Chapter 160 – Heavenly Demon Descends, Ten Thousand Demons Submit

Before Hans’s Historical Alteration that sent him to the era where Asura existed, he was confronting Qliphoth while possessed by Mara Paphiyas.

And as the 5-Star Promotion was completed and Hans’s Historical Alteration ended, he returned to the moment he was confronting Qliphoth.

“One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation, deploy!”

“““Deploy!!!”””

BABABABABAT!

Hans’s current Historical Alteration began with him surrounded by the Black Forest Temple’s One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation.

The opponents were a 10-Star Rank formation composed of 108 Seven-Star Death Elves, no different from what Park Seongcheol faced in the future timeline.

In contrast, Hans, thanks to the Blessing of Transcendence applied at the start of this Historical Alteration, had risen to 6-Star and evolved from a Death Knight to a 6-Star Undead Doom Knight.

It was a precarious situation where he was outmatched not only in individual Grade but also in numbers.

“One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation… It is not lacking to be This Throne’s opponent.”

Yet, Hans maintained a rather leisurely attitude.

The fragment of Mara Paphiyas he harbored, the Heavenly Demon Soul, also gave him immense confidence.

Although the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword had disappeared, the Heavenly Demon Medallion had become the Heavenly Demon Divine Medallion and was still with him in this Historical Alteration.

“…Heavenly Demon Descends, Ten Thousand Demons Bow.”

The equipment Skill that evolved from Legendary to Mythical once again summoned Mara Paphiyas into Hans’s body.

FWOOOOOSH!!!

Hans’s Grade soared instantly to a level surpassing the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation.

However, even though a True God, a Heavenly Demon, had possessed the body, the initiative over the body still remained with Hans.

Thanks to the Mythical-grade “Heavenly Demon Descends, Ten Thousand Demons Bow” evolving in a way that maintained the user’s initiative while only bringing the Heavenly Demon’s Grade and power.

“Kneel.”

Thud. KUUUUNG!

And following that, the Heavenly Demon’s Sovereign Stride from the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

The One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation staggered under the rapidly applied pressure.

Yet, though seeming about to collapse, the Death Elves did not fall.

Srrrrr…

Qliphoth was extending branches, aiding the coordination of the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation.

In response, Hans tried to take another step forward to intensify the pressure, but…

The opponent’s counterattack came first.

PABABABABABANG!

The One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation consisted of six Eighteen Arhat Formations.

And the six Death Elves serving as the axes of those Eighteen Arhat Formations unleashed the Black Forest Temple’s myth, the Hundred-Step Divine Fist, striking through space-time to pound Hans’s body.

An attack imbued with the ability to temporarily seal not only the physical body but also the flow of Internal Energy.

The moment his body, which was about to step forward, stiffened from the impact.

“Strike!”

SHASHASHASHAK—

The Death Elves near Hans all rushed in like shadows simultaneously, thrusting with staffs made from Qliphoth’s branches.

Their staffs contained a power similar to the Hundred-Step Divine Fist, temporarily sealing the body and Internal Energy.

PABABABABABAK!

Every time the stiffness was about to wear off, the impacts pounding his entire body left him unable to steady himself.

Crunch— Crack— Snap!

Muscles tore, bones broke.

But the Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture instantly repaired the damage incurred.

“Haha, refreshing.”

“How… our temple’s Reverse Tendon Scripture?”

The Death Elves, recognizing the traces of the Reverse Tendon Scripture, revealed their bewilderment.

Though bewildered, it was commendable that their attacks did not cease.

Rather, their attacks were leading to Hans’s Body Reformation.

[Conditions met. <Heavenly Demon Constitution (Unique)> blooms.]

A constitution fitting the various elements Hans possessed was formed.

The Heavenly Demon Soul, the Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, the “Heavenly Demon Descends, Ten Thousand Demons Bow,” and even the Heavenly Demon’s Identity.

Naturally, the constitution that bloomed was the Heavenly Demon Constitution.

However, it didn’t end with the Heavenly Demon Constitution.

Wooong!

[<Heavenly Demon Constitution (Unique)> + <Heavenly Demon Soul (Unique)> = <Heavenly Demon Dharma Form>]

As if the Heavenly Demon Soul and Heavenly Demon Constitution were one from the beginning, they merged.

Gooooooo!

Soon, a massive Illusory Form, seemingly blending Mara Paphiyas and Asura, appeared above Hans.

A new Mental Image of the Heavenly Demon imprinted on Hans’s inner self during the battle between Asura and the Heavenly Demon.

It was the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form.

Thud-thud-thud-thud—

From the moment the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form appeared, the attacks of the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation no longer reached Hans.

Because all attacks were blocked before the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form.

Freed from the stiffness, Hans spoke with a proud smile.

“Thanks to you, This Throne could reveal its true form. As a token of gratitude, I shall show you one move.”

As soon as his words ended.

Wheeeeeeng!

Inside the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form, red and blue lines resembling acupoints or blood vessels lit up like a net.

Pat.

In the hand of the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form, Hans’s Treasure Vessel, the Heaven-Slaying Sword, was manifested through Sword Unification, enlarged to a size fitting the Dharma Form.

After the Heaven-Slaying Sword’s Heaven-Slaying energy, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art’s Heavenly Demon Gang Qi, and even the Reverse Heavenly Demon energy from <Heaven Breaker>—all the various energies Hans possessed—mixed and enveloped the Heaven-Slaying Sword.

Swish!

The lightly swung sword severed all the branches connecting the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation and Qliphoth.

[Conditions met. <Heavenly Slaughter Demon Ki (Unique)> blooms.]

[<Heavenly Slaughter Demon Ki (Unique)> + <Heaven Breaker (Unique)> = <Heaven-Breaking Asura Demon Sword (Legendary)>]

And a moment later, a message appeared notifying the acquisition of a new Skill.

Since he had already summoned the True God Mara Paphiyas, Hans’s Skills were rapidly blooming and organizing themselves, much like a Transcendent Awakener.

Hans, who seemed to have gained some enlightenment from the recent strike, half-closed his eyes and fell into contemplation for a moment.

Srrrrr…

Qliphoth extended new branches from the severed ones, reconnecting with the One Hundred Eight Arhat Formation.

This time, going beyond mere support, it infused power enough to elevate their Grade.

FWAAAT!

“Heaven-Slaying One Hundred Eight Yaksha Formation, deploy!”

KUGUGUGUGUGUGU!

As when fighting Dice, the Death Elves reversed their Arhat Identity and transformed into Yakshas.

And their energies intertwined, forming Qliphoth’s combat-type Avatar.

Guuung!

The Dharma Form of Vaisravana, holding a three-pronged vajra and a pagoda, appeared, matching eye level with the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form.

* * *

Clang! Claaang!

The Heaven-Slaying Sword of the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form repeatedly struck the protective barrier created by Vaisravana’s pagoda.

But true to a barrier that perfectly blocks attacks below the level of Authority, no matter how much it was struck, not a single scratch appeared on the barrier.

‘Should I use Transformation Self-Existing Heaven?’

If he used Mara Paphiyas’s Authority, he could likely pierce the barrier.

However, Hans could not easily bring out Transformation Self-Existing Heaven.

Because he had a premonition that if he merely borrowed the Heavenly Demon’s Authority to accumulate Feats like this, even if he succeeded the Heavenly Demon, he would never be able to surpass Mara Paphiyas.

‘Simply being a Heavenly Demon won’t do. If I don’t find a new Identity here that can surpass the original Mara Paphiyas, I will forever remain just a degraded version of Mara Paphiyas.’

Thinking that way, encountering an opponent like Vaisravana while still in the mortal realm at this time could be considered Fortune.

Clang! Thud! Clang! Thud!

The Heavenly Demon Dharma Form’s Heaven-Slaying Sword was blocked by the pagoda’s barrier.

And Vaisravana’s three-pronged vajra pierced the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form several times with martial arts that were mere simple thrusts.

Though the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form had become covered in wounds in this one-sided situation of only being hit.

Hans did not use Transformation Self-Existing Heaven until the end.

Perhaps because the opponent was also wary of Hans copying Authority with Transformation Self-Existing Heaven, it was only using attacks at the Mythical level, so there was still some leeway.

‘Not yet, not yet.’

Thud! Puuk! Puuuk!

Moreover, as the Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture also applied to the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form, resistance to the three-pronged vajra’s attacks was gradually felt.

[Hmm? The feel of impact is gradually decreasing.]

Perhaps noticing this, the opponent stopped the three-pronged vajra’s attacks.

[Giving more time would be dangerous. Let me end it here.]

Woooooong!

Immense Starlight was condensing onto the three-pronged vajra.

It still teetered just shy of the Authority level, but whether the heavily damaged Heavenly Demon Dharma Form could withstand that was unknown.

‘Must endure…!’

Puhak!

Immediately after, the three-pronged vajra pierced through the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form and Hans’s main body…

Thok!

…it did not.

The blade of the three-pronged vajra clearly pierced the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form, but it did not reach Hans’s main body.

That was because, before it could, the six arms of the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form, which had increased to six, firmly grasped the three-pronged vajra.

“This is enough enlightenment gained.”

Woooooong!

And by glimpsing the myths composing Vaisravana through the grasped three-pronged vajra, he found a clue to surpass the Heavenly Demon.

[Keyword ‘Mahesvara Heaven’ has been unlocked.]

Vaisravana’s other name, Vaishravana, is one of the Twelve Heavenly Devas, protectors of the directions, guarding the north.

And among those Twelve Heavenly Devas, Mahesvara Heaven, guarding the northeast, is an epithet of the Destruction God Shiva, one of the three main gods of Hinduism.

Meanwhile, Shiva is also an Apostle of the North Star Constellation.

The North Star Constellation also governs the Undead.

Just as Duren, though belonging to the Golden Constellation, obtained the Identity of the Great Sun Tathagata, who possesses solar Divinity.

It was not impossible for Hans, an Undead belonging to the Heaven-Slaying Constellation, to obtain the Identity of Shiva, who belongs to the north.

[<Heavenly Demon Dharma Form (Legendary)> + <Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture (Legendary)> = <Maheshvara (Mythical)>]

Soon, the Heavenly Demon Dharma Form and Heavenly Demon Reverse Tendon Scripture merged and evolved into the Dharma Form of Maheshvara, one of Shiva’s epithets.

And Shiva is also called the Lord of Dance, ‘Nataraja,’ and it is said that the cosmic dance he performs cycles Creation and Destruction.

Hans began to unfold a sword dance, reinterpreting such myths of Shiva through Asura’s Dance.

“Asura Heaven-Destroying Dance.”

PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA!

As if it were only right, everything along the path of the Heaven-Slaying Sword was being destroyed.

Within the sword dance that destroyed even space-time, only the protective barrier of Vaisravana’s pagoda, of which he boasted, remained intact.

Even though it was a newly unfolded myth, it ultimately did not reach the level of Authority.

However, even though the attack didn’t work properly, Hans was not disappointed.

From the beginning, the Asura Heaven-Destroying Dance was merely a process to move to the next stage.

As expected.

[Great Feat, ‘Asura’s Dance’ achieved.]

[The Heaven-Slaying Constellation harbors competitive spirit towards Hans’s Feats and altered history and records them.]

[6th Awakening Skill 《Asura Heaven-Destroying Dance》 blooms.]

……

As the vacant slot of the 6th Awakening Skill was filled, completing the 6-Star Promotion.

“Authority Bloom.”

Through the summoned Mara Paphiyas, the Prerogative of ‘Authority Bloom’ unfolds.

As with Lee Hanseong in reality, it seemed he would complete the Divinity of a True God in one leap from 7-Star.

FWAAAT!

The Awakening Skills and Skills Hans possessed were compressed into five Stigmas through Synthesis of Opposites.

[<Heavenly Slaughter (Legendary)> + <Sword Unification (Legendary)> = 《Heaven-Slaying Fire Sword (Mythical)》]

The Curse of Heavenly Slaughter absorbed Sword Unification and evolved into a form similar to Heart Sword.

[《Night Parade of One Hundred Demons (Legendary)》 + 《Mysterious Phenomena (Legendary)》 = 《Dream-Eater (Mythical)》]

The Undead under Hans’s command, stored in the Hellfire Furnace, also evolved into Dream-Eaters, similar to Shiva’s army, the ‘Ganas.’

And the existing myths also transformed to fit the Identity of Mahesvara Heaven.

《Heavenly Demon Divine Art》 became 《Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Divine Art》.

《Asura Heaven-Destroying Dance》 became 《Demon-Asura Heaven-Destroying Dance》.

《Maheshvara》 changed to 《Maheshvara Heavenly King》.

Click-click-click-click-click.

All five Stigmas merged, and with the addition of Mara Paphiyas’s Reversal and Synthesis of Opposites, Hans’s Authority was finally completed.

Authority [Great Freedom Heavenly God Dance]!

Mahesvara Heaven is a god presiding over the entire Great Chiliocosm, surpassing the Sixth Heaven Demon King, who is merely the king of the Desire Realm.

Having surpassed the Heavenly Demon and been reborn as a more outstanding True God, Hans added further impetus to the sword dance he had been performing.

Among the two types of dances Shiva performs, the dance of destruction begins.

“Tandava.”

PASASASASASASA—!

Even as space-time was destroyed and Imaginary Space was revealed, Vaisravana’s barrier, which had remained intact until now, was destroyed in an instant, making its previous Hardness seem insignificant.

“Mahesvara Heaven… you say?”

Following that, the three-pronged vajra and Vaisravana’s Dharma Form were destroyed, and after the destruction proceeded to the Death Elves forming the Heaven-Slaying One Hundred Eight Yaksha Formation and even the true body of Qliphoth draped across the sky.

PASASASASASA—

Only Hans remained in the white space where everything was destroyed.

It was good that Hans, having defeated the True God Qliphoth, was imprinted on the world as a true True God.

But Lee Hanseong, watching this from the Dream Fantasy World, couldn’t help but worry that if history changed like this, it might cause problems for the Feats Dice would obtain in the future.

However, it was needless worry.

Chwararararang!

Somehow, the form of the dance Hans was performing changed.

Not destructive, but soft and elegant movements.

The dance of creation, ‘Lasya,’ began to unfold.

Srrrrrr…

Then, as if rewinding time, the space-time and beings destroyed by Tandava.

Even Qliphoth and his Familiars were all newly Created.

A phenomenon closer to literal Creation rather than resurrection.

“…We thank you for your mercy, Patron.”

Though practically just born, one Death Elf, possessing all memories from before the destruction, knelt and bowed his head.

Plop-plop-plop—!

All the other Death Elves also paid their respects to Hans in the same manner.

It seemed they no longer had any intention of challenging Hans.

“This grace is akin to a life-saving grace. Please, accept us.”

It seemed they were ready to pledge their loyalty to Hans.

This was both the collective will of the Black Forest Temple and the will of Qliphoth, who encompassed them.

After all, they were all stars belonging to the Heaven-Slaying Constellation.

“If that is your will. I shall accept.”

The moment the hierarchical relationship was established, they naturally became part of Hans’s Dream-Eaters.

From now on, whenever Hans called, their Projections could be summoned anytime.