Reincarnation Sword God

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Dark Heaven Village

What on earth am I supposed to do here?

I thought I had to choose whether to side with Changhil or Jeogok. After all, picking a side when there’s a conflict is usually the safer bet. But then again, that only holds true if luck is on my side; otherwise, I could easily end up being suppressed and treated like an object. So I realized that before deciding on which faction to align with, I must first secure control and independence.

‘Ugh… but what should I say?’

I feel lost. I have no clue what those guys were talking about, nor do I know what the current topic is. How can I possibly contribute anything? Realizing I’m utterly uninformed, I opened my mouth.

“… Please, don’t mind me. Just continue your discussion…”

[……]
[……]

Both factions stared at me, looking a bit dumbfounded.

Ah, this probably sounded a bit foolish after all.

Swish!

At that moment, the Eight Parts of the Divine—Celestial Sage—swiftly extended his hand and unleashed a net-like, colossal force towards me. From the experience that Jin So-cheong faced before, I knew that dodging or blocking this with martial arts was nearly impossible. Unlike Jin So-cheong, I couldn’t use instinctive techniques to neutralize it.

‘They’re trying to grab me first!’

If I had taken out the Fire Dragon Sword to prepare, I might have managed to block at least one attack, but in my flustered state, I couldn’t muster such readiness. I felt like I was about to get caught.

Boom!

[Who dares to move before me?]

In that instant, Jeogok’s heavy aura burst forth, nullifying the Celestial Sage’s magic and instead sending the latter reeling.

[Ugh, I’m not out yet…]

As the Celestial Sage tried to draw on greater power, shooting arrows of fire backward, it seemed he could no longer revert from his humanoid form to his original state.

Kuguku!

It was like seeing the Demon King absorbing the countless demons.

An unprecedented surge of demonic power emitted from Jeogok, overwhelming the Eight Parts of the Divine.

One of Jeogok’s arms reached forward, and crimson eyes shone brightly in a stark white gaze. That gaze was set on the Celestial Sage, who seemed to be writhing in agony, unable to maintain his form, as if he was swatting at bugs rather than fighting back.

Jeogok arrogantly declared.
[I can do nothing while I ‘see’ you, you bugs.]

Thud!

[Uugh!]

Suddenly, one arm and one leg of the Tripitaka were ripped off and sent flying. It was a brutal scene, yet in the next moment Changhil on the throne waved his hand, and the Tripitaka swiftly returned to its original state. It seemed Changhil had restored the Eight Parts of the Divine with his powers.

[Thank you… my Lord.]

Changhil said nothing in reply. Instead, Jeogok turned to Changhil, retracting his arm.
[Changhil, did you summon him?]

Only then did Changhil respond.
[No. Another higher being has intervened.]

[That makes sense. Is this a present for me?]

[That’s unknown to me.]

Unexpectedly, Jeogok seemed to readily accept Changhil’s words. Perhaps through his superior perception, he had figured out the laws of cause and effect. Ignoring me, Jeogok continued to speak to Changhil.
[Now, let’s finish what we were discussing. Will you comply with our plan, or will you resist until the end?]

Our plan? I was puzzled by that statement but quickly came to realize.
‘The Three Sovereigns planned to summon the ancient gods of Venus to wipe the earth and unmask themselves!’

And after Changhil prevented the monsters from Venus from returning to earth, Jeogok came to negotiate on behalf of the Three Sovereigns. It was a part of our plan, so there was no way I wouldn’t know this. If it hadn’t been for Cheon Woo-jin infiltrating directly into the Moon and Banwang Hall, I might not have been able to obtain this much information.

Then Changhil replied to Jeogok.
[Isn’t that a ridiculously simple plan? To be frank, clearing the earth while summoning them will not pave the way to the Imperial Palace. It will only lead back to the days of futilely squabbling against the ‘Old Rulers’—]

[As expected of you.]

Jeogok continued with a dark yet sadistic tone.
[However… there is no singular being in this world that even our Five Emperors can’t handle. No great being in this universe has stronger cohesion than us. Unless they are celestial beings, nobody can stand against us.]

[……]

[The Seven Luminaries will soon gather once more.]

The look Jeogok shot me sent chills down my spine.
[You’re a thorn in our side, but this time I’ll let it slip, Changhil. Withdraw your protection from Luoyang and return to the darkness of the outer dimension.]

[I refuse.]

Swish!

When Changhil categorically rejected the idea, the blood-red aura encircling Jeogok’s arms deepened ominously. His veins bulged with rage as he unleashed an even greater surge of magic, plunging the venue into heightened tension.
[Changhil… surely you can’t be placing your faith in that floundering Eight Parts of the Divine. Perhaps when you had the protection of the Outer God, that would have been fine, but now that you’re directly on the earth with diminished favor, we could slaughter you at any moment.]

Jeogok growled. And that threat was not merely a bluff; even the Eight Parts of the Divine blocking Changhil seemed palpably tense. If Jeogok revealed himself fully in this situation, there was no way they could face him even together.

Then, Changhil sitting in his throne interlocked his fingers and replied.
[Then isn’t that how it should be? It’s amusing how you’re too wary to move, yet you’re still posturing like this.]

[You… do you really want to die?]

[I, myself, must tell you this: If you kill me, ‘that being’ will never sit idly by.]

[……]

[While it is true my protection has weakened when compared to my time on the Moon, and that being prefers not to act directly, as long as I am under their protection, you cannot touch me. The moment they step forth, the nightmare of the universe will collapse upon you.]

[You are still but a sealed existence.]

Kuguru!

Bang!

Jeogok’s wings spread wide, unleashing more potent magic. It seemed the venue swirled with a vortex, and the density of that overwhelming energy appeared thousands of times more intense than usual. Seeing this, Gin Nara yelled in anguish.
“My Lord!! It’s not good! Jeogok is trying to manifest his true form! If he does, we all perish!”

[Calm down. That one will not achieve it.]

Changhil remained seated on the throne, undisturbed by Gin Nara’s fearful exclamations. Though revealing Jeogok’s true form would likely lead to his critical injury, he seemed to have full confidence in his judgment.

Kuguku!

For a brief moment, white lightning flashed down like a storm, and Jeogok’s colossal and horrifying shape shimmered in black and white. Was it an illusion? Yet, as Changhil had said, Jeogok seemed to stop the transformation, reverting back to his manifestation.

Jeogok returned to his avatar and continued.
[… I acknowledge it. You remain as cunning and clever as always.]

[I feel honored by the praise of the Three Sovereigns. And I hope you recognize that my answer hasn’t changed.]

Changhil replied with a sneer as Jeogok responded.
[I will watch to see how long you can continue your little charades. And that one, I will take him away.]

That one?

I realized he was pointing at me. He was certainly planning to suppress me immediately and seize the Seven Luminaries!

Sssss!

As Jeogok slowly reached his hand toward me, I caught sight of his winged arm releasing a stream of blood-red energy. If that eye attached to his palm shines crimson, even the Eight Parts of the Divine would be driven mad and lead to instant death.

‘Ahhh…!!’

I inwardly screamed. Just when I thought I had gathered the strongest comrades in history, how had it all turned into such a disaster?! Did that cursed cat send me here to die? But I couldn’t perish here, so I swiftly drew both the Fire Dragon Sword and Flame Elemental Sword.

Sword Strength!

The power of the Flame Elemental Sword and the Fire Dragon Sword transformed into twin flames and struck with brilliant energy.

Crash!

Though the Sword Strength belonged to the most basic techniques, the greater one’s understanding of martial arts, the more immense power stored. In this situation, there would be no way any technique from the Thunder God Lineage would have an effect, so I aimed to draw as much force as possible.

“… Curse you, you damned—!! Bring it on!”

Yet despite unleashing my life’s martial arts, my inner state was tempered with gloom. There was no way I could contend against Jeogok, the Three Sovereigns.

[Try your futile resistance.]

Jeogok sneered, palms open wide. With a blink, those blood-red eyes glinted, and suffocating magic cloaked me. In that instant, I called out to the Fire Dragon Incarnate in my heart.
Fire Dragon Incarnate, please help me!

I cannot die here in vain!

Was it due to the earnestness of my plea? The Fire Dragon Incarnate’s reply echoed in my heart.
[Just now, my true self has offered to lend you strength. Do not worry.]

In that moment, I felt the Fire Dragon Incarnate’s support releasing the Flame Blessing, simultaneously unveiling the Dragon’s Edge from the Fire Dragon Sword. Intoxicated in a trance-like state, I felt the martial arts I knew swirling chaotically, with all my concentration pooling into the sword’s tip. The Fire Dragon jerked its head back, unleashing the immense power contained within the two divine artifacts, squeezing every bit of internal power from my body.

Fusion Technique!
Heavenly Dragon Wave!

Kaboom!

The Fire Dragon’s jaws clashed head-on with the force that had been released from Jeogok’s grasp, creating an enormous shockwave in the void. That wave unexpectedly triggered what felt like an earthquake, and moments later, a deafening roar reverberated that shook all of Luoyang.

“Hah, hah, huff!”

I realized I had exhausted all of my internal power just to defend against merely one attack. Up until now, even when using the Great Immortal’s abilities, my internal energy consumption was extreme, but this Fusion Technique required a dimension of internal strength entirely beyond confrontational levels. However, since I had indeed stymied one of Jeogok’s attacking moves, I sighed in relief internally.

[The power of the Shenglong?]

Jeogok exclaimed in surprise.
[Indeed… there was a reason why Jeon Wook took an extraordinary interest in you. You’re the human whom the Shenglong has personally intervened to protect.]

“Hah, hah!! Je, Jeogok! Please step back.”

Though I felt like I might lose consciousness, I continued to speak through gritted teeth.
“Why must you insist on unmasking yourselves? Isn’t five hundred years an insignificant moment in the eyes of the Three Sovereigns? Even if humanity’s downfall is trivial, can you at least allow us some time until the end?”

[……]

In that very moment, a thick silence enveloped the area. Jeogok seemed to be intrigued, stating.
[Oh? You are aware of our ‘mask’… and even our purpose. You are certainly no ordinary human.]

I collapsed to my knees.
“Please! If the time of predetermined destruction is humanity’s fate, I shall accept it. But please, just let this era last… let us at least enjoy peace for five hundred years!”

[… How presumptuous.]

“Huh?”

Jeogok countered haughtily.
[You are in no position to accept or decline. You are our creations, lowly beings made to serve. In fact, you are weaklings with barely any powers over chaos… Do you even dare to think you are worthy of our attention?]

“……“

[And you are only a fragment of humanity. Do you think you have the right to represent the will of all humankind living on this land? A mere insect such as you shall never hold value enough for the likes of us Three Sovereigns to listen to.]

“That’s…”

[If it is to convey the thoughts of the Shenglong, then I shall acknowledge you. As far as I am concerned, you have gained the Shenglong’s recognition.]

I was being utterly ignored. I knew Jeogok’s tone was harsher than Jeon Wook, yet I understood that the difference was merely in tone—the ideologies behind them were nearly identical. Even Jeon Wook had spoken of ‘worth’,…

Jeogok is demanding worth.

Of course, it’s an absurd aside, but they claim that one needs a certain degree of merit to converse with deities and rulers who rival the ‘Old Rulers’ of the universe. Since I had faced the Three Sovereigns multiple times, I could gauge Jeogok’s intent clearly.

I breathlessly saw that retreat was not an option now.
“What qualifications are needed?”

[King.]

Jeogok slowly spoke.
[Only another king can converse with a king. As a mere creature, if you possess the qualifications of a king, we might listen to your words.]

“……”

[While you interest me, you hardly register as anything more than a pet.]

It was at that moment.

Changhil, who had merely been observing from the side, finally spoke.
[Jeogok.]

Changhil slowly rose from the throne. This was the first time he moved with intention.

As Jeogok’s gaze shifted to Changhil, he lifted his chaos-soaked visage to gaze at the sky and muttered.
[You’ve been a nuisance from the beginning…]

[Kek, you don’t mean to…]

Jeogok’s expression shifted to one of dismay as if he realized something.
[Vanished.]

Bam!

Suddenly, with Changhil’s words, lightning struck down, and Jeogok’s form vanished without a trace. I felt a chill as it must have been Changhil’s magic.
‘Did he erase Jeogok’s manifestation with a single spell?!’

Just moments before, he had shown weakness, but if he possessed that level of power, he was at least equal to the Three Sovereigns! I could see that Changhil had been observing the situation closely to gather information and finally acted. I had also confirmed he had indeed reached the plane of the ‘Old Rulers.’

[Baek Woong.]

Changhil spoke.
[Let’s talk now. I have a proposal for you.]

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