전생검신 89권 08화

It seemed like the Seraphim was staring at me in disbelief for a while, then let out a sigh and shook his head.

[Since the Shefa was in turmoil, I wondered what practitioner arrived, and then this chaotic one just barged in.]

“Shefa?”

[It’s the power of fate that constitutes the world. Think of it as the flow of the Law of Cause and Effect.]

“Hmm.”

Does that mean the Seraphim in front of me has some ability to read the Law of Cause and Effect?

As I looked at him, the Seraphim spoke after a moment.

[Originally, the Flame of the Soul seeps into you, strengthening your spirit while simultaneously guiding you along the path of Kabbalah. However, since you’re refusing, I won’t force it any longer.]

“Huh? You mean it can guide me?”

[Indeed.]

“…”

Uh-oh… Maybe I shouldn’t have brushed off that flame?

I felt a twinge of regret, but at the same time, a nagging feeling wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t shake the thought that accepting that flame might lead me into some troublesome situations in the future.

While I was hesitating, the Seraphim spoke again.

[That doesn’t mean you can just throw away guidance for practitioners. If you wish, I can explain the basics to you.]

“Oh!! Really?!”

[If you have questions, ask away.]

I thought the Seraphim was kinder than I expected, so I quickly asked.

“So, ultimately, what level does the practice of the Sephirot lead to? And where am I right now?”

If I didn’t know this, I couldn’t continue my training.

[You asked an important question.]

Flame

The Seraphim repositioned himself, and flames surged briefly from his body. It seemed he was getting ready to talk properly, so the Seraphim began.

[There are a total of 10 ranks of Sephira that make up the Sephirot. Practitioners of Kabbalah are supposed to step through the ranks sequentially to attain all 10 Sephira, with a total of 22 paths. And you have arrived at the lowest rank, Sephira Malkuth.]

“Hmm… So, I’m at rank 1 out of 10, huh?”

[To put it simply, yes.]

“So, what happens when I collect all 10 Sephira?”

[I don’t know either.]

“…?”

Wait, what?

Looking at the Seraphim with disbelief, he seemed to have a hint of a smirk.

[Hehe. The reason why angels of the Sephirot, including myself, guide you on the path of Kabbalah is to witness whether an existence that has attained all 10 Sephira can be born. No one has ever appeared who has dominated all 10 so far.]

“What? But what about Hermes, the God of Wizards? That guy became a Demon God, right?”

[Hermes attained a total of 5 Sephira. We say he reached the 5th rank.]

“…!!”

Wait, are you telling me that even Hermes, who is on par with the Old Ruler, only got 5 out of 10 Sephira?

I expected him to have all of them!

‘So, Hermes and his followers were just a bunch of demon practitioners studying the power of the World Tree! They didn’t truly secure its genuine power.’

Considering that getting only 5 out of the 10 yields power on par with the Old Ruler, the hidden potential of the Sephirot tree was indeed formidable. My curiosity drove me to ask further.

“So… what about that great sorcerer, Simon Magus?”

[He reached the 4th rank.]

“Can you become a Demon God after reaching the 4th rank? His power seemed to be at the lower Demon God level.”

[Not quite. However, he utilized the achievements of the Sephira to take refuge with an external deity. In other words, most of his power came from that deity, so the weight of this Sephira wouldn’t be significant.]

“…I see.”

While chatting, I couldn’t help but feel excited and remarked to the Seraphim.

“Since you know all those names I mentioned, you must know all the practitioners challenging Kabbalah!”

[Indeed. I was the one who bestowed the Flame of the Soul upon them when they first reached Malkuth.]

“Hmm, I see… So, how do I go about raising my rank in the Sephira?”

[You just need to do what you did before.]

“Me?”

In response to my question, the Seraphim slowly countered.

[You dedicated a robust life force to the Sephirot of the World Tree. The fact that you reached Malkuth was because your contribution was acknowledged.]

I pondered the Seraphim’s words and when I realized something, I exclaimed.

“So, the more strong life force I offer, the higher I can rise in the Sephira?”

[Correct.]

“So, in the end, this is all just about making offerings!”

I grumbled. I thought it was some grand training method, but it’s just about feeding life force to the Sephirot and being acknowledged for that contribution to rise. Then the Seraphim added.

[Don’t say that. In all of the universe, very few can equitably exchange like the Sephirot. Do you know how unfair most evil gods are towards mortals?]

“…I know.”

No one knows that better than me. Rubbing my head, I said.

“Ah, enough of that. But if that’s the case, does that mean that as long as I gather a ton of life force and offer it to the Sephirot, I can rise up in the Sephira even without any significant understanding?”

[It’s not that simple. If you reach the next rank of 2 with the Sephira, you will have to undergo a trial from the Guardian of Sephira.]

“A trial?”

[It tests whether your power in martial arts is sufficient to transcend to the next stage. Of course, if your magical strength is enough to obtain a Sephira, you should pass without too much difficulty.]

I organized my thoughts based on what the Seraphim said.

‘If I gather life force and dedicate it to the World Tree Sephirot, I rise based on my contribution. But I can’t slack off; I’ll have to face a trial for each Sephira to advance.’

I think I understood almost everything now.

I said to the Seraphim.

“I get it now, so let me go. My limit right now is probably just this 1st rank Malkuth, right?”

[Very well. I’m curious to see just how high you can go in the future……]

As the Seraphim spoke, flames flickered in his eyes as he looked at me, and he seemed about to chant something.

[……?!]

But suddenly, the Seraphim stopped chanting and froze with his mouth agape. I stared at him in confusion.

“Hey, what’s going on?”

[W-What. What on earth are you?]

“Why do you ask?”

At the Seraphim’s subsequent words, I was caught off guard.

[Why do you… already possess the key to reach the 8th Sephira?]

“……What?”

What does that even mean?

Are you telling me I have the key to reach the 8th Sephira?

I was flabbergasted as I retorted.

“What are you talking about? This is my first time practicing the Sephirot and it’s only been a few days. I heard about the Sephira for the first time just now! Why are we talking about the 8th rank?”

[But you definitely possess that key. On your arm.]

“Arm?”

At his words, I instinctively raised my arm and looked. And at that moment, I realized.

“……!!”

The names inscribed on my arm are glowing!!

And among them, one name stood out, shining with a rainbow-like brilliance.

[Saitan]

In an instant, I recalled the master of that name.

[My name is Saitan… a slave to God… the serpent dwelling in the tree of the Almighty!]

That’s right. That Saitan was the entity I encountered in the Great Bear Empire 500 years later!

Initially, he was part of Chiyou’s faction; more like a separate entity that temporarily allied with Chiyou. After Chiyou passed, he attempted to escape to the outer universe in cooperation with the Dragon of the Apocalypse and had asked me to help him find the forbidden fruit. We had made a pact that he would reveal himself to me on the day I found it, and he had given me his name.

Afterwards, I had used Saitan’s power to create commands and control divine power, utilizing his strength in various ways, but I’d never expected that Saitan’s name would shine here!

And upon confirming Saitan’s name, the Seraphim was visibly startled.

[…Oh… Do you possess Saitan’s name? What on earth happened?]

“You know Saitan?”

[He was the foremost servant of God… the king of our angels of the Sephirot!]

“……!!”

[I found it strange that one day he disappeared, but I never expected his name would be entrusted to you… What exactly are you?]

Saitan was the king of the angels of the Sephirot?

This revelation was so unexpected that I couldn’t help but be shocked. In an instant, a hazy memory from the past flashed in my mind.

[Oh God, was I not created for the judgment of the ideal world?]

[If indeed there exists an end and revelation of the king of kings… then I, the king of angels Saitan, am no longer a judge or terminator!]

[Oh God, if there is no hope in this world, I will seek the true king of kings from the outer universe! For he is the true king among kings, isn’t he? If the world is destined to perish, then the forbidden fruit will be of no need to me!]

……Ah!

In the past, when I repeatedly recited to resurrect Heuk Woong using Saitan’s name, the power of [name] had flowed back, causing Saitan’s memories to resurface and reveal strange visions. Remembering that vision, I turned to the Seraphim.

“Seraphim, was the king of angels Saitan once in a place called Mount Zion?”

[Zion is the homeland and base of the angels. What you know, how much do you really know?]

“……”

From the look on the Seraphim, it seems Saitan’s memories are real. For some reason, I knew that Saitan had indeed been in Mount Zion.

‘If that’s the case, then Saitan…’

I posed a pressing question to the Seraphim.

“Then who is this ‘God’ that you angels serve?”

The entity ‘God’ that Saitan fervently opposed!

Clearly, Saitan became enraged at ‘God’ and left using the forbidden fruit, leading him to our world. So, who in the world is that ‘God’?

[……]

To my question, the Seraphim remained silent before finally saying.

[That question, I cannot provide an answer to, but there is one thing I can say for sure.]

“What is it?”

[The key you possess in the name ‘Saitan’ cannot be used at this time.]

“Excuse me? Why not?”

When I asked, the Seraphim responded.

[Saitan has currently lost the essence of the angel king, leaving only the name behind. Thus, it cannot function as a key to the Sephira.]

“What? How could that be? Tell me how to use it.”

[You must resurrect Saitan’s essence.]

“Resurrection, huh… that’s easier said than done.”

I was about to use the power of the Wheel King to resurrect Saitan. However, as I focused my powers, a great pressure and pain surged in my hand.

“Gaaah!!”

As I grimaced from the pain, the Seraphim spoke as if he had expected this.

[You seem able to wield the great power of God, but this is the embrace of the World Tree Sephirot. Here, no ruler, unless they are an external deity, can exert their powers. The World Tree dissolves any external divine power for its own self-preservation.]

“……!!”

Dissolves divine powers?

As I widened my eyes in surprise, the Seraphim continued.

[And even if you were able to resurrect him by such means, the key wouldn’t function. Because the essence of the angel king and its being are bound to the World Tree, it’s the reason the key operates.]

“Then what should I do?”

[Gather enough life force to resurrect Saitan and dedicate it to the World Tree Sephirot. Then the World Tree will grant your wish.]

So ultimately, the conclusion is to gather life force?

No matter how complicated the system of the World Tree Sephirot seems to be, it doesn’t appear all that difficult if one merely grasps the concept of ‘life force.’

“Hmmm. How much life force do I need?”

[With your current level, it’s absolutely impossible. You need to be at least at the 3rd rank of the Sephira to even attempt it.]

“……That much, huh?”

[That was a conservative estimate. If you truly want to resurrect the angel king Saitan at his peak, it’s akin to resurrecting an existence comparable to the Old Ruler.]

The Seraphim’s words made my eyebrows twitch.

“What nonsense is that? Saitan is indeed a powerful Demon King, but he was not at the level of a Ruler.”

[If Saitan crossed over to your world, I believe he likely employed the forbidden fruit. However, he probably paid the price with a significant reduction in his power for crossing realms. Most external deities impose corresponding restrictions when allowing such movement.]

“What…?”

[Far more powerful than you know, Saitan is. Even his successor, the angel king Metatron, can incinerate a galaxy in an instant, and the Saitan of his prime was even stronger than that.]

“……”

In a daze, I stood there with my mouth agape as the Seraphim spoke.

[Even so, I cannot treat the bearer of the name of the former angel king with disdain. This is a gift from me.]

Whoosh!!

Suddenly, the Seraphim breathed flames into the air, and from that flame, a tremendous long sword emerged and flew towards me. It wasn’t too fast, so I easily caught it, and the flaming sword began to harmonize with my spirit as if it was always meant to be.

Whoosh!!

I could feel the powerful spirit energy surging from this flaming sword, which felt on a whole different level compared to earthly weapons. Surprised, I said.

“What is this?”

[It’s the fiery sword of me, the Cherubim Seraphim. It shall now be bound to your soul, and you can call upon it whenever you wish.]

“Oh! Is this different from the Flame of the Soul I saw earlier?”

[The Flame of the Soul is given to any practitioner of Kabbalah, but that sword is my personal weapon. This means that now I have entrusted you with this flaming sword, I can no longer wield its power again.]

“……”

What?! You gave me your own personal weapon?!

I was truly surprised, realizing how monumental such a choice was for a martial artist.

“Hey, are you really giving this out so freely just after meeting me?”

[This is also a matter of cause and effect. I once received great benevolence from Lord Saitan, so I am returning the favor to you.]

“……”

Ssss

I began to feel everything around me fade into a misty blur. Just before my sight became completely hazy, I heard the Seraphim’s voice.

[My hope is that one day you will be able to resurrect Lord Saitan… especially for your sake… ]

Boom!

Moments later, I realized I had returned to the real world. I blinked in disbelief and raised my hand to gather my focus.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the flaming sword of the Seraphim materialized in my hand. I gazed at the swirling power of the sword and murmured.

“Unlike last time, just holding this instantly summons my magical power.”

It seemed the flaming sword consumed my magic energy upon being summoned. I had enough magic power, so it wasn’t burdensome to hold the sword, but I dispelled its summon nonetheless.

Swish.

“So, about Saitan…”

I absentmindedly mumbled. I didn’t expect Saitan to pop up out of nowhere like this.

‘Come to think of it, I forgot about giving him the forbidden fruit…’

If I think about it, I could have simply found the forbidden fruit and resurrected Saitan according to the contract we made, rather than forcing myself to master the Sephirot at a high rank. This was precisely the ‘name’ contract I made with Saitan. Yet, I felt an uneasy sensation creeping in.

‘Something… feels off…’

In reality, I had the upper hand in that contract. Saitan had entrusted his name to me with that request back in the 28th cycle, and since then, I had been the one benefiting from that arrangement.

But did Saitan, who was difficult to control even for Chiyou, really make a deal that only hurt himself?

Should I really just search for the forbidden fruit as agreed?

After pondering, I resolved.

“Instead of following the contract, it seems better to summon him through my training in the Sephirot.”

According to the information I obtained from Nailatop through the outer universe, obtaining the forbidden fruit was indeed feasible. However, I had a hunch that if I followed the conventional route and fulfilled my promise to Saitan, I would somehow end up at a disadvantage. I decided that it would be better to combine my training while summoning Saitan.

Once again, I utilized the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique to gather pearls and absorb immense life force, but this time, I didn’t transport to the world of the Sephirot. Observing this phenomenon, I thought.

‘Indeed. The amount of life force needed to reach rank 1 is likely drastically different from the amount needed to reach rank 2.’

And for some reason, I instinctively sensed that the difference was about 100 times.

Perhaps this was the intuition that comes with being a practitioner of Kabbalah.

“……”

If so, then it seems that even if it’s a bit inconvenient, I could reach the 2nd rank if I repeated this process about a hundred times. Yet, I decided to try experimenting with a different method instead.

Whoosh

I opened my eyes slightly and began to concentrate. A grin stretched across my face.

‘If this much efficiency can be achieved with just the Three-Refinements Heart Technique and the Thunder Dragon One Qi Technique…!’

Soul of the Evil God!

If I train in the Sephirot with my internal power, considered the best of the best, I can progress immensely toward the next stage!