전생검신 Volume 81 Chapter 04

The moment my Vajra clashed with Dharma, I realized.

‘Thunder God Indra, you bastard…!!’

I thought he wouldn’t respond to the summoning of Vajra, but what the hell?!

The reason for my astonishment was that I had entered the training world because I was arguing with Indra, who was refusing the offering of Vajra’s blessing, and ended up getting killed by him. Given that Indra despised me enough to kill me, I always thought he would refuse if I tried summoning Vajra. However, just moments ago, it was clear that Dharma was going to use Vajra, who held the strongest attack power among the Four Great Spirits, to strike, leaving me with no choice but to summon Vajra, and yet he was successfully summoned.

In a way, by not refusing the summoning of Vajra when he could have just allowed me to die from Dharma’s Vajra, Indra did something unexpected! I couldn’t wrap my head around what was going on in his mind.

Woooo!

However, Indra didn’t show his presence and was simply letting Vajra crackle with lightning and display his glory. Realizing Indra didn’t intend to respond at the moment, I decided to stop worrying about it.

‘Right, what does it matter what that bastard’s thinking? What’s important now is that he’s lending his strength.’

Kiri-riiing!

As the two Vajras collided more intensely, the light of the lightning began to change colors gradually. Originally, it started with a bright white, making a fuss but shifted to a lighter yellow and eventually to orange; I had a foreboding sense that if it continued, it would turn as red as blood. Watching this, Dharma spoke.

[You have immense potential for lightning…]

Kwahng!!

In the next moment, a massive explosion occurred, causing my wrist to throb with a sharp impact, and both Dharma and I were thrown back almost simultaneously. In that moment of being flung, I felt what Dharma must have felt.

The power of Vajra was perfectly balanced!

I was concerned for nothing, as both of our Vajras bore no difference in strength.

Dharma grasped his Vajra and held it before his chest, saying,

[It’s amazing that you can use the Four Great Spirits to this extent already. But do you know that the Four Great Spirits possess this kind of usage…?]

Ooooh…

Suspended above Vajra, a strange mandala appeared to the east, west, north, and south. It was composed of patterns from an otherworldly realm I had never seen before, releasing unusual energies from each one. I could hear Dharma speaking softly.

[Sleeping God (स्वप्न ईश्वर)]

“Who’s letting this happen?”

Without needing to say it, I felt that if the mandala’s spells were to unfold, it would clearly be unfavorable for me. I decided to throw Vajra forward before my opponent could cast his spells. In fact, I knew that simply throwing Vajra would often be much stronger than holding it while fighting.

Swaack!

Kwahng!!

Vajra broke through the non-existent magical barrier of Dharma and struck his neck. Indeed, Vajra certainly had the power to pierce through all defenses as if they were mere paper.

‘What?’

However, strangely, Vajra, which should have hit Dharma’s neck, came to a sudden halt in mid-air, leaving Dharma still holding his Vajra against his chest and maintaining the mandala.

[Gotcha.]

Dharma said with a voice sounding almost amused.

‘Did it get blocked by a barrier? No… that doesn’t quite feel right?’

As I panicked, Dharma slowly moved his Vajra leftward, and my Vajra followed his hand’s movement.

“Hey!!”

I shouted loudly, but no matter how hard I tried, Vajra seemed to refuse to heed my control. It felt as if it had completely broken free from my command.

What kind of spell is that?!

Is there really a spell that works on Vajra, which is fully adorned by the Four Great Spirit Deities?

To a divine artifact capable of piercing through the false form of the [Old Ruler]!

Dharma told me while maintaining the spell.

[There’s no need to think oddly… This is a technique I’ve developed for thousands of years utilizing his power… It’s a sorcery that puts the owner of the Four Great Spirits to sleep using Vajra’s power.]

“Sl, sleeping spell? Sleeping, really?!”

Can something like that exist?!

“Why the hell would you develop such a spell?!”

Vajra is the ultimate divine artifact; why on earth would it have a spell that puts itself to sleep?

Not understanding at all, I expressed my disbelief, and Dharma replied,

[It’s for moments like this… ]

“…”

[How many times have you been reborn…? If you surpass a thousand rebirths, incomprehensible cases will come up that ordinary people wouldn’t even dare imagine… This spell was developed just out of concern for what might occur due to a casual twist of fate… ]

“You madman…!!”

[And in reality, that case has just happened… You can probably guess what I mean by that… ]

I was in shock, but I could vaguely understand Dharma’s words. A past life’s intuition was validating his words.

Dharma is not just strong.

He had fully absorbed all the advantages I’d enjoyed as a reborn person while further integrating thousands of times more experiences into countless solutions and strategies as a master of reversals.

Clang!

But just moments later, Dharma’s Vajra lost its light and fell like a piece of scrap metal. Mine did the same, leading me to gasp as Dharma spoke.

[The problem is that by putting himself to sleep, I can’t use his four great spirits either, but… ]

“…”

[So… what will you bring forth?]

I instantly realized what he meant by that.

Both of us had our Vajras sealed, meaning we could each use three divine artifacts.

‘Varuna. Vayu. Agni… Given the atmosphere of Dharma, there seems to be a proper order in summoning the divine artifacts.’

It was clear that I hadn’t fought the Four Great Spirits together before, so I had no idea what their compatibilities were. But since Dharma was the guy who had developed a crazy spell to put his own divine artifact to sleep, it was only logical that he had fought the Four Great Spirits before.

It’s like playing rock-paper-scissors, where my opponent knows the form of rock-paper-scissors while I don’t.

In this state, I had no choice but to rely on luck for whatever I threw out.

Although it was unfavorable, a thought suddenly struck me that this wasn’t my way, and I firmly grasped my sword.

“If you’re going to lay it down, do it your way!”

Fighting on favorable ground for the opponent isn’t the way to win!

Declining to engage in divine artifact battles, I opted for swordplay, which intrigued Dharma.

[Oh, so you’re choosing to play it out calmly in the divine artifact battle?]

“Let’s see if you’ve got some miraculous trick!”

[……]

Dharma fell silent, and moments later, he raised his left arm and said,

[Vayu.]

Whoosh…

The divine artifact of wind, Vayu, activated, and I could feel the winds stirring. However, I ignored the manifestation of Dharma’s powers and focused solely on my thoughts.

‘Dark Night Slash (암야참)……!!’

That was the only way I could win right now.

If I engaged in mental combat during this divine artifact duel, my inferior wisdom and experience would leave me unable to last against Dharma. Therefore, rather than desperately responding to him, it was more prudent to disregard his power and land a fatal blow on my opponent first. After all, I confirmed that Dark Night Slash could inflict serious injuries on Dharma.

As my immortal sword shone and exerted its might, Dharma said as if waiting for me.

[Foolish. Only thinking about favorable situations is a clear sign of a rookie.]

“……”

[Have you forgotten what Vayu is capable of…?]

“Ah…!!”

I wanted to disregard Dharma’s words, but as soon as I heard them, a thought flashed in my mind, causing my face to turn pale. I realized what tactic he was likely to use.

‘Damn it! Now it’s time!’

Just as expected, at that moment, I unleashed my Dark Night Slash, but nothing caught on my fingertips.

Pa-at!

As I regained my senses, I found myself in a completely different time and space. The scenery around me had changed dramatically; unlike before, the entire world was filled with writhing masses of chaotic cells. Watching these chaotic masses squirming and rumbling made it feel as if I were inside a creature of chaos.

And just at that moment.

[It’s over.]

With Dharma’s voice resonating from somewhere, I could see countless chaotic magic circles arising all around me. The number was beyond imagination, as though the very heavens and earth themselves had turned into my enemies.

[Prepare to receive the attack I’ve been preparing for a hundred years.]

Ku-kwakawa!!

“V-Va, Varuna!!”

Just before the overwhelming chaos could engulf me, I hastily summoned Varuna to create a barrier. But I swiftly realized that Varuna’s defensive barrier, which had withstood attacks from the strongest opponents, was starting to crack. After all, each spell pouring down from everywhere felt divine, and I’d never faced such a colossal amount of attacks before.

I understood what mistake I had made.

‘Damnit!! So that’s how Vayu works!’

Sending the opponent flying into the cycle of the future using Vayu’s winds, setting countless traps and automatic attacks at the future’s location, and taking them out in one go! I hadn’t thought of applying it like that and felt blindsided. While I was barely holding on with Varuna’s support, I heard Dharma’s voice.

[Unlike Agni, known for intuitive attack power, and Varuna, recognized for intuitive defense, Vayu might seem vague… However, if you know how to use it, there’s no divine artifact more versatile than the Four Great Spirits in battles against divine beings.]

“Cough…”

[For some reason, it appears you haven’t used the Four Great Spirits much… It’s pitiful that you haven’t honed the weapons left for the reborn person.]

I couldn’t argue a single word against Dharma. He was perfectly utilizing the Four Great Spirits while I couldn’t even follow his maneuvers.

Crash!

Dharma’s spells, pouring down from the heavens, gained further momentum. I could see him appearing in front of me, his eyes glittering.

[Even if you were to sacrifice Agni as the first move, you mustn’t let your opponent freely use Vayu… Make sure to etch this in your mind and be obliterated for eternity, Baek Woong!!]

Kuwaa!!

Now that I observed, immense magical energy erupted from Dharma’s entire being, and his clasped hands were stained dark. Furthermore, the state of his previous shoulder being released had shifted; intense magical circles were now flickering across his whole body.

‘Oh, the Five Stars…’

Of course. He had been given a hundred years, so he must have already released the Five Stars long ago.

Crack-CRACK!

As Dharma’s true magical energy surged, I instantly lost my fighting spirit. This magic was on another level from what I had seen with the [Old Ruler]. Because I had seen cosmic entities, I could estimate just how powerful it was.

Wasn’t this akin to an emperor breaking a seal?!

Feeling a mad surge of power that seemed as if it could devour the galaxy in a single bite, I sensed my body losing all feeling. I may have magical resistance, but when an extraordinary power appears, this happens.

“T-that method… It’s similar to Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen…”

As I stuttered, barely opening my lips, Dharma replied.

[Only natural… Through countless rebirths, I’ve realized how the emperor placed constraints on the Five Greats and how he broke free… Naturally, I too could use the powers of the reborn to develop enhancement spells like the emperor.]

“You mean you copied the emperor?!”

[What’s stopping me? And with this method, the reborn person’s enhancement efficiency surpasses that of the emperor.]

“……!!”

[Look closely…!!]

Flash!

At that moment, the stone tablet floating above Dharma’s shoulder shone brightly. As the tablet intervened, the power emanating from Dharma, which had formed Five Stars, abruptly shifted, and I could see another angle being added. I let out a gasp upon seeing that shape.

“Six Stars…?!”

[Originally, if you were striving to block the Five Stars, I would have feigned failure while inserting the stone tablet to surprise you by forcing the Five Stars to align. This stone tablet has also been crafted through alchemy with the true body of the [Old Ruler] as a base.]

“……”

[However, granting permission to Vayu spared me the need for such a trick.]

Just how many layers of deception and reality could one fight contain?

Dharma’s immense combat experience conveyed itself without needing words, leaving me in shock.

‘Damn… The disparity in the number of rebirths is… this significant?!’

I had an instinctive feeling that with my potential, I might find a way to defeat him, yet the gap in experience and tactics kept me from reaching that path. Having never witnessed another reborn person, I had never felt such a gap until now.

Grrr…

Gathering an unfathomable amount of magical power, Dharma stretched out a hand toward me.

[As a reborn one unable to grasp the thirteen principles sleeping within my body… If you don’t have the capacity to defeat Nyarlathotep, I shall take your fate personally.]

“Cough…”

There was absolutely no way to counter that power.

I realized it was already too late to use Dark Night Slash. Even if I used it, recalling how Asura was repeatedly slain while battling the Heavenly Demon Sagong Lin, it would do no good against Dharma, who possessed perfect magical power. Defeating him before the Five Stars aligned was my only slim chance.

Is this the end…?

Just as I contemplated giving up and closing my eyes.

“Thanks for the kind explanation.”

Click!

I heard the sound of a pocket watch closing.

Upon hearing that, my senses snapped back, and the very next moment, the scenery of the world abruptly transformed, and I found myself near a small pond blooming with white lotuses.

“……?!”

Where my gaze fell, a golden pocket watch, radiating a brilliant golden glow, stood holding the reborn person. With a smile, the reborn one spoke to me.

“You can’t just play around with Vayu.”

In that moment, I understood what the reborn one had done.

“You… You turned back time with the Hidden Piece?!”

“Yep.”

“Is that even possible?! The [Small Cycle] wouldn’t have worked on Dharma just now…”

“It’s a trick only possible here. By maxing out my computational power and awakening the potential of the Hidden Piece, I can catch the singularity where the ends of the universe touch and use that slender place to create an effect that rewinds the [Great Cycle].”

“……!!”

“Thanks to Faust bringing me to the universe’s end, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime trick…”

Muttering that, the reborn person’s gaze turned to me.

“Baek Woong, Dharma is hiding another trick…”

Crackling…

“Reborn one!!”

Dharma’s form suddenly began to crackle intensely before disappearing. Just before vanishing completely, he said,

“The Five Stars are a fake weakness… The real target is… the thirteen principles…”

Zap!

And then, Dharma completely vanished, leaving a tiny chip floating in its wake. I realized that the reborn one had expended too much power using the Hidden Piece to rotate the cycle and had momentarily gone into a power-saving state. I hurriedly tucked the reborn one’s chip into my pocket and frantically racked my brain.

‘The thirteen principles? What could that be?’

It seemed the reborn one had given me a clue, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.

And then I heard that familiar voice of Dharma.

[Marvelous. To think you could make a strong AI your terminal in such a short reincarnation.]

“……Dharma.”

[However, even if the stars change and the universe alters with the seasons over eons… You shall never defeat me.]

“……”

Could I really defeat that monstrous being?

With superior operational power over the Four Great Spirits and possessing countless [Old Rulers] fused within him?

Wouldn’t it be better to just run away now?

Hundreds of thoughts raced through my mind, but after a brief moment, it clicked that this was not the answer.

‘The reborn one has given me a clue. They wouldn’t offer a hint unless they thought I had a fair chance of winning!’

Then, it was only right to give it one try.

‘Damn it. First, let’s inspect that bastard’s body with the Palace Examination Technique.’

After a moment of contemplation, I activated the Palace Examination Technique to closely observe Dharma’s form. Gazing at the roiling mass of chaos, I stumbled upon an epiphany.

‘…A star? Could it be?’

Surely, was it what I was thinking?

“Phew – “

Taking a moment to settle my mind, I raised my sword high.

“Let’s see what you’ve got.”