953——————==

True Martial Home

Even the Outer Gods perish at the True Martial Home.

‘Hmm…’

The moment I heard those words, I first thought it was ridiculous, but for some reason, I also thought that it might not be impossible. There was a powerful conviction behind Dharma’s words, and that belief made it feel like anything was achievable to those who heard it.

I spoke to Dharma.

“How…?”

He wouldn’t have ordered me to do such a massive task without any method. When I questioned him, Dharma slowly replied in that state.

[At the end of the ceremony, I’ve come to realize many things… Why the Four Great Spirit Deities came here… What it is I must do… And why you are here… ]

“……”

[Baek Woong… The reason the Outer Gods are exempt from destruction even at the True Martial Home… is simply not because they are superior beings… They’ve reached the [Throne] and obtained true eternity… They have earned the right to be spectators witnessing the dream of the [Father]… Beings forever singing the song of destruction…]

As Dharma spoke, he seemed to slowly stretch out his dark, twisted body toward the sky. The sight was so grotesque that I almost let out a groan. His body was sinking into chaos, so ugly that merely looking at it could drive anyone mad. Yet, I was amazed to see how strong the conviction still flowed from his gaze.

‘To think… he can maintain his will in such a state.’

That’s some incredible mental strength.

It would be impossible to endure such unbearable pain hundreds of times and not let out a whimper. It was obvious that the worst suffering of the human world was incessantly approaching, yet he remained sane! While I was still in shock, Dharma spoke.

[… If you want to revoke the spectatorship from those absolute beings… the one who has reached the heavens by their own power… must have the courage to renounce the position of absolute being… It takes the loneliness of walking a path that no one recognizes… Only then can the Outer Gods’ destruction become possible… ]

“……”

Dharma’s hands trembled. It seemed he could not endure the pain any longer.

[I can’t even guarantee that… I can walk that path myself… But… somehow I feel that you could…]

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

[It’s simple… The only one who can bring about the destruction of the Outer Gods is the [Father]… If you can reach that existence, true True Martial Home becomes possible…]

“……!!”

[[You must make a wish to the [Father]… ]

At that moment, I finally understood the true meaning of Dharma’s words and widened my eyes. And then I shouted.

“[Throne]!!”

Dharma slowly nodded.

[Yes… You understand now… That’s the only way… You must reach the Throne where the [Father] resides… Not the True Martial Home granted by the Outer Gods… but through a direct path to the absolute being, achieving the True Martial Home… ]

“B-but Dharma, I…”

I was flustered, not knowing what to reply to Dharma. It wasn’t because I couldn’t understand his words or because I doubted my ability. I was just overwhelmed the moment I heard him speak.

‘But I’ve already reached the [Throne]?!’

That’s right.

I had been to the future world after the [Revelation] during my previous life!! And during that time, I somehow ended up right in front of the [Throne], facing a strange being. However, I could not find anyone I could call the [Father] at that throne.

[……?]

Dharma looked at me with a puzzled expression. He seemed to sense that I knew something. But I couldn’t hastily share this with Dharma, so I was restless.

‘Ugh! If I could just explain what I saw to Dharma, I could gain an even bigger clue from this conversation…’

Surely, that would be beneficial. Right now, it felt like Dharma knew everything, and sharing information with him would certainly yield a huge clue to shorten my past lives by dozens!

But one thing weighed on my mind.

The prophecy from Master Mangnyang.

[It’s a message from my master. If you try to obtain something, you’ll lose it, so don’t be obsessed with it.]

[He said that would allow you to avoid the worst situation.]

Through Mangnyang, Master Mangnyang delivered a prophecy to me, which had continuously confused me throughout this current life. Of course, during my adventures, there was always a choice between gain (得) and loss (失), and I found myself worrying about the [worst situation] Master Mangnyang had mentioned. Fortunately, due to the Law of Cause and Effect, many situations arose that didn’t require me to think much, but now, with that Law gone, I found it hard to consider that prophecy.

‘It seems Dharma has predicted to some extent that I am a Reborn Person… And even though I had no choice but to give Obsidian to the Heavenly Mysterious Woman and Miho, that didn’t seem problematic.’

Simply put, from a basic perspective, there shouldn’t be any significant issues with giving Obsidian to Dharma. However, now that we were at the end of the True Martial Home ceremony, I couldn’t help but be mindful of Master Mangnyang’s prophecy. Moreover, with the Law of Cause and Effect already finished, it was no longer unthinkable that I’d face some ridiculous disaster again!

‘Ugh…!! No way I’m passing up this golden opportunity…’

How much did I struggle to get to this Outer Universe?

If all goes well, I could finally unravel this mysterious past life like cutting through a tangle!

I couldn’t seem to figure out what was correct. I opened my mouth but couldn’t reach a conclusion.

But after a moment, I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth. And then I said.

“… Okay!! Teach me how to reach the [Throne]!”

I decided to let go of my greed. And I gave up on sharing information with Dharma.

‘If you try to obtain something, you’ll lose it. You can avoid the worst situation… Surely, that moment referred to my greed reaching its peak!’

The prophecy from Master Mangnyang is happening now!

I made the decision and resolved to move forward. A great hardship awaited, but anyway, there would surely be another opportunity to come to this Outer Universe as I lived my past lives again. It would be wise not to try to solve everything in one life but to believe in my companions and unravel it step by step.

Dharma spoke in reply to my words.

[To reach the Throne of the Absolute God… there are two methods… One is that when the True Martial Home is about to come, a path to the Throne of God will briefly open… But that route is the path of death… a meaningless method.]

“Meaningless? Still, it’s a way to reach the Throne, so why…?”

[I don’t really know… But according to the deepest knowledge of the universe… it supposedly leads to a trap made to exquisitely toy with you…]

“……”

[The other method… is to formally obtain [Qualification] and ascend to the heavens… ]

“The heavens?”

It was a term I had heard before.

But because my memories were vast, I couldn’t recall any related details. When I was trying to think through my memories, Dharma continued speaking.

[[Qualification]… is probably what you and I possess… We already have the qualifications. However, having the qualifications doesn’t mean we are heavenly beings… ]

“Qualification? What kind of qualification?”

[Hehe… The fact that I can attempt the True Martial Home or that you are standing here…]

Dharma seemed to have a chuckle in his tone.

“……”

I glanced at the book.

Zing…

This is strange.

Although quite some time has passed since I began conversing with Dharma, the last 10th fragment showed no signs of appearing. There were no flashes of lightning, and only the 9th fragment floated, stuck in the void. By time standards, it should’ve been finished already, but it was still paused.

I asked Dharma.

“Dharma, the book isn’t completed. Are you intentionally delaying its completion?”

[That wouldn’t be the case… Even if this True Martial Home doesn’t align with my true intent, it still holds its significance, so I have no intention of giving up… I will undoubtedly achieve the True Martial Home…]

“Then why is the 10th fragment not appearing?”

[That’s simply because… the final fragment requires the sacrifice of the sorcerer… ]

“… What?”

Whooooo

The moment Dharma finished speaking, his grotesque, chaos-melting body slowly began to transform into black powder and got sucked away somewhere. Then that powder began to be absorbed into the book.

Whooooo…

Darkness swirls in silence.

As I watched Dharma gradually disappearing, my complexion paled. Dharma looked at me with his chaotic, trembling body and said.

[You must have sensed it too… Eventually, this is how it’ll come to be…]

“……”

Indeed.

Having been exposed to so much demonic ritual, I expected some degree of this development. It wasn’t surprising that Dharma himself would offer his entire being. Such occurrences are not rare in demonic rituals. Still, I could only hope otherwise.

Dharma was the final fragment of the Book of Ruin.

With his becoming the last piece, the True Martial Home ceremony would be completed.

And the most catastrophic Grimoire would be completed, proving the destruction of the universe, causing all to vanish.

In the silence of the stillness, as I said nothing, Dharma seemed to smile faintly.

[I will be deceived by the gods and pursue the True Martial Home, ultimately failing to fulfill my intent and perishing… but you shall surely reach the heavens… ]

“… Tell me.”

[What shall I speak of… ]

I looked at Dharma with a heart full of sorrow.

“Earlier, you said you wouldn’t give up because there’s significance in this True Martial Home. What is that significance? It can’t just be mere self-satisfaction, right?”

[……]

“Tell me. I really want to know.”

How absurd.

This question was a necessary one, yet there were other more crucial questions. But still, I wanted to ascribe meaning to Dharma’s sacrifice because I was saddened by it. Even if someone calls me foolish, there’s nothing I can say.

At my question, Dharma opened his mouth slowly, his head mostly sucked in, leaving only his mouth uncovered.

[It might be self-satisfaction…]

“…!!”

[I have done my best to stand against despair… but I’ve already stepped into the Path of Demons… I’ve repeated lives, slaughtering countless individuals… tormenting hundreds of millions… Disregarding human principles, I’ve repeated betrayals… I sacrificed my disciples to achieve my will… representing meaningless slaughter for the pleasure of the gods… If hell exists, I would undoubtedly be at the very bottom… ]

“……”

[I do not intend to excuse my sins… However… if everyone is going to hell anyway… what difference would it make if I committed a slightly greater sin… ]

“What are you talking about…”

[Ah… you don’t have to worry about returning to the original world. If you remain still, it will happen.]

I looked directly at Dharma, who kept dodging the conversation.

“Even if you don’t want to say it, tell me. That’s not what I want to hear! There’s a reason you’re continuing this ceremony!!”

[……]

“Is it impossible to stop now? If you could just stop now and aim for the heavens…”

My heart ached continuously as I spoke to Dharma. Because every word of his reminded me of that last moment when I spoke with the Master of the White Lotus Sect. I hated the thought that he might be proceeding with the ritual without a special reason. I constantly thought how nice it would be if there were some significance behind it.

Dharma spoke.

[It’s impossible… It’s impossible for me… Having dedicated all causality to this True Martial Home’s karma, there’s no way for me to escape this ritual… I can just laugh at myself for being deceived… ]

“……!!”

[But there is at least some significance… Although the fundamental cause, the Outer Gods, will not disappear… I will create a new law in this world.]

My eyes lit up at those words.

“A law?”

[Yes… A law. It’s something that emerged thanks to you, Baek Woong… A minimal rebellion. Perhaps that… is the reason you ended up finding divine energy in this world. Because the causality is connected.]

“……?”

[Well then, farewell. Baek Woong.]

Dharma’s last roar echoed through the world.

[Perish, O Universe!!]

Crackle!!

In that moment, his entire form rapidly collapsed into the final piece of the book, and as lightning flashed, the Book of Ruin was completed.

‘So now does the True Martial Home begin!’

I opened my eyes wide and stared at the book. And then, dark energy began to spread out from it, shortly followed by a crackling noise as the first page was unveiled.

Whooooo

Simultaneously, the world began to tremble and roar. The appearances of the gathered [Old Rulers] around the barrier also began to gradually fade. Some among them seemed unable to give up life and were attempting to flee, but they too crumbled as if they were turning to dust.

Whooooooo

Crash

‘The Evil God…’

The body of the nearby Evil God started to shatter. Surprisingly, the Evil God wasn’t struggling to survive, merely gazing quietly at us, and I heard him utter something.

[The final victory is mine…]

Crash!!

Beginning with the Evil God’s disappearance, all the rulers fell helplessly. Eventually, the evil spirits and bodies of the wicked [Old Rulers] that filled the world were all crushed, and their shattered souls began to be absorbed into the book as light.

Fwaaa!!

Fwaaa!!

The sight of souls being drawn in was nothing short of magnificent. And as I watched from the side, I noticed that every time a soul was absorbed, the book’s power increased exponentially. It was condensing an unimaginable amount of power that was beyond human comprehension.

“……”

Now, what should I do?

Dharma promised to return me to my original state, but I had no clue what to do next. I was just watching the grand scene of the world’s destruction unfold.

“Junior. I was mistaken.”

I turned my gaze toward the sound of the voice. There stood the Divine Thief, and as I locked eyes with him, he muttered with an unusually sad expression.

“… Even in this situation, [he] has yet to show his face. Damn it. Hehe…”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m about to tell you my true purpose before the world crumbles to ashes.”

He muttered as if resigned.

“I wanted to trigger the True Martial Home in this world and steal the mask of my true self, [Coming Chaos], using the Divine Skill…”