Chapter 149 – Maya

Upon hearing Maya’s laughter, it felt as dizzying and disorienting as when he had been enchanted by the Yokai Fox in the past.

Even though his mental protection was much stronger than back then, this level of effect likely meant her Authority, [Dream Chaos], was imbued in her voice.

Naturally harboring antipathy, Lee Hanseong fiercely replied.

“What trick is this?”

―Hehe… A trick, you say? I merely wish to converse with the one who summoned me.

Though her tone was self-deprecating, it only made his wariness surge even more.

―Do not be so guarded, Steward. Maya likely bears no ill intent.

At Mirinae’s words that followed, Lee Hanseong realized he was mistaken.

His wariness, which faded at an unnaturally rapid pace at Mirinae’s voice gently trying to soothe him.

The change was far too abrupt to be simply because he trusted Mirinae.

‘Ah… So the time has finally come.’

[As the Constellation Name of the Chaos Constellation is unlocked, the Constellation Authority [Chaos] is opened.]

There was no longer any part obscured by Mirinae’s Constellation Name.

With all three Aspects of the Trinity that formed the Constellation now awakened, Mirinae’s Grade had finally reached the level of a complete Constellation.

The moment he feared had arrived sooner than expected.

Crack—

A sound, as if a rift was forming within his inner self holding Mirinae, seemed to be heard.

As fear rapidly grew, the fear-based Inner Demon seated in his Mental Image was also gradually increasing its influence.

―Fear not. This one also has no intention of leaving the Steward yet.

Fortunately, his fear was suppressed, almost forcibly, by Mirinae’s words.

But the question still remained.

How exactly did Mirinae intend to maintain the Constellation Descent in this situation?

If she simply forced the Descent to continue, the only outcome for Lee Hanseong would be the collapse of his Vessel, wouldn’t it?

―Hehe, that’s precisely why you need me right now.

As if reading Lee Hanseong’s doubt, Maya interjected.

It was the moment she activated the Authority of Dream Chaos within the loosened constraints of Causality, having regained the Grade of a complete Constellation.

Fwoosh—

In an instant, the surroundings distorted into countless bubbles and scattered light, as if submerged deep underwater.

The Dream Threads of Dream Chaos were invading reality, blurring the boundary between dream and reality.

Around them, countless bubbles reflected countless versions of Lee Hanseong, as if a kaleidoscope had unfolded.

“That’s… me?”

―Precisely, it’s Hanseong-ssi from parallel worlds that chose different Branch Points.

The wisdom of the Constellation drilled into his mind, forcibly making him understand Maya’s words.

If the Authority of Primordial Chaos was the linkage of all phenomena, and the Authority of Primordial Fusion was the maintenance of purity,

then the core of Dream Chaos’s Authority was the derivation of Branch Points that should not exist.

Suddenly, the four Constellations of the Heavenly Palace connected to the Primordial Fusion Constellation came to mind.

‘Steel, Center, Yeto, Wind.’

Steel creates new matter.

Center creates new concepts.

Yeto creates new life.

Wind creates new destiny.

Although the Domains they governed differed slightly, the Domains of all four Constellations belonged to the branch of Creation.

Ultimately, it wouldn’t be wrong to view Maya’s Dream Chaos, which stands above them, as an Authority related to Creation as well.

Whoooosh—

Countless Branch Points flashed before Lee Hanseong’s eyes.

But within all those Branch Points, the outcome he desired did not exist.

Even if some parts progressed as he wished, ultimately, every Branch Point led only to the conclusion of releasing the Constellation Descent.

Yet, Lee Hanseong was not worried.

“If the desired result doesn’t exist, you just have to create it.”

―You understand well.

This observation of Branch Points was merely a Fragment of Dream Chaos.

As understood earlier, the true power of Dream Chaos’s Authority was to gather the best observed from each Branch Point and create a new, originally impossible Branch Point.

From the moment Dream Chaos was activated, the spacetime he was in was in an undetermined state where nothing was yet decided, so there was plenty of time.

It was similar to how time stops in reality when Historical Alteration is activated.

This was the world of Dream Chaos, detached from reality.

―Shall we begin, then?

Swish—

Maya’s Projection, which had appeared beside him unnoticed, gently brushed the bubbles reflecting the Branch Points with a soft touch,

and began bringing over the achievements made differently in each Branch Point, one by one, to form a new Branch Point.

[<Supreme Crafting (Innate)> + <Special Crafting (Innate)> = <Magnum Opus (Legendary)>]

From one Branch Point, he brought a Legendary Grade crafting Skill that evolved Non’s crafting ability by another level.

[<Shadow God Projection (Legendary)> + <Avatar (Legendary)> = <Avatar Descent (Myth)>]

Based on that, he ‘crafted’ a Myth Skill capable of completely drawing out even the roots of the Inner Demons remaining within him into reality.

[<Full Devotion (Innate)> + <Virtual Degenerate Furnace (Innate)> = <Overdrive (Legendary)>]

From another Branch Point, he brought a Legendary Skill combining Hanna and Blundell’s Skills, allowing him to pour out his full power at any time.

[<Shrinking Earth (Legendary)> + <Form Exchange (Legendary)> = <Appear and Vanish Like a Ghost (Myth)>]

Based on Overdrive’s output, he combined Form Exchange and Pheidippides’s Shrinking Earth to create a Myth Grade movement Skill.

“What exactly are you trying to do?”

Seeing only this far, Maya’s intent was not yet understood.

But as she brought over a few more of Lee Hanseong’s existing Legendary and Myth Skills afterward, the larger picture she was drawing gradually began to appear.

<Reincarnation: Ouroboros>.

<Indestructible Diamond>.

<All Things Are Impermanent>.

<Golden Divine Realm>.

<All-Seeing Eye>.

<Avatar Descent>.

<Appear and Vanish Like a Ghost>, and others.

A kind of network formed by linking Lee Hanseong’s Skills, into which Duren’s five Myth Skills were fitted along with Reversal and Synthesis of Opposites.

Centered around Supreme Under Heaven.

“Ah…!”

Whoosh—

For a moment, the form of a giant golden Buddha statue seemed to flicker before his eyes.

“So this was the goal…!”

The All-Seeing Eye could be seen as the Divine Eye, the Ear of Heaven, and Mind Reading; Avatar Descent and Appear and Vanish Like a Ghost as Divine Travel.

Reincarnation: Ouroboros as Knowledge of Past Lives; All Things Are Impermanent as the End of Outflows.

The Golden Constellation’s interpretation of seeing the essence of the world with the mind connects to the Buddhist Yogacara philosophy.

[Keyword ‘Buddha’ is unlocked!]

As the Buddha’s Six Supernatural Powers corresponded with Lee Hanseong’s Skills, they led Duren’s Divinity toward a new possibility.

Even though Duren had not yet obtained Hongye’s Divinity, that was also not a problem.

―Hehe…

Swoosh—

With Maya’s touch, she simply needed to find a Branch Point from a parallel world where Hongye’s Divinity was obtained and bring over that possibility.

Of course, Divinity brought over in this way would violate Causality, so once Dream Chaos’s Authority ended and they returned to reality, they would inevitably face the Backlash of Causality.

‘But the Constellation couldn’t have not considered that either.’

Maya’s grand design also included a countermeasure for this.

Chiii—

From a Branch Point where he had acquired Rough’s First Awakening Skill <Causal Disturbance> as a Skill through Soul Imprint, she brought over the result.

[<Causal Disturbance (Legendary)> + <Rule Manipulation (Legendary)> = <Fate Binding: Gleipnir (Myth)>]

She then combined it again with Rule Manipulation to manifest it in the form of Odin’s Divine Artifact, Gleipnir, which had once bound Fenrir’s fate.

Since Lee Hanseong had already witnessed its complete form, reproducing it wasn’t too difficult.

If it was a Myth Skill of the Wind Path that bound the fate that bound oneself in reverse, it could block the Backlash of Causality to some extent.

With this, there were no longer any obstacles to completing Duren’s Authority.

―Let’s finish with this.

Along with Maya’s voice announcing the end of Dream Chaos.

Clackclackclackclackclack—

[Conditions met. Duren’s Authority begins to Bloom.]

[The Innate Authority, [Great Sun Tathagata Sword], is imprinted upon the world.]

Fwoosh—

Duren’s Authority was completed.

[Great Feat, ‘Innate Authority Composition’ achieved.]

[The Golden Constellation records a new Divine Spirit’s name.]

[Duren Spirit is granted the Challenge Right for an Apostle.]

It was the moment he Awakened as a complete True God.

* * *

Blink.

As Dream Chaos’s Authority ended, the dream-like scenery vanished as if washed away, like waking from a Daydream.

But everything he had just experienced was not a dream.

For Duren was still a True God bearing an Authority.

Crackle—

As the Divinity of Hongye brought from another parallel world clashed with the Hongye Divinity present here, an ominous sound came from the sky as if the Backlash of Causality was about to blow in.

“Gleipnir.”

Clank!

As he unfurled the prepared Gleipnir as planned, the sound ceased.

Of course, even this wouldn’t hold for long.

“I don’t intend to hold it for long either.”

Hum— Fwabababam!

Unfolding Avatar Descent, he completely descended even the roots of the Inner Demons remaining within him onto the Avatar projected into the Golden Divine Realm and prepared Duren’s Authority.

The Great Sun Tathagata of the Great Sun Tathagata Sword he obtained was also known as Vairocana Buddha.

A being existing at the center of the universe, not only creating and governing all things in the universe but also considered the supreme deity of Buddhism.

Thanks to the Myth Skills close to the sun that Duren possessed, he gained the Identity of a being more fundamental than an ordinary Buddha.

Although it held solar attributes, since the sun and gold originally belonged to the same Primordial Chaos, it could be seen as an Identity very fitting for Duren, who aimed to become an Apostle of the Golden Constellation.

Due to that Identity, which became the material for the Authority and later Duren’s Stigma, subtle changes also occurred in Duren’s five Myth Skills.

<Single Heaven Star Track> remained the same.

But <Binding Rope Golden Core> changed to 《Great Sun Radiance》, the light of the Great Sun Tathagata.

<Life-Severing Asura> changed to 《Immovable Wisdom King》, the wrathful manifestation of the Great Sun Tathagata.

<Solar Divine Art> changed to 《Vairocana Divine Art》, containing the characteristics of the Great Sun Tathagata.

<Supreme Under Heaven> expanded in scope, changing to 《”Above Heaven, Under Heaven, I Alone Am the Honored One”》.

“Before the Buddha, Inner Demons are no different from shadows before the sun.”

Amidst this, Lee Hanseong resonated Duren’s Authority with the perception of the Primordial Divine Realm and drew the Great Sun Tathagata Sword.

[Vanish.]

Whoosh—

As Great Sun Radiance erupted through the Great Sun Tathagata Sword, Lee Hanseong’s Avatars corresponding to the seven Inner Demons manifested in the Primordial Divine Realm instantly vanished without a trace.

They didn’t hide somewhere or evade; they were completely Annihilated.

It was the moment he had broken through all the Asura Three Thousand Gates.

Hum—

Only then did Hongye’s Divinity transfer to Duren, replacing the Hongye Divinity brought from the parallel world via Dream Chaos.

“It’s… over.”

Lee Hanseong let out a sigh, confirming that even the Backlash of Causality bound by Gleipnir had completely disappeared.

During Divine Possession of Duren, who had become a True God, Constellation Descent wouldn’t be a major issue either.

For Duren, as a True God, would bear the Starlight exceeding Lee Hanseong’s Vessel instead.

But it was still too early to relax.

Thudthudthudthudthud!

As the Hongye Divinity, the source of the erosion, was digested, the dimensional distance between the Arthalia Continent and East Asia on Earth was increasing.

It was about time to return to Earth.

[Assemble.]

Fwabababam!

Using Colonization to connect with the party outside, he summoned them by linking <Appear and Vanish Like a Ghost> and <Spatiotemporal Theft>.

“Let’s go back now.”

Lycan in the western wastelands.

Yu Sehee in the southern volcano.

Park Seongcheol in the northern Black Forest.

Jin Yuseong and Park Jincheol in the eastern three islands.

Not only those who were outside, but also the other Earthlings sealed in the Reverse World contained within Hyu’s External Incarnation, he checked without forgetting.

“Ready to go back?”

“Yeah, we have enough power to face the Apostles now.”

After pondering Jin Yuseong’s question for a moment, he nodded.

Mirinae’s recovery as a Constellation was significant.

With the Authorities held by her and the other Aspects of the Constellation, unless the Sun Star King and the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Lord were prepared to completely erase Earth, they wouldn’t dare start a fight recklessly.

Whoooosh—

Having steeled his resolve, Lee Hanseong unfolded the Void Fairy Path leading to Earth.

“Finally going back.”

As Park Jincheol, gazing at the rainbow-colored passage leading to Earth with misty eyes, muttered and began to move his feet as the start,

the entire party began to advance along the Void Fairy Path.

How far did they advance like that?

Finally, with the sensation of crossing the dimensional Boundary Layer, they returned to Earth.

Clank!

As promised, amidst those sealed within Hyu’s External Incarnation being released from the Reverse World,

“Is this… Hallasan?”

After briefly looking around, Park Jincheol voiced the location they had arrived at.

To be precise, the inside of the Baengnokdam basin, the summit of Hallasan, was precisely their return point.