전생검신 93권 13화

I cut.

Countless thoughts and emotions crossed my mind, but in the end, the only thing that remained was that very fact. My sword had fulfilled its purpose, and that was the moment that those training in martial arts pursued.

Gush!

But at that moment, it felt like blood was gushing out from every hole in my face. Blood tears flowed from my eyes, while blood spilled over my ears, nose, and mouth, and somewhere inside my head, it felt like a large thread was snapping and burning away. I couldn’t even begin to describe that feeling. Throughout my life, I had experienced countless pains, but this was one that, while not overwhelmingly painful, brought me an instant despair far greater than anything else.

The sense of hopelessness that I would definitely not survive.

It meant that the price I had to pay for receiving a blow after giving up my divine power was far too heavy. My fundamental lifeblood that allows me to sustain my existence as a living being was breaking off strand by strand, almost like I had been pierced through all my vital points. With the medical knowledge and physical means I possessed, I could not prevent my imminent death. Allowing Jeon Wook’s attack without any defenses meant just that.

Additionally, in that fleeting moment, I had to make a choice.

Would I die?

Or would I live?

“……!”

I gritted my teeth and roared.

“Uwaaaaah!”

Crash!

In the next moment, all the power within me exploded outwards, momentarily pushing Jeon Wook back. I realized that I had enveloped myself in the dense pillar of thunder as my divine energy was being consumed at a terrifying rate.

“I can’t hold this for long!”

I knew.

The reason I was able to avoid death at this moment was solely due to inheriting the power of the Wheel King. The Wheel King’s words echoed in my mind like a memory.

[So, what does it mean when you reach a state of ‘death’?]

[One is when you acknowledge your own death.]

[Another is… when even if you do not acknowledge your death, all reason and spirit are crushed, leaving you unable to continue living.]

Even though my physical state was enough to kill me a hundred times over, simply refusing to acknowledge my death was a trick and a privilege that allowed me to avoid it. No matter how severe the injuries inflicted by Jeon Wook’s divine power, as long as my reason and spirit held out, I wouldn’t die, no matter how battered I became! This was akin to a unique ability I possessed by being a direct heir of the Wheel King’s divine power and status.

However, ignoring such a powerful divine attack to endure death certainly came at a price. I realized this truth and clenched my teeth.

“While I can ignore death, I cannot ignore damage…! At this rate, I will only end up enduring endless suffering as my spirit wanes!”

While this ability was indeed powerful against opponents of a similar level or weaker, it was a perfect recipe for disaster when facing someone stronger! That’s why just dying and giving up on this little game seemed like the more rational choice to end the pain, especially since there was no guarantee that Jeon Wook wouldn’t just turn me into a doll and torture me after I was half-dead.

Yet, I still chose to live and fight. And since I was set on fighting, enduring wouldn’t cut it; I decided to exert all my strength instead. As a result, rather than my divine power naturally returning to full strength, it seemed to start depleting at an alarming rate.

If this continued, I would surely self-destruct in no time.

“But that’s fine.”

As long as I can hold a sword!

Rumble!

Since I couldn’t regenerate the lost arm due to the interference of my divine power, I maintained the form of the Sword Phantom within the Thunder God Sword Name. In a fight against someone of Jeon Wook’s caliber, I couldn’t freely recover using divine energy.

For a moment, Jeon Wook, who had stepped back in surprise, spoke as if he found it amusing.

[That was quite a painful attack. Even my arm cannot regenerate. That technique… could it be… your master’s?]

Truly, he was a person of immense combat experience. Who could think of him as an arrogant Demon God when he saw through the essence of martial arts in an instant? Having fought and fought for countless billions of years, he wouldn’t be surprised by anything I did.

I replied without changing my expression.

“Killing your arm isn’t his skill. You really don’t know anything.”

…While I hadn’t quite mastered his technique due to circumstances, Jeon Wook burst into laughter at my response.

[Ha ha ha ha… It shouldn’t be a technique you can overlook. Let me show you!]

Whoosh!

Just as his words finished, a massive hidden weapon appeared in Jeon Wook’s hand. Seeing him not throw it but assume a stab stance, I realized that things were about to get serious.

Boom!

“……!”

In that moment, I felt as though my entire body had just exploded. Blood filled my throat, and it felt like I had been struck heavily by a giant blunt object, making me nearly lose consciousness. I finally realized what kind of attack I had just endured, and I felt my mind go blank.

“Did he just swing that giant hidden weapon… horizontally…?”

It wasn’t even a move worthy of being called a technique—just a wild swing!

However, it was packed with divine energy that ignored causality and ensured it hit without fail. Moreover, etched onto the surface of that hidden weapon seemed to be a powerful spell that Jeon Wook himself had inscribed. Thanks to the heightened divine energy, my pain was less intense than before, but coupled with that magic, I suffered massive damage.

Crash!

“Uwaaaaah! Argh!”

I screamed within, my insides screaming for escape. I shielded myself with divine energy, but it only formed a flimsy barrier. The impact felt like my body had exploded dozens of times over. In the chaos of continuous agony, I found myself regretting being alive.

Why didn’t I just die earlier? Am I going insane?

But at the same time, I clung to a single will – a very simple will.

“Still… I…”

Will not go down alone!

I’ll make Jeon Wook taste the bitter end too!

With that singular intent, I managed to withstand Jeon Wook’s blow. It was something only possible with an iron will no ordinary person could muster, yet somehow, I did it. Without pausing to recover, I continued to use the energy from my Thunder God Sword Name to stab down at Jeon Wook.

“Graaaar!”

Sword Name Straight Dive!

Heart-Chasing Thunder!

Crash!

Just after the thunderous crash passed, Jeon Wook’s head exploded. I felt the thrill of having finally targeted Jeon Wook’s head, filling me with elation.

“Yes!”

Earlier, Jeon Wook’s power had been so overwhelming that I only managed to cut off his arm, but this time, I had aimed for his head! An intense rush surged in my heart as I savored the thought that I had defeated him, only for me to suddenly sense something odd.

“Uh…….”

Jeon Wook’s momentum hadn’t lessened in the slightest…?

The moment I sensed this discomfort, Jeon Wook again struck down with the giant hidden weapon.

Boom!

“Graaaargh!”

I screamed as I was sent flying backward. I found it absurd that I had only been able to scream since earlier, but what was really astounding was something else entirely.

“Why… why?!”

I aimed right for his head, so why could he retaliate without a scratch?!

“Cough! Cough… Gack….”

As I lay face down on the ground, blood pouring from my mouth, I heard Jeon Wook’s divine voice.

[You aimed for my head, huh? I can see you’re just a naive chap.]

“Ugh… What…?”

[What worth is the form of my divine avatar? Ha ha ha ha.]

“……!”

Seeing Jeon Wook laughing heartily without a head or arms, it hit me hard just how mistaken I had been.

‘Gods… they aren’t living beings… even that is just an avatar… No matter how much you strike at it, you can’t truly kill it…’

Jeon Wook hadn’t summoned his true self; he was merely infusing power into an avatar. Though they may appear similar, they were entirely different. No matter how much damage I inflicted on Jeon Wook’s avatar, he could simply discard it like a broken toy. Furthermore, looking at the current situation, my heart-thunder wasn’t reaching Jeon Wook’s true self at all.

Logically speaking, as a mortal, I shouldn’t have been able to harm Jeon Wook’s avatar. But I couldn’t just stop there. I had to give Jeon Wook a taste of his own medicine while working hard with what little I could!

Then, a sudden realization struck me.

‘…No, it’s not like that… my heart-thunder felt different this time from my previous attack!’

No matter how much Jeon Wook might currently be in avatar form, a fully realized divine art should definitely reach him!

I wouldn’t fall for Jeon Wook’s ruse!

It was instinct.

I had a feeling that if my first attack hadn’t targeted his “arm” but “head” instead, the response would have been wholly different!

The attack I launched this time seemed visually similar to that first strike, but I realized something crucial was missing, and in an instant, countless thoughts raced through my mind.

“Oh… could it be…?”

Would I only gain the upper hand if I put everything on the line?

As I thought to understand something, Jeon Wook’s cold voice pierced through.

[Let me also show you the true usage of the Masks of Thunder!]

In an instant, Jeon Wook’s head regenerated. For some reason, unlike my first attack, this one could be restored.

Boom!

At that moment, two patterns appeared on either side of Jeon Wook’s shoulders. One was the pattern of the Mask of Thunder, while the other was one I’d never seen before. However, I immediately recognized what that unfamiliar pattern was, drawing a sharp breath.

“All his strength is about to be used…?”

[That’s correct.]

I felt the black light erupting from Jeon Wook’s eyes.

[Since you’ve held on thus far, I’ll grant you a fitting welcome. Witness what it means for me to fight you seriously… before you die!]

Rumble!

The two patterns began to spin around Jeon Wook’s body. As they gradually closed their distance, when they finally collided, a blinding light burst forth, and I watched as white veins of energy began to spread from Jeon Wook’s chest, extending rapidly throughout his body. When the aura completely settled over him, I felt a pressure on my entire body multiple times more intense than before.

Rumble!

“Uughhhhh!”

Even as I tried to burst forth my divine power, I was still overwhelmed by Jeon Wook’s momentum and could barely open my eyes as my limbs trembled. Eventually, I ended up gasping for breath, kneeling on one knee.

‘W-what the hell is this?’

This wasn’t the energy of the Three Sovereigns I was familiar with!

Having seen Jeon Wook in his natural state, I felt that the power he was putting forth now was several times stronger than what he used back then. As Jeon Wook softly murmured, I realized just what was happening.

[At last… I have regained all my primordial power.]

“……!”

Is that so…?

This was the true power of Jeon Wook, the Demon God, now unbound by any restrictions!

Realizing that he could potentially face the Sovereigns head-on and win, my mind began to swirl.

’The Emperor… didn’t place those restrictions on the Sovereigns for no reason…’

If he hadn’t, even as an Emperor, he wouldn’t have been able to command the other four gods without including himself!

This was the most powerful “Old Ruler” in the entire universe, a force formidable enough to be counted among the greatest!

Had I not been bursting with divine power, my body would have melted away into his magic long ago.

Previously, when Jeon Wook claimed the battle was not of strength, I thought he was just boasting, but that wasn’t true at all. Jeon Wook was indeed a being capable of facing the Three Sovereigns without a problem if all his seals were released.

Boom!

At that moment, I witnessed the heavens and earth bending towards Jeon Wook’s magic.

Sizzle! Sizzle!

The moon warped and distorted. Suddenly, a dark sky appeared, and the light of split stars was chaotically changing its orbit. The movement of the entire Earth twisted and curled as if even the slightest movement from Jeon Wook was causing ominous energy to surge through me. If Jeon Wook wished, he could probably shatter the sun with a single breath.

I realized amidst all this change that Jeon Wook had reclaimed enough power to obliterate the solar system with just his will.

‘Ah… ahhh…’

Even with this level of power, Jeon Wook was no Outer God. But witnessing my opponent’s sudden and overwhelming increase in strength, despair gripped my heart. If the probability of victory had dropped to less than 10% in a mere instant, who wouldn’t feel despondent?

The most frightening thought was that my sword now felt like nothing more than a toothpick against Jeon Wook’s cosmic energy.

In the face of such colossal magical might, could I even manage to pierce through with a single blow?

Even the most advanced alien weaponry developed over hundreds of thousands of years wouldn’t leave a scratch on him!

As I struggled to find my words, Jeon Wook suddenly extended a hand towards me.

[Naive one. Ending your life would be as easy as flipping a palm, but I shall grant you a chance.]

“……A chance…?”

[Bow your knee before me and renounce your words. Then I shall spare you and accept you as my subordinate, my second-in-command. You have what it takes.]

“……!”

[I’ve never extended such favorable conditions before. Think wisely.]

I fell silent at Jeon Wook’s words.

‘Such favorable terms…’

It could be correct. Given Jeon Wook’s nature, he would be well within his right to kill me on the spot, yet here he was, offering me an astonishing opportunity.

I didn’t know why Jeon Wook extended this kindness, but going by my principles from my past life, I had to accept this offer. I could easily smooth over my previous emotional outburst and finish this situation neatly without anyone criticizing me. In fact, I’d end up with the most favorable result.

…A favorable result.

Did I jump into this fight just to achieve that?

No.

If I were to evaluate purely based on that outcome… I wouldn’t have come this far at all.

I could have easily sweet-talked my way past the Three Sovereigns and simply slaughtered Hermes, after all. The Three Sovereigns by themselves would make perfectly fine hunting dogs, and I could have provided them enough value that I could simply cast aside that hunting dog.

Yet I foolishly chose to pursue this path, not solely because of emotions.

‘The path I desire.’

I long to prove my will through martial arts.

I know deep down that I cannot navigate through these trials indefinitely with mere compromises and conspiracies!

Glaring with recessed eyes, I looked directly at Jeon Wook and spoke.

“Jeon Wook…”

[Speak.]

“I want to witness the great Jeon Wook unable to flip a palm.”

[…….]

After a moment of being stunned, Jeon Wook burst into laughter.

[Ha ha ha! I like your guts but remember, there will be no further chances!]

Roar!

Dark Jade!

As Jeon Wook’s laughter faded, a pitch-black orb of power began to coalesce in the heavens. I instantly recognized what that was.

‘That’s just… a clump of magic…’

It was merely a conglomeration of Jeon Wook’s magic lacking any technique or spell. However, I had already sensed that this mass would definitely strike me, transcending all causality, and the strength held within it would easily obliterate my divine energy’s defenses. I felt anew the overwhelming combat experience that Jeon Wook possessed.

‘When there’s a gap as immense as this, throwing in attributes is pointless; a simple, straightforward assault must be met with brute force… Jeon Wook is definitely trying to kill me.’

He was a completely different being from someone like Hermes. A true battle incarnation who understood that the simplest attacks could be the strongest.

There was no question about the power behind it. That orb of magic had enough physical destructive force to erase even a star.

As I gazed at that floating magic mass, I thought,

‘I already know the answer. I know I messed up something earlier as well. My Thunder God Sword Name should be powerful enough to deal with Jeon Wook…’

I begrudged through clenched teeth.

‘But realizing that answer wasn’t enough. Ultimately… I need the stamina to withstand that mass of energy at least once!’

If only Jin So-cheong had been here! With her, maybe she could have split that magic mass without needing divine power. But I wasn’t Jin So-cheong, and I was a few steps short of being able to execute the ‘answer’ I needed. And every little bit of shortfall could easily cost me my life when faced with such overwhelming strength, so all I could do was maximize the power I held.

‘…Here I go.’

Soul of the Evil God!

Super Enhancement!

Boom!

In the next moment, I activated the Nine Chambers of Thunder Technique and quickly cycled the Soul of the Evil God. What I achieved over hundreds of years of training in martial arts was finally tied into the maximum physical performance of the Soul of the Evil God! Only when I could fuse the Soul of the Evil God four times and reach five would I finally approach the limits achievable through martial arts as a human.

But simultaneously, I felt the divine energy I had been consuming rapidly shrinking at an alarming rate. I knew this would happen, so I bit my lip.

‘I’m already close to being wrecked physically, and I’m burning divine energy to compensate! I must resort to using my divine energy in place of my life force!’

And I could only get the effects of enhancement once!

Within that single occasion, I had to withstand Jeon Wook’s assault and deliver my Thunder God Sword Name in retaliation.

Swish—!

The enhancement I had chosen for the Soul of the Evil God was the Thunder Spirit!

The realm of speed that transcended light!

At that moment, my body transformed instantly into light, and upon witnessing this transformation, Jeon Wook remarked,

[Die.]

In the next moment, a formless orb of magical power ignored all causality and struck me head-on. I experienced excruciating pain once more as the attack hit me directly, though deep down, I had expected this.

[Now I can effortlessly dodge in this state…! But godly attacks are inherently unavoidable!]

However, if I had predicted the attack, I had also to find a way to respond!

I poured all my effort into driving the power from my Super-enhanced Thunder Spirit into the magic mass breaking through.

[Uwaaaaaah!]

Was it because I briefly transcended the limitations of a human body? My voice resonated like divine words, spreading the energy of thunder across the land. All at once, a bright white light spanned beyond the horizon, and Jeon Wook’s magic mass began to intensify, twisting my form once more.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

[Uggggh!]

What overwhelming power! I had never expected that even using every ounce of my remaining divine power to strengthen the Soul of the Evil God would prove insufficient to dampen Jeon Wook’s magical mass’s rotational force. I could sense that any slight loosening on my part would result in my entire being being undone instantly. I painfully acknowledged the vast chasm between me and Jeon Wook.

‘…This… is how it is… No matter what tricks I employ, even if I were to utilize Trimurti, against such a huge power gap… I cannot win in a straightforward contest of divine energy.’

Countless battles had told me so.

Be it the Technique of All Things or Trimurti, no matter what cunning ploy, if Jeon Wook’s intent was genuine, one heavy blow from him would allow him to end me like a fly in an instant. In the eyes of the divine, I simply didn’t hold a candle to an entirely rejuvenated Jeon Wook.

In that case, since I had resolved to abandon my divine power for a duel, I would at least make it so I wouldn’t regret it in the end.

The divine power I possessed was only a stepping stone to oppose a deity, just enough to bridge the unreasonable gap temporarily for a single successful attack.

So resolved, I called out once more.

[Take everything…!]

Flash!

In the next moment, Jeon Wook’s magic mass stopped rotating and let out a blinding flash. At the same time, I registered the sensation of my whole body bursting apart as the Super-enhanced Soul of the Evil God dissipated, reverting me back to my battered human form. I had expended my entire potential in that moment.

Crack!

No arms. Blood flowed freely across my entire body. My legs were barely holding together, trembling uncontrollably.

In that moment, my once-mighty Thunder Spirit had vanished entirely.

With such a state, I knew it was impossible to even think of defeating Jeon Wook.

“But… I can still run.”

I could race forward.

I had endured one step against Jeon Wook!

Zing!

In the next moment, I sprinted towards Jeon Wook with everything I had, conjuring a brand-new sword from the air with all my will.

Heavenly Escape!

Thunder God Sword Name!

Originally, it would have been utterly impossible to charge at Jeon Wook with only that technique. I would undoubtedly take a hit from his magic. Any mortal under the Three Sovereigns could only vanish in an instant before that deadly divide.

Despite that unavoidable, absolute attack, I had managed to block it with every ounce of divine power I had left, culminating in this one step, within which I forced out the last remnants of Thunder God Sword Name’s energy.

Recognizing my Thunder God Sword Name, Jeon Wook chuckled mockingly.

[What a futile act.]

It might seem rather foolish after my last Thunder God Sword Name had proven ineffective.

Yet, I responded to Jeon Wook’s sneers from deep within my heart.

“To break!”

What more complications did I need to unravel?

Facing my opponent, I would simply swing the sword. That’s the only reason a sword even exists.

There are countless definitions of martial arts across the three realms, but here and now, my one definition was singular.

I would absolutely cut down Jeon Wook!

To pour everything I possessed into that one purpose!

Swish…

As if flowing like a wave, the blade of my Thunder God Sword Name began to extend, reaching for Jeon Wook’s neck. Even in that fleeting moment, Jeon Wook did not budge an inch. His stillness was neither due to not realizing my Thunder God Sword Name’s approach, nor from believing such a meager blade could ever harm him. As I sensed that unshakeable confidence guiding him, I understood just how formidable he truly was.

‘The reason my sword hadn’t genuinely cut Jeon Wook earlier wasn’t merely due to the avatar… it was Jeon Wook’s self-awareness!’

The tremendous will and confidence he possessed created an assurance that seriously diminished the power of my own will. It was clear that Jeon Wook made no effort to conceal that absolute will to never perish, generating a resistance that my Thunder God Sword Name couldn’t breach, so I could never reach his essence.

He was truly the strongest of the Four Gods, second only to the Emperor!

To pierce through that defense, I needed my own will that could shatter even Jeon Wook’s confidence. I couldn’t pinpoint how to describe it, but I felt the essence within my Thunder God Sword Name lacked something essential.

It was the leftover desire to survive.

That primal longing dulled the path that my blade was meant to take. Jeon Wook seemed to perceive that fact and felt unfazed by anything I might fire off, believing that as long as I wielded the Thunder God Sword Name, it wouldn’t pose a threat.

“I abandon this.”

I had to see all vestiges of wanting to win and survive against Jeon Wook as indulgent thoughts to forgo. I would simply view myself purely as a stepping stone for a single sword strike; I would make the ultimate sacrifice for just one perfect slash against him. It was my greatest desire to properly land a blow against Jeon Wook, even at the expense of every last fragment of my being…

With all of that synergized, the blade of my Thunder God Sword Name started resonating profoundly.

The price I paid sharpened my Thunder God Sword Name remarkably, a ridiculous notion that was finally brought to fruition. Had the Primordial Void finally revealed its shape?

Jeon Wook’s reaction shifted as he felt the resolute will emanating from the tip of my blade.

[This brat…!]

Though Jeon Wook attempted to catch the blade with his hand, it was already far too late. I had poured every ounce of life, divine energy, and will into that strike and hurled my full weight into cleaving through.

“Uwaaaah!”

Slice!

With a shriek that echoed like Jeon Wook’s scream, my blade sank into his neck but halted midway. I hadn’t thought it would grind to a halt even as I exerted every ounce of strength; I froze in disbelief. In the face of such despair, I managed to unintentionally break into laughter.

“So you want to live too.”

Even gods wish to cling to life.

What does “life” even mean?

In the very next moment, I widened my eyes and, in a desperate attempt to conjure up a phantom arm devoid of will, grasped the hilt of Thunder God Sword Name. It might have merely been an illusion, but at that moment, my entire being transformed into a luminescent blade, pouring out the last of my power as I swung it.

“Uwaaaah!”

Slash!

However, I barely caught that moment clearly, before collapsing to the ground.

I felt the power draining rapidly from my entire body. As I took a faint final breath, I came to a realization.

‘It’s over….’

I had never intended to survive from the beginning; this was my strike made with the resolve of sacrificing my life.

That sharp tooth finally touched Jeon Wook’s neck.

This time, my attack had certainly destroyed Jeon Wook’s divine body, casting him into a perpetual struggle to recover his strength amidst chaos—as if I had effectively delivered a divine killer’s blow.

However, for that price, I too faced an unavoidable demise, making it questionable whether I could even call this a victory.

Had Jeon Wook not dismissed my Thunder God Sword Name’s meager power, I wouldn’t have been able to even attempt this sacrificial strike.

“……”

Jeon Wook’s last moment of inattentiveness.

It was because he wouldn’t have believed I would risk everything to perform such a sacrificial strike. For a Demon God obsessed with desires, the thought that a deity like me could forgo everything for a single attack must have felt utterly incomprehensible…

As my vision began to fade, I contemplated.

‘I want to train in martial arts.’

I didn’t know why, instead of thinking about making my divine power stronger, these thoughts arose inside me. Logically speaking, having divine energy surpassing Jeon Wook’s would certainly be the easiest path to victory.

Simply put—

What if I could have wielded my Thunder God Sword Name perfectly?

The only regret that lingered was that I had not achieved greater mastery.

If I had trained in martial arts for thousands of years, perhaps I wouldn’t have perished like this…

*

In a flash,

When I opened my eyes, Al Karda was right in front of me.

Al Karda was still staring intently at the Go board, lost in deep contemplation.

Then, Al Karda suddenly spoke up.

“It seems you’ve become somewhat enlightened as a reborn person.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve moved purely according to the conclusion you desired… according to your wishes.”

“……”

When I fell silent, Al Karda slowly leaned back in his chair and continued.

“Just now, you died, but you did not truly die. I trust you know why.”

Al Karda’s words left me momentarily puzzled, but I soon realized the reason.

“…Is it because of the power of the Wheel King?”

“Indeed. Death cannot die again, so even though your physical form and divine body have perished, your spirit remains to wander the world. That’s the privilege of being the Wheel King; after an eternity, you may yet come back as a deity.”

“……”

“Though I can sense what you’re thinking, I wouldn’t want to bother waiting so long, so I just made you appear directly in the study room. I’ve declared your genuine death.”

“Is that so…?”

The ability to manipulate the threads of fate like that is quite extraordinary.

Now, no longer surprised, I let out a small sigh, and at that moment, Al Karda posed a question.

“If I deemed you alive and resurrected you, what do you think would have happened next?”

I shook my head in response to Al Karda’s question.

“I can’t answer that.”

“Why’s that?”

“Once a reborn being has died, it’s the end. I don’t hold the right to know what comes next.”

I had a good inkling of what answer Al Karda desired.

Though it hadn’t been a long time, I felt that throughout this rebirth game, I had begun to understand him even a bit.

Upon my reply, Al Karda chuckled softly.

“Correct. That is the rule and limitation of being a reborn person. It appears you have made significant progress in understanding this game.”

“…So, what’s next? Did I successfully complete the task just now?”

In response to my question, Al Karda slowly replied.

“Though you achieved the feat of slaying the Three Sovereigns, strictly speaking, you did not witness a favorable ending, did you?”

“……”

“Thus, how you answer this question will determine the outcome of your recent accomplishment.”

“Go ahead and ask.”

Al Karda’s glasses sparkled as his piercing gaze fixed on me.

“If the Three Sovereigns had offered their apologies to humanity, do you think they would have coexisted with them?”