---

“The Soul of the Evil God!”

Whoosh!

As the distortion began for the very first time, a heavy roar accompanied the opening of the Dimension Door that was quite distant from me and conveniently located near Shao Hao Jin Tian. To my surprise, emerging from that door was a figure I recognized all too well.

With a thunderous sound, an enormous battleship, Gaia, revealed itself, and my eyes widened as I spotted a scientist dressed in a white lab coat on the bridge of Gaia.

‘Nailatop?!’

No doubt about it, it was Nailatop!

I couldn’t help but be shocked, seeing him so nonchalantly after I had just sent him to meet his maker with Agni from the World Tree. But before I could even process that this was Nailatop, intense pain surged through my right arm.

“Ugh!!”

I stumbled, suppressing a groan. I could already feel that my body had reached its limit. It was no wonder; before entering this space, I had already been battered by countless spells and was now on the verge of being overwhelmed by the chaos while trying to remove Hong Gyun Do-in’s mask. Moreover, the pain I felt now was gnawing at my very soul.

‘This isn’t just an ordinary injury…!!’

Understandably, Jeon Wook had said that the Small Cycle wouldn’t be able to heal it. As I forced my screams down, I realized I had no other option left.

‘Guess there’s no other choice.’

Swish!

Without hesitation, I formed my left hand into a blade and cut off my right arm. My right arm detached from the shoulder with a sharp cut, and an intense pain momentarily shook my brain. Strangely, though, the instant I severed my arm, the nauseating pain that had been gnawing at me lifted, almost making me feel relieved.

Truly, this was unavoidable. If that chaotic corruption had seeped into my body entirely, I’d have been left with no options. Still, it was frustrating, and I winced as I looked at my decaying right arm, seeping away.

As I quickly applied pressure and began first aid on my right arm stump, Nailatop appeared, glancing in my direction.

“I half-expected it, yet here you are, jumping into the tiger’s den, Baek Woong. How intriguing.”

“…….”

…Is he smiling?

What’s more, there was not a shred of resentment or anger in his voice, making my skin crawl. Hadn’t he just been shot by me not long ago? How could he treat me so emotionlessly?

That guy had a madness about him, and for a moment I felt fear, but I clenched my teeth and responded.

“Hey. Does the tiger in the den even pick and choose whom to bite?”

“Not really.”

“And yet you still jumped in? Guess that’s a bad hand.”

As I threw my sarcasm at Nailatop, he chuckled softly.

“Not quite. It seems there are folks far greater than you and I about to arrive.”

“What?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

With Nailatop’s continued words, I realized the situation was spiraling out of control.

“You’re going to tell me how you plan to get through this Demon Subduing Hall…”

Whooooosh—

A moment later, a second Dimension Door opened. From that door, two divine beings slowly emerged, shining with iridescent light. They were both unnatural beings adorned with numerous appendages, recalling the myths of Tianzhu. In fact, I had seen both of them before.

Before I knew it, I muttered.

“Vishnu… Shiva!!”

No doubt about it! The one on the left was Vishnu, who had tormented me all along, and taking on the avatar of the fighting spirit Arjuna instead of Guang Chengzi. The one on the right, the Destroyer, Shiva, was exactly as I had encountered when I faced the end of my 28th life.

And following these two, I spotted yet another divine being I had seen before. With the empty features of an egg sprite, a gentle white light radiated around her body. No sooner had I recognized her than I spoke her name.

“Goddess Neith….”

She was the top-tier deity who attempted to make a deal with me when I was searching for the Compass of Guiding! She was indeed a formidable divine being associated with the Divine Temple.

Hoooor….

Next to Neith, another familiar figure emerged through the haze, causing my mind to spin.

“…Shenglong….”

Then it hit me; could the beings emerging from this second Dimension Door be…

As they took a posture of worship, kneeling by the door, a singular presence began to step through their ranks.

One step.

Two steps.

And that presence halted before taking a third step, replacing it with words as if delivering his will:

[A multitude has gathered….]

The king adorned in golden attire.

With a dragon mask on his face, a gentle golden light radiated from him – the overwhelming authority and power felt as though it crushed every single person in the hall. Not just a feeling, but genuine pressure weighed down on us.

Kuuhh

I struggled under the weight, my body trembling uncontrollably. The power released by Shao Hao Jin Tian was immense, but this felt like something else entirely. I felt I might kneel right there, yet I held my ground, dripping with sweat as I fought to endure.

Don’t joke with me…

The previous loss was infuriating enough… Do I look like I’m about to lose again!!

With a cracking sound, my kneecap almost shattered, yet I stood firm, grinding my teeth with every ounce of willpower. Eventually, I endured until the pressure ceased, and while pain rushed in, I felt a proud sense of accomplishment having withstood it.

The golden king surveyed the crowd once, then slowly walked towards the top seat of this six-needs ritual, taking a seated position. It was his seat from the beginning; yet when he sat down, it felt like there was a void filled in that space.

Then, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen gazed toward the third Dimension Door, which emanated an ominous aura, widening but not yet showing signs of opening, unlike the first two.

[The final guest shall arrive soon. Let us wait.]

With that, the atmosphere turned awkwardly silent. The reason for this silence was simply because of the overwhelming strangeness. In a scene ripe with chaos, a single word from Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen imposed order, leaving everyone at a loss for what to do.

“…….”

Breaking the silence was none other than Shao Hao Jin Tian. Until then, he had stayed quiet, but now he stepped forward and addressed the emperor.

[Your Majesty… I have taken off my mask.]

The emperor didn’t respond, but in that moment, he fixed all his energy and gaze solely on Shao Hao Jin Tian. Their eyes clashed, sending sparks flying, while the emperor, still seated, took his time to reply.

[So what do you intend to do?]

[You know it’s not that important, right?]

[Then what is important, Shao Hao Jin Tian?]

[What’s important is ‘why.’]

As significant amounts of power gathered around Shao Hao Jin Tian, a dusky grey light hovered around him. The intensity of his energy caused the four divine beings accompanying the emperor to take defensive stances. Yet Shao Hao Jin Tian continued, eyes shining with resolve.

[Why have you placed the Mask of Coming Chaos upon all of us, and why does it have a will of its own and is even so powerful… Explain this mystery!]

[…….]

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen threw a glance at Hong Gyun Do-in. Then, seemingly intrigued by Hong Gyun Do-in’s listless appearance, he said:

[…Was Hong Gyun Do-in deprived of his mask? Who took it from him….]

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s gaze zeroed in on Nailatop, standing alone on the bridge of the Gaia.

[Was it you?]

Nailatop, being pointed out, shook his head with a smile and said, “What nonsense. You know I couldn’t have taken that mask from him, right?”

At this, the emperor chuckled deeply.

[Haha…. Indeed. You wouldn’t be able to attack me either.]

“Exactly right. I’m just a bystander here.”

[So do you know who the culprit is?]

“That individual over there.”

Nailatop’s gaze shifted towards me.

Thump!

In the next instant, all eyes in the hall focused on me, particularly on the bizarre mask I was holding in my left hand. As the gaze of countless deities fell upon me, my heart started racing uncontrollably, burdened by immense power and authority. I could barely stay upright under such pressure, but somehow, I managed and slowly raised the mask I held above my head.

“Yeah, that’s right, it’s me!”

Given the impossibility of hiding it, I might as well step forward confidently!

At that, the emperor leaned forward, intrigued, and remarked.

[Oh…. A curious one appears, even as you’ve neglected the law of cause and effect on the surface. Who would have thought someone like you would remain in this era, where even reborn souls have vanished?]

“……?!”

What?!

I was taken aback when Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen directly mentioned reborn souls. And I couldn’t help but be even more shocked.

Reborn souls have vanished?!

‘Does that mean… are there reborn souls in this outer universe?!’

Last time I saw reborn soul Dalma in the outer universe, so it wasn’t too difficult to believe. But the way he spoke indicated one crucial fact.

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen knows who the reborn soul in this world is and understands how that soul was eliminated and perished!

I couldn’t hold back and shouted, “Who is that reborn soul?!”

But instead of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen’s answer, the next thing to come flying my way was Shiva’s Rosary. Looking annoyed, the Destroyer, Shiva, threw his weapon at me.

[Impudent fool!]

Wham!

The rosary flew at me, moving slowly yet surely, but I found myself unable to do a single thing as it approached. My mind was clear, my limbs could move if I willed it, yet I felt an odd paralyzing sensation, as if every part of me were restrained. It felt like I’d been bound by the manipulation of cause and effect, but soon enough, I recognized it wasn’t that at all.

It was because the moment my arm infused with divine power, I became free to move.

“……!!”

In the event of Shiva’s attack, it was a clash of [Divine Power] versus [Divine Power] that I was supposed to meet!

[Divine Power] would only acknowledge itself.

This was undoubtedly an ability unique to Shiva, one that could not be countered with tricks or techniques.

‘Is that why Shiva’s attack ended up killing the Queen Mother of the West?!’

It was a viciously wicked attack, and despair washed over me. No matter how strong I was as a mortal, I could never compare to Shiva, who had killed the Queen Mother of the West and Xiang Yu! With no ability to counter it, it would result in certain death.

But, even so, the Four Great Spirit Deities employed divine power, and just when I hastily attempted to draw out the divine artifact Varuna for a protective barrier, BOOM!!

At that moment, the North Primordial Lord Jeon Wook stepped forward and struck aside Shiva’s rosary. As Jeon Wook’s royal authority flared and his dark spear summoned, it met Shiva’s rosary head-on, causing a ripple of dark energy as the rosary bounced off, attempting to return to Shiva.

Swish—

However, Jeon Wook’s wrist elegantly twisted, transforming the end of his dark spear into a trident that ensnared the returning rosary. Shiva shouted in distress.

[No!!]

Jeon Wook, almost tauntingly, shook the ensnared rosary.

[To go so far as to try to kill someone not even worth it, your majesty’s beast is unusually ferocious.]

At this remark, Shiva grew furious, as a crimson jewel on his forehead glinted and a burst of crimson energy soared from his eyes.

[Did you just call me a beast?!]

[Want me to call you a brute? I was being polite considering the dignity of the master holding your reins.]

[Grrr… you!!]

Zap!

The next moment, Shiva lunged at Jeon Wook. In the blink of an eye, the Destroyer threw a series of powerful punches at Jeon Wook, who defended himself with his palm against Shiva’s might.

Bang – !!

The clash of immense power caused both divine figures to sway slightly. Shiva’s raw strength appeared to be slightly greater, forcing Jeon Wook to take a step back, and upon seeing that, Shiva grinned in triumph.

[Ha ha! Jeon Wook, you’ve never been a match for me in strength!]

Listening to this, it appeared that the two of them had some history, having fought in ancient times.

[A fool.]

Smash!

In an instant, a deep cut appeared on Shiva’s upper body. Shiva blinked, looking stunned, but no doubt it was a counterattack from Jeon Wook in that split second. I grasped immediately what had occurred.

‘An invisible, transparent spear…!!’

A minuscule awakening of the spear had been felt. Jeon Wook was not aiming to engage Shiva in a fistfight but had instead attacked with an ambush strike. As Shiva staggered back after the hit, Jeon Wook smirked mischievously.

[Yes… I seem to excel at battles since ancient times.]

[Jun Wook!!]

Enraged, Shiva charged back to engage in a life-or-death struggle.

[Stop it.]

Boom.

It was a single, simple word from Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen. But that one word caused Shiva to freeze in place, stone-like, even in his furious state. Jeon Wook, attempting to land a deadly blow on Shiva, stood still, body trembling.

“……!!”

Was he… that strong?

Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen had always been formidable during these last days, but he couldn’t have been strong enough to stop the Three Sovereigns with merely a word…

‘Of course, after absorbing the rest of the priesthood, he would possess that level of strength… but he hasn’t absorbed them yet!’

As I grappled with the unexpected scenario, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen, who had stopped both battles, slowly continued to speak.

[Fascinating. It seems you understand how strong my subordinates are, yet you still dare to inquire boldly to me?]

I looked directly at Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen and replied, “I’m going to die anyway, so what do I have to lose? Isn’t it better to sate some curiosity before I kick the bucket?”

[…….]

Propping his chin, Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen seemed to contemplate before saying, [That reborn soul has already given up on saving this world and vanished. Rather, it would be proper to say he escaped…. If he had chosen to resist until the end, I too would have had to prepare for annihilation, but I’m quite grateful it didn’t turn out that way!]

“….!! He escaped?”

[Do you want to know his name?]

I eagerly nodded.

“Yes, I want to know!”

This information was surely worth its weight in gold!

Then Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen slowly extended his hand and made an unexpected proposal.

[Then, Great Thief, hand over the mask you currently hold.]

 

---