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“Bring it on, everyone!”

Having easily dispatched the Seraphim, I shouted exuberantly. Right now, I felt like no one could defeat me!

As I moved a bit further, an increasingly bizarre and grotesque street emerged. Living tree trunks and tentacles stretched out from every street and building in Luoyang, where people were being devoured, almost merging with the trees. Some were even conscious, but being eaten alive was no different from living hell. The ominous邪氣 (evil aura) and the unsettling presence of monsters lurking around instilled fear in the living.

“Ugh… this is horrific.”

No wonder Mangnyang’s complexion had soured considerably. If it was an ordinary human, it would surely be the same. It felt like I was staring at a cosmic nightmare.

However, oddly enough, I felt remarkably calm and didn’t feel a hint of fear or vigilance. I thought it was strange that I felt this way.

‘How weird. If it were in the early 30th cycle, I would’ve been shaken with emotions, but now I can’t even think.’ I couldn’t even tell if this cosmic horror was truly frightening.

No… I felt like I didn’t even understand ‘why’ I should be afraid?

This sensation was completely different from merely enduring fear with a steely resolve. I felt like I had ascended to a level far beyond that.

Then, after walking about a hundred more steps, the next guardian appeared.

The Asura frowned as he spotted a divine being ahead.

“Looks like a stronger one than before… Do you know who that is, Baek Woong?”

……

Swish—

I fell silent as I gazed at the wondrous being, spreading dozens of beautiful wings. With a refreshing aqua hue and a mystical silver glow, this entity didn’t seem human, but more like an alien race. The massive divine energy radiating from it was several times more potent than that of the Seraphim, and I could sense that everyone around me, aside from me, was feeling a little intimidated by this being.

Of course, I knew who this being was, so I waved my hand in greeting.

“Nice to meet you, Gabriel! You were one of the rulers of the Sephiroth, right?”

Gabriel!

The ruler overseeing one of the Seven Heavens of the Sephiroth!

Mangnyang, who was listening beside me, appeared shocked.

“You mean… that being is a god?”

“Probably…”

As I responded to Mangnyang, Gabriel, with eyes shimmering with silver light, looked at me and returned my greeting.

[It’s nice to see you again, Baek Woong, after you turned down my proposal.]

Strong reactions from my companions filled the air. It was surprising that such a powerful divine entity would acknowledge me. I nonchalantly replied to Gabriel’s words.

“You really didn’t want to resurrect Saitan, did you? That’s none of my business.”

[If you weren’t interested, you could have just accepted my proposal.]

“Sorry, but I’ve made way too many contracts, so I don’t casually make promises anymore. Plus, I’ve got a rough idea about Aion and Demiurge.”

[……]

“So, are we going to fight? I’d appreciate it if you could just step aside.”

Gabriel sighed heavily.

[Haah – What would be the meaning of me battling you, being the one favored by the Archangel?]

“So that means you won’t?”

[However, I was summoned with a more definite contract than the Seraphim. To just walk away empty-handed would be against the contract… Let’s exchange a few moves.]

“What?!”

Buzzing—!!

In the next moment, a divine sword manifested in Gabriel’s hands. Holding the divine sword centered on his body, Gabriel took on a peculiar stance of Western swordsmanship and coldly stated.

[If you can inflict sufficient damage on me, I will retreat without hesitation. Show me the skill that once fought evenly with the Commissioner Abraxas.]

“Hmph…”

What a tricky situation!

As I pondered what to do, Susanoo stepped forward with his Totsuka-no-Tsurugi in hand.

[Oh, divine being of the otherworld, you’re rather arrogant. I know you are a formidable presence, but do you think you can act so grandly here?]

Pointing his sword at Gabriel, Susanoo commanded with fierce resolve, but Gabriel merely retorted without any hesitation.

[Feel free to attack. I won’t bat an eye, no matter how many of you come at me. I shall withstand it all.]

[… You arrogant fool!!]

With a roar!

Susanoo’s divine energy flared up, and Totsuka-no-Tsurugi was swung with tremendous force.

The divine technique!

Heavenly Feather Light!

Previously witnessed once, Susanoo’s ultimate technique! The sword imbued with divine power split into hundreds of thousands of Sword Shadows, attacking Gabriel with monstrous momentum, much like the Sword Flying Technique. Being a technique so powerful that even a human expert would struggle to defend against it, it certainly asserted that he was a divine being. Its power, which had effortlessly shredded the colossal Palchoa that was a level above Apostle-class, could not be ignored.

However, in that instant, when Susanoo’s divine energy surged forth, Gabriel’s wings fluttered, emanating light.

Four Great Archangels!

Unique Authority!

Trinity Weaver!

Chit-ching!

At the same time, every single Heavenly Feather Light conjured by Susanoo suddenly froze in place and seemed to melt away. Still, not all of it was negated, as several attacks actually rained down on Gabriel, but after a simple breath from Gabriel, all those attacks were absorbed into him.

Swish!

[……!!]

I was astonished that the Asura Susanoo’s attack could be so effortlessly neutralized!

‘Somehow, it seems like he’s using a property of the World Tree…’

As I was judging Gabriel’s abilities, Susanoo unexpectedly flinched.

[Ugh!]

Gabriel, not moving from his spot, spoke up.

[Among the Four Great Archangels, my defensive prowess is unmatched… You might win, but I assure you, I won’t fall easily.]

Of all days, why did the archangel specialized in defense have to be summoned?!

‘No… it must be intentional. Hermes must have aimed to buy as much time as possible, so summoning someone like this is only natural.’

This is troublesome. It looked like Gabriel wasn’t summoned at full power, but he still had enough strength to rival the Old Ruler. Charging in blindly would only waste time.

Rumble!!

Just then, a massive swirl of bloodlight erupted behind Gabriel, and I felt the entire Luoyang quiver like an earthquake. Sensing the tremors, I addressed Gabriel.

“What is going on now? What are you scheming?”

[I wouldn’t normally say this, but for you, I will. Hermes is intending to detach a portion of our World Tree and summon it into this realm.]

“What?!”

My eyes widened in shock, and my companion Abe no Seimei gasped even more.

“That’s impossible!! There’s no way such a thing could happen according to the Law of Cause and Effect!”

[Normally, yes. However, it seems Hermes has acquired a rather interesting store of causalities in this world. He plans to summon it at any cost.]

“What do you mean by ‘store of causalities’?”

[It seems to have been created using alchemy. In any case, the Four Great Archangels will honor the summoning contract, so please knock me out and leave.]

……

… This is feeling a lot tougher than I’d anticipated when facing Hermes. If I had progressed normally through the early 30th cycle, I would’ve died multiple times due to Hermes…

With that thought, I sighed and said, “Ugh, damn. Why do all the strong opponents line up just in front of me?”

[It’s unexpected to hear you whimper like that. Just show me the power that once defeated the Commissioner.]

“So you’re basically sticking around because you want to see my power for yourself, huh?”

[Heh, indeed.]

“Tch.”

I frowned and addressed Dalgi and Susanoo beside me.

“Hey. You two handle him. I’m going after Hermes. The rest can catch up slowly.”

[Understood.]

[You got it.]

As Dalgi and Susanoo stepped forward, Gabriel looked taken aback.

[You’re not going to fight directly? Are you running away cowardly?]

“Run away? Heck no… I just don’t want to do what you want. That’s the basics of military tactics.”

[You think you can just ignore me and leave?]

“Yep!”

[Teleporting with divine power would merely be blocked by the barrier…]

I confidently shouted, “I don’t need to do any of that!”

With a clap, I suddenly cast the Soul Removal Technique, staging a surprise attack on Gabriel before immediately executing the Technique of All Things.

Swish!

As I dashed past Gabriel, he looked utterly bewildered.

[No!! Where are you…]

Ta-dat!

I muttered as I turned my back to Gabriel.

“For a moment there, I borrowed the divine power you use for sensing.”

Even though I couldn’t actually keep it as my own and it was only a small fraction, it was simple to create a blind spot temporarily by stealing a hint of the sensing divine power from guys like him who usually relied heavily on external methods.

‘But hey, it worked just like I thought?’

Turning it around on those who depend on divine power seems to be an unexpectedly effective trick!

Maybe I should use this tactic to shake them off in the future?

Swish!

Bang—!!

Gabriel’s annoyed scream echoed as I had already distanced myself greatly, and my remaining comrades began their joint attacks on him. I figured even if it took time, my companions wouldn’t lose. If Gabriel were summoned in his complete form, he might wipe them all out easily, but being summoned in this state, he was overwhelmingly weaker than his true self, allowing my companions to have a fair shot.

‘Alright. That massive bloodlight must be at the center, where Hermes is!’

Ta-dat!

When I finally reached the center of the bloodlight, it felt like a lava of magical energy was swirling, with the density of magical power being absurd, to the point where I felt contaminated just by being nearby. Right in the middle floated Hermes, grotesquely transformed like a hideous monster, and appearing in the form I had seen before.

A gigantic black serpent that could fill the heavens!

The petrifying aura emitted from that serpent seemed beyond any force to dispel, and I was aware I must remain cursed until the end of the universe, making me feel compelled to be cautious. Previously I managed to negotiate a pay-off using the powers of commerce, but now, I doubted I’d have the funds to counteract that energy.

As if he sensed me, Hermes let out a curse of rage.

[Now I understand… You must be the Reborn One… I had my doubts, but now it’s clear… How could I have overlooked the possibilities of a Reborn One all along…?]

Strong silence filled the air.

[When did you visit the Tree of Sephiroth? Which layer did you reach?]

“The Third Layer.”

[Hehe… Quite impressive… Is your aim to ascend to the peak of the Sephiroth in the future…?]

As Hermes let out sinister laughter, he continued,

[However… you’ve made a grave mistake… If I cannot contend with you… then I too can relinquish everything!]

“What?”

[If I cannot attain the world, then I hold no attachment to it!]

Rumble—!!

Moments later, the sky began to rip open dramatically. I stared blankly at ‘something’ descending slowly from the dark, ominous sky, and within an instant, I was startled awake, my eyes wide.

“……?!”

What in the world is this?

Could it be?!

One by one, figures emerged from the darkness, wearing crowns of emperors—

From each of them, I could feel distinctive divine powers, and they were remarkably strong. This indicated that the potency of the offerings Hermes had provided was no trivial matter.

As one of the emperors, who had begun to descend from the darkness, opened his icy gaze upon me.

[Is it you who dared to claim to be my apostle?]

The voice belonged to none other than Jeon Wook.

Not just Jeon Wook, but the eyes of the surrounding summoned emperors turned towards me one by one.

I felt my body gradually stiffen as I was exposed to their collective gazes.

Indeed.

The avatars of the Three Sovereigns had all appeared at once.

 

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