The Sin of the Creator General
The war in the Spirit Realm had reached a critical juncture, yet for the gods of the divine race, rebellion was an unforgivable crime that could never be tolerated.
Sangharama, the Creator General of the 499th Master Universe, had elevated the divine race to unprecedented heights with power and authority no one could match. Yet the original sin of having seized his position through revolution remained unchanged. Because of this, the evaluation of the gods under Sangharama’s rule was absurdly low compared to their overwhelming might.
But after facing them directly this time, it became clear that no Master Universe could possibly withstand the Creator Gods of the 499th. They were simply too powerful.
‘This is a heretical divine realm created by a traitor who should not even exist among the divine race. So why are their gods so strong, and why is their realm so abundant? Why did it take my full force just to break through the defensive divine realm? Even the Creator Candidates who aren’t true Creator Gods are standing toe-to-toe with my Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods. They’re trying to absorb vitality that would make ordinary gods shudder in fear. Are the Overlord Gods, Divine Realm Guardian Gods, and I—who were created through countless sacrifices—really this powerless?’
‘No! This can’t be right. We are anti-personnel specialized war gods created specifically to counter him. Our compatibility with these planet-sized Substitute Gods is the absolute worst. We must stall for time and prepare more thoroughly.’
‘I missed it—!’
The moment his thoughts wandered, the Magic God of Dimensions blurred once again and vanished.
Even after witnessing the enemy detonate himself rather than let his vitality return to their own universe, Sangharama’s successor realized the foe was still alive.
‘What kind of stealth authority is this? Even I, who have reached the level of Creator General, cannot pinpoint his location. I endured the humiliation of pretending to be dead just to lure him in, yet I never imagined the vicious bastard would drive a cursed spear carrying the authority of god-slaying straight into the hearts of every Overlord God and Divine Realm Guardian God.’
Even with the Creator General successor’s divinity and physical attack nullification reducing the damage, the rest of the gods were on the verge of death from the aftermath of the Substitute Race’s explosion and that single strike.
“You bastard—! Don’t you dare run—! Fight fair and square like a proper god should—!”
In a desperate rush, he gathered every ounce of divine power and slashed the vast surrounding space where the Magic God of Dimensions was trying to disappear with blades of light.
‘If I let him escape and recover, there will truly be no way to deal with him. I hold the advantage in raw power, but now I’m alone. If the Machine Substitute Gods and Demon God Kings join forces to attack the divine realm instead of targeting this fixed defensive divine realm, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to stop them like this.’
No matter how he looked at it, there was no one among the anti-personnel specialized Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods capable of defeating a Creator God of the Substitute Race who possessed a body the size of a giant planet. Unless they created new beings specifically designed to counter the Substitute Race, they would be completely helpless.
Swish—!
A reaction came from a portion of space. Only beings possessing spatial authority beyond the dimension could move through space at this moment, so the one occupying that gap could only be the Magic God of Dimensions.
The Creator General successor had to end this now.
“Ugh—!”
With a maximized blade of light, he sliced the very space itself in two.
Crack—!
The sensation of a massive spherical object splitting apart reached him.
‘Got him—! Ah—! No. Is that… a planet? It’s going to explode—!’
The core that had enveloped the Magic God of Dimensions—who had used the self-destruction of a giant Substitute God body to escape—was only the size of a house-sized boulder. Yet what had been cleaved by the blade of light was planet-sized.
Planets had been hidden throughout the surrounding space. If one forcibly teleported, they would collide with those planets and be shattered into pieces drifting through spatial gaps.
BOOOOOOM—!
Along with the deafening roar of the exploding planet, a shockwave that even divine bodies could not withstand swept over them once again.
Sangharama still couldn’t understand why the Substitute Race relied on such “planetary explosions” as their main tactic instead of using their authorities and divine power, but they were genuinely difficult to deal with.
Although divine bodies were nearly invincible against physical force, they were still matter. Explosions of stars and star systems that surpassed material durability inflicted tremendous damage. And trying to ignore that shock required consuming an enormous amount of divine power.
If they kept receiving such attacks, even if their bodies remained intact, they would eventually perish from total depletion of divine power.
He urgently cast protective barriers over the Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods caught in the blast zone and blocked the rest with his own body.
‘The massive damage and the aftermath of rapidly depleting vitality and divine power are forcing groans out of me. The wound I received from the Sword God, the Creator Candidate who guarded the defensive divine realm, has inflicted far too much damage.’
He still didn’t know what kind of authority it was, but even after ascending to Creator General, its lingering effects remained—like a predator eyeing its prey, constantly trying to tear his own limbs from his body. Enormous amounts of divine power and authority were being continuously consumed just to suppress it.
‘I need to return to the divine realm and receive treatment as soon as possible, but that Magic God of Dimensions is clinging to my heels like a venomous snake and won’t let me go.’
On top of that, protecting the Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods prevented him from using his full power. Having to continuously block transcendent physical forces like planetary explosions was straining him everywhere.
“Ughhh—! All Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods, return to the divine realm at full speed and reorganize your forces!”
With those words, he struck all of them, sending them hurtling away at ultra-high speed. He had realized that once they left a certain range, they would escape this cursed dimensional spatial movement restriction and be able to return to the divine realm.
Swallowing the groan that threatened to burst out from the massive consumption of divine power, he spread out a wide-area search authority to locate the completely vanished Magic God of Dimensions.
Having seen it once, he had roughly figured out the stealth authority. If he focused all his power, he should at least be able to detect a faint trace of the location.
It would be possible to strike the Magic God of Dimensions as he tried to sneak-attack the retreating gods.
But soon his expression crumpled mercilessly.
“That… that filthy—!”
There was no need to search. The Magic God of Dimensions had already used his unique spatial movement to complete his retreat toward the passage of the defensive divine realm. And he was doing so while absorbing vitality at full power from behind the recently restored Shuddering March.
The sight of him completely releasing his previously undetectable magic and devoting all computational power to restoring his shattered body was simply astounding.
“How dare a god hide behind the corrupted demon race—! And while running away, no less—!”
If he clumsily charged in to stop the restoration of the Substitute Race’s planetary armor, he would fall victim to that Demon God King. Of course, in pure capability, the Creator General successor held an overwhelming advantage, but any fight against a mental entity at the level of a demon emperor always required preparing for death.
And if he split his focus to kill the Magic God of Dimensions, it would be the end. So he could only watch.
And though they were enemies, the creative power and authority on display truly inspired admiration.
Vrrrrrrrr—! Vrrrrrrrrrrrr—!
Based on more than 80 trillion vitality, the creative power endlessly generated and reinforced a translucent planetary surface-like bio-armor for the Substitute God. Every time a new layer formed, magic circles were叠 upon it, covered again, and redrawn in an endless cycle of repetition.
In response, the surging magical power and divine power increased at a terrifying rate.
As if the computational power required to restore the Substitute God’s body and continue this process was reaching its limit, the Substitute God’s resonant voice rang out.
Ooooooooooong—!
The giant planet-sized Creator God of the Substitute Race instantly reappeared. Before they could even be shocked by the restoration speed that far surpassed even normal Substitute Gods, the Machine Substitute Gods that had been thrown with full force earlier all returned to the battlefield without exception.
The Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods, having recovered the losses sustained from shattering their powerful bodies against the enemy, once again guarded the fully restored giant planet-shaped Creator God of the Substitute Race and let out a majestic roar.
Even though they had become Substitute Gods, the ego of the Machine Gods remained to some degree. That ego was now trembling with joy at having overwhelmingly crushed high-ranking gods—an opponent normally impossible to face.
“Uuuung—! Uuuuuuuung—!”
What answered that joyful cry was something resembling a curse from the Magic God of Dimensions.
“Shut up—! Uuuung—! Stop that disgusting ‘uuung uuung’ noise. It’s driving me insane… uuung—! Damn it—! What the hell is this stupid… uuuuuung—! Ah—! Damn it—! I don’t even know anymore. This is the limit. I can’t even chant any more strengthening or transformation. Magical power cannon preparation… uuuuuuuung—!”
Creak—!
From the surface of the giant planet, wings of condensed black light unfolded majestically with a sound like they were devouring space itself. Then, as if they were cannon barrels, the 26 pairs of dark wings gathered forward, concentrating magical power at the front.
As if his computational power was at a precarious boundary, divine speech mixing the Substitute God’s resonance and language burst forth.
Gooooooooooooooooong—!
The wave of magical power exceeding at least two trillion created an illusion that everything was being destroyed. The power had already surpassed everyone’s ability to measure.
For a moment, no countermeasures could be devised.
‘Even the demon emperor’s full-power magical attack was only one trillion, yet this is more than double—! This cannot be blocked head-on. Can the God of Light even produce magical attacks like this? Is the Magic God truly this powerful!? He fired—!’
Thuuuuuuuuuuuud—!
There was no time to think. To prepare and fire a divine power cannon attack of that magnitude in an instant… A magical cannon that was like deadly poison to the gods of light came sweeping over a vast area.
‘It’s too far away to strike the main body, and trying to approach means breaking through the defensive network of the Demon God King and Machine Substitute Gods. No—more importantly, the Overlord Gods and Divine Realm Guardian Gods retreating to the divine realm are the primary targets. I have to change the trajectory somehow.’
The Magic God of Dimensions watched the Creator General successor desperately twisting the trajectory of the magical cannon with his authority, humming cheerfully as he prepared the next barrage.
If he continued absorbing over 80 trillion vitality into the Substitute God body and firing the magical cannons in rapid succession, it would be an easy victory. The vitality consumed by the cannons was only a few dozen trillion, so he could fire indefinitely.
With Shuddering March, whom he had promoted to Demon God King, handling defense, and the Machine Substitute Gods possessing horrifically high defensive power, there was no element of defeat anywhere.
“Uuuung—! There’s so much vitality, it feels great—! Uuuuuu—! I’ll keep shooting until everyone here dies. If you have any more forces to throw out, bring them on—! Uuuuuuuu—!”
“You cowardly, dishonorable bastard—! Come out and fight like a proper warrior of light—! What is this, hiding behind the demon race? Are you still worthy of being called a Creator Candidate of the glorious divine race?”
The body that had strained itself tremendously to dodge the nearly two-trillion-powered magical cannon and twist its trajectory let out a scream. The sense of crisis that continued barrages would kill even him came rushing in.
So the words he spat out received a kind reply. The very insults he had hurled at the Magic God of Dimensions earlier came flying back like blades.
“Uuuung—! I’m a lowly god born from a human, so I don’t really know what the glory of the divine race is. Besides, as a mercenary god, victory is the only thing that matters. Learn some common sense—Magic Gods only participate in war or step onto the front lines when victory is already guaranteed. The achievements will be claimed by the great successor and the divine realm as always, while I take all the rewards. Kuhuhuhut—! Not the pathetic scraps like before, but everything. A near-unique authority among 13th-circle spells like ‘divine power absorption’ and ‘physical nullification’? I’ll kill you, seal you in the Divine Spirit Purgatory, and examine you down to the bottom. If I, the Magic God of Dimensions, modify you, I should be able to absorb magical power as well. Then I will be invincible among mental entities. Kahahahahahat—! I’ll gratefully receive it before heading to the Otherworld. Let’s see how long you last against the ‘God-Slaying Magical Cannon’ in that state and situation? You know a direct hit means it’s over, right? If you diligently dodge, those guys can watch—! Uuuuuuuuuung—!”
“You—! This guy—!”
The Creator General successor was rendered speechless by the Magic God of Dimensions, who so openly revealed his greed for the other’s authorities.
‘Born as the successor to the Creator General of the 500th Master Universe, no god—nor even any demon—had ever treated him with such disrespect. There had never been an opponent who ignored and charged at him so indiscriminately.’
It was because of his status and ability, but the gods of the 499th Master Universe were completely different. Even knowing they couldn’t win, they charged in to protect the defensive divine realm, willing to die together. They hid no desire to grow stronger and win, and even challenged a Creator General—someone the divine race should have no chance of defeating.
This was an obsession with victory and fixation on strength even greater than that of the demon race.
‘Even demons retreat or negotiate if their odds of victory fall below half. I’m starting to doubt whether these are truly gods.’
Regardless of such bewilderment, the Magic God of Dimensions prepared to fire the ‘God-Slaying Magical Cannon’ once again.
To avoid that wide-area bombardment that could destroy an area the size of a satellite in an instant, with spatial movement currently sealed, he had to move at full speed with all his power. On top of that, he had to strain himself to twist the trajectory and protect the retreating gods.
Yet he could not choose not to. The Creator General successor grit his teeth and prepared, his eyes widening to their limit.
Flash—! Flash—!
Even the Machine Substitute Gods guarding the Magic God of Dimensions, who had become a giant planet-shaped Creator God of the Substitute Race, spread their dark wings wide, formed cannon barrels at the front, and prepared magical cannons. Although they didn’t possess the two trillion of the Magic God of Dimensions, the sight of eighteen God-Slaying Magical Cannons each carrying power exceeding nearly 300 billion was enough to make cold sweat break out on the opponent’s side.
The Magic God of Dimensions’ irritated divine speech was transmitted to the Machine Substitute Gods.
“Uuuung—! You guys stop ‘wing wing’-ing and finish your transformation already, then fire all at once! Uuuung—!”
“Uuuung—! Uung uung—!”
‘Conversion of divine power cannon to magical cannon complete. Simultaneous bombardment preparation complete.’
If he avoided the divine power cannon exceeding two trillion, he would be annihilated by the concentrated fire of the remaining cannons exceeding three hundred billion. With spatial movement currently sealed, there was no way to evade outside their range.
If he forcibly teleported, he would become lost in space from the explosion of the planets hidden in the spatial gaps.
At this point, it was questionable whether he could even avoid the death of his own body, let alone protect the other gods.
As the Creator General successor’s face turned deathly pale, the concentrated bombardment activated as if pronouncing his death.
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!
The space in front of the Magic God of Dimensions and the Machine Substitute Gods shattered into pieces. A wide-area magical cannon capable of swallowing not just satellites but entire star systems shot forward.
Already maximally weakened by the self-destruction of the liberated Substitute God Creator, they had neither the method nor the strength left to block it.
Watching the dazed Creator General successor, the Magic God of Dimensions felt boundless satisfaction.
In a little while, the unique authorities of the Creator General known as ‘divine power absorption’ and ‘physical nullification’ would fall into his hands. Even a brief inspection showed that despite the pathetic level of training, they absorbed nearly ninety percent of divine power and reduced impact.
‘If I, the Magic God of Dimensions, modify and strengthen them just a little, there will be no mental entity capable of defeating me. I don’t know where or from whom he received a critical blow severe enough to drop circles before entering battle, but thanks to that, I can just barely kill him.’
In that state, merely enduring the Machine Substitute Gods’ God-Slaying Magical Cannons—let alone his own—would be difficult. And if he had to protect the other gods on top of that, there was no chance of victory.
The moment the Magic God of Dimensions took victory for granted, a golden parchment appeared before his eyes. Before he could even be surprised, a unilateral declaration of his victory followed.
But it was an act of tyranny announcing despair.
Victory. Termination of the Karma Contract.
“Uuuuuuuung—! Not now—! Just give me a little more time—! Uuuung—!”
He absolutely could not win like this. This was not an ordinary Karma Contract, but an absolute-grade Karma Contract with the title fully unlocked and all restrictions removed.
‘If it ends clumsily in this state, I’ll be confirmed as a bug and have an extremely high chance of repeating life infinitely. At the very least, I need to capture that Creator General successor and steal that authority to have even a slight chance of reflecting it or escaping.’
The authority of ‘Dimension’ was hopelessly weak in one-on-one combat and only showed its true worth in large-scale battles. In his current state as a fugitive, he couldn’t even dream of building up forces. However, if he had that unique authority of the Creator General, he would have nothing to worry about even if he went to the Otherworld. No—he could obtain strength great enough to claim one of the highest positions in the Otherworld by himself.
He could have held it in his hands with just a few more seconds. But the Karma Contract was mercilessly cold.
The title of ‘Origin’ that had been fully active was once again mostly sealed. Along with it, all reality negation strengthened by the demon-god fusion authority disappeared.
Shhhhhhhhhhh—!
The God-Slaying Magical Cannon that had been on the verge of a direct hit against the Creator General successor and the main force vanished meaninglessly. The Machine Substitute Gods returned to their original Machine God forms.
The most he could do was keep Shuddering March—who had been promoted to Demon God King through dimensional authority—as a high-ranking demon god.
Even the Magic God of Dimensions reverted from the planetary form of the Substitute God back to his original human appearance, as if time had been rewound.
However, upon returning from Substitute God to human, his restorative power seemed to stop functioning. The severe injuries from the aftermath of firing the maximum-output magical cannon in rapid succession, combined with the distorted and ruined body from the Substitute God transformation, made further combat impossible.
By human standards, it was an injury so severe that merely surviving was strange.
A brief silence fell. Then the Magic God of Dimensions, clutching his blood-soaked head with ragged hands from which blood dripped steadily, let out a scream like a shriek.
“Kuaaaaaaaaagh—! What the hell is it this time? This kind of victory doesn’t count—! Why am I always so unlucky? If I had just a little more time, I could have become invincible! My karma is already at absolute good or higher, so who the hell intervened—! Who ignored his absolute-grade Karma Contract… huh?”
As the Magic God of Dimensions shed tears in resentment, the form of a wooden sword appeared above his head and struck his forehead at the same time.
Thwack—!
Slowly swung yet impossible to dodge even after seeing it coming, the strike caused cracks to spread from the forehead of the ruined Magic God of Dimensions. His body gradually turned to dust.
He couldn’t even wonder who had attacked him or how an attack could so helplessly collapse a body that had partially taken on the characteristics of a Substitute God and become supremely durable. His consciousness was cut off immediately.
“You’re too noisy, so disappear for now.”
It was the beginning of his eternal judgment.