Please come with us.”

“Are you kidding me?”

I couldn’t shake off the feeling that while they were acting polite, they were actually mocking me with their power. Plus, being dragged in front of a god would make it impossible for even suicide to be an option, so I had no reason to follow along. With fire in my eyes, I shouted passionately.

“There’s no way I’m going along with your plan! You think you can force me to comply with no true feelings or sincerity?!!”

“How can we prove our sincerity?”

“Just bite your tongue and die! You can’t do it, can you?”

“Oh… please understand our sincerity.”

“Huh?”

What the hell are you talking about?

But in the next moment, I was left dumbfounded by what unfolded before my eyes.

Thud

Priest Arta run swung his staff and blew his own head off in a suicide! Naturally, both Asura and I were completely blindsided, our eyes wide open, and after Arta run’s suicide, the nearby priest picked up his staff and bowed his head respectfully.

“Please understand our sincerity!”

“Understand us!”

Is this real?!

Priest Arta run was a high-level existence whose mere presence could shift the balance of the world! Utilizing [Small Cycle] to overcome death and force the Asura into submission, he could wipe out humanity single-handedly. And yet, such a being chose to commit suicide just to prove his sincerity!

‘What the hell are these crazy bastards?!’

Having never encountered such a situation, I couldn’t hide my confusion. Even the Eight Parts of the Divine who serve Chi You would not commit suicide just because commanded! It was then that I finally realized the kind of will these priests possessed.

‘Oh…!!’

They really are insane!

‘This is fanaticism.’

Clearly, they believe that carrying out their objectives for their god is more important than their own dignity! Arta run, even in his suicide, likely felt no regret for his accomplishments and might have even been pleased to die for his god.

Chills ran down my spine—

‘I feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew….’

I understood why I felt this way. The priests before me weren’t just powerful; they were a group of fanatics willing to throw away their lives like worthless scraps! Negotiating with such people could easily lead to a situation worse than death.

Asura, too, seemed to be feeling the same, his complexion not looking good at all. He glanced at me, and that look expressed a silent question, leaving all choices to me. Even the mighty Asura could find it difficult to unleash his craziness against such a group.

‘If I refuse again….’

There’s absolutely no telling how they might react. Logic and reason won’t work with such fanatics, and I knew this from experience.

‘…Okay, maybe I can use that fanaticism to my advantage?’

After pondering for a moment, I suddenly had a bright idea and opened my mouth.

“Alright. I’ll follow, but there’s a condition.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t like how there are so many tentacle-laden freaks like you. I want all but one of you to commit suicide.”

“Oh… understood.”

Thud!

In an instant, all but one of the 11 priests before me had committed suicide, leaving only one behind. The remaining priest, a bizarre individual who seemed like a fusion of an ancient dragon and tentacles, bowed his head respectfully and said.

“I am Priest Bezak run. I will serve you with all my being.”

“Why would you serve me?”

“Because we will be going to meet our god…”

“I’m not going.”

“…….”

Boom!

I summoned my Immortal Sword and said to Asura.

“Asura, if it’s 2 against 12, it’s impossible, but if it’s 2 against 1, we can handle it, right?”

Having a crazy bunch isn’t always beneficial!

If they all die, we’d have the advantage in numbers!

Haha! I wouldn’t have thought of that. You actually managed to turn their insanity into an advantage!

Asura chuckled as he grasped weapons in all six of his hands and shouted.

“It’s not a matter of being possible; it’s a matter of honoring my pride! Let’s go!”

“Yeah!!”

Tydaht!

Asura and I charged at Priest Bezak run simultaneously. Bezak run shook his dragon head slightly in response and spoke with a hint of anger.

“You will regret plotting against us in this sacred place!”

Ziiiiinnnn!

Boom!

In the next moment, a faint barrier ignited around Bezak run as he withstood our attacks. The shimmering barrier trembled, trying to absorb our destructive power, and suddenly shattered like glass.

Pa-ching!

“……!!”

All I could do was be shocked at the barrier.

‘Asura has the Nirvana of the Absolute, and I used Infinite Slash at full throttle?!’

Both Asura and I had climbed to the ranks of the strongest in the current human realm, and our combined attack contained overwhelming power. Yet, that priest’s barrier had successfully withstood such formidable force without breaking a sweat. That’s a level of defense even the Great Immortal couldn’t create!

As I was left dumbfounded, Bezak run’s eyes began glowing with blood.

“The reason my colleagues left me behind is that I am the foremost of the thirteen priests… Can those who struggled against the 7th priest, Arta run, hope to defeat me?”

Crackle!

At the moment Bezak run’s staff began to shine, countless lines scattered in space, and I could hear something being cut.

“Again… [Small Cycle]!”

Asura seemed to realize something was up and quickly unleashed his Sword Technique for defense, summoning a formidable sword barrier, while I sensed something coming and pondered my next move.

‘Counterattack? Or should I defend like Asura?’

But for some reason, intuition was telling me that if I tried to defend like Asura, it would be a disaster. I decided that even if it meant dying here, I’d at least attempt a counterattack, and I recalled all I could do. I concluded there was only one method I could use.

With a decisive glare in my eyes, I poured all my power into my voice.

“Light Beam!!!”

Kaboom!

The next moment, a beam of light engulfed Bezak run, and it appeared as if his body vanished within the brightness.

Ugggh…!!

But, to my shock, I quickly realized I hadn’t defeated Bezak run in one blow; rather, he managed to withstand my attack while a similar barrier clung protectively around him yet again.

‘What insane defense…!!’

Can the power of magic really be this robust? I hadn’t expected the light beam’s strength, which could significantly injure even the Sea God, to be so effortlessly blocked! As I stood dazed, feeling the pain from the light beams, Asura’s body erupted.

Boom!

“Ughk!”

“Asura!”

“…time-space distortion…. Continuous cause-and-effect breaking sorcery… What madness… not even the Old Ruler could use such a level of magic… To think a servant of the god has such power….”

“……”

“Only magic of the level of the Old Ruler….”

Asura gurgled, spewing blue blood from his upper body, bending over partially. He looked like he was losing considerable combat ability, leading me to feel tense. The disparity in power hit home like a wave.

Boom!!

Yet, could even Bezak run keep blocking the light beam indefinitely? Amidst the explosion, Bezak run too was engulfed by the blast and knocked back. I watched as Bezak run’s staff glowed again, manipulating [Small Cycle] to recover, and I felt my mind go blank.

“Ugh… the power of the Three Sovereigns…!!”

Bezak run’s voice was tinged with shock, but I couldn’t even hear it as I witnessed an unbelievable turn of events where the enemy priest didn’t fall even after taking a direct hit from the beam.

Without a doubt.

That bastard is of the lower-tier of the Old Rulers!

“Damn it!! What do we do now!”

I refrained from releasing my light beams in succession and instead began to chant my spell rapidly.

“O Celestial Constellation flowing in the time of destruction! I call upon your authority. I worship the coming millennium!”

With crackles, the power of the spell began to gather in my palms. Imbuing it with divine strength and command, each word surpassed my previous spells in potency. Upon hearing this, Bezak run seemed greatly astounded.

“No, what spell is that?!”

“Take this!!”

The curse of the Evil God!!

Bang!

As the spell completion echoed, a massive dark tentacle emerged and wrapped around Bezak run’s body. His staff fell from his grip as he appeared helplessly ensnared by the tentacle, completely disarmed in no time. Once I subdued Bezak run, I wiped the cold sweat from my brow and said.

“Consider this an honor. I never expected to use this spell here…”

In a scenario where I couldn’t utilize the Black Cloud, though I panicked when I couldn’t penetrate Bezak run’s defense, I had no choice now but to unleash the Evil God’s curse. It was with absolute certainty that if I held back further against such a formidable adversary, it would lead to peril.

“Indeed… You are truly impressive. I understand why our god wanted you brought to him….”

I spoke tersely to the now-praising Bezak run.

“Is this really the time for compliments? That spell is about to completely consume you. It feels much stronger than before.”

Crack!

“Uhh….”

“Damn it. You’re not thinking of escaping with [Small Cycle] again, are you?”

With a tense glare at Bezak run, he shook his head.

“That’s not the case. The authority of this spell cannot be resisted with the ability to manipulate [Small Cycle]. Moreover, by absorbing magical power, I will suppress the enemy, so no demon sorcerer can stand against it; historically, countless sorcerers faced defeat. Even the Constellation would meet its doom! How incredible this is!!”

Bezak run seemed to genuinely praise the power of the Evil God’s curse.

“……?”

I was puzzled at his words.

“What? How do you know so much?”

“I have also cast that spell in the past, thanks to the great god’s grace….”

“What?!”

What kind of nonsense is this?!

“Oh… truly… Baek Woong… even if you do not follow our lead… you are destined to meet our god….”

“Shut it…”

“I have never seen a curse manifest with this force… My god… cherishes you above all else….”

As his voice, filled with unhinged fanaticism, trailed off, Bezak run’s body began getting sucked into the massive tentacle summoned in mid-air.

Crack crack crack!

“To become the sustenance of the great god… it is an honor….”

Moments later, Bezak run’s voice faded, and he was entirely consumed by the tentacle. I briefly watched his demise before getting up to steady Asura.

“Are you okay?”

“Gah… this is maddening… he was too strong.”

“I feel you there.”

I closed my eyes, feeling the burning pain from the backlash of the light beam, simultaneously realizing I had lost my sight. For a while, I’d have to rely entirely on my qi sense to measure what was around me.

Asura spoke.

“But thanks to your powerful spell… a clue has emerged.”

“A clue?”

“Look ahead at the dimensional rift… Because of the clash of great powers, a huge dark tree can be seen through that rift.”

“……!!”

I was jolted by Asura’s words.

“That must surely be what was detected from the ark earlier. Inside, there should be Zhuge Sa and Seo Mun-hye.”

“Is that so… then, the dark tree is likely closely connected to Zhuge Sa.”

“Can we enter the dark tree through the ark?”

“Perhaps if we cross dimensions before the rift disappears…”

As Asura muttered this, he continued.

“Let’s get going… damn it… things these days are just relentless.”

“…Yeah.”

Listening to Asura’s grumbling, I slowly made my way to the ark. I glanced toward the rift that would probably be unfolding behind us and thought.

‘That guy was waiting for something to arrive until the very end.’

If I hadn’t ended the battle quickly using the curse of the Evil God, that “something” would surely have come. I regretted how I had to use the curse but thought I did right considering the circumstances.

‘At any rate, it seems we need to leave this place fast…’

If someone even stronger comes, we won’t be able to handle it.

I boarded the ark with Asura and commanded.

“Open a path through the dimensional rift and approach the dark tree.”

“Opening Dimension Closer… Entry will commence in 30 seconds.”

Boom!!

A moment later, a tremendous flash erupted, and the ark trembled as it felt like we were entering somewhere. When the entry concluded, I heard Asura’s panicked voice beside me.

“Huh?! Baek Woong!! Why is that guy here?!”

He sounded as if he were about to lose his breath, so I asked back.

“What’s going on… I can’t see anything right now.”

“Do you know what I just saw in the clouds?”

“What did you see?!”

With my qi sense, I could perceive the silhouettes of things but couldn’t see the state of any electronic screens emitting electromagnetic waves. When I became irritated, Asura spoke up, his voice tense.

“Zhuge Sa was watching us….”