Chapter 154 – Korea-Japan Match

Uung.

The moment Dice Ten disappeared.

The circles of all Divine Spirits except Ares and Ra-Horakhty, who had lost their circles at their feet after being defeated in the previous duels, simultaneously grew slightly larger.

“Is this the Fragment of the Sun that Dice held?”

“More precisely, it seems everyone else equally shared the Fragment that Ra-Horakhty held as well.”

At Pheidippides’s muttering, Park Jincheol added.

Pat.

Then, Hwanin, who was in the Great Vessel seat in front of Park Jincheol, was moved to the dueling arena.

On the opposite side, Japan’s sun goddess Amaterasu was moved to the dueling arena.

[Begin the third duel.]

The will of the Sun Constellation announced the start of the next duel.

“A showdown between Korea’s ethnic god and Japan’s ethnic god. An interesting combination.”

Hwanin was the progenitor of the Korean people, as the grandfather of Dangun Wanggeom, who founded Gojoseon on the Korean Peninsula.

Amaterasu was the progenitor goddess of Japan, as in the Tenson Korin myth, she sent her grandson Ninigi-no-Mikoto down to earth, and his grandson later became the first Japanese emperor, making her the ancestor of the Japanese imperial line.

Meanwhile, after the Great Cataclysm, as the Japanese archipelago was eroded by the Otherworld, conflicts between Korea and Japan did not surface directly, but underlying Korea-Japan tensions had continued.

Even though the country disappeared, since most Japanese refugees came to Korea, large and small conflicts had persisted.

And that history itself influenced the two Divine Spirits, who possessed the nature of ethnic gods.

So the realization of a duel between these two Divine Spirits was only natural.

“Win, Hwanin! Don’t lose to some ethnic god of a fallen nation!”

Park Jincheol cheered for Hwanin and disparaged Amaterasu, but inwardly, he thought this duel would be a difficult fight.

Unless the Japanese archipelago was still eroded by the Otherworld.

Now that Lee Hanseong had saved the Japanese archipelago from Otherworld erosion, Amaterasu had likely regained most of the power she lost when Japan fell.

Moreover, since there is a legend that Amaterasu is an Avatar of the Great Sun Tathagata, the existence of Duren, who gained Divine Rank through the Identity of the Great Sun Tathagata, likely had a significant influence on her.

Ironically, Lee Hanseong’s actions had strengthened even the enemy.

‘Don’t let your guard down. Go all out from the start, Hwanin.’

* * *

The moment the duel began, Hwanin, who heard the true thoughts of his Contractor Park Jincheol, did not let his guard down and exerted his full power from the start.

“Heavenly Thunder!”

Smoothly.

He activated the Authority of [Heaven] and melted into the sky.

It was an evasion technique hiding himself within the sky.

But Amaterasu kept looking at where he was, as if not missing Hwanin hiding behind the sky.

As she murmured softly.

“Go. Yatagarasu.”

The Stigma 《Herald of the Sun》 activated, summoning the Three-Legged Crow.

―Caw!

With a cry and a flap of its wings, the crow soared toward the empty space where Hwanin was.

The bird strike of the Three-Legged Crow, which was essentially the sun itself.

As if a solar bullet was fired from Yatagarasu’s assault, Hwanin responded by creating dark clouds.

Puffy, puffy—

Though not at the level of an Authority like when Chi You’s [War] Authority accompanied it, clouds that could block solar power, which was also not at Authority level, obstructed Yatagarasu’s path.

―Caw?

The cry of Yatagarasu, unable to pierce the curtain of clouds and losing its way within, sounded distant.

Smoothly!

Moreover, the clouds were forming a sphere centered on Yatagarasu, acting like a prison.

But Amaterasu only slightly twitched an eyebrow at her first attack being blocked and immediately continued with the next attack.

“Shine upon it, Yata no Kagami (Eight-Span Mirror).”

The Divine Artifact in the form of a mirror appearing in Amaterasu’s hand, the Yata Mirror, shone upon the clouds imprisoning Yatagarasu.

Flash. Pssss—

The next moment, the gathered clouds scattered on their own, and Yatagarasu regained its freedom.

But Yatagarasu, now free, could not fly up as before.

Jjell-geureong.

The sound of a bell ringing from somewhere had stopped Yatagarasu’s mind.

It was the ability of Hwanin’s Divine Artifact, the Eight Bells, one of the Three Heavenly Regalia.

As Yatagarasu, having stopped flapping its wings, fell toward the ground.

“Slash, Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi (Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven).”

Amaterasu summoned the second of the Three Sacred Treasures, the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, following the Yata Mirror, and swung it toward Hwanin.

“Slash. Heavenly Sword.”

But like a decalcomania, Hwanin also summoned the Heavenly Sword, one of the Three Heavenly Regalia, and swung it toward Amaterasu.

Swaaa—Jjeooeong!

A Slash similar to Single Flash that leaped through space collided between the two Divine Spirits, creating a roar.

Jjeng! Jjeojeojjeng! Jjengjjengjjeng!

Each time they swung their swords at each other from a distance, sparks continuously flew in the empty space between them.

Realizing that swords alone were insufficient for either side to gain an advantage in the brief clash, the two Divine Spirits simultaneously drew their third Divine Artifacts.

“Imprison, Yasakani no Magatama (Eight-Span Curved Jewel).”

“Shine upon it, Danyuseomun Mirror.”

As soon as Amaterasu’s Yasakani no Magatama sealed the power of the Eight Bells that was attacking Yatagarasu’s mind.

Hwanin’s Danyuseomun Mirror shone upon Amaterasu’s Yata Mirror, canceling the powers of the two mirrors.

―Caw!

Thus, Yatagarasu, which was still falling, regained its mind and began flapping its wings again.

And the scattered clouds gathered again, becoming dark clouds.

However, as meteorological weapons began to form from the clouds, Amaterasu changed the sealing target of the Yasakani no Magatama to seal the clouds.

And the Eight Bells, freed from the seal, attacked Yatagarasu’s mind again, causing it to fall.

After that, the similar three Divine Artifacts of the two Divine Spirits clashed several more times, continuing the conflict.

Stubbornly using only the three sacred treasures, as if the side that brought out another ability first would lose, seemed quite childish.

“You myth-stealing wench, how dare you!”

“Tsk! Who are you to say that!”

Pajijijijik!

Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures, which Amaterasu bestowed upon Ninigi-no-Mikoto in the Tenson Korin myth.

Korea’s Three Heavenly Regalia, which Hwanin bestowed upon Hwanung in the Dangun myth.

As the three sacred treasures of the two myths, clearly influenced by each other, failed to determine superiority until the end, the two Divine Spirits now claimed to be the origin of their respective myths and criticized each other.

Their emotional attitude, unbecoming of Divine Spirits, was clearly influenced by the history of conflict accumulated over thousands of years between the two nations.

Uuuuung!

But the more they stubbornly clung to their ethnic god Identities, the more their momentum gradually grew.

Because Divine Spirits with myths from the same region resonated with them and infused them with power.

Kugugugugugu!

First, explosive Divinity like a volcano dwelled within Amaterasu’s sun.

It was the Divinity of Japan’s fire god, Kagutsuchi.

He was the child of Izanagi and Izanami, who gave birth to most of the gods of the Japanese archipelago, including Amaterasu, but he was a god closer to a disaster, as his birth caused Izanami’s death.

Because of this, he has a myth of incurring Izanagi’s wrath and being slain by his sword, the Ame no Ohabari.

However, from his corpse, eight Divine Spirits with the Divine Rank of volcanoes were born.

And from the blood that dripped from the tip of the sword that slew him, the blood on the blade, and the blood on the pattern, another eight Divine Spirits were born.

Takemikazuchi, the god of war in Luke Meyer’s spectator seat, was also one of the Divine Spirits born from Kagutsuchi’s blood that dripped from the blade of the Ame no Ohabari.

Takemikazuchi was a thunder god in charge of swords, archery, and lightning, and also a god of war with a strong Martial God character, belonging to the ‘Amatsukami,’ the heavenly god faction represented by Amaterasu.

Naturally, his Divinity, governing war and lightning, was also flowing into Amaterasu.

Patsutsutsutsutsu!

And now.

Paaaat!

The Divinity of the two Divine Spirits with such myths, Kagutsuchi and Takemikazuchi, formed a Trinity centered on Amaterasu.

All three Divine Spirits were contracted to Luke Meyer, so their three Divinities harmonized skillfully, as if they had done it several times before.

[Amaterasu Omikami.]

Though not at the level of Ra-Horakhty, who gained a fourth beyond the Trinity, the true Divine Name of the Trinity Amaterasu, surpassing ordinary Divine Spirit levels, resonated.

It was a moment when the potential of an existence that could have become a new Constellation as the Main God ruling Takamagahara, the heavenly realm of Japanese mythology, if not forcibly incorporated into the Sun Constellation, briefly Bloomed.

Goooooo!

But receiving Divinity support from other Divine Spirits was the same for Hwanin.

Hwiiiiing—

The Divinity of Park Jincheol, who was Korean-born and contracted with Hwanin, was added to Hwanin’s sky along with the wind.

The problem was that there were no other Divine Spirits connected to Korean mythology present here.

If things continued like this, Hwanin, unable to form a Trinity, had a high chance of losing.

Smoothly.

Pheidippides in the spectator seat stealthily activated an Authority.

‘With the World Tree, I should be able to deceive at least one Divine Spirit outside the sun as if they were inside the sun.’

The Authority of the World Tree connected with the Divinity of a Divine Spirit banished from here.

Namely, the Divinity of Dice, who was banished in the previous duel.

Of course, Dice did not have myths associated with Korea.

Instead, he was a Divine Spirit contracted to Park Seongcheol, the son of Park Jincheol.

U…ung!

Using the close relationship between Contractors as a medium, he created a forced Resonance close to coercion and borrowed Dice’s Divinity through it.

The fact that both Hwanin and Dice were Divine Spirits belonging to Mirinae’s Primordial Chaos was also one of the factors that made this Resonance successful.

Kururururung!

Wind carrying solar heat and lightning taking the form of a sword belonged to Hwanin’s sky, forming a Trinity.

[Hwanin Jeseok.]

Since Hwanin had a myth also equated with Jeseokcheon.

The moment the Divinity of Dice, who Grasped the Divine Rank of a thunder god, was added to his sky, the Identity of Jeseokcheon grew stronger.

Jeseokcheon was also equated with Indra, the thunder god and Main God of Indian mythology, or the Jade Emperor of Taoism, so its Divine Rank held the potential to reach a clear Main God-level Grade.

Hwanin Jeseok, who Bloomed a Fragment of that potential through the Trinity, exhibited a Grade not inferior at all to Amaterasu Omikami.

Kugugugugugugu!

Tsutsutsutsutsutsu!

However, coercion is ultimately just coercion.

‘…I can’t maintain the connection for long. So we need to decide the match quickly.’

Hwanin Jeseok’s Trinity had a time limit.

As if Hwanin Jeseok knew that fact, he combined the Three Heavenly Regalia into one, creating the form of a sword.

Since Dice was also a sword god, the power of the Authority was greatest when using a sword, the most suitable form.

“If you withstand this, victory is yours.”

Authority [Trayastrimsa Heaven].

The summit of Mount Sumeru, ruled by Jeseokcheon, and the second heaven of the Six Desires Heavens.

The order of Trayastrimsa Heaven dwelled within the divine sword formed by the fusion of the Three Heavenly Regalia.

The Sun Deva, representing the sun, is merely one of the Divine Spirits belonging to the Heaven of the Four Heavenly Kings below Trayastrimsa Heaven.

So it was also a power with Attribute Advantage over the sun.

Swaaaak!

A vertical Slash swung lightly from above to below, carrying overwhelming majesty, was drawn toward Amaterasu Omikami.

This was clearly a strike that would bring death even to Amaterasu Omikami if it hit directly.

‘We won!’

The moment those cheering for Hwanin Jeseok Intuited victory.

Amaterasu Omikami fused the Three Sacred Treasures into the form of a mirror representing her and moved to respond.

“Certainly, a dangerous power. If I hadn’t awakened the name Omikami, I might have lost.”

As the mirror’s surface contained immense light akin to the sun, she spoke leisurely.

“However, victory is ultimately mine.”

Authority [Great Sun Tathagata Divine Light].

Flash!

An Authority similar in form to Duren’s Great Sun Tathagata Sword manifested through Amaterasu Omikami’s mirror.

Like Dice’s Counterattack First Strike, it was Slow to emerge, but the ray arrived before Hwanin’s Slash.

“……!”

“No matter how dangerous an attack is, it’s enough to deal with the opponent before it reaches them, right?”

At Amaterasu Omikami’s gentle attitude, Hwanin Jeseok widened his eyes, looked down, glanced at his own chest, and then.

“Cough!”

Seeing the fist-sized hole pierced through his chest, he vomited a handful of bloody Starlight.

Sssssss—

Moreover, the hole was gradually expanding, making recovery impossible.

The moment defeat was confirmed, Hwanin chose a second-best option.

“If I can’t win… I won’t hand over victory either!”

He completed the Slash that was about to be nullified after being hit by the Great Sun Tathagata Divine Light.

Not resisting the Annihilation starting from his chest, leaving only the will to swing the sword.

“Persistent, aren’t you. All just futile effort….”

Flash flash!

The Great Sun Tathagata Divine Light spewed multiple times consecutively from the mirror, erasing even Hwanin Jeseok’s remaining body.

As the arm swinging the sword also vanished, Amaterasu Omikami was certain of victory.

But even though Hwanin Jeseok disappeared, his sword still did not vanish and continued the Slash.

“…Huh? Why?”

Because Hwanin Jeseok’s last will dwelled in the sword, maintaining the Authority of Trayastrimsa Heaven briefly even after Hwanin disappeared.

Flash flash!

The Great Sun Tathagata Divine Light spewed several times to block the sword, but the sword containing the Law of Trayastrimsa Heaven cut through even those rays and finally reached Amaterasu Omikami.

Seokeok!

And only after she was Slashed by Trayastrimsa Heaven did the will of the Sun Constellation announce the match result.

[Winner… none.]

Neither side gained victory. It was a draw.