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Rebirth Sword God Volume 91 Chapter 17

Al Karda stared at my move for a while before suddenly asking,

“What kind of opportunity do you wish to gain?”

It was a very abstract question, almost as if he could see right into my heart. With a question like that, I had no choice but to reveal my intentions, so I licked my lips and replied,

“I want an opportunity that is more helpful than ever before.”

“That sounds subjective. Do you know that mixing my subjectivity with yours could lead to disaster?”

How could I not know?

Having dealt with divine beings until now, I had felt it countless times!

But I didn’t show it and said,

“Whatever wordplay you use, your divine presence must have a certain dignity, right?”

“You’ve certainly gotten better at talking compared to before. Is it thanks to your advisors?”

“……”

“Good… then before I grant you the opportunity, I have a question.”

What question?

Curious, I looked at Al Karda, who continued to keep his gaze fixed on the Go board.

“What do you consider the largest frame in the world?”

“……?”

Frame?

What a sudden and random question!

I was so dumbfounded that I answered whatever came to mind,

“Isn’t there a frame as large as a galaxy in the world? I haven’t seen it yet, but….”

Al Karda continued, ignoring my words,

“There was once someone who set out to find the largest frame in the world.”

“…….”

“But the truth is, the largest frame never existed from the beginning. Yet, at the same time, it existed. That was the most terrifying thing.”

“……?”

“That contradiction could only be resolved through self-fulfillment. Thus, the great being devised a grand plan over infinite time, believing that one day, the frame’s contradiction would be resolved.”

As Al Karda spoke this incomprehensible nonsense, he slowly made a move.

Tap.

“And I’m just a humble bookkeeper, part of that plan.”

“……”

“You probably didn’t even know this plan existed. What do you think your insignificant self-interest means in the grand flow of this vast universe?”

I fell silent at Al Karda’s question.

‘Again… my self-interest has been cut down.’

What I thought was a perfect move in Go turned out to be completely sealed by Al Karda’s flawless play. Suddenly, I realized I couldn’t read Al Karda’s skill at all and that he was intentionally hiding it while playing with me.

After a while of racking my brain, I responded,

“Do I really need to gain insight into the vast flow of the universe? If I’m an insignificant being, I can only focus on the benefits right in front of me. After all, if everything in the world is destiny, then what does it matter what I think?”

“……Hooh.”

Al Karda seemed somewhat satisfied with my words and gave a faint smile.

“You understand your greatest advantage well…”

“……?”

“I liked that.”

Huh?

I just said something without thinking, and he calls it an advantage?

What’s even the advantage in that?

As I was puzzled, Al Karda continued,

“If you wish, I will grant you an opportunity… one that I’ve never allowed to any opponent I’ve played with in the reincarnation game.”

With those words, I found myself transported somewhere again.

*

Where am I?

“Huh?”

I let out a foolish sound without realizing it.

‘I don’t know?’

Because the place that had appeared now was completely unfamiliar, even as I tried to jog my memory.

Whoosh—

Looking at the grass laying flat in the wind, I knew it was an unnamed grassy area, but where on earth am I?

I had wandered all sorts of places in the world and might be confused, but I simply couldn’t grasp where this was.

I remembered every important place from my past life, but this truly felt alien.

Whoooo….

“This darkness feels unsettling…”

I mumbled. Because the sky here was shrouded in shadow, and a menacing chaos of magical power was emanating from the heavens.

‘No… is this a barrier?’

That must be it. There seems to be an unknown barrier spread out in this area. It felt like the magic was continuously leaking from that barrier and exerting some kind of effect.

Thump!!

Suddenly, with a loud sound, something massive swung a tentacle the size of a pillar through the air, hitting the barrier. Judging by the size, which seemed to exceed dozens of those, it was definitely a terrifying demon beast, and I realized what effect this barrier might have.

‘Keeping the chaotic beasts… from getting in.’

Suddenly, I felt a shiver run through my body as the giant beasts outside let out a wail.

“Ugh!!”

Wha—what the hell?

Right now, I… felt such an overwhelming magical power in that roar that it made me feel an intense sense of vigilance!

‘…Not just any beast! That’s a roar imbued with divine power!’

Then beyond that barrier, without a doubt, exists the [Old Ruler]!

Seeing not just one or two, but dozens of shadows beyond the faint barrier gave me the chills.

There must be an astounding number of [Old Rulers] residing beyond that barrier, equivalent to how many were brought by me in this life!

‘This is insane!!’

Have I ever faced so many [Old Rulers] beyond a barrier like this?

‘No way!!’

I’ve never seen anything like this.

Wait, have I actually encountered something like this in my past life? Where in the world am I and what on earth is happening?

Just then,

Bang!!

There was a sudden explosive sound, and I felt a massive explosion of energy from afar.

‘…Is that 15 li away?’

Estimating the distance, I enhanced my hearing with Qi for a moment and listened to the sounds coming from that direction. I could hear a loud, echoing shout ringing out.

“Hahaha!! What are the trash abandoning their humanity babbling about?!”

Bang!!

In the next moment, a tremendous explosion erupted from afar, and I felt the strong energies colliding. I instinctively sensed that this energy was no ordinary force.

‘Hmm!!’

This is incredibly strong?!

Having faced many strong foes, my instincts told me that the power of the one making that shout was formidable enough that even without divine power, I might struggle to win solely with martial arts.

I felt more confused about what was happening because it was undeniable that the previous shout belonged to a human.

‘Shall I check it out for now.’

Thud.

I dashed towards the source of the explosion with rapid footwork. And as I reached near the epicenter, I saw two experts about to clash.

“You, Peerless Master. Has there been such an absolute being in the Central Plains?”

“……”

“As the Celestial King Pasun, I want to face you, but I shall fight with full power as my lord commands.”

……Huh?

As soon as I saw the swordsman speaking, it felt like my brain froze.

‘Why… are you here?’

It’s a familiar face.

No, it isn’t just familiar…!!

Why is he here?!

Just as I felt dumbfounded, the swordsman’s body swelled massively, taking on the form of a powerful Demon King.

Bang!!

This Demon King, who radiated a power so strong it could be mistaken for a lower-level [Old Ruler], picked up various weapons in his hands and aimed one at his opponent, saying,

[Peerless Master, draw your genuine weapon!]

“…Are you alright?”

The man across from the Demon King grabbed the spear behind him.

“When I grab the spear, I become ten times stronger!”

[Hahaha, what a joke!]

Bang! Bang!

And the next moment, light flowed from the Demon King’s forehead, a halo shining forth, and I could see the unique sentence structure I was already familiar with taking form.

[Nirvana of the Absolute!]

The Demon King’s sword cut through. The six different light techniques spun around, converging into a single immense force, a spectacle that sent chills down my spine every time I saw it. The destructive power of that Nirvana of the Absolute was certainly at a level that no other martial arts I knew could ever hope to rival.

Then, just as the man who seemed to dodge the Nirvana of the Absolute slowly thrust the spear forward,

It was Lan.

Bang!

[……!!]

Two of the Demon King’s arms were simultaneously sliced off!! The moment I saw that, I felt a lump rise in my throat.

‘This… this is…!!’

The Demon King tried to attach his severed arms back but, failing to do so, grumbled.

[Seems they won’t attach.]

[What? Asura, you also have super regeneration bestowed by Lord Chi You…]

I could hear the cries of the Eight Parts of the Divine Celestial as he shouted. Ignoring the cry, the Demon King turned to the man, saying,

[Hey. Did you also meet that Martial God?]

“Not sure. I guess you didn’t meet him either.”

[Hahaha… Are you trying to turn my outfit upside down? Fine then.]

Provoked by the reverse scale, the Demon King gnashed his teeth as a fierce light rose in his eyes.

[Even if I have to perish, I will kill you today!]

“Go ahead and try.”

In that moment, I couldn’t hold back anymore and crashed into the arena.

“Wait for me!!”

Bang!!

As I shouted and dropped from the air into their space, the thick smoke billowing up stopped both the members of the Eight Parts of the Divine and the man in surprise. I caught a glimpse of another figure behind the man, recognizing who it was.

I shouted towards the Demon King in front of me.

“You… are you the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine?!”

[……?]

The Demon King looked puzzled for a moment before asking,

[Who are you? How do you know me?]

“……”

No doubt…!!

That Demon King is none other than the Asura of the Eight Parts of the Divine, one of my past life companions!

But, as I expected, right now, Asura should have no recollection of me at all. After all, we’ve never met.

‘What’s important right now isn’t Asura.’

I didn’t respond to Asura and focused on the man who had just been fighting Asura. I knew for sure that this man’s identity was what truly mattered.

As I momentarily lost my words, I cautiously asked,

“……What is your name?”

I was already guessing who he might be.

But I wanted him to reveal his identity himself, just in case I was wrong.

In response to my question, he adjusted his grip on the spear and said,

“Howol!”

In his gaze glimmered boundless pride and overwhelming confidence.

“……!!”

Bang!

I felt as if a giant hammer had hit my head.

Indeed.

Right before my eyes was none other than Howol, the first Grand Master of the White Lotus Sect and the strongest warrior in the history of the White Lotus Sect!

He is the disciple of the Reborn One, Dharma!

If that’s true, the handsome sorcerer behind Howol must certainly be his disciple, Seong Jin, who would eventually become the black mask of the White Lotus Sect, surviving even into the Ming Dynasty era where I live now.

‘This is insane……!!’

At the same time, I began to understand what kind of opportunity Al Karda had granted me.

This is not my memory.

By principle, this situation has never been allowed in the reincarnation game until now.

But regardless, I am in the era and the very location where the reincarnator, Dharma, was trying his final attempt to establish True Martial Home a millennium ago.

 

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