Chapter 341
The barrier shattered. The aerial city that contained the Flying fortress and the Guardian fortress instantly floated up toward Earth's atmosphere,. The people who remained on Earth watched as the city levitated further and further away from them and finally realized that time had started flowing again. Below that, Yuni was jumping around.
"I'm going to marry godfather when I grow up! So you have to stay safe! You can't get your face injured!"
"Stop dreaming, kid!"
Liera, who punished anyone and everyone who aimed for Yu IlHan, firmly rejected that. Yu IlHan activated the Warp skill while wondering what she was doing to a little kid and why she took her seriously in the first place.
[Come back after eliminating all who aim to inflict harm upon Earth, o, ruler.]
The one that was born of chaos, became a guardian, and eventually was reborn in to Earth itself spoke in a grave voice. Yu IlHan nodded his head with a laugh.
"Don't worry about anything, just leave it to me."
He had long since mastered the Dimensional Ruler skill. Since all the worlds he had to protect became one, the barrier that he cast over Earth also became incredibly sturdy. That was also the reason he could prevent the original population of Earth from returning for a few hours.
"I'm going to end everything before that. It's not like Earth is 100% complete either."
"It still isn't!?"
Shouted Erta in shock. Yu IlHan tapped on the ground he was on and nodded his head.
"Didn't I say so? This city must be fused back into Earth before the end of everything."
"Oh yeah, speaking of this city, just what is this city? I can feel that it's supposed to be a part of Earth."
"You can consider it a part of Earth but at the same time, a small, independent world. It's simply a matter of perspective."
No one understood his words, but they could understand that Yu IlHan was about to use that concept to do something interesting. However, the Warp skill activated before they could ask him more about it.
Yu IlHan had mastered the Warp skill as well, so the others were all moved to the Netherworld before they could even feel anything weird. They were all taken by the surrounding scenery, so they couldn't even ask the details of the aerial city.
"It's the Netherworld!"
"It is indeed!"
"It's the first time that I've ever come here."
An endlessly dark, and ominous world. It was the world that Satan came after he fell from Heaven, and the world that contained his foundation.
"This world...... does not have Satan right now?"
Yu IlHan nodded his head without hesitation when Kim YeSeul asked.
"The battlefield should be somewhere else. Satan apparently teamed up with God so he's probably going there right now."
"That world is......."
"Unknown as of yet. However, it's not something absurd like an unrecorded world or something. The God of Heaven isn't capable to that extent. So, I'm planning to find more information about it here."
"Lord, if possible, Gabriel must be saved as soon as......."
Uriel was looking left and right for Gabriel with a nervous expression plastered onto her beautiful face. He wondered how she lasted all these ten years. Yu IlHan nodded his head with a bitter smile.
"At my level, I can do a lot of things even while I'm talking. I'm scrolling through the records of this world as fast as possible right now, so don't worry about it too much. Dad should be safe, and we will be able to find him. Though, you won't be able to get him for yourself."
Regardless of Uriel's dejection, Yu IlHan continued searching through the Netherworld. As expected of the main world of the Army of Brilliant Light, the Netherworld was extremely vast and had a frightening density of mana, but what was weird was that there was not a single fallen angel in this world.
"How can it be so clean?"
"The most important world for the Army of Brilliant Light is the Netherworld. Even though Satan may have left, how could they have left it completely empty? Was Satan such an idiot?"
"Well, I don't think so."
Since he discovered the connection between the recorded gods and the Archlegnae, the possibility that Satan was a schemer beyond Yu IlHan's expectations became nonexistent, Yu IlHan still didn't think that a leader in charge of a faction, and the one that first found a way out of God's reign, was such an ignorant man.
"If this was an important place, they should be guarding it. But they aren't. That means that this place is not that important."
"It's not so simple...... how can a main world not be important?"
Yu IlHan answered.
"It can be that there's no longer any meaning to the main world anymore."
"No...... meaning to the main world......?"
They just talked about how the main world was the most important for a faction, but he just straight up denied it! And he was a leader of a faction too!
Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders and explained for those who didn't get it.
"He teamed up with God, didn't he? God said he'll make the world anew, so wouldn't he erase the Netherworld as well?"
"But once that happens, Satan's power would be......."
"He won't be able to perfectly erase the main world unless he does something about the leader, so to be exact, God will erase the Netherworld under agreement from Satan. You can say that he will be making himself weaker."
"Then does that mean that Satan really believes in God and has taken a place next to him once again......?"
Wasn't that the most foolish thing to do! However, Yu IlHan shook his head and did not give them the answer they wanted.
"It's not like there's absolutely no guard after all. Moreover, this one's even aware of me."
"Where?"
"In the center of the world. I'm going to go there now."
When Yu IlHan's mind drifted there, the aerial city received his intentions and immediately started moving. Thanks to the Warp skill, the members in it couldn't even feel the slightest turbulence despite moving absurdly fast. They were only exclaiming while looking at the changing surroundings.
"Aah, I can feel it now. That's an amazing aura."
"I would have been scared if it was the past me......."
Muttered Erta. That meant in reverse that she wasn't afraid of it at all right now. Really, the number of the days she spent with Yu IlHan could be clearly seen here.
After a blink of an eye more, the aerial city arrived at the destination. There was a truly huge palace, and there was another one that was sitting alone on top of the rounded roof.
[You came here earlier than I expected.]
The one there was a woman who had an impressive head of black, long hair. Wearing a black silk dress that did not seem suited for battle, and even black silk gloves, she was a lady that exuded a deep aura of luxury. However, the eight wings sharply protruding behind her back made them rethink about the true extent of her power.
"Lazière. So you were a woman."
Said Yu IlHan. The others all flinched for a moment after finding out that the woman in front of them was the 1st Wing of Brilliant Light, but the person in question actually just nodded her head nonchalantly.
[That is so. I am the 1st Wing of Brilliant Light, Lazière. And you must be Yu IlHan, the Lord of Dragon's Nest.]
"I am he."
Lazière glanced at Yu IlHan very carefully as though she was afraid that she might seem rude. Even while knowing that they were enemies, she was very polite.
[I have heard that you were someone who became strong rapidly, but I never imagined that you became even stronger since then. I cannot fathom the depth of your power even with my powers as an 8th class being...... My Lord may be a good opponent for you.]
From what Yu IlHan had seen until now, Yu IlHan was sure that Satan wouldn't be his match unless he somehow became at least five times as strong since they last met, but it would be embarrassing if he said it and it turned out to be wrong, so didn't say it out loud.
Instead, he asked her.
"I have something i would like to ask."
[As long as it's within my knowledge.]
"Is Satan really my enemy?"
The world stopped.
Or at least it felt so. Everyone was looking at Yu IlHan in shock.
"What do you mean!? You were preparing to kill him up until moments ago while steeping in rage!"
"You nailed a straw doll to the wall three times before you slept while shouting Satan's name!"
"You resolved that you will break him if you couldn't have him~!"
"You looked so expectant and excited while saying you were going to rob an empty house!"
"Please put away all those false information and BL delusions."
Yu IlHan just nonchalantly corrected the mistakes. His gazed was fixed on Lazière, but he found it cute that she was making an absurd expression. He urged her to answer.
"And so? How is it?"
[Do you think that way because Lord Satan has protected you until you became a transcender? Unfortunately, Satan is your enemy. Perhaps not if you were not a transcender, but you are already complete. Bakers may wait for the bread to be baked, but.......]
"Yes, yes. You mean to say that there are none that will watch the completed bread in satisfaction. I know, I heard that before."
[Did you accept it now?]
Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders and replied.
"In some way."
[Then that is fine.]
Lazière slowly stood up.
[I am aware that I am not a match for you. However, I shall block you until the moment my life disappears. At that point, Lord Satan will return and take your life himself.]
"No, I'm not going to fight you."
[......What?]
"Heh."
Yu IlHan extended his hand and let out a short shout. With just that, Lazière was bound to the spot.
He had subdued an 8th class Battalion Commander that received the largest share of support from the world after Satan, within the domain of the Army of Brilliant Light!
[H, how can this be. Even though you are a leader of a faction, even though you may be a transcender, you shouldn't be able to so easily.......]
"When I lacked power, killing all my enemies was the best way. That's because I felt like my insides were burning every time main characters in novels were humiliated because they let an enemy live. I could never understand why they would leave a potential problem be. In fact, there were some novels where I just straight up liked the antagonist better."
"Isn't that because you're a villain too, IlHan?"
"Shut up. Anyway, that's why I maintained my philosophy of killing enemies as soon as I see them before I decide to think about anything past that. But living like that...... mm, had some annoying bits to it as well."
He killed anyone that he found difficult to distinguish between enemy and ally, killed the ones that were enemies, but could potentially have been future allies, and even erased numerous future possibilities in fear of potentially pessimistic future possibilities.
[That's natural. You have chosen the correct choice in order to survive. I will not resent you even if you kill me right now. Enemies should be treated like that after all.]
"Of course, there are many kills that I do not regret at all. Sons of bitches, bitches that I wanted to kill, bitches that I had to kill, bitches that must be killed and so on....... But it's not like all my victims were like that. There are too many that I killed because I was afraid of the consequences. So."
[So?]
Yu IlHan said to her with a refreshing smile.
"If I could erase all negative future possibilities, perhaps such an unpleasant act of monotonous killing might not be necessary anymore."
[......Are you saying, that, you will, not kill me?]
Lazière asked back in shock. Surprisingly, Yu IlHan nodded his head.
"Yup. Especially in your case, you need to die after stalling for time even though you don't specifically hate me. I really hate killing harmless ones like you. Especially because I feel like I'm being toyed with by the scenario."
[If you let me go, you will definitely regret.......]
"I won't. Didn't I just say so? I'm going to erase all negative future possibilities."
Yu IlHan took out a small cube from his bosom. Lazière titled her head while looking at that.
[What is that item?]
Yu IlHan replied.
"This is called the Trap of Restoration."
Chapter 342
Lazière did not have the slightest bit of power to impede Yu IlHan's advance. He threw the so called 'Trap of Restoration', and it settled down in the center of the palace before encroaching onto the far borders of the world. Lazière shouted as if to deny its power even after having estimated its might.
[That's useless! Whatever you do, as long as Lord Satan exists, you cannot do anything to the Netherworld!]
"So you want me to kill Satan. Because he's my enemy, and I cannot solve this matter without killing him.
Lazière denied that while biting her lips.
[I am his follower. I do not doubt his certain victory.]
"You have made a few mistakes just now. And these two mistakes all stemmed from one misconception – your misjudgement of me."
Yu IlHan snorted at Lazière.
"Who are you to estimate my power? Who are you to know what I am thinking? Who are you to force me to select a single choice? I'm going to do everything my way. I have destroyed all foreshadows, so the only thing waiting for me is the oh-so-generic happy ending."
[I...... cannot understand you at all.]
"You don't have to; I didn't expect you to anyway. We all know that both of us are wearing masks, what is there to talk about?"
Yu IlHan turned around. Lazière still couldn't move an inch. She looked quite funny, but Yu IlHan really didn't do anything to her anymore.
"Let's go. Our business here is over."
"Didn't you say you were going to rob an empty house?"
"I just did, didn't I?"
The only thing Yu IlHan did, though, was to restrain Lazière and throw a Trap of Restoration, and that was all to expect from robbing an empty house? – Just as Liera was about to ask , she changed her expression after feeling the ripple of change in the Netherworld.
"My."
Helièna exclaimed. She asked Yu IlHan while feeling the warmth that spread out from the center of the Netherworld.
"So this isn't just any Trap of Restoration, is it?"
"It's a special edition. Main world version. I focused its function on restoring and engulfing, seducing and imprisoning, to resist and rule over all there is in this world."
He wouldn't acquire the Netherworld just by scattering one seed. But then, what changed? – Helièna watched the world while thinking, and realized that the Trap of Restoration didn't just stop at taking over the Netherworld.
"It's connecting to other places......."
"I have connected all places to here. I do not need to make any more Traps of Restoration."
"All places......."
Yes. The Traps of Restoration had the property to bloat up in size gradually, and eventually transfer itself to other dimensions. It didn't just stop at erasing the effects of the Traps of Destruction, but would proliferate at a frightening speed as if trying to conquer all worlds.
"To all lower worlds as well? So...... even the worlds where the people of Earth live in?"
"Whether there are people of Earth there or not, whether the world has undergone the Great Cataclysm or not, whether it's a higher or a lower world, any and every existing world will be affected."
A shivering sensation ran down Helièna's back after she instinctively realized what that meant. Although she claimed to be a woman who understood Yu IlHan's true value as soon as she met him, she realized that even that it was just her unsubstantiated arrogance.
"So darling's objective in making the Traps of Restoration laid 'somewhere else' in the first place......?"
Yu IlHan did not bother answering the question and activated the Warp skill. Liera asked.
"Is it Elo Katra now, IlHan?"
"No, it's Heaven."
"But according to the order, it should be Elo Katra next......."
"What are you saying? Didn't I just say so right now, Liera?"
Stroking Liera's hair softly, Yu IlHan spoke.
"Whether it's a lower world or a higher world, all existing worlds will be affected by the Traps of Restoration."
"That's why Elo Katra should...... huh?"
"So our next destination."
Yu IlHan activated the Warp skill with a smile.
"Is Heaven. Everything will come to a close there."
***
The poison that invaded Michael's body was extremely vicious, to the point that he found it painful every time he breathed in or out. However, Michael was a proper transcender and the one that would become the Sole God. There was no way he would be defeated by a mere poison from insignificant Battalion Commanders.
[Who is next. Who shall compete against my light next?]
The only surviving Battalion Commanders after a harsh and drawn out battle were the 4th Battalion Commander Telzaider and the 8th Battalion Commander Zenusva. It would be ideal if they attacked together, but for some reason, Zenusva retreated and Telzaider stepped up first.
[Please show me, Michael. The power of a transcender, show it to me!]
[Both of you come at me, it's annoying. I will take care of you two together.]
[If I did that and you somehow got injured and become weaker, then that would be no fun. We have waited for this moment; how can we deprive ourselves of the joy?]
[What......?]
Michael gritted his teeth. How can they say such things in front of sure death?
[You look down on me...... too much......!]
The brilliance around Michael became thicker. When even his figure couldn't be made out, hundreds of strands of light pierced the space where Telzaider was.
[No, your light should be faster than that. I have bet my entire life all for this moment, Michael!]
[How dare you say that, you are a mere idiot that only knows how to destroy the things in front of youuuuuuuuu!]
The light pulsated violently, almost as if it were enraged. However, Telzaider dodged them all with unbelievable speed and even found the timing to attack Michael with his magic power.
Michael clenched his teeth after realizing that he had become slower due to the poison. He couldn't even kill a lowly Battalion Commander below level 600!
[Michael, you are preserving your energy.]
Telzaider's voice became louder.
[Are you saving your power in order to fight the Lord? Is that why you cannot kill me?]
[Shut up. I have no need to use my full power against the likes of you!]
Taking out a God-ranked artifact, Michael's two eyes glowed with a vibrant light as he swung it. Telzaider didn't manage to avoid it in time and allowed a hit to land. A fountain of blood sprayed into the air before forming a magic formation that tried to bind Michael.
[A curse again? Away with it. I have seen enough of your petty tricks already!]
[If you are so strong, if you are a transcender, why do you still need to preserve your power?]
Telzaider taunted Michael with a mocking smile. Michael was triggered by the provocation as he was already very enraged after two rounds of this and raised the output of his light.
[I said shut up......!]
[What are you so afraid of? You have already called yourself as the Sole God with your mouth, but your actions are like a rat in front of a .......]
Telzaider's words could not continue. The light that Michael released had covered the entire world and erased him without a trace of his existence.
Michael felt the poison acting up a little more as he spent some of his energy, but he eased himself by spitting out some of the poison. The energy that he stole from Raphael in the past was assisting in his recovery. Looking at the few angels that still survived, he ordered.
[It's over. Let's go kill Greed.]
[It is not over.]
[.......]
Michael stiffly raised his head when he heard a voice even though he did not doubt that he annihilated his enemies. The firebird Zenusva was still there.
[I have not died yet, Michael. Does your power amount to only so much? The other transcenders will mock you if they find out. Are you really the same Michael that overwhelmed Satan head on? Are you sure Satan didn't exaggerate your abilities?]
[You...... really make me enraged.]
Perhaps if rage had a corporeal form, it would be the current Michael. He held a spear of light in his hand while glaring at Zenusva. Zenusva mockingly laughed as it saw that.
[I am flame. The light you have acquired is, in the end, a part of flame.]
[I have already heard that once before!]
He felt as if Yu IlHan's face was overlapping Zenusva's. Michael threw his spear in rage, but Zenusva didn't look that much injured even while receiving that head on with its body.
[I will not die as long as a single speck of my fire remains. Even the Lord will not be able to kill me, much less you, Michael. Just send out another Archangel instead. Ah, were they all dead? Yes, everything is impossible for you, isn't it.]
Among the angels, the 7th class Archangels had all passed on during the battle with the other Battalion Commanders since he couldn't protect them in time. Zenusva was just mocking him in various ways with that one sentence.
[Impossible?]
However, ironically, that instead made the enraged Michael calmer.
[Light cannot erase fire? Light is merely a part of fire? Yes, there was definitely someone who said that other than you. And he was strong enough to back up his arrogant words. However.......]
Although it surprised himself as well, Michael decided to admit to Telzaider's words as well.
Yes, Michael was a transcender. A whole being created from light itself! There was no need to save his power in preparation for Greed. He was acting cautious because he still hadn't fully escaped his past self.
[You are not Yu IlHan. Your fire is neither solitary, nor perfect.]
[I am the essence of fire made of the purest flames......!]
[However, I am different.]
Michael interfered Zenusva and uttered.
[I need not look back. I need not prepare. I am absolute and I am solitary. Vapor? Poison? Flames? I do not care. I did not see the present as I was bound by my past, but now I have realized thanks to you. I have realized thanks to the imperfect you.]
Michael's brilliance became thicker. No, it was at the point that it couldn't be defined as 'existing' any more. It was unknown if the bright light stemmed from Michael or if Michael originated from the Light.
[I am whole.]
Declared Michael.
[Nothing is impossible for me. Even if there is anything currently impossible for me, I shall, with my power, make it possible.]
[Nonsense, this is, no way...... no, don't tell me it's actually.......]
Zenusva took steps back while uttering words that flagged defeat or death. But somehow, he could not move. It was as if he was bound by Michael's brilliance.
[Power is subdued by an even stronger power. Light is erased under stronger light. Your flames are weak, so weak that it cannot dent my light. Aah, yes.]
Light once again enveloped the world. It was a qualitatively different light than before.
[I. Am. Light.]
[How, I am also.......]
Feeling its body melt down in the blindingly evil yet pure light, Zenusva despaired. At its last moment, it could see that Michael went beyond just becoming one with light, and manipulating all light at will. Zenusva's eyes twisted after looking at that.
[I, also had the qualifications...... why couldn't I become one!]
With final words filled with despair, Zenusva cleanly vaporized. Since the ability was so strong, the other angels with Michael also melted into nothingness, but Michael didn't care about such trivial matters right now.
[You have awakened yourself. All light shall obey you. You are the god of light, and now possess a record that has surpassed the Akashic Record.]
[God.]
Michael was drunk on power. He had finally reached the realm he dearly wished for.
[I am the one and only, and whole. I am God.]
Since he became whole, he no longer needed anything else. Aah, finally, he could slightly understand why Yu IlHan was so strong.
[Get out here, Greed. I have come as you wished.]
Shouted Michael in confidence. Who would be able to win against Michael now that he was light itself? Now he didn't even fear Yu IlHan! Nor Greed! Nor Satan! Even if the God of Heaven came back! The winner of Harmageddon shall be him!
At that exact moment, in a corner of this world, that was chaos; that was Elo Katra.
A voice replied to him
[Yes.]
The owner of the voice, Greed, replied.
[I have been waiting for you.]
Chapter 343
Michael proceeded onward. Advancing through the world filled to the brim with curses and poison, he erased everything that ticked him off with his searing light. There was not a strand of light that originated from Elo Katra, but that did not matter. Michael was light itself, and he could generate light by absorbing magic power.
Putting mass into light, adjusting its speed, and even increasing their destructive power by focusing it at a point was all possible for him. Just why was he focusing on other magic or martial-arts related research until now? He could have just focused on one thing!
[Greed.]
[Come.]
[Greed!]
[You are almost here.]
[GREEEEEEEEEEED!]
The moment after Michael shouted while releasing light, the curtain in front of him was lifted and a giant castle appeared. It was the first time Michael had seen such a strange thing.
[I have always longed for you. I was waiting for you to be complete all this time.]
[Foolish. You're a mere greedy beast and you're even arrogant. I can see where this is going.]
[You can? Ahahahahahahahah!]
The world shook. It was probably the influence of Greed's ruling power within his domain. Michael finally realized that this was the main world of the enemy, and he was going against the leader of this world by himself.
However, he did not retreat. He would kill Greed and subordinate Elo Katra into Heaven. Heaven will become his, and he shall put an end to Yu IlHan's rampage and take Satan's life with his very own hands. He would not let any other faction do as they wished.
Heaven needed to be the one and only faction. Since he was the sole God, all beings had to follow him. He had to stand at the very peak of existence.
[Show yourself, Greed.]
[Come in yourself. Why? Are you scared?]
[Scared?]
Michael laughed.
[Is that the trait of you Destruction Demon Army? Taunting others shamelessly? It seems like only your tongue has gotten training, insolent beast. Fear is something that the weak feel when going against the strong. Your actions of running away the moment you came to Heaven, even when you had come to Heaven as if you would swallow the entirety of Heaven itself, that was the action of a coward that is scared.]
[Then enter.]
The castle opened. An abyss. Even a 7th class being will be deflected without being able to do anything here due to the pure density of mana. However, Michael received it head on with his prideful countenance, and melted it away with his light.
[I shall face you head on.]
[You do not need to. You can call me a robber.]
Michael's light melted the very darkness of the world. He burned every curse and poison, purified them, and made them his. And in the next moment.
[I shall take away everything from you forcefully.]
Michael charged at the speed of light. The darkness that seem to devour him whole all disintegrated the moment it came into close proximity with him, all spatial distortion within the castle melted down.
Eventually, Michael met Greed face to face. A hideous monster whose entire body was bound to the wall. A lump of greed with unknown origin, a fusion of nearly every species.
He subconsciously became enraged. He didn't like the fact that he had to use his power against this vile thing.
[It has been a long while since you tried to bite at Heaven. Time has passed and you have turned even more hideous.]
[Ah, you mean that time...... it was such a pity. If the other factions didn't help out Heaven at that time, I would have regained everything without a hitch.]
Michael's eyebrows twitched.
Yes. Heaven didn't block the Destruction Demon Army with their own power. The Garden of Sunset and the Army of Brilliant Light helped them. To be exact, they had helped out all on their own accord.
Leaving aside Satan since he originated from Heaven, he didn't know why the Garden of Sunset helped them out at that time. However, now he knew. The leader of the Garden of Sunset was Gabriel. Without even knowing that, he was played the fool until now......
[*Crunch*.]
Michael channeled his rage for Gabriel into hostility for the enemy in front of him. Gabriel could be taken care of later. Right now, he had to kill this freak of nature.
[Fight me, Greed. It's time to deliver divine punishment unto you.]
[Why don't you...... just try it!]
Along with Greed's shout came tens of strands of metal chains from the castle ceiling. It was unknown what it was made of, but the blood that had turned black, and the blackish-purple poison made Michael feel unpleasant.
He immediately released light in order to block it, but leaders' attacks weren't ordinary. It didn't disappear so easily. Greed mocked at Michael after looking at that.
[Your light only amounted to so much? Didn't you shout about how you were the 'one and only' or something?]
[GREEEEEEEEEED!]
The light Michael emitted became stronger. High-energy light spread around to the surroundings and blocked the metallic chains that came from the ceiling, the floor and the windows.
[Child's play...... kugh!?]
Along with the sounds of chains, Greed threw out his left hand! It wasn't just the physical force that was overwhelming. The suction force within it was devouring all mana around it.
The light that Michael released was no exception. The ability to devour energy just by moving! This is what made Greed the leader of the Destruction Demon Army!
[But.......]
Michael punched out a fist enveloped in light. His fist was like a toothpick compared to Greed's, but it actually managed to absorb energy from it and push it back instead!
[You aren't the only one that can steal, you foolish beast!]
The reason the Four Great Archangels (plus Satan) could push God out was not because of Satan's defection, not because of Gabriel, not because of Raphael's healing, and not because of Uriel's restriction power.
It was the power of stealing that Michael had been born with, like the prophecies of Gabriel; one that he refrained from using because it did not suit his position, but was stronger than any other.
[I know...... I know very well!]
[Then you should know that your specialty is useless against me!]
[Not at all! I! Shall! Devour! Everything! Both the alive and the dead, and even the records of this world!]
Fist clashed with fist as the duo exchanged countless blows. It was also a competition of power as well. The metallic chains that sprouted from various parts of the castle continually aimed for Michael, and he erased them without difficulty with his five pairs of wings.
[Your power is weak, Michael! You became weaker! Did that power work against Yu IlHan!]
[Weak? Me? How dare you say that when you can barely match me after devouring everything with that insatiable greed of yours!]
Michael snorted, but couldn't help but be shocked internally. How did this guy know that his power was weakened?
'When we chased out God, I lost a portion of my power in compensation for the treachery. Though, I could finally recover thanks to acquiring God's power...... but yes, my ability has definitely weakened.'
Even with the power of stealing, it was impossible to completely steal God's power. However, the fragments of God's power he acquired in exchange was stronger so he wasn't aware of that until now. Since God's power was what triggered him to be able to become a transcender, he didn't worry that much.
[However this is more than enough to face the likes of you!]
[I shall, devour everything of yours!]
The castle exploded. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions, and tens of millions of chains assaulted Michael. The ancient metal that composed the castle crumbled and morphed into countless spears that attacked Michael, and even the wall that bound Greed until now had collapsed and he had become free.
The gigantic freak big enough to fill the entire world, assaulted Michael from the top.
[Since it is the Harmageddon, I do not need to hold myself back anymore!]
[Insolent beast!]
Less than a heartbeat later, light was released and covered the expansive region. A brilliance that made Greed unable to open his eyes properly! Metallic chains melted, the spears melted, and all the fragmented remains of the castle melted down.
Thanks to the strong shockwave from the two's magic power, the surrounding environment was utterly devastated. Every time parts of Elo Katra lost its shape, a part of Greed's gigantic body melted down as well, but there was seemingly no end to his gargantuan body.
The two did not even look directly at each other, they only clashed with their full power in order to take the other's life.
[You and I are similar, no?]
Greed suddenly said. Michael snorted and denied that.
[Comparing a firefly to the sun?]
[You have mentioned a good analogy. Yes, our current relationship is truly like that of the sun and a firefly. The firefly emits light with its rear thinking that it's the very brightest, but how ephemeral is the light? The tiny bit of light that can be devoured by the sun only lasts for a few days, the life of that tiny insect cannot even handle its emission of light and is fated to die.]
[Thanks for the explanation, firefly.]
Michael abruptly widened his eyes.
The past him may have shrunk back in the face of strong magic power. However, not now.
The main world of the enemy? How was that important? He was here, and he was shining brightly. Where Michael was, was his own domain. Light existed everywhere, and light was his to command, all creation was his!
[I shall have you know, that I am that sun!]
Michael became light. He who had surpassed records used all of his magic power and was transforming it into light!
The speed at which Greed's body melted down became faster. Despite that, Greed could not hide his joy. Since Michael was rejecting his original power for the sake of pursuing stronger light, Greed's own power of devouring was successfully pushing his power back even further.
And when that power reached the peak......!
[Melt into nothingness, Greed! Foolish firefly!]
[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!]
When Greed shouted that, the light that filled the entire world instantly disappeared. Michael panicked and tried to release light once again, but he found it to be impossible.
No, it was possible to release light, but it was disappearing the moment that it was emitted, almost as though he was being sucked into a black hole.
[You have committed a grave mistake. You should not have desired what you could not acquire. You should have focused on what you already own.]
[What......?]
It took another moment for him to realize his light had been devoured.
Devoured? His light? By Greed? This was so confusing for him that he couldn't even speak properly. How was that possible? How?
At that time, he recognized the existence of another man who remained within the original confines of the castle even after Greed's body melted away.
Possessing Michael's own light around him, but still vehemently trying to devour everything that Michael possessed.
[......Father.]
Muttered Michael in disbelief.
Greed, that is, the former God of Heaven, opened his mouth in an evil fashion and replied.
[Yes, my son. It is me.]
Chapter 344
When was it that they realized God's change in attitude? God, who was supposed to look after and take care of all worlds, was aiming for something beyond that. When was it that they realized it? The only concrete fact was that Gabriel was the first to talk about it.
[This won't do.]
[Did you see something again?]
Michael, who didn't like Gabriel's foreknowledge so much, but still believed it with certainty, creased his brows and asked him. The 'five', that were known as the strongest Archangels who got along with each other, all returned from their duties and had met up in a moment of impossible coincidence.
Of course, Gabriel probably gathered them here precisely because they were all off duty.
Gabriel saw that everyone had gathered and glanced at one man.
[......Luciel, please.]
[I am Lucifer. Do not address me with the name that God gave me.]
[Yes, you are right. Lucifer. Please.]
[......Fuu, you annoy me.]
At their level and league, they could reason freely without being interfered by God, but if they were somehow heard by God, and God misunderstood them, that would be bad. However, what allowed them to do here was Luciel, or rather, Lucifer.
He was the most exceptional of the five, had the least reliance on God, and even twisted God's power with his own ability. It was natural for him to create a gap in time that was outside God's knowledge.
[It's fine now. Speak of whatever you have in mind.]
[Fuu...... I did not want to doubt him, but I'm sure now. I could see it.]
[Mr. fortune-teller, please get back on track.]
Uriel, who didn't even have the slightest intention to hide the fact that she liked Gabriel, poked his cheek and urged him on. Michael and Raphael felt awkward while looking at that, Gabriel, who had the power to see the future, but had zero wits and delicacy, continued on with a serious voice.
[God is looking at somewhere else.]
[I am staring at your cheeks right now. They look really ripe for a beating.]
[He is looking for something that does not exist. He wishes to become the Creator.]
Michael widened his eyes and retorted.
[He is already the Creator.]
[No.]
[That isn't true.]
Lucifer and Gabriel denied that simultaneously.
[The things he creates are twisted. They cannot become whole, and are close to destruction upon birth.]
[Everything has an end, but he makes things without looking at their end so they can only be twisted. He cannot become the Creator.]
[You guys, are you denying God!]
[In fact, I wish I could. However, the problem is that he IS God and is an extremely strong being.]
Gabriel's voice deepened even further.
[At this rate, everything will be over. It won't be long before then, and it will happen for sure. All worlds will come to an end.]
[Exactly why?]
[Because he is trying to destroy every existence and to fill it anew.]
[.......]
Michael became speechless. He wanted to deny Gabriel's words, but he couldn't do it so easily since he heard something similar during his conversations with God.
He groaned while palming his forehead. Gabriel spoke once again as he saw that Michael was hesitating.
[He needs to be killed.]
[How, how would we dare kill the Lord? Our Father!]
[Lucifer, can we do it?]
[We won't know until we try.]
Replied Lucifer nonchalantly and flapped the five pairs of wings behind his back. While he was pondering, the wings flickered between black and white. He was already capable of easily escaping God's domain of influence.
He stayed like that for an unknown amount of time, before a small smile hung on his lips.
[But that sounds very interesting. Let's do it. No, I'm going to do it. Even if any you disagree, I'm going to do it.]
[I wish it could be fun for us as well.......]
[Gabriel, I will help you. As I always have. Everyone else will too, right?]
[E, even Uriel...... then I guess I can't help it.]
Gabriel succeeded in persuading Lucifer, and Uriel, who was going to follow Gabriel in anything he did, persuaded the others, so Raphael, who was weak to her smile, ended up nodding. Their gazes now headed to Michael.
[Michael, please help. This would be impossible without your help.]
[You guys, really...... We'll really......?]
[Michael.]
Gabriel looked at him head on and asked. The eyes that saw through into the impurity of Michael's heart. Michael hated those eyes.
[Do you still think that he is in the right?]
[I...... no.]
Michael bit his lips.
He did not think that. In fact, he thought that something was wrong all this time. Alarm bells had been going off in his head all this while.
That the God he was looking up to shouldn't be like this, that the one who had to stand whole, could not show such a side.
[But...... please let me watch for a little more.]
[Do as you wish. Nothing will change though. Gabriel, then let's go back now. I'm already thinking of what I need to prepare for that.]
[Do not get found out because you act cocky, Lucifer.]
[When I get found out, it will be my time to 'go against Heaven'.]
Laughed Lucifer as he dispelled his magic. The four angels headed to their positions with a sigh, but only Michael remained in place and pondered over it.
'Does...... Does God really have the qualifications to be the creator?'
Michael observed God's state after that. He watched as God dispatched angels to look over lower worlds, widen Heaven's domain by going to worlds that were ready to leap into the higher realm, and as he managed the worlds.
And one day.
[......It is unsatisfactory.]
[Father, what is it?]
[Mana is too irregular. The Akashic Record doesn't have a standard, and life always carries a threat with it.]
[Isn't that the result of you loving the world?]
[Yes, indeed, it was.]
God nodded his head before clicking his tongue.
[It seems there is a need to set it right.]
[......I follow your orders.]
[Michael, my adorable son. Go back for now. I shall call you to my side the day I need you.]
It was that moment that Michael decided to go against Heaven.
He immediately looked for Lucifer and Gabriel. Lucifer laughed his heart out, while Gabriel met him with a dejected smile.
[The core members are you and me.]
Uttered Lucifer in arrogance.
[I'm going to make God unable to control us. His restriction is not perfect, and is also merely a portion of the Akashic Record. Once you know that, escaping him is almost as easy as pie.]
[After that?]
[Only then can we stand in the ring. Even after all that, the cold hard truth is that he is still tremendously powerful...... so, as the strongest among us, I shall defend against him.]
Lucifer's fingers that pointed at himself until now, now pointed to Michael.
[Meanwhile, the source of God's power, his league, and his records have to be stolen. By you.]
[......I cannot manage such a thing.]
[You just need to share it with all of us. Dividing it by five should be possible.]
Michael urged him on while clenching his teeth.
[Then, next......?]
[We need to kill him.]
Spoke Gabriel.
[This will not be over unless we kill him. Unless he dies, the world will encounter the same fate once again. So, we need to put an end to all of this.]
His voice entered Michael's ears like thunder.
[Kill God, and we shall manage all the worlds ourselves.]
[We, manage, all, worlds...... right, properly.]
That was the moment a burning passion and a dirty desire blossomed in Michael's heart. Lucifer realized that and laughed.
[Ooh, Michael. I quite like the expression that you're making.]
[Shut up, Lucifer...... I only came to a realization. That the God I was looking up to did not exist in the first place; and that I need to attain what I wish for by myself.]
[Good, splendid attitude. I always liked that part about you.]
Like, what meaning did that have? Michael wanted to ask Lucifer about it, but there was no time for that right now.
[......Let us go, everyone. To kill God.]
Gabriel stood at the front. The Great prophet and the sacrifice; the man at the center of all of them despite the fact that he could not top anyone in terms of physical might. The man who made even the arrogant Lucifer listen to him.
However, Michael did not hesitate in being swept by the flow even while clenching his teeth. Since he realized that he had to make what he wanted with his own hands, he was only going to carry it out now.
***
The plan succeeded only halfway. Lucifer successfully pulled the group out of God's domain of influence, and Michael also successfully expropriated God's power and shared it between the five of them. However, they had failed in slaying God.
God escaped in a pitiful state, while Lucifer headed somewhere else while laughing. Michael, the one who possessed the most of God's power among the five, referred the 'four' remaining as the Four Great Archangels and became the de-facto leader.
Michael made it look like only Lucifer had gone against God, and hid as much of God's disappearance as possible. And the four all started acting like they still believed in God.
That was the end of the era where Heaven's Army was the only higher existence organization.
Having changed his name to Satan, Lucifer eventually became a higher existence on his own and created the Army of Brilliant Light, while the Destruction Demon Army, a group of monsters that only aimed for total and utter destruction, formed not long after, and the ever-mysterious Garden of Sunset formed silently.
Everything fell into chaos, and Michael lamented. Then, he started dreaming of becoming the sole God. Wishing that he will become God and will set everything straight, he proceeded forward.
Like that, with countless years having gone past, he became similar to God. To be exact, the power he absorbed from God had changed him from the inside.
He managed the worlds, widened Heaven's domain, slew all kinds of different beings, calling them heretics, picked new angels, and pulled out the roots of all that threatened Heaven.
He met with Yu IlHan, and was even humiliated by him, but in the end, he still became God. Now, this was the time he was waiting for, so all he had to do now was to eradicate all heresy and create his ideal world.
He thought that he would be able to do that.
[But how......?]
Michael asked the one in front of him – Greed, at the same time as being God.
[How can you be here! How can you be here right now!]
[Did you not notice? I was using the power I have stolen from you.]
[Stolen from me? Just what.......]
Michael naturally realized midway.
Yes. Michael had never met a being that used the same power as him before meeting Greed. He realized that his power wasn't the only one capable of depriving others' with the rise of Greed, but that wasn't actually the case.
Powers were unique.
However, in 'compensation' for acquiring God's power, his own power split and flowed into God.
[That is the restriction I have cast when I received you as my subordinates. Lucifer also struggled to escape that, but failed. Michael, my son. Were you aware of that?]
[I...... was not.]
[Yes, you were ignorant.. and still are.]
God made a merciful smile.
However, the magic power that pressured Michael from all sides was not merciful at all.
He spoke firmly. As if scolding his son that has made a mistake.
[So you need to be punished.]
Chapter 345
The strength God possessed as Greed was mostly exhausted from his clash with Michael. However, thanks to sacrificing that, God could regain his very own powers from Michael.
And now, it was time to steal Michael's power as well.
[How, but you...... how......!
[The five of you, in the end, were still unable to surpass me. That is simply because you are bound to me. You, Lucifer, and Gabriel too. Lucifer has expressed his subservience to me once again, and Gabriel has passed on so you are the only one left. And unfortunately, my child, I do not plan to leave you alive. I need your strength. So offer yourself up to me.]
[How, how can you be here!]
[Child, my naive child. Let me ask you one thing.]
God pointed at one object. It was the Wall of Chaos that separated Elo Katra from Heaven. The final wall that protected Heaven from the predators.
[Who put up that wall?]
[Who? What do you mean who? Of course, it was.......]
The wall was built by...... who? The wall was built around the end of the great war, and the Destruction Demon Army could not invade again. With that, the war came to a halt and...... but how?
Michael momentarily could not find the answer. God smiled and told him the answer.
[It was me.]
[How, how did you!]
[How exactly could Elo Katra be right next to Heaven?]
God's eyes flashed with a glint of sadism. All this while, Michael's power was being stripped away little by little, but his realm wasn't something that was lowly and easy to manipulate.
Although it originated from God, Michael, like Satan, had become able to stand whole by himself. He wouldn't so easily go down just because he lost God's power......!
[That, is you utilizing your powers as a predator......!]
[Wrong, you are wrong. It is because both of them are my worlds. Elo Katra is just an imaginary world that I made up. They are both part of Heaven. They are one and the same.]
Michael gritted his teeth. He couldn't hide his frustration at the fact that he was played the fool from beginning to end.
[Even so! I, Have become God! You were wrong, and I am right! My father, I do not consider you as my father anymore! I shall not serve you as your son, I will not kneel in front of you, nor will I harbor any hope for you!]
[Yes, you are completely correct. I was wrong. However, that does not mean that you were right either. We were both wrong.]
God's lips twisted. By peering into his mouth, all that one could see an endless abyss of nothingness.
[Mana is wrong. I should not have relied on it. I should have walked a different path from the beginning. I should have acquired something else, and should have created more... creative things. I have finally recognized my mistake. That is why I intend to fix it. I will erase everything that I have done wrong, and make them anew.]
[That's impossible!]
[It's possible!]
God put his arms wide. Michael sharpened his light with the intent to pierce through his body, but the tide that had changed wouldn't come back so easily.
[Yes, my children! When I fell thanks to you, I thought that all was over. However, it was ironic that you also gave me hope! The power you gave me in compensation for my divine power! The power of stealing! With that, I regained my will to surpass records once again!]
He devoured everything in sight. The power of stealing that originated from Michael had evolved in a completely different direction thanks to his evil intentions.
He gathered all records, and dreamed of making a new record with it. He intended to comprehend the entirety of the Akashic Record, and dreamed of an improved Akashic Record.
[And I have regained my power! I have found a new path! I have gathered not those who harbored will to betray me like you, but monsters that only aimed for one thing in the first place! I have long since fallen from the ever-glorious and sacred position and had to take in those maggots! Michael, can you imagine the dejection, the despair I felt then! The feelings I had when I had to console lowly monsters that praised my hideous body! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!]
[Not my problem! I don't care and never will, you damned monster!]
Michael's light brightened. His power was endless! As his power was stolen by God, Michael instead actually started gaining enlightenment into his own unique realm of power.
Since what was God's went back to his posession, Michael only had the light left. The light that he had wished to acquire for all his life, it still remained his. It was solitary, but retained its brightness and assaulted God once again. No matter how much of it was devoured, it continued to burn even more brightly!
[I am God! You are merely the God of the past, a record that cannot return to prominence, the sun that has long since fallen below the horizon!]
[I am not the past, but the future. What you are grabbing onto is but an illusion, and what I shall acquire Is true Creation!]
God's body expanded. The stronger Michael became; the stronger God became as well. Then, the tide was reversed again and God pressured Michael again.
[The era of humiliation is over. I have endured for a truly long time, working to raise my power, went berserk, erased, prevented myself from being discovered, and lay hidden while crouched in a corner. In my long years of waiting, Lucifer understood me, came to me and I regained what I had lost in the past. So, I no longer need that wall anymore.]
Just as Michael was about to counterattack, he heard something of tremendously large size crumbling. He instinctively knew what it was and turned around.
The Wall of Chaos that separated Heaven and Elo Katra was collapsing. The border between two worlds that were part of one, but still separate, had already disappeared. Mixing without harmony, attacking each other amidst the chaos that was left behind.
Despite that, the two were one. God's past and God's present were unwilling to accept each other but still homogenised with each other. It was as if one were looking at the figure of God now.
Power drained from Michael's body. Because the world he reigned over was being ruined?
No, his magic power was actually decreasing. He could feel the league of his soul decreasing.
[Just, what.......]
[Heaven and Elo Katra are one and the same. They are all merely illusions that will disappear soon, but it is a suitable object to crush you with. So, my child...... do you feel it? You have become alone.]
God's power was becoming stronger. As Heaven and Elo Katra mixed into one, power was stripped from Michael and flowed into God. Michael finally realized why God was in a hurry to regain his power.
Heaven obeyed whoever possessed God's power. Since that power returned from Michael to God, this was a natural flow of events.
Michael lost his world. Now, all of this was God's again. Not even aware of the tyrant that will destroy the world, this world was granting power to that man.
God opened his eyes. With the unstable, but strong body, he pressured Michael and spoke again.
[Where are the angels that was with you? Where are the ones that followed you? Where is the world under your management? What is the source of power that gives you strength?]
[I...... I am light. I am wholly complete, and luminescent, I do not need a place to call home!]
[In that realm which you believe to be wholly complete, many, many, have ascended to it.]
[What......?]
Michael lost his final bit of will as well. However, God mercilessly forced the cold hard truth onto him to rip his morale to shreds.
[You have merely reached the realm of recorded gods.]
Recorded, gods......? The original owners of those blessings that Yu IlHan and his group use all the time? The unique power that is granted unto a single being through the Akashic Record? Michael clenched his teeth and denied that.
[R, recorded gods...... they are merely records! They are merely agglomeration of records and are not real!]
[And who was the one that told you that?]
[You! It was you! None other than you!]
[Yes, it was indeed me. So, my child, I will correct it for you.]
God's lips twisted hideously. Mana gathered and covered his body, and became a murky armor that escaped the boundaries of mana due to the integration with countless mutated soul fragments that he had devoured until now.
[That is a lie.]
[What.......]
[That term is the biggest insult and arrogance in front of them. They are not 'recorded gods'. In fact, they originated from records but have surpassed it. I estimated that the answer to surpassing mana would lie within them. That is why I captured them. Because they were beings that could not be bound with records, I attempted to capture them with something that were not records. I put them all into one world and bound them there.]
[Just, what are you saying.......]
[Can't you even imagine? You are foolish, my child. I have attempted to make a new record storage for the multiverse. I wished to become the Creator, and the manager of that multiverse.]
If Yu IlHan was here, he would have been annoyed, saying something like 'don't mention something that was mentioned before already', but unfortunately, God didn't even realize that Yu IlHan not only saw through his schemes, but had even obliterated it into tiny pieces.
[I have attempted to make them into a new library to store new records. Gathering soldiers that obey only my will, to gather information, reflect on them, manage them, and create them. Although I temporarily lost my power thanks to your interference before I could finish, I have in fact been able to complete a more perfect record storage after my fall. Thinking back on that, I should instead thank you.]
Michael took a step back without knowing.
Recorded gods were real, making a new Akashic Record by capturing them – these were things he actually knew of before, but this man was definitely insane. He mistook his emotions for reason and was enforcing them on others as well!
[And now, I have gathered many, many beings that have surpassed records. Although some of them escaped and dreamed of rebellion, that's merely a portion of them. I can just get them back later. I can just fill the empty slots again. The new world will arrive soon. Though, I had to test it before it was fully complete because the situation became urgent.......]
Thinking about the Legnae and Archlegnae that weren't fully satisfactory, God shrugged his shoulders. All of this was due to Yu IlHan. He could only shift his plans forward as his growth was much too fast.
[However, all is well. Yu IlHan has grown, and acquired power that is close to Creation. This is what it means to reverse the tides.]
Although the power that Yu IlHan had acquired was that of Creation, one that surpassed God's by miles, God still looked down on him. That was why he could be at such a leisure.
[And then I reunited with you again. Now I will devour you, and devour Yu IlHan as well, in order to become more perfect than before. I will create a new world, and a new set of records.]
[You're looking down on my power...... a being that is in the wrong; a relic of the past, you can only boast with the powers you have stolen from me, and you insult me for desiring something that was not mine......!]
Michael brought up his power for one last time.
However, what he chose was to escape. He judged that there was no hope of victory head on.
What did he have to do, and how? He thought that he had to ally with Yu IlHan albeit unwillingly. Yes, since God was aiming for Yu IlHan right now, Yu IlHan would also have to kill God. With their powers combined, someone that just fell from power in a hideous and unsightly manner should easily be dealt.......
[My child, where are you going.]
[Kugh!?]
God appeared again in front of him when he tried to cast magic to flee. Michael tried to activate Warp with his eyes widened in shock, but his hopes didn't come to fruition. God's hand was already right in front of his head.
[Truly foolish and unfortunate. There wasn't even a one percent chance of victory for you in the first place.]
"Just, what......." (T/N: Quotation marks in the raws as well)
[Didn't I already say it, that you have been left alone.]
God chuckled and twisted his hand.
Michael's head split into two with those movements.
[There is nowhere for you to go, my child.]
[G, ggaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!] (T/N: Back to brackets for this one....)
Michael died, and God devoured him whole.
The rightful ruler of Heaven had returned.