Chapter 148 – Divine Realm Collection

Meanwhile, in the Black Forest of northern Arthalia.

Park Seongcheol, who had moved ahead of Qliphoth, was fighting against the entire Black Forest Temple.

“Truly remarkable, Patron. To not be pushed back this far while facing our temple’s 108 Arhat Formation at the level of a 7-Star is astounding.”

To be precise, it was a situation where 108 Death Elves—7-Star Transcendent Species that could be considered Qliphoth’s limbs—were executing a formation and launching a combined attack against Park Seongcheol.

Yet, even in such a situation, Park Seongcheol, possessed by Dice, appeared quite composed.

“Should I take that as an honor?”

Each of them had mastered at least one of the Seventy-Two Demon-Subduing Arts, and through the 108 Arhat Formation, their amplified grade rivaled that of a 10-Star, as if they had achieved Spirit Overlay.

Moreover, with Qliphoth directly connected to them and assisting them with the Authority [Lemegeton], they were practically equivalent to an 11th Star.

“However, your composure ends here, Patron.”

Gooooooh!

From the moment the 108 Death Elves deployed the 108 Arhat Formation, their formation had been continuously accumulating power.

And now, it had reached its critical point.

As extremes reverse, polarity shifts.

Kiiiiing!

Energy that reaches its extreme inevitably inverts into its opposite nature.

“Heaven-Slaying 108 Yaksha Formation, deploy!”

The identity of Arhat that the Death Elves had assumed flipped upside down, transforming into the identity of Yaksha.

Kugugugugugu!

As if blessed by the Heaven-Slaying Star, each individual’s grade surged to the level of an 8-Star.

At this moment, each of them was practically an 8-Star Yaksha.

The overall level of the formation reached that of an 11th Star even without Qliphoth’s assistance.

Simultaneously, as Qliphoth’s branches intertwined them, their energies densely gathered in the void, forming a massive Dharma Body—as if their spirits had unified into one.

It was the form of the Northern Dharma-Protecting Deity, Vaiśravaṇa.

Guuuung!

A being holding a trident—the symbol of the Martial God—in one hand and a pagoda in the other.

In the past, he was the Yaksha King Kubera.

Later, he became Vaiśravaṇa of the Twelve Devas in Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism.

And in Taoism, he was also known as Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King—a True God belonging to the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

This Dharma Body was precisely Qliphoth’s combat-type Avatar.

Kwarung.

“Hoh. So it perfectly blocks attacks below the level of Authority.”

Park Seongcheol, who had lightly fired a lightning sword to test Vaiśravaṇa’s Dharma Body, revealed his competitive spirit.

The protective barrier created by the pagoda was more formidable than expected.

[You are judged!]

Huuuuung—!

In response came Vaiśravaṇa’s counterattack.

The swung trident tore through space-time, aiming for Park Seongcheol.

Pachut!

Even attempting to evade using Relative Time Acceleration as before was difficult, as the attack followed the slowed world.

Pajijijijik!

With no choice, he drew forth [Manraegum] with Foresight Before Pain and blocked Vaiśravaṇa’s trident.

Jjeojeojeojeojik!

The clash between the sword formed from ten thousand bolts of lightning and the space-time-rending trident spread spiderweb-like black rifts around them.

[Uahahahaha!]

Naturally, the aftermath that surged toward Park Seongcheol, who had directly clashed, was not insignificant, but he endured while focusing on comprehending the subtleties within the opponent’s extremity.

Primarily, the flowing sword techniques within Manraegum deflected most of the impact.

And his newly acquired Mount Tai Constitution had strong resistance to such shocks, so he had plenty of leeway.

“Indeed, the title Martial God is well-deserved.”

Moreover, Park Seongcheol was currently in a state of Spirit Overlay with Dice and Chungmugong by transforming into a Primal Spirit God through the Vanguard-Class God-Spirit-Word-Guard-Command, without an increase in grade.

This meant the minimum grade required to fully bloom Dice’s talent was satisfied.

Thanks to this, he could now establish a new martial path through this clash.

“…I think I’m starting to understand now.”

The confrontation with the 108 Arhat Formation infused with the Seventy-Two Demon-Subduing Arts—called the origin of all martial arts under heaven.

And even the strike of Vaiśravaṇa, who holds the Divine Rank of Martial God.

This battle was more than sufficient to serve as fertilizer for Dice to ascend to a new realm.

[You…?]

As if sensing that Park Seongcheol’s aura had changed, Vaiśravaṇa’s expression hardened.

“A wall before an already realized realm is meaningless.”

Even though Dice’s Divinity, limited to 7-Star due to Second Stage Transcendence not being applied, was insufficient in size, it achieved completion and gained concepts like a True God’s Divinity.

By fully imprinting [Manraegum] onto his Divinity, he digested the Authority not as mere enlightenment but as part of himself.

[Do you think I’ll stand by and watch my opponent’s enlightenment?!]

“It’s already too late.”

Jjeng! Jjeng!

Manraegum and the trident clashed equally, engaging in a contest of skill.

Now, he no longer grew tired after unleashing Manraegum once.

Unleashing Authority had become his baseline state.

In other words, it meant he could now glimpse beyond Authority with Dice’s talent.

Flash!

Suddenly, the sensation of 【Zion Gate】 witnessed during the Dragon Extermination Campaign came to mind.

The sensation of the Heavenly Realm, originally only perceivable after becoming an Apostle of the Sun Constellation, was gradually coming within his grasp.

It was the Sun Divine Domain.

‘The essence of the world as interpreted by the Sun Constellation is life.’

The image of a living, breathing world flowed into his mind, and he began to feel the world’s breath.

Ooooom—

The world’s breath and Park Seongcheol’s breath naturally synchronized.

And as that breath deepened, the world Park Seongcheol felt drew closer.

Close enough to knead and twist the world’s structure at his will.

‘I cut.’

Seokeok!

[What…!]

Vaiśravaṇa’s trident, which had been clashing with Manraegum, was cleanly severed, leaving only slight resistance unlike before.

What followed was simple.

Seokeokseokeokseokeok—!

He severed the connection between Qliphoth and the Heaven-Slaying 108 Yaksha Formation.

[No…!]

He severed the connections between the Arhat-grade Black Forest Monks forming the Heaven-Slaying 108 Yaksha Formation.

[Stop!]

He aimed Manraegum at Qliphoth, whose form as an inverted World Tree was now revealed.

[Stop—!!]

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll make good use of your Divinity.”

Authority [Limitless Ten Thousand Thunders Sword].

Kwarurururururung!!!!!

Transcending the existing Manraegum, the discharged lightning endlessly returned to the sword and charged—the limitless Mugeuk Manraegum.

A lightning sword like a pillar surging from earth to heaven pierced through Qliphoth and dyed the black clouds covering the Black Forest with azure lightning.

Soon, the black clouds completely evaporated, and beneath the revealed blue sky…

[Kkeueueueu….]

Qliphoth, having lost the clouds to take root, plummeted toward the ground.

Toward the Pagoda Forest of the Black Forest Temple—the cemetery for Black Forest Monks located beneath Qliphoth and the cradle of Death Elves.

Kugugung!

Of course, even while falling, Mugeuk Manraegum continued to spew and swallow lightning, scorching Qliphoth.

And the impact of Qliphoth, engulfed in Manraegum’s lightning, crashing down was more than enough to devastate the Pagoda Forest.

“The Pagoda Forest…! Our relics…!”

“Are we to die again like this?”

“The Black Forest Temple is finished now.”

The 108 Death Elves who had been fighting Park Seongcheol began to blur like enlightened ghosts as soon as the Pagoda Forest collapsed.

Just as an Ancient Elf whose time has come dwells in a Sun Tree to be reborn as a High Elf.

Dead Black Forest Monks are buried with their relics in the Pagoda Forest and, under Qliphoth’s guidance, are reborn as high-ranking Undead—Death Elves.

“Ah, I didn’t exactly aim for it, but was that the core of the Death Elves?”

Park Seongcheol muttered, noticing the unfolding situation.

With the relics of the Pagoda Forest—the Medium binding the Death Elves to this world—destroyed, they too seemed to be heading to the Underworld.

And, not long after they disappeared…

Pachutsutsutsuts—

Qliphoth, struck by Mugeuk Manraegum, seemed to have reached its limit as its tree form transformed into lightning and melted into Manraegum.

Thump!

Immediately after, Qliphoth’s Divinity merged with Dice’s Divinity—smaller than that of a typical True God—expanding his Divinity to a full True God Rank.

Enough to sufficiently challenge an Apostle.

It was a victory achieved by Park Seongcheol alone, without Lee Hanseong’s help.

“Did you see? Hanseong.”

As if sensing Lee Hanseong’s consciousness watching from there, Park Seongcheol shrugged his shoulders and asked.

—Yes, thanks to you, I was greatly helped too. Really, thank you!

After lightly expressing his gratitude to Park Seongcheol, Lee Hanseong immediately withdrew his consciousness back to himself.

Not forgetting the sensation of the Sun Divine Domain that Park Seongcheol had felt earlier, he replayed it in his mind.

* * *

Back to the Hongye Seven Star Cluster.

Lee Hanseong temporarily set aside his Inner Demons and prioritized completing the Constellation Mission.

First was the Golden Divine Domain he possessed.

“One.”

Uung.

With the activation of the Golden Divine Domain, a Mental Image manifested inside the Hongye Seven Star Cluster, and the Seven Emotions Inner Demons he had bound as Avatars within his inner self also revealed themselves.

Thus, his body was completely freed from the influence of the Inner Demons.

In truth, while the Inner Demons were within his inner self, it was difficult to unleash abilities other than Duren’s without entering his inner self.

At least a Myth Skill was required to activate them.

Even though they were bound as Avatars, the very existence of the Inner Demons acted like shackles.

‘Of course, they’ve only been externalized; the Inner Demons haven’t disappeared from within, so restrictions still exist.’

But now, even a Legendary Skill could be activated.

“Two.”

Chwarureuk.

Thus, he activated Rule Manipulation, summoned the Dharma Wheel Axis again, and added the Dharma Wheel Divine Domain.

“Three.”

Hwaaak.

He unfolded Hanna’s Sanctuary, adding the Radiance Divine Domain to form a triple Divine Domain.

‘Among the powers I possess, the one closest to the Sun Divine Domain is undoubtedly the Solar Divine Art.’

Of course, the Solar Divine Art is not a Myth specialized in unfolding a Divine Domain, so that alone would be insufficient.

Therefore, it was necessary to add new power.

He unfolded Primordial Chaos Gang Qi and connected the Skill Circuits within his body.

Click.

[<Skill Tree View (Innate)> + <Truth View (Innate)> = <Foresight (Legendary)>]

He created <Foresight>, an inferior version of Dice’s Foresight Before Pain.

Since it’s Legendary Grade, it’s a Skill that can be used even under the constraints of Inner Demons.

Moreover, integrating Legendary Skills had become much easier.

Even when using Skill Tree View, he had created Myth Skills like Imitation Divine Blood or Golden Divine Domain, but that was purely a result close to luck.

It wasn’t something Lee Hanseong had particularly intended.

But now it was different.

Click.

[<Foresight (Legendary)> + <Insightful Eye (Legendary)> = <All-Seeing Eye (Myth)>]

As the symbol of the All-Seeing Eye—an eye drawn inside an equilateral triangle surrounded by a halo—was imprinted in his mind.

Uung—

[<Primordial Chaos Gang Qi> links <All-Seeing Eye> and <Solar Divine Art>.]

He linked the Solar Divine Art to the All-Seeing Eye, restricting the scope visible through the All-Seeing Eye.

Another name for the All-Seeing Eye is ‘Eyes of Providence’.

And there is a legend that the Eyes of Providence originated from the Eye of Horus, the Sun God.

Hwaaaak!

The Heavenly Realm of the Sun Divine Domain that Park Seongcheol had seen began to appear before Lee Hanseong’s eyes as well.

“This makes four.”

Uuung! Cheolkeokcheolkeokcheolkeok—

With Perception, the fourth Divine Domain added interlocked with the existing three Divine Domains.

As if they had been one from the beginning.

And finally.

[Mission ‘Divine Realm Collection’ has been completed.]

[As a reward, the third name of the ■■ Constellation is unlocked.]

With the completion of the Primordial Divine Domain, Mirinae’s third name was revealed.

However, unlike with Möbius, he did not rashly utter that name.

He knew that the moment he called that name, a being corresponding to the Constellation’s third Aspect would awaken, just as it had with Möbius.

‘At the very least, calling the third name should wait until after Mirinae returns to Earth, where she can fully act.’

Just as he was about to temporarily set aside the Constellation’s third name in a corner of his mind.

—No, that won’t be necessary.

“…Mirinae?!”

Mirinae, who had been silent since coming to the Otherworld, spoke.

For a moment, he suspected it might be Möbius imitating her, but to his senses, it truly was Mirinae.

“Is it alright?”

—It seems the laws of the Otherworld can no longer suppress this body thanks to the completion of the Primordial Divine Domain. Calling the third will likely cause no particular harm to this body.

“If Mirinae says so. Alright.”

Lee Hanseong swallowed once and uttered the unlocked Constellation’s third name.

“…Maya.”

[A new Aspect of the ■■ Constellation awakens.]

[The presence of the ■■ Constellation becomes significantly clearer.]

[Maya’s Innate Authority [Dream Chaos] is restored.]

A name meaning ‘Ceaselessly Changing Fleeting Illusion’ or ‘Magic’.

As if answering the call, a voice resembling Mirinae’s but slightly more languid echoed from within.

—Huhu, did you call me?

Following Primordial Mirinae and Fusion Möbius, the third Aspect.

Dream Chaos Maya had awakened.