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As I unleashed the Technique of All Things, the very essence of this darkness revealed itself to me.

‘Just as I suspected.’

The ominous instinct I had felt earlier had been true. Although it appeared as an ordinary space, it felt as if I were touching the skin of something. When using the Technique of All Things, I often felt the textures of what I had to steal, and right now, I felt as if my hand had plunged into the deep abyss of unsettling darkness.

I considered myself fortunate.

‘As long as it exists… the Technique of All Things can steal anything.’

It had always been this way.

The real question was whether I could actually find and steal the mask of the Outer God in this darkness. Its existence was uncertain, and even if it existed, could I truly steal it? Had anyone besides me ever attempted such an outrageous gamble? Absurd as it was, I had no means to prove the ‘qualification’ the Outer God spoke of.

Perhaps if I could demonstrate the ability to steal even the mask of the Outer God, I might survive in this space.

With fear and the thrill of confronting the unknown, I had no choice but to leap forward.

If someone were to observe me casting the Technique of All Things now, it would only look like I was waving my hand in thin air. In reality, beyond the sensation of the air brushing against my skin, there was nothing else. The idea of stealing something felt utterly ridiculous. How could one steal what was nonexistent?

Nevertheless, I refused to give up, squeezed my eyes shut, and focused all my mental energy.

‘… I can do this!! Damn it… I WILL!’

For reasons unknown, this Technique had provided me with extraordinary results beyond mere martial skills. If this too failed, I might find myself out of options. Unlike when I heard Indra’s threats earlier, I reached out desperately like this was the last time I would use the Technique of All Things.

“AAAAAH…!!”

One breath. Nothing touches me.

Two breaths. Still nothing.

On the third breath… a strange sensation washed over me.

‘Whoa… it’s here?!’

How should I express it? It felt like placing my hand against a pliable mirror. Strange as it may sound, as my hand was drawn into that mirror, I felt something latch onto my fingertips, and reflexively, I pulled it out.

The Technique of All Things!

BANG!

I was suddenly flung backward. The moment I realized I was definitely holding something, my excitement surged.

“I did it!!”

Is it really the mask of the Outer God?!

For real?!

I couldn’t even believe myself and looked at what I was holding. And as soon as I saw it, I flinched.

“…?!”

It wasn’t a mask…?

What I held was a dark sphere. It throbbed like a heart and was just the right size to fit in my palm. Most importantly, it had a peculiar weight, almost like it was dragging my arm down.

‘What on earth is this…? Is this seriously the mask of the Outer God? But it doesn’t look like a mask at all…’

In a state of confusion, I called out to Indra who was nearby.

“Indra! Is this the mask of the Outer God?”

….

No response came. I quickly scanned my surroundings and soon realized that Indra was no longer near me. However, I understood that it wasn’t Indra who had left my side; rather, I had been transported to an entirely different location.

“Wha- where is this…?”

A place I had never seen before.

In the desolate dawn of a barren wasteland, endless darkness loomed. Not a single star graced the sky, but instead, something floated nearby. I could sense the shapes of formless darkness flickering from beyond the universe.

Additionally, a peculiar sight was the golden moon hanging in the sky. It briefly radiated light reminiscent of the sun before quickly dimming and enveloping itself in fog, appearing to rotate slowly in the sky. I struggled to comprehend this bizarre situation, blinking in disbelief.

Where am I?

I clearly attempted to steal the mask of the Outer God with the Technique of All Things, but where had I ended up?

As I pondered, a sudden flash caught me off guard.

“Yikes!”

Suddenly, the round dark sphere in my hand opened its eyes! The eyeball-like sphere was both startling and eerie, and I panicked, throwing it away. The sphere rolled on the ground, momentarily spinning before gradually growing in size.

WHOOOSH!

In an instant, the eyeball-like sphere transformed into something as big as a person’s head, rolling back to face me. It fixated on me, then began to expand.

THUD!

It morphed into a humanoid form! Now having the appearance of a human, the once-eye sphere now had a face as it blinked at me. Then, beneath the eyes, a mouth appeared.

The ‘mouth’ slowly opened.

“Have you ever considered the source of the power you wield?”

“Where do you come from?”

“Who do you think is waiting for you here?”

Even though it was just one mouth, it felt as if three sentences were spoken simultaneously. It echoed as if multiple voices spoke together, yet each word resonated distinctly within my mind. I simply stared blankly at the bizarre entity, unable to comprehend this utterly grotesque moment.

‘This makes no sense.’

How can something like this even exist? I was no fool, after all.

What stood before me wasn’t an opponent I could fight.

The ‘mouth’ continued to speak.

Once again, three sentences poured out simultaneously.

“Fate does not permit a loss of timing.”

“How did you descend from the kingdom of supreme happiness where all sing?”

“Do you know that the one who made a pact with you is already beside you?”

I didn’t understand what it was saying.

Every statement seemed loaded with significance, yet I couldn’t decipher what they meant at all.

It was just blabbering on, but I felt an increasing weight on my heart with each utterance.

‘Why…?’

Strangely, I felt an urge to remember every word it spoke.

No… perhaps it was the opposite?

When I tried remembering so many times yet still failed, an uncomfortable sensation of helplessness enveloped me.

The more I listened to its words, the more I felt the discomfort of facing the uncomfortable truth I had been avoiding.

Truth?

“What is the truth?”

Unknowingly, I asked the ‘mouth’ that question.

Without hesitation, the ‘mouth’ replied.

“The truth is that you are here.”

“Though another initiated the cycle of reincarnation, only you can end it.”

“The great ones have not focused on your end, but your beginning.”

Another round of cryptic words.

Buzzing.

A dazzling light surged from behind the creature’s head, forming a halo. This halo was unlike any sacred glow I had ever seen; it pulsated, emanating an ebony hue as if the darkness itself was alive. And the moment I laid eyes on that luminous darkness, strength drained from my body once again.

THUD!

Before I realized it, I found myself on my knees. This wasn’t merely about victory or defeat; it was an overwhelming joy and reverence I felt when faced with something truly great. Tears spilled from my eyes as I struggled to contain my emotions.

“Ugh… ah…”

At that moment, I understood what I had stolen from the Outer God [Black Goat].

With tears in my eyes, I inadvertently spoke my truth aloud.

“Did I… steal your soul…?”

No one had instructed me to speak that way, yet I found myself using reverential language involuntarily. This was because the being before me had revealed its essence, and I, as a mortal, could only feel an overwhelming sense of respect.

Indeed.

Just moments ago, the Outer God [Black Goat] willingly exposed its essence to my Technique of All Things, allowing me to steal its soul! What I held in my hand, the dark sphere before me, was none other than the true soul of the Outer God! No, it was beyond just a soul; it was the very essence of something far too great standing right in front of me.

How foolish I had been to think I could overcome such a being.

How on earth could I defeat this existence? Beyond the realm of power, it was a being that transcended all, rendering me embarrassed before its majesty. Even if I glimpsed into its soul, its density and mass could overshadow the entirety of the universe. A mere universe could never possibly contain such a being, and that’s why it was likely forced out of the [Cycle].

Winning through combat… was simply not an option against this opponent.

What stood before me was something that existed beyond the unit of power itself.

‘I haven’t truly faced the essence of the Outer God until now…’

Be it an Observer or a Servant, they all projected overwhelming feelings, yet I felt no excessive fear or reverence toward them. But the Black Goat before me was completely different. Just looking at it invoked insanity, and I could feel myself truly spiraling into madness. There existed such a disparity even among Outer Gods, with this being being the epitome of one beneath the heavens, far above others! The mental shield I had once been so confident in began to crumble like paper before this existence.

The sight of the Outer God’s form I had glimpsed during the encounter beyond our universe moments passed was merely an illusion of shadow.

‘Hahaha… HAHA!!’

I felt I might truly go insane.

Now, before the essence of the true God, my body felt lighter, as if it were phoenix ashes, burning from my skin. The existence of something so profound left me utterly dumbfounded.

Moreover, in this moment, I realized one fact.

‘I… I thought I had perfect immunity against the beings of darkness… but… that wasn’t true…’

When one comes face to face with a being reaching absoluteness among the Outer Gods, no matter who you are, you would inevitably lose your sanity in real-time. Originally, in the vast scale of the adventures I had taken, encountering such a being had never crossed my mind, and it was only through this confrontation that I realized.

This was true infinite darkness.

In the core of this darkness, there was no room for something as imperfect as a [mask].

Moreover, the [Coming Chaos], which could be considered the source of the [mask], was not even in the same league as this being.

Cough!!

I smiled through my tears of joy. At the same time, the burst of blood from my mouth stained my clothes. Even as I realized I was beginning to lose sanity, I couldn’t suppress this feeling. I wondered if maintaining even the slightest degree of sanity amidst this chaos was in some way extraordinary.

I held onto the last thread of my sanity and forced my head up. Then, I spoke to the being before me.

“Please… send me back… I… I will pay the price for my… ungraciousness… no matter what…”

I didn’t even understand how I was able to speak like this. Perhaps it was the dynastic power I had accumulated to this point. If I had faced this situation any other time, I would never have found my voice. I probably would have lost my wits and died like a bug right here.

Whooo!

It felt like my eyes might pop out. This wasn’t some special magical power or ability; I could sense that gazing at the being itself was defying the laws of the universe that meant to punish me. It was clear that the being meant me no harm, yet the laws of the universe were adjusting themselves to punish me for the Outer God.

In the eyes of the Outer God, all laws of this world were merely playthings.

“Cough!”

As I quickly bowed my head, the being took a slow step past me.

Step…

It paused a few steps behind me and opened its ‘mouth’ again.

“After gaining freedom, do you seek to once again immerse yourself in the calamity of reincarnation?”

“That you don’t remember anything at all is merely the calculation of the laws of cause and effect.”

“The Martial God wishes to let you go, yet seeks to measure the autonomy of your existence.”

Huhuhuh.

‘My body is becoming lighter…’

I could sense that it was purposefully lowering its own presence for my sake. As the madness swirling in my mind gradually subsided, I returned to my rational state, and the coughing of blood ceased. As I staggered to my feet, the being began to dissipate slowly.

Swoosh!

The essence of the Outer God [Black Goat] transformed into particles of dust, scattering away. In truth, given the essence, physical appearances held no significance; it was returning to its very essence beyond the Cycle. The notion of absolute immortality was likely referring to that being. When the outer god fully vanished, its voice struck me like an arrow once more.

“If you listen to their song, you will survive.”

A song…?

At that moment, a golden light sparkled in my embrace. Unbidden, I rummaged through my clothes to find something shining brightly, a golden object. After wiping away the flowing blood tears, I could make out its true form.

“Hidden Piece….”

Whoooooosh!

Amidst the fierce wind, the golden pocket watch, the Hidden Piece, emanated powerful golden light unlike any I had seen before.

‘Why is it glowing so brightly?’

I was puzzled by the intensity of its radiance. But before I had a chance to ponder further, soon I began to hear a song echoing from everywhere.

Oooooooo…

Oooooo…

Was this really a song?

It started gently, with a hint of chorus, but before long, the sound morphed into an unsettling vibration mixed with the roars of wild beasts, occasionally spliced with mechanical sounds. Soon, the noise evolved into a cacophony that felt like it was scratching at the inside of my ears.

GRAAAH!

KIIIIIIA!

The sound intensified, and the ominous energy became even more ferocious. I felt the rising sense of anxiety and terror, akin to being thrown onto hot coals under the scorching sun, and I screamed.

“AHHH, AAAAAH!!”

What is this sound?!

While the fear I felt confronting the essence of the Outer God was less potent than before, this dissonant song overwhelmed me more than any sonic attack I had ever encountered in my life. It felt as though anyone else but myself would have their heads shattered instantly. I could manage to endure only because the immunity I had against darkness and the divine power was automatically shielding me.

This pain was unbearable. I couldn’t take it anylonger!

In desperation from the suffering, I instinctively screamed.

“B-Bharuna!! Defensive Barrier!!”

….

But to my dismay, Bharuna completely ignored my request.

“What?!

I didn’t understand the situation but soon reflected on my inner world, realizing.

It was closed.

The wheel of the Four Great Spirit Deities, which should have shown itself, was entirely sealed. Not even Indra appeared, and even Vayu, Bharuna, and Agni’s positions were blocked by something. In the blocked positions, a pair of eyes loomed alongside the unsettling darkness, and just as my hand instinctively reached for those eyes—

Whoosh!

“…!!”

A chill-inducing pure darkness!

‘The Outer God is blocking me directly!!’

I instinctively sensed that the Outer God [Black Goat] had purposely obstructed my summoning of the Spirit Deities. Perhaps if I was strong enough, I could pry those eyes out to call back the Spirit Deities, but I currently lacked that competence. It wanted to see whether I could survive purely against the [Song] without the help of the Spirit Deities!

Puhak!

“Aaaah!!”

As my temple suddenly burst, causing blood to fountain, I screamed. It wasn’t just the pain of the skin and bone ripping through but the surge of the song that had begun to disturb my very mind, making me feel queasy and overwhelmed.

This song… what is it?!

This makes no sense! This has to be some form of sonic attack!

As the sound further drove itself into my consciousness, I felt my entire body starting to fall apart into a lethargy that surpassed the pain itself, and I collapsed like a marionette with cut strings.

THUD!

‘Where… is this song coming from…?’

As I lay there, dazed and writhing in despair, I caught sight of the formless darkness moving within the blurred void of the sky. Gradually, as my gaze focused on that darkness, it began to take form, likely due to my extended exposure to this song. I had no solid proof but felt that only those who listened to the song for a considerable time could witness the true forms of those entities.

What can only be termed a bizarre ‘song.’

Could it really be those entities singing…?

I considered this and focused my eyes more intently on their forms. Moments later, the entities’ appearances became distinct, and I found myself gasping.

“Uh… eep…!!”

What I beheld was beyond description.

It was unlike any otherworldly or demonic creature I had seen before, an unfamiliar look entirely.

Except for the tentacles hanging loose, each entity’s appearance varied drastically. I couldn’t even imagine any painter on earth accurately portraying such a view. It was because the entities seemed to maintain a single shape but slightly morphed after casting a shadow. I suppose my vision alone was incapable of discerning their true essence.

One thing was certain.

Anyone who witnessed them with their own eyes would likely plunge headfirst into a nightmare.

However, why did I feel psychological agony even just glimpsing the [Old Ruler]?

Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!

The unsettling sounds intertwined with the ‘song’ clawed deeper into my brain. The entities revolved around the territory prescribed to them, seemingly indifferent to whether I was cognizant of their presence. I could feel the blood streaming from my nose again, realizing the duality of this song’s natures.

‘… My divine power remains untouched… but the song continues to inundate my brain… which means… this song nearly ignores all defenses against divine energy…’

Despite my divine power being on another level, it felt like the only thing left of my physical form was its essence while the songs penetrated deeply. And with that realization, clarity set in.

‘It’s not attacking me… From the very beginning, they were merely singing…’

Laughter.

For some reason, the deeper I delved into the song, the clearer the emotions buried within became. It felt like a source of pleasure that bordered on agony, reverberating with a sense of bliss that praised someone. I could hardly understand why I felt this way, but soon enough, the pain faded, leaving me with an overwhelming sense of euphoria.

I felt hazy.

The urge to disrupt this assault faded away.

Although my body would be destroyed and my soul scattered to the winds, that no longer seemed to matter.

Even just indirectly feeling the glorious existence of all singing together brought me happiness, reflected in my grinning face.

Could I really be going insane?

This feeling could easily qualify as bliss.

As the overwhelming emotions intertwined, blurring my sight, I began observing those bizarre beings with increased vigor. Moments later, I had a gut feeling that I understood them.

“… Beings beyond the Cycle…”

Suddenly, I realized.

Those beings were all Outer Gods.

‘So this is…’

When the understanding hit me, I felt déjà vu wash over me.

For some reason, I felt I had seen such a sight in a dream.

No way… was it the identity of that song I heard in my dream…?

“Cough!!”

At that moment, my inner fire flared dramatically, feeling as if something shattered within me. Blood blasted out in a vigorous flow, more intensely than any prior coughing fit I had experienced. This blood coughed up felt like my very life force pouring out as the inner energy shattered, and I realized my bones and muscles were breaking apart.

Whoosh!

No way.

If I die here, I won’t be able to reincarnate.

For reasons unknown, I felt the distinct essence of that truth. A special instinct warned me that this could be a condition for the defeat of a reborn one. Plus, I sensed that this wasn’t merely about life and death—it could denote the true end of my journey.

“Ugh… Agh!”

Crack!

I screamed in agony as my bones shattered. My body wouldn’t budge. The power of the song, which made my soul heavy, rendered me unable to rebel against it. I had endured listening to this song for too long, leaving me utterly incapacitated.

In that moment, regret flooded me.

‘Why did I choose the Technique of All Things?’

If I had opted for martial arts, I wouldn’t regret it this much.

The obsession with proving my ‘qualification’ and the fear of the Outer God must have caused me to make this rash decision, right?

Just maybe, was my small hope of tricking them too naive, causing this terrible situation?

“Ugh… AAAAAAH…!”

I began to crumble under the weight of my own cries.

I couldn’t last longer.

It felt like I was destined to die…

Just as I was about to close my eyes completely.

“Baek Woong. Don’t give up.”

A familiar voice echoed in my ear. Upon hearing it, I blinked, focusing my hazy vision ahead.

“…Cheon Woo-jin?”

Cheon Woo-jin was standing before me.

How was Cheon Woo-jin in front of me when he had exhausted all his energy?

Before I could voice my obvious question, Cheon Woo-jin knelt before me and took my hand tightly.

“I had no choice but to hate and despise you for being me. Although I’ve taken the form of Faust’s daughter, my true essence was the advanced AI of the Great Bear Empire. I’m not sure if you’ll understand, but…”

“…”

“Hold my hand.”

In a trance, I grasped Cheon Woo-jin’s little white hand.

Suddenly, a soft light began to emanate from Cheon Woo-jin’s body, and she continued.

“I hoped for solutions greater than the True Martial Home. The encouragement to work harder while belittling you… perhaps that was a reflection of the desires everyone harbored.”

“…Everyone?”

“Let’s begin.”

Fwoosh!

In a moment, the light emulating from Cheon Woo-jin began to shape into a definitive form, one I was exceedingly familiar with.

Like the Mandala floating above, it was— the national flag of the Great Bear Empire.

Sizzling!

Signals scattered temporarily, and human figures began to appear in my vicinity. Though they flickered and were somewhat translucent, their forms were undoubtedly human. Initially clad in the styles of the Great Ming Empire era, their clothing evolved gradually as more figures began to gather.

Sizzling…

In the midst of all this, I thought I heard a voice.

[Your Majesty…]

Old medieval ministers with court robes bowed slowly before me.

[I’m glad to be of help, even though I haven’t been able to serve you long…]

[May you live long.]

… What is this…?

Sizzling!

[You seemed to have prospered greatly, yet in the blink of an eye, you vanished. Showing up 500 years later.]

[You caused much trouble for me too…]

Just then, I noticed a tall man in a white ceremonial robe appear in front of me, and I momentarily forgot the pain, opening my eyes wide.

“Zhuge Bu?!”

Why was the apparition of Zhuge Bu here?!

Zhuge Bu chuckled softly and shrugged.

[I’ve never seen a lunatic quite like you. What a nightmare it must have been to wind up somewhere like this. You could surely have enjoyed the life of a supreme monarch without a care, but here you are, aiming for something far beyond.]

“…”

[Yet… I understand the feelings of Zhuge Sa recognizing you as a lord during these times.]

“H-How…?”

Sizzling!

Then, a Martial Artist wielding a sword appeared before me, speaking heartily.

[Haha! It seems the request I made to not accept you as a companion in my past life had its reasons. I never expected to die fighting the Demon King.]

“Extreme Tiger!!”

Extreme Tiger, a master of the Great Bear Empire, smiled and said.

[In that life, we had little connection, but I still feel grateful. After all, you’ve managed to keep your promise to me!]

“…”

[Others seem to have a lot they want to say too.]

Sizzling!

[Your Majesty. It’s nice to see you again.]

[May you live long, eternally.]

Before me stood powerful figures in their forties, symbolizing the Righteous Sect. Having seen Cheon Woo-jin’s data and met them before, I recognized who they were.

“… Lord Taeyul Shin-joon, Kwak Jung-moo. Lord Cheongi Masal, Woo Su-baek.”

They were masters of the Great Bear Empire, bred to combat the forces of evil, my predecessors.

Sizzling!

The number of human forms continued to grow until there were over a thousand, all surrounding me, observing closely, their gazes filled with affection and joy.

Moreover, the song began to gently fade.

[Your Majesty!]

[Knowing it’s been a long time since we’ve met, I feel…]

[Ha ha ha.]

Among the emotional group bearing the brightest light, I recognized several familiar faces.

“Tactical Forces Agents….”

One of them, donned in pitch-black armor of the Black Dragon, approached and took my fist into his hands.

[Your Majesty. Thank you for doing your best till the end.]

“Mu Cheon-ryong, Joo Hyun-sung.”

Next to Joo Hyun-sung, there was an old man glaring at me with an impatient look.

He scowled at me.

[Grandmaster! Even if he’s a reborn one, can he really pull a fast one on the modern Thunder God lineage?]

I felt a small prick of shame.

“That’s not… well…”

[Enough! Regardless, Grandmaster is an exceptional individual, be your talent precious or worthless.]

Huh?

Had Bang Ryong Lee Seol-pyo acknowledged me?

Bang!

[Liu Ha has arrived~!!]

[Liu Jin has also come.]

“You guys…?”

[Long time no see! Let’s snap a selfie! Say cheese!]

Click!

As Liu Ha’s apparition pulled out a smartphone and posed for a picture, a voice I could never forget echoed in my ears.

[Heh, you’re popular.]

“Asura!!”

The Asura of the 28th cycle stood before me. He beamed at me while giving a thumbs-up towards my back.

[That fella had really been missing you.]

“Who…?”

The moment I glanced in that direction, my gaze remained fixed.

There stood a captivating beauty with ebony-like hair. Clad in Emperor’s robes symbolizing the Great Bear Empire, her expression portrayed both joy and sorrow. Unconsciously, I called out her name.

“Sagong Lin.”

….

With that, tears streamed down Sagong Lin’s face. Instinctively, I felt a pang of sadness, and she lowered her head, the hot tears continuing to flow.

[I’m so sorry… truly… sorry…]

“…”

I forced my frozen body up and stood upright. For some reason, the song began to dwindle, restoring my body to its normal state. I stepped closer to Sagong Lin’s apparition and comforted her gently.

“It’s not your fault.”

It wasn’t her fault, but the Emperor’s wrongdoings in using her. If Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen had intended to use someone, anyone could have become a victim. She wiped her tears and replied.

[I truly was selfish… As this is our last moment… just seeing you again makes me overjoyed…]

“Last moment?”

[Nonetheless, I thank you…]

Sizzling….

Then, I noticed the myriad of human forms still growing around me. The crowd of distinguished figures of all ages, all wearing different attire, encircled me

Stunned by the sudden encounter, I kept quiet as Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

“I wanted to introduce you long before, but it wasn’t easy. Because many of these souls might have loved you, but just as many might have despised you as the one who brought forth the end. In fact, it wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the majority loathed you.”

“Souls…? All of them…?”

[Indeed, at the last moment, Heavenly Sorcerer Cheon Woo-jin sent all humanity into the Dream World.]

[But that Dream World was a cloud constructed long before by the Great Bear Empire.]

[In that cloud, humanity saved their souls in data form, preserved safely within me, as the AI of the Great Bear Empire.]

“…!!”

[I preserved the souls of all the people of the Great Bear Empire beyond reincarnation.]

If that was the case, did Cheon Woo-jin house the very souls of all the citizens and humanity?!

That meant I was standing before hundreds of millions of souls! This wasn’t a mere metaphor of data backup; it was reality!

As I stared at Cheon Woo-jin in shock, she continued.

[But when you acknowledged me as a companion rather than just a daughter, I could finally be accepted by all the souls. They recognized you as someone who stands firm with intent, forging your own path, free from the influence of others. Those who lost their lives and experienced pain came to accept you.]

“…”

[And thus, we stand here. You, the Reborn One, striving to transcend the cycle of life.]

Sizzling!

Pooooooof!

Suddenly, an explosive sound erupted from a distance. Instinctively, I turned to the source, where white spirit apparitions burst forth, soaring upward.

“What?!”

[You can’t withstand the song of the Outer God nakedly. So, we defended against the song by becoming a buffer for you.]

“…?! What?!”

[We all did.]

Pooof!

Once again, spirits burst forth, yet as much as they surged, new souls began appearing to fill in their voids, yet each wave of the song saw countless souls soaring into the heavens. Realizing this, I hastily shouted at Cheon Woo-jin.

“Stop!! If this continues…!!”

[Baek Woong. Everyone agreed and came forth with resolve.]

“…!!”

At that moment, an unknown spirit approached me.

[Even if eternal souls perish, we are fine. We want proof that we lived.]

With a sound of footsteps, a man dressed as an office worker stood before me, speaking bluntly.

[One day, I suddenly died. I was living happily with my wife and five-year-old daughter, but unexpectedly, I died overnight. I was furious at you for causing the apocalypse that took my life.]

“…”

The office worker smiled ruefully.

[But what I saw was you had lived earnestly. You claimed to be playing in Soeul Village, which I thought was anything but fun. How could anyone get away with living so lazily, while you prospered? Now, we want to see you find happiness.]

Next to the office worker, stood the spirits of his wife and daughter.

I felt overwhelmed, bowed my head, and muttered.

[I’m sorry.]

[Don’t apologize. Just prove it to us.]

The weight of what he stated crushed my chest.

[Prove that our lives were not in vain….]

Pooof!

Spirits burst forth once more.

‘Get a grip, Baek Woong!!’

I clenched my fists and trembled. The overwhelming despair and powerlessness that had previously consumed me dissipated, replaced by a resurgence of anger and fighting spirit.

Those powerless beings were starting to fade away in my stead.

I couldn’t give in and die!

Through gritted teeth, I shouted.

“What do I need to do?! I’ll do anything!!”

[Accept all our hearts.]

“All your hearts?”

Whoosh!

Moments later, the spirits of the Great Bear Empire began to release pure lights. The bright glow slowly flowed toward me, and with each contact, I began to feel the emotions of each of these souls.

‘Ah….’

So many humans existed.

So many lives were lived.

As the light absorbed me, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.

[Against the Outer God, no powers or abilities can have effect, but rather… only ‘the heart’ itself can stand against them.]

“You mean to say I can repel them?”

[That’s impossible. We do not possess enough narrative control to obliterate them.]

“…”

[Baek Woong. Make all our hearts align with yours.]

Align my heart with…

Fwoosh!

Instantly, as the absorption of light accelerated, I felt like a tempest of illumination swirled around me. Alongside this, the voices of all the souls echoed in unison.

[We believe in you!]

[Even if we vanish here, we are determined to keep believing in you!]

[Because…]

Followed by a great roar, I could feel everyone’s will converging onto my blade.

[Because you are the king of us all!!]

In that moment—

I felt my heart completely synchronize with them, extending my sword in a single stroke.

Divine Realm One Continent!

The Sword of the Great Bear Empire!

THUUUUUD…!

As my sword cast forth, silence blanketed the world, and a singular slice cleaved through the very body of one Outer God, halting its song.

 

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