1188——————==

Soul of the Evil God

“Haah!”

I immediately began to draw power from the forces of Xuyou and Huayo in my hands, along with the floating Moon Sovereign and the Earth Spirit. Then I shouted.

“Seven Luminaries Resonance!!!”

Kugugugung!!

Simultaneously, the four Luminaries shone brightly, and a massive wave of energy rippled out. At that moment, I couldn’t help but smile.

‘Just as I thought!!’

Four Luminaries used in the Seven Luminaries Resonance! Normally, it would take a toll on me, but I didn’t feel strained at all and I didn’t even sense any depletion of my internal strength or energy.

Kuquakwang!

The wave of the Seven Luminaries Resonance charged forward with more majesty than anything I had seen before and struck the heavenly figure of Hang-a. An explosive sound echoed as if the entire sea of clouds were shattering, and a powerful aftershock swept through. I jumped back a dozen steps, taking precautions. Somehow, I felt like one hit wouldn’t be enough to take me down.

Hooouuu—

Sure enough, amidst the fierce aftershock, Hang-a emerged unscathed, smoke billowing around her. She addressed me.

[Seems you have some understanding of fighting within a dream.]

“Of course.”

I aimed Xuyou at her as I spoke.

“It’s a dream, so how could I feel the backlash of Seven Luminaries Resonance? If I summoned the Luminaries, they’d do as I wish!”

The privilege granted only in a [dream]!

Because it’s a dream, the constraints of reality mean nothing!

Zhuge Sa didn’t summon a chair or iced tea just for fun. He wanted to make me aware of this fact. Not only could I summon anything I thought of, but it also meant I could fight while ignoring all constraints!

Hang-a extended her hand forward.

[But there’s something important you still don’t know….]

“What?”

Zing, zing!

A mass of lightning erupted from Hang-a’s palm, forming a sphere.

[What truly determines victory and defeat here.]

Bang!!

At that moment, a bolt of lightning shot forth, and I felt my body being blasted away as if I had become a fried piece of meat.

“……?!”

What… is happening? How could this be!

I couldn’t grasp it with my sense of the Absolute Realm at all!

Even if it were Thunder Spirit, I would have expected to respond just a little slower—does this mean it’s faster than lightning?! Or was it manipulating time and space?! Even if it is manipulating time and space, I possess the Jade Emperor’s authority, so I should be able to counter the [Small Cycle] manipulation…

Countless thoughts raced through my mind, but as my consciousness faded, I could no longer think clearly. Instead, I fervently wished with a flicker of intuition.

Don’t mess with me!!

Paff!

In the very next moment, I found myself appearing in a space just a little further away, restored to my original form. It was a strange sensation, feeling like I’d been fried and my brain charred, but somehow my consciousness existed in another place, observing the situation in third-person. And when I fervently wished, surprisingly, I could restore my body.

Ouch!

“Ugh….”

My head throbbed. As I pressed my temple, Hang-a’s voice drifted toward me from a distance.

[I considered you a dullard, but it appears that years of combat experience etched your instincts into your soul. Nonetheless, in this space, I hold overwhelming advantage.]

“Damn it! You mean this space….”

[You really think I would explain such things? Let’s see you die again.]

Bang!!

Once again, a bolt of lightning burst from Hang-a’s hand from afar, and in that moment, I felt my entire body blasted with hundreds of holes by the lightning that came faster than Thunder Spirit. It was absurd to realize I sustained a critical injury but having experienced numerous deaths, maybe I quickly adapted to the pain and immediately began to heal myself.

Hooou—

“Uuuuh….”

Perhaps due to being pushed back by Hang-a, my headache intensified. It had been bearable until now, but now it was such a distraction that I could barely concentrate. With a nonchalant expression, Hang-a spoke.

[You too can use Thunder God Spear Techniques. If so, I wouldn’t be able to stop you.]

“…You’re lying…”

I gritted my teeth and my eyes glinted.

“I’ve figured out the lies you’ve been telling!!”

Something I couldn’t explain in words but understood in my body!

This bastard!

Paff!

I took my stance from Tai Chi and erased all the four Spirits I had summoned. I even dismissed Jade Emperor and the Yellow Dragon Demon God that could have defended me—literally standing there with nothing but my bare fists and a blade. The Book of Life and Death was also gone.

I relinquished all powers.

[…….]

But Hang-a hesitated to strike at me, who seemed much weaker than before. My headache still lingered, but upon confirming my thoughts, I smiled slightly.

“I had miscalculated. I thought you’d at least be honest in a fight…. But everything was a deception. I’ve never seen a bastard like you.”

[You think you can win just by defending?]

“Let’s see!”

I took a deep breath.

I could no longer rely on powers to fight comfortably.

Intuitively, I knew that I would lose if I did.

Then in this life, I had no choice but to rely on the most intense martial arts experience this body had ever had. I clenched my fist tightly and declared at Hang-a.

“Come at me!”

A moment of silence passed.

Snap!

Suddenly, Hang-a simultaneously summoned two Thunder Spears from her hands and shot them at me. Although that attack felt much quicker than Thunder Spirit, it aimed directly at ripping my body apart.

Whaaa—

Indeed, I felt as if I couldn’t follow the impossible, ultra-speed of a dream and my body was ripped to pieces by the strike. However, at the same time, I experienced something strange.

Overlap.

My body, torn apart by the two Thunder Spears.

Myself transcending the Thunder Spears and achieving Yin and Yang transformation.

‘No!’

It was nonsensical, but I perceived two states existing within me simultaneously. The two realities seemed to overlap like a mirage, and I instantly understood that I could choose one of these two states.

Just like I experienced before.

Peerless Technique!

Shoo!

The moment I chose the deployment state of the Peerless Technique in bliss, the Thunder Spear passed through my body as if it had never existed, and I found myself embodying the balance of Yin and Yang through the Peerless Technique. The Peerless Technique mitigated the residual strikes of the Thunder Spears, and that power was manifested into a transparent Tai Chi in the air.

Boom!

The Tai Chi was completed and then vanished. It was merely a single exchange, but Hang-a could no longer attack me and hesitated.

[……!!]

“That’s why I’m at a disadvantage. I’ve had an unsettling vibe about this….”

I adjusted my stance for the Peerless Technique, gritting my teeth.

“So this means in this dream, you can choose reality.”

I did not understand the precise principles, but it seemed that I could choose between the [state of being attacked] and the [state of not being attacked]. I realized that I had been oblivious to this and exclusively relied on my imagination to restore my body. Each use likely drained some aspect of my imagination.

But Hang-a had already figured out the art of choosing reality, pretending to take my attacks while expending none of her actual strength—this realization dawned on me when I felt the strange dissonance during Hang-a’s Thunder Spear assault.

Gulp….

Then Hang-a, trembling in disbelief, spoke.

[This can’t be…. How are you able to ‘do that’?]

“What? If you can do it, it’s only natural I can too…”

Hang-a seemed to lose her composure and yelled.

[That’s impossible!! Not even the greatest genius could accomplish that! That is the authority of the Great Seer engraved in Heavenly Secret! Only I, chosen as the terminal, can do this here and how could you…!!]

“……?”

[No way!! How could you accomplish ‘that’, which even gods cannot realize?!]

Whatever the reason, it seemed I had dealt a significant psychological blow to her by neutralizing Hang-a’s attacks with the Peerless Technique.

‘Now’s my chance!’

Bam!

I swiftly approached Hang-a with the Soul Removal Technique and executed the Infinite Slash, feeling her body split apart. But I understood that it was merely a trick, and at that very moment, Hang-a was also in the process of choosing one of the [overlapped realities]. While it appeared as though she was rupturing, she was probably nullifying the attack without receiving any damage.

‘Not a chance!’

I let go of the sword handle and immediately transitioned into the stance of the Peerless Technique. Intervening in the manipulation of reality that Hang-a was unfolding, I reached out and activated the maximum principle of the Peerless Technique.

Transmute into Nothing!

Zzzzzap—

Hang-a’s [overlapped reality] burst away as the true power of the Infinite Slash I had struck moments ago surged at her. This time she let out a horrific scream.

[Aaaah!!]

Boom!

As the strike of the Infinite Slash ruptured her, it seemed the pain engraved itself onto her genuinely, causing Hang-a to stagger. Unlike the deception she acted moments ago, she now truly experienced the agony of her body rending apart.

‘Good! If it keeps going like this…!!’

It seemed I had grasped how to restrain Hang-a. As I was about to summon Xuyou again to unleash the Infinite Slash, Hang-a let out a shrill scream as she restored her body.

[Nooooo!!!]

Kwang!

[[Dream], explode!!]

In that instant, all of space around me shattered like glass, revealing a colorful, mysterious space. Numerous mirrors sprang into being around me, and I was momentarily lifted into the air.

“Ugh?!”

This way, I’ll smash into the mirrors!

I struggled to escape, but none of my techniques seemed effective against this force.

Clang!

Just before I crashed into the mirrors, I noticed the reflection of someone wearing a canine mask engraved within them.

*

“Lee, are you listening?”

In a classroom bathed in the sunset.

[I] calmly replied to the professor’s words.

“Professor, after joining the Empire’s Command, I discarded that name. I’ve changed it….”

“Oh, I see. So you didn’t like your old bloodline? I may not know much being a Westerner, but it seems that’s quite important for those from the East.”

“…….”

[I] felt an intense discomfort, not directed at the person before me, but a strong loathing toward my own origins.

“Well then, I’ll call you Ha.”

“Do as you please.”

“Now, where was I?”

“It was about quarks.”

[The one called Professor] smiled brightly as he continued.

“Right, right! The theory that the universe is made of electric charges and quarks emerged about 50 years ago. But then, an even smaller particle that forms waveforms was proposed, leading to an outpouring of questions about what constitutes the smallest thing in the universe.”

[I] chose not to respond.

The [professor’s] words proceeded.

“You seem rather bored in this lecture after such a long absence.”

“I just came back from fighting aliens, so I’m worn out. Spent quite a bit of Qi.”

[I] was covered in the green blood of aliens. His words were neither exaggeration nor boasting, as I had indeed just butchered hundreds of tentacled monsters aboard their mothership.

“Ha ha, disheartened that mere theory wouldn’t let you fight aliens?”

“Not at all. Thanks to your theories, I discovered the Primordial Void and used its power to repel the alien invasion, so how could I complain?”

“Indeed, the Primordial Void is key. Who would’ve imagined? That it was more than just an element of metaphysics in ancient texts, but also represents the essence of Qi—the most powerful force in the universe….”

“…and it led to the creation of the Void Cannon.”

“Exactly that.”

[The professor] replied in a somewhat excited tone.

“If the force of the Primordial Void increases, we’ll be able to transcend the universe. I guarantee that.”

“Transcend the universe?”

“Sure. If we can’t prevent the coming apocalypse, then we might consider finding another world to maintain humanity’s legacy. It’s worth seriously considering it.”

“…….”

[I] opened my mouth in surprise before saying.

“I hope that’s the case.”

“Soon enough, the Plan for the Divine Realm will also become a reality. If only we could find the Tree of Life….”

“Does it truly exist?”

“It does. At least in this world, it surely does. I came into this world to seek it.”

[The professor] glanced out the window before saying.

“You look tired, so let’s save the Primordial Void class for tomorrow. For now, rest easy, Colonel Ha Eun-cheon of the Human Alliance.”

[I] stood from my seat and bowed to the [professor].

“Thank you, Master.”

*

Paff!

The next moment, I opened my eyes and regained consciousness. I was still floating in the multicolored chaos, and Hang-a’s figure was nowhere to be seen.

‘Did I not die? Huh…. What on earth happened?’

More importantly, what about that memory I just saw?

‘Is it Ha Eun-cheon’s memory?’

Could it be the memory of the Master of the Twelve Joules before coming to this world?

As I pondered over what I had just witnessed—

[There’s no way back now….]

Hang-a’s voice echoed throughout space.

Then her figure slowly emerged, revealing herself from the dark waves, and seeing her, I jumped back in shock.

“……!!”

She wore a ritual object and was a faceless entity!

Not to mention the bizarrely shaped multiple wings and grotesque armored limbs, she could hardly be considered human at this point. Until just earlier, she still bore a celestial air, but now she completely resembled an [Old Ruler].

With a furious shout, Hang-a proclaimed.

[As long as I wield this power, I shall become a Reborn Person!!]

Whoooo!!

A bizarre array of characters materialized before Hang-a. Upon seeing it, I prepared the Peerless Technique again, intending to pick and choose my realities.

‘Once more, I will block and counterattack!’

But for some reason, it looked familiar….

As I was growing suspicious, a massive block of characters resembling a meteor soared towards me with a whoosh. I aimed to use the Peerless Technique to nullify the attack, but in that moment, I sensed something was off.

‘Uh… this is….’

Boom!

“Krrrrrgh!!”

In the nick of time, I dismissed the Peerless Technique and purely used the Three Treasure Technique and the Soul Removal Technique to evade, but even then, there wasn’t enough space to escape and my hand brushed past the character, causing it to tear off completely.

‘Heal!’

…….

“Eh?!”

Wait, why isn’t the healing working?!

It’s a dream, though; why is this happening?

As I panicked, Hang-a roared with a chilling voice.

[The rules have changed! Die!!]

Whaooooo!

“……!!”

Suddenly, hundreds of bizarre characters floated all around me, and my heart raced. There was no way I could dodge all of them. To dispel my uneasy feelings, I shouted.

“Just because you put me in this [knot] doesn’t mean it’s over! It’s still a dream, so why are you so fixated on it?”

[You don’t need to know…. If you had behaved yourself, you could have enjoyed abundance, but this is all your fault!]

Boom!

As hundreds of characters began to glow, I realized with intuition.

I can’t block this.

The moment I thought that, someone appeared before the torrents of light pouring toward me.

Clang!!

[Wha?]

Upon seeing that figure swing a spear and deflect every single character, Hang-a’s eyes widened in shock. The figure lowered their spear and spoke.

“It’s far too late. Who would’ve guessed that a mere fragment of the Heavenly Secret would be this powerful?”

Looking at the figure standing before me, I retorted bluntly.

“Couldn’t you at least give me some clear directions? How can I figure it all out when you speak so ambiguously? That guy was so troublesome, I almost met my end.”

He sighed apologetically.

“That was my mistake. I can atone from here on out.”

I grinned at his words.

“Well then, let’s prepare for a military offensive.”

I no longer had to worry about losing to Hang-a.

The master, Jin So-cheong, who had trained for five hundred years, was now here.