전생검신 85권 7화

Gu Mang?

Phew!!

Before I could even think about what the heck your name meant, hundreds of dark “somethings” came flying from all directions, piercing right through me before I could dodge. It was a clear reminder that this was far more lethal than that earlier attack from Zhongli Quan; I could feel a jolting pain inside me from the thrust.

“Ouch…?! How?!”

This is a machine body! There’s no way I should be feeling pain, but I clearly did. As I panicked in disbelief, Gu Mang seemed to read my mind.

[The Divine Tree will dig into your soul and eat you alive. Resisting will only bring you more pain, so just give up quietly!]

Divine Tree?

Only then did I realize the form of Gu Mang’s attack that had almost incapacitated me. What was piercing me were hundreds of tree trunks. Each of these trunks held astonishing power, far beyond anything I felt from Zhongli Quan’s original form.

Moreover, what was flowing through these trunks was divine power!

This divine power was gnawing directly at my soul, making me feel what pain really was.

I didn’t know Gu Mang’s true identity, but I could tell he was someone formidable, prompting a deep sense of dread within me.

“Hmm… This guy… seems as strong as Zhu Rong.”

If he wielded divine power so freely, I had no chance against him as a mere mortal!

Facing such an opponent, even if I brought my true power, I wouldn’t be able to wipe him out in an instant. Not to mention, this hunk of scrap metal couldn’t possibly win against him. Realizing just how dangerous the Zhuge Clan was, I felt a chill.

“Three more like this guy, combining forces with the Master of the White Lotus Sect…? No way! I can’t last!?”

If I just give up here, the Zhuge Clan will definitely die!

That thought sparked a surge of stubbornness and determination within me. I absolutely wouldn’t tolerate the Zhuge Clan being killed off so easily after all I’d gone through!

“If I can’t win, then I’ll figure something out!”

I’ve faced adversity before, so I had a good sense of how to respond. Since I’d often been up against stronger foes, I knew that just because victory didn’t seem apparent, I shouldn’t do nothing. With that in mind, I joked around a bit.

[Did you say Gu Mang? Sounds like quite the dignified character, but aren’t you ashamed to gang up on just one Zhuge Sa?]

Gu Mang flinched at my provocation before replying.

[We never expected to team up against a mere mortal. However, the power of that demon exceeded our expectations, so I don’t regret teaming up!]

[……]

[Once I received the orders from my superiors, I cast aside any shame. You should prepare to die soon!]

Chuaak!

With that, Gu Mang thrust a trunk of the Divine Tree straight towards my head. Seeing the attack coming, I decided to give it my all and try a technique I hadn’t attempted yet.

“I don’t know if it’ll work… but here goes nothing.”

Focusing all the energy in the only intact arm of the Oreycalcos, I aimed to use it as a medium for the technique.

If I failed, I’d probably die, but I didn’t worry about that.

I’ve never failed to concentrate this much before.

Steal…!!

With my will, the Ultimate Technique I often used unfolded through the alchemical arm.

Thud thud!

Grumble…

In the next moment, I broke free from the grasp of the Divine Tree and sank even deeper into the abyss. Gu Mang seemed flustered to see me escape.

[How did you do that?!]

[……]

I didn’t have time to explain that I had stolen the Divine Tree’s vitality using the Technique of All Things to break free.

“Can’t believe this actually worked.”

I definitely couldn’t use willpower or Intent Heavenly Pillar in this mechanical body, so how did I just use the Technique of All Things?

I had a moment of confusion, but I realized there wasn’t time to dwell on it, so I stretched my arm out forward.

Sephiroth – Sublimation!!

Zap!

In the next instant, I was engulfed by the magic of the World Tree and shot back out of the abyss, returning right to the garden of the Master of the White Lotus Sect where I had originally arrived.

“Now this worked out!”

I utilized sublimation, one of the three realms of Sephiroth – Infinite, Amplification, and Sublimation – to return from another dimension to my original world. Sublimation, a changing attribute ability that flips all properties and locations, seemed to allow for dimension travel.

Chuaak!!

But as soon as I returned to my original dimension, Gu Mang’s Divine Tree trunk sprang out from the subspace and attacked me.

[Ugh!]

I quickly reinforced my body to dodge the Divine Tree and tumbled away. The reason I had to roll was that my steel legs were completely wrecked from Gu Mang’s earlier attack, so I couldn’t walk properly.

“Damn, I’ve lost mobility, what do I do now? How do I—Ah!”

Just then, a brilliant idea struck me.

Anyway, right now I’m not even a living creature, am I?

So as long as I can fly around, does it really matter that I don’t have legs?

Focusing the magic energy on the torn leg section, I expelled it with force.

[Whoa!!]

Roarrrr!

A moment later, I soared into the air, making it much easier to dodge the Divine Tree’s attacks. And as I floated, Gu Mang, who had been relentlessly attacking me, seemed to realize that his attacks were no longer working. He appeared from another dimension and said with an uncomfortable voice.

[What a hideous sight you present.]

I totally got why he said that; from the perspective of others, I was just a head, torso, and the arm of the Oreycalcos, floating around like a grotesque steel being with most of my limbs missing.

I smirked back at him.

[It seems less ugly for a god to not finish off a mere mortal after all this effort.]

[……]

Gu Mang displayed an irritated expression but didn’t seem overly agitated.

Yeah, I could confirm it now.

Those three are beings with a level of divinity that can’t even be compared to a Demon King!

They seemed to be ancient powers from a bygone age that were hardly ever seen on this planet, and it felt weird that they came all the way here just to assist the Master of the White Lotus Sect.

And at that moment, the Master of the White Lotus Sect, watching from a distance, finally spoke.

[Who are you?]

Is this finally my chance to chat with the Master of the White Lotus Sect?

I thought revealing my identity would end this pointless scuffle, but just as I opened my mouth—

[I am……]

Suddenly, I sensed something unusual. I hadn’t noticed it earlier due to the chaos, but the sight before me was something I couldn’t believe.

Drip. Drip. Drip…

The hooded figure of someone mutated into a landlord’s demon was leaking blue blood, gripped in the hands of the Master of the White Lotus Sect. There was no doubt that it belonged to Zhuge Sa.

It was too late.

In that brief time I was attacked by Gu Mang, the Master of the White Lotus Sect combined forces with the others and had already taken out Zhuge Sa.

[…… Ah, ahh…….]

W-what just happened…….

Is this really happening among my companions… and I couldn’t do anything to stop it?!

In my stunned state, the Master of the White Lotus Sect glanced down at Zhuge Sa’s severed head in his hand and asked.

[What is your relationship with Zhuge Sa? I’ve never heard of any subordinates like you belonging to him.]

[…….]

Stunned, I stammered, barely finding my voice.

[Ma-master… Why did you kill Zhuge Sa?!]

[Is that what you want to ask first?]

[Answer me!! Why did you do it!! He was a comrade!!!]

I practically shouted, and the Master of the White Lotus Sect tossed Zhuge Sa’s severed head to the ground without a second thought, swiftly stomping on it to crush it.

Crack!!

[……!!]

[Because the Master of the Heretical Sect is someone you can’t deal with unless you kill him first.]

[…… Doko… Uncheon!!]

My anger boiled over. No matter how much the Master of the White Lotus Sect was a former comrade, this action went way beyond anything I could comprehend.

Kugugu!

As I boiled over with fury, the Master of the White Lotus Sect took my killing intent head-on and momentarily looked puzzled.

[No way… you are…?]

[That’s right!! I am……]

Just as I was about to finally reveal my identity to the Master of the White Lotus Sect out of rage, a voice interrupted me.

“Don’t reveal your identity to the Master of the White Lotus Sect. You can’t do that right now.”

I thought it was my own thought, but that voice I recognized well echoed in my mind.

I froze.

As I stood motionless, the voice continued.

“Hehe… you’re acting quite out of the ordinary. I never expected you to follow me all the way by stealing a body. If you can use the Soul Exchange Technique to such a degree, you must have the talent to lead a Heretical Sect. You’re doing very well…”

Questions filled my throat, but I decided not to dwell on them any longer. There wasn’t time for that now, and above all, there was no one in this world I could trust more than the being communicating with me in my mind.

When I remained silent, the voice continued.

“The Master of the White Lotus Sect intentionally provoked you with that last aggressive move. Because even though he successfully eradicated my physical body, he couldn’t stop the casting of the Soul Exchange Technique.”

……!!

“He was trying to provoke you to find out the source of my soul. So he insulted my hollow shell of a body to bait you.”

So that was his intention?

Once I understood the situation, the voice continued.

“Now that I’ve told you this much, you understand. Our objective right now is to escape from here.”

Is that even possible?

It seems pretty tough to escape in this hunk of metal against such monstrous beings…

“Normally, it would be impossible. But thanks to you bringing something quite good, I think it might be possible.”

You can’t be talking about this arm?

“Exactly. I didn’t think it would be possible, but it seems Even Sinha successfully crafted the legendary Oreycalcos. Open a path for me into that arm, and I can take control!”

…….

I finished my mental meeting and glared at the Master of the White Lotus Sect ahead of me, saying.

[Master… next time we meet, I’ll make sure you regret today’s actions!]

[If there is a next time.]

Kawaguang!!

The Master of the White Lotus Sect unleashed a mighty One Palm strike towards me. That blow nearly matched the strength he held back in the days of the Great Bear Empire, revealing just how much power he had amassed in the past twenty years. But just as the Master’s attack was about to reach me—

Paat!

I suddenly found myself in some far-off, unknown place.

Tzzz…

But with the sight of the red sand desert, I could somewhat guess I was in a dangerous area on the outskirts of a city. I propelled myself with magical energy and floated in the air as I said.

[Did I successfully escape?]

The voice rang out inside me.

“Indeed.”

[How did that happen?]

“I may be much stronger than you, but the hierarchy of the Sephiroth I can work with is higher than yours. I used the magical affinity of the Oreycalcos to cast the strongest return spell I could use. I could use it once a day, ignoring all dimensional interferences.”

[…….]

“Hehe, I thought I might have to manage it alone when you couldn’t accompany me, but I never expected it to work out like this.”

Hearing that sinister laughter, I was at a loss for words.

[Damn… Zhuge Sa!! You’re dead right now! And you’re laughing?!]

It was true.

The voice that had just entered my soul and lay dormant was Zhuge Sa!

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“Haha… just escaping from those beings we just fought is already a victory for me. The Master of the White Lotus Sect has displayed his critical weakness to me, and yet I still have my trump card.”

[No way… let’s set that aside… When did you use the Soul Exchange Technique?]

He must have shifted bodies using the ultimate technique of the Soul Exchange Technique, but when exactly did he do that? I had no clue. As I panicked, Zhuge Sa responded.

“The Soul Exchange Technique also has a grace period; I merely had to wait in an inconspicuous presence until the moment I desired to switch bodies. However, there is a time limit, which was quite frustrating. Thankfully, your appearance allowed me to switch without concern.”

“…….”

If life and death can be swapped so easily, is it really possible to kill Zhuge Sa?

I started to understand a little why the Master of the White Lotus Sect had provoked me in that manner.

I fell momentarily speechless, then spoke to Zhuge Sa.

[Zhuge Sa… why did you fight the Master of the White Lotus Sect? And who were those Gu Mang guys assisting him?]

“I fought over how to save this world.”

[What?]

“I claimed I could wait until you arrived to resolve things, but the Master of the White Lotus Sect desired to save the world in his own way. And those divine beings are powers he allied with.”

[…….]

“Now, Baek Woong… we have lots to discuss, but for now, let’s move. You need to sort out that wreck of a body, and I need to seek a new vessel.”

I realized Zhuge Sa’s words meant this was a complicated issue that could take a while to explain. It certainly seemed like a deep mess. I sighed and spoke.

Sigh, where should we go? I can’t go to Luoyang or Gaebong…

“Of course, we head to Soeul Castle.”

From Zhuge Sa’s words, I could tell how intricately tangled this world was.

“Meet Kim Manje, the Master of the Thousand Materials Sect. He’s the only one who can assist us now.”

[…….]

Wait… did I just misunderstand something?

“Why’s that?”

[The… Thousand Materials Sect… is it named after Kim Manje?]

“Yes. They’re currently the greatest force in the Central Plains, rivaling the strongest in Luoyang.”

[…….]

The folks in Soeul Village are a heretical sect?!