The Flaw in the Black Flame
In the radiant light that governed every authority within the Spirit Realm War, two popes rendered judgments based on incoming data. Though this is only a limited resurrection inside the Survival Magic Tower after death, it is still precious.We waited endlessly for a chance to reclaim memories erased across lifetimes, only to be absurdly revived through dark magic. Yet we understand exactly how enormous this opportunity and grace truly are.
They therefore supported him with everything they had. Inside the absolute-grade time acceleration, they had fought alongside him for twenty thousand years, conveying their will and battling as one. Though it has taken less than two minutes in real time, more than twenty thousand years have passed inside the domain of Dimensional Authority. During that span, I nearly lost my mind at that self-righteous, narrow-minded stubbornness.
Mages are supposed to be eccentric, but this one’s obstinacy transcends imagination. He clings to his own ideas without the slightest change, clashing endlessly with the gods of the Divine Spirit Purgatory whom we barely managed to soothe and persuade. Even the popes had tried to restrain him, but a person’s fundamental nature does not simply vanish. In the end, the Magic God of Dimensions himself seemed to realize it was hopeless; only after granting the two popes full authority over negotiations had they finally reached this point.
Pathetic as it is, during that entire period the Magic God of Dimensions never once stopped preparing to defeat the Black Flame.Even while struggling against the powerful lifeforms of the Wind Star, he poured every ounce of spare mana and time into the effort. The result was the planetary magic tower built upon the Wind Castle of Black Flame.
A single activation would obliterate everything, yet its might approached the fifteenth circle. According to the magic system he provided, ten billion equals the tenth circle, over one hundred billion reaches the twelfth, one trillion exceeds the thirteenth, and ten trillion attains the fourteenth.The projected maximum output of the planetary magic tower based on the Wind Castle of Black Flame, however, approached one hundred trillion.
Anything beyond one trillion qualified its user as a Creator God King candidate. In the Main Universe outside his own domain, this was an unprecedented birth of a prospective Creator God displaying supreme output. Temporarily, it could surpass any Creator God King within the Main Universe and stand among the highest echelons even in the Absolute Realm.Without an achievement of this magnitude, no authority or smooth words could have persuaded them.
Yet it remained lamentable that he still could not defeat even a single member of the Black Flame clan, let alone the Black Flame Absolute himself—one of the 10 Mainstays. The Black Flame clan possesses the strongest bodies and fighting spirit in the Absolute Realm; therefore, a one-shot long-range attack can never kill them.The Authority of Black Flame that cloaks their entire bodies in blazing fighting spirit deflects or annihilates most authorities and auras.
The only effective attacks were those that struck the body itself, but the Black Flame clan’s close-combat ability was acknowledged as the strongest in the Absolute Realm. Thus, even in the face of magic and authorities of this magnitude, they still brimmed with leisure. However, they were completely at a loss against the continuous dimensional-shift assaults emitted by the absolute-grade Dimensional Authority.
Although the Black Flame reigns supreme in the physical category, Dimensional Authority belongs to the hardest non-physical category to master and comprehend.In terms of bodily reinforcement it cannot compare, yet the authority itself is of the highest-tier time-and-space category where the Black Flame clan’s pure physical power is least effective. The Dimensional Authority that had reached absolute grade was precisely the worst matchup for the Black Flame clan.
According to the data, if the Black Flame clan is allowed within one hundred meters, erasure will occur in a single strike. Maintain maximum distance through continuous dimensional-shift attacks, restrain them as you are doing now, and wait for an opening. That is the most appropriate course.
All the gods imprisoned inside the Divine Spirit Purgatory have been successfully persuaded. You need only liberate them the moment victory over the Black Flame clan is achieved. Their choices afterward will be left to them. All you must do is win.
“Understood.”
The Magic God of Dimensions did not reply aloud to the two popes’ reports, but they knew he had registered the information with perfect clarity. He simply had no mental capacity to spare while focusing entirely on the current battle.
Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu—!
The hexagonal aggregates of mana, created with obsessive intent to target the Black Flame clan’s infant, continued shifting dimensions only to be utterly shattered by the Black Flame Absolute. Watching the mana aggregates prepared across twenty thousand years shatter so meaninglessly, the accurate description was that he was endlessly searching for an opening.
Eventually, the answer arrived.
“As expected, it’s not working. Is this what it means to be one of the 10 Mainstays of the Absolute Realm? To block every single one of the tens of thousands of dimensional-shift attacks that even the Creator Gods of the 499th Main Universe would struggle to grasp?”
He let out a long sigh and withdrew his mana. No matter how much computational power the gods of the Divine Spirit Purgatory provided at full strength, any further attacks were pointless.
Paaaaaat—!
The moment the seemingly endless dimensional-shift attacks ceased, the Black Flame Absolute stopped defending. He was dumbfounded.
When have I ever blocked attacks using nothing but defense?
The absolute-grade dimensional-shift attacks were so difficult to read that perfect defense was impossible unless one possessed Always Coin Heads. It felt refreshing to move with such focus for once, but the problem was that his opponent was not even a fellow member of the 10 Mainstays, merely a failed candidate who had been eliminated before becoming one of the Substitute Gods—an absolute being bearing the title of prospective Creator God. This was unacceptable.
“You bastard—! My intuition feels off, but whether it’s childcare duty or whatever, I’m killing you first. Wait—! Gah—!”
Kaaaaaaaang—!
The Sword of Ruin and Soul mercilessly slammed into the forehead of the Black Flame Absolute as he charged in fury. Fortunately he avoided the disgrace of being smashed into the ground, but the pain threatening to burst his skull forced him to clutch his head and roar in rage.
“Uuuuuuuu—! Uwaaaaaaaaaaagh—! Why can’t I kill you?! Why the hell not?! Damn it—! The Sword of Ruin and Soul I received activates automatically if I violate Always Coin Heads, so of course it won’t answer, and it’s not like I properly understand it either!”
The fighting spirit of the Black Flame Absolute, who had spoken as if trying to convince himself, began to transform ominously. His body likewise swelled as dark-red blood vessels surged above his muscles.
“This is driving me insane. My intuition screams that I absolutely must not kill you, but the way you act makes it impossible to let you live. Of all things, you target an infant? And you refuse to give up? How can I trust anything after this? Forget childcare—I’m erasing you completely—! I’ll shatter every last bit of that absolute-grade Dimensional Authority or whatever it is!”
From his heart, dark-red blood vessels raced across his entire body as if drawn in ink. And then it began to resound.
Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!
It was the sound of his heartbeat. In an instant that sound transformed into an explosive roar that seemed to shatter eardrums, vibrating through the atmosphere and space itself. The Black Flame Absolute’s entire body was dyed the color of dark-red blood. Fighting spirit and murderous intent flooded every direction, shaking the entire Wind Star.
His hair blazed in every direction, emitting streams of fighting spirit, murderous intent, and aura that far surpassed the Black Flame clan’s tolerance limits. Everything within his domain was annihilated and erased. Though it lacked the vast planetary-scale area typical of an absolute-grade secret art, its density and condensed power defied imagination. Both physical and non-physical phenomena were erased inside the blazing black flame. There were no exceptions.
Puhahahahahahaha—!
Watching the dimensional-shift bricks that had annoyed him until now burn away without a trace, along with the dimensional barrier itself crumbling, a faint smile formed on his lips. The time of excruciating training had been severe, but the power Jinri had bestowed upon him—the first among countless clan members to obtain it—was truly satisfying.
Though Exploding Blood ranks third among the ten strongest of the Absolute Realm’s 10 Mainstays, in pure close combat it is an absolute power that overwhelms them all. Even the first star of Exploding Blood could deliver instant death to any opponent except those nearing the 10 Mainstays.
“Before the first star’s Explosive Sound, no living being can endure. The second star’s Thunder Sound destroys all spiritual bodies. The third star’s Extinction Sound defeats even the Eternal Beings who are Creators. At the fourth star and beyond—Silent Sound—there is no opponent who can survive facing me. The first-generation Black Flame Absolute was invincible and supreme with only the third star, Extinction Sound. He activated Silent Sound solely against Jinri and used it to block. This is the supreme physical authority of the Absolute Realm—Exploding Blood. Against the likes of you, even the first star’s activation is enough to erase you completely. So farewell…?”
His words cut off.
The atmosphere of the Magic God of Dimensions, who had lost his dimensional-shift attack methods and the dimensional-shift barrier created by the absolute-grade Karma Contract’s time-acceleration authority due to the aftermath of the Black Flame Absolute’s Exploding Blood, was far too calm. He was quietly conveying his will to the popes.
“As compensation for aiding me, your limited resurrection is now complete. There will be no issues even outside my Survival Magic Tower. Furthermore, your safety and persons will be transferred to Gaiana of the Divine Realm… No, that won’t do. Transferring to Granraha wouldn’t work either. Subordinate gods or the spirit gods of the Otherworld are out of the question. Among all the gods of the Divine Realm you are connected to, is there no one I can ask?”
Whiiiiiiir—!
The perfectly hexagonal solid especially rich in mana that the Magic God of Dimensions had been holding in his hand vanished through dimensional movement.
“Heh heh heh—! What right does someone like me have to ask favors? There’s no one who would accept anyway. That was an uncharacteristic sentiment. Take this.”
Now that the dimensional barrier had disappeared, his will transmitted clearly enough for not only the Black Flame Absolute but every member of the Black Flame clan to perceive.
What is this?
In response to the pope’s question, the Magic God of Dimensions answered in a voice unusually filled with benevolence.
“It is the self-destruct device of the Dimensional Main God Star. Or rather, the Dimensional Creator God Star now. I created it in the past so that if I seemed likely to lose when settling matters with the entire Divine Realm, we would die together. It fuses my mana, divine power, and the Survival Magic Tower’s mana. Upon activation, the Creator God Star becomes the core of the explosion; at this point it could easily annihilate a Minor Sector universe. All living beings inside would naturally be erased, and even spiritual bodies up to the Creator Gods would die or disappear. Threaten them that you will detonate it immediately if they touch any of you, and secure recognition of the Survival Magic Tower and part of the surrounding Great Forest. This is my reward for your hard work. I will temporarily reclaim the authority.”
The reaction of the popes and saints was one of pure bewilderment. What they had casually received was the detonator of a bomb capable of annihilating an area exceeding ten thousand times the size of the solar system. It was enough to make one faint.
Eeeeeeeeek—! I hate this! It’s real!
D-don’t drop it—! You idiot—!
Kyaak—! It’s falling—! Catch it—!
While a commotion erupted far away inside the Survival Magic Tower on the Dimensional Creator God Star, the Magic God of Dimensions severed his will as though it no longer concerned him. He gave a light bow to the dumbfounded Black Flame Absolute and introduced himself with perfect courtesy.
“I am the Magic God of Dimensions, one of the prospective Creator Gods under Proprieties, the general Creator God of the 499th Main Universe. It is an honor to meet Luca Eiles II, who has inherited the title and name of the Black Flame among the 10 Mainstays of the Absolute Realm.”
“Haah? You’re introducing yourself now? And why not Origin or Dimension? Or is it because you can’t fully release the title? I suppose Dimension makes sense since it wasn’t approved, but what kind of subordinate hands over a device that can blow away even the domain of the higher Creator God of his own Main Universe?”
The Always Coin Heads possessed by the Black Flame Absolute informed him that both the detonator the Magic God of Dimensions had handed over and the area that would be annihilated upon detonation were genuine.
It’s a bomb so insanely dangerous it would leave even the Absolute Realm speechless. And he handed it over to beings who contributed to him, all for their safety.
It was an act as dangerously reckless as giving an infant power and authority beyond its capacity to handle. In response to the Black Flame Absolute’s seemingly reproachful words, the Magic God of Dimensions revealed white teeth in a grin beneath the shadow of his black robe.
“Haha! A sense of belonging and affection toward one’s organization is extremely important. It arises from the authority granted and the protection of the organization. Besides, the moment I am unjustly abandoned, I intended to blow everything away anyway.”
“You’re completely unsuited for childcare. A being who would use any means necessary to survive alone could never raise an infant.”
“Childcare? You mean this infant here? I apologize, but I have no experience with childcare and my personality is entirely unsuited for it, so it’s impossible.”
Uuuuung! Uuuuung!
The Black Flame Absolute’s eyes widened endlessly. Inside thousands of overlapping absolute-grade dimensional barriers, one infant of the Black Flame clan was trapped.
“!!!”
When he hurriedly looked back, he saw his partner panicking over the sudden disappearance of their child. A mental shock greater than the helpless theft of his own infant crashed over the Black Flame Absolute.
“How—?! You moved without triggering my Always Coin Heads? I didn’t sense anything! Wait, I’m sensing it now? Am I too late?”
A sudden wave of anxiety swept through his mind, along with the memory of the dimensional-shift attacks that had accelerated to more than twice their previous speed just moments ago.
I don’t know how, but the Magic God of Dimensions’ computational power momentarily doubled, accelerating the dimensional shifts. The absolute intuition definitely activated, but far too late.
An impossible event had occurred: the failure of absolute intuition against a lower being. The Magic God of Dimensions, who now manifested a hazy additional pair of wings of light alongside his fully materialized twenty-six pairs, spoke as though explaining.
“It is the difference between a completed authority and an incomplete one. It is also a comprehensive flaw of always-active authorities. Always-active authorities are convenient, but they require stable computational power and output. However, due to your lack of proficiency, roughly one activation in ten thousand was ever so slightly delayed. Furthermore, the instant you activated Exploding Blood, the sudden surge in output caused confusion that temporarily lowered the authority. I pierced that opening with dimensional shift activated at my original computational power. In conclusion, the Authority of Black Flame possesses a significant vulnerability immediately after activation until it stabilizes.”
A shock greater than being struck by the Sword of Ruin and Soul slammed into the Black Flame Absolute. It was enough to plunge him into momentary panic.
“O great Black Flame Absolute, one of the 10 Mainstays of the exalted Absolute Realm. It seems you will face serious trouble if you do not quickly perfect Always Coin Heads. Did none of the other 10 Mainstays mention this issue to you?”
“?!”
He had never even dreamed that such a flaw existed in the Authority of Black Flame, the very embodiment of endless fighting spirit and murderous intent.
The moment I raised maximum output, the abrupt surge in ability was so extreme that my other authorities and senses couldn’t keep up. A momentary opening like the one just now would be fatal.
Because his body was so overwhelmingly powerful that even slight vulnerabilities posed no problem, he had remained unaware. But in a situation where he had to protect something or where mistakes could not be tolerated, this was utterly unacceptable.
Yet the part that truly enraged him lay elsewhere. It was his feelings toward the other eight Absolutes with whom he had cooperated and trained across countless years, despite being rivals aiming for the peak.
These… these bastards call themselves fellow 10 Mainstays? We eight Absolutes are supposed to cooperate to gain independence from Jinri? Yet they never mentioned a flaw like this? Were they planning to stab me in the back later? Some comrades. So that’s why I tried to beat all of them to death during the last ranking battle—!
Gooooooo! Puhahaha—!
As the Black Flame Absolute raged to the point that the whites of his eyes showed while violently emitting black flames, the Magic God of Dimensions’ senses and authorities rapidly swept the surroundings. He was searching for something far more important than the infant of the Black Flame clan he had temporarily confined inside the dimensional barrier as the final opponent in the eternal judgment.