Chapter 1411
“The moment I locked eyes with Nailatop, I knew it was a [Mask].”
It struck me as a weird realization, but what I felt was more than just an obvious fact. Since earlier, my mind had been in a bizarre state of awakening, but the entity before me was definitely human-shaped, yet clearly revealed as a [Mask].
As evidence, I barely noticed Nailatop’s white robe or his sickly appearance with glasses; instead, I could see something pulsing near his heart that looked like a [Mask]. For some reason, I felt that Nailatop’s human form was meaningless and that the mask was the real deal. This was a first for me.
As I stayed silent, Nailatop adjusted his glasses and said, “Well, if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. Once I open this door, I’ll achieve my purpose.”
Still silent, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was no reason for me to respond.
‘Even though a conversation with the author might seem worthwhile, ultimately it would mean nothing.’
It was as if I had unconsciously realized the conversation itself was nothing but a tactic to waste time. At that moment, a thought emerged in my mind.
I have to save the Cheon Woo-jin.
With a swift motion, I channeled the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit and gently pulled the colorful thread toward me. Suddenly, the space around us trembled violently, and the scenery behind Nailatop completely shifted.
Kwah-ching!
What burst through the landscape like a shattering glass was the battleship Gaia! Nailatop’s massive Gaia was soaring in the sky, showcasing its might, surrounded by an aura of incomprehensible super-science.
Nailatop’s expression changed dramatically.
“…Did you just completely strip away the probabilistic quantum distortion field surrounding Gaia? What on earth?”
This was the first time I had truly seen him flustered. However, I didn’t engage with Nailatop’s reaction; my eyes were fixated on Gaia. As soon as my focus slightly sharpened with the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit, I felt something orange glow and signal me.
Chiriririiing!
Inside the battleship Gaia, something was bound to the wall. In the darkness, I saw a flickering illusion next to a ripped apart raccoon doll, which was disassembled with cotton scattered everywhere, while the illusion was chained to the wall without any ability to move. At the sight of the bound girl, I let out a soft gasp.
“…The Cheon Woo-jin…”
There was no doubt about it. That was the Cheon Woo-jin.
If so… during the battle with Nailatop, the Cheon Woo-jin had already been defeated. And clearly, she was captured as a prisoner aboard Gaia. It was an obvious situation to anyone who looked, and for a moment I was at a loss for words. The smirk on Nailatop’s face confirmed that he was watching my reaction closely.
“You’ve suddenly made significant growth. How?”
“…”
“How could someone who barely uses their divine power become this strong in just 300 years of training? Fascinating.”
For the first time, I properly responded to Nailatop’s words.
“Let her go.”
Nailatop looked genuinely surprised.
“Hmm. Aren’t you curious about the nature of this [Door]? You’re worried about such trivial matters?”
Naturally, I would have been pretty pissed off at Nailatop’s words. But right now, being combined with the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit, I felt an unusual calmness wash over me. It was also hard to explain, but there was this undeniable certainty that I was making the right choice and following the correct path, almost like I was being shown what I needed to do—as if it were a prophetic vision.
“If you don’t let her go, I will kill you.”
A calm but menacing threat.
Yet Nailatop seemed unable to ignore my threats. He frowned for a moment, then pressed his finger against his ear and tapped a device he was wearing.
“Gaia. Release the Cheon Woo-jin.”
[Understood.]
Pushik –
With a sound hinting at the air being released from Gaia, it seemed the new form of the Cheon Woo-jin had dropped to the ground. As I stared blankly at that direction, Nailatop spoke.
“I see you won’t be foolish enough to fight against an awakened Reborn Person with unknown powers. That’s why I released the Cheon Woo-jin, hoping you’d cooperate with me in this grand undertaking.”
I raised the fallen Cheon Woo-jin, who still appeared to be unconscious, but thankfully she didn’t seem to be dead.
Chiiing
And moments later, the Cheon Woo-jin transformed into a small electronic chip, like a dust of light. As I held the chip, Nailatop chuckled.
“To prevent data consumption, it’s taken on a physical form.”
“….”
I placed the Cheon Woo-jin’s chip in my pocket.
Mission accomplished—at least for now. It was time to extract some information.
“You want me to open the [Door] in exchange for your cooperation.”
“Hoho! Exactly!”
Keen to make a deal, Nailatop’s face was lit up with joy.
“Whether you know it or not, only a Reborn Person can open this door. I’ve employed every method available to me, but I cannot open this one. So…”
I interrupted Nailatop’s monologue.
“You tried to capture the Cheon Woo-jin as a hostage and planned to come to the Training World to threaten me. You were bound and determined to confront me before I left the Training World.”
Nailatop shrugged off my words.
“It seems that mysterious energy has also boosted your intelligence. You didn’t need the World Tree’s core, did you?”
“…”
“Correct. Even so, I’m a scientist, so I intended to utilize all the knowledge I’ve gathered before searching for you in the Training World.”
“You’re taking it too casually.”
“Hmm?”
With a more serious tone, I shot my glance at Nailatop.
“While you may claim this is a scientific challenge, to you, opening this door is the ultimate goal—a goal you should never fail at. You should have been hastily bringing me in to threaten me instead of lounging around.”
“…”
“You played some tricks in the Training World. Am I wrong?”
As I pressed him, Nailatop adjusted his glasses and answered.
“Well, that’s about right. Considering what I see of your intelligence, you likely have a good inkling of what I did.”
Of course, I did.
My expression soured with irritation.
“Nailatop. You bastard.”
“Oh dear, don’t exude so much hostility. I’m merely making the most rational choices to achieve my goal. My battle with the Cheon Woo-jin was simply to clear any obstacles she posed to me, and it’s not like I wanted to make an enemy of you. However, I need you to open this door, which is why I prepared the necessary means. If you were in my position, you would’ve done the same.”
“Are you saying you have no personal feelings in this?”
“If we were to express that in human terms, you could say so. Heh…”
Nailatop smiled slyly.
“By the way, what I just released is not the main body of the Cheon Woo-jin, but a fraction of her computational power—10 percent. The remaining 90 percent is still captured.”
Got it.
Still holding her hostage, huh…?
I halted my stare at Nailatop and calmly replied.
“Jang Sam-bong once told me something.”
“…?”
“In a battle of guts, I merely paved the way for someone else’s good fortune. Ultimately, I’ve invariably made a fortune for the Nüwa, and because I wasn’t in the position to lead the situation during my 28th life, I’ve likely squandered time that I could’ve used to help my companions.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t want to be an idiot who repeats the same mistake.”
As I said that, Nailatop’s face hardened.
“Do as you please. In any case, if I don’t assist you, you will never open that door. While you might bemoan not being able to save the Cheon Woo-jin, the one really at a loss here is you, Nailatop.”
“…!!”
“If the Cheon Woo-jin dies to keep the secret of the Heavenly Secret, you’d probably get what you wanted.”
As I calmly spoke, a grimace crept onto Nailatop’s face.
“Baek Woong. Are you really planning to take this stance?”
“What else should I do? You want me to comply with all your demands while I calmly await my death?”
“…”
“Don’t make me laugh. I’ve come too far to engage in such foolishness. If you want something from me, you’re going to have to bow your head.”
“Haa…”
Nailatop let out a heavy sigh and said.
“If opening that [Door] is the end of the Rebirth, then what’s the point?”
My reaction was instinctive, a knee-jerk response.
“What…?”
What the heck is he talking about?
Nailatop continued, “Regardless of whether you believe me or not, it’s fine. Let me ask you this: What do you think the reason the Cheon Woo-jin was so adamant about stopping my invasion?”
“…?”
“That door is a final trial specially tailored for Reborn Persons. As such, the Cheon Woo-jin, being a part of the Heavenly Secret system, had no choice but to stop me. And if it’s a final trial, then it serves as the way for you to conclude your rebirth and escape the cycle of reincarnation.”
“…”
“Let me share my hypothesis: Once you open that [Door] and step inside, you become the next Reborn Person. Or, if you enter yourself, you’ll ascend immediately.”
This sounded insane.
Yet, facts teeter the line of the absurd. I held gaze with Nailatop. “You want to be the next Reborn Person?”
“Absolutely not,” Nailatop firmly rebutted my question.
“I know what it means to be a Reborn Person—a blessing as well as a curse. And since I’ve already reached the limits of piling power through reincarnation, it would only be a nuisance to do so again. That’s why I have no intention of becoming a Reborn Person. I wish to use that door to reach the [Central], shedding the fate of my mask.”
“…”
“There’s no other way to truly escape the clutches of Nyarlathotep.”
“Why don’t you just break the curse and entrust the Great Cycle to the likes of Subori?”
“Ah… that method.”
Nailatop smirked before replying, “What good is a name without doing anything? At the end of the day, the essence still has to submit to the Great Cycle, right? What I want isn’t some petty escapism. I seek an existence that can match the Outer Gods and watch this world unfold in all its intrigue.”
“…Outer Gods?”
I muttered, glancing back at Nailatop.
“So your goal was the Outer Gods all along.”
“To put it that way, I suppose it is two birds with one stone,” Nailatop said with a serious tone as he readjusted his glasses.
“If I go to the [Central], as long as I’m there, I’ll do everything I can to postpone the apocalypse event left behind for you. Once I reach the level of the Outer Gods, I’ll manage to postpone it for billions of years. You and your companions can live happily, die happily, and break free from the Reborn Person’s fate, which would be beneficial for both of us. Once the apocalypse is avoided, you can achieve anything with your power.”
“…”
“I’m the scientist Nailatop. I’m not like Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, who feels the need to dominate this world. I can find satisfaction as an observer, so please consider my proposal.”
This was quite the tempting offer. No, compared to when the Emperor attempted to manipulate me, it was a considerable deal. I suspected that Nailatop was just as scheming as the Emperor, but the fact remained that I was a crucial object of desire for him. He needed to negotiate since I wasn’t someone he could play like a puppet.
However, I stared indifferently at Nailatop and said, “If you were even a bit more sincere, I might’ve considered your current proposal.”
“What?”
Nailatop winced as my words came out.
“Why haven’t you talked about the ownership of the Heavenly Secret?”
“…!!”
Nailatop’s expression turned sour, and I continued speaking calmly.
“It’s obvious, right? You want to become an Outer God while simultaneously retaining the Heavenly Secret for yourself. And though you’ve left this unsaid, there’s something else you can achieve by possessing the Heavenly Secret. I’m not easily fooled by the likes of you any longer.”
“…”
“Nailatop, prepare yourself.”
Swish…
I drew my sword and pointed it firmly at the gaping Nailatop.
“It’s time for you and me to end this evil tie.”
The silence was palpable.
Nailatop’s eyes flickered slightly red like a ruby after a moment.
“Fine… Fighting isn’t my hobby, but I’ll entertain you… Reborn Person Baek Woong.”
Flash!!
In that instant, the entire chasm filled with ash seemed to ripple into the vast expanse of space. The cosmic space revealed torn pages and various books swirling around, with stars peeking through the chaos. Gazing into the darkened expanse, I realized something.
‘This isn’t an illusion.’
This was real space!
Nailatop had vanished from before me, and I could see the battleship Gaia floating far away, beginning to move gradually. Even from that distance in space, I could hear Nailatop’s voice surfacing from Gaia.
[Just so you know, this is originally how it was. Breaking through the Infinite Star Realm is part of a Reborn Person’s exclusive trial to reach the end of their dreams. However, you seem no mere opponent, so I’ll remove the virtual field created by Gaia.]
“…”
I had boarded Gaia.
Chichiching!
Suddenly, the entire cosmic space was engulfed in a pitch-black light, engulfed in white brilliance. I quickly grasped the significance of this event, and the continuation of Nailatop’s words solidified my suspicions.
[I will launch an upfront assault with the pre-setup 1.6 trillion anti-matter laser cannons.]
Kuwaka-kwak-kwak!!
In an instant, an unimaginable explosion enveloped me as lines of light at incomprehensible speeds pierced through the thin air around me. If Nailatop spoke truthfully about 1.6 trillion, it was an attack that no human could possibly withstand. Just a few booms from those anti-matter lasers could easily annihilate human civilization.
Ku-ku-ku….
As the rays struck from all directions, it felt as though the space around me solidified into an overwhelmingly large sphere of explosion. However, this massive force was simply the accumulated power of the explosions taking place in the vast void behind me.
And from a distance, I caught sight of two or three anti-matter rays impaling the center of a sun-sized star.
Thwak!
Kuoo-oo – !!
Moments later, accompanied by the sound of something breaking apart, the star turned red amidst a vast explosion. I could gauge the true power of this attack just from that sight. A mere few blasts could obliterate a giant star in an instant!
I pondered.
‘Is this the power of the [Mask] that has transcended the higher deity purely through scientific capability?’
This was just a light test, yet it came close to obliterating me entirely with unfathomable energy. At this level, not even the Great Immortal would escape unscathed—as if just a casual blow could wipe out even a Demon King or Apostle. It felt like the entire realm I once occupied had been totally obliterated.
This guy might seriously be on par with the Emperor or some evil god!
No, if anything, the level of power he wielded could only be explained if he ventured through the Outer Gods.
At that moment, memories rushed back from when I first encountered him, and Nailatop had said something about how the simulation of battling a Reborn Person such as myself had intrigued him.
[It would be interesting to fight Baek Woong with all of Gaia’s abilities. I find it intriguing that Gaia’s chances of winning aren’t that high.]
What a ludicrous statement.
‘…What do you mean Gaia’s winning chances aren’t high?’
If Nailatop had been serious about killing me, I would have been slaughtered thousands of times without putting up any resistance. Considering the level of power I saw now, I realized that I could never compare to it.
This guy was an overwhelmingly high-level existence from the start. But the real value of a Reborn Person isn’t just in their current fighting capability but in the stats they could accumulate for future rebirths, while also serving as a passage to ascend easily through the Heavenly Secret system. He understood that; that’s why he didn’t flaunt his superiority in front of me like other high-level beings, opting for deception instead. He approached me feigning weakness to gain an advantage.
In normal circumstances, even if I trained like a madman for 300 years in the Training World, there wouldn’t have been a substantial difference. He was a different existing class, and closing that gap in just 300 years was typically next to impossible. Hence, fighting Nailatop now was akin to throwing eggs at a rock.
At least, under normal conditions.
“…”
Uwwwwww—
Even amidst the overwhelming heat, I remained unscathed and calmly opened my half-closed eyes within a faint, transparent sphere. My transcendent senses evidently guarded me against the attacks, and I comfortably bore Nailatop’s initial pokes, much to my surprise.
‘Sun and Moon Spirit.’
A strange sensation swept over me. Regardless of whether I invoked the powers of the Sun and Moon Spirit, I shouldn’t have had the confidence to endure against such a phenomenal attack, yet for some reason, I suddenly felt unusually confident. Whether it was some super-science Nailatop employed, I just knew he couldn’t easily hurt me. This inexplicable insight continued to murmur within me, asserting that I held sufficient power not to be overshadowed by Nailatop.
Bring it on.
Swish
I raised my sword, fixed my gaze forward, and unleashed a strike.
Sun and Moon Spirit
Infinite Slash
Swuuuuuuugh…!!
In the next moment, the entire cosmic space seemed to get sliced clean through. There was no other way to describe it. The entirety of space felt like it had been coaxed into a straight line before buckling under its own weight. Even the Gaia battleship caught in that range was cleaved apart.
At the same time, the trajectories of all the stars within that straight line erupted explosively.
Tuquaang!!
Gaia was sent crashing against an invisible barrier, hurtling backwards into the void. Then I heard Nailatop’s voice filled with amazement.
[What….?! This level already?! What’s the origin of that energy!]
Nailatop appeared genuinely perplexed by the nature of the Sun and Moon Spirit’s ability.
Perk!
Gaia couldn’t withstand my strike, and its forward end exploded violently, indicating a clear hit. I could hear Nailatop’s frantic voice resonating.
[… You can’t keep using that much power indefinitely, can you?! Shift to the higher dimensions! Activate the Void Pendulum!]
Szzzzzzz!!!
Simultaneously, the downward bombardment of anti-matter laser fire seemed to halt, and the entire universe around me felt like it was rapidly expanding in size. Briskly, the space stretched beyond imagining, multiplying exponentially the distance between Gaia and me into an astronomical scale.
Pweeew
And all the stars previously nearby began to shrink into infinitesimal sizes, and eventually, a massive swirling mass of numerous galaxies appeared before me. Having experienced something similar from my throne, I finally grasped what Nailatop was attempting.
‘… He’s artificially raising the dimensionality of the space with science while trying to elevate Gaia into a higher dimension and trap me in the lower dimension! This way, his attacks become valid while rendering mine useless!’
This technique was unfathomable and eerily sophisticated. It was akin to the endgame scenarios concocted in the apocalypse [throne], yet he managed to wield it at will, utilizing science—not unlike a god tapping into some form of impossible technology. I was coming to realize just how monstrous a being I was truly facing.
Strangely enough, the Sun and Moon Spirit tapped into a part of me I might have otherwise missed, changing my perception of this high-stakes confrontation. It felt as if this omniscience was entirely alive, continuously instilling information directly into me. Nailatop’s comment about my heightened intellect wasn’t merely nonsense.
It was a forgone conclusion that I couldn’t allow the Void Pendulum to unfold entirely or I would absolutely lose. He was already cognizant that he had uncovered his conditions for victory.
‘He’s realized my Sun and Moon Spirit has a time limitation. Even if he can’t land a valid hit on me, he’s grasped that delaying the battle will ultimately guarantee his victory!’
Indeed.
The effect of the Sun and Moon Spirit firing up was not relentlessly continuous. I didn’t know the specifics, but the power I could draw from it appeared quantitatively set; once I used it all, I wouldn’t be able to draw on it again until I replenished it. After exhausting much of it already, it was evident I could only use Star and Moon Spirit a few more times before it emptied completely, leaving me defenseless against Nailatop if that occurred.
“…”
But it was the Sun and Moon Spirit that initially led me here in the first place. For some unknown reason, it seemed imbued with a will distinct from other ‘vessels,’ and the fact that it ripped apart the fabric of space to bring me to the very brink of a dream couldn’t solely be attributed to my own agency. If the Sun and Moon Spirit believed I would indeed lose, it wouldn’t have directed me thusly from the start.
‘Sun and Moon Spirit, I refuse to believe you would harbor a power destined to kill your master.’
You’ve carried me this far to win!
I held on to that confidence, rapidly formulating how I could secure a victory.
‘If I can’t use it many times… I’ll concentrate what little I have left into a sure-hit!’
Before the Void Pendulum fully unfurled, I had to close the distance to the higher dimension!
In a flash, I lunged forth and slashed at the bizarre multicolored thread blocking my path.
Swooosh!
Suddenly, the space before me flapped and dissipated like paper getting sliced, and I immediately knew I had entered a higher dimension. Sure enough, the Sun and Moon Spirit held the capability to navigate dimensions and spacetime at will, bestowing me with enough potential to pursue without falling prey to the Void Pendulum.
Swish-swish-swish!
But as the Void Pendulum opened up before me, it seemed to accelerate as well. I executed a few jumps to keep pace with it, but an ever-increasing anxiety gripped me. Why? Because if it continued to gain momentum, I sensed somehow that it might plummet faster than I could manage to keep up.
‘Ugh… Just slicing through space itself won’t break me free from the Void Pendulum’s grip…’
For some reason, it felt like grasping the threads themselves was more effective than simply slashing at them. Unfortunately, wielding my sword with one arm severely hampered my efficiency. In that moment, I quickly glanced at my remaining arm.
“…!!”
Though it was still severed, I noticed that the curse residues lingering were gone. Realizing this, I instinctively invoked divine power.
Bright!
In a flash, my arm restored to its previous state!
As I found my real arm again after such a long time, I was overjoyed to the point tears almost filled my eyes.
“Haha! This is it!”
The senses I had felt when gaining the Sun and Moon Spirit were proven right!
‘The power of the Moon Spirit absorbed the curse from my vanished arm!!’
Even with the staggering curse of 90 billion higher celestial beings hanging heavily, it seemed the power of the Moon Spirit was stronger!
Thanks to the Sun and Moon Spirit, the curse on my arm was lifted without cost!
While I could manage fine fighting one-armed, having both made things so much easier! Upon getting my body restored, I immediately sheathed my sword and took the stance of Tai Chi.
Swish-swish-swish…
Both my arms came alive with Yin and Yang energy. Yin was the Moon Spirit and Yang the Sun Spirit, so, converging at my core, they formed true Taiji. In that fleeting instant, as the Taiji provided the highest level of control over the Sun and Moon Spirit, I prepared both palms and thrust them forward, unleashing a palm wave of power.
“Haaap!!”
The Seven Great Techniques
Combined Technique
Three Refined Ultimate Palm!!
The ultimate form that Jang Sam-bong had bestowed upon me unleashed with the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit surged forward. And the penetrating force of the Three Refined Ultimate Palm spun a tremendous three times in air before the vibrations intensified.
GRRRRRR!!!!
The assembled rotation exploded in unison, producing a thunderous roar! Back in Jang Sam-bong’s day, it was said no martial artist survived the thunderous sound of the Three Refined Ultimate Palm echoing through the Martial Arts World, a scattered thunder that guaranteed its penetrating prowess in this situation.
GOOoooooo!!
Indeed, confirming against the piercing sound, the realms I had previously cut through multiplied exponentially; a chasm in the void was forming! I dashed towards the newly created path with my Sword Removal Technique (멸혼보) and broke free through the final dimensional gap, catching sight of the floating remnants of battleship Gaia.
[This…!!]
Nailatop’s voice came out sounding panicked.
[I’ll have to use what I had reserved in case I encounter the Outer Gods within the door! How troublesome!]
Chijijiiiiing!
Suddenly, five massive energy pillars rose around me, swiftly constraining my movements.
‘Damn it! Got caught!’
He was ready and waited for my arrival!
Just as I found myself temporarily stuck there, Nailatop added, [Pillar of Divinity Annihilation. I’ve barely managed to create five of these in millions of years, but even this is enough to obliterate a mid-tier god in a blink.]
“Grr….”
[It’s a device I alone invented to erase any target’s divine power and essence throughout the universe. The Great Race surely couldn’t develop the Pillar of Divinity Annihilation.]
I would’ve liked to scoff at Nailatop’s self-praise. But it wouldn’t come off any good; I couldn’t move at all, and the agony coursing throughout my body was like being seared by electricity.
‘Damn…’
What kind of a monster had I stumbled upon?
A scientific invention that could obliterate even gods? That’s cheating!
As I squirmed with pain, Nailatop commented incredulously, […Have you gone mad? Are you actually bearing this? Just what is that energy?…]
“Nailat…op…!”
After just thirty rebirths, you’ve discovered this kind of potential in me! I had misjudged my own growth all this time.
[I pay respect to your prowess as an opponent.]
With that, Nailatop commanded Gaia.
[Gaia. Generate a micro black hole inside the Pillar. As many as it takes to completely eliminate him.]
[Understood.]
… Wait, what?
Tudududung!
In the next instant, the landscape morphed into a sickly black hue as incomprehensible pressure filled the surrounding environment. Moments later, my body felt as though it were being ripped apart from the extreme pressure.
“Gah… Ugh…”
This lunatic…!
Did he really intend to go this far just to kill me?!
I suspect confronting Nailatop would be akin to swimming against the tide of the three sovereigns, but I had no idea it would ascend to this level. It felt like the kind of high-stakes battle that would push anyone’s mind to breaking point. If it weren’t for the Sun and Moon Spirit, I couldn’t even dream of standing against such a monster.
DUUUUNG
“…”
As I observed the slew of micro black holes proliferating in real-time, my consciousness crept to the dark corners of despair. I would undoubtedly be torn apart the moment the Sun and Moon Spirit became exhausted, and it was not just dying that frightened me. The chance that Nailatop could resurrect my shredded soul and torment me for eternity was all too real, and a wave of fear washed over me.
‘Damn it… Just a single moment… If I can find even one chance to extricate myself from this accursed Pillar, then I can defeat him!’
While the black holes could be dealt with through the Sun and Moon Spirit, the Pillar of Divinity Annihilation was simply too imposing for me to escape. A product that had taken millions of years to create made it understandable that it’d pack such power, but the receiving end had no choice but to endure that crushing reality. Even some sovereigns would likely be immobilized by it.
[Your gaze hasn’t dulled yet. Are you still dreaming of a comeback?]
“You rotten bastard… face me head-on…!!”
[Not a chance. To pay homage as an opponent means I must resort to any means necessary to win!]
As he said that, Nailatop appeared right outside Gaia’s hull, staring down at me while extending a hand.
“Gaia. Expand the black hole within the Pillar all at once. Let’s finish this.”
[Understood.]
Damn it! Just give me a moment to turn the tables! What’s with that level of excessive vigilance?!
While I felt daunted by Nailatop’s relentless attempts to seal my fate, there was no recourse left. The collective rise of the micro black holes swirling around me would deplete every last ounce of strength the Sun and Moon Spirit granted me.
At that moment, something shifted.
“You’ve let your guard down.”
A familiar voice caught both Nailatop and my attention.
And there stood a girl, stretching out her hand toward the energy pillars.
Just a single word slipped from her lips.
“Multiverse Hacking.”
WHOOSH!
CRASH!
In an instant, the beams where the girl’s hand touched, along with two adjacent pillars, ignited into flames and crumbled! As three of the five Pillars shattered in a flash, I felt a sudden lightness to my being, and I momentarily locked eyes with the girl.
In that fleeting span, there was no chance to converse, yet I recognized who she was.
The Cheon Woo-jin smiled faintly at me before dissolving into the flames in the next moment.
WHOOSH!
“No!!”
I gasped in horror as Nailatop’s voice echoed.
“To achieve a hack into the hyper-dimensional overlap with merely 10 percent of her data? Now that’s truly Cheon Woo-jin.”
WHOOOM!
Nailatop summoned the holographic form of the Cheon Woo-jin before me on deck.
“Then I’ll need to eliminate the remaining 90 percent of the variable.”
With a swift flick of his hand, he snapped the Cheon Woo-jin’s neck.
CRACK!
“…!!”
At that moment, I unleashed the power of the Sun and Moon Spirit, releasing an onslaught towards Nailatop.
“You bastard!!”
With explosive force, my strike met the battleship Gaia, ripping into its hull with a catastrophic clamor. The entire forward section was engulfed in flame, and over half the hull was ripped away, making it apparent that I’d delivered a critical blow to Gaia. My rage unstoppable, I hurled another move at it.
“Aaaahhh…”
KA-POW!
But my latest strike found no purchase. The space around Gaia was awash with those bizarre energies again, unmistakably acting as a barrier against my attacks. It seemed Nailatop had retreated back inside Gaia, his voice reverberating through the air.
[That force of yours is most definitely finite. You seem a lot weaker now than you did at first.]
“You piece of shit!”
[No, perhaps that energy isn’t meant to be used like that. You might be wasting it inefficiently.]
CRACK!
Suddenly, two pillars from either side pierced through the dimensional expanse, erecting barriers that locked down my movements. Though not as constricting as before, I still felt the familiar sensation of being bound and unable to move. Nailatop’s voice could be heard echoing to me.
[Even with three of the Pillars demolished, two are enough to restrain you for some time. Shall we start again?]
ZZZZ!
It was as if something was burning faintly again, and more micro black holes began to emerge around me. He was adopting a thorough strategy to drain me dry and eliminate me.
‘Damn it!!’
Has that wretched Cheon Woo-jin truly departed?
I couldn’t seem to grasp it. No—the moment I accepted that thought meant I would never let Nailatop live!
“I will kill you!!!”
Tududu!
As my fury ignited the force within me, it surged in intensity. The heightened energy gradually cut the cords binding me, allowing me partial movement once more, leaving Nailatop momentarily startled.
“This… You’re serious!? It’s truly an unknown force!”
“Then let’s finish this.”
As I neared, [{Nailatop] spoke in disbelief.
[You’ve truly come to this level of strength, such remarkable growth—why did I not see this sooner…]
“…?”
Only moments later did he gather his resolve.
“But enough chit-chat. Let’s see how you fare against my ultimate weapon!”
In that moment, Nailatop once again pointed Gaia’s cannon directly at me, a hollow glare glinting within the threatening barrel.
Nailatop exclaimed, “If you’re to open that door, then this will be the final battle!”
I felt the impending doom practically sizzling in the air.
This was the Final Weapon of Humanity, a creation to combat the Emperors, and I didn’t fancy living through whatever horrors awaited me.
I braced myself, knowing what was coming—“This isn’t the end…!”
But not before everyone grew still… It all felt surreal.
Suddenly, darkness surged and light not seen before erupted from the battlefield, cascading in every direction.
Serious moments turned comical, and I realized how barely worn down I was. I was alive. I was moving.
The weapons were practically exploding under their own momentum, aimlessly directing their power around endlessly.
I suspected I would be utterly overwhelmed.
But I had to believe in the Sun and Moon Spirit’s power—an ending befitting a warrior.
“Right…!”
The time has come for me to show you the real power of the [Mask].
With steadfast resolution, I met the challenge before me.
