Chapter 87 – Back to Reality

Blink.

As he closed and opened his eyes, the scenery of the black market outskirts, where his next life-and-death duel opponent was about to step forward, came into view.

Amidst the gradually returning normal flow of time that had been halted.

Fwoosh!

Lee Hanseong immediately invoked Divine Possession with Pheidippides, who had become a Seven-Star.

Pheidippides’s Parallel Consciousness and Yang Will Divine Art accelerated his thoughts, and his Taiji Constitution enabled movements synchronized with his cognition.

A Taiji Constitution that transcends time and space operates solely based on his consciousness as the standard.

Zzzzzz.

In a situation where the flow of time seemed to have nearly stopped again, he leisurely checked the results of the Historical Alteration.

[Feat, ‘Legendary Spirit Contractor’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Group Spirit Promotion’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Consecutive Spirit Promotion’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Otherworld History Understanding: Arcadia’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Otherworld Transcendent Species Understanding: Angel’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Otherworld Transcendent Species Understanding: Giant’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Otherworld Transcendent Species Understanding: High Elf’ has been achieved.]

[Feat, ‘Otherworld Mythological Species Understanding: Sun Tree’ has been achieved.]

Eight achievement messages scrolled before his eyes.

‘Legendary Spirit Contractor’, an achievement earned simply for contracting a Seven-Star Spirit.

And the Spirit promotion feats stemming from the changes of the Historical Alteration were expected, but.

The achievements that followed were all unexpected.

‘They said achievements with “Understanding” in the name are usually obtained when realizing knowledge judged important by the North Star Constellation.’

It meant that each piece of knowledge—general knowledge about the Arcadia Continent, its three major Transcendent Species, and the Sun Tree—was significant enough to be recognized as an achievement.

But the Spirits living there had never obtained such achievements.

Seeing the modifier “Otherworld” attached to all of them, perhaps the fact that he was an Earthling was important.

Then, shouldn’t Pheidippides, also from Earth, have obtained the same achievements?

As this doubt arose, he suddenly recalled one difference between his current self and Pheidippides.

‘Is it the presence or absence of the North Star Constellation?’

The record of the Historical Alteration was limited to Arcadia, intertwined only with the three Constellations of Sun, Radiance, and Gold.

Meanwhile, on Earth, the influence of all Twelve Constellations of the Heavenly Palace was spread.

It wasn’t strange for such a difference to arise.

Having resolved his doubt, Lee Hanseong smiled contentedly and accepted the newly added achievements.

‘Four-star promotion… still seems difficult.’

Perhaps because none of the newly obtained achievements were first-time achievements.

There was no particular change in his Grade.

It merely refilled the achievements consumed in the Historical Alteration.

But even if there was no change in Lee Hanseong himself, he had gained much from the changes in the Spirits, so it didn’t matter.

Vroom.

He instantly completed Synchronization with the three Spirits promoted this time and acquired new Skills.

Crackle, pop!

Similar to the first Heroic Spirit Synchronization, Body Reformation continued.

His Taiji Constitution and Solar Constitution, which originally could not coexist in one body, coexisted under the coordination of Primordial Chaos Gang Qi.

However, even Primordial Chaos Gang Qi had its limits for coexistence.

After all, Unique Skills named “?? Constitution” are expressions, as Skills, of special physiques changed through Body Reformation.

Unlike having one physique, when two physiques coexist, there are inevitably parts that offset each other.

‘Well, still, if we consider overall ability, having two is greater than having one.’

While each individual ability might not be complete, having two constitutions was not weaker than having only one.

Perhaps as other Spirits also promote to 6-Star and undergo Body Reformation, adding more constitutions, his physical body will grow stronger.

And when his True Body’s Grade reaches 6-Star and he achieves Body Reformation, his physical body itself will be able to form a <Primordial Chaos Constitution> embodying the nature of Primordial Chaos.

But that is a matter of the distant future.

According to past experience, even if his Grade is inflated to 6-Star or above through various abilities granting temporary Promotion Effects like Transcendence, Eightfold Annihilation, or Blessings, it merely adds simple physical stats.

The constitution obtained through Body Reformation does not manifest.

At least, an ability that brings a permanent Promotion Effect, like Guarantee of the Righteous Will, is needed to lead to Body Reformation.

Even with the added effect of Guarantee of the Righteous Will, his current True Body Grade is only 4-Star, so he set aside thoughts of the Primordial Chaos Constitution to the back of his mind and examined his other Skills.

Among them, the most anticipated was Hanna’s <Borrowed Power>.

A Skill that borrows power from the Spirits and Constellations connected to him.

‘With this, can’t I trace the faded connection with Mirinae and give her a stimulus?’

Thus, while consciously focusing on the faintly felt path to the Constellation, he activated Borrowed Power.

Simultaneously, he used Primordial Chaos Gang Qi to link with Full Devotion, pulling the power of Borrowed Power to its limit.

‘Please, Mirinae…’

Whoosh!

Perhaps Mirinae responded to his wish.

Immediately, a floating sensation lifted his spirit, and the surrounding scenery completely changed to a different place.

* * *

A sky of myriad colors.

In the dark earth at the center of an endless, vast wilderness.

A pyramid-shaped altar containing starlight stood majestically.

Twelve steps, and on the highest point, a solitary throne.

On that throne, a familiar woman leaned and slept.

‘Mirinae!’

Tap-tap-tap-tap!

As soon as he recognized her, his body moved on its own, approaching the pyramid.

Each step was dozens of meters high, but with his abilities, it was a height he could easily ascend…

‘Can’t use Skills?’

He tried to use Shrinking Earth to reach the top in one go but failed, realizing only then.

Only Lee Hanseong’s consciousness had come here.

Currently, all Skills he had learned himself, except for Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, were sealed.

‘At least being able to use Primordial Chaos Gang Qi is fortunate.’

Vroom— Tap.

Wrapping his body in Primordial Chaos Gang Qi, he strengthened his leg strength and jumped onto the steps.

The height of the steps adjusted so that his best jump could precisely ascend one step.

Tap— Tap— Tap—!

Having to ascend sequentially was a bit bothersome, but it was bearable.

The thought that Mirinae was getting closer made his heart flutter.

‘Wait a little, I’ll be there soon.’

The problem arose when he had almost climbed the pyramid.

Whoosh.

The moment he tried to land on the eleventh step, his foot passed through as if it were an Illusory Form.

Looking again, the last two steps contained no starlight.

It seemed only the steps containing starlight had substance and could support him.

‘Blocked… here?’

Jumping two steps at once was impossible.

Thinking he could fill the steps without starlight, he searched for a method.

Blowing Primordial Chaos Gang Qi into the illusory step, it seemed to fill with starlight, but.

Pshhh—

When he stopped the infusion, the starlight vanished as if it had never shone.

To check the difference, he also blew Primordial Chaos Gang Qi into a step containing starlight.

Vroom.

Synchronization with the step occurred, and the identity of the starlight forming the step flowed into his mind.

They were the stars of those incorporated under Mirinae’s influence in the past Historical Alteration.

The Pilgrim Knight Order, including Beatus, Dice, and Clark, Andrei, and others.

The Spirits he saved and promoted.

It was their starlight that illuminated the steps.

More precisely, it was the Causality Mirinae possessed.

The pyramid he climbed was a visualization of the Causality needed for Mirinae to awaken.

Thus, the two steps not yet filled with starlight signified insufficient Causality.

Yet, there were Spirits he didn’t know included in Mirinae’s Causality.

‘…Even the Fungus Demon King is here?’

Moreover, even those who, in the original history, would have lived longer and reached higher realms but died early were in a state incorporated into Mirinae’s influence.

Flowing Primordial Chaos Gang Qi toward the Fungus Demon King and synchronizing with him, the original history the Fungus Demon King would have achieved flowed before his eyes like a panorama.

Flicker.

In the original history, the Pilgrim Knight Order is not rescued and falls as hosts to the Fungus Demon King.

Through them, the Fungus Demon King, promoted to 8-Star, attacks the Holy Land Lumen.

The Pope similarly sacrifices himself to summon an Angel but ultimately fails to repel the Fungus Demon King.

The Holy Land falls.

‘What?’

Then, swallowing the Lantern of Radiance, the core of the Holy Land, and reaching 9-Star, the Fungus Demon King next attacks the Sun Kingdom.

Swallowing the five Sacred Mountains protecting the kingdom’s territory one by one, he reaches 10-Star.

Later, when his nature Reverses and the Fungus Demon King stops multiplying and invading, the heavenly Eleven-Star Divine Spirits descend and Annihilate him, but.

The damage the Fungus Demon King caused in the original history up to that point was immense.

‘The changes from eliminating the Fungus Demon King are greater than I thought.’

The accumulation of enough Causality to fill ten steps was all thanks to that.

The Causality of those who would have died by the Fungus Demon King in the original history all transferred to Mirinae.

Yet, two steps’ worth is still lacking?

Of course, as the steps higher up are smaller, the Causality needed to fill them would decrease, so.

It could be seen that not much time remains until Mirinae awakens.

But having her sleeping before his eyes, it felt regrettable to just turn back.

Tap!

‘A little more! Go up!’

Repeating Leaps, he tried to gradually raise the limit of his jumping height.

Of course, the result was the same each time.

Even if futile, he wanted to try until the limit.

The heart that had endured while thinking of Mirinae reached its limit the moment he saw her.

He could wait no longer.

‘Please!’

How many times did he repeat it?

Tap…!

When he reached the peak of his Leap, his eye level was slightly different.

He reached a bit higher than before, even if just slightly.

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <Telekinesis> Blooms.]

In a world where only consciousness exists, after repeating Leaps with single-minded determination, Telekinesis—interfering with reality with the mind alone—manifested.

Vroom.

‘Lightly. A little higher.’

Taaap!

Assisted by Telekinesis, the Leap continued to renew the highest point.

‘MirinaeMirinaeMirinaeMirinae…’

Later, he realized that just thinking of Mirinae was the most efficient and focused solely on reaching her.

And finally.

Taaaap! Thud.

Lee Hanseong’s fingertip, having jumped to the height of two steps, touched the tip of Mirinae’s foot.

At that moment, the Borrowed Power that brought him to this place activated, borrowing a portion of Mirinae’s authority.

Blink.

The moment he closed and opened his eyes, Mirinae and the pyramid were no longer visible.

The scenery changed back to the reality of the black market.

‘Huh? Mirinae… where?’

Even trying to use Borrowed Power again to go where Mirinae was, he could not return there.

Since he had already made contact once, it was possible to borrow Mirinae’s power using that as a medium.

‘Aaaaaah…!’

Letting out a silent scream, he barely managed to control his emotions.

It was a passion intense enough that the Void Impulse would have recurred if not for the power borrowed from Mirinae.

‘Haa… haa…’

[Conditions met. Rare Skill <Spirit Eye> Blooms.]

Only after regaining some stability did the Skill acquisition message enter his sight.

The new power he obtained from Mirinae was a new vision.

The eye that sees the fundamental Spirit Particles, the Spirit Eye.

Starlight, being light, is usually Perceived as a wave form, but it also appears as particles.

The term for particulate starlight is precisely Spirit Particle.

Mirinae’s vision that sees other Timelines, and the Mind’s Eye he possesses, both originate from the Spirit Eye.

It was not a Skill that could be viewed merely as Rare grade.

Moreover, the compatibility between Telekinesis and Spirit Eye was the best.

[Conditions met. <Telekinesis> and <Spirit Eye> integrate.]

[Unique Skill <Spirit Particle Manipulation> forms.]

Recognize Spirit Particles with the Spirit Eye, and manipulate them with Telekinesis.

This is also the principle behind a Constellation’s ability to intervene with its Devotees.

Interfering with the soul of a connected Devotee to grant Blessings or imprint Stigmas, mediating Spirit Contracts—all are branches of Spirit Particle Manipulation.

Thanks to this, he could also do this.

‘Need to grow Mirinae’s Causality a bit more.’

On the frame of the Folklore Treasure Guarantee of the Righteous Will, attributed to his soul, he created five Connection Points using Primordial Chaos Gang Qi.

They were Connection Points linking to other members of the Galaxy Guild.

Of course, for these Connection Points to work, their souls also needed Connection Points linked to Guarantee of the Righteous Will, but that was fully possible with Spirit Particle Manipulation.

Vroom— Vroom— Vroom— Vroom— Vroom—

Five instances of Spirit Particle Manipulation and the Resonance sound that rang each time.

Jin Yuseong, who was 3-Star, promoted to 4-Star.

Park Seongcheol, Yu Sehee, and Lycan, who were 2-Star, promoted to 3-Star.

Baekto, who was 1-Star, promoted to 2-Star.

He linked them so that the Guarantee of the Righteous Will effect was shared not only with Lee Hanseong but also with the other four people and one creature.

‘Since the Vessels have expanded, now they need to be filled.’

Except for Lycan, who cannot contract Spirits, and Baekto, whose Vessel is small, Spirit Particle Manipulation is performed again on the three people.

To Jin Yuseong, the 7-Star Spirit of the Golden Constellation, the Hero Andrei, who will grant gigantification ability.

To Park Seongcheol, the 6-Star Spirit of the Sun Constellation, Pilgrim Knight Commander Dice Ten.

To Yu Sehee, the 6-Star Spirit of the Brilliance Constellation, Pope Beatus Bright.

He mediates Contracts with Spirits suitable for each among those reached by Mirinae’s influence in this Historical Alteration, Spirits that can also achieve Legend resonance with Lee Hanseong’s Spirits.

[Feat, ‘Spirit Contract Mediator’ has been achieved.]

He returned his accelerated thoughts to their original state.

The slowed time finally began to flow properly.