전생검신 Volume 81, Chapter 11

I glanced over at Brahma, taken aback by his sudden and odd suggestion.

“What’s your game here?”

Brahma was neither my comrade nor my friend. He was just a companion I happened to join forces with in this mysterious place, and if things turned sour, he could very well become my enemy. In fact, even now, I wasn’t quite sure whether he was friend or foe. Surely he felt the same about me, right? Suddenly dropping the juicy tidbit of the essence of the power of the Three Great Gods was a proposal I couldn’t help but be suspicious of.

Then Brahma said, “It’s reasonable to be suspicious. But don’t you feel it too? The moment we step into that palace in front of us, we cannot afford to lose. If we fail the trial, we either face eternal obliteration or become wandering ghosts in this place for countless reincarnations, even if we manage to escape.”

“…”

“And from where I stand, you seem kind of wishy-washy. You don’t seem to fully grasp what you can actually do with the amount of divine power at your disposal. So I’m offering to boost your combat strength, because that increases my odds of achieving my goals as well.”

I nodded slightly.

“It’s true that I don’t wield divine power well. I only started to get the hang of it recently.”

“Well then, let’s learn….”

“But I won’t learn.”

As I decisively cut off that suggestion like a knife, Brahma stared at me blankly while I crossed my arms.

“If I keep relying on divine power every time a major trial approaches, I’ll never be able to advance my martial arts. I felt that keenly right after my comrade sacrificed himself to help us escape.”

“…”

“Even if my journey ends here, that’s fine. I intend to trust more in the martial arts I’ve mastered.”

Brahma thought for a moment before responding. “Martial arts, huh. Deciding to shape your own destiny in the manner of the Martial God… well, seems reasonable.”

However…

I couldn’t help but react to Brahma’s words. “What do you mean by that? Do you know something about the Martial God?”

Brahma wore a sinister grin, full of mischief. “Hehe. How many can truly say they ‘know’ that echoing existence? If I say I’m familiar with the Martial God, it’d be a lie. But it wouldn’t be entirely false either.”

“You’re just playing with words.”

“Well, there are countless incomprehensible beings in this grand, mighty cycle, but none are as ambiguous as the Martial God. Nevertheless, it seems he’s one that even outer gods cannot carelessly meddle with.”

“…”

Dammit. Have I been entangled in something?

While he pretended not to know, those words definitely hinted that he possessed some clue about the Martial God’s true nature. Brahma was likely tempting me to be curious about it too.

“Ah, you’re a clever one.”

When I frowned, Brahma spoke in a calm tone. “You can think of it as a dirty trick if you wish. But I found the opportunity to meet you, and if I fail, it’s just as bad for me. So, instead, I’d like to impart my abilities to you to create a big ripple in the flow of causality.”

“Now that’s a funny joke. What if I learn Vishnu’s and Shiva’s powers and decide to kill your brothers? There’s no guarantee I won’t.”

Though I spoke harshly, Brahma didn’t flinch. “If that’s what you desire, then by all means. There’s no such thing as good or evil in power, and it’s a path I’ve chosen, so what’s to resent? If I must bear the grudges of my brothers, so be it. Of course, if they understood the situation, they wouldn’t resent me…”

“…?”

“Even if I must accept all of that, I still wish to teach you my powers. It’s about leaving behind a legacy in this world.”

Won’t they resent it? Teaching their abilities to an enemy who might kill them?

Brahma’s words defied all common sense, yet he didn’t seem to doubt it in the slightest. I found myself slightly intrigued by Brahma’s detached demeanor.

“…Fine. But I won’t be wielding divine power as my main weapon, so I might never use what you teach me.”

Brahma pondered for a while before saying, “Martial arts, huh? You wish to decide your own fate according to the Martial God… That could be good.”

What a curious guy.

A while later, after deliberating deeply, I finally replied. “All right.”

“Now, sit cross-legged and concentrate on your upper dantian.”

BZZZZT

Following Brahma’s instructions, I focused on my upper dantian, and suddenly, my cognitive abilities skyrocketed as if the sensations of a superhuman filled my entire being. As my divine energy began to surge forth uncontrollably, Brahma seemed astonished.

“I expected it, but the amount of divine power you possess… impressive.”

“Is that a problem?”

“Not really. In fact, with this range of divine powers you’ve accepted, it won’t be an issue to add my brothers’ souls into the mix.”

After saying that, Brahma sat behind me and reached out with his six arms, placing them on my back. As his hands rested on me, I felt distinct types of divine powers emanating from each one, flowing into me. For a brief moment, it felt like I was receiving a martial art essence from Brahma.

“There’s a lot of influence from the Wheel King in this. An incredible force of the Wheel is forcibly tearing through various divine powers and stabilizing them.”

It seemed Brahma had caught on that the Wheel King had helped stabilize my divine power the last time I accidently ended up in the Underworld.

I questioned Brahma, “Is it a problem?”

“None at all. Indeed, the Wheel King is quite something. To have the capability to regulate powerful divine powers using only the Wheel’s might… Truly, someone who can manage death itself.”

Brahma’s tone was slightly admiring. Then he added suddenly, “However, this stability isn’t achieved by your own power. Do you really understand how to wield this power from the Wheel? Can you exert control over this power that’s manifesting from your upper dantian?”

“I need to understand it?”

“Relying on the Wheel is akin to using someone else’s blade. If you won’t ever have to face the Wheel King again, then you need not understand it.”

“…!!”

In that moment, I grasped the meaning hidden within Brahma’s words. At the same time, I began to think that I might have inadvertently fallen into a trap.

“…Is that so?”

With his pointed remark, I cautiously asked Brahma, “Is there a good method?”

“The best method is for you to grasp the Wheel yourself and digest it with your own power. After all, the Wheel itself holds no malice; it’s just a sword lent to you. However, if you lack confidence in mastering it, it would be advisable to build a balance within you by establishing the three laws.”

“Three laws?”

“It’s about turning this simple system, where everything is being chopped up by the Wheel, into a three-legged balance. To do that, you’ll need two primary supports that possess equal strength to the Wheel. One of those will be your innate strength, which you’ve completely digested so far, and the other will be rounded up wild cards that haven’t yet been controlled.”

“Hmm… that sounds complicated.”

“I will now use the power of creation to create partitions for you. Let’s start.”

BANG!

In the next moment, a tremendous divine force surged into my body through Brahma’s six hands. Within that force, I could clearly feel two massive chunks, and my instinct immediately recognized their identities.

‘Souls of Vishnu and Shiva!’

The current of their souls grew increasingly intense. Simultaneously, the Wheel King’s force, which had been stabilizing my divine power, began to feel strong again.

BZZZZZZT

The Wheel revolved endlessly like a rotating circular blade while continually suppressing the chaotic magic and divine power that sprang forth. Thanks to that Wheel, it became easy for me to manipulate divine power, so I was grateful for it. However, I realized I absolutely cannot be completely reliant on it, so I concentrated on the flow Brahma was transmitting.

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!!

Suddenly, three differently colored jewels manifested within the realm of consciousness.

White, blue, and red—these three colors undoubtedly symbolized the powers of the Three Great Gods, and the jewels spread out moments later, creating a grand partition that began to categorize divine power.

While mesmerized by that process, I heard Brahma’s voice.

“All right, here we go!!”

WHOOSH!!

Suddenly, with a bright, rainbow hue, the three jewels were embedded in the central partition, creating ‘balance.’

Once that sequence ended, I regained my senses, and Brahma’s voice came from behind me.

“Gods tend to be strongly bound by the attributes bestowed upon them at birth. Naturally, Shiva, who takes up destruction, becomes violent, while Vishnu, with the attribute of preservation, strives to stabilize the world.”

“…”

“And as for those of us who possess the attribute of creation, we share a common desire… that is, the wish to create the world we envision! This is the most vital talent of creation.”

A moment later, Brahma spoke with a voice that seemed filled with trepidation.

“…But wait, I sensed shards from your subconscious world….”

Brahma hesitated before elaborating. “Your true heart… Why does that wish feel so contrary to the talent necessary for creation?”

“`

 

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