Chapter 104 – Shadowless Divine Battle

Blink.

Upon opening his eyes, Lee Hanseong’s consciousness had entered Hyoo Guild’s body.

To be precise, it was a state similar to his consciousness descending through the Treasure Vessel held in Hyu’s hand, the <Devour God Demon Sword>.

Why was Hyu chosen as the starting point for this Historical Alteration?

It was because Hyu’s abilities were specialized for intervening in the histories of multiple Spirits.

“The point in time is right after completing the Four-star promotion.”

Checking Hyu’s memories, Hyu’s history had stopped in the Shelter, the Reverse World, right after the third Historical Alteration ended.

However, unlike back then, Lee Hanseong, who had possessed Hyu, was now in a state where he could do much more.

Lee Hanseong first checked the changed status.

【Hyoo Guild (★★★★☆☆☆+)(Second Stage Transcendence, Guarantee of the Righteous Will in effect)】

General Skills: <Stealth Walk>, <Appraisal>, <Interface perception>, <Interface design>.

Rare Skills: <Black shadow envoy>, <Puppetry art>, <Insight>, <Sleeve Insert>.

Unique Skill: <Mask: Persona>, <???>, <???>, <???>.

Legendary Skill: <Reverse World>, <Spatial Connection>.

General Awakening Skill: 《Black curtain in the dark》, 《Fate Direction》, 《???》. 《???》.

Polarity Reversal: 《???》, 《???》.

【Lee Hanseong (★★★★☆☆☆)(Second Stage Transcendence, Guarantee of the Righteous Will in effect)】

Unique Skill: <Spirit Particle Manipulation>, <Prayer of the Phoenix>, <Supreme Crafting>, <Geass>, <All Things Control>.

Legendary Skill: <Primordial Chaos Gang Qi>, <Grasp>, <Insightful Eye>, <Transcendence>, <Consecutive Transcendence>.

General Awakening Skill: 《Group Transcendence》, 《Soul Imprint》, 《???》, 《???》.

Polarity Reversal: 《Divine Fall》, 《Consecutive Divine Fall》.

With the addition of the <Mask: Persona> Skill record, Hyu, who had been a half-baked 5-Star, had his Grade inflated to 7-Star Rank through Second Stage Transcendence.

Thanks to the Guarantee of the Righteous Will, he had advanced another half-step and was in a state where even the second Polarity Reversal was unlocked.

However, as he was not yet 8-Star Rank, it seemed the eighth star was indicated by (+) instead of (☆).

And in Lee Hanseong’s case.

Because higher-level Skills integrated using Hyu’s Skills as materials had been unlocked, he was now in a state where he could use four additional Unique Skills and one additional Legendary Skill, excluding his own Skills.

“This should be enough to change history in the direction I want.”

Saying so, Hyu raised his head, and his gaze turned towards Mirinae’s Projection seated before him.

“Now, there’s no need for this body to provide the Clues.”

Seeing his gaze, Mirinae, unlike before, did not provide him with the Clues for the Historical Alteration.

She knew it was unnecessary.

Because Lee Hanseong’s Insightful Eye was already telling him how to proceed with this Historical Alteration.

“I realized one thing while taking the Heavenly Demon Medallion Trial.”

“What was it?”

“That you shouldn’t just hide behind a Black Curtain.”

Lee Hanseong spoke as if to Hyu.

“If necessary, you must be able to step forward yourself to climb higher.”

Therefore, Lee Hanseong intended to go outside the Reverse World, even if it was for Hyu’s 5-Star Promotion Completion.

The problem was Hyu.

Hyu’s will was refusing to go outside the Reverse World.

This was because the history from 2-Star to completing the 4-Star promotion already had a tendency towards seclusion.

Shiver.

A reaction acknowledging the necessity to go out but having no intention to go out personally upon Lee Hanseong’s words.

Anticipating this, Lee Hanseong chose an alternative plan.

“Then, what about going out not directly, but through an automaton?”

Nod.

“Good.”

To others, it might look like he was asking and nodding to himself.

But the negotiation between Lee Hanseong and Hyu had been concluded.

Zing.

First, he connected the Reverse World to a random space using Spatial Connection and gathered materials.

[<Primordial Chaos Gang Qi> links <Prayer of the Phoenix> and <Black shadow envoy>.]

Wood, stone, ore, gems, leather, etc.

The threads of shadow stealthily extended gathered materials without hesitation.

He didn’t care if they had owners.

No, rather, having owners made him feel his Identity as a thief was stronger, which was even better.

“This seems like enough materials.”

“Ah…”

Only when Mirinae intervened around the time about half the space of the Reverse World was filled with materials did he stop the ‘Position Shift’ of the materials.

Influenced by Hyu’s pride at seemingly catching up to his Master, he had gathered materials a bit excessively.

Well, it’s still better to have too much than too little.

[<Supreme Crafting> crafts a Mechanical Automaton.]

Chwarararak- Kkirik- Sakak, Deulgeureok, Cheolgeok!

Using bundles of Black shadow envoys as hands, he performed hundreds of types of work simultaneously.

In an instant, an automaton so realistic it was indistinguishable from a real person was created.

“The foundation is done with this…”

He then moved on to the next task.

Raising one hand as if covering his face, he activated Hyu’s new Skill <Mask: Persona>.

Shuwaak.

He materialized a mask copying Hyu’s personality.

Dak- Sweek.

Removing the pure white mask created over his face, he placed it on the automaton’s blank face.

While activating <All Things Control> towards the automaton.

Sreureuk-

The mask’s form seeping into the automaton’s face.

Blink.

The next moment, Lee Hanseong could naturally move two bodies, as if deploying the Yang Will Divine Art.

It was the moment Hyu’s Treasure Vessel ‘External Incarnation’ was completed.

Because the mask was based on Hyu’s personality, the automaton side had Hyu’s will more distinct than Lee Hanseong’s.

But ultimately, since Hyu and Lee Hanseong were now practically one, there wasn’t much difference.

“Now, sending it off.”

He said while touching one of Hyu’s Connection Points, the one close to his origin—his Master’s Connection Point.

Tuk. Hwaak.

The current situation of his Master unfolding before his eyes.

Currently, his Master was being pursued by someone.

A pursuit by powerful individuals even his Master, who had earned the epithet of Great thief, could not ignore.

“Master!”

Hyu, dwelling in the automaton, shouted with an urgent expression.

Seeing that, he could understand why Hyu’s Master had to hastily leave Ranpel.

And why Hyu never returned until he died and became a Spirit.

Zing.

Even before Lee Hanseong connected the space there, the automaton-side Hyu opened the door first.

Tat. Sreureuk.

And then, deploying the Prayer of the Phoenix, he vanished in a flash into the space where his Master was.

* * *

Hyu’s Master, the Great thief known as the Shadowless Divine Thief on the Arthalia Continent, Arsen Guild, was sensing death.

Because the pursuit that had continued since he stole the sacred artifacts of prestigious Clans had reached a point where it could no longer be avoided.

‘To think the elites of the Four Great Martial Sects would gather like this just to catch little old me. Huh, should I call this an honor?’

The Plum Blossom Swordsman of the ‘Mount Hua Sect’.

The Dark Monk of the ‘Black Forest Temple’.

The Dragon Palace Guard of the ‘Haedong Sect’.

And even the Moonlit Wanderer of the ‘Ronin Society’.

Each was at the Peak (4-Star) or above, and the leaders guiding them were all masters who had reached the Super-Peak (5-Star). The pursuit by elites from prestigious sects was tenacious.

“Sniff sniff. Over there!”

“Traces of the Shadowless Divine Thief found over there! After him!”

The Moonlit Wanderers, using their unique werewolf sense of smell to read the scent of the very energy blocking traces and chasing him.

Woong- Woong- Woong- Woong-

“Do not stop operating the Thirty-Six Wave Sword Formation (RADAR)! Even if the Divine Thief’s Martial Arts ignore our detection, as long as he has a limit to his Internal Energy, he cannot maintain that Martial Art forever!”

“Numbers are on our side. The one who can hold out longer is us!”

The Dragon Palace Guards of the Haedong Sect, constantly spreading wave-like energy pulses like radar to maintain a wide detection network.

As they said, the Grand Thief’s Ultimate Art he had been deploying to evade detection was also nearing its limit.

Sreureuk. Woong-.

Before his Internal Energy was completely depleted, he climbed onto a rugged mountain peak, released the Ultimate Art, and began Circulating Qi.

He felt the energy pulses of the Dragon Palace Guards, which had only passed through him until now, sweep over him and return, but he ignored it.

There was no point in running further anyway.

If he was going to make a last desperate struggle, it was better to recover as much Internal Energy as possible.

Sitting in the Lotus Position, how much had he recovered?

“Was this all the distance you fled? Patron.”

Finally, the Dark Elf monks of the Black Forest Temple had followed Arsen to the peak where he was positioned.

“Where are the stolen items? If you speak willingly, we will reduce your punishment to severing the limbs’ main Veins and destroying the Dantian.”

“…….”

Arsen did not answer the Dark Monk’s question.

He only focused on buying time and quickly recovering his Internal Energy.

But the Dark Monks did not just watch Arsen’s recovery.

“If you truly will not speak… it doesn’t matter. We can ask your corpse after you die. Attack!”

Among the Black Forest Temple’s Seventy-Two Demonic Seed Ultimate Arts, there was said to be a necromancy art that controls the dead.

It seemed there was a way to find the answer even if Arsen died.

Flash!

Having no choice, Arsen finished Circulating Qi and opened his eyes, a gleam of energy flashing in both eyes.

Sreureuk!

Immediately after, the Grand Thief’s Ultimate Art unfolded, and Arsen’s Divine Form completely escaped the Dark Monks’ Perception.

Just as he was about to leave the spot with the determination that he must not die where the Dark Monks were.

A smoky scent blowing from somewhere tickled Arsen’s nostrils.

“Do you think we’ll let you escape again!”

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect, guided by the Moonlit Wanderers and Dragon Palace Guards, had arrived.

Whoosh!

The Plum Blossom Swordsmen, famous for their volcanic temperaments, began pouring blackening flames from their sword tips.

The soot left in the wake of the swords as if painting the void black.

Explosions followed.

Boom! Kwaboom! Kwakkwakkwaboom!

“Plum Blossom Eruption!”

“Plum Blossom Scent Across Ten Thousand Miles!”

The smoky scent filled the air like a volcanic eruption, and explosions shook the mountain peak.

Although Arsen diverted the impact with the Grand Thief’s Ultimate Art that selectively interacted.

“Cough.”

Not only had his barely recovered Internal Energy hit rock bottom, but damage to his true energy was unavoidable.

“Now! Kill him!”

Just as the elites of the Four Great Martial Sects gathered there rushed to kill Arsen, who had revealed himself again.

Pat.

Through Spatial Connection, Hyu’s External Incarnation jumped out in front of Arsen.

“I’ve come to save you, Master.”

“You… are you really Hyu?”

The Master’s eyes wavered as he recognized his disciple.

The last Hyu he saw was at best a First-Class (3-Star) level.

But the disciple before him now was not lacking even compared to him.

In some aspects, he seemed even more outstanding.

“Judging by the look of it, that patron seems to be a disciple of the Shadowless Divine Thief?”

The elites of the Four Great Martial Sects also paused for a moment at the sudden appearance of a Super-Peak master.

“If you intend to save the Shadowless Divine Thief, please do not say our hands are merciless towards you.”

Soon, it seemed they judged that with their forces, adding one more Super-Peak opponent wouldn’t be a problem, and they began their attack again.

However, this place had already become a stage for the fate Hyu was directing.

‘Master’s death cannot be changed. But I can make Master’s life continue even after death.’

As befitting the elites of the Four Great Martial Sects, superb Martial Arts unfolded from their hands.

Before that, all Hyu could do was draw their attention.

“I will save Master by offering this body!”

Deploying Geass to draw out power, Hyu’s External Incarnation, with Arsen on his back, rampaged.

As per the fate he directed, precarious evasions and escapes continued, prolonging the time he and his Master were together.

Although it might have been a short time in reality, their perceived duration felt very long.

Hwaaa-

In the process, Arsen’s will and Hyu’s will connected.

And the Grand Thief’s Ultimate Art, which he had been unable to properly pass on before due to his own inadequacy, was finally fully transmitted.

[Conditions met. Unique Skill <???> Blooms into <Phase Shift>.]

Selective interaction was merely the result.

Its principle was ultimately the core of constantly modulating phase.

If each type of existence has a corresponding frequency.

When interacting with an opponent, shift to a phase frequency matching theirs.

When ignoring interaction, shift to a phase frequency different from theirs.

The moment he realized that, all conditions were met.

Thud!

The death of Master and disciple, delayed by Fate Direction but inevitable, arrived.

However, since the death of the External Incarnation inhabited by Hyu was merely a false death.

Even at the moment the automaton stopped, Hyu focused solely on stealing Arsen’s mask.

‘Not just copying the personality, but stealing the entire soul, everything!’

It would have been impossible with just <Mask: Persona>, but with the addition of <Phase Shift>, <Spirit Particle Manipulation>, <Primordial Chaos Gang Qi>, and <All Things Control>.

Pahat.

He could transform Arsen’s intact soul into a mask and bring it to the Reverse World.

Lee Hanseong carefully placed Arsen’s mask on another automaton he had prepared using the overflowing materials.

Sreureuk.

A moment later, Arsen awakened in the automaton’s body.

Seeing his Master, who could now continue a second life evading the eyes of fate through the death of his flesh and the soul’s Transition to an automaton, a smile naturally formed.

It was a smile born from Hyu’s joy.

[Feat, ‘Steal a Soul from Fate and Death’ achieved.]

[The Lunar Constellation records your Feat and Altered history.]

[Fifth Awakening Skill 《Ten Thousand Phenomena Theft》 Blooms.]

[Hyoo Guild’s 5-Star Promotion is completed.]

Thus, the 5-Star Promotion was completed… but Hyu’s Historical Alteration did not end.

A Historical Alteration for the 6-Star Promotion Completion continued, even without consuming a separate Feat.

‘As expected, a Divine Artifact of Myth grade substitutes for consuming a Feat one more time.’

He didn’t know if twice was the limit or if it would continue further, but up to this point was as expected.