Episode 966 Divine Power – 10
The earth’s axis shakes.
Large and small cracks appeared throughout the gaps in the world, which serve as a passageway accidentally connecting the fifth world created by ‘you’ with the first world known as reality.
Whoooosh… … !
The Sword of Destiny [Kaeltarion] unleashed a sword sound never seen before.A halo of light in the sky glowed irregularly.
An elevation of rank. It is the realization of the original state.
Arthur Tarenfold let the cloud sword he was holding with both hands hang down beside his legs.
“However, it does not reach my level. Moreover, the soul of a Fate Destroyer is damaged beyond repair. There are no variables—”
flinch.
Arthur’s spirits stiffened.
This is… …?
Emotions were boiling.
It is not felt from the Fate Destroyer. It is detected creeping in ‘near’ the Fate Destroyer. A mass of unpleasantness settled in a moment of the distant past greatly irritated Arthur.
Terrible memories buried deep within the distant past stirred.An earthquake struck my pupils.
After betraying the resistors and annihilating the troublesome demons by catching them off guard.After becoming the King of Destiny.After cutting down your former comrades, the resistors, on the battlefield for the sake of your destiny.
Just as the tide of the Battle of Destiny was turning and victory seemed imminent… someone was waiting for Arthur, who had returned to his homeland to regroup. Havingcompletely wiped out the capital of humanity, leaving not even a wreckage behind.
───[I am not a resistor, but… well, it is a message from Oldark.]
It roars.
───[Pay the price for betrayal.]
The Battle of Destiny thoroughly crushed the forces of the resistors, but it also left ‘your’ forces with immense damage. As a result, Arthur lost the country he ruled.
Who destroyed the unified nation of humanity?Who killed the subjects?
Memories filled with a sense of loss and a thirst for revenge, which I had deliberately sealed away with faith to endure until the resumption of the battle of destiny, are creeping out.
Who was it?
The source of the energy very close to the Destroyer of Fate is found in the past, and because of this, Arthur’s sword suddenly came to a halt.
A transcendent divine power soared.
* * *
A shadow stands on a vast grassy hill reminiscent of the primordial land where the World Tree took root, looking as if a fierce storm is about to rage.
A blurry, indistinguishable being, ‘you’.
and.
The primordial wizard, Oldarc Ruin Akenad.
The two were facing each other at exactly the same height. Even though the wind was blowing and the grass was swaying noisily, the area around them was quiet.
Eventually, the two absolute beings simultaneously cast their gaze down the hill. Toward Verden, who was ‘looking up’ at the absolute being’s hill.
What will you choose?
───What will you choose.
A strange question was thrown at me, as if asking for my intentions or forcing a choice.
Just as Verden was about to speak, darkness suddenly plunged everything around him. He understood what that meant. He had not yet earned the right to converse on equal footing with ‘you’ and Oldark.
‘but.’
At least I finally set foot in the world that the peaks look upon.
My eyelids twitched.My closed vision opened.
For the third time since creation, a true god bound to only one ideal has awakened.
* * *
The flow subsided.
Thump.
Verden descended softly into the center of the silence in the shadow of the rift twisted by the direct collision of super-level magic and the season.[Interis], sublimated into a divine weapon, emitted a radiant light in response to the magical power.
Beings watch him.The cracks in the world watch him.
The divinity that had dwelled only faintly like mist revealed itself clearly and merged with the stature of a transcendent being. Divine power affirmed the mad obsession toward the ideal.The demons’ sublime faith felt stronger than ever before… …
Divine power shaped into form.The magic of the heart enveloped him.
Is this my power?
Verden contemplated himself and looked directly at Arthur. Having lingered in the rift of the world for a long time, becoming a god, and reaching the next hierarchy, his understanding of the soul had deepened even further.
The Demonic Path is based on the spirit, so a part of the realm remains even without a physical body. The Demonic Path is a collaborative work of spiritual enlightenment and the vessel to contain it.Such physical changes, like the expansion of magical circuits and the ascent of hierarchy, also affect the spirit.
This process also proceeds in reverse.
The growth of the soul leads to an ascent of the spiritual realm. Only after uniting with the physical body does the inner transformation finally manifest externally.Therefore, perfect balance between spirit and body cannot be achieved in the gaps of a world without a physical body.
I don’t care.
Harmony and stability in the new realm are matters for later.
The only thing that matters right now is power.
I found the answer.
Verden wiped his left eye with his fingertips. The sword mark etched into his eye vanished. The same was true for his other wounds. The visible injuries themselves were meaningless.Because it was the soul.However, the shock sustained by the soul remained, so if things went wrong, the soul would be destroyed, and even the body would perish. It was no different from before.
The winner will gain, andthe loser will lose.
Verden clearly recognized what the conditions for true victory were. It did not matter if it was a crazy thought. Advancing while destroying even himself, Verden was already the embodiment of madness.
“If I survive here, you will surely die at my hands.”
Verden aimed at [Interis].
“Even the ‘you’ you all worship.”
As he revealed intense murderous intent toward ‘you’ as well, Arthur snapped out of his thoughts. His veins bulged. His chilling face contorted grotesquely.His bloodshot eyes were filled with his old madness.
“How dare you, having barely entered the threshold of the realm I have reached as the ultimate.”
The energy surged ferociously, tearing apart the surrounding atmosphere. A sky-blue flash flashed, and [Kaeltarion] surged forward.
Wizard’s Street?
It is not needed.
Verden countered by unleashing both magical and divine power simultaneously. [Interis], imbued with infinite power, slammed down toward Arthur.
Fate and the end intersected.
Kwaaaaaaaang───!
A torrent of repulsive force encompassing even the immaterial struck Verden and Arthur simultaneously. Immediately afterwards, a lightning strike of destruction fell from the sky.Arthur, having caught it with his sword and blown it into another dimension, left an afterimage.
Crunch!
Ungeom’s pommel struck Verden with all his might, as if to shatter his chest. Pushed back with both feet firmly planted on the ground, Verden staggered.An unavoidable thrust was fired from an angle, aimed at his head.
He pierced the arm and shoulder blocking the sword path in a straight line.
Even the soul feels pain.In fact, precisely because it is a soul, the suffering is conveyed even more deeply.
Arthur was determined to inflict a fate worse than death upon Verden. It was the price for the pathetic provocation of uttering “you,” and for the displeasure stemming from the fact that Verden had yet to recall the culprit of the past. He wouldnot be satisfied until he saw Verden’s face twist into despair.
“……!”
However, Verden was actually laughing.
Kaang! Smack! Kagagagak! Whoosh─── Crack!
Sparks flew time and again between humans and gods based on humans. Successive destruction destroyed the fate residing in the sword energy in a chain reaction.It was a fierce battle, but it could by no means be called a close combat.
Whoosh!
The robe obtained from Rendibhar was brutally torn to shreds.A chilling blade gnawed through the inside.Arthur, having blocked destruction with empty hands, dug between Verden’s ribs with the fingertips of his gauntlets and broke his ribs.
Lord Arcane: Five Decisions
Arthur’s armor was destroyed. The shabby rags of the old fanatic were revealed. With his past glory vanished, he had returned as the fanatic of the present.Arthur, having offset the shock in exchange for discarding his armor, slashed the line of death.
Ilgwang
Lord Arcane: The Disaster
A slash split Verden’s right collarbone in half, and the lightning of the apocalypse grazed past, leaving a mark on Arthur’s body.
That’s right.
This is an extension of the battle that suddenly broke out in Gargant.
“Hehehe…….”
Magic reached the second apostle, but it failed to inflict any significant damage. In contrast, Verden’s soul overflowed with agony.
But why?
Laughter keeps escaping.
The intense urge to destroy felt immediately after casting the super-level magic
So, was that what it meant?
Advice of the Provider.
Be faithful to the essence. And dominate. The state of controlling the uncontrollable is the 8th level.
I knew that passing through the essence was the process of ascending to the eighth rank, but the Provider’s words also included the method of naturally maintaining the eighth rank.
An existence reconstructed by destroying fate.Thus, the essence of Verden is destruction.
In other words, only by controlling destruction can one attain the complete 8th Rank.Deus Widen, Vangelis Ruin Akenad, and Reindel Nexreon must have attained peace by governing their respective essences.
However… there are times when you have to rely on instinct.
Impulse breeds action,and action leads to results.
Boom!
The violent waves transmitted to [Interis] stimulated Verden’s magic.
Even though I had found the 8th-tier realm reached on the island of the Hiaremar Inland Sea, as it is a magical realm, I needed separate time to build unique magic to fully manifest the realm.However, divine power lit the way and led me to the creation of the 8th tier and magic befitting its rank.
Elemental magic, Divine magic, Magic of the Fallen, Magic of Infinity, Magic of Destruction,
Whoooo
Deification
Verden forcibly released the incomplete divine status.
Blue magic, crimson destruction, and beams of pitch-black flame swirled and converged. As the colors combined, a ‘murky ash’ manifested…The dark ash magic raced through the magic circuits, following Oldarc’s magic manipulation method.
Divine Arcane: Descent
An irresistible gray light exploded centered on Verden. It was not just light, but an ash-colored electric shock spewed out like lightning.
Boom.
Arthur immediately retrieved his sword and kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead from a certain distance.
Spirituality, Alhena.
Enveloped in the chaotic gray magic, Verden activated the Third Star. Countless stars rose in the shadows of the rift, which had transformed into a celestial realm. Aconstellation-like cloud, fit for the universe, covered Arthur’s sky.
“When on earth are you going to kill me?”“…….”“I am still alive.”
Divine Arcane: Nebula
The gray stars glowed in unison, watching Arthur as if on watch. Despite being battered to the bone, Verden laughed, his shoulders shrugging.Far from cooling, the madness of God grew stronger the closer it got to fate.
Kkuguguk.
Destroyer of Fate.
Arthur pressed down on the handle of the sword.
Why isn’t it dying?
Something is off.I must have missed something.
* * *
Kwaaaa
A supernova that had fallen from the sky exploded at close range, pulverizing the surrounding area. It was a sight reminiscent of Oldarc’s elemental magic.Arthur, who had witnessed the battle between Oldarc and ‘you’ firsthand, moved his eyes incessantly.
It has already exceeded the capacity of the soul. It must have nothing to do with divinity. Even if it were an ancient god, it should have died long ago if it poured out that much power.
A flash of light flashed from the side.
Crunch crunch!
Arthur gritted his teeth as he plunged his sword into the darkness while flying to the left. The power he had boosted to 70% of his original strength was slowly draining away.
But how is it that the soul still maintains its form?
666 stars gathered.
Yugwang
“Haaah!”
Arthur, having sliced through all the light in place, put strength into his legs. Bang! He let out [Interis] and swung his sword diagonally upward from below.Verden’s hand grabbed Arthur’s wrist, blocking the completion of the sword path.
Kugugugugugugugugu… … !
Verden endured Arthur’s physical strength, which he had been unable to handle until just moments before. His soul twisted. Although he clearly heard that sound, Verden’s evil eye stared endlessly into Arthur’s eyes.
Flowing tears of blood.The terrible concept residing within them.
Pfft.
Arthur twisted his head.The ray of the apocalypse tore through his skin.
‘Why on earth won’t he die…!’
Arthur let out a roar, unleashing his signature swordsmanship that created a storm of swords right in front of him. Each and every strike forming the storm was a lethal technique.He swept away the staff, slashed through Verden’s limbs, stabbed him in the heart, and then withdrew his sword.
Killed───
Holy Arcane: Judgment
An Orb of [Interis], surrounded by a gray sphere, rushed in front of him. Arthur’s defensive swordsmanship barely managed to block and deflect it.
However, no matter how hard I tried to shake it off, the staff would not come off the sword.
Fate is led to the end, andthe end is led to fate.
Caeltarion and Interis, originating from completely opposite concepts, generated a force that even Arthur could not dare to control.
You have to choose.
“Ugh……!”
Arthur eventually tossed his sword aside, knocking [Interis] away from Verden. Arthur’s skills are not limited to swordsmanship alone.He struck Verden’s heart and jaw in the blink of an eye and lunged forward.
BANG!
Arthur, having knocked Verden to the ground and pinned him down, strangled him with both hands. The gauntlets gradually tore through his skin, attempting to shatter his bones.Blood gushed from his neck. His soul was clearly being damaged.
“I must have severed the essence of the soul……!”
Arthur’s gaze gradually changed to one of looking at a monster.
“Why, does it not perish?”
Crunch!
Verden dominated the space and, in turn, suffocated Arthur. They strangled each other, telling one to die. Intense murderous intent further stifled their breath.
This is impossible.
Arthur could not understand this situation at all.
I have already killed him time and time again; it would be normal for him to have died time and time again. The Fate Destroyer feels only pain and shows no sign of eternal annihilation.
Something is wrong.Where did it go wrong?
Suddenly, Arthur Tarenfold stared directly at Verden’s hair color.
Ashy.Ashy.Ashy.Ashy
Ashy?
Gray… … ?!’
At that moment, the sealed memories were completely released, revealing the mysterious identity.Cold sweat ran down my spine.Then who had designed everything? The possibility leading up to this point.
‘possibility.’
A hand holding the Spear of the Sun [Latir].The divine artifact is lifted by the believer.
Sending the Destroyer of Fate into the Rift of Worlds.
The concept of time.A collection of possibilities.
Hiante. You despicable… … !!
A sound piercing the space echoed.
Crunch!
The thrown spear [Latir] struck Arthur. He was thrown from Verden’s body and immediately regained his balance. A spear wound appeared on his chest.
[I am sorry… … Our God… … My recovery is late.]
Hadras, holding the divine weapon of the seventh apostle, supported Verden. Following him, the demons supported Verden from behind.Even among the regenerated legion of demons, Arthur glared only at Verden.
“How long do you intend to keep playing games?”
To be precise, the mastermind behind the power surrounding Verden.
“Show yourself!”
A voice echoes.Soon, a low laugh is heard.
[Hahahahaha… …]
A huge object hung over Verden’s shoulder and above the demons’ heads.
Verden flinched and raised his gaze.Hadras, who looked up likewise, froze all over.
[You realized it too late, traitor.]
The primordial dragon—the gray dragon—wrapped Verden’s camp as if protecting it. Just like the robe [Einber] of the first Sorcerer King, which had always watched over Verden.
