The Three Faction Champions
While the chief goddesses of the Goddess Department fretted over the ongoing war, the vast plaza beneath the Dimensional and War God’s personal shrine trembled from its very roots. A thunderous roar and violent tremors shook the air.
Kuuuoooo—! Rumble rumble rumble—!
The structure was designed to withstand anything short of an 11th-circle assault, so the unabsorbed remnants of power bled inward. Within the space governed by Infinite Restoration, injuries healed completely, making it nearly impossible for any side to claim victory. Before long, the battle had become a three-way struggle between the divine race, the demonic race, and the transcendents of the Middle World.
The divine race, reinforced and regenerated through parallel divine-power linkage, endured the demonic race’s assaults and launched counterattacks. Those counters were shattered by magical barrages, which in turn provoked fresh offensives. The divine race blocked again, seeking a decisive opening. Meanwhile, the Middle World transcendents sowed chaos with their varied powers, attempting to regulate the flow of combat.
‘In terms of individual combat strength, the demonic race leads, followed by the transcendents and then the divine race. Yet in total military power, the divine race holds overwhelming superiority. The divine race is still ahead. That said, the demonic race’s serial mana linkage has improved considerably. Are they refining it on their own?’
The sole reason the divine race had become the ruling power of this universe was their fundamental authority: parallel divine-power linkage. This authority connected and shared the divine power of everyone within its range, steadily increasing defensive strength. While each individual could only endure so much, the burden was remarkably light, and every participant was reinforced to their absolute limit. The entity directing the linkage also possessed the combined divine power of all.
‘The stronger the directing entity, the more gods the authority could encompass. Even an opponent impossible to face alone could be ground down through endless cycles of recovery and reinforced defense.’
The more gods joined the linkage, the stronger the authority became. When every god in the universe lent their power to a Creator God, the resulting authority could create or destroy entire universes. ‘Before a Creator who unified and reinforced the power of all gods, no enemy could stand.’
The parallel divine-power linkage enacted by the Creator God across the entire divine race was beyond measurable combat strength. The first being to ever overcome it was him.
“A weakling’s trick.”
With that single contemptuous remark, he swung the wooden sword called the Sword of Ruin and Soul and fought the Creator God. Maintaining the universe-wide parallel linkage, the Creator God and every god and demon under his command were subdued without a single death and brought under his dominion.
‘They say he alone conquered and subjugated this entire universe in a single day.’ Over a hundred million Main Gods had participated, along with more than ten thousand Creator Gods. Countless transcendents had joined as well; it had been a battle that decided the fate of the universe.
‘It was a total war on the scale of the Main Universe. The Creator of this Main Universe refused to accept defeat and chose annihilation over subordination to an Absolute Being from the Middle World.’
The Creator God’s furious cry had been met with an absurdly arrogant reply.
“I sincerely wish for this Main Universe to remain eternally subordinate. Had you surrendered after a single defeat, I would have been disappointed.”
Those words plunged the Creator God and every participating god, demon, and transcendent into despair. Then his declaration began to etch itself into the fabric of the universe.
“If you are to be the ruling class of my universe, it is only natural that you fear neither annihilation nor death. Do not lose heart or feel despair over a single defeat. Challenge me again and win. Therefore, you need not submit or swear loyalty to me now. Resist and challenge me to your heart’s content until you are convinced. However, since you currently stand no chance, I shall grant you the authority and environment to grow stronger. To the divine race I give the Substitute Gods as adversaries. To the demonic race, whose unity is weaker than the divine race, I grant serial mana linkage as their fundamental authority. Those above the rank of Main God who possess true strength shall prove themselves through certification battles. Any god who dies or is destroyed shall have their divinity demoted and be given another chance. Finally, to focus all existence on evolution and development, I bestow the Law of Karma and Contracts upon this world. Those who reject this shall be judged by my own hand. Thus, when you believe you can defeat me, challenge me once more. The outcome of that challenge shall decide your subordination.”
A transparent parchment appeared, inscribed with the names of the Creator God and every god, demon, and transcendent. That was the moment the first Karma Contract was formed between the Creator God, all gods, and all transcendents.
“Proud Creator God, courageous gods, demons, and transcendents—I sincerely bless your challenges.”
The new law of Karma was carved into the Creator God’s universe and placed above all things. ‘Any being that rejected or harmed the Karma Contract, which existed solely for evolution and development, was judged and reduced to a mere insect. The demonic race received serial mana linkage as their fundamental authority and returned as a leading power.’
The serial mana linkage granted to the demonic race was fundamentally the same as the divine race’s authority: within its domain, all demonic power was shared, strengthening both individuals and the directing entity. ‘Unlike the divine race’s focus on defense and recovery, theirs enhanced offensive power. He had granted them, with absurd simplicity, the very authority needed to shatter the divine race’s reinforced defenses.’
Thereafter the demonic race secured equal standing and grew strong enough to threaten the divine race. Though they were the greatest beneficiaries under his rule, the demons feared him more than any other race. ‘Ironically, because they understood how to wield his power, they understood its terror even better. Most of those who, driven by vengeance against the divine race, rampaged and destroyed planets only to be judged were demons.’
Faced with the horrific fate of the judged, the demonic race could scarcely breathe and ceased harvesting vitality through planetary destruction. They, too, shifted to absorbing vitality only after surpassing the divine race through certification battles and becoming the dominant species. ‘Hostility toward the divine race was nothing compared to the terror of his judgment. The mildest punishment he imposed was changing one’s race.’
There had once been an incident in which the highest-ranking Demon King, who harbored extreme hatred for the divine race, killed a Main God without cause. He was immediately demoted to a Lower God and told he would be restored only after becoming a Main God of the Divine Realm. ‘Even after becoming the race he despised most, he could neither go mad nor die by his own hand.’ The hardships he endured while struggling to join a divine realm on the planet he had nearly destroyed were said to be unbearable to witness. ‘It was so severe that the new Main God of that planet declared he would accept him once he reached “Extreme Virtue,” regardless of his past. Even so, leveraging his exceptional talent, he accomplished tremendous feats, attained “Extreme Virtue,” and was finally accepted into the Divine Realm. They say the former Demon King, now a god, wept with emotion upon ascending. After that, he formed a subordinate contract with a certain mercenary Main God and rose to become a highest-ranking god of some divine realm. Truly, exceptional individuals are exceptional.’
A former Demon King becoming the highest-ranking god of an entirely different divine race was indeed remarkable. Of course, the protagonist himself had once been a dark mage.
Gogogogogo—!
Before his eyes, the demonic race’s serial mana linkage was shattering the divine race’s defensive barrier. Yet the transcendents swiftly joined the divine race’s defense, realizing that if the divine race fell, they would be next. This was why no side could achieve victory. Moreover, because the divine race possessed the greatest numbers, their recovery was swift and their defense formidable, rendering the demonic race’s decisive strikes ineffective. Conversely, neither the divine race nor the transcendents possessed enough offensive power to land a fatal blow on the demonic race. This was the reason balance was maintained in the current universe. With the Substitute Gods threatening all three factions, they checked one another while being forced to cooperate.
“As expected, no faction can claim victory on its own. That is enough.”
Kuuung—!
Hahaha! Haaah—
Mana, divine power, and secret techniques tangled for an instant before scattering. The aftershock of exerting extreme power left everyone gasping for breath as they absorbed the overflowing vitality of the Main God Star to recover. The exhausted gods’ bodies healed in an instant, and their divine power and mana increased. Training for gods and demons was simple in the beginning: push one’s power to the limit, empty and expand it, and thereby strengthen the vessel that was the body. However, progress beyond the highest-ranking gods became excruciatingly slow. ‘Even the bodies of gods completely controlled by their spiritual forms have limits. That is why the divine race grants special treatment to those above the highest rank.’
The sweat-soaked and torn garments of the goddesses and demonesses mended themselves, and their armor fully restored. None of them looked as though they had just fought to their limits. ‘As long as vitality is supplied, the divine and demonic races are nearly immortal.’
The female transcendents of the Middle World also restored their bodies with their respective authorities and powers, breathing heavily. After nearly a full day of fierce battle, their dulled combat senses and bodies, worn down by long sealing and hardship, had fully recovered. ‘They drank True Nectar, the sap of the Cosmic Tree, like water and absorbed it to their limits. Thanks to the infinite vitality of my shrine, they all seem to have advanced at least one stage.’
Of course, those who had once been Main Gods were now stalled at the highest-ranking goddess level. They were not gods or demons whose power could be replenished easily through natural means. Judging by the faint glow of their eleven pairs of wings, even here it would take considerable time. They all folded their wings and knelt before the Dimensional and War God in complete subordination. Even in their restored state, their clothes were drenched in sweat, evidence of how much power they had expended.
“I shall temporarily appoint one strongest individual from each race. Step forward.”
From the divine race, the demonic race, and the transcendents, one each stepped forward without hesitation. No one voiced any complaint. A single day of fierce group combat under the premise of complete restoration was more than enough to determine individual superiority. Strangely, however, their hair colors differed from those of ordinary divine, demonic, or human races. The demon with hair as dark red as thick wine lowered her head.
“I am Anakrenon. Please call me ‘Ana.’ I shall become Your Divinity’s sharpest blade and annihilate your enemies.”
The goddess with soft ochre hair and eyes—not golden—stepped before him and bowed. A warm, divine-race sensibility radiated from her. Yet the fact that she was a sinner felt oddly dissonant.
“I am called Artos. You may address me as ‘Ar.’ It is an honor to represent the subordinate divine race before Your Divinity.”
The female transcendent of the Middle World also lowered her head, her hair as soft and white as milk.
“I’m Galanthus. I’d like it if you called me ‘Gala.’ I’ll prove our worth through results, not ideals.”
Fortunately, their respective hierarchies seemed to have been established to some degree. ‘With this, deployment to the Middle World should be feasible. Ten times the usual numbers ought to suffice, and their abilities appear sufficiently restored.’
As if sensing his will, the three spoke in unison. The transcendent from the demonic Middle World’s voice was the loudest.
“The demigods and transcendents of the Middle World are more than enough for us transcendents to handle. Though we are the same rank, our combat experience is incomparable.”
They were transcendents who had survived in a highest-ranking Main God Star a hundred times larger than an upper Main God Star. It was reasonable to expect great achievements.
“Even if the divine and demonic races are weakened to one-tenth their strength in the Middle World, the opponents are nothing more than inexperienced 10th-circle fledglings who have never fought gods. With our current demonic forces, we can defeat them easily.”
The confidence of a highest-ranking demon famous even in the highest demonic stars overflowed.
“Preparations for a plan to subdue them without any casualties are already complete. Moreover, this is a Middle World subjugation campaign involving equal numbers of divine race, demonic race, and Middle World transcendents. There is no need for concern, Your esteemed Divinity. We shall repay their rudeness with overwhelming victory and meaningless deaths, exactly as you desire.”
Her words were deeply satisfying. ‘Sharing thoughts really is convenient. As long as they refrain from embarrassing fantasies with me as the protagonist, that is.’ That price was trivial compared to the comfort and competence of such subordinates. While divine-race gods who dealt only in divine power suffered greater influence when sharing thoughts with lower gods, he was an 11th-circle mage who had once been capable of overlapping 160 spells—an 11th-circle archmage who had become a Main God. ‘Handling the thoughts of completely subordinate 10th-circle lower gods is nothing. Moreover, with mental fortitude tempered when Karma was “Extreme Evil,” their worries and thoughts are laughable.’ The drawback of complete subordination—the burden of processing one another’s thoughts—had vanished, leaving only the advantage of sharing power and information.
“Good. Everyone, rest for now and prepare to deploy. The three of you will receive additional power as promised.”
Upon receiving his will, everyone sighed with reluctant disappointment and moved toward the grand bathhouse, while the three followed him to the private bath. All were covered in sweat and grime and required vitality. Behind him, the three women walked with flushed faces and eyes sparkling with anticipation. ‘They’re dangerously excited. I wonder if that will be a problem.’