Episode 1042 Neutralizer (3)
Host was an intellectual and a scholar, as if he took pride in having written more books than anyone else in the world. He was also a scholar and a researcher, and being a researcher by birth, he was a pioneer who was ahead of others.
One day, he suddenly settled into a crevice in the rocks and questioned his existence.
What is God?
He is a conceptual entity in which the concept of the sea has attained intelligence, and an ancient god who obtained divinity from those who truly revere the sea.
Insignificant creatures think of God as an omniscient and omnipotent superior, but this is a perspective befitting an insignificant creature.As God, I assert:God is neither omniscient nor omnipotent.
It just looks that way…
However, seeing is synonymous with perception, and perception possesses immense power.Just as every ruler is depicted as an overwhelming presence from the perspective of the ruled, and just as countless perceptions become the truth if they all point in the same direction.
In other words, it means that even if God is not the absolute being, He is at least the ruler of all things and all people.
Here, the host consulted again.
What is domination, then?
Without needing a lengthy explanation, domination is the concept of making others submit and governing them. In this sense, the rules for controlling others are the power of the ruler, and following the rules is the duty of the ruled.
Here, the host aligned domination and divinity to establish harmonious rules.
This was the birth of the concept of taboo.
Thus, the laws ordained by God took root in the world. The will of the gods was reflected in the world. Host viewed this as precisely what was fitting for a being called God—that is, the true role of God as defined by the world as the ruler.
{Naturally, the proclamation of a taboo was different from the usual way a state promulgates a new national law. This is because the world itself lacks intelligence. While it may serve as the basis for taboos, it has no will to judge or enforce punishment for their violation.}
He spoke as a pioneer.
{In that sense, the World Tree, a concept of Mother Nature, was the perfect deity to serve as the enforcer of taboos. After all, she is literally a ‘World’ Tree.}
“……So, is that why ‘you’ spared the World Tree that sided with the resistors in the Battle of Destiny? Because without the World Tree, the taboo loses its power?”
{Taboos are merely secondary elements. Verden, you severely underestimate the World Tree. You have no idea how profound and vast the significance of her existence is.}
The host bent his waist slightly.
{The value of the World Tree’s existence is incomparably more noble than that of someone like me.}
The host revered the World Tree.
You are the same, Verden. In some ways, even more so than the World Tree.
The World Tree told Verden that he was of the same essence as it, and more specifically, that Verden was a concept of a higher dimension.
What on earth is it…
Although it was a question I had pondered alone time and time again, its weight grew heavier and heavier.It was even more so now.It felt as if it were increasingly suffocating me.
What on earth did I use as my driving force to be acting like this?
Reversal shattered the shackles of fate and reconstructed Verden’s body, andthe power source of the Bohemian Magic Tower that activated the magic circle of Reversal granted Verden infinite magical power and an incomprehensible value of existence.
What ideal did the First Demon King desire that he created the ten power sources? What is the source of these power sources that everyone is focusing on the essence of Verden?
The host twitched its tentacles as if mocking Verden, who still had not reached the most important truth. At first glance, it was the look of a genius professor addressing a genius student who had not yet finished their studies.
{The actions of ‘you’ who attempted to erase variables paradoxically gave rise to countless variables. This is indeed an era of change, a time of transformation, and a turning point for everyone. Where, then, does the conclusion of this story lead?}
The host, raising his voice like a theatrical narrator, gestures exaggeratedly. He looked like a madman reveling in the turbulent times while dancing on a corpse.
Verden bent his finger hard because he didn’t like it.
“Is this chaos fun?
{Aren’t you asking if it’s fun? Well, look.}
One hand of the host, who was laughing sincerely while shrugging his shoulders, reached toward the sky.
Creation and.
And, the host pointed precisely at Alpha and Beta with the other hand. The divine power of the sea was staring directly at their source.
{Flow and.}
Finally, the host slowly brought both hands together in front of him and pointed at Verden.
{destruction.}
The host clenched his fist.
Chaos is the cradle of knowledge, and these seek to create unprecedented and unpredictable disorder. And since everyone, big or small, has claimed my influence, there is no greater honor for an intellectual. Therefore, I am delighted. How could I not be delighted?
You’re acting as if every choice is entirely your own doing.
Intensity welled up in Verden’s eyes. The host, who regarded the choice made by the absolute rulers as his own, had long since provoked Verden’s wrath.
You’re going to die if you keep doing that.
{Death──}
[Interis], summoned out of nowhere, split the host’s body. Boom! As destruction took effect, the humanoid body vanished like ash.
Show your true essence before discussing death.
Kugugugugugugugu… … .
The dark cavity vibrates.
The energy of the divine power manifested by the host became a vast ocean that took over the space, and its presence displayed its true size as if emerging from the surface of the water.
{If even death serves as fertilizer for new knowledge, I will gladly accept it. For that is my nature, born from the deepest unknown.}
The Host, who has been active since the primeval age, has been known by many names. He shook the seas with a mere movement to cause great storms, wrecked ships with his vast tentacles and devoured gods, and bestowed many changes upon the world with his brain as great as a mountain.
I remained in the boundless sea where light did not reach even the Great Divergence, the point of the gods’ downfall, and I did not directly intervene in ‘your’ destiny battle. As an intellectual, I had no interest in war itself, and no being wished for me to participate.
God of the Sea.The colossal being.The monstrosity of the open sea.The terror of the ruined sea.The indulger of the unknown.Kraken.Master of the boundless sea.World recorder.Predator of knowledge.Advisor of fate.
He does not take a clear side with anyone. He is not bound by such interests. If there were only black and white in the whole world, he would be blue, and if one were to weigh right and wrong, he would come up with an answer that even the most intelligent person could not determine.
Neutral person.
He, who transcended good and evil, had no real name. It is the fate of a conceptual entity. Therefore, the concept of time named itself Hiante, and the concept of the sea took this into account to name its own true name.
{Verden.}
The facilitator – Host.
{If I were to stop observing and intervene, would I be able to handle it?}
Alpha and Beta are looking up. A giant octopus of unspeakable size, which can never be contained within a single person’s field of vision, looks down upon the small golems.
Seven blue eyes reminiscent of a clear sea flickered. The structure consisted of three eyes on each side and one large eye in the center.Eight bridges, appearing as if they could engulf an entire country, greatly encircle Verden.
I am the one who would like to ask.
Infinite magical power became a sea, pushing back the pressure of the boundless ocean. The power displayed by the Host was not weak compared to any Apostle. No one could stand against it in terms of mere mass.Although it was the first time encountering an entity of such a different scale and dimension, Verden confronted it head-on, simultaneously manifesting the power of a transcendent being and the power of a god.
“If not now, will you be able to handle me?”
The lower part of the octopus’s head split open. Countless large teeth were revealed from inside, and the host opened his mouth wide as if to tear.
{Haha
A bizarre laugh that made no attempt to conceal its joy stirred up the entire region. The host, having composed himself, flashed a glint in his eyes.
I will wait for that day.
Violent currents surged from all directions. Foam completely obscured the view. Soon, the moment the alien spatial shift was detected, the vortex that had been striking Verden’s magic calmly subsided.
Only then did the surroundings open up.
Alpha and Beta looked around. A familiar space came into view. It was the starting point where they had stayed before attending the Arcadium.
[Black Hour Grand Hall. Return.]
Finally, the curtain fell on the Arcadium.
* * *
Beta said.
[I have confirmed Thearel.]
Tearel blinked for a moment at the sudden change in space. She was by Verden’s side, just as she had been before using the [Gring Arcanum].
“…….”
Tearel calmly checked his appearance, not a drop of water and without any wounds, and then turned his gaze toward Verden.
“It looks like all the magic power consumed in the Arcadium has returned, and there are no injuries. He is in perfect condition. Anyway, it seems he met the host without any trouble?”“Yes.”“And Draven’s soul?”“I freed it.”
Verden gazed at the [Gring Arcanum] held in his right hand. The World Forbidden Book. Most of its owners met a tragic end.
The librarian drowned in a waterless place, leaving behind unknown characters and patterns; the child committed suicide, saying he could not live because the villagers were too stupid; and the wizard had his brain extracted by his disciple.
It was the result of being unable to handle the knowledge.
They likely participated in the Arcadium, lost all their knowledge in the game, and met their deaths in reality as a result.Surely, their souls must have degenerated into specters of knowledge or intellectuals.
He who reads the Gring Arcanum gains all the knowledge of the world… … .
What does it mean to acquire all knowledge? Does it mean literally obtaining vast knowledge? Verden did not think so.
If you obtain the knowledge you sincerely desire, how is that different from obtaining all knowledge?
Now that the confrontation with the Host’s astronomically massive true body has concluded, [Gring Arcanum], which was merely a gateway to the Arcadium, has changed.As the owner of the forbidden book, Verden understood at a glance what had changed.
Book of Souls: [Gring Arcanum].
This book implied that the knowledge Verden desired was connected to the soul.However, one would have to find out as he progressed whether it was directly linked to some secret knowledge or connected to various other knowledges.
Whoosh.
Verden stored the [Gring Arcanum] in subspace. This was because there was work to be done immediately before reconfirming what had been obtained from the Arcadium.
Tearel checked the time.
“I need to head straight to Prohas. I’ll be late.”“There’s somewhere I need to stop by first.”“Where?”“The Kingdom of Maren.”
Gate
Even if a spatial teleportation circle is created using infinite magic, time is consumed depending on the distance. Transmitting to another continent is by nature no easy task.Compared to the norms of the magical world, the time it takes for Verden to create a long-distance teleportation circle single-handedly is unimaginably fast, but right now, there was no room to waste even that short amount of time.
“There is a base for the Followers of Destiny there. An information sheet I accidentally discovered through Bloodia’s memories in the second game.”
Thearel stared at the entrance of the space.
Can I come along?
[of course.]
Just as Alpha had affirmed, Verden shared the same sentiment. Fully equipped and accompanied by Alpha and Beta, Verden took the lead.
“You’re already involved, too.”“I’ve gotten to know a lot, though.”
Tearel followed him.
“Are you going to capture him alive?”“Capturing him alive is meaningless. We wouldn’t even be able to peek into his memories. If we could extract information that easily, Deus would have dealt with him long ago.”
Verden did not hide his murderous intent.Thearel also agreed.
“I’ll kill them all.”“Confirmed.”
The Destroyer of Fate and the Adversary of the Third Apostle headed for the Kingdom of Maren. There were about 20 minutes left until the summit in Prohas.
* * *
Those who command the Followers of Fate are collectively referred to as the ‘Upper’. They do not reveal their identities even to the Followers, and in secret, out of the reach of the Followers of Fate’s eyes, they worship the Dragons, the pinnacle of the race.
Worshippers of the Fourth Apostle.
One of them is praying in front of a dragon statue. He, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly flinched in surprise and broke out in a cold sweat.
[The Destroyer of Fate… … .]
One dragon worshipper, who followed the will of the fourth apostle, opened his eyes wide.
Currently, a plan to bring down the international community is underway at the Maren Kingdom’s base, but above all, there is someone who must not be lost.
The next eighth apostle – Dantel.
If the artificial apostle, created after enduring hardship by worshippers who praise fate, dies, the hundreds of years of research desired by the Fourth Apostle will be completely in vain.
We must stop it.
He spoke to the crystal ball.
[You have been detected by the Seeds of Resistance. Plan a retreat and prepare for an ambush.]
They did not mention the Destroyer of Fate. Because it would cause great unrest. It was the decision of the higher ups to use the ignorant followers to buy as much time as possible and create an opening for Dantel to escape.
Followers are expendable by nature.Lambs promised a good fate in exchange for him.
[Absolutely no internal intrusion allowed… … .]
Crack.
Countless cracks appeared in the crystal ball. The dragon worshippers who witnessed the sight recoiled. Communications connecting to the west of the current Maren Kingdom were severed.This meant that the space itself had been externally isolated.
