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“This place feels strange.”

As I stepped into the giant’s ruins, I noticed my form flickering like a lunar halo. My body seemed to ripple like a wave, multiple layers undulating all around. I wondered if I might have been cursed and paused to inspect myself, but there were no signs of it.

“……?”

This space is weird.

I sensed that if I took another step, something bizarre would happen. I wrestled with whether to push forward or take a moment to seek advice from Mangnyang Zhuge Sa, and just then—

Swoosh!

Something suddenly teleported in front of me, blocking my path. It was someone cloaked in a large red robe, and from their attire and appearance, I quickly guessed their identity.

‘Zhuyong Tribe!’

Having encountered the Zhuyong before and engaged in trade, I recognized them. As I stared at the Zhuyong, they spoke with annoyance.

“I can’t read your thoughts. How could a human’s mind be unreadable?”

“……”

“Reveal your identity.”

In response, I replied to the Zhuyong.

“I’m here not to disturb this ruin, but to meet your clan leader, the great Tao King.”

“……!!”

Shh shh shh!

As I finished my sentence, Zhuyong figures multiplied around me, from two to three to five, until dozens surrounded me.

‘They clearly weren’t just waiting here from the start.’

It looked like invaders were being called in amplification, as this giant’s ruin held significant meaning for the Zhuyong, who weren’t ready to let go.

Though being surrounded by dozens of Zhuyong was uneasing, the one in front spoke.

“We just received your information from our home planet. You were a trader with our king.”

“Glad you recognized me.”

“However, our king wishes to sever all ties with this world due to the Evil God. We are only guarding this ruin just in case, but we will no longer dwell here. You are to withdraw, for our king says your human body is to be discarded.”

I frowned at the ominous message.

“Hmm… how very self-willed. So can I or can’t I meet the Zhuyong king?”

“Due to heavy duties, he has no time to meet you.”

“Then step aside! I at least need to search this ruin.”

The Zhuyong crossed their arms firmly.

“That’s not possible. This is our protected area.”

“Are you telling me to just buzz off?”

“Exactly.”

Oh really? I replied with a smirk.

“Then I guess I’ll have to keep bothering you.”

The expression of the Zhuyong in front shifted to irritation.

“What did you say?”

“You may not know this, but the prophet has already betrayed me once. No matter what I do, it won’t be against the way of righteousness. I’ll make things as difficult as possible for your escape, using any means necessary. I can assure you of that.”

“Dare you threaten the Great Tribe, human?”

They gritted their teeth in anger, but I calmly continued.

“What I propose is a mutually beneficial way out. If you accept one of my two conditions, I won’t bother you again.”

“Are you saying you want to meet our king or explore this ruin?”

“Indeed.”

“……”

The Zhuyong lifted their head, lost in thought. The other dozens also mirrored that posture, indicating they were discussing mentally with someone. After a while, the Zhuyong spoke.

“The king has granted you the right to explore the ruin.”

“So you won’t meet with me?”

“The king is busy. Be satisfied with just this concession.”

“Hmm, understood.”

If they weren’t going to meet me, there was no point in pushing further, and frankly, I didn’t feel like seeing the prophet’s face anyway. Thinking about having sold my information to Chi You, I’d want to punch him instead. Reflecting on my misadventures in this crazy world from fifty years later made my teeth grind.

Swoosh!

Moments later, the mass of Zhuyong vanished, leaving just one behind. Unusually, this one was a woman, a cold beauty with a face devoid of emotion. She spoke slowly.

“I will guide you. Follow me.”

“You’re not human, are you?”

“……”

“What happened to the original owner of your body?”

When I asked, she replied.

“Her name was Margil. She is unharmed.”

“You didn’t steal her body?”

“Are you unaware of how we share minds with the indigenous? We borrow the bodies of natives temporarily and send their consciousness to our homeland. They are respected under our laws.”

As I walked, contemplating this explanation, I grimaced in disbelief.

“What? So you’re telling me the human consciousness has been sent off-world?”

“Once the borrowing period ends, they swap places. They do not age while we borrow their bodies and gain powerful mental abilities after switching back. Our tribe adheres to the Galactic Ethical Code.”

“……”

I shivered at the grotesque nature of this mental exchange. If that’s true, the indigenous tribes that swapped minds with the Great Tribe might be involuntarily living for decades in another dimension? Although they claim to respect them, it sounded like a terrifying disaster waiting to happen. Any normal human would probably go insane.

‘These guys seem like the good-natured sect of otherworldly beings.’

This world truly was twisted in chaos and the laws of power. Could I really defeat the [Old Ruler] and change this insane world?

While I pondered, she spoke again.

“This is the Hall of Resurrection.”

The Hall of Resurrection looked expansive, filled with strange, unidentifiable devices. There were massive indigo glass tanks bubbling ominously, each the size of a small house.

Inside those tanks, something shadowy writhed. It seemed they had stashed something inside. I stared hard at the tank, recalling the name ‘Hall of Resurrection.’

“Are those sealed giants?”

“Correct.”

I muttered as I realized I had taken a simple path to get here.

“How have they been sealed for thousands of years in such a simple structure?”

“You’ve entered with the king’s permission. Normally this place is guarded by dimensional distortions and barriers, preventing anyone from entering.”

“Hmm…”

If I lack the ability to handle the dimension itself, entering this seal haphazardly seems impossible. With such advanced technology, even trying to break in with my demon artifact techniques would only bounce me back.

‘If I must enter, I might have to force my way using the Four Great Spirits…’

I took the moment to engrave the scenery in my mind, as my visits here would be rare. Moving closer to the indigo tanks, I peered inside, and surprisingly, the beings appeared more like giant humans than monsters. They simply had enlarged human bodies.

“So, they’re called the Hall of Resurrection, but does that mean these giants are currently dead?”

“They are in a dormant state.”

“Why are they in a dormant state? Are they enduring for years, ignoring their lifespan?”

“Not quite. Unlike your lower kinds, giants do not have fixed lifespans and are close to immortality. These are all top-tier warriors of the giant tribe, severely injured in the great battle of Pankcheon.”

The woman replied slowly, gently brushing her hand over the tank’s exterior.

“Despite being subjected to the powers of Emperor Gong Sun Xuanwen during that fierce battle, they survived, marking them as the elite of the giant tribe.”

I was shocked by her statement.

“The emperor…!! You mean these giants fought against the sovereigns?”

In my disbelief, she coldly replied.

“That’s enough of the Hall of Resurrection. Let’s move on.”

She seemed reluctant to continue discussing.

Snap!

Suddenly, unlike before, I found myself in a grand chamber adorned with enormous gemstones gleaming like jade. This was indeed a treasure trove, sparkling all around.

“Where is this?”

“This is the power chamber to maintain the next place I’ll show you. Three-tenths of our tribe’s capital has been invested here, hence it’s called the Hall of Sealing. The most precious energy stones and facilities from the galaxy are operational.”

“The next place is the last?”

“Indeed.”

Snap!

As she finished, we moved from the Hall of Sealing to a suspicious gray area swirling with a fog. My surroundings were nearly invisible due to the mist, but I could spot something gargantuan looming on the horizon, filling my view.

Is that a mountain?

No, that’s a giant.

This colossal form, reminiscent of Daji, was surrounded by pitch-black chaos, frozen in place. Countless chains dangled from its immense body, and a myriad of complex sealing devices were tightly packed around it.

“This is the Hall of the Heavenly Demon. All the energy from the Hall of Sealing supports the millions of sealing devices that confine this being. Thanks to that, we barely keep it contained.”

“……”

Are you telling me a race with such remarkable technological prowess has invested three-tenths of their capital to contain just one giant? I swallowed hard, unable to imagine the scale of power held by the black giant before me.

“What on earth is that being?”

“It’s a top secret, so I can’t say.”

Casually waving her hand, I found myself back at the initial entry point of the ruins. She stood there with her arms crossed.

“That should suffice for your tour. You may leave now.”

“Wait! Please, ask the king again for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“What’s the relationship between you and the Zhuyong? And you, Great Tribe, did you betray the Giants in the past?”

“……”

“And I’d like to know where the Zhuyong currently are.”

Her expression turned hostile in an instant. Then she erupted with anger.

“Betrayal? How dare you, an ignorant human—”

“Just give me a reason if it’s not true. Is that too hard for you?”

“A lower kind like you…!!”

She seemed to channel mental power, her eyes gleaming ominously. I felt my body stiffening, anxiety creeping in as it seemed this being was a high-ranking power among the Great Tribe, capable of dominating my thoughts quickly.

But I shook my head free, dispelling the mental suppression like a faint memory.

“Drop it!”

“A… no?! How is a human…?”

“Just relay my questions to the king.”

She blinked in disbelief and seemed to relent, establishing communication. After a while, she finally spoke.

“The king has granted permission to share that information.”

“Then please, share it. Did you betray the Giants?”

“It is not betrayal. Absolutely not!”

“Then what?”

With a solemn voice, she replied.

“We never intended to be hostile towards the Sovereigns. We were merely observers and maintained a harmonious relationship with the [Old Ruler]. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were drawn into the battlefield against the emperor.”

“What unforeseen circumstances?”

“… A mutation appeared.”

She seemed angry as she spat the words out.

“We decided to revert everything to normal to avoid an unnecessary war with the Sovereigns. As such, we suppressed the giant race, which rejected the order of the world, thus ending the conflict. In doing so, we made every effort to preserve as many giants as possible, making our actions morally unobjectionable.”

“Betrayal is still betrayal.”

“They are not giants! We are ourselves. Our relationship with the Zhuyong was purely coincidental.”

She shouted in irritation, turning her head sharply.

“I’ll answer one last question. The Zhuyong are currently…”

Shh!

She disappeared right after revealing the Zhuyong’s whereabouts. Apparently, she found it loathsome to be face-to-face with me. But instead of worrying about her distaste, I was deep in thought about what I had just learned about the Zhuyong.

“The second in command of Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace, Ra.”

Ra, known as the right hand of Jeon Wook, the number two in the hierarchy! As it stood, Ra was allegedly an enormous figure disguised as a human.

‘What’s going on?’

I recalled seeing Ra in the palace of Ten Thousand Ghosts. Though appearing human then, it was clear he radiated a tremendous amount of Yin Energy, exhibiting no trace of a giant form. In fact, the Zhuyong was a terrifying fire giant, utterly contradictory to Ra’s replica.

As I mulled this over, I decided to return to my base and share the information with Zhuge Sa and Mangnyang. Upon hearing it, Zhuge Sa remarked,

“The situation keeps getting tougher. If the Zhuyong has turned into Ra, then there’s no practical way to deal with that chaotic flame.”

“Is that so?”

“If Ra’s in charge, he’s the administrator of the Five Demon Gate, much stronger than any learned from the Apostle’s Power. Moreover, if the giant Zhuyong has always been involved, Ra would undoubtedly exceed the capability of a human. None except the Three Sovereigns could hope to challenge him!”

“……”

Zhuge Sa chuckled sinisterly.

“However, there is a way to lift the curse of Gong Gong. It’s a workaround, though.”

 

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