The Golden Absolute's Burden

The aftermath of Truth's movements in the Spirit Realm war would undoubtedly fall mostly on Gold's shoulders. 'This is all because that damned Grey Absolute, who was supposed to coordinate the 10 Mainstays, is gone, leaving me—the representative—to shoulder everything.'

This kind of centralized control had worked when they were still weak, but once their powers became roughly equal, a single representative could no longer keep everything under control. To make matters worse, the Black Flame Race—a collective of pure struggle and murderous intent—had risen as a superior power. As they expanded their territory across the Absolute Realm and caused one incident after another, Gold felt like he was on the verge of collapsing from overwork.

'If I ignore them, our alliance falls apart. When we first rebelled against Truth and formed our faction, it felt like spring. Now, trying to maintain that same faction feels like the dead of winter. I never imagined these immature brats who only know how to flex their strength would become such a massive headache.'

When he asked himself whether the Absolute Realm and the Main Universe—gained by excluding Truth—were truly necessary for him, the answer was now a firm no. Although the Absolute Realm possessed an enormous amount of vitality compared to the Main Universe, it offered little benefit to the 10 Mainstays' races, each of which wielded a minimum of one quadrillion units of innate divine power. Moreover, simply developing Gold's Wind Star, which contained vitality surpassing even the Main Universe, was more than enough to sustain his entire race. In the beginning, before he understood this, he had wanted territory. But now, he wouldn't accept the Absolute Realm even if it was handed to him on a silver platter. Managing it was nothing but a migraine.

Besides, Truth showed no interest in the rebel faction. Every time Truth openly patted them on the head and said, "It must be hard raising all these children," Gold felt so wronged he nearly fainted. And when he considered the sole command Truth had given them—to raise every planet in the Absolute Realm to the level of Wind Star—the task seemed impossibly distant.

'There is no time limit, but the moment the level drops even once, Truth will pin all the blame on me and the 10 Mainstays before doling out collective punishment. If it were just the representative's duties, I could handle it. But having to maintain order on top of that is enough to drive anyone insane.'

The proposal to eliminate the perfectly functional Cyber Realm and introduce a new administrative god system had been nothing more than a way to vent his frustration. After all, Grey Absolute was the strongest among all administrative gods and needed to be powerful enough to rival the other 10 Mainstays. Yet even the highest-ranking Cyber God of the Cyber Realm—currently the strongest administrative god—couldn't possibly stand against them. No, it wasn't even a contest. They couldn't even handle a single race, let alone the 10 Mainstays. 'At this rate, I'll be stuck doing Grey Absolute's job forever and die from overwork.'

He had gone through all the trouble of instilling a sense of crisis, yet instead of trying to improve, they had latched onto that brutish Black Flame Absolute. The sight of the Cyber Realm clinging to him filled Gold with renewed fury. As the representative, not a single thing went according to his intentions. All he could do was barely restrain them as they rampaged however they pleased.

'Those incompetent fools from the Cyber Realm and the administrative gods—! How could anyone think the Black Flame Race, who might go berserk with fighting spirit and murderous intent at any moment, would make suitable allies? If you don't have the power to suppress them, it's over. Instead of thinking about creating a Grey Absolute on their own, they chose the Black Flame Race? If they lose control, they'll just switch sides again, won't they? The other eight Absolutes need the Cyber Realm too, after all. Still, it's impressive how those who rely on their heads refuse to put in any real effort. It would be simple if Truth would just designate any member of the Wind Family as the new Grey Absolute, but of course that won't happen.'

The one currently representing the Wind Family among the 10 Mainstays was Yuil Yongsinje, the Second Generation Wind Absolute. Though he had an excessively naive side, he stood at the top of the combat rankings. Even now, the other eight Absolutes would struggle to restrain him alone. If the Grey Absolute position also fell into the hands of the Wind Family, it would be the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠end. And it was no secret that the Wind Family looked upon the eight Absolutes currently managing the Absolute Realm and their races with disapproval.

Moreover, as Truth's bloodline, they already possessed incomparable strength. They would never welcome the appearance of races that could match their power. 'They remain silent only because this is Truth's will. The moment we turn our backs, war will break out at any time.'

If they fought now, they would certainly lose. But Gold was confident that in the future, they would be at least equal, if not superior. That was because while the enemy was a single faction, they were eight separate factions.

'The strength of the eight Absolutes' races is weaker than Truth's bloodline, but not to the point of being negligible. Now, time is the only factor that matters.'

It was absurd, but the one buying them that time was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Truth himself. The situation had become one where Truth—the very being Gold had formed a resistance alliance against—was preventing war between the eight Absolutes and the Wind Family.

'Just what is Truth thinking? At this rate, the Wind Family will inevitably be destroyed by the eight Absolutes and their races. If the Wind Family steps forward to manage the Absolute Realm, things will become far worse than they are now. So why is he supporting us and leaving us be?'

The answer to this question was always the same. He couldn't guess it, but it was simply the obvious conclusion if they fought now.

'As long as Truth exists, our defeat is guaranteed. We must find a way to surpass Truth. Back when we were full of motivation and first trying to build the alliance... that was the best time.'

But even after forming the alliance, they couldn't defeat Truth, nor could they even defeat Yuil Yongsinje, who was treated as Truth's half-successor and mocked for it. What made it even more infuriating was that Yuil Yongsinje, who oversaw the Eight-Ring Seal, was merely an avatar using less than half his original power, yet this was still the result. They still had an incredibly long way to go.

'The most ridiculous part is that the one preparing all these paths and protecting us is none other than Truth.'

Lost in these thoughts for a moment, Gold's eyes caught sight of the Black Flame Absolute activating his racial authority. The man had rebelled against him and stabbed him in the back—he should want to kill him immediately. Yet it seemed he still wanted to win somehow. Well, it was true that if a higher being of the Absolute Realm lost to a lower being of the Main Universe, there could be no greater shame. Beyond personal feelings, it would cause problems for the entire race, so victory was necessary first.

Fwoooooooosh—!

The entire Black Flame Race was enveloped in massive black flames. The racial authority of the Black Flame Race was nothing special. In fact, the authorities of the other 10 Mainstays were almost identical. It temporarily manifested power and authority on the same level as the race's origin, the Black Flame Absolute. Of course, there was a limit based on how long their bodies could endure it, but the highest-ranking members of the race could maintain it for at least one hour.

'All members of the race temporarily manifest the power of the eight Absolutes, whose innate divine power exceeds one quadrillion. This is why the Wind Family is so displeased yet refrains from launching an all-out war.'

Naturally, the races of the 10 Mainstays who activated their racial authority needed an enormous period of rest afterward, so they couldn't make the first move either. Even if they won, they would be left combat-incapacitated, and the other races would never let such an opportunity pass. The sight of the highest-ranking Black Flame members, empowered by this racial authority, unleashing their full power was visible now. As if they had anticipated this outcome, they smiled with ecstasy as they raised their strength to the limit.

"I've been waiting for this. You're finished."

For an instant, power exceeding one quadrillion in innate divine power surged forth, and the nearly perfect Always Coin Heads faintly but unmistakably recognized the Magic God of Dimensions. To think that even at the level of the Black Flame Absolute, this was the best they could do—the mage's power was unbelievable. But at the very least, the chaos among the avatar bodies had completely vanished.

An attack carrying over one quadrillion in divine power rushed toward the Magic God of Dimensions. Watching the scene, he let out a faint, mocking smile and replied.

"I've been waiting for this too. Everything is the same. As expected, you're the one who's finished. Mechanical Creator God—Antares of Black Flame—!"

Krrrrrrrrk—!

Suddenly, eighteen red giant stars tore through space and revealed themselves, radiating light. No—they were burning with black flames. They perfectly matched the black flames of the Black Flame Race, the embodiment of murderous intent and fighting spirit. The immense gravity and physical force emanating from the black-red giant stars fused into one, forming a massive spear that struck down from above upon the one-quadrillion-power attack.

"This is the end. Block it at all costs."

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaang—!

The tremendous repulsive force sent the black-red giant stars flying in all directions like shattered orbs. Naturally, they couldn't completely stop an attack of one quadrillion divine power, but they had succeeded in altering its trajectory. In the end, the Magic God of Dimensions had blocked the strike.

The highest-ranking members of the Black Flame Race were stunned that their absolute racial authority—which temporarily granted them the might of the eight Absolutes—had been so futilely deflected. A cold death sentence rang in their ears.

"Now that you have no more cards left to play, it's over, isn't it? Offer your life."

The Creator God of the Substitute Gods had already closed the distance. And they could feel the activation of that incomprehensible power from earlier—the Ego Ayuta. Even a Creator Candidate with 100 billion divine power had suffered critical damage from that attack.

'If it's one trillion divine power, even I would be annihilated if hit directly.'

But there was still time left. He still had the strength to launch that full-power attack from before. And there was still a part of the Magic God of Dimensions's body that his perception hadn't grown hazy toward—those two hands gripping his heart, interfering with the activation of Exploding Blood.

Now, prepared to abandon even his own heart, he unleashed a full-power attack.

"There's still more. If I can just dodge this... Kuuuuurgh—!"

Cough—! Cough—!

Blood poured from his mouth like a waterfall as his entire body began to necrotize. This was the phenomenon that occurred when the racial authority was maintained past its limit. There should still have been plenty of time left in the one-hour limit, yet a single attack had brought him to this state. It was completely incomprehensible.

The Magic God of Dimensions's laughter echoed through the space.

"Kukukukuku—! Do you still not understand the state of your own body? Well, after becoming one of the 10 Mainstays' races, you've probably rarely experienced a decrease in power, so it's hard for you to grasp, isn't it? After taking consecutive full-power strikes from Exploding Blood and Pahoton, plus being hit by Ego Ayuta with its target confirmed, you've already fallen to mid-tier. On top of that, with my hands directly gripping your heart and restricting your Exploding Blood, you're now barely at the level of a low-tier race."

"!?"

But that explanation still wasn't enough. He was already dying. This was unmistakably the unavoidable death that came from exceeding the time limit. Yet the fact that a single attack had caused him to surpass that limit and reach this state was incomprehensible.

"Kukuku—! Did you really think the Origin would properly support a traitor with the racial authority? It was only a momentary support, thinking that using it once would be enough. The fact that you trusted in that and used your full power without restraint just shows how stupid you are."

For a brief moment, his face went slack with shock before twisting into an expression of utter rage.

"Youuuuuuu bastard—! Let's die together. I will never let you pass the Eternal Judgment!"

He had only harbored dissatisfaction and rebellious feelings toward the Black Flame Absolute out of pride in himself. Everyone had complaints against oppressive superiors; he had simply held a few more than most.

'No matter how much of a high-tier race member he was with five trillion divine power, the gap between him and the Black Flame Absolute—who possessed one quadrillion divine power and nearly perfect authority thanks to Truth's guidance and support—was simply too vast. However, the Black Flame Absolute had revealed a fatal weakness right in front of him while receiving his own child, and he had reflexively attacked. It was the moment he had always dreamed of.'

If one landed a direct, unguarded hit with Exploding Blood and Pahoton, even one of the 10 Mainstays could be killed. Then, the one quadrillion divine power and the authority approaching perfection would pass directly to the victor. There wasn't a single member of the Black Flame Race who could stay calm in front of such an opportunity that might never come again.

But it had been a trap.

'Before I could even attack, I was forcibly dimensionally shifted and dragged into the battlefield of the Eternal Judgment. I'm being helplessly pushed back by the Magic God of Dimensions, who came thoroughly prepared.'

Even the racial authority he had been counting on had become the final blow that sealed his death under the stigma of traitor. Looking back, making him a complete traitor had all been for this purpose.

'The higher the position, the weaker the effect of the racial authority and the greater the backlash. If the opponent had been a child, the moment it activated, it would have been torn to shreds by an absolute protective authority.'

For the lowest-tier race, it would result in injury rather than death, but for the highest-tier race, it brought inevitable death like this. Everything—abandoning the child and choosing him, the highest-tier member—had been for this moment. It was all to make him receive an uncertain racial authority and die.

'At this rate, I cannot avoid death, and the Eternal Judgment will end.'

But he couldn't allow it to end in passage, so he gathered his last strength to focus an attack on the two hands gripping his heart. The authority was astonishing, but in the end, it belonged to a mere Creator Candidate with 100 billion innate divine power. Even this should be enough to prevent him from avoiding death.

However, the Magic God of Dimensions delivered his verdict in a calm voice.

"It's too late now. You should have given up on your heart from the beginning. Even after receiving an unexpected attack, you refused to accept any loss to yourself until the very end. This is your defeat. Farewell. Begin again as a bug."

"I'll see you again as a bug. You won't be able to restore the aftermath of that strike without any damage either, so you'll share the same fate. I will definitely remember you, Magic God of Dimensions! No, ******."

Paaaaaaaaa—!Uuuuuuuuuuung—!

The Creator God of the Substitute Gods spread both hands wide open. From each finger, divine power and magic power compressed to the extreme surged violently. Normally, even a full-power attack from a Substitute God Creator with one trillion divine power would mean nothing to a highest-tier Black Flame member. But with a body already wounded like this and confirmed to die from the backlash of the racial authority, there was no way he could endure it.

The highest-tier member who had even aimed for the position of Black Flame Absolute would ultimately have to begin again as a bug.

Unable to hide his rage, he expressed it fully toward the expressionless Magic God of Dimensions who was chanting. The worst joint divine-demonic technique poured down upon him.

Kwagagagagagagagagak—!

The Creator God of the Substitute Gods brought his two hands together in front of his chest. Divine power and magic power fused, unleashing explosive destructive force. It was indeed a joint technique that activated more than five hundred times the destructive power. If struck directly, even one of the 10 Mainstays would be unable to avoid critical injury. In this physical condition, it was impossible to withstand. Above all, the Magic God of Dimensions never stopped suppressing him, keeping his grip on the heart until the very end. From the beginning, he had been prepared to take the attack together in order to leave no openings.

Tugagagagagagagang—!

Feeling his body shatter into pieces, he lost consciousness. Though this was the moment he would begin again as a bug, there was no fear. Because Truth gave fair opportunities to those who did not give up. It was simply a repetition of the past.

'Even if I become a bug again, I will definitely crawl my way back up. This time, I won't make such mistakes again. Before that, let's fight once more as bugs, Magic God of Dimensions.'

No matter what unrecognizable magic he used, it was meaningless before this extraordinary destructive power. Watching the Magic God of Dimensions shatter and vanish alongside him, he let out a faint smile and disappeared.

Huuuuuuuuuuuung—!

The Magic God of Dimensions and the highest-tier member of the Black Flame Race vanished almost simultaneously. All that remained was the Creator God, whose arms had been ruined by the aftermath of activating Ego Ayuta, spewing out pulses of divine power.

The 10 Mainstays were momentarily stunned by the situation in which both the participant and opponent of the Eternal Judgment had been annihilated together.

'There has never been an Absolute with a title who charged in like that, saying let's die together, in the Eternal Judgment where complete victory and one-hit kills are the basic conditions for passage.'

'A draw is already surprising, but the problem is that a higher being of the 10 Mainstays ultimately died together with a lower being from the Main Universe.'

'This is an unbelievable disgrace.'

'The fact that the races of the 10 Mainstays are the strongest in the Absolute Realm has become meaningless.'

'Now that a being from the Main Universe has succeeded, there will be an overflow of puppies who think they can do it too since even the strong of the Absolute Realm can fail.'

Just thinking about what kind of effort would be needed to regain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the same authority as before was horrifying. After repeated blunders, being beaten by Truth, and even the racial authority support he had suggested to quickly resolve the situation bringing about the worst outcome, Gold finally lost his reason. He grabbed the Black Flame Absolute by the collar and shook him violently.

Although his physical abilities were inferior to the Black Flame's, they could be compensated for with authority. That was why Gold was the head of the eight Absolutes and the representative of the 10 Mainstays. To be precise, it was because his overall combat power—including his personal ability and the full mobilization of the Golden Race—was the strongest.

"You stupid Black Flame—! You've caused another accident. What kind of trick did you pull with the racial authority support in this situation to cause something like this? It's better than defeat, but mutual destruction? What kind of disgrace is this? Do you think the other beings of the Absolute Realm will accept our rule from now on? Are you going to personally manage the entire Absolute Realm yourself? Answer me—!"

"N-no—! I supported him properly—! No matter how angry I was, I can still distinguish what should and shouldn't be done—! Distinguishing perfectly between enemy and ally is the basics of my authority. That's why there weren't any deaths even during the ranking matches when I completely lost my mind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and went on a rampage, right?"

Even while being grabbed by the throat, the Black Flame Absolute screamed in a voice filled with such injustice that it seemed he would go mad, without even thinking of escaping.