---

Chapter 81: Rebirth Sword God

Chwa-raak!

It sounded like paper folding continuously.

‘Why is my body so far away?’

Chwa-raak, chwa-raak!

The rhythmic sound echoed like ocean waves, and I could tell I was momentarily detached from reality. It felt like I was wandering around in a dream; I couldn’t even figure out where I was this time.

This is not light. It’s not darkness either. I’m not observing chaos.

It’s a completely different world.

I looked at my body as if peering through another world, experiencing the bizarre sensation of observing myself as a third party.

If that’s ‘me,’ then what state am I in right now?

I tried feeling and looking at my body to check my state, but soon realized it was a futile effort.

Nothing.

Only my will existed here—no body, no senses. No, if I think my body is right there, then perhaps my soul and body are separated?

‘But… this is what a soul state feels like…?’

Something felt off. My intuition, honed by mastering the Soul Exchange Technique, told me that this was more than just a separation of soul and body. As someone familiar with handling the soul, I couldn’t conclusively label my current state as merely ‘soul.’

Chwa-raaak…

The sound of paper folding seemed to get closer. Then, a moment later, I saw Dharma approaching my body, speaking.

[What power is this? Could it be that there exists a force I don’t know, even after reincarnating thousands of times…?]

“……”

My body remained silent, but the strange thing was the horn on my forehead.

Pa-ji-zzik!

The surface of the horn emanated an unknown thunderous energy, twice the size of the horn that originally belonged to me. My skin was charred black from the dark powers summoned by Dharma, yet I seemingly had no wounds. It was clear that the energy emanating from the horn was the reason.

Dharma, still holding my neck, radiated brilliance from his eyes.

[You can withstand the summoned power of the Outer God? You’ve transcended the norms. In that case, I must endeavor to summon even greater strength.]

Ku-gu-gu-gu!

I could feel the darkness enveloping Dharma strengthening even more. The density of the darkness deepened as he compressed his magic power to an unfathomable extent while continuously summoning infinite magical energy. As this process repeated in a brief period, Dharma’s magic amplified to an unimaginable level, leading him to let out a bizarre roar.

[Goooohhh…!!]

Flash!

Light erupted from Dharma’s limbs. That light undoubtedly represented one of the thirteen magic cores and was also the constellation symbolizing the Twelve Palaces of the Yellow Emperor. Connected to this constellation, the power of the Old Ruler surged forth, and simultaneously, lines began to form between the cores, creating shapes.

Chichi-ching!

Ultimately, a pentagram formed with Dharma’s forehead as its peak!

I flinched in realization as I saw Dharma promptly create the pentagram.

‘He can create a pentagram in short form?!’

It seemed that during our earlier duel, Dharma was holding back quite a bit. If he could create a pentagram like this, he could have easily overridden me and powered himself up, leaving me powerless. Because even a short-form summoned strength could possess cosmic magic powerful enough to devour any divine being.

Dharma likely knew this, hence he mentioned the ‘difference in levels.’

To test my predictions, Dharma invoked the power of the pentagram and said:

[I said there’s a significant difference in power. While trying to modestly deal with you, I intended to drive you away using the powers of the Outer God… but with your unrefined potential, I can’t hold back any longer.]

“……”

[The ones waiting behind me are nightmares that could easily kill me with a mere flick of their fingers. With such power, it would be more merciful to let you dissolve now!]

Goo-doodook!

With that, Dharma tightened his grip around my neck. He was clearly going to inject the power of the Outer God to blow me apart. Despite my soul having detached, I instinctively grasped at my neck, feeling the pain.

‘Ugh…!!’

What the heck is going on here?!

It was fortunate I didn’t disintegrate all at once, but why on earth am I separated from my body, yet still feeling this torment?!

Chwa-ra-ra-ra!

The sound of paper folding continued ringing out.

Something pale began to gradually appear in this space.

“……!!”

Finally, I understood what that sound was.

Books!!

I was inside a colossal book, and from far off in some endless expanse, I could hear an infinite number of pages being turned. As the sound of flipping pages grew clearer, the pale paper drew closer, and despite being formless, I couldn’t shake this feeling of dread.

‘What… what is this…!!’

It looked like a wave of white paper crashing towards me. I instinctively sensed that if I got swept up in those papers, I’d be obliterated.

‘This isn’t some trial; it’s an attack!!’

For reasons I couldn’t decipher, but the detachment of my body and spirit was likely due to the shining horn of Chi You, and the crashing wave of paper was essentially a separate attack on me. This was an instinctive understanding forged through countless bizarre encounters. If I couldn’t escape this situation, I was likely to be destroyed.

How do I dodge this paper wave? Can I even use martial arts here?!

‘Damn it!! Chi You’s horn! If you’re gonna look cool, then help me out already!!’

I internally cried out, but Chi You’s horn remained unresponsive.

‘Agni! Varuna! Vayu! …Vajra!! Anyone, come out!!’

In desperation, I called upon the Four Great Spirit Deities, but strangely, they wouldn’t show. Considering they’d always answered my call, no matter my soul state, this was truly bizarre.

Ku-rrr!

Seeing the wave of paper closing in, I reflexively had to deploy my martial arts.

Melting Soul Technique!

Whoosh!

I instantly used the Melting Soul Technique to rebound from the area, quickly distancing myself from the wave of paper.

‘So I can use martial arts in this space!’

It was strange being able to use martial arts without a physical form, but at least I caught a break!

Just as I got past this hurdle, a strange echo seemed to resonate in my head.

A unique opportunity has come to seize that great power!

“……?!”

What’s this voice…?

Just as I pondered the meaning behind this, a sudden bright flash erupted before my eyes. At the same moment, back in reality, my body suddenly seized Dharma’s wrist.

[No.]

I could see Dharma looking stunned.

And right in front of me, a figure dashed forth at lightning speed, attacking the book from which the Black Goat was summoned.

Great Law of Heaven’s Sword!

Universe Fragmentation!

Bang!!

A pair of giant swords pierced into the book one after another, halting the summoning and visibly causing the pages to warp and tear. This was undoubtedly an act of disrupting the summoning of the Outer God and was astonishing.

Snap!

Then, accompanied by the lightning, a deity revealed itself gracefully.

As soon as the deity appeared, it spoke softly.

[Chi You. You wish to protect this brat from the Outer God?]

Crackle!

The God, emanating lightning from throughout its body, created a cloak that billowed behind it. Momentarily, those turned into a gigantic pair of wings, one dyed blue, the other glowing red with flames. The deity then summoned a massive Thunder Sword, getting into a sword stance.

[Then I shall comply. In honor of your last wish, my only friend!]

The one who appeared was the Thunder God Indra.

 

---