Dawn of the Beginning
If the combined technique known as Dawn of the Beginning, employed by entities above the highest-ranking Lord Gods in the war against the Substitute Gods, were to be activated, the users' divine power would plummet all the way down to Lower God level. If it misses, it's game over. But right now, there is no other plan.
A brief silence fell. Then the Great Demon God leading the Demon God Alliance spoke.
"We are well aware of the contract terms with the Demon God King. It will take considerable time, but we will add the revival condition as well."
"I do not perish. Do not hesitate. Attack with everything you have."
"Very well. I appreciate you stepping forward like this for a mercenary contract that isn't even for your own star. In the next contract, I will add compensation for this matter as well. Shall I throw in an extra star?"
At the welcome remark that struck straight at the heart of the matter, a respectful title slipped out before he could stop it.
"We always prioritize customer satisfaction above all else."
Even the Dimensional and War God found himself startled by his own reflexive words and behavior. I really must shake off this salesman-like attitude soon. But I've spent so long living as a mercenary at the Lord God level below the 10th Circle that it's become second nature.
Everyone let out a small chuckle at the sight of him, as if finding the whole thing absurd.
"Pfft! The Eternal Overlord Great Demon God who recently returned told me about you. She said you were trustworthy. Since she gave you such high praise, I will trust you as well, Dimensional and War God."
"Hmm! So you're the Lord God who defeated a Substitute God Lord in single combat. Then let us proceed."
"Good! I'll bet on it too. A failure on this request would lower my rank, which would be troublesome."
"Rather than dying at the Demon God King's hands for failing the request, I'd rather kill that thing first."
Gooooooo—!
With everyone's tension released, fighting spirit began to blaze.
Each of them is a supreme expert possessing over fifty billion in divine power.
As they prepared the combined technique, a force exceeding two hundred billion shook the battlefield.
It is purely destructive power, yet this is a force that surpasses even Creator Gods.
Gogogogogo—!
The Substitute God Lord seemed to sense the massive wave of power and accelerated.
On the surface, my magic still shines with the light of divine authority. Having taken it myself, I now understand just how fraudulent this defensive magic truly is.
No matter how many allies one had, it made no difference. Only someone who completely surpassed the opponent could win.
I was wrong not to research a definitive countermeasure sooner. I never imagined the enemy would actually use it like this.
The only remaining option was a head-on collision.
Surely I won't be the only one forced into the Guillotine of the Incompetent again? Against an opponent with that magic engraved on them, even the Advent of the Root from the Root School is powerless—! It would simply reflect all 11th Circle magic anyway. I must somehow lock it down and land the Dawn of the Beginning.
He ground his teeth and stared at the colossal planetary bio-armor of the Substitute God rushing toward him. Its overwhelming size and strength, which dwarfed even his transformed Giant God Lord body, stabbed painfully into his eyes.
No matter how durable the Giant God physique may be, it cannot withstand the God Destruction Cannon of a highest-ranking Substitute God Lord.
No matter how he looked at it, there was only one path to victory.
"Tsk—! I thought it seemed too easy. But do you really think I will lose?"
He gnashed his teeth and drew up his divine power to the limit, fully unfurling the light wings that burned with golden flame.
Meanwhile, the battle in the Creation Realm rather than the Main Divine Realm had reached its conclusion.
"What a tiresome fight. You haven't given up on life yet, have you?"
The Creator God King glanced at the fallen Demon Emperor beside him and spoke wearily. He too straightened his crumpled light wings and looked around.
After a battle against the reinforced preliminary Creator General of the Substitute Gods, where he had been prepared to face annihilation hundreds of times, victory had finally been secured.
The Creator God King clicked his tongue as he gazed at the shattered remains of the Substitute Gods resurrecting before his eyes.
"Completely fraudulent. Their regenerative power increased tenfold, and they gained an authority that reflects all attacks of equal rank or below."
The Demon Emperor raised his upper body with a groan.
"Ugh—! Still, it requires complex calculations, making repeated use difficult. And because the authority manifests on a planetary scale, it consumes excessive vitality when defending against consecutive attacks from equal or higher opponents. That created a weakness where defensive power drops sharply in prolonged battles, which is fortunate. Also, it can only reflect an attack after it has completely finished."
"Is that considered a weakness? How many in the God or Demon races can unleash consecutive maximum-output attacks? Moreover, there are almost none who possess sustained-damage techniques."
"Better than having no weaknesses at all. Looking at the results, this authentication war will end in total annihilation. Damn it—! When will we be able to restore our territory?"
The Demon Emperor pulled a square box from his pocket, took out a stick wrapped in white paper, and lit it. Cigarettes were harmful substances.
Click—! Hoo—!
The Demon Emperor struggled to extract the cigarette, placed it between his lips, and began to smoke. He filled his mouth with smoke, savored it, and watched the rising plume from the cigarette in his right hand, lost in thought. With his eyes gently closed, he looked blissfully content in a way that hardly suited the Emperor of the Demon Race.
The Creator God King watched him with clear displeasure.
"Even humans make a fuss about how bad it is for you. Why is the Demon Emperor smoking like this? It doesn't even provide any awakening effect."
"Heh—! In a world where you might die tomorrow, are you going to interfere with such small pleasures? Holding this in my mouth and staring blankly at the smoke makes me feel like I'm escaping reality for a moment. I can't quit. It's not as if not smoking increases the chances of dying of old age, is it? In any case, the weak ones who die early all die whether they smoke or drink. Only those with guaranteed futures and comfortable lives can lecture others. When every day is a struggle, why make such rigid remarks? We should enjoy ourselves at least a little."
"You're impossible! By the way, there were one thousand twenty-nine planets where the authentication war against the Substitute Gods was taking place. It's nearly over."
"Is the result total annihilation?"
"No. Huh—! That's impressive?"
"What?"
"More than half have achieved victory."
"What? Against Substitute Gods reinforced to that degree?"
"Yes. It seems the lower Creator Gods have revealed every hidden card they possessed. They've mobilized all the mercenary gods, and the abilities of the direct-lineage divine realm Main Gods have risen tremendously."
"Oh?"
"It means those sly bastards faked their deaths to gather vitality and elites, then poured everything into the fight. Those same ones who always complained about lacking vitality and begged the Creator to reduce their offerings... what happened to them?"
"Heh heh—! How amusing. Does that mean they don't lose easily in the universes under their command?"
"Defeat means hell regardless of position. The rewards for victory are enormous, so they took the risk."
"As expected, dramatically promoting one lower Creator God seems to have provided the necessary stimulus."
The Demon Emperor pulled countless boxes from subspace, grabbed a liquor bottle, and drank deeply.
Thud—! Gulp—! Gulp—!
"Kaaaaah—! Drinking straight from the bottle really is the best. You lot drink too. We'll enjoy ourselves separately after returning. For now, rest a while."
When the Demon Emperor pulled a massive liquor bottle from the air and drained it in one go, the highest-ranking Demon Lords around him also began drinking and lighting up here and there. They too had fought bitterly against the Substitute Gods, discovered their weaknesses, secured victory, and were now resting.
It's almost as if they're imitating him because no one dares say they aren't his direct subordinates.
It was impossible to understand why spiritual beings would consume alcohol and cigarettes that had no effect on them, but since they were of the Demon Race, he overlooked it.
The God Race alone cannot defeat the Substitute Gods. More than half of the Substitute Gods scattered throughout the area were finished off by the Demon Race. No matter what, the God Race may have superior defense and recovery due to their nature, but they cannot match the Demon Race's offensive power.
Only when the God Race defended and the Demon Race attacked could the Substitute Gods be defeated. Still, having won against the reinforced Substitute Gods, they could now focus entirely on recovery and rest.
Since the subordinates have done well for once, I can be at ease for a while. If they acted like this normally, they would have face before him and wouldn't need to prove their existence through such insane acts. These fellows only come to their senses when cornered. With this level of achievement, he will likely grant them some stability during the recovery period.
The Creator God King felt his mind naturally relax with this rare moment of rest. Yet as he scanned the entire universe, he noticed an unusual reaction.
"There's still an authentication war in progress. It's a highest-grade Demon Star."
"Oh. Since it didn't end instantly or result in victory, it must be an even match. Shall we take a look?"
The Demon Emperor leisurely held the liquor bottle to his lips and projected a screen into the air. When a single Giant God appeared on it, a smile formed of its own accord.
"Heh? What an interesting fellow. A mere mid-level Lord God barely scraping by has jumped into the authentication war of a highest-grade Demon Star against the Substitute Gods? The God Race these days really have grown bold."
"Huh? Wait. Isn't that the galaxy where Jinmyeol went on vacation?"
A Creator God could be seen lounging comfortably on a long chair, sipping a drink in an irritating manner.
"So that's why it's even. It's the galaxy he manages. The Absolute Being title is originally combat-oriented, so it seems he's holding on despite the disadvantage. But how long does he plan to play around there? Is the God Race allowed to do that?"
"Well, since he acknowledged the contributions and granted the vacation, there's nothing to be done."
"I'm simply jealous."
"If you're jealous, go back to his war."
"I refuse. No matter how difficult and annoying it is, this place is a hundred times better. Above all, why would I abandon the foundation I've barely secured to return to the battlefield? I'm not a beggar like that guy. I am the Demon Emperor—!"
"Then shut up, drink your pointless liquor, and smoke your cigarettes. I need to analyze this."
The Creator God King repaid the Demon Emperor's sudden burst of anger with irritation of his own.
On the screen, the massive Lord God spread his wings and concentrated his divine power.
Crack—! Pop—!
The Dimensional and War God relaxed every muscle and joint in his body.
I know the characteristics of that magic better than anyone. It reflects all attacks below a certain level, but it is ultimately based on magical power. Each time it reflects an attack of equal or lower level, it consumes a tiny additional amount of magic power. When a force of equal or higher level is applied, it consumes several times that amount to reflect it. Once the attack power exceeds twice the defensive power, the magic power is depleted and the spell collapses.
Blocking attacks beyond its limit would cause severe magic consumption and dispel the magic.
With Creator Gods possessing one hundred twenty billion divine power unable to participate, there is only one answer. Continuous attack with equal or greater power until the magic collapses.
The core strategy was to deplete the magic power used for defense through consecutive attacks that surpassed its defensive strength.
If the attack is released before the defensive magic dispels, the accumulated force will surge back at me. But it is the only method available. And in my Giant God Lord state, it is possible.
Paaaaaaaah—!
Wings of light befitting a divine body two thousand kilometers tall drew in the vitality of the Demon Star and the power of its sun.
The Giant God race is a species that absorbs planetary vitality and solar power to exert its strength. Having become a Lord God in that state, my authority has reached its peak.
Gooooooooooooooo—!
Divine power and magic power swirled violently from his widely opened mouth.
Everyone within range of my wings, fall back—! You will all be absorbed.
His will swept across the Demon Alliance forces, and they hurriedly retreated. The Substitute God Lord seemed to sense the gathering divine power and increased speed.
I still haven't solved this problem. My shorter range, that is.
His thirteen pairs of dimensional wings flapped as he opened a dimensional hole before his mouth.
"Lord Slayer"
"Dimensional Divine Annihilation Cannon"
⟨ Dimensional Divine Annihilation ⟩
Kwa-woooooong—! Uuuuung—! Uung—!
Vitality from the earth surged into his mouth. The dimensional wings gathered the power of the sun and the earth and focused it there.
Tuhahahahaha—!
The light of the sun and the God Destruction Cannon, covering the vision of every being, blazed from the front. He warped it through dimensions and poured it directly onto the Substitute God.
"Kuwaaaaaaaaak—!"
The defensive magic engraved across the bio-armor's surface shook violently. The ten circles of divine power rotated wildly and trembled at their roots.
With sixty billion divine power, it will be difficult to endure consecutive attacks with an output of eighty-four billion.
As expected, the defensive magic created by the Dimensional and War God was vulnerable to continuous striking attacks. It was truly fortunate, yet the feeling was utterly filthy.
But why should I feel happy about revealing the weakness of my own magic? This is such a damned situation.
It meant that even if he became a high Creator God, he could not be invincible. Now every Lord God and Creator God in the Main Universe had learned how to counter his self-defense magic.
I can feel their gazes. Beings of extremely high realms.
The curious eyes of the powerhouses who ruled the Main Universe were gathering.
Yes, look all you want. I can improve it again. The one who becomes strongest and survives will be me.
Puhahahaha! Uuuuuuuuung!
He could sense the Substitute God Lord, unable to endure any longer, attempting to escape the bombardment of the Lord Slayer Dimensional Divine Annihilation Cannon. Yet his dimensional authority would never miss an enemy within its domain. He simply needed to adjust the firing angle and impact point.
Tuhahahaha—! Puhahahahaha—!
The magic circle supporting the defensive authority engraved on the planetary surface began to overheat to a glaring white from excessive vitality consumption.
This is the reaction from overusing my Moon of the Origin and the sun. Because of that, I had to recuperate for over a month after the previous battle.
Overusing infinite vitality and divine power naturally caused the body to enter a stalled state.
In vulgar terms, it means getting so heated you lose your mind.
Do not equate yourselves, who merely receive and use it, with me, who created it from the beginning and endured the trial and error.
Dizzying thoughts flooded in, but at this moment he only drew upon the infinite magic power and vitality of the Demon Star to fire the God Destruction Cannon.
"Waaaaaaaung!"
"Uuuuuuuung—!"
The screams of the Substitute God Lord and the continuous firing of his God Destruction Cannon created a strange harmony.
The defensive authority of the Substitute Gods and my divine power cannon are locked in a perfect stalemate without the slightest error. The planetary bio-armor is heating to white-hot. Even the body of the Giant God Lord is being superheated by the continuous maximum-output God Destruction Cannon.
The spread wings of light are already burning everything with solar divine power. But if I stop now, the force of every divine power cannon I have fired until this moment will pour back onto me.
His calculations showed that even assuming the defensive magic's efficiency had improved as much as possible, it could not endure more than three minutes.
The efficiency of my defensive magic is miraculously excellent. However, since it is ultimately 10th Circle magic, it cannot escape the laws of equivalent exchange.
And there was one more weakness in the self-defense magic he had desperately conceived.
Activation of the Lord Slayer Spear—!
It was an attack authority with special effectiveness against Lord Gods.