Chapter 171 – Shanghai Three-Way Battle

Meanwhile, in Shanghai.

There, Shiva and the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord were clashing.

However, they weren’t the only ones fighting.

Boom! Crash-bang-bang-bang!

[You! Are you interfering again?]

[It seems you wish for our fight to never end.]

Park Seongcheol, who had invoked Divine Possession with Dice and was wearing the Formless Sword Demon Armor, had joined the fray, turning it into a three-way battle.

To be precise, whenever either Shiva or the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord gained the upper hand and tried to finish off their opponent, Park Seongcheol stepped in to interfere.

‘Tsk. Originally, I didn’t plan to reveal myself this quickly.’

This wasn’t what Park Seongcheol had hoped for either.

His original plan was to quietly observe the fight between the two Apostles, hoping to gain some inspiration through Dice’s talent.

However, it seemed the outcome would be decided faster than expected, forcing him to reveal himself and intervene like this.

‘If not for Dice’s keen eye, the fight would have been over before I even stepped in.’

[If you keep interfering, I’ll deal with you first.]

[A talent that continues to grow even at the Apostle level… It would be dangerous to give you more time here.]

Perhaps annoyed by Park Seongcheol’s actions or his talent, the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord and Shiva now seemed to put their own fight aside and were preparing to jointly attack Park Seongcheol first.

A dangerous temporary alliance had been formed.

However, even though the situation had shifted from a three-way battle to a 2 vs. 1, Park Seongcheol didn’t feel particularly threatened.

Because Dice’s talent had already advanced to a new realm while facing the Apostles.

[Whoa, that’s dangerous.]

Rumble!

Park Seongcheol, who had blocked Shiva’s Trishula and the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s Three Calamities God-Slaying Sword with his pitch-black Thunderstorm Sword, recalled the moment he first arrived in Shanghai.

* * *

Around the time Park Seongcheol had just arrived in Shanghai.

Shiva had not yet emerged from the Great Rift.

However, since the Great Rift itself was open, just as before Lee Hanseong rewound time, the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord had ascended into the sky and called out to the Apostle beyond the rift.

And soon, Shiva appeared.

‘Is that the Apostle of the North Star Constellation? When I saw it at the Crossroads of the Scales, it seemed to be a skeletal form, so why is it now a humanoid with three heads?’

Park Seongcheol, having hidden his presence by deploying the Dark Divine Realm through the Apostle authority of the Formless Sword Demon Armor, observed Shiva having a brief conversation with the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

He found it strange that its appearance differed from the Stone Statue of the North Star Constellation Apostle he had seen in the Crossroads of the Scales dungeon in the past.

But his curiosity was short-lived.

Boom!

The two Apostles clashed immediately without wasting time on unnecessary conversation, and Dice’s talent reacted.

He couldn’t take his eyes off the sight of them pushing against each other’s Divine Artifacts in a contest of strength.

Shiva’s Authority [Destruction] and the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s Authority [Three Calamities Sword] were in opposition.

‘Their Authorities are similar.’

Shiva’s Destruction is part of the Trimurti cycle, leading to Brahma’s new Creation.

The Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s Three Calamities are the disasters that arrive during the Kalpa of Destruction, one of the four periods divided into Formation, Stasis, Decline, and Emptiness, when the world is destroyed.

Thus, both could be seen as possessing the power of annihilation within the cycle of creation and destruction.

Therefore, it was the minor elements that created the difference.

Steps treading on empty air, the angle of the feet, gaze control, muscle contraction and relaxation, the undulation of starlight, the killing intent pressuring the opponent.

Even in moments that seemed like a pause, a battle of wits was being exchanged dozens of times, using every available element to guide the opponent’s moves in the desired direction and restrict their actions.

‘If it goes on like this… the outcome will be decided in an instant.’

The Fate of the North Pole Divine Realm and the Death of the Divine Domain of Heaven-Slaying.

Destruction and Slaughter.

It was even more so because they governed similar concepts.

For now, the battle was at a stalemate because destruction was being slain and slaughter was being destroyed.

But if he just watched, the moment one side gained even a slight advantage, the other would immediately die.

However, that wasn’t all.

Park Seongcheol looked at the sky with sparkling eyes.

Having temporarily gained the Apostle authority of the Darkness Constellation through the Formless Sword Demon Armor, he could see something.

His Eye of Insight, which had broadened as his level increased, read all the information revealed in the two Apostles’ fight and saw the future.

Not just the situation one move ahead, but two moves, three moves… no, a battle of wits akin to foresight, laying groundwork and moving towards the moment of finishing off the opponent.

It was a transcendent battle of wits where Shiva and the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord pushed each other’s death and end using their respective Divine Domains.

Moreover, the True Bodies of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation and the North Star Constellation, existing in a higher dimension beyond the sky, were also clashing in that higher dimension, just like their Apostles on Earth.

Only after perceiving this did Park Seongcheol understand the form of the Stone Statue he had seen at the Crossroads of the Scales.

“Ah…”

Because the True Body of the North Star Constellation had the form of a crowned skeleton, just like the Stone Statue he saw back then.

This was in contrast to the True Body of the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation, which had the same form as Dokgowol.

‘Why is the True Body of the North Star Constellation different from the Apostle’s form?’

―Because that form is closer to the essence of the North Star Constellation.

The answer came from the will of the Sword Demon dwelling within the Formless Sword Demon Armor.

If the True Body of the Constellation diverged from the Apostle’s form, it meant the Apostle’s degree of control over the Constellation was lower, but being closer to the essence allowed for a deeper interpretation of the Constellation.

Perhaps because of this.

Comparing the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s Divine Domain of Heaven-Slaying and Shiva’s North Pole Divine Realm, the North Pole Divine Realm was slightly closer to reality.

Based on this alone, Shiva’s chances of winning should have been about 10% higher.

But in reality, the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord had a slight advantage.

Because Hans was included in the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation.

Thanks to Hans, who had opened the Identity of Mahesvara Heaven, an Aspect of Shiva, despite following the Heavenly Slaughter path, the North Pole Divine Realm deployed by Shiva conversely also empowered the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

Thus, a future where the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord created Shiva’s death was determined.

Almost as soon as Park Seongcheol grasped this situation.

Clang! Clang!

Shiva’s Trishula and Dokgowol’s Three Calamities God-Slaying Sword repeatedly fell and clashed.

Since they were merely playing out a fight whose process and end had already been determined through their battle of wits, the outcome was practically decided.

It was akin to a fate where no matter how hard one tried in the middle, the result couldn’t be changed.

If no intervention occurred, in just three more seconds, the fight would end with the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s victory.

“That won’t do.”

Thus, Park Seongcheol had no choice but to throw himself between the two Apostles.

Rumble―!

Having observed the two Apostles wielding their Divine Domains and Authorities together, he cloaked himself in Black Thunder, a combination of the Dark Divine Realm and Dice’s Thunderstorm Sword.

[What…!]

[…Hah!]

Just by him approaching close to the two Apostles, their expressions changed in opposite ways.

The Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord was flustered, while Shiva was relieved.

Because the future they had predetermined through their battle of wits had turned pitch black as if someone had smeared ink over it right after the appearance of the Black Thunder.

The Dark Divine Realm contained within the Black Thunder had made them forget even what they knew.

Thus, the direction of the fight became unknown again.

[How dare you interfere with This Throne’s fight! Get lost!]

But that was also short-lived.

Since the ink smear of the Dark Divine Realm was equal to the Death of the Divine Domain of Heaven-Slaying or the Fate of the North Pole Divine Realm, the forgotten battle of wits could be recalled at any time.

However, the previous battle of wits had excluded the newly appeared presence of Park Seongcheol, so they simply chose not to.

The Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord proceeded with a new battle of wits, now taking Park Seongcheol into account.

But until then, even the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord didn’t consider Park Seongcheol an enemy.

He judged there was no reason for fellow Earthlings to fight against an Otherworld Apostle.

[What are you doing now? Are you betraying Earth?]

But in the ensuing battle of wits, Park Seongcheol kept making incomprehensible moves.

Sometimes helping Shiva, sometimes helping the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

Thus, a fight that should have ended long ago was dragged out, and by the time they realized Park Seongcheol’s intention, it was already too late.

The longer the fight went on, the deeper the synergy between Dice and the Formless Sword Demon Armor became.

And the moment that synergy surpassed a certain level, Dice’s path flipped from Sun to Darkness.

―Come to think of it, the Black Knight was originally a knight of the Sun path, wasn’t he?

As the parallel world Sword Demon muttered, recalling a fact.

Whoosh!

[<Formless Sword Demon Armor> and the Eleven-Star Divine Spirit Thunder Sword God ‘Dice Ten’ are merging.]

[The Darkness Constellation is selecting a new Apostle. The new Apostle is Dice Ten.]

As if the Authority of Primordial Chaos was deployed, the records of Dice Ten and the Sword Demon Gobhan intermingled, and Dice ascended as the new Apostle of the Darkness Constellation.

The situation where the two Apostles, unable to bear it any longer, launched a Combined Attack against Park Seongcheol was precisely now.

[Dark Formless Thunderstorm Sword.]

Park Seongcheol, who had received the two Apostles’ Combined Attack with the Thunderstorm Sword, now even more powerful as it contained the Dark Authority and the Sword Demon’s Formless Sword, raised the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

[This seems manageable.]

He had been tense because it was a Combined Attack by Apostles, but this level was more than enough to withstand.

Since time was on his side anyway, there was no need to rush.

If he just held out, Lee Hanseong’s Divine Spirit, whose Authority had Bloomed, would drag Shiva into an Apostle Duel.

* * *

While Park Seongcheol fought, Lee Hanseong proceeded with the Authority Bloom of Rian, who belonged to the North Star Constellation.

Having mastered the Eternal Magic of the Dragon Slayer Emperor and completed his 6-Star Promotion, he had already finished integrating his Innate Skills, so he only needed to complete the integration of his Legendary Skills.

“Rian’s Identity hasn’t been determined yet, has it.”

Examining the combination formulas of the three Legendary Skills integrated in the last Historical Alteration and the four Legendary Skills acquired from his Awakening Skill, he contemplated the Identity that would derive from them.

“Silent Casting, Magic Workshop, Perpetual Motion… and Path Revelation, Emperor’s Majesty, Ancient Magic, Emperor’s Word Spirit.”

[<Emperor’s Majesty>+<Emperor’s Word Spirit>=<Sorcery Emperor(Myth)>]

First, he merged the Emperor series into one, completing the Myth of the Sorcery Emperor, which signified the Emperor of the Ardenia Empire.

It was a Skill where not only his aura and words but also every action he took naturally carried magical effects.

[<Path Revelation>+<Magic Workshop>=<Magic Palace(Myth)>]

Next, Path Revelation and Magic Workshop merged, transforming into a Skill opposite to the North Pole Divine Realm.

“If the North Pole Divine Realm is a Divine Domain that realizes the End predetermined by Fate, then Magic Palace, a Skill that realizes the Path to avoid Fate, is precisely the inverse of the North Pole Divine Realm.”

With such a Myth added, Rian’s Authority would inevitably also become an Authority of a lineage opposite to the North Pole Authority.

Moreover, since Rian even had Eternal Magic, manifested through the Steel Iron Heart…

Wouldn’t an Authority of the endless Eternal lineage emerge?

“The answer will come once the final Myth is completed.”

[<Silent Casting>+<Perpetual Motion>=<Wish(Myth)>]

Finally, when Perpetual Motion, which eliminated consumption cost, was added to Silent Casting, which activated magic with will alone without incantation, it became Wish magic that achieved desires within the limits of the Myth.

At that very moment, Mirinae suddenly linked the Steel Divine Beast, North Pole Divine Priestess, and Chakra Divine Throne with Rian.

They were Divine Artifacts related to the three Constellations of the Ardenia Continent.

―Do you know that? In the past, when we were the rulers of the Heavenly Palace, there were only three continents in the Origin World?

“Huh?”

It seemed the four Constellations belonging to Mirinae, Maya, and Möbius respectively were divided among the Arcadia, Arpelgia, and Arthalia continents.

―Ardenia means a new continent created by gathering one Constellation each from the existing three continents.

“Ah.”

Hearing the explanation up to that point, he thought he understood Mirinae’s intention.

The powers of the Steel and Chakra paths were influencing Rian, who followed the North Pole path, elevating his Identity to a higher dimension.

Whoosh!

[Keyword ‘Aion’ has been opened.]

It was the Identity of Aion, the God of Eternity.

And the Authority derived from it was.

[Conditions met. Rian’s Authority Blooms.]

[Innate Authority, [Eternity] is imprinted upon the world.]

It was on par with Lee Hanseong’s Infinity.

Strictly speaking, one could argue that Infinity, which removes limits, is better than Eternity, which is merely eternal, but that’s only from a higher-dimensional perspective.

In lower dimensions like Earth or the Otherworld, they were practically the same.

‘Insane.’

If Shiva were to utilize such an Authority, both the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord and Park Seongcheol would be in danger, so Lee Hanseong hastily made Rian challenge the position of Apostle of the North Star Constellation.

* * *

And back to Shanghai.

Even though Shiva had been dragged to a higher dimension, the battle was still ongoing.

Because the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord didn’t stop his attacks on Park Seongcheol, regardless of whether Shiva, his joint attacker, had disappeared or not.

[Do you intend to keep fighting?]

However, Park Seongcheol only blocked the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s sword and didn’t seem particularly inclined to fight.

Having already achieved his objective, he had no reason to fight the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord.

Of course, if he did fight, he could quickly defeat the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord, who couldn’t even beat him 2 vs. 1.

But that wasn’t what Lee Hanseong wanted.

Whoever won, the Darkness Constellation and the Heavenly Slaughter Constellation would merge into one.

The Twelve Constellations had to remain twelve until the end.

So Lee Hanseong, who was at White Deer Lake, as soon as he perceived the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord’s intent to keep fighting, made Hans challenge an Apostle Duel after Rian.

[Why now of all times? Hans! Lee Hanseong!]

Whoosh!

The Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord, who had been attacking Park Seongcheol, was also dragged to a higher dimension like Shiva, his last words an annoyed shout directed at Lee Hanseong.