The God of Knowledge's Reckoning
The God of Knowledge had known the one who now sat as the Main God of the Divine Realm—a Creator Candidate of Dimensions—ever since that man first attained divinity as a dark mage.
‘At first, I was dumbfounded that a mere human incapable of ascending to godhood on his own had become a Main God-level being. When I checked his title and discovered he was an Absolute Being, I immediately lost interest. After all, we could never accept a god who practiced black magic into the Divine Realm. I assumed the goddesses would handle such a powerful male Transcendent themselves.’
In truth, things had seemed to unfold exactly as expected. Then, against all odds, the incomparably strong Granzoa—who possessed the authority of Infinite Restoration and stood alone among the Main Gods—had been driven to the brink of annihilation. She had been forced into signing nothing but an unfair karmic contract just to survive.
‘Right after that, I watched him absorb every ounce of negative karma the black mages had accumulated and flee desperately into the Great Cavity.’
Negative karma was heavy enough to crush even the mightiest High Lord. The God of Knowledge had been certain the man would perish on his own. Yet, in a mere seventy years, he had grown powerful enough to threaten the entire Divine Realm, risen to the rank of Supreme God, and after the war with the Substitute Gods, had even become the Main God of the Divine Realm.
‘After that, I gathered every available record and cross-checked them thoroughly. I even obtained documents from his days as a mercenary god. Every last one described a 10-Circle black mage whose combined karma was pure evil.’
A mercenary god wielding 10-Circle black magic had suddenly appeared, and his battle records were a compilation of feats no single individual should have been able to accomplish.
‘Confirmed solo subjugations through mercenary contracts: one 11-Circle Absolute Being, ten Main Gods, and a large number of Main God-level entities. In addition, he is estimated to have participated in dozens of battles on the Substitute Gods’ front lines and hundreds of other battlefields. Officially, he never gave up on a contract. Even when he failed within the time limit, he completed the subjugation afterward without compensation. In every contract, his overwhelming authority and strategies that defied common sense ensured he never lost a single battle and always secured victory for his allies. As a Main God-level deity with unknown affiliation and planetary origin, he became known as the Undefeated Mage God or the God of Combat. Detailed battles presumed to be those of the Supreme Main God of Dimensions are listed below: suppression of an 11-Circle mage’s rebellion, the fastest recorded Main God qualification trial against the Substitute Gods…’
The listed battle records were a relentless chronicle of impossible conditions—wars no lone individual should have survived—yet he had endured them all with desperate tenacity.
‘Every battle the Main Divine Realm had written off as a hopeless defeat that was later overturned bore the footprints of the current Main God of the Divine Realm.’
A warrior god of such overwhelming power would have been worth accepting into the Divine Realm despite his evil karma, if only the goddesses could have suppressed the side effects through faith. Yet every faction in the heavens had given up on him. The biggest problem was his disposition toward victory.
‘He is cruel enough to use not only his allies but even himself as bait if it means completing a contract and ensuring survival. He wages battles so vicious and cold-blooded that even the demon gods who faced him in the qualification trials shuddered. Using his unique black magic, he tramples enemy headquarters and rear lines without distinction. While he guards his own life with extreme caution, within the bounds of a contract his greed is so immense he will scrape the bottom of every enemy warehouse. In many of the Undefeated Mage God’s battles—presumed to belong to the Supreme Main God of Dimensions—even draws left the enemy on the verge of bankruptcy. As a combat god or commander, he is an outstanding mercenary deity. However, after victories, the constant requests from defeated foes to return plundered goods require special management.’
Up to this point, everything had been fine. A mercenary god coveting rewards beyond his contract fee was hardly an issue. If anything, stripping the enemy to the point of bankruptcy deserved praise.
But the reason the Divine Realm had ultimately abandoned any thought of incorporating him remained burned into the God of Knowledge’s memory like a brand.
‘Multiple confirmed instances of executing incompetent allies because they hindered victory. Additionally, a large number of gods died during missions under suspicious circumstances. Most were direct subordinates dispatched to their first battles. Beings above Main God rank thoroughly investigated the causes, but because the victims’ own memories were unclear, the cases were ruled undetermined. Based on the circumstances at the time, it is inferred that they were eliminated for interfering with combat. While the justification of prioritizing victory is flawless, as a god of light he displays a disturbing lack of mercy. The Main Divine Realm judged him the most dangerous entity due to his authority exceeding that of Main Gods, his strategic brilliance as a mage god, his cruelty surpassing that of demon gods, and his blind willingness to sacrifice even himself to complete contracts and secure victory. They attempted to exclude him. However, because he was a bizarre being who actively sought unfair karmic contracts, no tracking was possible. In the end, they approved his use solely as a mercenary god in battles where victory seemed impossible. Overall, as an undefeated combat god, his capabilities are beyond dispute. To his enemies, he is terror itself…’
The God of Knowledge’s thoughts had reached that point when the next words snapped him back to full alertness. The terrifying Main God of the Divine Realm, who disposed of incompetent allies without hesitation to achieve victory and fulfill contracts, had just singled him out.
“God of Knowledge, why have you still not become a Main God? With the support of the Supreme Divine Realm, it should have been more than enough. Are you simply being lazy?”
“!?”
Unlike the past, the Divine Realm now overflowed with Main God-level beings, making even the highest seats at the Round Table precarious. The God of Knowledge had already half-retired in his heart, deciding to live comfortably at the bottom. That half of his retirement plan was now shattering into pieces.
“Do you require a trial?”
There was no emotion in the tone, yet the meaning was terrifying. It implied that if he did not ascend to Main God quickly on his own, he would be dispatched to some battlefield.
“Th-that is not the case. The vitality I possess is insufficient for my body to keep up with the support.”
“I see. It is true that your lack of vitality has left your body’s reinforcement inadequate.”
It was an excuse, but it was also undeniably fact. The God of Knowledge’s authority was certainly above that of a Main God. However, having started with nothing and lived under a mountain of debt to the previous Main God of the Divine Realm, he had never had the resources to invest in his own body.
‘The Divine Realm’s support has increased, but my body was not prepared to handle it.’
At the God of Knowledge’s answer, the Main God of the Divine Realm gave a light nod. His gaze now turned toward the far end of the hall, where the dejected primordial combat gods sat.
‘They failed to become Main Gods for the same reason—they lacked the resources to invest in themselves. Now they must be content with the lowest seats among the Supreme Gods. There is no debate about their combat experience or the strength of primordial combat gods, yet because they are all impoverished, they cannot seize this rare opportunity.’
The primordial combat gods could not handle even two of the goddesses who had grown incomparably stronger after becoming the Main God of the Divine Realm’s consorts—let alone the goddesses of the past.
‘With so many Main Gods now, even the strongest primordial combat gods hold almost no value to the upper echelons of the Divine Realm. After all, the role of a single Main God can handle what used to require hundreds of other gods.’
So it was to their exhausted ears that the voice of the Main God of the Divine Realm rang out.
“I speak to the God of Knowledge and the primordial combat gods. Are you prepared to sacrifice everything for strength?”
Thud—!
Thud!
At those words, without even realizing it, they slid from their chairs and fell to their knees in answer. Instinctively, they understood this was another chance. No—they could not accept falling back into being insignificant low-ranking combat gods again. That was precisely why they had been waiting for the new Main God of the Divine Realm to call upon them like this.
“We desire it. We will offer any loyalty. Please grant us another opportunity.”
“Then die. That body has already reached its limit. Begin again from the start.”
A bone-chilling cold swept through the Main God Temple. The newly appointed Main Gods who managed the Divine Realm and even the Main God-level deities who had become the highest seats of the Round Table could only sit with their mouths agape, unable to utter a single word.
No matter how weak their current bodies were, they were bodies that had accompanied them for eons. To casually tell them to die and start over—there was no greater tyranny.
Whiiiir—!
After a long silence, the primordial combat gods lowered their heads and answered.
‘There is no need to exchange wills.’
‘With this body, growing stronger is impossible.’
‘We have learned that through countless training sessions and challenges against our limits.’
All they had lacked was the courage to begin again.
“If that is what the Main God of the Divine Realm desires, we shall accept it as combat gods.”
“Understood. Gigantic Meteor.”
Whoooong—!
Almost simultaneously with the answer, a low incantation rang out. It was a quiet chant without any flow of powerful mana. Yet its result was catastrophic.
Booom—!
Sluuuuurp—!
The bodies of all fifty primordial combat gods burst apart at once, dissolving into blood. What appeared in their place were metallic spheres drenched in crimson.
Not a single person in the Main God Temple had sensed any flow of mana or authority, yet the fifty primordial combat gods—who had reached the rank of Supreme God—had died without being able to offer the slightest resistance.
‘What the—!?’
‘What kind of attack was that!?’
Even though they had resolved to accept it, these were still the greatest combat gods known as primordial combat gods. The goddess-type combat deities who knew their power better than anyone stared blankly at the scene.
‘True combat gods who unconsciously counterattack against any assault have died meaninglessly.’
‘We didn’t even see it.’
Slosh—!
The bloody remains of the primordial combat gods’ bodies and the bewildered divine spirits who had no idea how they had been killed appeared. Immediately, the next stage began.
Whooooosh—!
Sluuuuurp—!
The primordial combat gods’ divine spirits and the blood from their bodies were sucked in as if drawn by a vacuum, disappearing into the Creator God’s jewel shining on the Main God of the Divine Realm’s forehead.
When any god dies, their divine spirit must return to their affiliated divine realm to await revival. Yet the sight of them being completely absorbed into the jewel, ignoring that law entirely, caused every god in the Main God Temple to leap to their feet.
What that meant was enormous. Their Main God of the Divine Realm could freely alter even the laws created by the Main Divine Realm.
“It is called the Origin Spirit Realm. Its effect could be described as the absorption of divine spirits and the strengthening of authority. Since they cannot emerge unless they become Creator Gods or I permit it, it could also be called a prison. For now, strengthen your authorities and divinities within.”
At the low voice of the Main God of the Divine Realm, every spirit god’s body trembled violently. They confirmed the interior of the Creator God’s jewel on their foreheads and realized his words were no lie. The sight of countless small temples arranged in a honeycomb pattern stretching endlessly was far too similar to the original form of the Spirit Realm.
‘After countless gods who could not endure the sense of defeat and hopelessness perished, the Spirit Realm expanded into what it is today.’
‘Of course, they are not mere coffins for storage. Each is the size of a small house, yet the sight still sends chills down the spine.’
The Spirit Realm—known as the prison of the god race—had perfectly sucked in the divine spirits of the Supreme Gods known as primordial combat gods from their Main God of the Divine Realm’s forehead.
Flaaaash—!
The moment the Creator God’s jewel, shining brilliantly with divine power and authority, appeared as an object of terror, the faint outline of lips visible within the light curved into a thin smile. The hatred for past enemies that had boiled inside them vanished completely. The threat of the present was far greater than any grudge from the past.
And it was not over yet.
“Will the God of Knowledge die as well?”
At the far too casual words of the Main God of the Divine Realm, the God of Knowledge’s eyes shook violently several times.
‘His own comrades, the primordial combat gods, were annihilated far too easily, and even their divine spirits were absorbed into that Origin Spirit Realm.’
No matter how much a god’s physical body was secondary to their spiritual form, death was still death. Of course, there was the promise that they would return stronger, but emotionally, it was not something to be handled so lightly. Yet he disposed of them simply because it was necessary.
‘It would be better to receive a stronger body in place of one that has reached its limit and grow. But… it is not wrong.’
It was a decision befitting the combat god hailed as the greatest among the mercenary gods for decades of achievements. It also proved that the Main Divine Realm’s evaluation had been accurate yet insufficient.
‘I would like to be reborn like that as well, but there is a reason I cannot.’
So he lowered his head and spoke.
“If you would assist me with vitality, I will definitely become a Main God and repay you.”
“Is that so? Now that I look, it seems the God of Knowledge has a reason he cannot die. Is it the mark of his judgment? It must be difficult for you as well.”
Thump—!
The God of Knowledge felt his heart sink. ‘I’ve been discovered. I even applied security measures that not even a Creator God could detect, yet he saw through it? Is his authority and analytical ability truly beyond that of a Creator God? Or is this the power of a Creator God of Dimensions? The ability to nullify all laws and authorities and create them anew? Is such a cheat-like authority even possible?’
Completely unconcerned with the God of Knowledge’s shock and anxiety, the Main God of the Divine Realm smiled brightly and delivered his verdict.
“So we were comrades in the same position. Receive this. Repay it by contributing to the Divine Realm. I expect much from you.”
A canteen filled with the sap of the Cosmic Tree appeared before his eyes. He stared at it for a moment, then took it.
There was no reason to refuse the terms.
‘Now that the Main God of the Divine Realm knows my identity, my fate is entirely in the hands of the Creator Candidate of Dimensions.’
The God of Knowledge had now reached the point where he had to stake not only his life but his destiny as well.
Gulp—!
Gulp—!
Gulp—!
He opened the lid and drank it down. He had no idea how it had been created, but it was the mother of all World Trees that managed planetary-scale ecosystems. Even at its maximum growth, it could manage and produce vitality on the scale of an entire star system. Only a Creator God could cultivate such a precious Cosmic Tree directly. The Main God of the Divine Realm, who managed it as he pleased, was truly remarkable.
‘The vitality of the Cosmic Tree flows down my throat, activating every corner of my body. It is absorbed like rainwater soaking into parched earth.’
The effect was even greater than the Cosmic Tree sap he had drunk in the distant past.
‘This has been further enhanced. What kind of authority is this? I wonder if I could have faced it even at my past peak. Of course, it would have been impossible.’
He no longer had the energy to be surprised. He could feel his body perfectly transforming into that of a Main God.
‘This is a different path from the one I once walked. It would have been possible if the foundation existed, but I never imagined it would be this easy.’
Becoming a Main God normally required eons of time, countless efforts, and unconditional loyalty that could never be repaid. Yet he had become one so simply. All it had cost was the simple yet heavy duty of contributing to the Divine Realm.
Hoooooo—!
Oooooooo—!
‘Was becoming a Main God this easy if you simply grabbed the right line? All my efforts until now were in vain.’
Emotions surged so violently that tears suddenly welled in his eyes. Above his head, eleven rings of divine power swirled, radiating the authority of a Main God.
“I congratulate the God of Knowledge on becoming a Main God. As the chairman of the highest seats of the Round Table, devote yourself fully to the prosperity and development of the Divine Realm. Lead these primordial combat gods who have become Main God-level beings and maintain order in the Divine Realm.”
Flaaaash—!
Flashflashflash—!
The strengthened divine spirits of the primordial combat gods burst out once more from the jewel on his forehead. At a glance, their divinities had grown incomparably stronger and the light of their divine power far brighter than before. All the restrictions of the impoverished bodies they had obtained in the past had been lifted. Using the combat experience and accumulated authorities they had built up over time, they had instantly reached Main God level.
Immediately afterward, a liquid resembling crimson jewels poured over the divine spirits’ heads, forming new bodies. The wave and formation of those bodies made the Spirit God Kings gasp in horror.
‘How could we ever forget that?’
‘It is the mighty body our Main God of the Divine Realm temporarily obtained through the black magic called “Main God Descent.”’
The power they had tasted then—stronger than their prime—still remained unforgettable.
‘Although we could not handle the body skillfully and suffered humiliation at the hands of the spirit gods of the Otherworld, in terms of pure combat strength it was overwhelming.’
Of course, they were currently cultivating their true bodies as well, but such a precious Main God body was being distributed so casually.
“It is the result of my research. It is a god’s body without restrictions. Depending on your efforts, it can grow as strong as you wish. From now on, the Main God of Knowledge and the primordial combat gods shall assist Gaiana, the Acting Representative of the Main God of the Divine Realm. This is the reward for your devotion to the Divine Realm until now.”
The bodies pulsed with power that made even Main God-level authority seem insufficient. Overwhelmed by ecstasy and gratitude, the primordial combat gods and the God of Knowledge fell to both knees and pressed their foreheads to the ground.
Watching all the gods of the Divine Realm stand stunned at the sight of Main Gods and Main God-level deities being created in an instant, the Main God of the Divine Realm touched the Creator God’s jewel on his forehead with his right hand and declared:
“The greater the reward, the greater the punishment. If you hinder the development of the Divine Realm, I shall grant you complete death with no hope of revival, or the most miserable regression to the past.”
Since most of them were former spirit gods, this declaration was the ultimate terror. Then he opened his left hand and pointed at the God of Knowledge, who had become a Main God, and the primordial combat gods, who had become Main God-level beings.
“They are the clearest proof of resolve. They are the path the Divine Realm must walk from now on.”
It was as if he were saying that regardless of the past or one’s origins, what mattered was how much one contributed in the present and opened a bright future.
“If you contribute to the development of the Divine Realm, your divinity will improve. All of you, strive with the goal of becoming Main Gods and devote yourselves to the Divine Realm. There will be no negotiation or adjustment for those who deviate. There will only be immediate judgment. Only those stronger than Main God level will receive consideration.”
The divine words of the Main God of the Divine Realm were now engraved upon the Supreme Divine Realm. The development and prosperity of the Divine Realm became the highest priority, and those stronger than Main God level would receive consideration. The detailed regulations had not changed, but the order of priority had been completely reversed.
Only then did the gods realize that the Divine Realm had undergone a complete revolution. The eyes of the spirit gods, who now understood what kind of realm they belonged to, began to burn with passion.
In the center of those heated gazes, the Main God of the Divine Realm—seated in the seat of glory—rose to his feet and raised both hands into the air. What appeared in the empty space was a gigantic circle drawn with fighting spirit and a triangular pattern floating within it.
“I am the Creator God of Dimensions and an Absolute Being who has received the title of Origin from him—! That is right—! I am quite literally the beginning and the foundation of all things. Glory to eternal development and evolution—! I merely pass judgment upon discord and regression—!”
The divine words of the Creator Candidate of Dimensions, filled with an intense will that overwhelmed every god and spirit god, were engraved upon their divine spirits. The will of the Main God of the Divine Realm exerted a powerful influence on the gods belonging to the Divine Realm and even strengthened their authorities.
“All of this is just, for it conforms to the standards of his karma. I simply live in accordance with that. In order to become his pride—!”
This was why the powerful Main God of the Divine Realm was held in such high regard and why the gods under him were so strong. Only those above Main God level could completely escape its influence. It had originally been a basic function designed by the Creation Realm, but because there had been no Main God capable of drawing out its performance to the limit, the function had been nearly discarded. Now, it was being fully utilized by the Creator Candidate of Dimensions, who possessed terrifying computational power.
‘Now every god in the Divine Realm will be affected by the authority of Dimensions and gradually grow stronger. And those gods moved by my intense will shall grow even stronger. Just like the God of Knowledge and the primordial combat gods, who were the only ones lacking vitality until now. Having replenished it, they continue to grow stronger with each level they ascend.’
Only now was the true form of the Divine Realm belonging to the Absolute Being known as Origin and the Creator Candidate of Dimensions beginning to reveal itself.