1359——————==

Soul of the Evil God

What…?

I felt my mind snap back to attention and said, “Repeat it? Is that really true?!”

“It was when I first witnessed the scene of destruction. I vividly remember seeing the first apocalypse. I tried my hardest to save humanity but ended up failing, and prophecy and doom came upon us.”

“……”

“No matter who I was, at that time, even with Gaia, I couldn’t leap to another place, so I truly thought I was going to die. Everything was swallowed by endless darkness, and I lost consciousness.”

I heard Nailatop chuckling—a self-deprecating laugh.

“Cough… But the very next moment, the scene of when I first arrived in this world began to unfold. In that moment, I thought I had become a reborn person, but I realized that wasn’t the case. Because Gaia had recorded the moment when the repetition began after the apocalypse.”

“Recorded? What do you mean?”

“It’s impossible for the annihilation that swallowed the entire universe to spare Gaia. In fact, Gaia wasn’t harmed at all. That can’t be right, can it? Even during the process of the world coming back to life after the blackout, almost no time passed. There was no distortion in the time flow recorded by Gaia.”

“……?”

“I realized while watching that recorded video. This world is strange.”

Rustle…

I heard Nailatop fiddling with the tall grass nearby. He continued speaking while not looking at me.

“Since then, I attempted to save the world 5,982 more times. I tried every variable over and over, whether it worked or not. Only then did I finally understand that this world has a fixed conclusion, and that no matter what tricks I used, the result of doom wouldn’t change.”

“……”

“After that, I just killed time in this world, traveling to other outer universes. However, there wasn’t much gain since this is the only place where true history exists and touches upon doom and prophecy.”

A faint smile seemed to appear on Nailatop’s face.

“Then I heard a voice calling me, which was you and your party. I was truly delighted at that moment.”

I didn’t ask him what was so delightful.

The atmosphere was off. Normally, I would have just tilted my head insensitively, but my brain was racing now, and I could rationally sense the hidden meaning underlying Nailatop’s words. I naturally figured that the word ‘delighted’ hid some nefarious intent.

Silence lingered for a moment. I stared at him intently and opened my mouth.

“Nailatop. Wasn’t your goal to go to the [Central] that’s in the cycle of reincarnation, beyond the outer universes? If it turns out you actually wanted to see if I could change the history of the outer universe, then that doesn’t add up.”

“Hehe. It’s two birds with one stone. Achieving the latter makes the former possible.”

“What?”

What the heck does that mean?

As I became confused, Nailatop smiled brightly.

“Anyway, you can’t return across the outer universe without my help, can you?”

“Damn this guy….”

“It’s you who feels remorse as the time of the original world flows, not me.”

I felt my face scrunch up at Nailatop’s words. I then said, “So you lied to me about there being no time difference between this place and the outer universe to prolong things. You had nothing to lose whether you got caught or not.”

“That’s correct. You really are sharp…. I commend you.”

“I don’t need your praise.”

Clang

I yanked on Agni’s lever forcefully, exuding a threatening killing intent.

“I don’t need the Fruit of the World Tree or the core. If you don’t send me back to the outer universe right now, I’ll wipe you out.”

“That’s a very rational judgment. But I also know why you can’t easily pull that Agni trigger. Discovering your character, I see that your fists tend to fly before your brain does, even though….”

“Why is that?”

Nailatop said confidently, “Because you don’t have the confidence to kill me and then face the Outer God Observer. You could manage to kill me with the power of the Four Great Spirit Deities, but it might not work on the Observer yet.”

“…….”

“You seem to have hit the nail on the head.”

As Nailatop said, I realized it was true.

‘…There’s no guarantee the Observer would listen to me….’

If I kill Nailatop, some way or another, the world’s doom will speed up or the process of me returning to the original world will begin. However, in that interim, I would likely have to pass through that chaotic place called the [Cycle of Reincarnation]. And while the observer allowed me to return last time, there’s no saying they’d do it again this time. Moreover, if it was an Outer God, it might even end my previous life, making me more cautious.

‘Luckily, there is a backup plan. The magic god Hermes said he would help me return using the core of the World Tree.’

The second method of return. Hermes had previously mentioned that using the World Tree’s core would enable him to send me back to my original world using the spell of the Observer. If Hermes’ words are true, I could simply blast Nailatop away with Agni right here and bring the core to Hermes, completing my escape plan, but—

“……”

Damn it….

“Oh dear. My arm’s about to fall off…. Just how long are you planning to keep aiming a gun you won’t shoot?”

“Shut up. I’m thinking.”

I had an instinctual feeling. Normally, I would have shot Agni and immediately faced Nailatop in a life-or-death struggle, then proceeded haphazardly with Hermes, but now I knew better.

If I’m going to act, I need to think a little about the future too. Experience-born situational tactics were making my actions hesitant.

After a while of contemplation, I turned to Nailatop. “Hey. So have you ever succeeded in the [Reincarnation Plan] during those other 5,982 attempts?”

“Hmmm. I have no reason to tell you.”

“Why not?”

“While that Agni is aimed at me, we are enemies. If you were to shoot after hearing enough information, it would just be a loss for me, right?”

“Isn’t shooting me now a bigger loss?”

“Fufufu…. This is trivial. Even if you’re trying to test me, it’s a waste of time. If you wanted to sleep with the enemy, you shouldn’t have shown any hostility from the start.”

Nailatop only smiled ominously. I felt frustrated not being able to read his intentions at all, but after a moment, I sighed and said.

“Fine, I’ll trust you for now.”

As I gradually lowered Agni’s gun, Nailatop beamed a bright smile.

“Good thinking. It’s not good for us to fight….”

Aha, he let his guard down!

‘I totally can’t trust him!’

In that moment, I glowed with intention and activated the Intent Heavenly Pillar. Although it couldn’t be called a technique, I swiftly fell into the optimal posture, feeling as if my aim was drawn to my eyes like a vacuum.

Boom!!

The moment Agni fired, a fist-sized hole appeared in Nailatop’s chest. He looked down at his heart in disbelief before spitting blood.

“Cough… Ack… Ugh….”

Thunk

Nailatop fell forward onto his knees. Simultaneously, the Agni that had been summoned disappeared, and I felt a bit dizzy as I staggered.

‘Ugh! It’s bad to summon so much magical power….’

As Nailatop bled, he looked up at me with an expression of disbelief.

“Y-you said you trusted me….”

The chance to kill appeared due to the Absolute Realm’s sensation…!!

I was at a loss for words, but eventually decided to harden my resolve.

“I changed my mind just now!”

“What….”

“Why didn’t you just live nicely, huh?!”

I shouted and pulled out Xuyou to slice off Nailatop’s neck. The Infinity Slash ripped through the air at tremendous speed.

Bang

Nailatop’s head flew through the air, rolling on the ground. Since it was so neatly cut, blood didn’t even leak out. It was such a perfectly executed kill that I felt like I almost muttered.

“I killed him… Ugh!”

The spirit of Xuyou said I shouldn’t say this!

I hurriedly clamped my mouth shut and quickly raised one hand to concentrate on the Intent Heavenly Pillar. Having expended an immense amount of physical strength and energy due to Agni, I felt fatigued but knew I had to act immediately.

Hooowww

As my energy concentrated, my focus deepened. The moment my completely exhausted concentration began to gather again, I felt the Absolute Realm’s Technique of All Things being properly materialized.

‘Damn it. Can I really do this?’

I already knew.

That guy wouldn’t die from something this trivial.

That Nailatop was an immortal being who wouldn’t die no matter how many times I tried to kill him, a fact I felt during our fight within the Battleship Gaia. No matter what he utilized, he was certainly resurrecting with some ultra-advanced science. Without knowing the cause of that resurrection, I could never truly kill Nailatop.

But right now, I had definitely inflicted a serious wound on him with Agni. If Agni hadn’t been so powerful, Nailatop wouldn’t have revealed even this much truth but would still be deceiving me as before. And I instinctively understood that from his wounded immortal form, I could find a way to deal with him.

‘When facing an immortal, killing doesn’t really matter. What truly counts… is restraining the immortal from dying!’

That’s something I learned after facing Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.

Without hesitation, I focused the power of the Technique of All Things and dashed toward Nailatop’s head that lay on the ground, grabbing it like a hawk snatching its prey while concentrating my intent.

Technique of All Things

Connect and steal!

Wooooosh – !!

In that instant, an immense number of lines appeared before my eyes. Lines so intricate and numerous that they couldn’t be expressed merely as a spiderweb—there were at least tens of millions of lines, and the cross sections numbered in the hundreds of times that. The mere sight of such an astronomical number of [lines] made me realize my predictions had been correct.

‘Awesome! Just as I expected!’

By using the Technique of All Things on that precise science, it materialized in front of me just like when I broke through the wall of the Advanced Ship!

I didn’t know exactly what Nailatop’s source of immortality was, but I knew what the source of his power was.

It was the Battleship Gaia!

He was certainly channeling all his scientific prowess into Gaia and using that to draw out power as needed, meaning that as long as the Battleship Gaia existed in its entirety, it would be impossible to kill Nailatop. Because the physical form of Nailatop before my eyes was likely just a disposable tool to be used whenever needed, similar to Zhuge Yulong’s [Doll].

In other words, the connection to the Battleship Gaia was the only means of restraining his immortality!

‘Now’s my chance! Normally he’d immediately resurrect, but Agni definitely threw a wrench into that resurrection mechanism…!!’

I sensed some ball-like entity floating amidst the countless intersecting lines and reached out to connect my intent to the first line.

Cling!

The moment I did, light filled the sphere, and the lines connecting it began to glow as other spheres lit up in succession. Even though I was taken by surprise at the unexpected situation, I could somehow intuitively comprehend.

‘Oh! If I follow this connection all the way… I might really be able to steal the last connection to Gaia!’

This intuition felt different from past lives. It was like every single cell was alive, sensitively detecting the opponent’s weaknesses—there was a sense akin to a master thief detecting the value of something precious.

Like threading a needle, or as if tightrope walking, feeling even the distance between my toes, I felt the chilling touch of the [goosebumps]. The colder that sensation became, the more I understood I was getting closer to the right answer, and I began to make choices that I couldn’t even describe.

There was no reason or rationale. I just believed this instinct was right and pressed forward.

Cling!

Cling!

With my head emptied of thoughts, I realized where this tightrope walking sensation originated from. It suddenly hit me when I recalled learning the art of thievery from the white-faced deity, Bang Ryu Hyang.

[With your level of skill, it’s possible to produce a moment so fleeting that your opponent wouldn’t even perceive it!]

At that time, I had been instructed on how to succeed as a pickpocket since I needed to successfully steal from the head of the Nine Great Sects. Following his advice, I initially maximized my speed using Thunder Clap and then, in hundreds or thousands of attempts, sought to catch that ‘moment’ needed.

Perhaps it was in accumulating those repetitions that I developed the instinct to intuitively sense ‘that moment’?

Cling! Cling!

How many choices had I made? At some point, I arrived at the very end of those countless lines and spheres, where a gigantic luminous sphere hovered like the sun. I saw a long string like a spider’s web connecting it with the small sphere, and I extended my intent to sever that thread.

Snip—

And at the moment I cut the thread, a shocked voice from Nailatop echoed from the massive luminescent sphere.

[No way… you’re hacking quantum entanglement using intent…?! You traversed the asymmetry of worlds just by sensing it…. Even though you’re a reborn person, how can you do that?]

Zap!!

The next moment, my vision reverted back to reality, and in my hand, I held Nailatop’s head while it made a ghastly noise, crumbling to dust.

I stared blankly as sand slipped through my fingers and clenched my fist.

“Done!!”

I could be certain.

For now, although temporarily, I had severed Nailatop’s immortality!

With the Technique of All Things, I completely cut the connection between Nailatop’s physical form and Gaia, preventing him from resurrecting!

‘Alright…!! Next, what I need to do is…’

I picked up the Mephistopheles wristwatch lying nearby. Then, I opened the wooden armor.

Clank

I immediately entered the wooden armor and found Lee Kwang, who had been diligently training inside. I passed by Lee Kwang and placed my hand on the crystal orb, saying,

“Hermes! Come out right now!”

Then Hermes appeared before me, his face slightly pale. He exclaimed,

“W-what in the world did you just do? To suddenly attack Nailatop because he deceived you! It’s still too early!”

He scolded me, but I boldly replied, “What can I do now that it’s done? I need to quickly get my hands on the core of the World Tree and skedaddle! So help me obtain the core.”

“Hmmm…. It’s true, cutting the connection might have bought us some time.”

After hesitating, Hermes said, “It’s likely that Nailatop’s not lying when he said he intends to extract the core using the Parasitic Tree. If he doesn’t extract it quickly and lets it melt over time, he can pull it out whenever he wants. So we need to locate the Parasitic Tree.”

“Where’s the Parasitic Tree?”

“I’ll reveal it with the power of my magic. It might be exhausting on my magical energy, but….”

Wiying!

After a moment, Hermes cast a spell, and a blue light swirled around me. He said, “If you follow that blue light, you’ll find the Parasitic Tree. Dig down to its roots, and the core will appear, so bring it back to me!”

“Got it!”

As I was about to leave, I suddenly turned to Lee Kwang, who had been listening next to me, and said, “Lee Kwang! You come along too.”

“Are you planning to make me do grunt work?”

“You’re sharp.”

“…….”

Lee Kwang visibly frowned but had no choice but to leave the wooden armor’s space with me. I ran alongside Lee Kwang, following the blue light, saying, “Have you been training a lot in the wooden armor?”

“I had planned to do more. But my master suddenly causing a ruckus cut that short.”

“Sorry about that.”

“Hmph, you’re just saying that out of obligation.”

Just then, a comment from Lee Kwang made me flinch.

“…If it were me, I’d definitely trample the guy thoroughly when I get the chance.”

“……!!”

“He will undoubtedly appear before you again. If you find yourself in a situation where you can’t think of the aftermath, don’t hesitate.”

This guy… has he figured it out?

How is he so perceptive?

I couldn’t help but marvel internally as I replied, “Don’t worry. I have a backup plan.”

Thud

A short while later, we arrived at a gruesome-looking towering tree. This place was at the midsection of the World Tree, and surely, that tree radiated some ominous aura. I unleashed my palm print, fully intending to uproot the tree.

Thunder Spirit Seal!

Kaboom

With a proper focus, I sent out the Thunder Spirit Seal, which exploded islands, and the Parasitic Tree was obliterated in one blow, revealing something pulsating beneath it that looked like a human heart.

‘Nice—it seems my power control worked well. The core isn’t damaged much thanks to the Parasitic Tree’s unexpectedly strong power.’

Thanks to my past experience with Cheon Woo-jin breaking the core, I already knew the core could withstand significant shocks. That gave me the confidence that I could adjust my power accordingly with the Thunder Spirit Seal.

I picked up that small, watermelon-sized object and muttered, “So this is the core of the World Tree.”

Now I needed to go back into the wooden armor with the core in hand, but I chose not to. Instead, I descended near the roots and met Yi Hon.

“Yi Hon, Nailatop gave me the core of the World Tree.”

“……?! Wh-what nonsense… If there’s no core, the tree will die!”

As Yi Hon panicked, I shook my head.

“It seems there’s no problem with just carrying it without directly breaking it. Regardless, I think it’s good to let you know.”

Otherwise, Nailatop or Hermes wouldn’t be able to say they’d give me the core. It’s clear that unlike when it’s broken like during the Sacred Tree battle, simply taking it would not immediately kill the tree.

“Are you planning to take it out with you?”

“What reason would there be not to? Is this World Tree yours?”

“…….”

“Don’t worry. I’ll use it for a good purpose.”

“Haah… Do as you wish.”

With that, under Yi Hon’s guidance, we exited the space of the World Tree. Then, as we passed through a black and purple iron door back to the upper floors, we unexpectedly encountered someone.

“I can’t allow you to carry on unchecked any longer.”

Vice Commander Vladimir stood blocking the wide corridor, flanked by numerous enhanced soldiers pointing electronic guns at us.

“Vice Commander Vladimir. What the hell is going on?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice that the Commander is hiding the World Tree? Hehe… I can’t let you have it all to yourself.”

“You bastard…!!”

“Yield quietly. This enhanced brigade is a superhuman force capable of taking down even the Absolute Realm….”

I glanced at this farce and thought time was of the essence, so I drew Xuyou and shouted at him as I charged.

“Is the Absolute Realm your friend or something!!”

Zap!!

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaak!!”

With a shriek from Vladimir, his head flew off, severed by the sword.

Zap!!!

I instantly killed Vladimir and the enhanced brigade without hesitation. I merely unleashed Xuyou’s three basic techniques, yet the hall was already filled with dismembered corpses rolling around. I grimaced thereafter.

“What’s this? You said it could take down the Absolute Realm, yet you’re this weak.”

“…It seems the enhanced soldiers were judged based on my strength.”

“Pfft. They’d all die in one hit if Musashi hit them with the Supreme Slash.”

I snickered as I muttered, feeling exultant at having taken out the trash, and Lee Kwang, who had been watching, said bluntly.

“It looks like showing off your strength against underlings gives you bragging rights, Guru.”

“You do it often too.”

“I don’t.”

“That’s a laugh. Thunder Cloud Palm~ Gyaaaaaaak~”

I’ve seen that smug Lee Kwang boasting about his strength countless times!

“……?”

Seeing Lee Kwang’s expression sour, I felt a bit pleased.

I simply brushed off his provocation and headed outside with Yi Hon. Then I spoke to Mephistopheles.

“Mephistopheles. Let’s go to the Heavenly Altar of Songshan.”

[Executing the user’s command.]

Pfft!

As soon as I arrived at the Heavenly Altar of Songshan with Lee Kwang, I rushed to find Gong Gong. I then asked him,

“Gong Gong. I’ve gathered the Six Needs, so please oversee the ceremony and open the altar.”

[……!! What exactly are you planning?]

“I’m going to assassinate Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen.”

I explained the overall plan to Gong Gong. He listened blankly and said,

[Oh… If that’s truly the plan, I fully support it…. I wish you good fortune.]

“Leave it to me.”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

“Baek Woong! I’ll also participate in taking down the Emperor.”

“King Dae Jo Young!”

King Dae Jo Young spoke with eyes full of energy and determination.

“I knew you would come here someday, so I’ve been waiting with Gong Gong. If Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen is truly the root of all evil, he must be taken down.”

“…….”

I pondered for a moment, then shook my head.

“Your power is useless in front of the Emperor. No, everyone’s is. Unless it’s me who will directly use the Six Needs, everyone will just die in vain, so don’t follow me.”

No matter how much this world is a [closed world], I wouldn’t want to see King Dae Jo Young die for nothing. Since he’s helped me in various ways, I considered him half a comrade. But King Dae Jo Young insisted.

“Even if it’s in vain, take me along. If I’m going to die anyway, I’d like to be of a tiny bit of help.”

“…If you insist that much.”

As soon as I made a promise to bring King Dae Jo Young with me, Gong Gong oversaw the ceremony, placing the Six Needs on the altar and beginning the proceedings.

Hooowwww….

As the light of the ceremony began to shine, the dimensional structure trembled, and I could begin to feel the presence of the Three Sovereigns at that very moment—

“Baek Woong. What are you doing?”

Suddenly, the wooden armor leaped from my grasp, and Hermes emerged from it, glowing brightly.