전생검신 Volume 90, Chapter 04

A moment later, Jeon Wook pointed his hidden weapon at the group of the Old Ruler.

[Well, there are some familiar faces and some unfamiliar ones.]

[So, you’re asking for mercy, Jeon Wook?]

[You can’t be serious…]

Then, Jeon Wook emanated an ominous black light as the Giant God of Black Flame.

[Even so, it means there will be no mercy from me today!]

Zap –

A beam of black light fell from the sky like a comet. But that black light was actually a massive spear infused with Jeon Wook’s power, and the moment it struck the ground, five of the Old Ruler were taken out in an instant.

Boom!

[Aaaargh!]

[Ugh!]

Not stopping there, Shennong laughed heartily and charged ahead.

[Hahaha… What tremendous fighting spirit you have, Jeon Wook! It’s impressive you’re not intimidated by this many!]

Crash!

[AAARGH…!!]

When Shennong’s massive axe slammed into the body of an unidentifiable magical beast-like Old Ruler, it howled in agony. However, it didn’t go down in a single blow and instead extended dozens of strange tentacles to unleash its powers.

[Take this!]

At the same time, a multitude of spiraling whirlwinds summoned from all directions! Each of those whirlwinds spewed forth a ghastly, fluorescent energy that was clearly the polluted malice of the universe itself. But Shennong stood his ground and roared back.

[Hrm!!]

Whoosh!

The white flames erupting from Shennong incinerated all the whirlwinds in an instant, and the flames flowed into his axe, setting the Old Ruler ablaze.

[Grrraaah!!]

Unlike the inferior rulers who had been falling before Shennong and Jeon Wook until now, this one showed a defiant air, resisting with its magic even as it burned in the white flames. Shennong, the Giant King, seemed intrigued by its considerable power.

[Oh, you’re still not dead? So you’re the mad kind, Tankaroon… Ruler of over fifty star clusters.]

It appeared that Shennong and Tankaroon were familiar with each other.

[Tch, Shennong! No matter how high in rank you are, do you think you can survive against this many?]

[Heh heh… No matter how many rabble you gather, if you were afraid of mere mobs, how could you have fought against the past emperor?]

[…….]

[We have a new Supreme Being now. You will regret this!]

Boom!!

[Ugh.]

Moments later, Shennong swung his axe down harder, smashing the Old Ruler, the Mad Tankaroon, into the ground and fully subduing him. With his divine body shattered, Tankaroon seemed to have fainted, continuously bleeding divine blood that soaked the earth.

Stagger…

The surrounding Old Rulers seemed stunned by the outcome of the duel.

[Tankaroon…!!]

[So Shennong was that strong…!]

I watched the Old Rulers’ reactions, feeling somewhat dumbfounded. The presence of Shennong and Jeon Wook had stirred the battlefield as fiercely as any legendary general would.

So I slyly approached Tezcatlipoca to ask.

[… What’s going on? No matter how much the Three Sovereigns are facing off, how can there be such a disparity?]

Tezcatlipoca calmly responded.

[You must already know. Though they are lumped together as “Old Rulers,” many of them are hardly different from high-ranking demons, and their power levels vary drastically. The Three Sovereigns are undeniably recognized as the top-tier rulers of the countless cosmoses, and among them, Shennong and Jeon Wook are famous for their martial arts prowess, so it makes sense.]

[…….]

I was left speechless. I had completely forgotten how formidable they were after facing all those powerful beings, but now I felt I had a clearer understanding of the position of the Three Sovereigns.

A coalition of eight overwhelmingly powerful gods recognized across the universe!

That significance was far greater than I had ever imagined. They were existences that humanity could not even dream of challenging.

‘Damn it… Why do such amazing beings have to gather on this Earth…?’

I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or troubled.

As I was internally grumbling, Tezcatlipoca spoke up.

[Even so, it’s surprising that Tankaroon fell in one blow. He was a formidable presence renowned throughout the universe… Was Shennong really that strong?]

[Is that strange?]

[It is! The Shennong I saw in ancient times wasn’t this powerful. He’s certainly shown an entirely new level of strength.]

[…….]

Shennong has become stronger?

‘Tsk… It’s hard to gauge strength when there’s no divine energy…’

If he had at least shown the divine power I remembered, it would have been easy to compare his strength, but now it was rather difficult. His divine energy had dropped so low that it was hard to ascertain the strength of those at higher levels.

As I was in confusion, Tezcatlipoca suddenly smirked.

[Heh heh… But the Zhuge Clan you’ve gathered isn’t just a bunch of nobody either. It’s about to start.]

Huh?

Zap!

[That guy.]

[You’re getting a bit too cocky!]

No sooner had he finished speaking than the King of Hell and Rounkang both charged at Jeon Wook simultaneously. Jeon Wook, who had been slashing through lesser rulers, seemed to realize that the combined attack of the two wasn’t going to be easy, quickly summoning his powers to block and conjuring a dark shield around him.

Bang!!

Boom, boom, boom…

The collision of gods instantly colored the surroundings in light, filling the area with a white radiance reminiscent of a nuclear explosion. But the actual shockwave was thousands of times more powerful; you could see the dimensional spaces cracking and the very fabric of time and space collapsing due to the collision of divine beings.

Bzzzzzz!!

The King of Hell and Rounkang were strong enough to make Jeon Wook look challenged against them, unlike before. It seemed if they weren’t up against one another, they would rank among the gods.

[Aaaagh!]

[Come at me!]

And sensing the fierce atmosphere of the frontrunners, other Old Rulers began to rush in too.

Swish, swish, swish!!

Then, a Rainbow Snake appeared on the battlefield, summoning a bizarre rope with her fingertips. Shennong, too, was relentlessly knocking down enemies with his metal flail and axe, but once he spotted the Rainbow Snake, he hesitated and focused on her.

[Oh, Rainbow Snake… the ancient deity that emerged around the same time as Pangu… It’s disappointing to see such a revered being join this trivial group.]

As Shennong spoke reproachfully, the Rainbow Snake chuckled, her white hair dancing.

[Haha… Would you doubt the legitimacy of the causes certified by the Void Record? That’s like questioning the second most absolute being in the universe; it’s downright ridiculous.]

[Hrm, true enough.]

As Shennong replied, it was clear he was now concerned about the Rainbow Snake’s rope. No matter how powerful Shennong was, he couldn’t underestimate a rope containing the powers of Pangu.

[That maiden has seen and heard enough to have an idea about what will happen in the [Revelation]. That’s why I can’t let this opportunity slip away.]

With that, the Rainbow Snake aimed her coiled rope at Shennong.

[Why do you defy the natural order? A being that can secure the assets insured by the Void Record… No matter how formidable the Three Sovereigns may be, do you think you can oppose such a being? Is tangible power all that matters?]

[……!!]

[You’re dreadfully arrogant. Should I call it a lack of awareness?]

At her words, Shennong flinched. But just a moment later, he tightened his grip on his weapon and said.

[We’ve already made our choice. We have a huge plan you can’t even begin to suspect, so there’s no need for your concern.]

[Oh? Is the Heavenly Mysterious Woman over there secretly conducting the ceremony as part of that plan?]

The Rainbow Snake’s gaze fell on the Heavenly Mysterious Woman, who was quietly performing some sorcery off to the side. At her remark, Shennong scoffed.

[You’re perceptive. However, as long as I’m here, you won’t be able to disturb the Heavenly Mysterious Woman!]

[Oh, let’s see you try!!]

Whizzing—

The rope shot out from the Rainbow Snake’s hand, aimed straight for the Heavenly Mysterious Woman. Was it because it wasn’t traveling that fast?

[Hrm…!!]

Shennong immediately swung his axe to cut the rope, but in the next moment, the rope wrapped itself securely around his axe, immobilizing his movements entirely.

[……!!]

Despite being tied up with the rope, Shennong had a look of shock on his face. It seemed he couldn’t even bring himself to drop his weapon. The Rainbow Snake grinned mischievously.

[Looks like you’ve figured it out. The moment you let go, that rope will turn around and bind your very essence.]

[Your senior is quite crafty.]

[It’s a fair price to pay to restrict the movements of the Three Sovereigns. Now, let’s see how long you can endure against everyone’s combined attack!]

Swish!

Screech…

As the Rainbow Snake turned the tide, the stunned Old Rulers rushed in, attacking Shennong and Jeon Wook en masse. It was a straightforward strategy of ganging up on them while their movements were restricted, but with this kind of numerical advantage, it was undoubtedly the most powerful strategy possible.

And as I watched the shift in battle, I let out a cheer.

[Alright!! If it goes like this, we’ll win!]

Logically speaking, it was hundreds against just two.

No matter how much stronger Shennong and Jeon Wook had become, there was no way they could lose!

[…….]

But as I watched the scene, Tezcatlipoca, who had been deep in thought, suddenly remarked.

[This isn’t the time to let your guard down. Baek Woong, just how formidable an enemy have you made?]

[Huh?]

[…… It’s about to start.]

Just as Tezcatlipoca finished speaking, an immense lunar eclipse phenomenon arose from the heavens, growing more intense until something appeared from beyond the moon.

It was a pair of entities –

Those two, turning their backs to the moon, began to reveal their forms, and at that moment, I realized just how familiar those shapes were, widening my eyes in shock.

‘No… It can’t be…!!’

Though I anticipated their arrival when Shennong and Jeon Wook appeared at the same time…!!

Among them was a strikingly handsome and elegant youth, with a fan in hand, gazing down at the battlefield with an aura of majesty. He then broke into a jovial smile and bellowed aloud.

[Everyone, please halt for a moment!]

Boom!!

[……!!]

[……?!]

[Huh…?!]

Simply uttering a divine command was all it took.

Yet, at that single phrase, all the Old Rulers paused in their tracks. This included both Shennong and Jeon Wook.

Indeed, every being present swayed slightly, as if weighed down by some enormous force, barely able to maintain their stance.

Among them, only Tezcatlipoca stood unaffected and muttered, apparently displeased.

[So that brat became the leader of the Three Sovereigns…?]

Realizing what was happening, I felt a chill run through me.

‘Wha… What the hell… He just… crushed us with sheer power!’

What had occurred was simple. That youth appeared against the moon simply unleashed his divine energy to overwhelm everyone in attendance!

Of course, overpowering with sheer force doesn’t count as any particular power; it’s merely the release of energy. Thus, it wouldn’t affect beings of a certain level. Especially with upper-tier divine beings around, normally, it would just sound like a raucous shout.

However… the strength attached to that shout was simply unbelievable.

The overwhelming magnitude of that presence silenced everyone in the vicinity.

This meant that this being was truly positioned as an absolute being (絶對者).

To think he could silence all the fierce struggles of both the Old Rulers and the Three Sovereigns alike with just a single word!

The one who achieved that terrifying feat soon shifted his gaze towards me.

He was definitely looking directly at me, and as I felt his gaze, I froze.

‘Guh… Ugh…’

What was outwardly a breathtakingly beautiful figure of a youthful human was, in reality, the overwhelming divine power of an ancient draconic god of creation. Never did I think I would meet that existence as an enemy, which left me feeling utterly confounded.

A moment later, he wore a gentle smile and spoke.

“So you’re Jeon Wook, the Reborn Man. Good to meet you.”

[…….]

After a while, I collected my thoughts and responded with a voice scratched from my throat.

[Fuxi…!!]

It was Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns, who had appeared alongside his blood relative, Nüwa.

I could hardly believe it and yelled at Fuxi.

[You’ve become the new Supreme Being of the Three Sovereigns?!]

At my question, Fuxi lightly nodded.

“That’s right. Since Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen has been sealed, I’m now their Supreme Being.”

[Then why are you doing this… ?! You’ve mobilized all the Three Sovereigns to set up a trap!! Why?!]

“Why, you ask? Isn’t it obvious?”

At his next words, I was left speechless.

“The first and last opportunity for us Three Sovereigns to defy a Reborn Man is now.”