“That’s interesting, huh? It feels oddly familiar, and just as I’m pondering this, Eungui continues speaking.”

“The Phoenix always lingers at the barren ‘boundary,’ waiting for something. To soothe its loneliness, it occasionally reaches out to us. We express our gratitude to the Phoenix and cheer it on.”

“Such camaraderie. Well, the Phoenix is practically your king, after all. So, what is the Phoenix waiting for?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t reveal that. Plus, it keeps saying it won’t move until the universe ends, so it won’t respond to anyone’s summons. It avoids even meeting us spirit folk directly and prefers to visit us in dreams.”

“That’s fascinating. Thanks to your words, I’ve learned another fact about the Phoenix.”

“What is it?”

Bokhee’s eyes sharpened for a moment.

“The Phoenix is not a free being. It definitely has a colossal [mission] that brought it into this world. But I can’t even begin to guess who could control such a formidable entity as an underling…”

“I must meet the Phoenix. You’ve given me something to think about.”

Bokhee closed her fan and turned away. Then Eungui spoke up urgently.

“Wait! Are you really planning to go to the [boundary] to meet the Phoenix in person?”

“If it won’t respond to a summon, then I have no choice but to go meet it myself, do I?”

Eungui, clearly concerned, replied to Bokhee’s calmness.

“I’d advise against it. Even if Bokhee’s power is stronger than the Phoenix… [Do you even know what kind of place the boundary is?]”

“…….”

“The Phoenix, for reasons unknown, experiences no limitations while at the [boundary]. At least within it, no one, barring divine beings, stands a chance against the Phoenix.”

“I’m not going to fight it. I’m going to have a conversation.”

“That existence is blind to reason. There’s no way you can persuade or engage in conversation. Even when it does speak with us, it’s mostly one-sided rambling with little interaction. If you’re not careful, you might end up in quite a predicament.”

Eungui’s unusual worry got to me!

I knew Eungui wasn’t just kind; he didn’t speak nonsense either. If he was worried, it truly had to be dangerous. And if Bokhee got seriously injured by the Phoenix, I might be in for a stormy future myself.

So I cautiously spoke to Bokhee.

“Uh, would it be possible for us to just not go see the Phoenix? I’d be fine without the protection of the Divine Beasts…”

“No. We’re going right now. I don’t think putting it off will make any difference.”

“What?! Wait a second….”

Whoosh!!

In an instant, we all moved through space and found ourselves in the middle of a starry universe filled with dark celestial bodies. It was undoubtedly Bokhee’s divine arts forcibly teleporting us. Thankfully, thanks to Bokhee’s divine techniques, breathing didn’t seem to be an issue, but I was shocked and shouted.

“Aaaah! I said I didn’t want to come!!”

What if Bokhee dies, or I get dragged down with her?!

As I screamed, imagining the worst-case scenario, Bokhee calmly replied.

“Don’t worry. Though Eungui warned me about the [boundary], it’s not the hell of humanity.”

“Huh?”

“Baek Woong. How much do you know about the [boundary]?”

I thought for a moment before replying.

“I feel like I’ve heard something… Isn’t it the boundary between dreams and reality?”

Wasn’t that what Jin So-cheong mentioned?

Though I answered somewhat unsurely, Bokhee turned to look at me with a surprisingly startled expression.

“Oh! To know that the boundary is related to [dreams]—impressive indeed. Many [old rulers] often don’t know that fact. That’s actually the key.”

“Uh….”

It seemed I had inadvertently given a correct answer!

Feeling pleased with myself, I couldn’t help but smile as Bokhee said calmly.

“Originally, the [boundary] is a place that cannot be reached through normal means. That’s because the boundary only begins when you reach the end of the universe.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Look around you. Isn’t it rather gloomy?”

This universe, full of dark skies, was so dim that I felt my eyes were devoured by the blackness when I stared too long. Though I had seen many universes, this one felt dark, and several round planets floated with indistinct outlines. The sight was unnerving, made even eerier by the nebulae resembling horse heads in the distance.

“Um… it seems pretty scary for an ordinary human… so is this the [boundary]?”

“No. This is simply a remnant of the primordial universe. It’s called the boundary of the void where the singularity exploded.”

“……?”

“It used to be part of the [boundary], but now it’s closer to the ordinary universe.”

Huh? This seemed familiar…

As I pondered, Bokhee continued.

“The material universe keeps expanding. It’s expanding faster than light. However, the location where the singularity exploded has not changed since time began and is acting as a guide outside the expanding universe. When the end arrives, the condensed power will affect the entire universe.”

“…….”

“It’s the frontier where the void seeps into the world. Between that, the force of order creates rivers, and it forms a dimensional boundary that can no longer be entered through physical means. Once you breach it, you either end up in the outer universe or… back into the singularity. The latter is almost impossible, so don’t worry about it.”

“…….”

“But right now, we’re not heading for the outer universe; instead, we’re going through the ‘grave of the universe’ to enter the [boundary] that prevents the advancement of the void. If we traverse the ‘grave of the universe’, we’ll encounter the outer universe, but passing through a conceptual passage leads us to the boundary.”

I scratched my head.

“Um… I have no idea what you’re talking about….”

“Simply put, if you enter that massive black hole in front of you, you’ll enter the [boundary].”

“That black hole… you’re referring to… that, right?”

I looked nervously at the horrifyingly massive darkness in the distance that seemed to engulf my entire sight. That gigantic black hole looked like it could be billions of times larger than the sun.

Bokhee smiled and said.

“Exactly. If you pass through that, you can meet the [Phoenix]!”

“…….”

“The way to find the Phoenix in the boundary is with my ability, so don’t worry.”

Isn’t that definitely a black hole?!

Going in there, we’d all die!!

As I was shocked by the scientific knowledge I had heard from the Great Bear Empire, Heuk Woong beside me crossed his arms and said:

[Bokhee.]

“What’s up?”

[That thing over there is an absolute gravitational mass known as the hole of death in the future. Is it alright for my master to enter there with his bare body?]

Then Bokhee tilted her head.

“What do you mean? Use divine power and follow me.”

[That makes sense.]

“Then let’s go!”

Whoosh – !!

Bokhee transformed into a beam of light and flew into the pitch-black hole, urging me along.

[Come on. Let’s go.]

I blanked out for a moment watching them, then suddenly remembered the Fire Dragon Incarnate beside me.

“Wh-what about the Fire Dragon Incarnate? Is it safe for him to enter the black hole? That seems dangerous!”

Whoosh!!

At my words, the Fire Dragon Incarnate suddenly transformed into a fire dragon and flew ahead.

[I can ignore the laws of physics, so don’t worry!]

Swish

Seeing the Fire Dragon Incarnate effortlessly enter the hole, I was left dumbfounded.

Isn’t this incredibly dangerous?! It’s a place where even light can’t escape!!

As I stood shocked, Heuk Woong grabbed my hand and said.

[We should go too.]

Whoosh – !!

“Uagh! Uh….”

In the blink of an eye, the darkness cleared, and I found myself in a mysterious, vast place filled with fog. This place felt more like a mystical realm than space, with heavy rocks silently floating everywhere.

Is this the boundary?

[Get a grip.]

Heuk Woong, who stood next to me, spoke softly.

[What is it to call yourself human when you’re a god? This is meaningless in the lower realm.]

Upon hearing Heuk Woong’s words, I could feel it sink in.

‘So it’s true…’

We’re in a completely different dimension.

Physical force becomes worthless the moment you enter another dimension.

It made sense why the gods looked down on humans who challenged them.

Unless one reaches the level of Nailatop, ordinary knowledge and usual laws can never compete against divinity.

As I pondered, Heuk Woong said.

[What Bokhee mentioned earlier… was definitely something Dr. Faust said in the future world.]

“Huh? Ah!!”

In that moment, I realized. I had faced Dr. Faust, who had transformed his entire body into a machine when I unveiled the secret of the golden pocket watch, the [Hidden Peace]! What he said then resembled what Bokhee had talked about earlier.

Heuk Woong continued.

[Dr. Faust wasn’t trying to reach the outer universe or the boundary back then. He sought to observe the emergence of singularities from this very spot in a world-analytical way.]

“What do you mean by that?”

[It means Bokhee has deliberately withheld some things from us.]

Heuk Woong crossed his arms, peering into the unending smoke.

[It’s possible that this [boundary] might be tied to the Void Record itself.]

As I moved slightly, I felt as if I was floating in a weightless state.

‘Is this also a space of the universe… Oh, wait,’

Gurgle!!

But just as I began to float, suddenly my body was pulled downward at a tremendous speed. It felt as if my feet were shackled by massive chains, being pulled by a giant.

“Gah!!”

As my skin felt like it was being torn, Heuk Woong’s voice echoed in my ears.

[Law, be fixed!]

At that moment, the downward pull on my body suddenly stopped. I was stunned by the abrupt change in situation, but after regaining my composure, I spoke to Heuk Woong.

“Heuk Woong. Why was I pulled down?”

[Master, this [boundary] is a pseudo-dimension.]

“Pseudo-dimension?”

[Yes. You have likely felt the properties of pseudo-dimensions when you entered the Dark Heaven Village. I’ve temporarily fixed the laws near you with divine power so they can no longer harm you.]

“…I see.”

Thanks to Heuk Woong’s explanation, I understood the situation.

Pseudo-dimension!

That was a peculiar location created when dimensions tore apart due to the conflict of the powerful divine techniques, Spirit Dissolution Technique and Spirit Summoning Technique, represented by Gu Cheon Hyun Yoong and Cheon Gong-pyo in the past Dark Heaven Village. When inside that pseudo-dimension, the probabilities of existence fluctuated wildly, so structures could change randomly in the blink of an eye.

Back then, I felt threatened with my life in the pseudo-dimension, but thanks to Gu Cheon Hyun Yoong’s help, I survived. It seemed this time, Heuk Woong’s help allowed me to navigate the bizarre laws of the pseudo-dimension. Understanding the circumstances, I turned to Heuk Woong.

“So, can we consider the [boundary] a gigantic lump of pseudo-dimension?”

[Simply put, it would be hard to say that. It’s a nightmare born from the mixing of emptiness and reality, a place where even chaotic beings find it hard to survive…]

Heuk Woong spoke in a rather bitter tone.

[Staying around this boundary too long is risky for even me. It would be best to find Bokhee quickly and regroup.]

“Isn’t it safe since you used divine power to fix the laws?”

[Master, this place is different from the pseudo-dimension you’ve experienced before. If the probability of existence fluctuates beyond your control, you could face unexpected dangers. In a place that erodes into emptiness, nothing can be guaranteed.]

“!!”

[Let’s hurry.]

After listening to Heuk Woong’s explanation, I was taken aback. Bokhee had claimed it wasn’t dangerous at all, but truthfully, we were in a perilous place! However, having already followed, I could do nothing but hurriedly finalize my plan and escape.

“Where’s Bokhee?”

[…… Over there’s a marking.]

Buzzing –

Upon closer inspection, I noticed a bright green object not too far off. Approaching, I found out that it wasn’t a gem but a palm-sized object glowing with jadeite. I picked it up and examined it closely; it was Dragon Scale.

[It seems Bokhee shed some scales for us to follow its light. If it’s her scale, it should be resilient against the fluctuations of probability in the [boundary].]

“Let’s follow it.”

Heuk Woong and I moved toward the light of the Dragon Scale. The light appeared to flicker back and forth as we approached, making it easy to follow. As we trailed after it, I turned to Heuk Woong.

“Heuk Woong, this place is shrouded in mystical fog. Do you have any idea what this fog is?”

[I don’t know. I’m a being birthed from your power and experience, so I can only know what you’ve encountered.]

“Hm, I see….”

[However, it’s definitely not chaotic by nature. It’s something whose nature is unknown, and staying here too long could be detrimental.]

“Got it. Let’s move… huh?!”

Whoooosh – !!

Just then, a mysterious creature shot past in front of me, making me jump. The detection ability of the Absolute Realm couldn’t decipher it at all; that creature was moving by distorting time and space. It looked as if it were a salmon with wings or something I didn’t even know how to describe. Its size was comparable to a massive palace.

“What on earth is that?!”

[There doesn’t seem to be any enemy here. Let’s not touch it.]

“Okay.”

Crackling…

Suddenly, the mysterious fish dove into the foggy sea, seamlessly submerging as if it vanished. It swam around as if the entire location were underwater, and I murmured in astonishment.

“I’ve seen all sorts of monsters in the Life Sea, but I have no idea what that was. What’s more, I feel no magic.”

What baffled me was that!

Having battled countless mighty beasts in Aokigahara Life Sea, I knew their strengths were usually defined by the magic aura they exuded. And that strong ambiance varied based on the innate amount of magic one possessed, making it relatively easy to distinguish them.

But the creature I just witnessed showed an alarming lack of magic presence. You could even say it didn’t possess any, so it seemed inherently different from any monster I had encountered before in the ordinary universe.

Heuk Woong spoke.

[With that creature passing by, the fog has cleared quite a bit, allowing Bokhee’s marking to stand out more.]

Looking ahead, I found he was right; the fog had almost completely washed away. Not long ago, I had struggled to follow a dim light, but now the markings revealed themselves clearly, sprawled out across the space.

“Oh? That’s true….”

[That thing might feed on the fog of this [boundary]. Let’s go.]

Whoosh

Following Heuk Woong, I sped up to pursue Bokhee’s markings. After moving ahead for a while, I finally spotted her.

“Bokhee!!”

“You’ve come, Baek Woong. I was waiting.”

Bokhee was seated on a large, planet-like landmass.

I landed on the planet and spoke.

“I can’t see the Fire Dragon Incarnate around.”

“She’s currently in training.”

“Huh?”

“She’s taken a liking to divine techniques, so I’ve taught her a few techniques, and she’s practicing.”

I followed Bokhee’s gaze to see a massive flame billowing from a distance. I figured that was undoubtedly the strength of the Fire Dragon Incarnate. I scratched my head and said.

“I feel unreasonably late. Sorry for being inadequate.”

“There’s no need for that. This [boundary] distorts time and space, making time here flow irregularly, so it’s to be expected. I was prepared to wait a hundred years or so.”

“Huuh? Seriously?!”

“How long do you think it’s been since you came in?”

“About half a moment….”

“To me, it felt like around 300 days. The Fire Dragon Incarnate should be similar.”

I was left speechless.

“!!”

“The Fire Dragon Incarnate’s training has progressed significantly, but to you, it must have seemed like spare moments wasted utilizing time.”

Bokhee said this quite cheerfully, but I stammered in disbelief.

“Ah… I mean, things may have distorted, but why has this only applied to me?”

“Who knows? The precise reason is uncertain, but it could be due to you not being a complete deity.”

“Huh?”

“Both I and the Fire Dragon Incarnate certainly possess divine bodies, but you, despite having immense divine power, still cling to your human form. Thus, for you, the distorting of time and space likely applies differently.”

Then Heuk Woong chimes in.

[So that’s strange. According to your words, the flow of time should be thousands of times different, then how come right now, the flow of time is the same while we’re talking?]

“Did you not notice? There are numerous ‘bubbles’ existing within this [boundary].”

[Bubbles?]

“This [boundary] appears like a cloud sea, but there are actually countless translucent bubbles floating in space. Within each bubble, time flows with a somewhat consistent tendency. Each bubble has varying sizes and durations, but since we’re in the same ‘bubble’ right now, we’re experiencing time together.”

[…… I can’t say I understand. I haven’t seen any bubble spheres. How did you notice this?]

“There’s a unique energy that flows only in the [boundary]. I don’t know how to explain it, but ever since I was in the divine seat, I’ve grown accustomed to that energy, allowing me to notice even the smallest cracks in the boundary.”

Nonchalantly finishing his explanation, Bokhee glanced toward the Fire Dragon Incarnate and murmured.

“It’s almost time for the training to be concluded.”

Moments later, with a swishing sound, the Fire Dragon Incarnate appeared in the chamber. She smiled at the sight of me.

“Baek Woong, it’s been a while!”

“Umm… what divine technique did you learn?”

“I’ve learned Tai Chi Dragon Scale and Divine Dragon Roar.”

Tai Chi Dragon Scale was a powerful divine technique capable of defending against the attacks of the Five Beasts. I had not heard of Divine Dragon Roar before but had seen Bokhee use a similar technique several times, so I was surprised to ask.

“Isn’t that similar to Bokhee’s Cosmic Great Dragon Roar?!”

Even the most formidable ability capable of banishing the Three Sovereigns into another dimension for more than a thousand years! If the Fire Dragon Incarnate had learned that it would indeed be extraordinary!

The Fire Dragon Incarnate chuckled and said.

“Cosmic Great Dragon Roar isn’t a divine technique! That’s Bokhee’s unique power, while Divine Dragon Roar is a divine technique modeled after it. However, only members of the dragon clan can learn that technique, so Bokhee taught me!”

After the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s remarks, Bokhee added from the side.

“Indeed, no one from my human disciples has ever been able to learn it. Not even Taishang Laojun or Primordial Heaven Master. The Fire Dragon Incarnate is the first to learn this technique.”

“Ah….”

With her fist clenched, the Fire Dragon Incarnate confidently proclaimed.

“Baek Woong! I will make every effort to assist you with my divine arts!”

“I understand.”

The Fire Dragon Incarnate felt like the same old person she was, no matter how ancient or from the future.

‘Well, having her on my side and getting stronger isn’t a bad thing…’

As I nodded, Heuk Woong turned to Bokhee.

[Bokhee. I understand the situation, but how do we look for the Phoenix? The aim of coming to this boundary wasn’t to look for the Four Divine Beasts’ Phoenix.]

“I’ve already found the Phoenix. It has simply been waiting for you.”

[Can you tell me how?]

“Curious about the method, are you? It’s quite simple.”

Bokhee glanced beyond the fog of the boundary and murmured.

“Just find a place without ‘bubbles.’ If the Phoenix is a being free from the laws in this [boundary], it wouldn’t tolerate something like a binding bubble.”

[Then… understood. So are we heading there now?]

Bokhee unfurled the fan in response to Heuk Woong’s question.

“Before we go, I want to ask something. Do you really have something to say when you meet the Phoenix?”

[……]

“The Phoenix is a completely different existence from the other Divine Beasts. Therefore, unlike when facing other beings, you should be certain of what you want to say, since you can’t just casually receive its protection.”

[We understand.]

“Baek Woong. Do you truly have something to communicate when you meet the Phoenix?”

With that question, Heuk Woong’s gaze turned toward me; that look definitely sought my answer. As everyone’s focus shifted my way, I deliberated.

‘What do I want to say to the Phoenix?’

If that’s the case, my answer was clear!!

I replied confidently without hesitation.

“I do!”

“Great! Then let’s go!”

Immediately, Bokhee waved her fan.

Kugugugu!!

Shortly after, the round landmass we stood upon trembled greatly and began to expand rapidly. In an instant, the circular land grew to hundreds of times its size and roared as it took off swiftly forward. Despite this, we stood safely without being affected by the wind or quaking, which was quite amazing.

‘Is this also Bokhee’s divine arts?’

After flying for about half a moment or so, I was suddenly startled as the scenery changed.

“The fog is lifting.”

The once dream-like panorama where the world was shrouded in fog was now replaced by a dark void that appeared to have been washed away. Moving silently through complete darkness was a rather terrifying experience.

Then moments later, from afar, a mass formed of light emerged, and an unknown voice resounded in my head.

[[You who come not from the [outside], but the [inside]… I wish not to meet you. Return.]

Boom!

As that voice echoed, the sphere abruptly reacted with a bounce, making it feel as if the darkness was rapidly closing in, and in the blink of an eye, the surroundings were veiled in mist again. We had undoubtedly bounced back into the fog area due to the repulsion!

Bokhee sighed in annoyance.

“Oh dear. This is not an opponent my divine arts can work against? It’s stronger than I expected.”

“What? We can just steer this sphere to move forward again….”

“That was merely a warning. The Phoenix could instantly erase us if it wished, but it chose not to. If you were to force your way back again, there’s no divine arts I know of that would protect you.”

“!!”

Even the Three Sovereigns and the Qilin would struggle against Bokhee’s divine arts, and if she acknowledged that she couldn’t counter this being through her divine arts, how formidable must it be?

I felt a bit bewildered.

“Shouldn’t we retreat then? I sensed a strong intent and annoyance when we got closer, risking significant loss if we’re not careful.”

“Hmm….”

Bokhee was looking at me when she spoke.

“Baek Woong. If you’re determined to confront it, we might approach once more. I came here because I think meeting the Phoenix will greatly expedite your journey, so I’m prepared to endure some level of damage. I’ll transform into my true form and take the risk if necessary.”

“Bokhee!! That’s too much.”

“However, if you wish to pull back, I’ll respect that opinion as well. What will you decide?”

“…….”

I didn’t understand why Bokhee was so adamant about meeting the Phoenix, but now it seemed evident that she was preparing to provide me valuable information as a reborn person. While I appreciated that sentiment, the tense atmosphere made me hesitate. I could feel that the being offered a warning once but showed no room for mercy afterward.

‘There’s no doubt about it. If we go in again, it’ll be very bad… The Phoenix will jump into combat without any regard.’

I wasn’t certain Bokhee would lose if she transformed into her true form, but who knew? This [boundary] was no ordinary place.

What should I do? Is it wiser to pull back?

‘…Oh!’

Just then, a nice thought crossed my mind. With firm resolve, I spoke to Bokhee.

“Bokhee, I have a request.”

“What is it?”

While I pondered whether this was the right call, I spoke without hesitation.

“Please put me to sleep with a powerful divine art!!”

“?”

“I need to sleep!”

Bokhee looked surprised, as if she found my request absurd. However, after a moment, her expression shifted as if she understood something.

“Indeed… it’s a unique method that can only be attempted by you, who still has a mortal bodily essence. A god entering an artificial state of slumber wouldn’t appeal to it. But this method could also be more perilous than confronting head-on.”

“…….”

Heuk Woong chimed in.

[Master’s intention is clear. But in dreams… I can’t guarantee that I can follow you.]

“Don’t worry. Trust me.”

[Hmm…]

After reassuring Heuk Woong, I yelled at Bokhee.

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s do it!”

“Then let’s see it.”

Bokhee directed her fan towards me and began to perform her divine arts.

Divine Arts

Thousand Year Dream

Swish…

With an overwhelming drowsiness, I suddenly fell asleep.

*

[Who are you?]

In an unknown space.

Slowly regaining consciousness, I rose from where I lay. Looking around, I realized something surprising.

A forest path!

A quaint landscape filled with a quaint cabin and trees unfolded before my eyes. Naturally, I had seen this scenery a dozen times before, making me feel an overwhelming sense of nostalgia as I turned to take it all in.

‘What a turn of events!!’

I hadn’t expected this at all!

As I thought that, the being who had been speaking to me took its turn.

“I’m Baek Woong. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

[……]

Standing on the opposite side of the path was a giant, luminous entity. With infinitely beautiful radiant wings and a silhouette that was artistic, this being appeared somewhat avian yet lacked any stalk or seed, clearly distinguishing it from earthly creatures.

‘That being’ sparkled, fixating its gaze on me and spoke.

[Baek Woong. I’ve never encountered this place before. Did you conjure me here through your memory?]

“Uh… Actually, this is a small village in Luoyang… So you wouldn’t have seen it before, I suppose…”

What? Was this being reading my memories to appear? Why did it sound like I’d done the summoning?

As I wrestled with this strange feeling, I snapped to attention and replied.

“Ah! Anyway, thank you for making the trip. I thought I could meet you if I entered the ‘dream’ as Eungui mentioned, so here you are.”

To my surprise, I noticed that Heuk Woong was missing. It seemed Heuk Woong hadn’t managed to enter this ‘dream’ with me.

[……]

The being remained silent, then finally asked.

[The Law of Cause and Effect has drawn me here. And the place where our laws intersect is right here.]

“? Oh, really….”

[You, who wander eternally, have piqued my curiosity.]

A moment later, the Four Divine Beasts’ Phoenix spoke.

[Baek Woong. Do you also follow the will of the Void Record?]

The Void Record?!

I turned that remark over in my mind.

‘Does that mean that the Phoenix is a subordinate of the Void Record?’

Being an entity under an outer deity, the power of the Phoenix could easily be explained. If it were indeed a servant of the outer deity, it would be a formidable existence that even the Three Sovereigns would find troubling. Yet, why was the Phoenix asking me about the Void Record?

I replied honestly after mulling over it.

“I have no connection to the Void Record. I’ve never met it and have only heard stories about its sheer greatness.”

The Phoenix replied.

[That’s false.]

“What?! No, that’s the truth….”

[It appears a law barring knowledge transmission through mediums has been applied to you. That decree is evidence of direct involvement by the Void Record.]

“……?!”

Wait? A knowledge transmission restriction?!

Suddenly, I found myself bewildered by the words of the Phoenix, but soon realized what he meant.

‘Is it referring to that restriction on the use of obsidian?! Does it really see that?’

Yet, it was a constraint that even the Three Sovereigns couldn’t discern. No matter how great the entity was, how could it know I have binding laws over me at a glance? I hesitated, stammering at the Phoenix.

“I’ll admit I’m unknowingly bound, but saying I’ve met the Void Record is no lie! I realized it only upon awakening.”

[Do you expect me to believe that?]

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, assume it or not… But how do you know that for sure?”

In response, the Phoenix remained completely neutral as it projected no emotion while speak.

[Those empowered by the Void Record can sense its affairs. Of course, beings like you and those of chaos cannot sense it, but those who wield the authority of the Void Record can SEEN the contract stamped upon you.]

“……!!”

[As previously mentioned, the laws unable to be inscribed by lower beings are not mere restrictions. The existence of that law required your consent to manifest. To illustrate, you were holding a contract which prohibits knowledge transmission, and you indeed have already signed it.]

“……!!”

[Whether or not you remember stamping that contract, the stamp itself indicates your agreement to the Void Record’s decree. Therefore, the probability that you have no connection with the Void Record is non-existent.]

“What the… why… how?”

I found myself utterly bewildered and agitated by the Phoenix’s definitive reasoning, unable to refute the logic presented.

‘The Void Record directly placed restrictions on me?’

I had heard it was an impersonal god, but did it truly have the will to control me separately? Confused, I composed myself and argued against it.

“The Void Record is a grand existence! Even if it’s unable to recognize my existence, it could still impose restrictions! After all, a branded slave may not have to meet the master’s eyes to be branded!”

The Phoenix candidly conceded.

[There’s merit in your argument.]

“That’s right!”

However, the instant the Phoenix continued, my heart sank.

[That said, your claims remain false. For that mark is a restriction that cannot exist without a mutual agreement.]

“Huh? What does that even mean?”

[Do you not understand?]

I scratched my head in confusion. After much thought, I admitted defeat.

“I have no clue.”

The Phoenix regarded me with unfeeling eyes and began its explanation.

[‘That’ is not a decree which the Void Record can impose unilaterally. You’ve also consented to the binding of the law, which is why it exists. To put it simply, you may possess a contract that prohibits the transmission of memories, yet you’ve sealed it with your own stamp, confirming your acceptance.]

“……!!”

[Whether you have memories of stamping that contract or not, once it is stamped, you are bound by the law of the Void Record. Thus, the chances of you being unrelated to the Void Record are purely non-existent.]

“What the… what is this nonsense?!”

As an overwhelming sense of confusion enveloped me, the Phoenix seamlessly interrupted.

[I am merely conveying what I’ve concluded. Whether or not you are deceiving me holds no importance. What matters is that both of our laws are interconnected in this circumstance.]

I felt a dryness in my mouth as the Phoenix’s words rendered me speechless.

“I…I can’t even begin to comprehend what you’re talking about…”

[Very well! Let’s start over.]

The Phoenix raised its head into the sky and declared.

[This forest path is the only passage where our laws intersect, and typically offers a glimpse into when you and I meet.]

“Right! You’re the Phoenix, huh….”

[However, I have never met you. You have also never encountered me. This is structured with past events, indicating that our destiny is to encounter each other at this spot on the path in the future. However, due to the uncertainty concerning that future, it cannot lead to direct laws.]

“…….”

[Thus, for this contradiction to be explained, we can only assume you have crossed over the [Great Cycle] from the future to the past. You have come from the future after already having met me in that time! The me that exists in the past would not have any knowledge of this fact.]

Holy cow!!

I was shocked when the Phoenix abruptly unveiled my secret. Yet I decided to play it cool.

“Uh… I have no idea what you’re talking about….”

[You’re suggesting that I interpret this truth as a lie, therefore your words, which loom around the concept of the ‘Great Cycle’ could hold truth.]

“Wait, wait. You’ve got that wrong.”

[It’s unavoidable to ask then; have you ever received a mission to ‘Protect Humanity’?]

Then the Phoenix rolled its eyes as if contemplating something.

[No, I haven’t.]

“?! Oh? Are you seriously telling the truth?”

With an edge of weary annoyance, it interjected.

[There’s no path leading to that premise. Nothing of that sort exists.]

“…….”

Hold on…? What is going on? The Phoenix distinctly implied it was an angel for the sake of protecting humans, yet now it was claiming to have never heard that statement?!

I thought I had it all wrapped up only to realize it was back to square one. Whatever freaked me out or not, the Phoenix seemed to be observing the path around us when it spoke.

[This path signifies the only passage where the laws bind you and me. Thereby, it’s typical to assume I am destined to meet you at this spot, marked by your choices and my outcomes. However, since this encounter creates a paradox in our laws, the real muddle surrounds the fact of our intertwining fates.]

“Eh?! What are you talking about?”

The Phoenix emitted a gentle laugh.

[Simply put, we are fated to meet.]

“…That’s wild!”

It continued, apathetically watching me.

[However, I am not the Phoenix you know, nor the great beings of the Three Sovereigns. My existence has a unique purpose—connected to the Void Record.]

“Fine! You keep saying you’re not the Phoenix, so who are you, really?”

[My name is…]

The flow paused, and in an instant, an overwhelming torrent of information poured into my mind like a flood. It felt like a tidal wave had just surged into the bowl that was my mind, threatening to drown every last thought in its chaos.

Ordinarily, such a deluge would drive a person insane; in fact, I could feel my consciousness leaning dangerously close to the edge, but back then, a protective barrier rushed in to halt it. It was undoubtedly a defense mechanism to preserve my identity.

Wobble

[…… it is.]

I bore through the dizziness as my senses screamed for clarity, urgently blurting out.

“What…the hell!! Just your name alone…”

[Your name is proof of existence. It’s rare for a mere human like you to remain unscathed upon hearing my name; even lesser deities spiral into madness upon uttering it.]

“…Are you trying to kill me?!”

[You asked me a question, and I answered.]

“…….”

This lunatic has definitely lost the plot!

I felt that cold indifference toward my existence. Yet paradoxically, something dissimilar to the idea of the Phoenix suddenly rippled through my consciousness. The Phoenix continued.

[That said, I am not the Phoenix you presume. Nor am I a mere entity for the sake of combat. I simply act under the will of the Void Record and return to my main subject.]

“But wait!! One more thing….”

[You’re unusually persistent. Speak your mind.]

“Did you ever receive an order to ‘Protect Humanity’?”

The Phoenix appeared bewildered by my question.

[No, nor have I ever needed such an order.]

“?! Oh? Is that really so?”

The Phoenix projected a tone of annoyance.

[That is not my role.]

“Huh? What does that mean?! Did you ever hear that line from the old Seers?!”

Now the Phoenix’s eyes flashed, revealing a spark of intensity.

[Allow me to enlighten you about my nature.]

“The truth is… this Phoenix has never set foot upon the realm of mortals to protect them from anything. Unlike your mortals, I exist beyond the scope of allegiance, binding myself only to the tenets of the Void Record.”

At that moment, a shiver ripped across my spine. The possibility struck me that disobeying the rules of causality might lead to irreversible consequences.

The Phoenix continued unabashedly.

[Thus, I adhere solely to the decree established by the Void Record.]

It was beginning to piece together, as much as it baffled me.

“Does that mean you could’ve been interpreting those ‘old rulers’ as mere pawns in a game of fate?”

The Phoenix regarded me without a shred of concern.

[In the grander scheme? You perceived it accurately, yet the fork in the path remains tethered to my allegiance.]

My heart quickened at the unmistakable threat emanating from its voice.

The Phoenix continued in a tone colder than ice.

[The manifestation of the future extends to revealing events tied to the cosmos and to the insignificance of humanity.]

My mind churned, ideas swirling like a tempest until I finally found my voice.

“It’s unfathomable…”

[Your confusion marks your inability to grasp the weight of its significance. Now, what will you choose to do?]

I took a step back, feeling the air thicken with tension.

“…”

The Phoenix remained there, expectant and poised.

Suddenly, something clicked inside of me as I took my time savoring every new piece of information.

“I need to understand the weight of this statement and apply it to my reality; for now, let’s discuss the greater risks ahead—”

[So, are you willing to assist?]

“I….”

The dilemma became tangible as I realized that truth became the perfect facade to shield the chaos behind it.

[Will you come to me willingly, or navigate through questions that deepen your dilemma further?]

It hung there between us, the challenge loaded with the blurred lines of morality.

And so, I stood poised between weighty truths, seeking the paradox that might lead me onward toward a deeper introspection—en route to unveiling the mysteries that lay further afield.

“`

 

---