사신지혼(四神之魂)

I had no choice but to be cautious of the Emperor’s words.

“I just went through hell to snatch this, and now he wants it right away! What’s his game?”

I had no clue what his true intentions were, and having been seriously backstabbed by the Emperor before, I was starting with suspicion. But if I continued to just silently refuse, he’d likely just use his overwhelming power to take it by force.

Thinking I needed to buy some time, I glared at the Emperor and said, “This is a mask I wrested from Hong Gyun Do-in through my own power. You have nothing to do with this bet, so why are you asking for the mask?”

[That’s got nothing to do with me. The important thing is that we can each give what the other wants.]

“I don’t want to give it! Propose something else.”

[You don’t want to give it…?]

The Emperor rested his chin on his hand, seemingly amused.

[…You don’t plan on wearing that mask, do you?]

“……?”

Wait, what? Me wear the mask of Hong Gyun Do-in?

That thought had never even crossed my mind, leaving me dumbstruck.

Who on earth would put on such a ghastly mask!

I was so taken aback I let out a little laugh.

“I don’t want to wear a mask that isn’t nearly as cool as your dragon mask. But looking at this mask….”

I glanced at the Hong Gyun Do-in mask hanging by my side and suddenly lost my words. In my rush to remove it earlier, I hadn’t properly observed its appearance, but now that I looked closely, I was shocked.

‘…Huh? This thing looks really bizarre…?’

It was bizarre, indeed.

The kind of bizarre that fit the word perfectly.

A pink tentacle pattern seemed to pulse and breathe beneath the eyes, while shadows distorted and flickered as if alive. Not to mention, just like earlier with Hong Gyun Do-in, a swirl of chaotic colors danced inside the eyelids!

But what truly struck me as strange was the back of the mask. It reeked of human skin, emitting a disgusting squelching sound that made me shudder at the thought of actually wearing it.

I found myself staring at this horrifically gross mask, dumbfounded for a moment before finally saying, “This mask is repulsive! Are masks like this supposed to degrade in quality each time they’re removed?”

[A fascinating observation. If you can peel off a mask, it means you can also utilize the mask’s techniques, yet you don’t even understand the characteristics of the mask…?]

“…….”

[Anyway, fine. If you refuse to exchange information, I’ll just resort to force and take the mask.]

Oh no! That can’t happen!

Knowing that starting a fight would spell disaster, I instinctively lifted the mask and shouted, “Who said I’m refusing to exchange? Of course, I plan to give the mask in exchange for information! I’m just saying the exchange order is off!”

[Off in what way?]

I glanced over at the stunned Hong Gyun Do-in and continued.

“Exactly! I wagered against that guy to obtain this mask, and if I succeeded, he promised me three wishes. But if I hastily trade the mask without confirming the wager outcome, what if Hong Gyun Do-in turns around and says something different?”

[…….]

“Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen! It would be wise to use your great wisdom to set this exchange in a fair and proper order.”

At that moment, the Destroyer God Shiva, who had been listening to our conversation, cut in angrily.

[Emperor! Why waste time listening to this brat? Just cleanse the rebels and take it by force!]

Guh…!!

If I followed Shiva’s suggestion, I knew we’d be annihilated in an instant, which made me flinch. The Emperor really wouldn’t have anything to lose by pushing for it!

But the Emperor didn’t respond to Shiva at all. Instead, he crossed his arms, deep in thought, then said,

[What three wishes did you intend to ask of Hong Gyun Do-in?]

“I hadn’t really thought about it at that time. I meant to decide after winning.”

[Very well. Let’s proceed this way.]

I was surprised by what the Emperor said next.

[I will accept the law of cause and effect between you and Hong Gyun Do-in instead. In return, I’ll grant you one of your wishes.]

“……!!”

[Of course, I’ll also tell you the name of the reborn person.]

What?! What kind of calculation made him offer such a good deal?

I nearly danced in gratitude, but since I had to be careful not to let the opponent see my intentions, I replied in a gruff manner.

“Hong Gyun Do-in has to grant three wishes! Why does it change to one when the law of cause and effect goes to you?”

[Are you asking because you don’t know? Hong Gyun Do-in is nothing more than a mask that mistakenly believes itself to be the main body. In contrast, I surpassed him long ago…. There’s likely a gap of more than three times, and this is merely a kindness bestowed upon you.]

“…….”

It was arrogant, but he was Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.

There was no denying he had the right to be that arrogant.

As much as I loathed him, I couldn’t deny the authority he held, complicating my feelings. I ground my teeth in irritation and begrudgingly nodded.

“…Fine. You can have it.”

Thinking it was appropriate to compromise at this point, I tossed the mask toward Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.

Swish

Like a sailboat smoothly gliding over waves, the mask flew straight into Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s hands as if drawn in. The Emperor held the mask for a moment, staring at it before muttering,

[You say you’re no different from me? If so, you would never even have had a chance to aim for ascension from the start…. Foolish one who cannot suppress their essence.]

Who was he talking about?

A moment later, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s actions shocked everyone.

Clang

He placed the mask of Hong Gyun Do-in over his dragon mask, wearing it just like that!

[……!!]

[No, wait!]

[What on earth?!]

The four retainers surrounding the Emperor as well as the Three Sovereigns were all taken aback. I shared their confusion, unable to comprehend his actions, eyes wide in disbelief.

‘This can’t be happening!’

Why would he wear that?!

The mask that had been placed on the Three Sovereigns could negotiate with the divine status of order but also had an incredibly strong function of restraint. Just look at how Shao Hao Jin Tian regained his powers immediately after removing the mask! Yet, the Emperor had just shackled himself with the mask’s restraints!

What ensued was even more astonishing.

Screech…

The mask of Hong Gyun Do-in emitted a peculiar sound as though metal were corroding, slowly melting and being absorbed into the interior of the dragon mask. It didn’t take long for the horrendous mask to bubble and dissolve away, merging seamlessly into the dragon mask while Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen erupted with a boisterous laugh.

[Ha ha ha! I’ve devoured that fool who thought himself a gazer. Everything is progressing smoothly!!]

Everyone listening to his raucous laughter didn’t seem to grasp the situation at all. And the moment the Emperor absorbed the mask of Hong Gyun Do-in, the body of Hong Gyun Do-in, standing far away, suddenly turned to dust, scattering like powder.

Why did Hong Gyun Do-in vanish again?

I couldn’t figure anything out.

But one thing was certain.

As everyone realized the situation yet hesitated to voice it, it was the first to speak up was Jeon Wook.

[Emperor! From the beginning, the mask posed no restraints on you.]

[…….]

Though the Emperor didn’t respond to Jeon Wook, I wondered if it was just an illusion when I saw a smiling face flicker behind his mask.

Instead, the Emperor spoke to Jeon Wook.

[Jeon Wook. Did you not want me to be the final victor? I never expected you’d consider rebellion despite such a difference in power.]

Jeon Wook replied in a voice that sounded resigned.

[That seat doesn’t have to belong only to you.]

[Foolishness. My victory is the victory of us all….]

[That’s just your selfishness.]

[I understand it all. For us Old Rulers, only I matters. The only criteria for distinguishing self from others is the desire; hence, there was never any sense of camaraderie from the beginning.]

[…….]

[This wasn’t the time I had envisioned while reading the law of cause and effect, but it seems a quick conclusion has come to light.]

Mumbling this, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen fixed his gaze on the last Third Dimension Portal.

Crackle!!

Crackle!!

Something tremendous was definitely going to spring forth from there. Even when the Emperor personally arrived, there hadn’t been this much of a reaction, yet now the chaotic echoes of the universe continued to swell in depth from that portal.

The Emperor opened his mouth.

[Great One, were you curious about the name of the reborn person?]

Oh! Is he going to answer my question?

I quickly exclaimed, “Yes!”

[His true name is unknown to me. However, he had a title bestowed on him by the Great Will.]

“Who is it?”

At the Emperor’s following words, I felt a chill run down my spine.

[He is known as the Demon Emperor. The Great Will has declared that only he can use that title across the universe.]

…What?

The moment that familiar name popped up, I recognized that a massive, intricate mystery had been set in motion. And at the same time, I sensed I could never return to the moment before this revelation.

‘The Demon Emperor… it has to be that guy…!!’

Just as I was trying to process my thoughts, the Emperor muttered under his breath.

[He’s here.]

Boom!!

With a colossal sound, an eerie grayish hand surged forth from the third dimension portal. There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t feel that it wasn’t a monster.

‘Huh? That hand shape looks familiar…’

Grugrgrgrg…

The monstrous hand clutched one side of the dimensional door while another emerged to grasp the opposite side, forcibly stretching its size. Watching it tear the dimension apart as it emerged, I absurdly chuckled.

‘Heh! What’s up with that?’

I grinned, nudging Jeon Wook next to me. “Jeon Wook! Look at that thing trying to escape. Whatever it is…”

[…….]

“Jeon Wook?!”

For some reason, he didn’t respond to me and wore a visibly tense expression. He didn’t seem this shaken even when the Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen and his powerful deities appeared, but now Jeon Wook looked absolutely pale. Eventually, he muttered in disbelief.

[T-This can’t be. When we fought before… he couldn’t have had this level of power… Did he truly strengthen for the divine nature training? How is this happening?!]

It was unmistakably a reaction of facing an indescribable nightmare.

[…….]

[Uugh…]

Jeon Wook wasn’t alone in his reaction. Jeogok beside him, even Shao Hao Jin Tian, who had regained his powers, looked slightly defeated. What’s more, the four deities surrounding the Emperor appeared to be under some immense pressure as well.

Vishnu spoke towards the Emperor.

[Your Majesty! Is it possible ‘he’ gained a fortuitous encounter and elevated his existence’s level? He wasn’t this strong when he fought me.]

Vishnu seemed to have some inkling of who was emerging, yet he too shared a look of shock and astonishment similar to Jeon Wook. I felt a weird satisfaction seeing Vishnu’s expression turn to bewilderment, but soon I grasped how serious the situation had become.

‘This guy… the Vishnu never seemed fazed, even when he was going to attack Nüwa and Fuxi single-handedly…?’

This Vishnu, who was equal to the Three Sovereigns, top deities in Tianzhu mythology, and held a high rank in the Divine Temple, was now visibly losing his composure to pure anxiety and horror!

Is the situation really that strange?

Then Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, still leisurely watching the dimensional portal, chuckled softly.

[Hehe… foolish one, Vishnu. Concepts like fortuitous encounters exist only for mortals like you, don’t they? Once you ascend to true divinity, you can no longer enhance your innate powers… unless you undergo special rituals and pay a price.]

[…….]

[While I observed the laws of cause and effect, that man went through the proper steps to officially lift his seal. Yet… I never expected that none would’ve figured out the true strength of that monster until the end. This too is amusing.]

As the Emperor laughed heartily, Vishnu frowned, his eyebrows twitching.

[True strength? What do you mean by that…? I knew he had weakened himself by going into a deep slumber, but surely there’s a limit to how much power can be restrained by such seals. Even considering any residual energy, he shouldn’t be able to reach such extremes…!]

[Vishnu! Unbeknownst to you, you were essentially determining the limits of being a ‘Ruler’ this entire time.]

[There are limits that exist. No matter how formidable the divinity, I believe I’ve clearly perceived the limits of power over billions of years.]

[…….]

Then the Emperor spoke darkly.

[Vishnu! You shall witness this when the final battle of calamity ensues.]

[What are you saying?]

[What it means to possess no limits…!]

Suddenly

What occurred next made me question my own eyes. From the ripped dimensional door, ‘something’ began to slowly emerge, gradually revealing its upper body.

You might mistake its face for a human at first glance – yet, its lower jaw was covered in tentacles while dark wings of despair unfurled from its back like a bat. In its white pupils shimmered an unfathomable rage, and claws reminiscent of a reptile emerged forcefully from its fingertips.

Uooh

As the soul of Jeogok, the Three Sovereigns, danced whimsically in distress, ‘it’ slowly inhaled, taking a deep breath.

Gulp!

It was an eerie sight, as if Jeogok’s spirit was being swallowed whole. After that, ‘it’ spread its bat-like wings wide.

“That…”

What kind of event is transpiring right now?

The Three Sovereigns… just got taken out in one blow?

Lost in a daze, I heard a heavy sound akin to a stone scraping across another pillar, and from the other side of the dimensional door, ‘that’ slowly began to reveal itself.

At first, its face might trick you into thinking it was human – but covered in tentacles. From behind, dark despairing wings, resembling a bat, steadily unfurled. In the white of its eyes burned an inscrutable fury, with talons sprouting forcefully from its fingertips.

Uooh

The soul of Jeogok continued to flutter in disarray, but ‘it’ took another sharp breath, inhaling its own essence.

Gulp!

As the haunting image of ‘it’ devouring Jeogok emerged, I couldn’t comprehend what was unfolding.

“Wha….”

The unthinkable had occurred! The Three Sovereigns had fallen with a single strike!

Amid my shock, ‘it’ flexed its massive gray hand and seized something around.

It had grabbed Jeogok. I didn’t know how he was caught, but it was clear he couldn’t escape or defend himself. The moment it took him, he shouted in panic.

[W-What is happening! I opened a rift to lead you here, so why are you…?]

Crack!

That was the last moment of Jeogok, the Three Sovereigns. Veins bulged in the gray hand as it tightened its grip, not giving Jeogok a chance to even scream, his divine body exploded, scattering his blood across the chaotic space.

“Uh…”

What is happening right now?

Jeogok, one of the Three Sovereigns… fell in an instant?

As I struggled to recognize the reality of the situation, ‘that’ suddenly emerged from within the dimension and slowly revealed itself.

You could mistake its face for human at first – but alongside its lower jaw covered in tentacles, dark wings resembling those of a bat began to unfurl from its back. There was an unquenchable rage glimmering within its pale eyes, and tough, reptilian claws emerged from its fingers.

Uooh

As the spirit of the now scattered Three Sovereigns of Jeogok floated around, ‘it’ took a deep breath, savoring the flavor of its triumph.

Gulp!

A sight so harrowing, it felt like a nightmare. ‘It’ had casually wiped out Jeogok, rendering him unable to resurrect.

‘That’ then spread its bat-like wings wide.

‘It’ said nothing.

Bam!

And instead, with a fluid motion akin to swatting a fly, it swung its massive arm, and by the time the movement ceased, the head of Goddess Nüwa, standing behind the Emperor, had vanished.

Another silent divine kill.

Yet, no one in the hall could move.

The aura of ‘it’ suffocated us, proclaiming its descent.

And finally, I recognized the being I had encountered many times before.

Shaking uncontrollably

“Ugh… huff….”

I realized my legs and lips were trembling so violently I could neither speak nor stand. All I felt was fear filling my head, making rational thought nearly impossible. Flashes and echoes of illusions swirled before my eyes. I had met many divine beings today, but this crushing dread was something I had never experienced before.

The Evil God had appeared.