RKP 731-742
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Part 2 Episode 147
The Essence of Déjà Vu.
The déjà vu that came with gaining a physical body is unmistakable.
Rather, its accuracy is astounding.
First, it's necessary to grasp the current situation firmly.
'He'll at least give me a detailed explanation, right?'
Asking is enough through thought alone.
Typhon's response followed immediately.
[This body, having merged with the 6th floor, now possesses insight into various timelines.]
'No time for beating around the bush.'
Lingering in the rift between dimensions consumes existence energy.
It's unknown how Typhon and Igmun fought here, but.
'A half-formed state is reaching its limit.'
Engaging Typhon in battle in the current state would guarantee defeat.
A confrontation must be avoided at all costs.
Without letting down his guard, he checked the flow of magic to respond at a moment's notice.
Typhon's manifested mouth moved.
Muttering unintelligible sounds.
He belatedly recognized that it was chanting a spell.
Swoosh.
An eyeball formed above the mouth.
'It resembles one. The Giant King's eye, not reduced in size… Is the manifestation of the body related to the merging?'
[No need to overthink it. Seeing and hearing directly will make it easier to understand.]
As the eyeball blinked, the blank timeline began to split once more.
From dozens to hundreds.
And then thousands of lines.
Following that, a vivid image, akin to a hologram, was manifested with divine magic.
'…….'
He saw a familiar face.
The place where Taehyun had stayed, and the place Yormungandr had ruled.
Most of them took the form of the Central Plains Murim.
'He merged with the dimension of the 6th floor, you say. You've developed quite the skill, Typhon.'
It was akin to seeing Elven become one with the Divine Tree.
Elven, who could use unlimited magic, and Typhon, who could now intervene in timelines.
If those two Archdukes were used, it wouldn't take long to conquer the 6th floor.
Right now, figuring out Typhon's true intentions was the priority.
'So what about this?'
At the question, the massive mouth twitched.
[It seems I can observe numerous timelines without actually crossing them. I've glimpsed countless timelines from here.]
'He's dodging the question. Is he trying to buy time until my existence energy runs out?'
[Hahahaha. You surely know that this body isn't so petty, don't you?]
'…….'
[Or could it be that you've become impatient and your mind is faltering?]
'I should talk to the others. Unlike what I expected, this hasn't been a pleasant meeting.'
Taehyun shook his head and tried to return using the magic connected to Orgal and Igmun.
'…….'
But the use of magic, which had been maintained in a state of tension, was cut off.
Not only was it cut off, but the consumption of existence energy decreased to nearly zero.
[This body has no intention of harming its brethren. I merely said that I cannot send you to the 5th floor at this time.]
'I have more time to stay, then. I'll start by listening to why you won't send this body to the 5th floor.'
Several of the videos showing the timelines were magnified.
They had different faces, but all were wearing the attire of the Heavenly Demon Church or the Blood Demon Church.
'The Heavenly Demons and Blood Demons of other timelines.'
[That is correct.]
He tried to think of a reason to single them out.
The thought wasn't long.
'Are they individuals with the potential to become vessels for Igmun?'
[Indeed. I knew I could communicate with you, brother. Then, can you guess why I've shown you this?]
'The only one who has the qualities to become a main body is the current Baek Sehee.'
Then.
'They may not be on the level of the main body, but they're sufficient to contain the existence energy of an avatar.'
[Correct.]
Despite answering correctly, Taehyun's face wasn't bright.
Avatars.
'There are more than I thought.'
[All of them have already made contact with Igmun's avatar and become hosts.]
'…….'
Dozens of avatars.
It was the same as saying that Igmun was ruling over dozens of timelines on the 6th floor.
It was surprising that there were so many timelines, but the number he already dominated was considerable.
'Is it impossible to erase those timelines?'
The giant mouth whistled.
[Why would I do that? It would also negatively affect this body, who manages the 6th floor.]
'I know well that Igmun hasn't been idle for the past while.'
Taehyun's gaze moved from the mouth to the eye.
'But what does this have to do with preventing me from returning to the 5th floor? This body doesn't have much time.'
[Because you have become Igmun's avatar.]
'What… nonsense.'
[You've taken in too many of Igmun's avatars. Moreover, you've been relying on "Absorption" lately, haven't you? As if to replace the sealed "Devouring".]
'That's because "Absorption" is possible on the 6th floor…'
[What if all of this is Igmun's plan?]
'…….'
[Brother. If you return to the 5th floor, you'll either be sealed once again by Igmun, or have your body taken over.]
It was speculation.
Even as he thought that, Typhon didn't finish his sentence.
[Her 'Mind Control' and 'Spatial Leap' are useful for conquering timelines, you see. Not to mention Elven and the Divine Tree.]
'You look down on this body. Just because I can't use Devouring doesn't mean I'm so careless as to have my body taken over.'
[That may be so. Your origin is the 'Yoma'. You're likely superior to this body when it comes to divine magic and authority. But look at Lucifer.]
He was sealed just by touching Igmun's vessel.
The Giant King was preserving his life by merging with the rift between dimensions.
The fact that he can walk through the same timelines as now is thanks to the power of the 'Labyrinth.'
[Unless you're fully prepared, you can't withstand it in your half-formed state.]
'…….'
[Rather, you'll likely attack Rosaria first.]
'In my current state, going back to the 5th floor means having my body taken over by Igmun. So, to prevent Rosaria from being in danger, you're going to block my path?'
[That's what it comes down to.]
'Ha.'
He couldn't even laugh.
[Unless a way to solve this is found, this body cannot send you back.]
'So your only decision is this much.'
[Hahaha. Finding solutions is your specialty, isn't it?]
'You've been arrogant. A disappointing choice.'
[Wrong.]
There was no longer any laughter in the voice.
[You know nothing.]
'You're expressing betrayal in a very innovative way.'
[Until a reasonable method is found, you must not return to the 5th floor.]
'Tsk.'
[Don't take it so hard. Perhaps this is also fate.]
It was an unexpected situation.
[While you're organizing your thoughts, shall I tell you about the middle realm where giants rule the world?]
'I don't want to know about things like that.'
He disregarded Typhon's voice.
'Unless I find a breakthrough, it's undoubtedly the end.'
Taehyun racked his brain.
The 5th floor of the Tower of Possibilities. The Fairy Forest.
[Something must be wrong.]
[Calm yourself, Rosaria.]
Even with Elven's words, the worried expression on Rosaria's face didn't disappear.
[Haa….]
Elven sighed softly.
She opened her mouth again.
[He is our contractor.]
[…….]
[I hate to admit it, but the contractor chose that guy. It means he is our hope.]
[…….]
[We must trust the Archdukes who are with him.]
[You always force faith.]
[It's hard to endure otherwise.]
At Elven's immediate response, Rosaria shook her head.
Fairy and Succubus.
Just as the innate values differ as species, their values cannot be the same.
Help Kim Taehyun, the contractor.
They joined hands and relied on each other for a common goal.
Not now.
'The doppelganger is not the contractor.'
Her faith is limited to the two Underworld Kings she was with.
The oath is only temporary.
'If he shows signs of devouring the contractor and the kings… even if it means facing annihilation…'
At that moment.
Kugugung.
[…….]
The barrier surrounding the Fairy Forest trembled, causing her to awaken from her thoughts.
[This magic power… It's Igmun.]
Elven, who quickly grasped the situation, strengthened the barrier connected to the forest.
To reach the Divine Tree, one would have to break through at least ten layers of barriers.
Even for an Archduke, it would take at least a few days….
Kugugugung.
Her efforts were futile.
Rustle.
At the same time as the cutting sound, the void split open.
Kwaaaa.
A blonde man walked out of the dimensional rift created by the split.
A vampire with crimson eyes, clad in blood-red magic.
[The weak ones are gathered here.]
The Vampire Lord swept over the Archdukes with a bitter smile.
[That X Igmun.]
[Fairy King. Can't you do something about that foul mouth?]
[XX. What's a guy who should be on the 6th floor doing here?]
Igmun clicked his tongue at the intensified curses.
[You should be able to guess. The others are this body's….]
Before he could finish his sentence.
Hwaaa.
Rosaria, who had become one with the Divine Tree, deployed a new Personal Space.
[The awakening of Mind Control… No, is it just a mix of Spatial Leap? It has a fairly solid density.]
Contrary to his words, the numerous Personal Spaces were torn apart just by wielding the Blood Sword.
[…….]
Rosaria regenerated the space without answering, and Elven charged in with the Divine Artifact 'El'.
Bang.
Igmun parried the attack with the Divine Artifact 'Blood'.
[Is this all the power you have with your blessed strength?]
[XX. XXX.]
[Ah, perhaps it's because this body has become too strong.]
Igmun's Blood pushed back El, spilling curses.
The space around Elven, who had been pushed back, was distorted.
It was because Rosaria had created a space with the form of the Spirit Realm.
Starting with the Fire Spirit King, Igrit.
The Lightning Spirit King, Zenki.
The Wind Spirit King, Baranos.
The Earth Spirit King, Gulrond.
The Rain Spirit King, Asa.
The Light Spirit King, Luminous.
The Spirit Kings were summoned in succession.
Elven quickly charged in, wielding El, and the spectacle of the six Spirit Kings assisting unfolded.
'He's only using magic power, but… the firepower he's spewing out isn't inferior to Typhon's divine magic.'
Igmun's crimson eyes glanced at the Divine Tree behind the two Archdukes.
He knew why Elven became the Upper Realm King in his previous life.
But.
[This body has achieved the level of the Integrated King.]
Tsuzzz. Tsuzzzz. Tsuzzzzzz.
At what could be called the same moment.
Six coffins confined the Spirit Kings.
[Stay out of this, you small fry.]
'Blood Coffin,' which compressed the Blood Field, the territory itself.
He warned that they wouldn't be able to escape easily.
Bang! Elven closed the distance again and swung El.
It was her who attacked.
[……!!]
A wing was torn off.
It was because the speed at which Blood was wielded was faster than expected.
[To engage in close combat with that level of authority is simply ridiculous.]
Just as Igmun, who had grabbed Elven's shoulder, was about to tear off the remaining wings.
Kwarururu.
Hundreds of tentacle clusters poured down from above.
Igmun turned his head to confirm the owner of the tentacles.
[The weapon Lilith used.]
Its origin was a collaboration between Behemoth and Leviathan, the previous Archdukes.
[…….]
Lilith.
The face of Igmun, who recalled the previous Succubus Queen, contorted.
That was why he didn't get along with Rosaria.
Rustle.
With one swing, the space was torn.
Rosaria evaded the Divine Artifact that cuts through space with Spatial Leap.
'Tentacles' and 'Blood,' which had proliferated in the subspace, repeated cutting and regenerating.
The magic power of one who has become one with the Divine Tree is limitless.
In the past.
If they had remained at the Archduke level, they would have been cornered because they could not reverse the numerical offensive.
Not now.
Swish.
Igmun's crimson eyes turned blue.
Before Rosaria and Elven could prepare for anything.
The field of vision went dark.
When the darkened field of vision recovered.
[……!!]
[XX…!!]
The reality of two Blood Crosses binding the Archdukes was revealed.
[Divine Tree assimilation is no longer allowed.]
The Blood Cross, which absorbs the existence energy of the bound.
[The match has been decided.]
The absorbed magic power of the Divine Tree is converted into blood-red divine magic power.
Just as the divine magic power emitted by the Blood Crosses began to encroach upon the Fairy Forest.
Suddenly, Elven and Rosaria saw the sky where they were bound being torn apart.
[……?]
Igmun was just as surprised.
He watched the gap in space that had begun to open.
One possibility flashed through his mind.
[Could it be….]
Through the completely torn dimensional rift.
Pajijik. Pajijijik.
Lightning leaked out.
Following that.
Kwarung!
Igmun deflected the lightning that had struck him.
[An absurd fellow has appeared.]
[Wahahahahaha.]
Around the Giant King, who was bursting with laughter.
[This body has returned!]
The authority of 'Elements' exploded.
Part 2 Episode 148
Variable.
[...]
As always, Igmun's eyes calmly sank as he faced a variable.
The past racial war came to mind.
He.
'This noble one.'
Was in charge of one of the Heavenly Realm conquests.
There, he came into contact with an unidentified existence.
'The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness.'
At the time, the 'Labyrinth' did not reveal the truth of the world.
It merely said that this power would one day change his destiny.
After ending a visit that did not suit the name of conquest, when he came out of the Heavenly Realm.
He realized that he had regressed.
Everything was before he met Kim Tae-hyun.
No.
Everything was not exactly the same.
The Fairy King and the two Demon Kings were alive and well, and Lilith had already disappeared and did not exist.
Belatedly, he recognized that the timeline 'Yoma' and 'Kim Tae-hyun' had passed through. Multiple timelines were mixed together.
Ting.
[‘The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness’ revives the memories of ‘The Yoma King Who Defies Fate’.]
[‘The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness’ revives the experience of ‘The Devourer of Three Thousand Worlds’.]
[‘The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness’ regrets that it cannot reveal information about the ‘Twelve Zodiacs Who Walk the Timeline’.]
'The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness.'
'The Yoma King Who Defies Fate.'
'The Devourer of Three Thousand Worlds.'
'The Twelve Zodiacs Who Walk the Timeline.'
Immediately after hearing each unfamiliar name.
[……!!]
Countless memories were injected into Igmun's mind.
The microcosm and the macrocosm.
The constellation's merged universe against the macrocosm.
Regression using the constellation's power to walk the timeline.
He learned that the 'Dragon' and 'Yoma' had experienced one regression using that power, and now it was the 'Devourer's' turn.
Memories that should not be allowed to those who have not become constellations.
[‘The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness’ worries about the creatures of the Three Thousand Worlds.]
He was not stupid enough to not understand the meaning of the message floating in his head.
[Do not… treat this noble one… as insignificant….]
Enduring the pain that came as a price for being injected with excessive memories.
Igmun muttered as if chewing.
[If you gave this noble one… these memories… there must be a reason….]
Whether by coincidence or necessity.
Either way, it doesn't matter.
'This is an opportunity.'
Just as he, who was just an ordinary Incubus, dreamed of becoming a Grand Duke.
An opportunity for himself, who is just one of many Grand Dukes, to become the master of the Three Thousand Worlds, and further, a constellation.
[‘The Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness’ is concerned about the creature's health.]
[This noble one's name is Igmun. Don't you dare call me that, Labyrinth.]
[‘Labyrinth’ informs that it has peeked into ‘Igmun’s’ memories.]
[‘Labyrinth’ subtly emphasizes that ‘Igmun’ has not lived a life dignified enough to say such a thing.]
[That's none of your business. You must want something. Speak.]
[‘Labyrinth’ preaches that everything will be in order.]
[...]
For the next few days.
The conversation continued.
The 'Labyrinth' didn't particularly want anything from him.
It just said that he would be able to reach the constellation and use a bit of starlight.
It only conveyed the intention that it was up to Igmun how to use the power.
He expressed his intention to take the possibility of the Three Thousand Worlds, and the 'Labyrinth' told him the coordinates of somewhere in the Lower Realm.
There was a huge gate at the destination.
'Where does it lead?'
Before he could find an answer to his thoughts, the starlight reacted first.
The previously injected memories.
The information in his head was visualized.
Numerous microcosms outside the Three Thousand Worlds.
Various constellations born in such microcosms.
The footsteps of the three constellations discharged from the Three Thousand Worlds.
The steps they took in the Three Thousand Worlds.
Why the current timeline was merged in the form of a tower.
The 'Dragon' and 'Yoma' had already been there.
[‘The Yoma’s’ arrangement scattered for the ‘Devourer’ will soon be the possibility of the Tower.]
He was convinced that he had seized the opportunity faster than anyone else.
He came up with several plans to steal the possibility of the Tower.
Each one is a feasible plan.
As if answering such thoughts.
[‘Labyrinth’ emphasizes that everything will be in order.]
[In order. You speak as if you know the future. No, perhaps you can see this noble one's future.]
Hehe.
A bitter smile leaked from his mouth.
The 'Labyrinth' repeatedly warned that it was not good for him to use starlight.
He knows.
That there is a price to pay for using strong power.
[Starlight is an external force.]
That growth will only follow if possibilities are won only with the power of insiders.
[But before that, we need to make a new board.]
Immediately after, Igmun destroyed the gate leading to the 6th floor.
To be exact, he hid it so that it could not be found.
[‘Labyrinth’ tilts its head.]
The constellation that got on the same boat showed a puzzled reaction.
[The Tower has 100 floors. Didn't you say that?]
It might not be bad to dominate up to the 5th floor with his current power.
[There is also a way to focus on eliminating your colleague, ‘Devourer’.]
It's an obvious story.
[If that happens, there will be danger.]
He doesn't know what power Kim Tae-hyun had when he regressed.
'Not like this noble one who contacted a constellation, but a guy who was a constellation in itself.'
He doesn't know, but he must have something up his sleeve.
'Contacting him should be postponed as much as possible, and he should be challenged after setting up a proper board.'
In preparation for the worst, he contacted those among the Grand Dukes who were worth joining hands with.
In the process, he confirmed that the memories of Lucifer and Gilfer were preserved.
Fallen Angel Lucifer.
Demon King Gilfer.
Contacting them, Igmun became convinced of a new hypothesis.
'This noble one has returned after completing his role in the previous racial war.'
One of many timelines.
Even in that case, he could not become the King of the Lower Realm or the King of the Upper Realm.
Becoming the Integrated King was an even more distant goal.
The true throne (王座) of the Three Thousand Worlds.
That seat was only allowed to those who were to become constellations.
The more the plan progressed, the more confident he became in his choice.
The 'Labyrinth's' warning not to rely on the power of the constellation.
Unfortunately, he used a bit of starlight to bring in Lucifer and Gilfer despite the warning.
It was incomplete, but it was not a bad choice considering that he had the cards of Lucifer and Gilfer in his hand.
He made a clone.
He passed the position of Vampire Lord to the clone.
He headed to the 6th floor through the hidden gate.
Murim (武林).
Just arriving there consumed a considerable amount of existence power.
There is an insurmountable gap between the Middle Realm and the Lower Realm.
Not to mention if the target is the Grand Duke, the ruler of the Lower Realm.
It should be considered fortunate that this much existence power was consumed even though he moved with his main body.
"Who are you?"
[...]
Coincidence.
Or a fateful encounter.
He ended up using a man named Blood Demon (血魔) as a host.
Blood Demon Divine Art and Crimson Demonic Power.
It was a body with quite good compatibility.
It took about 50 years in human time to understand the world of Murim.
He became the ruler of the Middle Realm, but there was no growth as expected.
Even if he hid his existence power, it was meaningless considering that the Grand Duke's main body came.
'Unless he brings Kim Tae-hyun to this stage and steals the possibility he has.'
Can he keep him trapped with just one Middle Realm? Even here where his power is limited.
And there's a chance that he might come with other Grand Dukes.
The best thing is to deal with him before he comes to the 6th floor.
100 years.
He was not idle during that long time.
He revived the connection between the 5th and 6th floors.
He thoroughly dug into the possibility of the 6th floor.
There were results.
He learned that he could move through the timeline by using the gap in dimensions.
Originally, it was an absurd method.
But he is an existence that has reached the constellation and seized the opportunity.
He decided to believe in his own potential.
Thus.
He moved to Murim in another timeline.
He conquered one world.
That was the beginning.
The conquered timelines quickly increased.
The target he used as a host was sometimes a Blood Demon, and sometimes a Heavenly Demon.
Sometimes he took the leaders and elders of the Righteous Alliance or the Nine Great Sects.
Because if they weren't at that level, they couldn't even be used as temporary vessels.
He became accustomed to crossing timelines.
How much time did he spend in the Middle Realm?
'This noble one learned that he could connect those he had used as vessels into one.'
He can only exert that power when he is in the gap between dimensions.
A considerable amount of time passed until he was able to increase the time he spent in the gap between dimensions and use those he had used as hosts as clones.
'This noble one also succeeded in twisting one of the timelines to connect it to Kim Tae-hyun's origin.'
He sent some of the Blood Demon Church's masters to assassinate Kim Tae-hyun.
He didn't expect it to succeed.
It was just a kind of test and a way to buy time.
Those who were sent did not return.
In the process, he gained a level of dignity equivalent to that of the King of the Upper Realm.
When he became accustomed to the gap between dimensions to the point where he could send clones instead of his main body to the timeline.
He gained a level of dignity equivalent to that of the Integrated King.
In the past, it would not have been strange for him to go outside and become a constellation.
'He would have been satisfied with the current growth.'
He shook his head.
The place where he existed is the center of numerous timelines.
A place where numerous possibilities are compressed.
He also recognized that Typhon, who was at the level of the King of the Upper Realm, had been revived through the clone left on the 5th floor.
That Lucifer and Gilfer had betrayed him.
That the other Grand Dukes had learned the truth of the world and joined hands with Kim Tae-hyun.
The existence that had once subdued him was chasing him to the very bottom of his chin.
[‘Labyrinth’ emphasizes that everything will be in order.]
The words of the Labyrinth, which had now become a distant past after crossing numerous timelines.
Recalling the unwelcome message.
[...]
Igmun silently continued to prepare.
He checked the clone that had grown along with his growing dignity.
The host he obtained by being the first to set foot on the 6th floor.
An existence that has overcome the limitations of mortals through the vessel of the Blood Demon.
And Cheonma Baek Se-hee, who he found in another timeline.
He used them to prepare a new board.
'Elven and Rosaria are staying on the 5th floor.'
Orgal and Jormungandr do not pose a major obstacle to his plan.
'The biggest variables in stealing Kim Tae-hyun's potential are Typhon and Lucifer.'
If he subdues them.
'He thought that Hazzard was the only one who would be a hindrance.'
He lured them to the 6th floor as naturally as if they were chasing him.
He used the main body staying in the gap between dimensions to scatter them to different timelines.
He met Asmodeus and prepared a new stage.
The preparation to hunt Kim Tae-hyun is complete.
That's what he thought.
'Something is wrong.'
Igmun's red eyes sank as he watched Typhon manifest the power of the elements.
[Hehehehehe.]
Every time Typhon laughs, five-colored elements swirl.
[Typhon! Untie this first!! This one's divine beast and….]
He made Elven shut his mouth by waving his hand once.
His thoughts sink.
'Typhon is also a fragment.'
It is dangerous if he merges with the divine beast.
Kwa Jik! He stuck the blood he was holding into Typhon.
The divine and demonic power emitted from the blood restrains the Giant King in the form of a blood cross.
The huge body quickly shrinks.
It was a subjugation that was so futile.
'Is this really Typhon?'
Compared to the Giant King he had trapped in the gap between dimensions, he is too weak to even be called weak.
[...]
A sense of deja vu followed by a sense of incongruity.
'Kim Tae-hyun.'
Looking at the three Grand Dukes who had been defeated by him.
'Where is that guy right now?'
Igmun was recalling a feeling he had forgotten.
Part 2, Episode 149
The Demon Realm.
Of the numerous hells, the place where the Great Demon of 'Strife' had established his domain.
[So it ends up like this after all.]
Asmodeus clicked his tongue, looking down at the battered Asura.
The ancient Great Demons who had fought for the seat of the Demon King, once ruled by Beelzebub and Diablo.
The final victor was Asura.
Demon King Asura.
The ten arms wielded by the great duke who unified the Demon Realm.
Of those, nine were severed or broken, and were not regenerating.
In contrast, Asmodeus appeared to be in good shape, having suffered no significant impact.
[......]
Asmodeus scanned Asura's body, who didn't even utter a scream.
Over 90% of his strength had been depleted since the start of their battle.
Mammon. Mephisto. Phydon.
The one who had defeated those who called themselves Demon Kings and risen to the apex of their species had met a miserable end.
[You can blame your bad luck.]
A dry voice followed.
[The power you attained by defeating the others is certainly the pinnacle among the current demon race.]
Not a Great Demon, but a Demon Dragon.
If he hadn't regressed and regained the authority left behind by Baal, things would have been different.
[It would have been tough if you were still in your Demon King state.]
Asmodeus displayed the余裕(yoyuu) that only the victor can show.
Crack.
One of Asura's bones was crushed underfoot.
One of the ancient Great Demons with the qualities of a Demon King.
If limited to the demon race alone, a being far above Asmodeus.
If he hadn't met 'Baal', who had been a Upper Realm King.
No.
If he hadn't met Baal, who was time-traveling as a 'Dragon'.
[I would not have been able to surpass you.]
Asmodeus murmured softly.
The Bonma (本魔) by which high-ranking demons refer to themselves.
The Bonryong (本龍) by which high-ranking dragons refer to themselves.
Now, those words are meaningless to him.
The true essence of the power possessed by Baal is Magi (魔氣).
Asmodeus is a Demon Dragon (惡魔龍), a combination of the demon (惡魔), his original root, and the dragon (龍), the origin of Baal.
Currently, he can even use the power of the Dragon Demon King.
Crack! He once again crushed the head of the incapacitated Asura.
[But right now, the difference in class is clear.]
Asura's presence is detected in the form of shimmering heat haze in his gleaming red eyes.
Even though his strength has dropped to the bottom, it seems to be in better shape than that of Beelzebub or Diablo.
[A timeline of possibilities... displaying unbelievable growth. Is this also an effect of meeting Kim Taehyun?]
He could say with certainty.
The Asura of the current timeline is stronger than any Asura from any other timeline.
His unyielding authority, even in the face of death, was proof of that fact.
"To overcome 'Strife', a more certain power is needed."
And now, Asura's vessel has been broadened by Kim Taehyun.
[I'm looking forward to it. How will your strife be quelled?]
Ssssss.
A new energy overflowed from Asmodeus.
Divine Power (神力).
The power granted to the absolute being of the Upper Realm.
Divine power mixed with magic power formed Divine Magic Power (神魔力).
The scales and wings that belonged to the Demon Dragon transformed into a form of radiance.
A being with an appearance similar to that of the Archangel Lucifer, the absolute being who had received the blessing of the Unique God more than anyone else among the ten Heavenly Realms.
Swoosh.
The sword of divine power, radiating radiance, was grasped and sliced off Asura's last remaining arm.
[......!!]
Asura's unyielding red eyes glared at the archangel.
Whoosh.
Soon, a new radiance blinded Asura's eyes.
When his sight returned, he saw the King of the Upper Realm with indifferent blue eyes.
Nowhere in that figure were there any traces of a demon or dragon.
[The form... I competed with the Ruler in...]
Asura chuckled and muttered.
A difference in class that sent shivers down his spine.
[It seems that this form cannot be used for long because the recovery is not yet complete.]
[Kuh... Kukuku... It seems you've overexerted yourself to quell the strife of a Bonma... A regrettable choice... The Bonma has witnessed memories beyond that...]
[......]
The reason why his fighting spirit did not falter even in front of the King of the Upper Realm.
The reason why he, who had reached the Demon King, called Kim Taehyun, a human, his Ruler.
[It wasn't just simple mind control.]
Asmodeus belatedly recognized that Kim Taehyun had shown his appearance from his Constellation days.
Stellar Power (星力) that surpassed Divine Magic Power (神魔力).
That was a power that even he had never reached.
[......]
He realized that he could not quell Asura's strife without Stellar Power.
[What a pity. So it was destined to end like this after all.]
Stab.
The sword of Divine Magic Power pierced Asura's skin.
Crack.
The intruding sword reached Asura's Demon Stone.
Tzzzzzz.
The sword that touched the Demon Stone began to absorb the Demon King's presence.
The authority he received from Igmun.
It was using 'Absorption'.
The essence of the Demon King will further strengthen the origin of the demon race that he possesses.
[Just as I expected.]
Asmodeus' radiance flickered here and there with the elation he felt from the absorption.
It would take time to perfectly devour it.
'By now, Igmun will be attacking the Fairy Forest.'
The Demon Realm and the Fairy Forest.
Demons and fairies.
To think that the beings that once symbolized the Lower Realm were being attacked at the same time.
[If it wasn't for a racial war, this would be unimaginable.]
He would seize the status of the sole Demon King here, and Igmun would use the two great dukes to seize the Divine Tree.
He hated to admit it, but all of this was Igmun's achievement.
'The alliance will continue for the time being.'
He confirmed that even in the Middle Realm on the 6th floor, he could gain countless possibilities.
The fact that Igmun, who had been just a Great Duke, had become the Integrated King.
That even his doppelganger had been made to be at least at the level of a Lower Realm King proved that fact.
'That guy must be having a lot of thoughts.'
The expedition on the 6th floor had their retreat blocked.
Kim Taehyun and the Great Dukes would have to choose.
Whether to take their time to obtain possibilities on the 6th floor and return.
Or whether to force their way back to the 5th floor, even at the cost of consuming their presence.
Either way, it was a bad move for them.
In the former case, they would not be able to be a match for Igmun and himself.
Even if they chose the latter, they would meet a final fate of being hunted.
'Right now, Kim Taehyun's doppelganger is occupying his body, is that right?'
Either way.
[In this timeline, you're at your limit.]
[......!!]
He crushed Asura's face, who was writhing to resist the absorption.
[In exchange for handing over your existence, I'll tell you what will happen after your death.]
Igmun, who has taken over the Fairy Forest.
And himself, who has taken over the Demon Realm.
[We will be competing for Kim Taehyun's existence.
From your perspective, you must be wondering why Igmun is yielding the Demon Realm.]
Crack.
One of Asura's red eyes burst out with the force of the foot that was unknowingly putting strength into it.
[It's because he wants to explore not only the possibilities held by the 'Key of the Yo-Ma', but also the 'Key of the Dragon'.]
Crack.
The last remaining red eye burst out as well.
[Kukuku... Isn't he a truly greedy one?]
Asmodeus smiled bitterly and released his Upper Realm King state.
The radiance disappeared, and the unique Magi of the Demon Dragon soared.
The radiant sword that had been absorbing his presence had been replaced by thorns.
[It's taking time because the awakening of authority hasn't been achieved.]
One month by the standards of the Middle Realm.
That's the time it will take to perfectly devour the existence of the Demon King, whose strife has not been quelled.
[In the meantime, stories about the future of the species...]
The Demon Dragon, who had not finished his words, twisted his body.
Crack.
[......!!]
Asmodeus twisted his body in response to the strange feeling.
A thorn piercing through his shoulder.
'Poison Web.'
The energy contained in the thorn belonged to Beelzebub.
"Oh dear."
Asmodeus turned his head, hearing a familiar voice.
"I was going to pierce your Demon Stone as it was."
There was a presence that should not have been there where he turned his head.
[Kim Taehyun......]
"Long time no see. Former King of the Upper Realm."
Tzzzzzz.
Crimson magic power soared from Taehyun's body.
Through the thorn that had pierced Asmodeus' body, the existence of Asura that he had been taking flowed in.
[You're planning to steal my prey?]
"Prey, you say."
Tzzzzzz.
Tzzz.
The authority of absorption, which had been in a taut tug-of-war, gradually subsided.
He had cut off the connected authority of each other.
"To trample on this body's subordinates as you please.
Your barbaric ways are still the same."
Taehyun showed a mischievous smile, confirming that the absorption of each other had been neutralized.
[......]
Asmodeus quietly met Kim Taehyun's eyes.
The King of the Upper Realm and the King of the Lower Realm.
The keys that had once been chosen by the two kings.
His outward appearance was not much different from the Kim Taehyun he knew.
[So, the difference felt in the essence cannot be helped.]
His gleaming red eyes stared as if to penetrate Taehyun's red eyes.
[A doppelganger. To be precise, I should call you the origin of predation with its own ego.]
"I can't believe the rumors have spread that far."
Taehyun reacted nonchalantly and retrieved the thorn.
Chiiiik.
Kaaaa.
Following the Poison Web thorn, he pulled out the Riot thorn.
There were times when his emotional state was confused for a while after obtaining a body.
But not now.
"I don't remember my teenage years anymore, you see."
[Is a fake imitating the real thing?]
Asmodeus sneered and raised his thorn in response.
The doppelganger was certainly someone who had shared a body with Kim Taehyun, but he was not his arch-enemy.
"You're thinking is obvious. This body isn't a fake."
Kiii- Kiiiiii-.
He rotated the Demon Stone in his body and concentrated purple magic power in his red eyes.
"Heaven Above, Heaven Below, I Alone Am Supreme."
Mind Control.
Enhancement.
Haki.
Riot.
Great Element.
Great Magic Power.
Regeneration.
The authority of the Great Dukes are concentrated at once.
A faint smile spread across Taehyun's lips, as if satisfied with the presence that had begun to amplify.
"Come at me, loser. Today, you will lose once again."
Kwaaaaa.
The mere clash of two beings with the status of a King shook the entire space.
'I understand now that I've collided directly with him.'
Asmodeus in his Demon Dragon state is several levels above ordinary Great Dukes.
If I had to compare him, he would be at the level of Lucifer, who wields Divine Magic Power, or Typhon.
'He hasn't even taken out the power of the Upper Realm King yet... and he's at the same level as this body right now.'
I can't help but laugh at the unexpected strength.
Bang! Taehyun, struck by Asmodeus' forefoot, was slammed into the ground.
A breath made of Magi poured down on top of him.
Taehyun narrowly avoided it by using Space Leap.
[So Predation was sealed. It was true.]
Asmodeus assessed, overflowing with Magi.
His gleaming red eyes stared as if to penetrate the body of his prey.
Insight.
The余裕(yoyuu) shown to one who is lower in class than himself.
[I don't know how you escaped from the 6th floor, but your presence has been somewhat depleted.]
He had received all the powers of the Great Dukes that he was using.
He continued as if he was making a declaration.
[It's not enough.
Without 'Predation', you cannot defeat me.]
Whoosh.
Asmodeus once again brought out the power of the Upper Realm King.
He intended to overwhelm him at once without wasting any more time.
[This is good, actually. If I deal with you here, I might be able to subdue Asura.]
The existence of Asura, whom he would subdue, would become even more tempting.
Crack!! The sword of Asmodeus, who had returned to Upper Realm King mode, broke Taehyun's thorns.
"......!!"
Crack!! Taehyun's limbs were torn apart by the Divine Magic Power that overwhelmed his magic power.
He became so battered that even the power of Regeneration was not being used.
Asmodeus' hand grabbed Taehyun's head and lifted it up.
[Why aren't you using Divine Magic Power?]
While exploring Taehyun's existence, he pointed out his fighting style, which had consistently relied only on magic power.
[Is it because you consumed your existence to return to the 5th floor? If that's the case, I'm disappointed. At least after you've finished recovering...]
"You're wrong, you mixed-breed."
[......]
"This body didn't consume its existence to reach the 5th floor."
Taehyun smiled slyly and looked up at the sky of the Demon Realm.
The space that he had torn and crossed.
A new Taehyun appeared from there.
[......!!]
Before Asmodeus could do anything.
Ssssss.
The surrounding environment changed.
A pure white Personal Space all around.
From one gate that opened there.
Trickle.
Trickle.
Thousands of tentacles revealed themselves.
"You can't win without Predation?"
The newly revealed Taehyun smiled slyly and snapped his fingers.
Crack.
Crack.
The tentacles gathered together to form a mouth.
"Didn't I tell you, you fool."
Crack.
Up, down, left, and right.
The mouths of the tentacles, blocking the path of retreat, aimed for their prey.
"This body is the true king of the Three Thousand Worlds."
Part 2, Episode 150
Crack.
A maw made of tentacles devoured Asmodeus's body.
Dream Eating (夢食).
He knew the technique well.
Succubus Queen Rozaria.
A mere succubus who became a Grand Duke by serving a Yokai, and later completed the technique with Kim Tae-Hyun's help.
It could be considered a variation of Devouring, and its power, manifested in a Personal Space, was comparable to Devouring.
[...]
Asmodeus was silent as he looked at the Asura and Kim Tae-Hyun's bodies, which had disappeared without him noticing.
He had also taken into account that Kim Tae-Hyun, unable to use Devouring immediately, would use this technique.
However.
'The current situation is an unexpected turn of events.'
Clearly, the Kim Tae-Hyun he had faced "the first time" was incapable of using Devouring or Dream Eating.
At best, he was just causing the authorities of the Grand Dukes to run wild with refined magic stones.
He had immediately recognized that there were limitations.
The Kim Tae-Hyun who appeared "the second time" was using Dream Eating from the start, driving him into a corner.
'First, I need to escape from the Dream Eating that has seized control of the space.'
The tentacles were imbued with the authority of "Absorption."
Furthermore, each tentacle was "Enhanced."
[Is this not like the final moments of the Race War?]
The tentacles, emitting strange sounds, answered his mumbling.
Kaa-aack.
Asmodeus, letting out a low cry, unleashed three authorities at once.
A level he would never have reached if he had lived the life of a normal Great Demon.
He betrayed the Lower Realm where he was born and became a Demon King.
The authority of the Demon King was "Betrayal."
He fused demons and dragons, allowing him to control demonic energy.
The authority of the Demon Dragon, the only species in the Lower Realm, was "Destruction."
He inherited Baal's will and became the new master of the Celestial Realm.
The authority of the Archangel was "Secrecy."
Thus, he.
I.
'Had become the Upper Realm King.'
But.
He had not yet awakened his authority.
The more he repeated the change of species, the more he became a being with a different consciousness.
Unlike Kim Tae-Hyun, who refined and handled magic stones within his body, he became a different being with a different ego each time.
Now was different.
Inside the maw of Dream Eating.
Asmodeus was surpassing his own limits and clashing the three authorities together.
Kwaaa!
The shockwave created by the clash of presences tore apart the maws.
"A level created by denying oneself.
What a monster."
Tae-Hyun muttered quietly, watching Asmodeus annihilate the Dream Eating he had created.
He knew that the guy possessed three authorities.
"No, four if you include Igmun's authority."
In any case.
'Betrayal,' 'Destruction,' 'Secrecy.'
Individual authorities alone cannot annihilate Dream Eating so quickly.
'It would have been best if Dream Eating had worked... I need to revise my plan.'
He wanted to buy some time with Dream Eating and use that time to recover Asura and his clone.
That's why he sent out the clone first.
'I shouldn't cling to a failed plan any longer.'
Drip. Drip.
Crack.
Tae-Hyun took out a new Dream Eating, seeing Asmodeus emitting an even more dangerous presence.
'There are plenty of tentacles to spare.'
More than enough; they were multiplying even at this moment.
The shadows created by the tentacles in this white space were also within his operational range.
"Take out everything you have."
[That arrogance is no different from Kim Tae-Hyun's.]
"This body is Kim Tae-Hyun."
Bang!
Dream Eating and Thorns collided, Breath and Mana bullets clashed, and the fight began.
They tore apart each other's bodies, consumed each other, and how much time was repeated?
Crack!
Asmodeus's thorns, whose lower body was eaten by Dream Eating, pierced Tae-Hyun's chest.
The mutual absorption collided and was blocked.
[...]
"..."
Blue and red eyes glared at each other.
In a fleeting moment.
The surrounding environment changed.
[Long time no see.]
Asmodeus, recovering his body, looked around with a bitter smile.
Red sky and desert.
Kim Tae-Hyun's inner world.
"Yeah, long time no see."
Tae-Hyun reacted indifferently, grinning.
[So you accepted Gilfer. Thanks to that, I was able to penetrate easily.]
Traces of the Demon Race existing in the mind.
He had suspected it while fighting, and now he was certain.
[Could it be that you were prolonging your life in this way? Still, isn't the last stand of someone who was once the Lower Realm King rather shabby?]
"If you're expecting guest treatment, I'll refuse. You're an uninvited guest."
[It's impudent not to welcome the visit of a new king.]
Drrrrr.
Two energies collided, and the fight to occupy the territory began.
The Demon King's thorns.
The Demon Dragon's demonic energy.
The Archangel's radiance.
All that power stirred up Tae-Hyun's inner world.
"What a noisy guy. Go ahead and stir it up."
Tae-Hyun released all the power he had and took out all the tentacles he had left behind.
'This is the limit of the current Dream Eating... In the end, it turned out as Typhon said.'
Kahaack.
With a scream, he enhanced his magic power.
Tae-Hyun was resisting the three energies emitted by Asmodeus.
How long had he listened to Typhon's nonsense in the Dimensional Gap that exists before passing the sixth floor's timeline?
"Found it."
Tae-Hyun had found an answer that could satisfy Typhon and himself.
[Let me hear it.]
"This body will travel the countless timelines that exist on the sixth floor."
[...]
"Igmun did it, so there's no reason why this body can't. Isn't that right?"
The current Typhon was fused with the sixth floor.
If he wanted, searching and moving the desired timeline would not be a difficult task.
"From this body's perspective, it's practical help. The fact that you don't say such things yourself means there are restrictions."
[You'll finish growing there and return to the fifth floor? It sounds like you're abandoning the fifth floor after all.]
The giant king, who had much to say, replaced his answer with a question.
"That's a narrow-minded thought. You're the one preventing me from returning to the fifth floor right now. This body never said it would abandon the fifth floor."
[...?]
"I almost made a hasty decision. In that sense, it was the right choice to prevent this body from returning to the fifth floor immediately."
Typhon's mouth and eyes stopped moving.
If he had a face, he would have looked puzzled.
"Reversing time consumes a considerable amount of presence. On the other hand, even though it's the Intermediary Realm, if you find a timeline that suits you well, you can also acquire a clone."
Like Igmun.
Tae-Hyun muttered those words quietly.
[You mean you'll find a clone and send it instead?]
"Is there any reason why I shouldn't?"
[No. But there aren't many cases where you can make a host with a level close to a brother.]
Even Igmun found only three individuals after searching for a long time.
Even if he shortens the time with Typhon's help, it will take a considerable amount of time to stabilize the level.
"The individuals this body will find are not hosts at the level of an Integrated King."
[...]
"What this body wants is a host that will not be dominated by the authority of Absorption."
Numerous timelines exist on the sixth floor.
There's no way there isn't a decent one that Igmun hasn't touched.
"Let's buy some time with that guy for now."
[It's the same result. Even if the host isn't dominated by the authority of Absorption, they can't resist Igmun. You can't not know the gap that exists between the mortals of the Intermediary Realm and the mortals of the Lower Realm, right?]
"That's something we won't know."
Even if it's not himself, he should be able to find as many hosts as suitable for the Grand Dukes.
'Just like the original did in the past.'
Those guys won't be used by Igmun's authority like himself, but since they are skilled enough to be Grand Dukes, they will be quite useful if they combine with Divine Beasts.
In the meantime, Tae-Hyun's plan is to take the possibilities of the sixth floor and acquire a level that can completely surpass Igmun and Asmodeus.
"I'll find this body's host first and send it to the fifth floor to buy time. It would be good if Asmodeus and Igmun were acting separately."
Because he doesn't know how much time a host who doesn't have the level of an Integrated King will buy.
[You've given an answer.]
There was satisfaction in Typhon's voice.
'I feel like even the current situation is a predetermined fate... but execution comes first.'
There are no other options.
"There's no time, Typhon. Open the way quickly."
After some time.
Kwaaa.
A small gate opened in front of Tae-Hyun's eyes.
[It's the most suitable place for your brother. Measures have also been taken to minimize the consumption of presence.]
"You're finally showing the appearance of a companion. It won't take long."
Tae-Hyun threw himself into the gate without listening further.
It was a visit to the place that would be remembered third out of the 9999 Murim (Martial Arts Worlds) he experienced before returning to the fifth floor.
Energy and energy collide, connecting each other's memories.
Tae-Hyun recognized the moment of Asmodeus and Igmun's meeting.
Asmodeus was able to read the conversation Tae-Hyun and Typhon had.
[You succeeded in a gamble.]
"The loser and the runaway are getting along well."
[I never imagined that Typhon would even adjust the flow of time...]
Tae-Hyun was satisfied as he watched his adversary organize his thoughts.
"Asmodeus. The host of this body that you hunted down was someone I struggled to find. Well, it seems like that guy did his part well enough, buying this much time with just him."
[The Giant King combined with the Dimensional Gap and the selection of the timeline using him... I admit it. It was a series of unexpected variables.]
"Variables. It's a welcome word for this body now."
Crack!
Two thorns aiming for each other's necks were offset and burst.
[Nothing changes. I also learned that the guy in front of me is definitely the main body.]
After numerous battles, Asmodeus was once again convinced.
"Yeah, this body is the main body."
Tae-Hyun readily admitted it without hiding anything.
It was just a waste of level to lie when they had already read each other's memories.
[Even so. You still can't use Devouring!]
"Yeah. Unfortunately."
Kwaddeuk!!
The Vicious Thorns, resisting the demonic energy poured into the thorns, were shattered and scattered.
Tae-Hyun didn't create any distance, but rather took a step forward.
Asmodeus walked to meet him as if accepting the final battle.
"This body has met countless guys in the timelines."
As Igmun had done, considerable growth followed in the process.
Although his own host was only one, he had found quite a few hosts for the Grand Dukes.
Among them, the useful ones could even Polymorph into Grand Dukes.
The created hosts were sent to the fifth floor to buy time.
"But only this body's host existed here."
Tae-Hyun continued, sensing the opponent's wavering.
"The rest must have been sent to Igmun."
[...]
"Typhon shouldn't have been trapped in the Dimensional Gap."
[The fight isn't over yet. Hosts of the Grand Dukes won't even buy time for the current Igmun.]
Kwaddeuk. Kwaddeuk.
The tentacles that Dream Eating had poured out hit the floor, and the broken Poison Mist and Vicious Thorns did not regenerate.
Asmodeus, who was right in front of him, looked down at Tae-Hyun.
[Without Devouring. You shouldn't have appeared in front of me.]
Swish.
Asmodeus's thorns aimed for Tae-Hyun's chest.
Numerous magic stones refined in his body.
Among them, the heart that would have had the power of Devouring.
[Like the other Grand Dukes. You too are destined to be defeated here in the end.]
He had failed despite traveling the timelines with Typhon's help.
Asmodeus added in a bleak voice.
"But I succeeded in strengthening another guy."
Thwack!
[...!!]
Asmodeus's chest, surrounded by scales and radiance, was pierced through.
Gilfer was where he looked back.
'His level is... restored...? No, it's not Lower Realm King level.'
At best, Demon King level.
The puzzle in his head was put together.
'He wasn't using Divine Demonic Power... was it to hide Gilfer's existence...?'
The owner of the thorn opened his mouth.
[In the Demon King era. This body awakened a new authority.]
Evolution (進化).
And.
Degeneration (退化) that reversed that authority.
[Asmodeus. You are no longer a Demon Race.]
As Asmodeus tried to resist.
Drip. Drip.
The few remaining tentacles wrapped around Asmodeus's body.
Not able to hold back a bitter smile, Tae-Hyun declared the end to the adversary in front of him.
"This time too. You were destined to be a loser."
Part 2 Episode 151
[...]
Asmodeus assessed the situation.
The evolution of Demon King Gilfer's authority.
And.
'Degeneration. That's quite threatening.'
The reason Igmun tried to join forces with Gilfer, along with Typhon and Lucifer, was for that reason.
If authority is used one-dimensionally, its power weakens as it goes beyond one's own range.
A Grand Duke's power and range may be enhanced, but in the grand scheme of things, it's no different.
However, the situation changes when one awakens their authority.
'It becomes possible to influence the surrounding lifeforms and environment. Not to mention the undiminished power.'
Gilfer.
Just being with her brings the blessing of evolution, and possessing her brings both blessing and curse.
'Is the Lower Realm's luck starting to help Kim Taehyun again?'
Kim Taehyun.
His adversary.
Even though he was replaced by that doppelganger, he not only obtained Gilfer but also significantly restored her status.
[He was aiming for an opportunity in the mental world.]
Asmodeus, who perceived Gilfer, continued in a dry voice.
[He hasn't fully awakened his authority yet.]
Crack.
Asmodeus grabbed the thorns embedded in his body and confirmed.
'The acting force is magic power.'
Fortunately, she can no longer use the divine magic power she obtained during her time as the Lower Realm King, nor the holy power she came into contact with in the current timeline.
'If not, she would have degenerated to the level of a Demon King by now.'
He divides the fleeting moment to organize his thoughts.
The timeline of the 6th floor.
'He used Typhon to experience possibilities and also restored Gilfer's status.'
That's the only way to understand the situation.
'In Gilfer's case, only magic power has been fully restored. And.'
Crunch.
Asmodeus forcibly broke the thorns.
The thorns that pierced his chest cannot be removed.
Similarly, the arm torn off by the dream-eating does not regenerate.
It means that his existence has been severely damaged.
[...]
Taehyun is also not using divine power or divine magic power.
Either he hasn't recovered.
Or he has recovered and is deceiving.
He once again perceived Taehyun.
Doppelganger.
He is clearly just a fake, but difficult to deal with.
In some ways, he feels more challenging than Kim Taehyun.
He pondered his words.
'Destined to be a loser again.'
He thought it was worth a try.
[Those words come as quite a wound.]
He has no intention of remaining a loser in this timeline.
Therefore, he faced reality.
'The tide has turned.'
In his current state, it is difficult to guarantee a complete victory against Gilfer, who is at the level of a Demon King in the mental world, and Kim Taehyun, who uses dream-eating.
'In the worst case, mutual destruction.'
Even if he wins, he can picture Igmun easily subduing him in his damaged state.
The alliance they formed is so fragile that it could break at any time.
[...]
Taehyun and Gilfer were aiming for the next attack from both sides.
If he dies here, he will not accomplish anything.
[Let's stop.]
Asmodeus lowered his fighting spirit.
"Stop it. What kind of bullshit is this?"
Unlike his words, a smile was drawn on Taehyun's face.
[Eliminating me here isn't the goal, is it?]
Taehyun tilted his head as if hearing it for the first time.
[It means I want to join hands with you.]
"A sudden move. Come to think of it, you recently set an example for Jormungandr. I'm sensitive to betrayal. Especially since your authority as a Demon King is 'betrayal,' isn't it?"
[...]
"It's an abstract authority, but it shows a lot about you."
Great Demon Asmodeus.
He betrayed the demon race, betrayed the Lower Realm, and eventually harbored the thought of betraying the Upper Realm as well.
[That's how I was able to reach the Upper Realm King. Not everyone has hope like you.]
"Are you planning to betray Igmun this time?"
At the question, Asmodeus smiled back.
[You're showing a disappointing side. I thought you were a bit more reasonable.]
[Oathkeeper. There's no need to listen to this guy anymore.]
Gilfer interjected, raising the density of her authority.
He's a snake-like being beyond comparison to Jormungandr.
She emphasized in a firm voice.
[Gilfer. The one who was called the strongest Demon King seems like a coward now.]
[Traitor. I don't need to hear that from you.]
Kih kih kih.
Asmodeus prepared for an attack, increasing the tension in his body.
[If we clash again now, it will be mutual destruction.]
If he were fully prepared, maybe not.
[No matter who wins, they won't survive a consecutive battle with Igmun, who possesses holy power.]
"More realistic than I thought?"
[Didn't I say? I have no intention of losing again. I admit it. You changed the atmosphere.]
"Alright. I'll listen once."
[Oathkeeper!!]
"Gilfer. You haven't forgotten the promise we made, have you?"
[...]
Gilfer remains silent at Taehyun's weighty words.
Asmodeus's lips curled up as he watched.
'As I thought, their relationship isn't horizontal. This could be worth a try.'
He can clearly see where to target if he sets his mind to it.
"Hey. Don't even think about pulling any tricks. I'm not as soft as the original."
[The original, huh. Is that how you've decided to distinguish them?]
"You don't need to know that far. So."
Taehyun tilted his head and continued.
"You've prepared an offer that's tempting to me, right? If you're just trying to buy time, you should give up now."
[Of course not. I assure you.]
"Hoo."
A vile smile and a base laugh.
Taehyun and Asmodeus did not hide their emotions from each other.
[You will definitely be satisfied. If the two keys combine their power, no one in the Three Thousand Worlds will be able to stop them.]
[Is that all there was?]
Igmun muttered as he scanned the Fairy Forest.
In the middle of the devastated forest.
Numerous crosses revealed their presence as if forming a sealing ceremony.
The Grand Dukes are bound to each and every one of them.
Following Typhon were Orgal, Jormungandr, Lucifer, and Hazard.
[The state of those guys, when even one of them wasn't guaranteed to win when I was a Grand Duke, is pathetic.]
Now he's facing all of them alone.
[Even if they're hosts... it's quite disappointing.]
Except for Rosaria and Elven, there are no Grand Dukes that can be considered the main body.
'Even if they're hosts, the degree of integration is high.'
If time passes, they'll be able to handle the Grand Dukes' existence like his own clone, who has reached the level of an integrated king.
'If not, they wouldn't have even been able to buy time. What the current situation indicates is clear.'
The Grand Dukes trapped on the 6th floor were wandering, to the point that they had to return to the 5th floor through their hosts.
Even so, it's amazing that he found this many hosts for the Grand Dukes in such a short time.
[Isn't that right, Lucifer.]
Igmun said as he looked at Baek Sehee, who was regenerating her mouth torn by gray magic power.
[I tried to break their will by sealing them, but it seems I gave them a hint instead.]
It's the moment he tries to grab Baek Sehee's body, which is stirring to break free from the cross.
Thud thud thud.
[...]
Something caught on Igmun's foot.
A hand made of stone.
The rough and crude hand is connected to the bound Typhon.
[A clone of the Giant King. Do you still have the strength to resist?]
Typhon, who couldn't even laugh with his shattered face and torn limbs, stirred his body.
[Pathetic.]
Tsssz.
Typhon's existence was absorbed through the touching hand.
Rustle.
The body of the clone began to scatter with magic power.
He confirmed that Typhon, trapped in the crack of dimension, had separated a part of his existence to create a clone.
[It means that he's in a state where it's difficult to find a host like the other guys.]
Puck!
He fixed the existence by hammering a blood point into him so that Typhon's clone would not completely disappear.
Either way, he intends to subjugate Typhon in the crack of dimension as soon as he recovers his body.
Unlike himself, his main body is one.
[You're the ones who are being held back.]
Igmun approached Elven, the owner of the forest.
[Where is Kim Taehyun?]
[I don't know. You XX.]
Slap.
Elven's face turned.
[Your mouth is still rough.]
[You XXX bastard…!!]
Igmun cursed and continued.
[I know you don't know. I just asked because you're the representative of the domain.]
[You XXX. A XX guy got excessive power and is running wild.]
[Hmm. I should tear your mouth off first.]
He doesn't intend to kill her.
The Fairy King will be deprived of her freedom and become nourishment for him to transfer the power of the divine tree to him.
Slowly.
Pooook.
He hammered a new blood sword into her abdomen.
[Kahak….]
[If you open your mouth carelessly, the backlash will rise. You'll be quiet for a while with this.]
Next, he headed to Rosaria, whose severed lower body was not regenerating.
In addition to her lower body, he had specially gouged out her eyes.
The difference in status was not enough to allow mental domination, but it was a precaution in case of anything.
[You were especially close to Kim Taehyun. Even if the essence changed, that fact would not have changed.]
[How pathetic. Do you think you can become… the master of the Three Thousand Worlds by doing this….]
[I won't stop you if you want to continue meaningless resistance. If I use you guys, tracking down Kim Taehyun's location is not a difficult task….]
Before he could finish his sentence.
Kwaaaa.
A gate opened behind Igmun, and Asmodeus walked out.
[Oh my. What's with that state.]
Igmun indifferently asked as he looked at the battered Asmodeus.
Demon Kings cannot make Asmodeus this much.
[Kim Taehyun. It was him.]
[Yes.]
[Where is he?]
[He ran away. He came with a host.]
Thud.
Asmodeus threw the two thorns he was holding.
The thorns of Poison Fang and Ferocity.
The crimson magic power that touched the two thorns recognized Taehyun's existence.
[...]
[It seems he ran away to the 6th floor. Using Typhon, who was trapped in the crack of dimension.]
As if it was all Igmun's fault, Asmodeus's voice was mixed with mockery.
[Is that so.]
[What are you planning to do from now on?]
[I'll have to deal with Typhon's main body trapped in the crack of dimension and Kim Taehyun, who ran away to the 6th floor.]
Igmun's red eyes met Asmodeus's, and silence flowed.
The Fairy King's curses, Baek Sehee's moans, and Rosaria's taunts were quiet as if the light had faded at that moment.
It was Igmun who broke the silence.
[Asmodeus. If you hadn't betrayed me, you would have done so.]
[...]
[I know our relationship is shallow.]
[Do you think I let him go on purpose? He has Dream-Eating. If he's determined to run away….]
[No.]
Igmun cut off his words and opened his mouth.
[I won't listen to excuses. I'll ask again. Where is Kim Taehyun?]
Tsszzz…!!
A Blood Field was deployed throughout the Fairy Forest.
Blood swords are created everywhere.
'Even without holy power, this much existence power? I'll have to take out everything to oppose him.'
At the same time as he thought, Asmodeus's body began to change.
[This is troublesome.]
Thud thud thud.
The being who was a Demon King took the form of a dragon.
Magic began to push back Igmun's magic power.
[A disappointing choice. Loser.]
Igmun added a pinch of divine power to his magic power.
The magic power that touched the divine magic power showed a shape that was gradually being pushed back.
Kwaaaaa.
A breath was fired from the mouth that Asmodeus opened.
And the wave created by his divine magic power and magic power colliding shook the area.
Tssz.
Igmun, who summoned blood, walked forward while cutting the breath.
When he was ten steps away from Asmodeus.
[...]
Igmun hastily turned around at the sense of incongruity.
There, Rosaria, who had been released from the blood cross and had her eyes recovered, was there.
Next to her.
"Vampire."
[Kim Taehyun.]
"Did you enjoy playing king enough?"
Queen's World.
As Taehyun and Rosaria chanted, their magic power merged, and purple magic power bloomed.
Part 2 Chapter 152
Rosaria's second ability: Space Leap.
The ability, awakened through a combination of coincidence and necessity, made her an even stronger being.
'If the domain hadn't been deployed, I could have hidden more perfectly.'
The reason Asmodeus drew his attention but she was still detected was because of the Blood Field that completely dominated the Fairy Forest.
Hwaaa.
Ash-gray magic bloomed from Taehyun's body.
The power of regeneration restored Rosaria's eyes.
"Get your head in the game. I'm going all out from the start."
[...]
Rosaria quietly nodded.
Even if Igmun's Blood Field controlled the surrounding magic,
The sworn ally standing right next to her.
Drawing out the synchronization of ability and magic was nothing to worry about.
Kiiiiii-.
The magic stone rotated, and the vision of the two beings was shared.
Purple magic spread out like waves.
"Queen's World."
A chant like a spell.
Immediately, two pairs of red eyes flashed.
The blood sword belatedly bombarded them, but
Sss. Sss.
The space rippled, sending the blood sword directly into another dimension.
The view inverted, revealing a multi-dimensional space made of white spaces.
Igmun moved the hand holding the blood sword.
Originally, the space should have been torn apart, and his divine magic should have flowed into the gap.
[...]
The Blood Field showed no reaction.
The same went for the hosts of the Archdukes he had subdued.
'Impressive.'
Unlike the countless personal spaces he had experienced so far, the spatial aspects were more enhanced.
A completely closed space, so perfectly formed it was hard to believe it had been created in an instant.
He identified the individuals who had entered the new stage.
'Kim Taehyun and Rosaria.'
[And Asmodeus.]
He speculated on what the current situation meant.
It could be interpreted as using Rosaria to maintain the space, and Kim Taehyun and Asmodeus to work together to subdue him.
[How pathetic.]
He was an existence capable of surviving even in the rifts of dimensions.
And yet,
[You thought you could confront me just by trapping me in this kind of space?]
He struggled to suppress the emotions that threatened to break into a sneer.
'I won't let my guard down.'
Kim Taehyun, the key of the Yokai, and Asmodeus, the key of the Dragon.
He had planned to slowly take control of the tower using them, taking his time.
[My plans have changed.]
Now that things had come to this, he would simply seize the possibility by force.
One last victory.
That one victory would make him not just an avatar of a constellation, but a true constellation.
'Prioritizing shattering the domain will be key.'
Outside the space, Elven was likely synchronizing with the sacred beast, providing infinite magic.
How to utilize it.
He just needed to focus on that for now.
[Even if you’ve synchronized with the sacred beast, there’s a limit to the output.]
"Dumbass. The king act is over."
Click.
As Taehyun snapped his fingers, tentacles appeared from the opened gate.
Tsujeok.
The tentacles, taking the form of mouths, surrounded Igmun.
[Dream Eater. Isn't it disappointing compared to what I expected?]
Neither Taehyun's nor Rosaria's were numerous.
Most of the tentacles stored in the subspace had been destroyed in the previous battle.
[Sworn ally.]
Dream Eater alone wouldn't be able to handle this guy.
Rosaria opened her mouth to convey those words, but
"Shut up."
[...]
"I know you can't do much on the battlefield right now."
Taehyun, stepping forward, continued without looking back.
"Inherit the memory at the coordinate designated by this body."
His tone was rough, just like when he was in the mental world.
It didn't take long to realize the reason was because he was risking his life.
'The fate of the Lower World depends on this battle.'
Seureuk.
Rosaria opened a new gate.
[Understood. I will trust you.]
She crossed the gate and disappeared.
[You had another scheme?]
"You couldn't stop it, so I guess the space was properly created."
Answering a question with a question, Taehyun rotated the magic stone.
There was only one thing he could do in his current state.
'Strengthen Dream Eater with the abilities of the Archdukes.'
Tsujeooo.
The few mouths converged into a single form.
[Only one. It's a disappointing level for a last resort.]
Despite his words, Igmun's red eyes narrowed.
It was the power used by one who was the embodiment of predation.
'I also have to be wary of Asmodeus's movements.'
[A temporary partner. You'll have to use your excellent divine power.]
[Pointless meddling. Loser.]
[Kukuk. You'll see.]
The mouth and thorns aimed at Igmun.
Tsujujujut.
Crimson divine magic easily deflected the attacks of the two beings.
A one-sided exchange unfolded.
Kkagak. Kkagak.
The thorns used by Asmodeus failed to penetrate the barrier.
Tsujeok. Tsujeok.
The mouths of the tentacles were repeatedly torn and restored.
Overwhelm.
While engaging in the one-sided exchange, Igmun discerned the limitations of the two keys.
[This is the end.]
Tsujujut.
The two rising blood crosses absorbed the surrounding existence.
[……!!]
"……!!"
As if acted upon by gravity, the bodies of the two keys were bound to the cross.
[You didn't think there would be no price for using the original demon's power, did you?]
The existence of the two keys flowed into the cross.
Jeojeojeok….
Real cracks appeared throughout the unstable space.
[Those who were chosen and easily reached the top. Now they are at the feet of the original demon.]
Enjoying a brief moment of joy as he observed the adversaries who couldn't even scream properly, Igmun.
'Yokai' and 'Dragon'.
He had not been chosen by anyone, but he had finally seized a new possibility with his own hands.
'Labyrinth. Didn't I say? In the end, the original demon will take everything.'
He recalled the voice of the Labyrinth, which he had stopped hearing at some point, and let out a satisfied smile.
The first true emotion he had shown since the battle began.
Apart from the rising emotion, he did not let his guard down until the end.
He strengthened the power of absorption to increase its speed.
Jeojeojeok… Jeojeojeojeok….
The scene of the space collapsing at a rate that could only be described as annihilation.
Igmun watched the scene with satisfaction.
How many spaces had collapsed like peeling skin?
[This is the last one.]
The space, which had been particularly solid, shattered into pieces.
Originally, the Fairy Forest should have reappeared.
What appeared instead was a red sky and a ground full of grains of sand.
'Kim Taehyun's mental world?'
He sensed something was wrong.
He looked at Taehyun and Asmodeus, who were bound to the cross.
They were still substantial.
But why.
Why was Kim Taehyun's mental world appearing?
'In order to enter the mental world, one of them has to play the role of the caster. The Kim Taehyun here is clearly the real body...' Igmun's eyebrows twitched.
No.
There was one.
'Rosaria.'
The moment he thought that, the magic that had been spreading like mist cleared.
Before his eyes was Kim Taehyun, taking the form of the Demon King.
Wrapped around his body was deep blue magic.
[Gilfel, is it?]
[To think that arrogant fellow would sacrifice his own life to ensure the success of the plan...]
[He must have judged that this battle was not going to be easy.]
Rosaria, who appeared next to Gilfel, replied.
Seureureuk. Seureuk.
One by one.
The hosts of the Archdukes, who had been hiding their presence, revealed themselves around them.
[Rosaria. You ran away to prepare for a final battle in the mental world?]
Tsk tsk.
Igmun clicked his tongue softly.
The keys, who had possessed the most brilliant potential, were in his hands, and Typhon, who could be considered their strongest force, was still in the form of an avatar.
[Even if you obtain the title of Integrated King, you can't help but be foolish.]
Strengthening the deep blue magic, Gilfel continued.
[Do we still seem unstable to you?]
The Archdukes, who had remained in the host state, returned to their original forms.
Lucifer. Hazard. Orgal. Jormungandr.
Having shed the shells of the hosts and returned to their true forms, the Archdukes unleashed their respective powers.
[Ghahahaha. This deity too….]
Igmun flew his blood towards Typhon's avatar.
Kwaang!
Elven, wielding El, threw herself to block it, and Lucifer healed Elven.
The five elements swirled from Typhon's body, and the flesh and power served as a medium, tearing the space.
The rift of dimensions.
From there, the Giant King emerged.
Not elements, but great elements.
Not magic, but divine magic.
An existence that exceeded what they had faced before raged from Typhon's body.
[From that expression, it seems my appearance was unexpected.]
[...]
Sseuek.
The corner of the giant's mouth twitched.
[A satisfying reaction.]
The balance of power had been restored just by Typhon's appearance.
Igmun's eyes narrowed.
If Kim Taehyun and Asmodeus could unleash their full power here?
If Kim Taehyun could use Predation?
If he had to face them alone?
'I have no choice but to use divine power.'
"I won't lose to someone who relies on divine power."
Kim Taehyun's words, provoking him, came to mind.
[...]
His hardening face gradually contorted.
If he used divine power, he could easily deal with them all.
But.
His pride would not allow it.
[Ha….]
He thought he had abandoned pride a long time ago.
Going under Lilith, under the Yokai, under Kim Taehyun.
He thought he could abandon it at any time for the sake of survival.
The elevated status he had gained by possessing the power of the Integrated King belatedly raised its head.
[Yes, the original demon is the true king of the three thousand worlds.]
[A vampire is having delusions of grandeur.]
[Making the master look like that. My muscles are twitching with displeasure.]
[This deity is not the youngest….]
[Is this finally the final battle?]
[Everyone must concentrate.]
[Yes. Once he starts using divine power, it will be unstoppable.]
[X. XX. XXXX.]
[…Sworn ally.]
The Archdukes, having deployed their respective domains, used divine magic.
He didn't know what Rosaria and Elven had done, but they were using a power that could be considered their prime.
Igmun summoned blood again.
Kwaaaaa!!
The dragonified Hazard spat out a breath.
Kwang!!!
Orgal, having attained enlightenment, stood in his way.
Kwareureureu!
Jormungandr, who was somewhat broken, slowed down his movements with a sea of magic.
Pajijeujeu!!!
Typhon's lightning struck both himself and Orgal.
Seogeok.
Elven performed a strange dance, slicing through his side.
Seureureuk. Seureuk.
Rosaria helped the Archdukes evade with space leap.
Kwajik!
Gilfel's thorn pierced Igmun's chest.
[Degrade.]
[Not a chance.]
Tsujujuju!!
Crimson divine magic pushed back her power.
Kwak!
Grabbing Gilfel's thorn, he channeled the power of absorption.
Tsujujujuju!!!
Activating the power to the maximum.
He even began to absorb the breath that was covering him.
Kwang!
Orgal's fist struck the hand holding Gilfel's thorn.
There was an impact.
[Orgal. That insect-like guy has attained enlightenment.]
[That goes for you too.]
Tsujujut. Tsujujut.
Pupuput.
The blood swords that were continuously created pierced and pushed back Orgal's strong body.
Hwaaaak.
Radiance poured from the sky.
The bodies of the Archdukes that touched the light rapidly recovered.
The Spirit Kings exhaled their breath, obscuring the vision.
'They intend to heal Kim Taehyun and Asmodeus.'
Swinging the blood greatly, the sword energy bisected the celestial city where Lucifer was located.
The fallen angel, escaping the falling city, coughed up blood at the continuous sword energy.
[Flapping around like gnats.]
Igmun, moving at an extremely high speed, swung the blood greatly.
Kwajik!!
He annihilated the gate that was about to transport Kim Taehyun and Asmodeus.
[Were you trying to use the power of evolution on these guys?]
Kwaduk!!
The blood pierced Gilfel, who was blocking his path.
Tsujujujuju.
The power of absorption devoured the Demon King.
He was on the verge of complete victory.
But what was it.
'This feeling is….'
The sensation of having reached the realm of insight upon reaching the Integrated King, an even stronger sense of déjà vu than ever before swept through his senses.
He was clearly absorbing Gilfel's existence, but.
[You fell for it.]
[……!!]
The face of Gilfel, who had been withering away, had changed to that of Asmodeus.
'This is….'
Before he could react to anything.
[Your tower ends here, Igmun.]
Kwajik.
Igmun's vision went dark.
Part 2, Episode 153
"How about this. I'll help you take down Igmun. In return, we just don't interfere with each other's towers."
Asmodeus raised his voice.
The tower has 100 floors.
Although Kim Tae-hyun might be ahead now, none of us—myself, Igmun, or Kim Tae-hyun—have enough information.
'There's a chance.'
The 'Dragon' wouldn't have regressed me for no reason.
"You want to compete with me after fighting the Original?"
"Why not? Competing with you, who carries the name of Kim Tae-hyun, seems more interesting than fighting Igmun."
"......"
"......"
The two keys exchanged glances for a moment.
Tae-hyun was the first to speak.
"I refuse."
"......"
Asmodeus closed his mouth with an unyielding expression.
Unlike his outward appearance.
'What are you thinking?'
He inwardly tried to read Tae-hyun's true intentions.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind?"
"......"
Tae-hyun flicked the index finger he had raised.
"You've already been defeated by the Original once. I'm not interested in competing with someone like you again."
"You... with such trivial emotions..."
"Besides, I don't think we can capture Igmun so easily even if we join forces."
"You're making a regrettable statement. It seems you can't even handle your innate authority, let alone holy power."
He recalled the moment when the powers of the three constellations converged and continued.
"Even your excellent 'Devour' couldn't handle holy power. And now that you can't even use Devour, Igmun using holy power would be beyond your control."
Asmodeus made his position clear, saying he had no intention of getting involved in a situation where defeat was inevitable.
"How about forming a pact with me?"
"Those constraints don't mean much to us. Well, even if it's just a formality, it's better than nothing."
He had already made one with Igmun anyway.
A pact is a promise made by pledging one's standing.
Originally, one would have to pay the price for breaking it.
However, the power of holy force changed the situation.
Igmun possessed the holy force of the 'Labyrinth,' and he possessed the holy force of the 'Dragon.'
Kim Tae-hyun, who possessed the holy force of the 'Yoma,' wouldn't face significant issues even if he broke the pact.
He was certain of this fact because he had already confirmed that Tae-hyun had broken the magic between Igmun and Lucifer.
"If you want a token for the promise, let's make one."
"That's not what I mean."
Tae-hyun pointed to his head with his finger.
"Are you perhaps referring to a contract like the Archdukes have?"
Tae-hyun shrugged.
"Ha."
Asmodeus scoffed.
"It sounds interesting, but wouldn't that make future competition ambiguous?"
Forming a magic stone means synchronizing each other's powers.
"The situation is different from Igmun, who unilaterally gave up the right to use his power."
They were keys, beings of opposing nature.
Kim Tae-hyun was a 'Predator' and had the power of the 'Yoma' latent within him.
"You know what happened when the powers of the three constellations touched before, right?"
Even if the current timeline is a world compressed with possibilities, there is a limit to the existence force it can handle.
"It seems you've regained some of your power on the 6th floor, but it's not enough. I have no intention of risking my life to experiment with holy force..."
"It's not an experiment."
"......?"
"If we're going to aim for each other's powers anyway, there's no need to waste time."
'What nonsense is this guy talking about?'
Speaking words that deviate from common sense.
Saying things that are outside of their nature without a care.
He was racking his brains trying to figure out his intentions.
"I will accept you into my mind."
"......!!"
Asmodeus's crimson eyes, which rarely showed emotion, wavered.
The key to the Underworld King was saying that he would accept the key to the Upperworld King into his mind world.
"Do you know what that means?"
"Of course. It means that you could devour me if things go wrong."
"And yet you make such an offer?"
"You underestimate my resilience too easily."
"Resilience..."
"Not only did I escape the trap that Igmun left behind, but I also broke through countless timelines on the 6th floor. Also, in the process, I succeeded in restoring Gilfer's rank to that of a Demon King."
Asmodeus waited silently for the next words.
"No matter what tricks you play."
Tae-hyun's lips twisted.
"It means I'm preparing accordingly."
"...I see."
A bitter smile also appeared on Asmodeus's face.
"You are like me."
Not feigned, but genuine emotion.
He pulled out the words that were inside him.
"From being defeated by Kim Tae-hyun to being given a new opportunity."
Even if it's mockery, it's fine.
Tae-hyun could only laugh at those words.
"Don't put me on the same level. What's your answer?"
"I'll decide after hearing about your grand plan. I hope it's not something trivial."
"I will make you a constellation."
A look of disappointment appeared on Asmodeus's face.
"Igmun also said something like that..."
"I plan to become a Great Constellation."
"......"
Until now, the standard for calling oneself a constellation has been the three apexes born centering on the Three Thousand Worlds.
And the 'Labyrinth' and the 'Zodiac,' which seem to be in alliance with them.
The 'Predator' is lower-class.
The 'Yoma' is middle-class.
The 'Dragon,' 'Labyrinth,' and 'Zodiac' possess the status of upper-class constellations.
They know that the reason they are fighting the Constellation War is to counter the whims of the Great Constellations.
"If you know, then the conversation will be easier."
"You. What kind of ridiculous scheme do you have in mind..."
"If you are in the mind of the Great Constellation, you should not be an ordinary Constellation."
"......"
"The squabbling between the keys is already a thing of the past. From now on, we should be thinking about taking the standing against the Constellation guys."
"You're even more... absurd than I thought..."
Asmodeus's voice trembled.
An emotion he hadn't felt even when he was regressed and given a new chance to challenge, or when he joined hands with Igmun to aim for the next opportunity.
No, in the first place, emotions are not familiar to him when he has achieved this level of standing.
The same should be true for Kim Tae-hyun in front of him.
And yet.
'Just by exchanging a few words, he makes me feel these emotions.'
Haha.
He chuckled briefly and twitched his body.
"Hahahaha..."
Laughter erupted along with his twitching body.
"Hmm... I didn't think it was such a funny proposal."
"Hahahahahaha..."
"Hmm... Is this perhaps because you are overwhelmed by my generosity? Well, either way, the choice is yours."
It wasn't long before Asmodeus stopped laughing.
A moment later.
The past pact was broken, and a new pact followed.
"......"
The Demon of Evolution quietly watched the scene.
'My senses are being cut off.'
In the darkening vision, his mind raced.
He had considered numerous situations.
The conclusion drawn from the assumptions was one.
Asmodeus had not only made a pact with Kim Tae-hyun but had also made a pact with the magic of the mind world.
The least likely case among many assumptions.
Considering their relationship and Asmodeus's pride, it was something that could never happen.
'It happened.'
As a result, his five senses were completely shutting down.
'What have you done?'
To understand the situation, he recalled the moment before.
His vision darkened immediately after meeting the guy's crimson eyes.
'Asmodeus doesn't have the power of mind control.'
It was unlikely that he possessed a power he didn't know about.
'The guy's vessel is already at its limit just by having three powers.'
If that wasn't the case, the 'Dragon' would have given him more power and made him win the Key War somehow.
He was certain of this fact because he shared the power of 'Absorption'.
'Did a sharing of power occur... no, that's impossible. To trap the main devil, it would take more than just some ordinary level...'
Numerous assumptions, including variables, unfolded anew in his head.
Crunch.
Igmun unknowingly gnashed his teeth.
He was surprised by the sound of his own teeth grinding.
'The main devil... is panicking...?'
Omniscient.
He thought he had gained the power of the Labyrinth, realized the secrets of the Three Thousand Worlds, and become close to the one true God.
But now, his situation seemed far from omniscient or omnipotent.
'Doesn't it feel like he's lost in the labyrinth?'
He recalled the person who had created the situation.
Kim Tae-hyun's doppelganger.
He didn't let his guard down just because the contents had changed.
Rather, he had carefully chosen a path to trample on him more firmly and steal his potential.
'That guy gambled his own life to trap the main devil.'
Whether that medium was Gilfer or Asmodeus.
They used a technique that limited the five senses of himself, who had risen to the rank of Integrated King.
'Not enough.'
This alone cannot harm him.
Divine power surrounds his body, and to shock his current body, he would have to launch an attack with an output that exceeds the limits of the body.
'What is it?'
He had to know why he was drawn into the mind world.
The mind world is a place where mental power creates the biggest variables.
If Kim Tae-hyun's aim was to compensate for the insufficient output, then it was not a bad choice.
'But if I use holy force, even that will be...' When his thoughts reached that point.
"......"
Igmun's body flinched.
Even the sensation of flinching might be an illusion.
What was certain was that his thinking had found the answer.
'Was it to make me use holy force?'
Originally, a power that should not be used in the Three Thousand Worlds.
Even if the current timeline, mediated by the Tower of Possibilities, can embrace a vast amount of existence force.
'Holy force is a power outside the norm.'
The more it is used, the more harm is done to the Three Thousand Worlds, and the possibility of the Tower Administrator intervening increases. It is a double-edged sword.
'The Tower Administrator is Kim Tae-hyun's close associate. He should avoid that guy's intervention as much as possible.'
This was a fact he had grasped from the initial experiments and the moment when the powers of the three constellations touched before.
And yet they were making him use holy force.
'Were they trying to induce the Administrator's intervention... these stupid bastards...'
Not all holy force is the same.
The avatar of the constellation.
He had stabilized the new power.
Not only that.
'If I use another body that is recovering on the 6th floor, even the slightest chance of victory that they have shown will disappear...'
At that time.
A new hypothesis flashed through Igmun's mind.
Kim Tae-hyun, who had quickly experienced countless timelines by using Typhon.
The guy who had experienced countless timelines did not find the timeline where his body was.
Click.
He tried moving his finger.
"......"
There was no response.
'The connection is severed!!'
It was clear that they had aimed for the moment when his body was disconnected.
Typhon fused with the 6th floor.
Kim Tae-hyun, who provided the coordinates through his mind.
His mind is the 6th floor.
It is connected to the rift of dimensions.
And at the end of that...
Igmun's five senses quickly began to return.
"You derived the answer faster than I thought."
"......!!"
With his restored hearing, he heard a familiar voice.
He turned around.
A man stood in the darkness, emitting light.
"I'm just coming back from taking your head."
A voice that was dry to the point of rudeness.
An unwelcome voice continued.
"About 10,000 years have passed in the time of the Middle Realm."
"You..."
"Thanks to that, I was able to lift many of the restrictions on power."
The radiance faded, and he faced Kim Tae-hyun, who was arrogantly watching him.
"Don't you want to confirm it?"
"A fake. You were plotting a presumptuous plan."
Tae-hyun raised his hand without answering.
"Tear him apart."
The raised hand pointed at Igmun.
Crack.
Darkness with gaping jaws.
Swallowed the naked adversary.
Part 2, Episode 154
'It's not Devouring.'
Tzzzzzzz.
He resists the dream with his crimson demonic power.
Originally, he should have withered away.
Like what Rosaria used, and what Kim Taehyun used.
Because they couldn't narrow the significant gap between themselves and him.
But not now.
Crack.
The dream, upon touching the demonic power, doesn't stop and bites off an arm.
Craaack.
The arm is violently torn from the body.
Just because he obtained the level of the Unified King doesn't mean he doesn't feel pain.
It's just that the unfamiliar humiliation is unpleasant now.
Along with the pain, the surrounding environment comes into view.
The red sky and the desert.
The mental world of Kim Taehyun that he knew.
The difference is that the owner of the world is exuding an existence equal to his own.
"Bring out the Divine Power."
Taehyun says as if giving an order.
Just by hearing the voice, he can recognize the existence.
'He's on par with a Bon-Gui who doesn't use Divine Power.'
He still can't believe that he has recovered this much existence in such a short time on the 6th floor.
'…….'
Ignoring him, he focused on understanding the situation.
The Archdukes are not visible.
Also.
He recalled the meaning of Kim Taehyun's tremendous growth.
'Did he... slow down the time of Bon-Gui for me?'
The Archdukes who were supposed to face him in the mental world.
Not even a trace of them can be sensed.
'Kim Taehyun's mind is connected to the dimensional rift on the 6th floor.'
Typhon, upon arriving here, was able to adjust the timeline within Kim Taehyun's mind.
'Rosaria's existence, who can move to the world of timelines at any time.
Elven, the owner of the Divine Tree, who can inject infinite magic power.'
And that's not all.
If Jormungandr and Orgal have awakened their authorities, they can also strengthen and explode the timeline.
'In theory, nothing is impossible... Then Gilfer and Asmodeus are just mediums?'
The time of the Interdimensional Zone that has flowed for over 10,000 years.
Kim Taehyun would have fully recovered using Lucifer's authority, and dealt with him while he was recovering on the 6th floor.
'It sounds simple.'
It's something that can only be realized with a lot of luck.
That luck followed Kim Taehyun, and that's how the current situation came to be.
'…….'
He can no longer even let out a hollow laugh.
He calmly assessed the current situation.
He swung 'Blood' to cut off the dream.
The moment the severed dream withers away, a new maw targets his feet.
Tzzzzzz... Tzzzzz....
He sucked up the dream under his feet whole.
Just before he completely absorbs it, the dream devoured itself and disappeared.
'It's excessively intelligent.'
It's increasingly resembling the movements of Devouring that he knew.
If that guy uses Devouring, the source of power? The balance of power, which was equal, will collapse rapidly.
[I admit it.]
"……."
[As a being of the Lower Realm, your victory is secured.]
Immediately after uttering those words.
Igmun awakened a new power.
Tting.
[The Tower's system is being reset.]
[Constellation selection complete.]
[Verifying avatar suitability for the Upper Constellation 'Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness'.]
[Avatar suitability verification complete. 1% of power can be used.]
[The Upper Constellation 'Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness' is accepted into Igmun's body.]
A vast existence.
Something more than that wraps around his body.
[I will not stand idly by while you seize everything.]
Just uttering those words caused the mental world to ripple.
The world's terrain is changing.
Trees grow on the ground made of sand grains, forests are formed, and eventually a maze is created.
The height reaches the red sky.
Taehyun watched the scene silently.
"Finally, the last stage."
Tting.
[The Tower's system is being reset.]
[Constellation selection complete.]
[Verifying avatar suitability for the Intermediate Constellation 'Yoma King Defying Destiny'.]
[Avatar suitability verification complete. 1% of power can be used.]
[The Intermediate Constellation 'Yoma King Defying Destiny' is accepted into Kim Taehyun's body.]
[The time limit is….]
Hwaruk. Hwareureureu.
Along with the flames of Divine Power.
Taehyun awakened the power of the Yoma.
"It's time to end this."
'Divine Power. It's still a power like a disaster.'
Asmodeus, who regenerated his body with Lucifer's authority.
That's what he thought as he sensed the clash of the two Divine Powers.
An avatar is just bringing a very small part of the constellation's power.
Even so.
'The Three Thousand Worlds are being shaken.'
The impact even reaches him, who is blocked by the dimensional rift.
[…Dragon.]
The Divine Power of the 'Dragon' that is engraved as a key.
At this moment, it is forcing him to become an avatar.
It wants him to invade the clash of 'Labyrinth' and 'Yoma' and collapse the Three Thousand Worlds.
Faint memories are revived in his head.
'I see.'
The faint memories gradually become clearer.
[So, you regressed me for the sake of this situation.]
Betrayal. Destruction. Secret.
Even the past when he became the Upper Realm King by obtaining the three authorities, he realized that it was all part of the process for this moment.
Divine Power boiled in his chest.
If he wanted, he could become the avatar of the Dragon here.
That power would not be inferior to Igmun, who uses the power of 'Labyrinth', or Kim Taehyun, who uses the power of 'Yoma'.
[It would be enough to create a new situation.]
A distance that is neither close nor far.
Asmodeus's red eyes, enduring the shock felt from another dimension, gleamed.
[I refuse. I have lived according to your will until now.]
He is the one with the authority of betrayal.
He knows.
That the 'Dragon', having achieved its purpose, will mercilessly abandon him.
[What choice did I make in another timeline?]
Waiting for an answer that doesn't come, he recalled the past.
The Great Demon Asmodeus.
He was born as one of the most prominent beings among the demon race, but there were many who were more superior.
The absolute two Demon Kings.
The ancient Great Demons who fought the Myriad Demon Palace with them.
He possessed the authority of betrayal and formed a territory, but.
He was not satisfied.
Hunting the occasional bugs that trespassed into his territory was his only pleasure.
A boring and dry life.
It was a life befitting a demon, and he had no complaints.
Until he was chosen as the key to the Upper Realm King.
He was a common Great Demon who had lost his potential.
"Shiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"
His meeting with Kim Taehyun.
A stage created by a deal between the Upper Realm King and the Lower Realm King.
He was chosen as the key to the Upper Realm King and reached the pinnacle of his species, which he had dreamed of.
He transcended the limitations of his species and became the originator of a new species, and transcended the beings of the Lower Realm and the Upper Realm to become the Upper Realm King.
'Kim Taehyun won, and I lost.'
Looking at it now, that defeat was destined.
Unlike himself, who started from the position of a Great Demon, Kim Taehyun was a human from the Interdimensional Zone.
And among them, he was a guy who lived the life of an unawakened person, who was called the very bottom.
'Growth. The reason why this timeline was created.'
The kings who chose them as keys are still competing even after becoming constellations.
He strengthened his eyesight and watched the battle between Kim Taehyun and Igmun.
Drip.
As a price for watching the powerful battle, tears of blood flow from his red eyes.
Igmun was also a being who had similar ambitions to himself.
The difference is that he was not chosen.
He became an Archduke by his own power, but his vessel was insufficient to accept greater power.
And that kind of person was given a power that no one could defy.
The covenant made with Divine Power.
Even if he were to overturn Kim Taehyun's, just as he overturned Igmun's, it wouldn't mean much.
If the guy who offered him the condition wasn't a doppelganger.
He has no doubt that he would have chosen betrayal without fail.
[I will make a different choice this time.]
A position greater than the one the Dragon proposed.
Arrogant words proposed by a being who, like him, is now insignificant.
Crack.
He, who has transformed into the form of the Upper Realm King, opened the dimensional rift with both hands.
The overlapping and overturned mental world, where the two Divine Powers are clashing, came into view.
Asmodeus opened his mouth, watching the power of 'Labyrinth' and 'Yoma' spread.
[Dragon. How about you take your hands off the Three Thousand Worlds now?]
A message appears in Asmodeus's eyes.
['Destruction' and 'Secret'. Those were not originally mine.]
Tting.
[The Tower's system is being reset.]
[Constellation selection complete.]
[Verifying avatar suitability for the Upper Constellation 'Dragon with Five Hearts'.]
[Avatar suitability verification complete. 1% of power can be used.]
[The Upper Constellation 'Dragon with Five Hearts' is accepted into Asmodeus's body.]
Divine Power is trying to forcibly dominate his body.
[That's wrong.]
Tzzzzzz.
Ssss.
Kadeudeuk.
Asmodeus clashed the three authorities.
[I will betray you.]
Countless warning-like messages appear.
Among them was the Tower Administrator's.
Poook.
Asmodeus plucked out his own two eyes.
His vision darkens in an instant.
Crack.
With another hand, he drove thorns into his body.
A one-sided self-harm.
With just that, the consciousness that was being eroded was slightly restored.
'I won't be able to hold out for long with this method.'
The Dragon's power is stronger than he thought.
He saw the two Divine Powers clashing in the distance.
The power of the three constellations that have gathered in one place again.
This time, he intends to change the game according to his will.
[Kim Taehyun. If you have the potential to become a Great Constellation.]
Asmodeus, twisting the corners of his mouth.
Kwaduk!
Plucked out his own neck.
'Wouldn't it be the same for me?'
Thud.
Into Asmodeus's head that fell.
Tting.
['Asmodeus's body is summoned as the first heart of the Upper Constellation 'Dragon with Five Hearts'.]
The Dragon's roar was heard.
Flames flickered around Taehyun.
"This power. It's been a while."
As Kim Taehyun did, the Yoma's power originated from a great being.
Baal.
Along with Baal, the conqueror of the Three Thousand Worlds created by the one God.
He lost his body for some reason and took refuge in Yoma, an Interdimensional Zone human, to sustain his life.
The special power of the Yoma originated from such Baal's flames.
Tting.
['The Tower Administrator' clenches his eyes tightly at the sudden situation.]
['The Tower Administrator' intervenes.]
The existence of that guy, whom he had forgotten for some time.
"Don't interfere. Tolkien."
He deliberately mentioned his name to warn him.
['The Tower Administrator' shouts that this is troublesome.]
"No. Here, the winner takes all. So you stay out of it."
['The Tower Administrator' shakes his head roughly.]
['The Tower Administrator' reveals emotional turmoil.]
['The Tower Administrator' becomes silent.]
Taehyun met Igmun's eyes, who had already approached him.
His appearance hasn't changed much.
But a greater power than his own is being emitted.
"Your Divine Power has the ability to interfere with everything."
The Yoma's Divine Power is fire.
It can change the shape of fire and adapt to anywhere.
Hwarureuk! At Taehyun's will, the entire maze burned once more.
Tzzzzzzzz.
The burning maze is reconstructed in a more solid form.
'Labyrinth is an Upper Constellation. Can't I easily burn it even with the Yoma's power?'
It's a part he had in mind to some extent.
'But there's one thing I overlooked.'
Huff.
Taehyun exhaled. Is it because of the influence of the flames?
His chest is hot.
"This body was the Devourer's."
A body imbued with the power of two constellations.
He traveled through numerous timelines of the 6th floor and dealt with one of Igmun's bodies, which was at the level of the Unified King.
He still can't use Devouring.
"It's strange."
Without Devouring, he achieved the Unified King level that Kim Taehyun had reached in the past, but he, who can be said to be Devouring itself, can't use it.
"I think I know the meaning now."
It's not that he can't use Devouring.
"Prepare yourself."
The only condition needed to use Devouring, to use the power of the Constellation 'Devourer'.
That is.
"This body is prepared to die."
He controlled the labyrinth with the Yoma's flames.
The 'Devourer's' Divine Power is the ability to devour.
Jjeoeoooooook.
A maw made of flames constricted Taehyun.
[The Tower's system is being reset.]
[Constellation selection change.]
[Verifying avatar suitability for the Lower Constellation 'Devourer of the Three Thousand Worlds'.]
[Avatar suitability verification complete. 10% of power can be used.]
[The Lower Constellation 'Devourer of the Three Thousand Worlds' is accepted into Kim Taehyun's body.]
The seal that had been confining his body is released.
Taehyun reached out his hand towards the labyrinth that was cast in his mind.
"Devour it, Devouring."
Part 2, Episode 155
The battle of holy powers.
Using the holy power of 'Yoma' to sense the holy power of 'Labyrinth,' I roughly grasped its location.
Taehyun is using the holy power of 'Predator.'
The difference is that he's brought 10% of it this time, unlike before.
"It's ridiculous."
I thought I knew everything about Kim Taehyun, but it's only 10 percent.
"He's drawn the maximum amount without destroying the Three Thousand Worlds?"
'Predator of the Three Thousand Worlds' is a lower-level constellation.
'Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness' is a higher-level constellation.
Even the power of 'Yoma King Defying Fate,' a mid-level constellation, couldn't overwhelm it.
'The gap certainly exists.'
What is certain is.
"At this rate, I can subdue it."
The maw of predation.
My source, which had been sealed and unusable, was ravenously devouring 'Labyrinth.'
Unlike the previous battle where I was powerless against holy power, this time, I projected the power of 'Predator.'
Igmoon's resistance was also fierce.
Maze and Labyrinth.
Its consciousness is moving around as quickly as predation is devouring it.
"Indeed. So that's what it means to dwell in consciousness."
The current space is the mental world that makes up the being called Kim Taehyun.
It is connected to the 6th floor of the dimensional rift.
The Archdukes, who have a pact with me, control space and time.
I can say with certainty.
Resisting this much on a stage prepared to this extent is impossible without the power of the Labyrinth.
"You were chosen after all."
The flames of Yoma that had surrounded it are weakening.
If the flames disappear, I can no longer hold the Labyrinth's movements.
"So I need to be prepared to sacrifice my life this time as well."
Smirk.
Taehyun, with his lips curled up, clenched his hand.
Crack.
The labyrinths that had been newly obscuring the vision vanished in the blink of an eye.
Huff.
Taehyun leaned his body.
With just that, he succeeded in moving to the targeted point.
Heat haze blooming from his body tore at the space in front of him in the form of a maw.
There was an adversary there.
"You're quite talented at creating rifts."
[You.]
"If I hadn't heard Typhon's story, I would have missed it completely."
The battle between Igmoon and Typhon in the dimensional rift.
Unlike Typhon, who consumes Shinma power, Igmoon was able to withstand the dimensional rift without much difficulty.
"He's supposed to wield the holy power of 'Labyrinth.' That much wouldn't have been a problem."
[Are you trying to get us all killed?]
Igmoon asked, looking at the maw surrounding him.
The power of Yoma remains, and he is completely surrounded by the maw of the Predator.
He reached the level of an Integrated King and is fully using holy power.
'Even with the power of the Labyrinth, I can't escape.'
It was a sense of defeat he was feeling for the first time.
'Is the journey of my true self… ending here?'
Floor 6 of 100.
The Tower of Possibilities still has 94 floors.
[Heh… Hehehe….]
Igmoon's body shook.
Taehyun watched the scene and raised his hand.
Up, down, left, and right.
The perfectly encircling maw began to tighten.
[Mutant. Fake bastard….]
He revealed blatant killing intent.
Crackle.
The crimson holy power that bloomed like heat haze sparked as it touched the maw.
A tug-of-war waged with all their might by the avatars of constellations.
There was no phenomenon of space fluctuating or collapsing.
Confirming Igmoon's last resistance, he checked the time he could maintain his avatar.
5 seconds.
If I don't end it now, there won't be a second chance.
Without room to escape or block.
'Devour it all at once.'
Crack.
The fangs attached to the maw pierced into his body.
Taehyun watched Igmoon's face as he screamed.
"Chew it well."
He encouraged his authority.
Crack!!!
A feeling of being cut off from the senses of the body.
At the same time.
Ting.
[The 'Tower Administrator' confirms 'Kim Taehyun (Doppelganger)'.]
[The 'Tower Tribune' confirms 'Laggard of the Three Thousand Worlds (Doppelganger)'.]
[The 'Tower Master' confirms 'Avatar of Constellation (Doppelganger)'.]
['Kim Taehyun (Doppelganger)', 'Laggard of the Three Thousand Worlds (Doppelganger)', 'Avatar of Constellation (Doppelganger)' are summoned to the ??? floor of the tower.]
Numerous messages ring in his head.
The feeling of being cut off from his senses did not last long.
['Kim Taehyun (Doppelganger)'s consciousness is strengthened.]
['Laggard of the Three Thousand Worlds (Doppelganger)'s will is strengthened.]
['Predator of the Three Thousand Worlds (Doppelganger)'s source is strengthened.]
In that place, he opened his eyes.
[I never thought we would meet again so soon.]
An old man with a benevolent voice.
[What do you know, a doppelganger. You enjoy rather rough methods, don't you?]
There was the Tower Master.
"Tower Master."
Taehyun spoke the identity of the old man.
[I didn't expect to meet you like this after experiencing only one floor.]
The old man replied with a benevolent smile.
He has the power of an Integrated King, and until just now, he was wielding the power of two constellations.
'I can't fathom his presence.'
[There's no need to be so wary. The Tower Master is just a useless old man.]
"A useless old man… you're good at talking."
The only god who created the Three Thousand Worlds.
He called me here, so if he has something to say, he should say it concisely.
Taehyun swallowed his unspoken words and nodded.
[What's the rush?]
Swish.
As the Tower Master waved his hand, two teacups appeared in the air.
They were filled with contents warmed to the right temperature.
Thump.
The teacups landed softly on the round table.
Come to think of it, he was already sitting in a seat prepared at the round table.
Clearly, until just now, he was in a white space.
'When?'
The Tower Master seemed to enjoy Taehyun's reaction.
[I heard you enjoy drinking tea with Hazar.]
Slurp.
He put down the teacup he had taken a sip from on the round table.
[Kim Taehyun who chose Rozaria… no, are you Kim Taehyun now?]
"Judging by how you're watching this body's journey, I'd appreciate it if you could get straight to the point without beating around the bush."
What he talked about with the original, how he made pacts with the Archdukes, and what he did on the many timelines of the 6th floor.
What he was thinking when he accepted Asmodeus into his heartscape, and what he was thinking when he was devoured by predation along with Igmoon.
It seemed like there was no need to explain everything to the old man in front of him, so he reacted like that.
'The fact that Igmoon isn't here means that my gamble worked…'
[Alright. From now on, I'll call you 'Kim Taehyun'. I'll call the one who went outside 'Predator'.]
He tilted his cup and continued.
[The duel with Igmoon was your victory. It was crucial that you used both the power of 'Yoma' and the power of 'Predator'. 'Labyrinth' cannot be controlled with ordinary holy power.]
Ordinary holy power.
The only one who could express the power that could blow away the Three Thousand Worlds like that would be the old man in front of him.
[Asmodeus was also there… but he seemed to be influenced by you.]
"……?"
The dragon's intervention was scheduled, but Asmodeus didn't accept it and made a new choice.
As a result, he said that he had been summoned to a place that even the Tower Master could not approach now.
"He's a fool. I don't know what would have happened if he had aimed for the back of this body."
He was focusing all his strength on fighting Igmoon.
If Asmodeus, who used the holy power of the 'Dragon', had aimed for the back, I can't guarantee what would have happened.
[You seem to be satisfied, contrary to what you say.]
"You're even reading this body's thoughts?"
[No. It's just the insight of someone who has lived a long time.]
"Either way, this body is the final winner in the competition between Igmoon and Asmodeus, who possessed holy power."
[And you ended up in a state where it wouldn't be strange if you died.]
The predation used to annihilate Igmoon.
That power left irreversible scars on him as well.
[It hasn't completely disappeared yet, but in its current state, it will certainly disappear.]
"Is that also the insight of an old man?"
[I wouldn't even call it insight. Let's just say it's a predetermined ending.]
"How boring. There's no way you'd call someone who's going to die if left alone for no reason. Does it have to do with the original?"
[You're correct. Just as you used the timeline to defeat Igmoon, something similar happened outside.]
Something similar.
A sigh comes out on its own.
In short.
"Unlike this body."
This is probably because they couldn't twist fate this time.
['Yoma' and 'Predator'. They were defeated by 'Dragon'.]
"Pathetic bastards."
[Those two would be upset if they heard that. They gave you the opportunity.]
"This body didn't choose it."
'Yoma' to 'Predator'.
'Predator' to 'himself'.
He replied that he had only unilaterally transferred responsibility.
"So are you going to help the Tower?"
This time, the Tower Master shook his head.
[You have two choices.]
He shook his head and continued.
[Whether to climb the tower as is. Whether to be satisfied with the current possibility and go outside to save 'Yoma' and 'Predator'. I called you to help with that choice.]
It was truly an intervention befitting the Tower Master.
'I've only climbed one floor, but I've been offered the same choice as the original.'
Should I say that 'Yoma', who endured in a state where he didn't even have proper power, is great?
Should I mock 'Predator', who entrusted the aftermath to himself but didn't even buy proper time?
It didn't matter which emotion was more important.
The answer had to be decided.
"This body will continue to climb the tower."
[…….]
"Isn't the current Three Thousand Worlds the timeline for that?"
[Yes. You said you would become a Great Constellation.]
The Tower Master drew an index finger in the air.
Swish.
The rippling Shinma power formed a single video.
A place where countless beings wrapped in holy power are located.
'Outside.'
Instinctively, I could tell that it was the place where constellations exist.
"Constellation War."
In the video, the faces of 'Yoma' and 'Predator' were visible.
Not only were their limbs not intact, but they were also bound to something without being able to regenerate.
'These idiots.'
[Originally, it is common for one constellation to be born in one small universe. I say common, but even that possibility is very rare.]
Taehyun let the Tower Master's words flow and focused on the video.
Those who had embraced him were writhing, enduring the pain.
[Three constellations have already been born in the Three Thousand Worlds. That alone means that the capacity as a small universe has reached its limit.]
"Can't you just become a large universe?"
Taehyun casually retorted.
[A large universe is not so easily created.]
"You can't do anything if you worry about such trivial things."
[You're… a really interesting being.]
He told Taehyun about the many cases he would face as he climbed the tower.
About the Earth in the middle realm.
About the Archdukes.
About Asmodeus.
About Tolkien.
Each and every one of them was a series of brilliant moves and bad moves that had not yet occurred.
He would have been interested in the past.
Not now.
"……."
Taehyun, who turned his eyes away from the video, met the Tower Master's eyes.
[All of that is actually nothing. In the worst case, you'll be hunted by 'Dragon' the moment you go outside.]
Now that 'Yoma' and 'Dragon' have been captured.
It could be said that it is a predetermined result.
"It seems like you want something from this body."
[The capacity has reached its limit.]
The Tower Master, who burst into a hearty laugh once, became serious.
[If you climb to the 100th floor of the tower, the Three Thousand Worlds will no longer be able to exist.]
That is to say.
[In other words, the Three Thousand Worlds must be destroyed for you to become a constellation.]
The Tower Master is the creator who created the current universe.
'Dragon' is also a being he created.
[I.]
Even if 'Dragon' hunts 'Yoma' and 'Predator'.
[I want the Three Thousand Worlds to be maintained.]
Part 2 Episode 156
Silence.
After a moment, Taehyun burst into laughter.
"This sounds like a warning for me not to climb the Tower any further."
[...]
The Tower Lord remained silent.
"Ha... what an absurd fellow. Did those two know about your true intentions?"
[They wouldn't have known.]
Tsk.
Taehyun clicked his tongue at the indifferent response.
He had inherited the responsibility in the name of opportunity from the Fiend and the Predator.
He had only ascended one floor.
Yet the master of the Tower, the being those two who had entrusted the responsibility to him believed in...
"Now you're trying to stab me in the back."
[...]
"The One God, No Name, revered as you are, in the end, you're just another one of them."
Calling him 'you' instead of 'you bastard' was a form of respect.
Even that feeling was hard to suppress as Taehyun continued the conversation.
[There will come a day when you understand the heart of a parent.]
"Maybe. But not now. I don't care what happens to the Three Thousand Worlds. My only goal is to become a Great Constellation and go outside."
If he couldn't become a Great Constellation, he would at least achieve the status of a High-Grade Constellation to shake off the Dragon's pursuit.
The Tower Lord, who had been silent at his bold statement, finally spoke.
[It's a pity. You don't seem to understand your own situation very well.]
"That's not true. I think I understand the situation even more coldly than those two fools before me."
The Tower Lord smiled faintly.
With a wave of his hand, the image showing the Constellation War disappeared.
In that instant, Taehyun circulated the Divine Demonic Power within his body.
'I can't sense my magic stone.'
He didn't intend to fight, but he thought it was necessary to prepare for the worst.
It seemed like his thoughts had been read.
[The magic stone containing the Grand Dukes' authority. That power, the symbol of the covenant, has no meaning here.]
'Is he reading my mind?'
[Just think of it as a simple form of mind reading.]
"Tch. Mind reading my ass."
[Restricting the use of Divine Demonic Power is only to prepare for a possible conflict. And you seem to be mistaken about one thing.]
"......?"
[A Constellation that has lost its home planet will eventually face annihilation.]
The Tower Lord emphasized that the home planet was like the lifespan of a Constellation.
Whether through the memories or actions of the Original.
It was a fact he had already guessed.
But.
'Something's wrong.'
The Tower Lord's words echoed in his head.
[The capacity has reached its limit.]
[If you reach the 100th floor of the Tower, the Three Thousand Worlds will no longer exist.]
[To become a Constellation, the Three Thousand Worlds must be destroyed.]
[I.]
[Want the Three Thousand Worlds to be maintained.]
The Three Thousand Worlds could not handle four Constellations.
Yet the Fiend and the Predator wanted someone else to climb the Tower and become a Constellation, not themselves.
Did they not know that the Three Thousand Worlds had a capacity limit?
Were they deceived by the Tower Lord, one of the fragments of the One God?
'No.'
Having spent so much time together, they weren't that foolish.
That left only one possibility.
'They knew and passed on their opportunity.'
[Wouldn't most people think of it as a concession?]
The Tower Lord said with a smile, having read his thoughts.
Taehyun didn't care and spoke his thoughts aloud.
"The 'Fiend' and the 'Dragon' killed your main body and went outside."
The laws of the Three Thousand Worlds.
The 'Fiend' and the 'Dragon' became Constellations by severing those laws and rebelling against the creator of the world.
The 'Predator' won the key war to fill their empty seats and went outside.
'From the Tower Lord's perspective, it would have been better to keep the regressed Original and make him the Unified King of the Three Thousand Worlds.'
If he had done that, there would have been no stage for the birth of a new Constellation.
Igmund, himself.
The other Grand Dukes too.
They wouldn't have tried to climb the Tower so recklessly.
'I can't understand the Tower Lord's attitude.'
Making a decision without understanding was foolish.
[Even so, you will continue to climb the Tower.]
"Are you going to interfere?"
[No. I will not directly intervene.]
He wouldn't support him, but he wouldn't interfere either.
[However, if you push yourself too hard and face annihilation, I will not intervene.]
"Hmm..."
Taehyun stroked his chin.
'That much is obvious.'
He hadn't expected to receive help from the Tower Lord in the first place.
"What a half-assed restriction."
[Most people wouldn't call that half-assed. For example, you almost faced annihilation just by climbing one floor.]
Unlike the scolding tone, the Tower Lord's face was gentle.
"Come to think of it, there's one thing I wanted to ask."
[Normally, it's forbidden to leak information to those who don't immediately go outside. But.]
The Tower Lord, having already read the question Taehyun was about to ask, nodded.
[I will make a special exception to commemorate your victory on the 6th floor.]
"Do you have no intention of becoming a Constellation again?"
Small universes, the home planets of Constellations.
The person who created such a world couldn't be an ordinary being.
He created the world because of the existence of Baal and Balak.
'The 'Dragon' who was the Upper Realm King, the 'Fiend' who was the Lower Realm King, and Kim Taehyun who was the Unified King.'
Besides them, even the lords of the Heavenly Realm and the Grand Dukes who had reached a similar level.
'Did not possess the same authority as the current Tower Lord.'
[Hehehe.]
"You are a Constellation with the power of creation. I know that level of ability is not something that can be trivially consumed."
[You're putting an old man in a tight spot.]
"Why don't you regain the status of a Constellation and go outside? You have the highest chance of becoming a Great Constellation, don't you?"
The Tower Lord's smile deepened as he drew an arc.
Neither the 'Fiend' nor the 'Predator'.
Did not ask this question when they knew his identity and faced him.
And now, the one who inherited their memories.
[You're asking the same question as Baal.]
"...Dragon?"
[Yes. That's the question he asked me when he first became known as the Upper Realm King.]
Snap.
The Tower Lord snapped his fingers.
The gesture resembled the one Taehyun used when manipulating the Gluttony.
[There's a more vivid way than words.]
"......!!"
New memories began to be injected.
It was the Tower Lord, No Name.
The One God who created the Three Thousand Worlds.
[These are my memories.]
'He' had no name.
He only knew that from the moment he gained consciousness, he was creating something.
He created the world without even seeing his own appearance.
Life flourished in the created world, and they imitated him, creating new life.
A continuous creation.
As the one who created and designed the world, it was a pleasant thing.
Later, the initial creations were called gods or demons, and he was called the One God, the only existence among the gods.
Happiness.
Is this what a parent feels when looking at their child? It was rare for a being with divine status to feel such emotions.
As if to remind him of that fact.
Happiness didn't last long.
Someone among the first creations coveted his position.
Selfishness led to incitement, and those who sought to rise to the One God's position showed their intentions one by one.
The Rebellion of the Gods.
Before he could even calm his disappointment, he created Baal and Balak to suppress the rebellion.
Not just creating, but also strongly imbuing them with a part of his power.
The rebellion was easily suppressed, and afterwards, he distanced himself from creation and lived in seclusion.
He wandered through the middle realms that were proliferating endlessly, rather than the upper and lower realms.
He witnessed countless injustices and countless agreements.
As the journey grew longer, his fragments left traces throughout the middle realms.
Not creation, but harmony.
He became fond of a new form of hobby.
How many middle realms did he travel through?
How many fragments did he leave behind? The fragmented status awakened the power that someone had imprinted on him.
He became aware of his own existence.
The Great Constellation 'Changseong (昌盛) Designing Changseong (昌星)'.
A High-Grade Constellation from the Great Universe he created.
His existence was touched by the power of 'Changseong'.
The emotion of 'hollowness' following 'happiness' and 'disappointment'.
A greater emotion swirled within him than when his creations sought his life.
Unbecoming of the name One God.
Since some time ago, he had become accustomed to feeling emotions.
The Three Thousand Worlds.
The world he created was destined to collapse helplessly to a great being who would visit someday.
He had to go outside the Three Thousand Worlds.
There was one problem with the seemingly easy solution.
A variable that he could only realize because he had awakened the memories flowing from 'Changseong'.
His home planet was not the Three Thousand Worlds, but some unknown Great Universe.
The moment he went outside, the Three Thousand Worlds would become a planet without a home Constellation.
A planet not protected by a Constellation.
It wasn't difficult to know that the future of such a planet was destruction.
Creation was a power that was rare even among the countless Constellations, and that the Great Constellations wanted to attract into their forces.
Moreover, if the power of the Great Constellation 'Changseong' was imbued, there was no need to say more.
How much he loved the world he created.
How much the being who was once a High-Grade Constellation had fallen, to the point that he naturally recognized the emotions that mortals would feel.
He couldn't hide his surprise at realizing his own change.
He accepted the surprise and embraced the change.
An adaptability that he himself admired.
He quickly came up with a new method by applying the values of adaptation and survival that the middle realm people showed.
The new solution was simple.
Instead of himself, who couldn't go outside, he had to create a new Constellation to protect the Three Thousand Worlds.
Originally, the Three Thousand Worlds, which was barely considered a small universe and had a crude existence, had become a plausible form due to the fragments he had scattered.
One by one, those who shed the shackles of mortals began to be born even in the middle realm.
He ended his play in the middle realm and visited the lower and upper realms.
The most likely candidate to become a Constellation was Baal.
The creation that contained the most of the One God's existence.
Smart, cunning, and rational.
The power he possessed was enough to dominate the upper and lower realms right away.
No.
Insufficient.
He shook his head as he confirmed him, observing from afar.
The existence force he had now was not enough to become a Constellation.
Baal was created to punish the immortals, so he had never felt the emotion of threat.
Even if he became a Constellation, he wouldn't survive long.
The answer lay in the middle realm, wandering aimlessly.
Struggle or confrontation.
The moment when the creatures of the middle realm achieved the greatest growth.
Coincidentally, there was an existence not far away to help Baal grow.
Balak.
The existence that he inhabited, the Fiend (妖魔), who was sealed for some reason.
He watched the mortal who had entered the lower realm, calling himself the Fiend King.
He was convinced that he could grow Baal into a Constellation if he used him.
If that happened.
The Three Thousand Worlds could be safe.
Using the power of reincarnation, which was only allowed to the One God, he reversed the imbalance of power again and again.
Baal would experience crisis through the Fiend, and eventually achieve the status of a Constellation and protect the Three Thousand Worlds.
It didn't take long for him to realize that all of that was a delusion.
Part 2 Episode 157
My memory cut off there.
[Oh dear, it seems my power hasn't fully recovered.]
The Tower Master said nonchalantly, confirming that his vision had returned.
[I apologize. It seems I expended quite a bit of power showing the memories to the 'Predator' before. You know about that, right?]
'Of course, I know.'
Most of the original's memories had been recovered along with the ownership of the body.
"Great Constellation 'The Archaeopteryx Overseeing the Void Records.' I still vividly remember the pain of eavesdropping on that bastard’s conversation."
The reason the Tower Master possessed the memories of a Great Constellation.
That meant he was an existence with the power of 'Genesis' imprinted upon him, and it still continued to this day.
"It also means you are special even among the fragments of the Absolute God."
[Special among the fragments. That's not entirely wrong. I am the being that remained after the fragment broke off. In your terms, I am the main body.]
"......"
Taehyun was slightly taken aback by those words.
He had never thought he would encounter someone who called himself the main body of the Absolute God, who had always been shrouded in mystery.
'No, what's important now isn't that.'
Whether he could become a Great Constellation or not.
Whether the Tower Master, who had revealed himself to be the main body of the Absolute God, would hinder or help him on that path.
"Those are the things that matter to me."
[Indeed.]
"So, I'd like you to answer me."
Why he hadn't restored his Constellation rank himself and gone outside.
[I never liked long explanations, but I suppose you know what will happen afterward.]
Of course, he knew.
"The Demonic God and the Dragon joined forces and hunted you."
The 'Demonic God,' who completed the Domain War, became the Lower Realm King, and the 'Dragon,' who seized the Celestial Realm, became the Upper Realm King.
The Lower Realm repeated countless cycles due to the intervention of No-Name.
The Demonic God repeated countless tribal wars and managed to raise his rank to a level similar to the Dragon.
When their ranks became close.
The Dragon did not defeat the Demonic God.
"He wanted to go outside with the Demonic God. He didn't want to settle for just a Lower Constellation."
[Accurate.]
The Tower Master nodded as if satisfied with the answer.
"Of course. But before they could fully awaken as Constellations, there was something they had to take care of."
The Godslayer.
Bringing down the being who reigned as the master of the Three Thousand Worlds.
"To create a new Constellation, they had to kill you once again."
[Wahaha.]
The Tower Master laughed heartily.
Bending his body back and forth, he seemed more delighted than ever.
[That's right. You're getting it all exactly right.]
He willingly accepted death.
In fact, it wasn't a complete death since he had already scattered numerous fragments throughout the Middle Realm and beyond.
Only the vessel best suited for restoring the rank of Constellation, the main body, was fatally damaged.
The remnants scattered throughout the Three Thousand Worlds, gaining their own authorities and being able to observe the world.
[Among them, there were even those with the power of creation, however weak.]
The Tower Master before Taehyun was the self that was born that way.
Even now, he maintained enough power to be called the avatar of a Constellation.
[I didn't expect the 'Predator' to become a Constellation too, but in any case, I achieved my original goal of producing a Constellation from the Three Thousand Worlds, preventing other Constellations from occupying it.]
Kim Taehyun's awakening as the 'Predator' was also a variable.
The old man emphasized and met Taehyun's eyes.
[The increased capacity of the universe after producing a Constellation is also reaching its limit.]
The Three Thousand Worlds were an incomplete universe from the start.
Not only had they produced multiple Constellations, but they had also undergone several transformations using the powers of other Constellations.
[With my fragmented existence, I can't produce any more Constellations.]
The current timeline was created to give birth to a High-Rank Constellation.
Even if Taehyun climbed the Tower of Possibilities and gained power comparable to a High-Rank Constellation.
[The current Three Thousand Worlds will face collapse.]
After hearing the Tower Master's answer, his thoughts became clear.
"Now the puzzle pieces are falling into place."
[I'm glad my answer helped. Then...]
How about giving power to the 'Dragon' at this point?
Just as the Tower Master was about to say that.
"Actually, it's better for the Three Thousand Worlds to be destroyed."
The Tower Master's face stiffened at the sudden statement.
"No. It's not enough for it to just be destroyed."
Ignoring the Tower Master's reaction, Taehyun continued.
"I'll do it myself."
Shatter it.
"I'll have to destroy it thoroughly."
[......]
After a long pause, the Tower Master opened his mouth.
[You're speaking incomprehensible words. Do you know what it means to destroy the Three Thousand Worlds?]
"It means exactly what it says."
Taehyun's lips twisted.
"Tower Master. To be honest, that was a disappointing answer. It sounded plausible, but there's a flaw in what you said."
[......?]
Confirming the other party's reaction of not understanding, a sneer leaked from Taehyun's twisted lips.
"Why didn't you ever think of becoming a Constellation yourself and going outside?"
He was a High-Rank Constellation.
Even though he split his existence and scattered countless fragments throughout the Three Thousand Worlds.
"If you wanted to, it wouldn't have been impossible to recover all those fragments and restore some level of rank."
[But that would mean my existence would have to be combined with the Three Thousand Worlds...]
"That's ridiculous. I didn't ask for a blatant excuse. Even if you split your existence, you could have at least recovered to the level of a Lower Constellation."
In fact, both the 'Dragon' and the 'Demonic God' started as Lower Constellations and reached where they were now.
No-Name, with the power of creation, would have been even more valuable.
"You're just passing on your responsibilities."
[......]
"You're just a little kid who doesn't want the amusement park he created to fall apart."
Taehyun relentlessly spewed out harsh words.
At first, he was just going to mock him appropriately and end it, but once he started, he couldn't control himself.
The Constellation War waged by the Great Constellations.
It was waged to eliminate countless Constellations.
And in the process, the home planets and universes of the Constellations were destroyed countless times.
The 'Demonic God' and the 'Predator' stood in opposition to the Great Constellations, and the 'Dragon' betrayed them by siding with the Great Constellation called 'Aberration'.
"And yet you still want the 'Dragon' to win so that the Three Thousand Worlds can be maintained?"
The easiest way to solve the current problem.
That was for the 'Dragon' to become the only home Constellation of the Three Thousand Worlds.
It would be even better if the Dragon became a Great Constellation by sacrificing the 'Demonic God' and the 'Predator'.
[I suppose the 'Dragon' made the 'Demonic God' a Constellation for that reason as well.]
"Yes, that might be the case."
He molded the origin of the 'Demonic God' and created the power of Devouring.
And he came into the world through the mind and body of the 'Predator'.
[Destroy the Three Thousand Worlds thoroughly.]
The Tower Master, who had quietly recited the words, raised his head.
[Are you planning to take the possibilities of the Tower and then collapse this place? To break the endless chain of repetition?]
Hehehe.
[That won't be enough. With such a destructive choice...]
"First, I'll devour you."
[......]
"Not just you."
The Tower's Administrator.
The Tower's Tribune.
And other fragments related to the Tower that he hadn't met yet.
"I'll devour all those bastards."
The Tower Administrators were all related to the Upper, Lower, and Middle Realms.
"Devouring them means devouring all the possibilities that exist in the Three Thousand Worlds."
After that, the remaining Three Thousand Worlds would be left with nothing but an empty shell without any hope or growth.
A planet with no more regressions, no new possibilities blossoming.
That was the end that the Three Thousand Worlds would face.
"You don't look too happy about it."
[I don't think the 'Demonic God' or the 'Predator' would like that either?]
"Either way, if I don't grow, the 'Dragon' or other Great Constellations are destined to start intervening."
The two Constellations who had passed on the responsibility in the name of opportunity to him were already in danger.
"Exhaust all possibilities and be satisfied with a High-Rank Constellation? All that does is postpone the end a little longer."
If he couldn't become a Great Constellation, he couldn't break this chain after all.
[Really. Do you think you can become a Great Constellation?]
"If I devour you and the other fragments with the power of Genesis, I can at least try."
The being who was supposedly the main body of the Absolute God.
The being with the power of the Great Constellation 'Genesis' imprinted upon him.
If he could digest it, it was a gamble worth trying.
Now, taking risks.
The act of gambling his life no longer felt like a big deal.
The Tower Master, reading his thoughts, smiled gently.
The atmosphere changed with just that.
It felt like he had become a completely different being from the old man who had been arguing with him a moment ago.
[You're different from the 'Demonic God' or the 'Predator'. I'd even say you resemble the 'Dragon' more.]
"Has your state of mind changed now that complete annihilation is planned?"
[Even if you devour me, it can't be done now. With your current rank, you can't digest me right away.]
Swoosh.
As the Tower Master spread his hand, a common old wooden staff appeared.
[It looks like this, but Tolkien compressed the sacred tree that exists in multiple timelines to create this item.]
Thud.
As he struck the ground with the staff, sacred power rippled out.
"......!!"
Instinctive defensive action.
Despite the sacred power sweeping past him, there was no damage.
[You don't have to be so afraid. Would someone who's going to swallow me and destroy the world be afraid of a mere handful of sacred power?]
A handful.
That was an appropriate amount to call it.
The sacred power that spread out showed signs of scattering as it was.
'Search? Detection?'
Either way, the fact that the other party was using sacred power without any restrictions was not a welcome situation for Taehyun.
"You're not an ordinary High-Rank Constellation, are you?"
His origins were in a great universe where a Great Constellation wouldn't be born without issue.
Not only did he possess the power of creation, but he also had the power of the Great Constellation 'Genesis' imprinted upon him.
[I'm just a fragment. Even if I take all the other fragments, I won't become a Great Constellation.]
"The change has already begun."
Three Constellations had been born in a place that couldn't even become a small universe.
"I never go back on a goal I've set."
[That's what the 'Demonic God' said. And now I understand why the 'Predator' entrusted you with the aftermath.]
Thud.
The Tower Master struck the staff down once more.
A hologram appeared before his eyes.
As if looking down from above, a massive mountain range could be seen.
Between them, people wearing armor and robes were fighting monsters.
"The Middle Realm?"
[The place you call the Empire. Among them, this is a timeline touched by the power of 'Aberration'.]
"What...?"
Aberration.
He had never faced them directly, but there were rumors of a Great Constellation that collected Constellations, tore their bodies to pieces, and reassembled them.
It was said that the Constellations that were reborn that way had different identities than before and obeyed him.
'If the Dragon was defeated... there's a high chance that the Demonic God and the Predator are also trapped in his domain. But how could a Great Constellation like that reach the Middle Realm...?'
No matter how much they hid their existence, the Three Thousand Worlds couldn't handle that much.
[You're too naive. The 'Demonic God' was once under the 'Archaeopteryx', and the 'Dragon' is currently under 'Aberration'. Do you think they can rely on them without affecting their origins?]
"......"
In the video, a monster was scattering a massive amount of power.
The remnants of sacred power.
A power that shouldn't be exerted in the Middle Realm.
The one opposing it was a silver-haired man.
An familiar energy could be felt from the sword he was holding.
"A fragment...?"
A fragment of the Absolute God.
One of those that he had scattered in the Middle Realm before.
[The future is something no one knows.]
The Tower Master raised his staff.
"What are you doing?"
[Just a whim. It's also what the 'Demonic God' and the 'Predator' did.]
"What..."
[You seem used to a life of being expected.]
The name Doppelganger too.
The name Kim Taehyun too.
[When you think about it, aren't they insufficient to represent you?]
Thud.
The raised staff touched Taehyun's chest.
A familiar power flowed in through the staff.
[No-Name.]
Centered on where it touched his chest, the Tower Master's sacred power spread out.
Swish.
The sacred power of the 'Demonic God' manifested as if burning.
Crack.
The sacred power of the 'Predator' manifested, opening its maw.
Swish.
The sacred power of the 'Labyrinth' he devoured through Iglemoon manifested as if hiding its body.
And.
Rattle.
As if caressing all that sacred power, another sacred power seeped in.
[It was a pleasant conversation.]
Ding.
[The power of the degraded Constellation 'Creator Without a Name' is reaching you.]
[The connection with the Middle-Rank Constellation 'Demonic God King Who Defies Fate' is temporarily restored.]
[The connection with the Lower-Rank Constellation 'Predator of the Three Thousand Worlds' is temporarily restored.]
[The Upper-Rank Constellation 'Labyrinth Dwelling in Consciousness' welcomes the birth of a new Constellation.]
[The Upper-Rank Constellation 'Zodiac Walking Through Timelines' is showing a surprised reaction.]
[The Upper-Rank Constellation 'Dragon with Five Hearts' is enraged.]
Amid the numerous messages ringing in his head.
[I will watch your choice.]
The Tower Master's voice faintly echoed.
Part 2 Episode 158 (End)
The messages subside, and the blurred vision returns.
'Looks like nothing's changed.'
[Looks can be deceiving.]
"......"
As if he could see right through his thoughts, the Tower Lord, with his hand on his usual staff, continued.
[I've imprinted my power.]
"Power...?"
[The power of the fallen Constellation, 'The Nameless Creator', touches you.]
One of the messages that lingered in his mind a moment ago resurfaces.
'The Nameless Creator.'
That would be an alias of the monotheistic god who was once a high-ranking Constellation.
[No need to look so serious. It's not like imprinting power will take over your body or kill me right away. It's just a precaution.]
In case Taehyun really succeeded in ascending the Tower.
A safety device to prevent the Three Thousand Worlds from collapsing immediately.
[Of course, it seems that some Constellations have become aware of your existence in the process.]
The Tower Lord's lips curled up as he observed Taehyun's reaction.
[Not confident?]
"Not a chance."
He had confirmed that 'Yoma' and 'Predator' were alive.
And that he was connected to 'Labyrinth' and 'Zodiac'.
"It doesn't change what I have to do, no matter how many other guys recognize this body."
[Then you may return now. The stopped time will soon return to normal.]
The Tower Lord raised his staff once more.
The moment that staff hit the floor, he would return to the 6th floor of the Tower and begin his ascent.
"It was not a bad encounter."
[Tell Tolkien that as well. That child is worried about you in his own way.]
"That guy..."
[Good luck.]
Thud.
Before Taehyun could finish his sentence, the Tower Lord's staff struck the floor.
Bang.
At the same time as Taehyun disappeared, a door formed in the air and opened.
[Father!]
Appearing was a young woman wrapped in a blue robe.
The Tower's Tribune, who had been preventing anyone from entering here.
[What on earth just happened...]
[Nina. You should call me Tower Lord.]
The old man smiled kindly as he corrected her speech.
Nina.
That was her true name, which only the Tower Lord could call her.
[That's not important!]
[Yes. It's true that's not important. Sit down.]
Swish.
As he did for Taehyun, he summoned teacups and served tea brewed to the right temperature.
[Even simple creation magic is becoming too much for me. I won't be able to play Tower Lord for much longer.]
[......]
[You came because of the surge of divine power, right?]
Nina, who had been silently looking at the tea placed in front of her, nodded.
[Why... did you make that choice?]
She knew.
What had happened here.
Tower Lord.
Her father, called the creator of the Three Thousand Worlds, had just chosen a successor.
[You always said that helping the 'Dragon' was the surest path.]
[I did.]
[Then why give it to such a guy...!!]
Doppelganger.
An existence that was neither 'Yoma' nor 'Predator', who had already reached the rank of Constellation.
A fake without even a proper name.
The Tower Lord had handed over his remaining divine power to such a guy.
As one who guarded the Tower, she had recognized this fact and come to find out what happened faster than anyone else.
If such a thing had happened unintentionally, she would find 'Kim Taehyun' and tear him apart no matter what.
It was the moment she became certain of that thought.
[No need to hate him so much. It's my choice.]
[Father!!]
[The Aberration has moved.]
[......!!]
Nina flinched at the unexpected name.
[How could a Great Constellation be here...]
[I see you didn't know.]
[What... does that...]
All the Intermediates connected to the Tower were under her control.
But there was an Intermediate that 'Aberration' had interfered with?
No matter how well a Great Constellation hid itself, there was no way to escape her sight.
The Tower Lord, reading her thoughts, clicked his tongue briefly.
[You tended to hate your place of origin.]
[Don't tell me...]
Swish.
An image was displayed between them.
[......]
Nina took in the Intermediate that was once her birthplace.
[Why.]
How.
Those thoughts filled her head.
Why there of all places?
She looked at the Tower Lord.
[He must have approached through the 'Dragon'. It seems he played a trick.]
[Baal... that traitor...!!]
Bang!
Enraged, she slammed the round table she had been sitting at.
The Tower's managers were those who had been influenced by the monotheistic god, whether congenitally or acquired.
The fact that those scattered as fragments of the monotheistic god had gathered here was the result of 'Yoma' giving up his potential.
The potential designed by 'Yoma' was given to 'Predator', and the Doppelganger inherited that role.
And.
The 'Dragon', who had already completed one regression and achieved the rank of High-Level Constellation, was trying to swallow the Tower of Possibility by even bringing in the 'Aberration'.
[That fake...]
Calming her emotions, she made eye contact with the Tower Lord.
[Is this why you chose a guy who doesn't even have a name?]
[I can't say that's not the case.]
It was an ambiguous answer that was neither affirmative nor negative.
[His disposition resembled Baal.]
Baal.
The first form the monotheistic god had created before becoming the 'Dragon'.
[......]
Nina's face distorted.
She knew.
How much the old man in front of her had been expecting from 'Baal'.
The being that was shaped more powerfully than any of the fragments of the monotheistic god existing in the Three Thousand Worlds.
He was now the only being that had surpassed his creator.
[At one time, I wanted that child to become the monotheistic god of the Three Thousand Worlds.]
That was no longer the case.
If it were the 'Phoenix', which had formed a friendly relationship with 'Creation', that might be a possibility.
[The 'Aberration' is a dangerous guy. He won't care about the survival of the Three Thousand Worlds.]
Rather, he would try to transform the Three Thousand Worlds imbued with the power of 'Creation' to his liking.
Even if the result was so tainted that life could not survive.
[The 'Dragon' will accept it for his growth. He's aiming to become a Great Constellation.]
[So...]
[That child who is moving the body of the 'Predator'. He still calls himself 'Kim Taehyun'.]
[......]
[Whether experiencing a considerable amount of timelines on the 6th floor was a gain or a loss is still unknown.]
What was certain was.
[That child has potential.]
One who stabilized divine power as an avatar of a Constellation.
The battle with Igmun, who had preempted the 6th floor, was a kind of proving ground.
Although it was a somewhat unreasonable method, he broke the chains and won the victory.
[But Father. If that guy resembles Baal's disposition...]
Nina's voice trembled.
[Even so, if he was chosen by Father...]
[I'm sorry.]
[Damn it... I knew this day would come someday... but I never thought it would be that fake guy.... Just because Father decided that doesn't mean I have to follow, right?]
[Right.]
The Tower Lord nodded.
[Potential always begins with unexpected variables.]
Nina's gaze turned to the video.
A silver-haired knight cutting down the 'Aberration'.
[Then I'll go with this guy.]
Her place of origin that she had left a long time ago.
The starting point chosen by the Aberration as a means to invade the Three Thousand Worlds.
[Are you choosing a place that is already destined for destruction?]
Nina smiled faintly without answering the question.
Unlike a moment ago, her face was relieved after accepting everything.
[Tolkien will of course be attached to Kim Taehyun. I wonder how the other guys will react.]
The executives who made up the Tower.
The Tower Lord knew that he would not force a choice on those who should originally be sitting at this round table.
[I just hope Father's choice is not wrong.]
With those words, Nina disappeared.
[A choice that is not wrong...]
The Tower Lord, left alone, examined the Intermediate invaded by the 'Aberration'.
A silver-haired man holding his fragment.
He, nearing the limits of a mortal, was dying for delaying the invasion of the 'Aberration'.
[Edan Eurasia.]
Man.
He spoke the name of the mortal.
And.
[Adamas.]
His fragment, which had changed its form somewhat.
He too seemed to be in poor condition due to the side effects of fighting the Aberration.
[So another new variable is born.]
Now that Nina had taken charge, there was no need for him to intervene.
Following his gaze, a new video was displayed in the air.
The figure of Taehyun, who had begun climbing the 7th floor with the Dukes, was visible.
The Dukes of the Lower World.
Among them were those who had been called his fragments, and those who had awakened under the influence of the 'Dragon' and 'Yoma'.
[Your opponents will increase again.]
To no one in particular.
Ding.
['The Dragon with Five Hearts' is silent.]
A message like a warning appeared before his eyes.
[Let's watch and see.]
The Tower Lord smiled bitterly and struck the floor with his staff.
Swish.
As if it had never existed.
The owner of the Tower disappeared.
Somewhere in the vast universe.
[Are you alright?]
Yoma, bound by an invisible authority, moved his lips.
His gaze was directed at the Predator, who was in tatters and bound by authority.
The torment he had just experienced was not something a low-ranking Constellation could withstand.
[I can endure it.]
[......]
Yoma exhaled at the calm voice.
It was because he knew that, unlike his answer, his condition was not right.
[If our existence was not connected... you would have been annihilated by the shock just now.]
Instead of answering, the Predator twisted his lips.
[I didn't expect you to be caught as well.]
Yoma's voice echoed in a place filled only with emptiness.
The Predator chuckled.
[That was the only way to save you and buy time for the Zodiac to escape.]
The Dragon would never kill Yoma and Predator.
Even if he did, it would be after he had exhausted all the possibilities of the Three Thousand Worlds.
[After we have outlived our usefulness.]
[Usefulness...]
[Don't worry about what comes after. That guy has taken over.]
[Predator. That guy...]
[He's hot-tempered, but he's not stupid.]
Rather, in that he had no limits, he would be better than them, whose vessel had started as a human.
The Predator asserted.
[He didn't give up on anything. Besides, 'Inside' and 'Outside' have different time flows.]
The key element to win the Star War.
The possibility of becoming a Great Constellation and the Zodiac who could turn back time.
What if he had given up ascending the Tower and come out to deal with it?
Many comrades would have been captured and modified due to the Dragon's betrayal, and this time, hope would have been lost.
Therefore.
[This was the best way.]
The move that Yoma designed and the Predator played.
[That arrogant guy. I'm sure he can give the Dragon a run for his money.]
[......]
Although he didn't know how long that time would take.
They could wait.
Yoma silently looked at the Predator.
[Yeah.]
The die to change the tide of war had been cast.
[Everything depends on that guy.]
Taehyun, who had arrived at the 99th floor of the Tower, looked around.
The shape of a huge pillar supporting it, whether it was a place used as a temple in the past.
Asmodeus was in front of him.
An existence that had made a pact with him, and an existence that had turned into an enemy after the battle on the 6th floor.
"I can't believe you followed me all the way here after being modified by the Dragon."
He killed Igmun on the 6th floor and seized the divine power of 'Labyrinth'.
He lost Orgal on the 20th floor in exchange for saving everyone.
He sacrificed Jormungandr on the 35th floor to save his life.
He lost Rosaria on the 53rd floor.
He lost Elven on the 66th floor.
He lost Typhon on the 74th floor.
He lost Hazard on the 87th floor.
He lost Lucifer on the 93rd floor.
He lost Gilfel on the 98th floor.
Three Dukes were destroyed by Asmodeus.
"If I just go up one more floor, this tiresome Tower will be over."
[Wasn't it a foreseen future to meet the Tower Lord?]
The Dragon's thoughts were embedded in Asmodeus's voice.
Not the existence that had made a pact with him in the past, but the Dragon's puppet.
"It was a foreseen thing. But I don't like predetermined futures."
[I've been waiting for this day.]
"This body and my thoughts are in sync."
Taehyun rotated the magic stone.
The rank of Constellation that awakened while ascending the Tower.
The divine power engraved on the magic stone was manifested.
Ding.
[The middle-ranking Constellation 'Nameless who Collects Names' seizes the space.]
The spread divine power dominated the area.
An area where only the pure power of the Three Thousand Worlds was allowed.
"Divine power cannot be used here."
[Nameless. That's a name too good for you to have.]
"The law of the jungle. The winner takes all."
That was the law of the Three Thousand Worlds.
[You can't go outside.]
Kwagaga.
Asmodeus, who had been taking on a human form, returned to the Dragon's appearance.
Magi.
The complete Demon Dragon's appearance that had destroyed Hazard and Gilfel, and the strongest potential that Asmodeus of the Three Thousand Worlds possessed.
As if opposing it.
Crack.
A maw made of divine demonic power was opened beneath their feet.
Crack. Crack.
The moment the endlessly opening maw encompassed the entire area.
As usual.
Taehyun's order followed.
"Devour it. Predator."
[End. Thank you.]
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