Chapter 118 – Dragon Extermination Campaign (2)

While Dice was unlocking the Manraesword, Duren hadn’t been idle either.

‘Something… feels like my mind has been cleared.’

Just as with Dice, the 【Spiritual Weapon】 related to the Golden Constellation among the transcendent magic unleashed by the Dragon Slayer Emperor was also imparting some inspiration to Duren.

Moreover, perhaps thanks to Duren previously swallowing the Holy Light Body of Pheidippides, who belongs to the Sun Constellation, to create an inner elixir and obtain the Solar Constitution, the 【Zion Gate】 connected to the Sun Constellation also reacted with him.

Of course, he didn’t have talent on the level of Dice, who was far ahead in his realm, so he couldn’t gain enlightenment to the extent of stepping into the domain of Authority…

‘As extremes meet, they reverse.’

He could fully savor the enlightenment regarding Polarity Reversal corresponding to the Grade inflated to 9-Star.

All the Awakening Skills Duren had obtained and turned into Skills so far flashed through his mind one after another.

Sky Splitter, Single Heaven.

Sun Stab, Rope.

Fate Severing, Absolute Fate.

Zhucheon Star Track.

Supreme One Golden Core.

Life-Severing Asura.

He felt an itching sensation in the structure where Heaven, Sun, and Fate were repeated twice each.

‘Single Heaven and Zhucheon, Rope and Supreme One, Absolute Fate and Life-Severing…’

Couldn’t it be said that the Awakening Skills from the 1st to the 3rd correspond to those from the 4th to the 6th?

The problem is that the 5th and 6th Awakening Skills are Mythic-grade, so their Grade doesn’t match the Legendary-grade 2nd and 3rd Awakening Skills.

For now, he ignored that part and continued his train of thought.

‘Having opposed Heaven, Sun, and Fate, I have now embraced them within myself.’

Through the Grand Heavenly Cycle of the Zhucheon Star Track, he linked the movement of stars to the microcosm.

Through the Supreme One Golden Core, he formed a Golden Core symbolizing the sun.

Through Life-Severing Asura, he obtained an independent fate system and became independent from external fate.

‘That the things I opposed as enemies during my growth process have now become part of me can be seen as a reversal.’

Whoosh!

The positions for the 1st to 3rd Polarity Reversals, which should have derived from Single Heaven, Rope, and Absolute Fate, were filled by the already imprinted 4th to 6th Awakening Skills, and the wall existing within Duren crumbled.

Originally, he would have needed to realize six Polarity Reversals, but Duren only needed to realize half, three Polarity Reversals.

In other words, Duren was in a state where he could immediately challenge 10-Star as soon as he completed his 8-Star Promotion.

And the Grade inflated to 9-Star was sufficient to newly awaken three Polarity Reversals.

Kiiiiiiing!

The speed of the Grand Heavenly Cycle within the Zhucheon Star Track increased endlessly, beginning to advance toward Duren’s first Polarity Reversal.

The Grand Heavenly Cycle, where the Internal Energy that had remained only in the microcosm expanded to the macrocosm through the Zhucheon Star Track, left a track in the heavens and created a specific Law.

In Duren’s case, it was that repeated actions strengthen their effect.

And that Law remained in the heavens like a trace each time the Grand Heavenly Cycle revolved.

‘Polarity Reversal 《Heavenly Net Star Convergence》.’

And the moment the traces of the Grand Heavenly Cycle, densely engraved in the heavens, formed countless concentric circles like an infinite net of circles…

Shooooooosh!

As if gathering a net that had been spread out, all the traces of the Zhucheon Star Track engraved in the heavens were simultaneously swallowed into Duren’s inner self.

The tracks that had filled the heavens of the macrocosm couldn’t possibly be contained within Duren’s insufficient microcosm.

Gooooooo!

Duren’s spirit began to grow larger to bear the power contained within his inner self.

His physical body remained the same for now, but his spirit alone transformed into a giant rivaling Asta.

In fact, if he willed it, he could even metamorphose his physical body into a giant species to match his spirit.

But knowing that completing the 7-Star Promotion like that would end the Historical Alteration, he stopped after only enlarging his spirit and conceived the next Polarity Reversal.

‘Maintaining this state for long will be difficult.’

Because only his spirit had hypertrophied, the strain on his physical body was increasing.

Thanks to the vitality of his Solar Constitution, he was still holding on, but if the expansion of his spirit continued like this, it would be dangerous.

Conversely, it meant that if he just had sufficient vitality, he could hold on a bit longer.

‘Polarity Reversal 《Shell-Breaking Golden Core》.’

Crackle—

He shatters the inner elixir, the source of life that formed his Solar Constitution.

An egg is a world.

One who wishes to be born must break the world.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!!

The explosive vitality contained within the Golden Core overflowed and coursed through Duren’s physical body.

The strain from the hypertrophied spirit decreased considerably.

Of course, since the expansion of his spirit wasn’t over yet, the strain would increase again.

But he bought a little more time.

Kwa-rururururung!

Glancing sideways at the loud noise that rang out, Dice was unleashing the Manraesword around that time.

With his consciousness speed increased proportionally to his hypertrophied spirit, Duren devised the framework for the third Polarity Reversal to coordinate with Dice’s attack.

‘Life-Severing Asura ignores Laws because I myself exist as a separate world with an independent fate distinct from the world’s fate.’

However, even if independent from the ordinary world, compared to the existing world, its Grade is inevitably lacking, so it only manifested as ignoring some parts of the Laws.

But what if he could reverse the superiority between himself and the world…?

Beyond any Law becoming useless before him, he would be able to dominate the world itself.

‘Becoming superior to the entire world alone is impossible. But for a very brief moment, within a limited area, gaining relative superiority is sufficiently possible.’

Using the area reached by the expanded spirit as a framework, he repeatedly detonates the vitality flowing through his physical body, amplifying its quantity momentarily.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!!

Polarity Reversal 《Supreme Under Heaven》.

As the third and final Polarity Reversal unfolded as well, just as expected, the surrounding world began to bow to Duren.

Gooooooo!

The immense energy offered by the world of its own accord condensed into the culmination of the Infinite Single-Heaven Sword Art.

One of the endpoints of the sword, the Natural Sword, was grasped in Duren’s hand.

That was the exact moment Dice shot the [Manraesword] toward the Dragon Slayer Emperor’s [Annihilation Dharma Wheel].

‘That will be a bit lacking.’

Duren’s spirit, which had continued expanding, immediately realized that the Manraesword couldn’t reach the Eternal Magic, the core of the Annihilation Dharma Wheel.

“Leave the next part to me.”

The moment the Manraesword pierced the Annihilation Dharma Wheel and created a gap heading toward the Eternal Magic, he stepped right forward.

And so, at present.

Before the gap could recover, Duren swung the Natural Sword toward the now-exposed Eternal Magic.

Chwaaaaaaak!!

A strike that wielded nature itself as a sword!

Jjang-geurang!

With a sound like shattering glass, the Eternal Magic was destroyed.

“Well done!”

Kwang-kwang-kwang-kwang-kwang!!

Asta’s [Star-Shattering Fist], not missing that moment, shattered the Annihilation Dharma Wheel.

Once the balance of the two opposing Authorities tilted, the outcome was decided in an instant.

Pa-sa-sa-sa-sa!

Not only the Annihilation Dharma Wheel, but the 4-dimensional Magic Circle that had been activating 16 types of transcendent magic shattered into pieces.

And subsequently, even the Dragon Slayer Emperor seated on the throne was swept away by the Star-Shattering Fist and annihilated.

For the Dragon Slayer Emperor, a mage-type, once his Authority was overwhelmed, there was no way to block the Star-Shattering Fist, so it was an inevitable result.

Whoooosh—

And so, as the Dragon Extermination Campaign ended, the deferred Feat settlement for the Subjugation Force began.

* * *

Thanks to the 12 types of transcendent magic related to the Twelve Constellations that the Dragon Slayer Emperor had unleashed, the Dragon Extermination Campaign had entered the sight of all Twelve Constellations.

Thus, even though it was a different continent, their Promotions proceeded without issue.

“Ah, it’s really over.”

[Feat, ‘Sanctuary Declaration’ has been achieved.]

[The Brilliance Constellation records Hanna Bright’s Feat and altered history.]

[6th Awakening Skill 《Sanctuary: Sanctuary》 Blooms.]

[Hanna Bright’s 6-Star Promotion is completed.]

[The Historical Alteration related to Hanna Bright concludes.]

Pat.

Hanna’s Promotion completed first, and the Epicenter’s Jewel returned to reality.

“Everyone has worked hard.”

Through the same Feat, Beatus also Awakened as a 7-Star Angel, just as the previous Pope had, and the Historical Alteration concluded.

Yu Sehee, who had been Spirit Possessing him, was the first to depart from the records of history.

Sleuuurp—

Of course, since time in reality stops during a Historical Alteration.

She will awaken in reality after the Joint Historical Alteration is completely over.

Paaat.

Next, Dice, who had been Spirit Possessed by Park Seongcheol, unlike a typical Sun Kingdom knight, did not become a High Elf but became an Immortal, like Earth’s Spirits or Awakened.

“He’s not a High Elf.”

Since Dice had unlocked Authority without reaching 11-Star, he had achieved Feats sufficient to supply Divinity alone without needing to become a High Elf.

Moreover, having already unlocked Authority, he was 7-Star but his actual combat power was equivalent to 10-Star.

One could say he was in a state where he could soar to 11-Star in one go if he just filled his lacking amount of Divinity.

Anyway, Dice’s Historical Alteration also ended here, and Park Seongcheol’s Spirit Possession ended like Yu Sehee’s.

“Kkeuk, Kwaaaa!”

Puhahahahahak!

Recalling the moment Andrei became a giant in the past, Duren grew his physical body to match his still-expanding spirit and sublimated into a celestial body.

Only after his spirit grew to a level capable of enduring the net of the Heavenly Net Star Convergence did he stop his physical growth and complete his evolution into a giant.

[Feat, ‘Sword’s Pinnacle: Natural Sword’ has been achieved.]

[The Golden Constellation records Duren Spirit’s Feat and altered history.]

[Duren Spirit’s 7-Star Promotion is completed.]

……

Subsequently, as the Extreme Seal of Yato left the Infinite Single-Heaven Sword Art, Duren’s Historical Alteration also ended.

Finally, Asta, who had defeated an 11-Star True God and proved the Grade of a True God, was also recorded as a complete 11-Star in our world, and the Historical Alteration concluded.

Jin Yuseong, who had been Spirit Possessing him, also departed from the records like the other two before him.

Thus, with all members of the Dragon Extermination Subjugation Force having their Historical Alterations concluded.

Jijijijik—!

The Dragon Extermination Subjugation Force, with the power of Alteration gone, disappeared from the Ark.

It seemed they had returned to the Sky Island of Arcadia where their Constellations were.

Sssssss….

As they disappeared, the Sanctuary that had covered the Ark also vanished.

The Transcendent Species of the Empire, who had been bound by the Sanctuary, regained their freedom.

Chaos due to the Emperor’s death would soon engulf this place.

“Ah, then I’ll take my leave as well.”

Rough, who hated complicated aftermaths, gave a short greeting to Alter and signaled to Lee Hanseong that he was leaving.

With Asta gone, the danger of being influenced by Alter’s presence arose again, so he had no intention of staying here long.

Pat!

As soon as Lee Hanseong created a Path of the Fairies leading to the location where he would obtain the next Singularity, Rough left the Ark without hesitation.

Watching him, Alter also quietly left his spot.

With his head filled with thoughts of recording the history he had witnessed this time.

* * *

The place Rough arrived at next, following the Path of the Fairies, was the Arthalia Continent.

Specifically, it was the record of Blundell Violet from the most past point in time.

His era was a time when Asura, the Singularity of the Arthalia Continent, ran rampant.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh.

Rough, who had transformed into an identity suitable for the Arthalia Continent through Dual Identity within the Path of the Fairies, set foot in the volcanic region of southern Arthalia.

Step.

As could be seen from the martial arts uniform with flame patterns that Rough was wearing, his identity this time was the Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Mount Hua Sect.

“Emergency! Intruder detected! Estimated martial prowess at Life-Death Realm or above!”

“Could it be that Asura is targeting us? The intruder’s location?”

“The presence is too large to pinpoint!”

“First, summon the Elder of the Dark Star Sect! Hurry!”

And the Mount Hua Sect, one of the four great martial sects of the Arthalia Murim where he had arrived, was currently in great turmoil.

It seemed to be due to an unidentified intruder roaming the volcanic region: Blundell.

Blundell’s True Body Grade was merely 3-Star, and even adding the applied Second Stage Transcendence from reality, he was only 5-Star.

But while wearing the Formless Sword Demon Armor, he exhibited a Grade at the 10-Star level, so their reaction was understandable.

Tatadatada!

Rough discreetly followed behind a Plum Blossom Swordsman running urgently and moved, then naturally slipped away to one side.

He intended to follow his divination to meet Blundell.

“This time, the calamity I’ll have to fight doesn’t seem to be 11-Star like the Dragon Slayer Emperor, but…”

To defeat Asura, he needed the power of Blundell, who possessed the Formless Sword Demon Armor.

According to his divination, which had become more refined after witnessing the miracle of revelation Beatus had unfolded, the Asura of this era had surpassed the long realm of the Profound Realm (7~9-Star) and reached the Life-Death Realm (10-Star).

Fortunately, in this Historical Alteration, Blundell obtained the Formless Sword Demon Armor and could exert power at the 10-Star Rank.

“Oh dear?”

But Rough, who had divined Blundell’s location, couldn’t help but tilt his head at the unexpected result.

The Path of the Fairies should have brought him near the era and place where Blundell was, but his divination couldn’t find Blundell at all.

What Rough didn’t know was that this was because the Heart Sword combined with the 《Barrier of Solitude》 that Blundell constantly maintained blocked divination detection.

“Hmm. If direct detection is blocked… how about indirect search?”

After being troubled for a moment, Rough soon cast his divination in a different way, then smiled brightly as if he got a good result and moved somewhere.

Not specifying Blundell, but heading in a direction that would bring fortune to Rough himself.