전생검신 84권 15화

The Evil God Has Appeared.

At that moment, my mind went blank. The overwhelming pressure radiating from the Evil God was suffocating.

It wasn’t just a simple difference in strength.

This guy was on a whole different level.

I felt my heart race in a way I hadn’t felt when confronting Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. The Emperor had been a mysterious and formidable evil, while the Evil God before me felt like raw, primal evil and original sin incarnate. Just being in the same space felt like a curse.

‘Why… am I feeling this way now?’

I also felt a twinge of confusion. I had faced the Evil God many times during my past lives and even had direct conversations with it a few times. Yet, I had never felt such intense pressure before. The heavy atmosphere I felt now could only be described as a difference in rank.

After a moment of confusion, I finally realized the reason.

‘It’s because… I’ve gotten stronger.’

As a trivial mortal who didn’t know how to wield divine power, I could only vaguely sense how great and fearsome the Evil God was, and merely that would drive someone insane. However, back when I was a mere mortal, I had lost all fear, and therefore, I hadn’t felt such pressure. Now that I had gained enough power to be deemed divine, I could clearly feel the Evil God’s strength on par with mine.

It was like feeling the greatness of a master as one became a master in the martial arts world!

… I never expected it to be to this extent.

In fact, I hadn’t fully grasped the true power of the Evil God even at the moment of the universe’s end. Was the gap really that enormous?

How much of a frog in the well had I been?

‘Why on earth…?’

Why doesn’t it just crush everything directly with its immense strength?

As I hesitated due to my confusion, the One Who Turns the Stars turned its back to me and knelt before the Evil God. It seemed that showing absolute subordination to the Evil God was more important than avoiding a surprise attack from me.

[O God, please give me an order!]

God…!!

Even the One Who Turns the Stars, clearly a powerful divine being, was bowing to a god! This paradox meant that the Evil God was a great being, someone who could reach out to directly influence the balance of the universe.

Whooooo…

The sea below resonated and began to boil. The hot sea, normally emitting temperatures of millions of degrees, surged even more violently, and it felt like the temperature skyrocketed hundreds of times. I could see the cosmic energy-laden hot water slowly evaporating. The changes in the world, reaching its material limits, began to create a vast whirlpool in the middle of the sea.

Swish swish swish

As the boiling dark sea created whirlpools, brilliant light slowly began to rise from its center. I squinted, trying to confirm the substance of that light.

A red supergiant!!

Surely millions of times larger than the sun, the red supergiant began to emit unimaginable energy in all directions as it floated on the surface of the boiling sea. The dark space was engulfed in a blinding flood of light, painting everything in shades of brilliance that nearly blinded me.

“Gahk.”

I lightly blocked it with divine power, but each ray bore cosmic-level strength, sending jolts through my limbs. As I held back the wave of energy, I could hear Heuk Woong beside me shout anxiously.

[Master!! The enemy is still underestimating us, so this is our only chance! Let’s run!]

“What, run?”

[Something’s off. That Evil God… there’s something strange about it!]

For the first time, I could hear fear in Heuk Woong’s voice.

I was astonished to realize that even he felt such emotions, but I calmly replied, “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

Just as those words left my lips—

Whoa

A hand larger than the red supergiant gripped it as if picking it up. It was such an unreal sight that I couldn’t help but fixate on it, and slowly that monstrous hand pulled the red supergiant into the darkness.

…….

A period of silence followed. Then, a moment later, I saw a gigantic figure gradually emerge beyond the horizon.

The Evil God!!

I confirmed the entity that was appearing before me and thought, ‘It used the red supergiant, which sank in the sea of darkness, as an offering for its descent.’

The earlier beams hadn’t been attacks, just the result of the red supergiant’s disappearance, it seemed.

The enemy’s power was so beyond comprehension that I couldn’t think of anything else. I was left reiterating how inadequately my divine power was to face the Evil God. It was clear I could never replicate such acts with my strength.

The newly emerged Evil God began to convey its will to me for the first time.

[You have violated the taboo, Reborn One.]

“……?!”

Wha, what?!

Feeling a mix of shock and embarrassment, I thought, ‘How did it know I was a Reborn One?!’

How on earth did it know?! The reasoning escaped me. Moreover, the bigger issue was that it mentioned a “taboo.”

It was evident what that taboo was.

The fact that I came from the past of the Great Cycle!!

The Evil God immediately grasped that I had broken a taboo, something even the most powerful beings in the universe couldn’t achieve.

I instinctively realized it would be futile to use trickery against the Evil God that had uncovered both of my secrets. It was clear that it didn’t just test me; it profoundly understood everything. Thus, I gritted my teeth and glared at the Evil God, saying, “How did you know? Did you read my memories?”

Drawing from the example of the Wheel King, I theorized, and the Evil God silenced for a moment before responding.

[There’s no need for such methods… I can transcend the Boundless Cycle.]

“……?”

Transcend the Boundless Cycle?

While I was puzzled, the Evil God continued.

[Fool… one day… you will seek my help of your own volition.]

Flick…

The Evil God flapped its wings once, and its gaze grew more profound.

[Today appears to be that fated day.]

“……!!”

What is this?

That was just now… from where…?

At that moment, I recalled a memory from the past.

[You, Fool… One day… you will seek my aid of your own volition…]

Without a doubt…

Those were the words the Evil God had said when I negotiated for it to remain hidden during the early part of this round!

Realizing this, I froze in shock and said, “You… how?”

Isn’t the current Evil God just a remnant from thousands of years ago?

How does it know about the conversation I had with it regarding the Great Cycle’s future?

This was a serious problem.

Something is very off.

As expected from Heuk Woong’s intuition, this Evil God feels strange!

Feeling a sense of crisis, I shouted quickly.

“……Ah, no, that doesn’t matter! Evil God… you made a pact with me!”

[…….]

“You remember? You promised to stay put in this lifetime!!”

Indeed. The biggest reason I hadn’t run away until now, despite feeling the vast difference in power!

If the opponent was an Evil God, and if my life had not ended yet, it would have promised to remain still!

When the Evil God fell silent, I yelled as if in desperation.

“According to our agreement, you must remain still! You cannot attack Le Rue or harm Lemuria! Are you planning to break your own word?”

Done…!!

This is like having the upper hand over the Evil God!

Just when I was inwardly grinning in triumph, the Evil God surprisingly spoke again.

[What does ‘remain still’ imply…?]

“……Huh?”

[To silence both myself and my allies, would be calmness… however… no matter how calm, I cannot simply stand by and watch as an enemy invades my base.]

“……!!”

C-Could it be…?

[Even the Silver Coin’s Cycle… cannot override the right to self-defense… and since no conditions were set… I declare the temporary cancellation of the contract here due to your insincerity.]

With that, the Evil God extended its enormous hand forward, seeming to confirm something.

Snap!!

Then, the Evil God’s hand sparked for a moment, but quickly reverted back, and it muttered contentedly.

[In this age without the objective witness of the contract… it’s indeed… quite convenient.]

W-What’s happening right now…?

I felt dazed as I couldn’t comprehend what I was experiencing.

Moments later, the Evil God violently flapped its wings.

Kugugugugu!!

The dark sea trembled and the heavens began to split. The evils of the Mythological Age surged forth, revealing their true forms, and I could feel the Evil God’s power escalating beyond limits.

KuoOoOo!!

‘N-No way… It’s… getting… even stronger…’

I had just thought it was comparable to an Emperor, and yet it was growing stronger…?

I felt a sense of disorientation taking over my mind. Even though I had enjoyed some recognition as a higher divine being in this era, facing the genuine deal made me realize how insignificant I was. I came to understand the reality that I still fell short of the true superpowers that controlled the world.

In a situation where even my companions were absent, how was I supposed to contend with the Evil God?

‘Sun and Moon Spirit…’

One solution flashed in my mind, but I also realized that I couldn’t use it at this moment. The exceptional power that merged the energies of the twin stars could only be invoked if someone had paid the price of cause and effect for me, and if I recklessly tried it now, I would undoubtedly fail. It would be better not to attempt it than to fail and have the power of the Four Great Spirit Deities permanently absorbed by the Scale of the Sun and Moon.

If that was the case, should I summon the Four Great Spirit Deities to confront it?

But that would be an incredibly foolish act. Heuk Woong just now raised his strength to its maximum, which was akin to wielding the power of the Four Great Spirit Deities, so ultimately, the Evil God’s full power would comfortably surpass my potential.

Regardless of whether I summoned Varuna or Agni, I would end up like Heuk Woong, dying in an instant.

What am I supposed to do?

‘Am I really alone in this era?’

I certainly had allies, but no one capable of genuinely challenging the Evil God.

However… even if they weren’t allies… there are negotiation targets!

In the next moment, a lightbulb went off in my head, and I wielded the power of creation to summon a Dimension Door right before me. Turning towards that portal, I yelled.

“I swear to stand by your side! In exchange, please help me!!”

Swish

I felt the Dimension Door tremble slightly. The Evil God, witnessing this, reached out silently again and seemed to launch the horrifying beam that had incapacitated Heuk Woong with a single strike.

Kuwakwang!!

A colossal explosion shook the universe. And the entity that blocked the attack in my stead resembled a bloody mist flowing through the cosmos, appearing as a cosmic being.

Though it didn’t take on the form of a human, it felt as if it was looking down on me.

[Baek Woong. The currents of a wicked fate have led you here.]

“…….”

[However, this is also the cause and effect at play.]

The entity ascended into the void, as if confronting the Evil God, and spoke.

[I cannot predict how far you can fight against an all-out assault from the Evil God.]

“Why are you so hesitant when you match an Emperor?”

When I spoke with a hint of frustration, that entity made an unexpected statement.

[Do you not realize? The author has just released the constraints of doom placed upon him.]

“……Huh? What do you mean by that…?”

[From now on, that being will grow infinitely stronger. Although it’s limited to this space.]

“…….”

It-can’t be.

The Evil God can arbitrarily remove the constraints placed upon itself?

I gasped in horror as the entity continued.

[I will do my best to hold them off, so you must head straight to the Mirror of Clarity.]

I questioned back, “Why must I go to the Mirror of Clarity?”

[There’s no time to explain… you’ll find out when you get there.]

Chichichiching!!

In the next moment, seven lights danced flamboyantly around the entity’s form. The Wheel King, summoning the powers of the Seven Treasures, emitted immense energy, glaring at the Evil God.

[The author seems to be seeking a final confrontation!]

Whooooo

The Evil God took a deep breath and appeared to swell its upper body significantly. That menacing posture lingered for a moment before it flapped its wings, attacking the Wheel King. In one swift motion, the Wheel King gathered the power of the Seven Treasures into a circular shape to defend against the attack of the Evil God that meant to kill him.

Ping –

With a sound like something tearing apart, the sea of heaven and earth became shrouded in silence, filled only with light. I understood that this was indeed due to the explosion of galaxies as the collision of divine beings generated immense physical power.

Pop

“……!!”

As I protected myself from the explosion of the galaxy with divine power, I found myself launched away over an extraordinary distance, and in that shock, I witnessed the distortion of nebulas as the dark void gaped wide. I could feel my divine power diminishing at every moment, so I steeled myself and hurriedly opened the Dimension Door towards the Mirror of Clarity.

“Gahh!!”

Tydaht

I crashed into the Wheel King’s palace and immediately stood back up with high elasticity, dashing forward.

‘For now… I have to get to the Mirror of Clarity!!’

I knew where it was. I hadn’t gone there until now because it was obvious where the Wheel King would be!

Now that the Wheel King and the Seven Treasures were absent, I could certainly enter without issue.

When I finally arrived in front of the room of the Mirror of Clarity…

[By your command, I will eliminate you.]

Thud thud thud…

My sight was filled with blood red.

The One Who Turns the Stars was blocking the entrance to the Mirror of Clarity, surrounded by countless judges and hell guards, having slain them. As I saw it standing here, preemptively waiting for me, I couldn’t help but confirm one thing.

‘The Evil God is serious.’

Having broken the hidden contract by trickery, it was evident that it intended to take me by any means necessary. With pure determination, it was ignoring the upcoming backlash of cause and effect, pouring all of its strength into this endeavor.

“Don’t interfere!!”

Without hesitation, I threw the Vajra of the Four Great Spirit Deities toward the One Who Turns the Stars, targeting its solar plexus. I remembered that the same Vajra thrown by Jeon Wook had also felled it before. However, as if to disregard my hopes, the One Who Turns the Stars faded from sight and appeared somewhere completely else.

Zwipe

The Vajra instantly changed direction, aiming at the One Who Turns the Stars again, but each time it kept teleporting, splitting apart. It was evidently some miraculous magic, and as I stared in amazement, the One Who Turns the Stars said,

[Your warning was noted. That your Vajra is dangerous and not to be hit. And if you only focus on avoiding, no matter how powerful the weapon, it won’t strike me!]

“……!!”

[The One Who Turns the Stars spread its arms wide and said.]

[Go ahead! As long as I can delay you, I will win.]

From that statement, I understood how cornered I was. If I could just buy time, it meant that even the mighty Wheel King using the Seven Treasures wouldn’t be able to win against the Evil God’s focused strength. Soon, I would be caught by the Evil God and killed.

What should I do?

If the Vajra isn’t working, then I can’t possibly take it out in a short time…!!

Just then.

[That will not hold true.]

[What?]

Swish!

Suddenly, a figure materialized behind the One Who Turns the Stars, extending its hand and grasping its neck. The One Who Turns the Stars seemed unable to move, but the entity holding it didn’t appear to be able to move either. I shouted the name of that figure loudly.

“King of Hell!!”

The second-in-command of the underworld, the King of Hell, shone with light, shouting.

[Baek Woong! Hurry and escape! I will wager all my power and perish with this one!]

“……!!”

[I beg you to carry on the will of the Lord!!]

Realizing that the King of Hell was preparing for annihilation while holding the One Who Turns the Stars, I hesitated for a moment, then gritted my teeth and dashed inside the door.

‘Damn it!!’

Tydaht

I dashed into the room of the Mirror of Clarity. After advancing a bit further, something massive came into view in front of me. Seeing the Mirror of Clarity made my head momentarily go blank.

“…….”

I made it here, but now what should I do?

Why did the Wheel King tell me to go to the Mirror of Clarity?

As I stood there clueless, I noticed the mirror quaking as if it were alive. In response, I felt something in my wooden armor tremble mightily. If I didn’t act quickly, it seemed likely that my armor would shatter, so I hurriedly entered it and swiftly retrieved the object.

“……Huh?”

Ribbit! Ribbit!!

A stone toad was croaking energetically. Knowing that this toad was a relic received from the Rainbow Snake, I found it amusing.

‘Why is it croaking now after being silent all this time? And why is it reacting to the Mirror of Clarity?’

Ribbit! Ribbit!!

The stone toad croaked louder. Although I found the noise bothersome, I began to feel an intense drowsiness that made it hard to concentrate.

“Ugh… What the?! Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden?!”

I felt as if I were about to fall asleep just before meeting Master Mangnyang, I simply couldn’t resist the urge.

I was unable to hold myself up any longer, and moments later, I collapsed in front of the Mirror of Clarity and fell asleep.

*

“……”

An all-too-familiar ceiling.

I thought to myself that I had seen this ceiling long ago and tilted my head slightly.

As I lay in bed, a voice came from the side.

“How amusing. Just when I thought you disappeared while trying to hunt down the Eight Parts of the Divine, you reappear as if beckoned…”

Th-That voice is?!

I attempted to stand up, but my body wouldn’t move.

The figure observed me from a distance and opened its mouth.

“I didn’t particularly imprison you with any magic.”

“……”

“If you currently cannot move, it suggests you have ensnared yourself in your own restraints.”

Thud!

The figure perched on the chair before me and seemed to smile.

“Where have you been for the past 20 years, Baek Woong?”

“……!!”

“How irresponsible it is to leave the world to its own devices while you reshape it as you wish.”

That face was so familiar!!

Upon recognizing the figure, I tried to speak.

“Ugh….”

But my voice wouldn’t come out. Why was this happening?

It was like being trapped by a nightmare…

And after some time, I finally managed to speak.

“Zhuge Sa.”