전생검신 79권 19화

퓨퓨퓨퓽!

Next moment, around ten Equalizers fired beams at me simultaneously.

‘Where shall I get hit first?’

I had already predicted how they would fly, but I decided to just take on the Equalizer’s attack with my bare body. After all, I was using Subori’s sorcery for defense and was also covered by Ganesha’s blessing, so my defense was actually far superior to that of the Great Immortal. I was really curious if a scientific weapon like the Equalizer could break through this defense.

투콰앙!!

지지지직

“Hmm.”

The result was that when I got hit by the laser, I was pushed back a little, feeling a bit of shock. Given that my feet felt like they were dragging on the ground, it was evident that the destructive power wasn’t negligible.

‘Two of the shields from my Earth-shattering defense have been destroyed. Quite strong.’

Among Subori’s sorcery, this Earth-shattering technique was his proudest. He had even used this same technique when fighting the Celestial Sage. It was incredibly challenging even for a Heavenly Being to break through Subori’s Earth-shattering defenses. Yet here we were, two of those shields destroyed by mere lackeys’ laser attacks.

I heard Subori’s voice in my head.

[The physical destructive power of the laser isn’t that great. However, those beams carry the essence to negate supreme abilities.]

“What does that mean?”

[This time, deploy a shield with divine power to block their attacks.]

지잉!

Following Subori’s advice, I created a shield using only divine power, spreading it outside the Earth-shattering technique. And just as I did, the beams flew at me again, and I was taken aback.

콰칭!!

The shield made of divine power shattered like glass! It was broken so easily that I couldn’t help but gape in shock.

투웅

“……!!”

As the subsequent beams penetrated the Earth-shattering defense, I felt my body getting pushed back again and dumbfoundedly exclaimed.

“Why?!”

The shield made with my divine power, rivaling the strength of a higher deity, should have been far stronger than Subori’s Earth-shattering technique. Yet, those beams easily broke through the divine shield while failing to penetrate Subori’s Earth-shattering defenses—it was baffling.

I heard Subori’s voice, almost as if he understood.

[Indeed.]

“Do you have any idea?”

[Those beams possess traits of the utmost chaos. Naturally, your divine shield is about ten times stronger than my Earth-shattering technique, but my Earth-shattering defense is relatively a neutral sorcery system rather than chaos itself. Hence, the divine shield made from chaos was easily shattered, while the sorcery shield held strong.]

“…….”

The ultimate nature of chaos!

‘Now that I think about it, the Equalizer always talked about being a Chaos Infection Control Device.’

Was it made solely to counteract chaos and its summoned creatures from the start?

위잉 위잉 위잉

At that moment, I saw ten more Equalizers emerging from underground alongside their mechanical devices. It seemed like there was some kind of facility inside nourishing them. Upon seeing this, Subori remarked.

[There’s something underneath. It might be better to explore that first rather than the Demon Sorcery Pillar itself.]

“Fine. Then let’s smash those things right now!”

[But those are merely unconscious masses of machinery; avoiding a fight is more prudent. Use Earth Escape.]

“Hmm!”

Given that I needed to save time, I didn’t need to fight unnecessarily!

I immediately cast Earth Escape, one of the 72 Transmutation Techniques. At that moment, my body vanished from the ground like a specter and began to burrow into the earth, moving at what felt like ten times the speed of an ordinary human’s run.

쿠르르르!

콰앙

After a moment, I realized I had hit an unknown iron wall underground and immediately punched it to break through.

꾸웅!!

The iron wall shattered from my massive strength, leaving a large hole, but when I looked through that hole, I was taken aback.

“……?!”

Inside the hole was unfathomable darkness, with a riot of colors swirling like stars! It was an utterly surreal sight, and as I was astonished, Subori said.

[No need to be surprised. This is a dimensional barrier.]

“Dimensional barrier?”

[They’ve set up a material outer wall as camouflage, while the actual space has been moved to another dimension. Hence, such a structure of dimensional barriers cannot be breached with physical force. The visible other dimension is larger than even the solar system.]

“Hmm!”

Indeed, Subori must have been knowledgeable since he had lived for thousands of years as a dimension traveler and donned a mask. I admired Subori’s knowledge.

“I never knew such a thing existed… How do we break through?”

[You’d either have to obliterate the entire dimension or pass through the dimensional barrier. With your strength, the former is possible, but let’s make it easier this time.]

Then a brilliant idea flashed in my mind—a technique that might be most useful in this situation. It seemed like it was a technique that Subori had directly recommended. I immediately unfolded the command, extending both hands forward.

해공법륜 (Disengaging the Void Wheel)

A pair of wheels shot out toward the dark hole ahead, spiraling while seemingly erasing the very universe itself. Eventually, the twin wheels filled the hole, and a stable space emerged inside the wheels.

저벅

“I’ll need to conceal my aura.”

As I entered the enemy’s base, wanting to avoid combat as much as possible, I decided to cast a stealth technique. Simultaneously, my aura faded, and my body blended into the surrounding air, making me invisible to the naked eye. Since I wasn’t using divine power, the chances of being detected were minimal.

타다닷

As I ran through the corridors inside the base, I thought.

‘This really is a facility created by a scientific technological civilization. Moreover, the inner space is surprisingly vast…’

From what I had seen outside, it seemed to have a diameter of around fifty feet, yet this space felt at least ten times larger. Furthermore, considering the more three-dimensional spaces beneath, it appeared almost like a gigantic underground city. With such vastness, it’s no wonder it could house tens of thousands of people.

I expanded my Qi Sense to check for any suspicious presences. Suddenly, I felt a strong aura that made me stop in my tracks.

‘…… What is this? A terrifying feeling…’

An immense pressure.

The sensation made me shiver for a moment. The pressure was something that brushed my Qi Sense, possessing a power that transcended my cognitive abilities. It was a level of pressure I hadn’t felt even when facing top experts or divine beings, making me gulp nervously.

‘Without a doubt.’

There was something in the deepest part of this facility, and it was precisely the most significant secret it held!

Thinking that, I began to make my way deeper into the facility. I utilized staircases as well as Earth Escape to penetrate walls or floors. Interestingly, this facility resembled a place where humans lived, containing things like bathrooms, dormitories, and even recreational facilities, especially rooms that reminded me of PC rooms.

‘Hmm. This gives off a nostalgic vibe similar to the Great Bear Empire…’

I tilted my head with a strange sense of déjà vu as I continued to descend deeper. After going down about fifty floors with no end in sight, I felt quite overwhelmed.

‘How deep can this be?’

If every one of the approximately fifty floors has at least five acres of area, that’s an extraordinary space! At this rate, this underground facility could very well be a nation in itself!

After a glimpse of a resting area along the middle corridor, I decided to release my stealth technique and sit down. Subori then spoke up.

[Baek Woong. You felt it too, right? This place seems like it was once heavily populated.]

“I think so too. This looks like a city where at least ten thousand people lived.”

[The only reason we managed to easily infiltrate up to the heart here is that no living beings currently exist in this world. Conversely, if the original inhabitants were here, the difficulty of our infiltration would increase by dozens of times. We wouldn’t even know the level of prowess each resident possesses.]

“Hmm… That does seem likely.”

[It doesn’t look like there are many defensive structures in the residential area, so from now on, let’s not rush to go further but remember the topography of this place and study it well.]

“Remember you say?”

[Once we return to our original world, we’ll need to pass through here again. Memorizing the terrain will be beneficial in that case.]

“Hmm!! That’s true.”

Following Subori’s advice, I moved again, this time not rushing through like a flash but carefully examining the interior space. As I scrutinized this place, I discovered there were areas for practicing martial arts and storing scientific weapons.

“Hmm? What’s this…?”

I was startled upon discovering a weapon encased in glass on the wall.

“A pistol?”

But not just any pistol. I recognized that pistol.

And if I was right, I needed to take that pistol.

“…….”

Technique of All Things!

I immediately used Technique of All Things to retrieve the pistol and stow it away in my clothes. I definitely had to verify what it was.

쿠구구구…….

Finally escaping the residential area, I emerged into a blazingly red magma-like expanse, and on the other side of the lava landscape, I spotted an elevator that seemed to lead further down into a hellish abyss. I sprinted across the lava and boarded the elevator, its heavy sounds echoing in my ears.

띠링

After much descent, I arrived on the lowest floor. I walked a bit further and noticed a black wall in front of me.

[It’s a dimensional barrier.]

“What? They’ve set that up here too….”

[It’s not just a layer or two. No, it must be at least sixty-four layers. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen so many dimensional barriers stacked up like this… ]

“Can you break through it?”

[Not all at once. You’d need to deploy the Disengaging the Void Wheel technique several times.]

키이이잉!!

After some time, as I was breaking through with the Disengaging the Void Wheel, a laser suddenly shot towards me at incredible speed from the front.

꽈앙!!

I raised my Earth-shattering technique to block it, but this time six of my shields were utterly destroyed, and I barely managed to hold it back using my Protection Energy Technique, leaving me startled. Subori also looked incredulous.

[This… How could a mere laser made from technology destroy my Earth-shattering technique… ]

“Really so confident in your Earth-shattering technique, are you?”

[This is the strongest technique I’ve created, absorbing the wavelengths of jade over hundreds of years in the Jade Realm. Not even the most powerful divine beings of the Heavenly Realm could surpass my Earth-shattering defense! Ugh…]

Subori seemed quite bruised in his pride. I had to take his reaction seriously.

‘Subori is a being comparable to a Demon King or Apostle. If a laser can break through Subori’s strongest defense…’

That means anyone who enters this place without permission, even if they’re one of the Three Sovereigns’ Apostles, would be burned alive!

Even the likes of Daji or Asura could die here.

What in the world could possibly warrant this level of security?

“Anyway, we’re nearly there. That laser was the last barrier, it seems.”

As I retorted, I felt my Qi Sense sharpen exponentially.

우오오오

우오오오오

“……”

Gulp.

Damn, why am I so on edge…

However, the instincts of a master kept warning me. The entity ahead was unfathomably terrifying. An ordinary level of resolve wouldn’t suffice to advance further.

“Shit… am I just going to die?!”

쿵!

I pushed through the tension and took a step forward. As I followed the dim light illuminating the corridor, I finally spotted a massive glass sphere in front of me.

부그르르…….

It looked full of some incubation fluid. Inside the bubbling liquid, something existed, and that something had surely been the cause of my Qi Sense tingling and bringing me here. I approached to see it more closely.

And as I confirmed the object inside the gigantic glass sphere, my eyes widened in shock.

“……!!”

No, no way?!

I couldn’t help but let out a shriek.

“No fuckin’ way?!”

Then Subori looked puzzled.

[Do you happen to know what that huge heart is?]

“Why is that here? It should be in the Grave of the God in Liaodong….”

[Grave of the God?]

“…….”

I stared blankly at it and muttered.

“That’s… Chi You’s heart.”

[……!!]

Without a doubt.

That’s Chi You’s heart.

The legend said it was resting in the [Grave of the God] in Liaodong, and according to that legend, the Sword Demon had gone to check it out with Seo Mun-hye! I knew it vividly from that knowledge. It was clear that the Sword Demon and Seo Mun-hye risked their lives when checking for Chi You’s heart while Musashi, who had become a Demon King, waged a decisive battle against them, how could I not know?!

But this place isn’t Liaodong, nor is it the Grave of the God.

We are in the depths beneath the Demon Sorcery Pillar located in Baekdu Mountain.

How am I supposed to accept that there is ‘another’ heart of Chi You in this place?!

‘What the hell happened!!’

Why are there two of Chi You’s hearts?!!

When I explained the situation to Subori, he pondered for a moment before speaking.

[Do you doubt the authenticity of that heart?]

“Not at all. You feel it too, right? The overwhelming energy emanating from it… There’s no way it could be fake.”

[Hmm! Indeed….]

Subori pondered again for a second before saying.

[Setting its authenticity aside for now, let me suggest my hypothesis.]

“Go ahead.”

[What if the pillar of the Demon Sorcery, which exists on the surface, is linked to the heart of Chi You right in front of us?]

“Linked?”

[Exactly. The Demon Sorcery Pillar was originally a tool for gathering sacrifices to amass an immense offering of cause and effect. If it is sending that power to the heart of Chi You, then… ]

Subori continued slowly.

[Perhaps the great underground city we’ve traversed through was built as a means to awaken Chi You’s heart using sacrifices. They intend to use the Demon Sorcery Pillar to execute something.]

“Sacrifices…”

[There’s no certainty, of course. But considering the journey we’ve taken, this heart of Chi You is likely something no one from the city could just recklessly gaze upon. Only a very small number would be privy to its secrets and maintain the heart.]

“…….”

I remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“I’ve heard that the Three Sovereigns each entrusted one of Chi You’s limbs to guard. But why didn’t they detect this ‘another heart’?”

[Simply put… it means that the facility’s dimensional sealing is stealthy and sturdy enough to deceive the Three Sovereigns altogether.]

“Is that even possible? How could human technology….”

[It’s human technology, yet not entirely. If science surpasses a singularity, perhaps it is indeed possible.]

“…….”

[Anyway, what will you do now? Will you break the sphere and take the heart?]

As I stared at the heart, I opened my mouth.

“There seems to be something you want to say to me before all of this, how about letting it out now?”

I glanced back over my shoulder.

저벅…….

And there stood a man walking into the chamber.

“Impressive. Just moments ago, I was trying to break through the dimensional barrier using the Soul of the Evil God, only to find you managed to do it in no time.”

“Shim Su-ryeok. It’s you.”

The man who appeared in the chamber was Shim Su-ryeok. He grinned and remarked.

“Hehe, it seems quite an achievement that you sensed my aura. I’ve been continuously enhancing my Wind Spirit technique to suppress my aura. How on earth did you pick it up?”

“Well… I’m not quite sure either. It’s just a hunch that came to mind.”

It was the truth. The moment I reached this bottom floor, I sensed there was ‘something’, though I had no clue what it was due to. I had simply relied on that feeling, but to think I could even perceive Shim Su-ryeok’s presence while he was boosting his Wind Spirit technique?

“Seems you’ve grown stronger since the last time I saw you. Sensing the Wind Spirit technique means you’ve entered the realm of the Seventh Sense beyond the Sixth Sense.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“Also, something seems to have changed about your appearance. What’s that mask you’re wearing?”

“This mask is Subori’s.”

I briefly explained the situation, and when Subori briefly revealed himself, Shim Su-ryeok was visibly taken aback.

“What? Did a person become a mask?”

“You can take it as just that.”

“Goodness, we live in a strange world…”

I cautiously posed a question to the now mildly tense Shim Su-ryeok.

“By the way, I have a question for you…”

“Ask away.”

“Shim Su-ryeok, did you, by chance, come here last time to destroy the heart of Chi You after dying?”

At my question, Shim Su-ryeok nodded.

“That’s exactly right.”

“……And that moment led to the world’s destruction.”

“I never could have imagined such a thing would happen. I apologize if you perished alongside.”

“Ha….”

I sighed. While I had come to know through reincarnation that ‘touching Chi You’s heart would lead to the world’s destruction,’ how would Shim Su-ryeok know that? It was simply an unfortunate incident. I told him.

“After discovering the Demon Sorcery Pillar, I smashed all the Equalizers, shattered the dimensional barriers, and fought my way to this point, only to die just before taking Chi You’s heart.”

“Ah… if we were to express it in words, that’s how it would sound.”

“Did you attack with the intention to destroy Chi You’s heart, even knowing the world would end?”

“That’s right.”

“Why…?”

“I’m beginning to regain my memories.”

Shim Su-ryeok slowly turned his head toward me, and the look in his eyes was cloaked in a dark aura swirling deeply within.

“My comrades and I bore a lingering resentment over the heart we couldn’t destroy.”