The Forest's Defiance
Unlike the past when the Black Mage's personal karma was 'good' but his collective karma was 'evil' and things were precarious, everything had changed now that he had become the highest god and his overall karma had turned 'extremely good'. Challenging the highest god of light without justifiable cause was a grave sin.
The Black Mage had been planning to vent his frustrations by punishing anyone who dared to attack him while simultaneously trampling them thoroughly, but things never went as smoothly as he hoped.
Countless High Orcs and Nagas were prostrating themselves around the vast Great Forest.
"The noble and great Black Mage has returned."
"Praise the great God of War!"
Their heads bowed of their own accord in an outstanding display of adaptability.
They sure know how to read the room. They'll live a long time at this rate.
The Black Mage found himself lowering his head inside his robe at the heartfelt cries.
The races of the Great Forest who used to charge at me shouting they'd kill me on sight have completely changed their tune. They're practically ready to convert and become my followers right now.
There was also the Orc Emperor, the demigod son of the Orc God, whom the Black Mage had tossed far away without finishing him off because he had to deal with the Demon Kings first. Wrapped head to toe in bandages and splints, the Orc Emperor lay prostrate with the most pitiful expression he could muster.
He's already mostly healed as a demigod, yet he's putting on this act. If he weren't the Orc God's son and didn't fall under 'good', I'd eliminate him on the spot.
The Dragonkin were nowhere to be seen; they had apparently fled using another gate to the Demon Realm as an excuse.
I was going to trample the Dragonkin who called me insane and cursed, but it looks like that's off the table.
Upon closer inspection, the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Kings had remained.
That's right! The guardian races of the Middle World shouldn't abandon their post just because the enemy's situation has shifted slightly. Come at me.
Yet the Dragonkin's ruling class betrayed the Black Mage's expectations. The Jade Emperor and the Dragonkin, who had swiftly transformed into human forms like the Black Mage, prostrated themselves flat and sent several individuals forward.
"We have brought children who wish to pledge themselves to the noble and great Black Mage."
They were seven beautiful women with hair of different colors. Dressed in ornate jewels and gowns, they knelt before the Black Mage.
They're nearly Dragon King level. Yet they're pledging themselves to me instead of their own racial god?
His gaze lingered briefly on the ample chests swaying above their dress tops, but something about the situation felt deeply strange.
"These children have chosen of their own will to serve the great Black Mage as their god. We humbly ask that you guide them well."
"……."
Changing one's patron god was the gravest sin decreed among the gods, and without the protection of the new god, one would suffer a miserable fate. Yet from the emotions flowing from the Dragonkin beauties, it seemed genuine.
Anxiety, impatience, despair, and a sense of responsibility?
All emotions and thoughts of followers who pledged themselves flowed into their god. Though faint, the direct connection confirmed they had converted voluntarily.
There's no way they wanted to change their racial god. They're probably doing this out of fear of my retaliation against the Dragonkin.
When the Black Mage remained silent, the Dragon Emperor, growing uneasy, offered further explanation.
"They are the direct descendants of myself and the Dragon Kings, the most outstanding and beautiful from each Dragonkin tribe. If any child born to them desires it, we swear by Dragon Speech that they may succeed the Dragon Kings."
The Black Mage felt genuine irritation at the sudden absurd turn of events.
Who asked for Dragonkin beauties? I told you to come at me so I could vent my anger!
Among the human emperors and kings of the Middle World, absolute monarchy meant that taking royal heirs with succession rights as hostages was the most reliable method. If a newborn held the right to inherit the throne, they would be completely immobilized, so that was the approach taken.
The situation with the Dragonkin was entirely different.
You're a minority tribe of less than two hundred thousand, aren't you? Even calling him the Dragon Emperor, he's just a tribal chief! What power does a chieftain's daughter hold?
Moreover, Dragon Kings were merely the strongest among the Dragonkin who earned the title of king. Dragon Speech oaths held no real meaning either.
Breaking a Dragon Speech contract only seals one's own mana. The Chief God of the God Realm can release it later anyway.
While Dragon Speech contracts might be absolute for sentient beings, they held little value to spiritual beings. The Black Mage felt exhausted trying to deal with them on such unequal footing.
Haah—! It's not like you're at fault for following orders. I'll let it slide.
The Black Mage passed the endlessly bowing sentient beings, took the Dragonkin beauties with him, and began moving at high speed toward the Survival Magic Tower.
Now that he had become the God of War and the racial god of the Elves, the interior of the Great Forest was far too quiet.
Where did the familiar scene of thousands of arrows flying the moment I entered the forest go?
Occasionally he felt the gazes of Elves, but they carried only confusion, neither hostility nor goodwill.
As he raced toward the Great Cavity surrounded by the colossal World Trees of the High Elf Empire, the Black Mage's heart suddenly began to pound.
"Oho! This killing intent and fighting spirit directed at me belongs to the High Elf Queens."
The disappointment he had felt toward the races of the Great Forest, who submitted so easily even after he became the highest god, washed away completely.
Yes! These ones haven't changed. Even though I've transformed from an evil Black Mage into a noble and great Black Mage, they show me no respect. Even after becoming the highest god and their racial god, they refuse to worship me.
Around the World Trees encircling the Great Cavity, the High Elves had gathered to kill him, just as they always had.
Even though everyone who tried to kill me has changed and bowed in submission after my ascension, they still refuse to abandon me as their enemy. How could I not go all out against them?
The Black Mage finally felt as though he had returned home.
"My unchanging enemies, thank you for remaining as you are. As your rigid racial god, I shall make you pay the full price of apostasy. Behold the power of one who has reached extremely good karma."
The Black Mage spread both arms toward the sky and shouted.
"Otherworld Spirit God Summon—!"
A massive dimensional gate opened in the sky, and overwhelmingly powerful beings descended upon the Great Forest.
Goooooooh—!
At the highest branch of the central colossal World Tree, five High Elf Queens had gathered with grim expressions at Granzoa's arrival site, which glowed with light. Endless spirit power rose from their bodies, and their spirit-stone armor radiated brilliance.
Vwoooom—! Vwoooom!
Having wrapped their peak-trained physiques in spirit-stone armor, the spirit swords in their right hands gleamed with a stern light, ready to be swung at any moment. Though their faces remained pale from internal injuries that had yet to fully heal, their eyes burned with boundless fighting spirit and killing intent. This was because of Granzoa's wretched state before them—her body repeatedly shattering and regenerating, enveloped in black light.
Crack! Vwoooooom!
Granzoa's once-lustrous green hair, belonging to the former highest god, was endlessly eroded by darkness, while her flawless white skin darkened, peeled away, and regenerated repeatedly. Even her beautiful face repeatedly rotted and restored itself. She was desperately resisting the negation of her karma.
The High Elf Queens could not believe the downfall of their once-proud racial god, Granzoa.
After her karma became 'extremely good', her innate divine power, which had risen endlessly even when left alone, plummeted to the bottom and demoted her to a lower god.
One who was born as the highest-tier god as a direct descendant of the Main God, even without followers, has fallen all the way to lower god.
The moment Granzoa left the God Realm and lost her protection, every element of the Middle World began attacking her to finish her off. This was the price for the God of Light's karma falling to 'extremely evil'.
The air of the Great Forest, once so comfortable for us, now acts like poison trying to melt her body.
Her body crumbles under the warm sunlight, and the ground splits open to swallow her.
Due to the sudden activation of karma negation, she could not even return to the God Realm on her own, barely surviving through physical restoration within the World Tree barrier erected by the High Elf Queens, who were like her avatars.
She could not believe the current situation.
Is this the price of karma negation? How did he endure it alone for decades?
The suffering endured by a highest god, who received positive blessings no matter what he did, after his karma turned 'extremely evil' was truly horrific. Even Granzoa, who had planned to return someday and become the Main God despite losing everything in a single failure, had her will shattered in an instant.
All the divine power that reached the highest god vanished without reason. Even the authorities I wielded as naturally as breathing suddenly went awry.
This was the price for slightly reinterpreting the contents of the karma contract made with the Black Mage in her own favor. Now, even speaking, let alone conveying her will, was difficult.
"Great Goddess, do not worry. The god of the Elves is none other than Granzoa."
"This is the Great Forest, so even a tenth-circle mage cannot continuously activate magic."
"We shall prove that the God Realm was mistaken by severing his head with our lives."
"We shall overthrow him with the full might of the High Elf Empire."
Having experienced karma negation, Granzoa now understood just how powerful the Black Mage truly was. Even she, who governed the God Realm's greatest vitality and regeneration, had been reduced to this state, yet the Black Mage had overcome this adversity alone through magic and faced the High Elf Empire.
I must stop this unwinnable battle, but neither words nor will can reach them.
The Black Mage had endured karma negation and finally amassed enough power to pressure the God Realm to the brink of destruction. It was a will and venom that sent shivers down one's spine. And there was an even greater problem.
No—! He is already extremely good karma and the highest god of light. He is no longer bound by the restrictions of karma negation. No matter how much magic is restricted in the Great Forest, you stand no chance even if you stake your lives.
The High Elf Queens had witnessed the Black Mage instantly bury two Demon Kings and brutally deal with millions of black mages who challenged him. They had also seen the dozens of giant planets he summoned to erase dozens of human nations in one stroke.
No matter how much magic is restricted in the Great Forest, there is no way High Elf Queens, who are only at the level of intermediate gods, could have any chance of victory. Even the karma that once constrained the Black Mage now sides with him.
The High Elf Queens, who had fought for survival over countless eons, knew full well that there was almost no chance of victory against the Black Mage who had revealed his true nature. Yet they were still willing to fight an unwinnable battle for Granzoa's return to the God Realm. They had to stop this.
There was no need to return to the God Realm immediately. As long as she survived, no matter what hardships or humiliations she endured, she would grow even stronger than before and return.
Vwoooooom—! Vwoooooom—!
Alarms rang throughout the entire World Tree. It was the familiar, overwhelmingly powerful mana of the Black Mage. Just as he always had, he was approaching the High Elf Queens, brimming with fighting spirit.
The Black Mage has noticed the High Elf Empire's battle preparations.
Well, with this level of fighting spirit, of course they'd notice.
The High Elf Queens reflexively swelled their muscles and gripped their spirit swords tightly.
Crack—! Crack—!
It was the familiar battle preparation process, just as it had always been.
"The Black Mage invades the forest, and we try to kill him."
"It's something we've repeated endlessly for a hundred years."
"It doesn't matter that a new racial god has been appointed. The High Elf Empire fights only for Granzoa, the great god of the Elves."
"Even if the Black Mage has become the highest god and the Elves' racial god, that is his concern alone."
The High Elf Queens resolved to fight the Black Mage, who had become the greatest threat to both Granzoa and the High Elf Empire. Gripping their spirit swords with both hands and pointing them toward the sky, they chanted in unison.
"Spirit King Summon—!"
Fwoooooosh—!