전생검신 90권 19화

I couldn’t quite grasp what that guy was saying and replied back, “What’s the name of the Outer God? Why does it matter?”

[…….]

At my words, Golden Moon seemed a bit bewildered.

[Reborn one, are you saying you don’t understand that significance?]

“No… It seems kinda important, but doesn’t a strong grimoire already have the true names of most Outer Gods recorded? I mean, isn’t magic about calling their true names to borrow their power? Isn’t that common knowledge?”

My doubts made perfect sense. The last time I learned about magic from Zhuge Sa, it was that you couldn’t even use magic without knowing the names of the [Old Ruler] or the Outer Gods. So, I couldn’t fathom why those Outer Gods would share such widely known knowledge with me.

It looked like Golden Moon was chuckling.

[…… Heh… For someone who achieved such a feat as a Reborn one, your knowledge of magic is surprisingly shallow. The names of the Outer Gods written in the grimoire are not their true names.]

I was taken aback by that statement.

“What?! What do you mean…?”

[Do you really think that mere mortals, no matter how much they risk their lives, can correctly understand and remember those great names without going insane? What they know is merely fragments containing the true power of the Outer Gods… Their real names have never been revealed.]

“……!!”

[In human terms… that’s merely like a business card with a pseudonym written on it… Mortals make great use of that alone. Moreover, even among the [Old Rulers], very few know the true names of the Outer Gods… it’s barely a handful.]

Golden Moon’s eyes glowed faintly.

[And if the Outer Gods convey their genuine names to you… it implies that unlike trivial contracts made with other beings… they are considering entering into an equal contract with you. Because a contract containing true names cannot be evaded, even by an Outer God… it’s a contract that binds both parties’ names.]

“Is… is that so?”

[Yes… such a grant of rights is probably unheard of throughout the history of the universe… ]

“…….”

The notion that using the true name of an Outer God would allow me to establish an equal contract with them opened the door to potentially wielding unimaginable power, depending on how I utilized it.

‘Hmm… seems like there’s some more usage I’m unaware of…’

Regardless, the right felt a bit vague for immediate use. I decided to ask someone smart or consult a strategist later on.

After pondering a bit, I turned to Golden Moon and said, “But, if I receive this right and then just die, it wouldn’t matter, would it?”

[What?]

“I mean, this right would just pass to my next life.”

[…….]

“Could you answer…?”

Golden Moon, who was silent for a moment, spoke in a slightly irate tone.

[What do you want me to say? Is it really that hard to understand that I’m telling you not to die?!]

“Why are you getting mad…?”

[I have no more to say. Don’t be foolish enough to die, just stay alive.]

In the past, I would’ve backed off a bit if someone pushed back like that.

But now, with my senses sharper than ever, I felt like there was still something they were hiding.

So, I stared at Golden Moon with keen eyes and said, “Let me ask you one thing. You probably absorbed all of Tsukuyomi’s powers, right? So you must have absorbed his memories as well? You must know what traps Tsukuyomi has set to impede my rebirth in the current world.”

[…….]

“Tell me what that trap is. I need to know whether I’ll live or die.”

[I don’t know anything about what trap he set!]

“Hmph, really…?”

Retorting nonchalantly, I gathered all my divine power and invoked my ability.

The power of the Dragon of the Regulation!!

Whooosh

At the same time, Golden Moon, who was housing Tsukuyomi’s physical form, suddenly shimmered in my vision. And I sensed a red glow swirling around his body.

“Yeah. As Gon said, that’s the red light of lies….”

The moment I confirmed the red light, one truth poured into my mind, and my eyes widened.

“……!!”

This… is a hellish situation….

Tsukuyomi, that bastard!!

I was stunned, locked in shock. Observing my aura, Golden Moon asked.

[What power did you use?]

“……the power of the Dragon of the Regulation… a technique crafted by King Gon to defend against the Three Sovereigns’ absorption abilities.”

Immediately, I sensed a bit of surprise from Golden Moon from my words.

“This power… allows me to sense truths that the opponent wishes to conceal.”

It was the perfect ability to use in such a situation.

I had no idea this ability I gained in my early 30th life would turn out this useful.

[……!!]

“The conditions for the activation of the ability are to confirm the red light of lies near my opponent… Since there’s a limit to the number of times it can be used, using it with my current divine power magnifies its strength immensely.”

[This is…?]

“The truth you wish to hide, I just reached confirmation of.”

With that, I clenched my teeth, almost spatting out, “Damn… these bastards…!! Are you insane?! What kind of desperate measures are you taking just to hinder my rebirth?!”

[It seems like you’ve grasped Tsukuyomi’s plan.]

“Damn right!! I know the deal!”

I shouted.

“You’re planning to resurrect the Outer God Pangu?! You filthy bastards!!”

That’s right.

What I could obtain through the power of the Dragon of the Regulation was the ‘truth you wish to hide.’

Specifically, the plan was to [resurrect Pangu]!

I didn’t know the specifics of how they’d go about it, but that one line was shocking enough. Since they had to have reasoned it from Tsukuyomi and the Three Sovereigns’ perspectives, they must believe there’s some feasibility in it.

Golden Moon, caught with his lies exposed, spoke with frankness.

[So, what will you do if you learn this? Your path from this Desert of Isolation leads to the current world, doesn’t it? And once you reach the current world, Pangu, who will have already been resurrected, will greet you.]

“……!!”

[According to Tsukuyomi’s plan, the Pangu who resurrects now will arrive in his prime state. With your paltry power, you’ll never defeat him.]

“What?! His prime state? Is that even possible?!”

[Well… I don’t know that for sure, but Tsukuyomi made a thorough plan with omnipotence. There must be no reason for him to act foolishly.]

“…….”

I was left in despair at the thought of the power of prime Pangu.

‘From what I learned in the Takrok Era, prime Pangu’s powers were nearly equal to those of the [Coming Chaos]…’

After millions of years of battling, it would only conclude then—there’s no doubt the possibility of being the strongest entity I’ve known so far.

Even with my current divine strength, I’d likely perish like a bug in comparison to prime Pangu.

‘Wait… die…?’

I realized that truth and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself.

“Tsukuyomi is a fool. I can just experience the strength of Outer God Pangu and die; that’ll be it, right? I could just reincarnate afterward.”

[Oh. That’s true…].

“…….”

What’s this? Why am I feeling like I’m being always underestimated?

Upon hearing Golden Moon’s response, my mood soured. So, I activated my power once again.

The power of the Dragon of the Regulation!!

And this time, after reading another one of the ‘truths you wish to hide’, I was utterly astounded.

Pangu can interfere with reincarnation.

“……?!”

Are you kidding me?

Golden Moon, who noticed my expression rapidly changing, chuckled as if resigned.

[Oh my. If the user is mediocre, it must be a trivial ability… but with your overwhelming divine power, it surely becomes an annoying ability.]

“D-Damn… is this really true? Can Pangu really interfere with reincarnation?!”

[Well, since you’ve figured it out, I might as well clarify.]

Golden Moon spoke, mockingly.

[Isn’t it obvious? Didn’t you call him an Outer God? You already knew that the existence outside the cycle cannot have reincarnation, right?]

“……!!”

[From Tsukuyomi and the Three Sovereigns’ perspectives, your attempt to escape through death to reincarnate is a condition for losing. Therefore, they have to devise a way to prevent your reincarnation, and that existence can only be Outer God Pangu.]

“Crap.”

I had never expected this would be one of their plans.

‘Honestly… I thought Pangu being resurrected would mean we’d receive a strong ally to fight Nyarlathotep.’

But to think he could be summoned as the worst card that could end my reincarnation!

And as an assassin representing the will of the Three Sovereigns!

So this was Tsukuyomi’s plan, powered by omnipotence?

And then, I realized something and sharpened my gaze.

“……Zhuge Sa was right. In the current world, Tsukuyomi laid schemes, so it’s better to just die here. Therefore, eliminating you is the final answer.”

Swish

I drew my sword again. But even though Golden Moon stood still, facing down my fighting spirit, he spoke with a relaxed voice.

[Do you want to hack at me until your frustration passes? However, in a serious fight, if I engage as an Outer God, the outcome is guaranteed to end in my victory. You are still not at a level to eliminate me.]

“…….”

[I’m not inclined to fight, but if you genuinely can’t give up, I’ll have to do my utmost to take you down and seal you for an eternity…].

Crick!

Instantly, with those words, from behind Golden Moon, grotesque sounds erupted and thousands of masks were summoned. I muttered at the sight.

“Hey, we haven’t met before, have we?”

[What do you mean by that?]

“……I remember.”

At my words, Golden Moon stiffened.

“I stabbed the Outer God, channeling the collective wishes of the Great Bear Empire, at that very spot… the golden moon that was swirling in the Dark Heaven. It was you, wasn’t it?”

Up until now, I had been somewhat uncertain, but now I felt convinced.

There aren’t many golden moons around, and just earlier he seemed to summon them while they whirl.

The whirling golden moon—I was certain I must have been looking at the same entity as Golden Moon before me.

[…….]

Golden Moon went silent for a moment. Then, he didn’t hide the joy that lit his face like an infinite darkness swirling.

[Haha… Hahahaha… Have you realized? Yes… as you said, we are old acquaintances.]

“……!!”

[In the true presence of the [Throne]… I saw you there… amidst the chaos where the Outer Gods sing, I was the one blessing true chaos.]

Golden Moon continued in that serene tone.

[You, who aimed your weapon at an Outer God and struck true… your boldness has made the Outer Gods take note of you… your madness has consumed the entire universe…].

“…….”

[You are something different… Perhaps an exceptional existence among the Reborn ones… So, I don’t particularly dislike you, but if our ideals conflict like this, then there’s nothing that can be done…].

“Hmph. Is that a compliment or an insult?”

I scoffed, but deep down, I felt troubled. How did it come to this? I keep entangling myself with otherworldly beings, and strangely, those who belong to chaos seem to view me favorably. The thought made my complicated feelings grow.

But I pushed those thoughts aside briefly, storing Zhuge Sa, who lay sprawled on the floor into subspace, and steeled myself for what’s to come.

“……Let’s see the length of both sides. Let’s fight!!”

That guy might be confident in his winning, but the power I built up this round wasn’t to be taken lightly. If I fight well, surely something good will come out of it!

[Bring it on…!!]

Just as our battle was about to commence, a massive rumble shook the heavens and the earth.

Boom!!

Suddenly, the whole world quaked violently. Not just a sound—this whole space trembled as though an enormous earthquake erupted. It wasn’t mere vibration; it felt like a ferocious wave crashing down so intensely that even my soul screamed.

Crash crash crash!!

‘W-what is this? Is that his attack?!’

I, thinking I had exposed a weakness, quickly checked on Golden Moon, but unexpectedly he was also far from fine. He trembled in Tsukuyomi’s physical body, seemingly unable to maintain himself amidst these overwhelming waves. Watching Golden Moon’s reaction, I realized something was off.

‘If Golden Moon didn’t initiate this, then what is…?’

Boom!!

Boom!!

Each staggering step of a colossal giant sent shockwaves through the realm!! I could tell that the unbelievable power lay within that wave, making it difficult to maintain my stance even with my divine power. While I was caught off guard by these waves crashing upon this space, Golden Moon suddenly shouted in shock.

[This can’t be… Fuxi! Nüwa! They initiated the resurrection ritual among themselves without waiting for Tsukuyomi’s signal…? I didn’t expect it to progress this quickly…!]

“What are you… talking about?”

[…… Ugh… Please don’t tell me… this wave is…….]

Golden Moon seemed to harbor some sort of fear. Then he said, [I-I will summon my lord now… Even if it’s impossible, I have to try…!]

And at that moment, Golden Moon prepared a summoning ritual along with a chant.

Crack.

With a sound akin to crushing a bug, a white giant’s hand appeared without warning, accompanied by white smoke. That gigantic hand effortlessly descended, crushing Golden Moon, who housed Tsukuyomi’s body, instantaneously. The red blood seeping out from under the giant’s palm told me that Golden Moon had been killed without having even put up a fight.

‘Golden Moon… Wasn’t he using the Outer God abilities akin to immortality…?’

He died without resistance?

Did the ability to deflect the harm get disregarded?

What in the world?

That’s…?

As the giant’s wrist rose, I felt something beyond the darkness gazing at me. In that instant, the white giant suddenly lunged at me like a lightning bolt, and I lost consciousness in a blink.

*

In the depths of darkness, I sank endlessly.

This feeling of consciousness diving into the abyss of eternal darkness…

Is this death?

No… it’s not.

I was feeling something entirely different.

And this sensation felt incredibly familiar. I was certain it was the first time I felt this throughout my life.

In the sea of darkness, my heart was racing.

[The Desert of Isolation is just ahead.]

And amidst that dark sea, I sensed a voice softly ringing.

[Do not forget the Original Nothingness…].

What does that mean…?

As my consciousness faded, I faintly recalled whose voice it was.

It was the voice of the Wheel King.

*

…….

“Gah!!”

Suddenly snapped awake from the abyss of unconsciousness, I found myself in a place completely different from the bizarre realm of Golden Moon’s planet.

‘Where is this?’

It was a ground similar to white clouds. It felt like laying on puffy, woolly clouds, filled with divine energy, devoid of even a single trace of demonic essence. I realized that as I sat here, the chaotic energies I held were dissolving on their own, and the murky powers were also losing their grip.

I had been to many wicked places filled with chaos, but this was my first experience in such a sacred location.

As I was bewildered, I heard a rumbling sound echoing from a magnificent altar in the shimmering sky.

[It seems Tsukuyomi’s plan has succeeded. You, who originally met death, have transitioned to your next rebirth instead… Truly the power of my parent.]

That was the Dragon Language. When I turned to the center of the altar, a massive egg, large enough to exceed three layers, rested there. On each side of that colossal egg stood two figures, and upon seeing their faces, I instantly recognized who they were.

I looked at the Heavenly Dragon emanating divine energy that spoke to me in the Dragon Language. I became lost in awe and murmured, “……Fuxi.”