The Absolute's Judgment

The Spirit Realm's war had reached its climax, yet the Magic God of Dimensions remained utterly composed. As a sage-type mage who had ascended to godhood, he understood this symptom all too well.

'The foundation of magic lies in analyzing everything around you and making it your own.'

To a Magic God, there was no distinction between light and darkness, evil and justice. Everything was measured against oneself. Only upon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reaching the 8th circle of divinity did one truly become a Magic God. To achieve that, an excruciatingly strong sense of self and, above all, an indiscriminate capacity for absorption were essential. No—more accurately, it was boundless acceptance. And beyond that lay the authority of the Absolute.

'To completely absorb every aspect of another being and claim it as one's own.'

But because it claimed not only their authority and memories but even their fate, it could not be used freely.

'Existence Absorption!? Does he plan to devour all my information—my memories, personality, and authority included?'

Yet was there truly enough capacity to swallow an Absolute-level Magic God whole? If this being was the Origin of the Mage God, then perhaps it was possible.

Damn it—! As if I'd let myself be eaten!

"Rampage, Seongmyeol—!"

"With the qualification of rank one among the Substitute Gods, activate the racial authority!"

Kakakakakakakak—!

A thunderous roar erupted from the Creator God's mouth—not the resonance of divine power, but something closer to a scream of rage. In the blink of an eye, the body that had been torn to shreds mere moments ago was fully restored.

This was the Substitute Gods' ultra-regeneration ability, which amplified the divine race's unique defensive capabilities and the demon race's recovery and regeneration by more than tenfold. It allowed them to display over ten times the combat strength of ordinary gods. The ability that had previously only manifested through planetary bio-armor now appeared in humanoid form, even restoring their divine power.

Wooooooooooooong—!

Before anyone realized it, countless silver-gray Creator Gods of the Substitute race had surrounded the outer space of Wind Star like a siege. The divine power they emitted poured down upon the newly ascended rank-one Creator God, Seongmyeol, like a waterfall. Other planet-sized liberated Creator Gods desperately tried to block it, but they could not stem the tide.

Woooong! Wooooooooooooong!

The number of Creator Gods multiplied exponentially. It seemed those who had arrived earlier had not left but had been hiding nearby. The control over the sealed Substitute Gods belonged to the liberated Creator Gods. There was no way lower ranks could defy orders from those above them.

Although Seongmyeol was not yet formally incorporated into the Substitute race, the Cyber Realm recognized him as the top-ranked combatant. The most the others could do was slightly weaken the support. The Creator Gods, having managed to prevent a significant leak of precious divine power and vitality, now fixed their murderous gazes on the fully restored Seongmyeol.

Anticipating this situation, one particularly massive Substitute God—a Creator God whose size surpassed even giant planets—spread all twenty-seven pairs of wings of light and let out a roar of fury. Despite the majestic atmosphere, the meaning behind it was crude.

Kuoooooooooooo—!

(Kill that thieving bastard—!)

At the cry of 'Great Cause (大義)', the Creator God closest to the position of Creator God King among the Substitute race, every Creator God of the Substitute Gods focused their entire divine power on Seongmyeol.

They dared not approach Wind Star directly and thus aimed for long-range strikes. But the voice of Truth crushed their collective will, preventing the very activation of their divine power.

“Hmm—! So the current rank-one Creator God of the Substitute race, 'Great Cause (大義)', has had not only his rank but also the authority to activate the entire racial power stolen from him. The liberated Creator Gods with intellect may be difficult to control, but it seems all the sealed ones obey Seongmyeol. As expected of an Absolute-level dimensional authority. At the very least, its influence over other authorities is among the highest of all powers. The liberated Creator Gods are powerful, yet they represent less than one ten-thousandth of the entire Substitute race. To suddenly lose the majority of their forces… no wonder they’re going berserk. However, I will not permit clumsy rampages or collective action. Before you are Substitute Gods, you too are Absolutes who have earned your titles. Reclaim everything you have lost with your own power alone. Do not disgrace yourselves by clumsily mobilizing your forces.”

“Wooooooooooooong? (How are we supposed to defeat a combat-specialized Creator God born from the vitality of Black Flame with mere strength!?)”

“Woooooooooong—! (Moreover, he has even usurped our racial authority—!)”

“Woooooooo. (If we could fight fairly it would be one thing, but we cannot tolerate this outright theft.)”

The roar of fury—greater than any dissatisfaction at being blocked, but rather at the very existence that had suddenly stolen their position—burst forth from the largest and most powerful Creator God.

If things continued like this, it could lead to the total annihilation of the Substitute race—an emergency situation.

'I never imagined a mere Magic God could create a Substitute God that surpassed their own combat ability and register it through irregular means. And for that existence to be a soulless puppet recognized as rank one… there has never been such humiliation.'

But the moment Truth's hand released the Sword of Ruin and Soul and grasped the hilt of the Taegeuk Heavenly Sword strapped to his back, the bodies of the Creator Gods froze solid.

There was a saying in the Absolute Realm about Truth:

The Taegeuk Heavenly Sword was not so different from the Sword of Ruin and Soul, which refused to permit death and only delivered shock. It converted everything about the struck target into pure vitality without any shock or loss. No authority could revive, restore, or regenerate what was taken. It became the foundational energy of the universe.

Whenever Truth grasped the Taegeuk Heavenly Sword because an event hindered the universe’s development, at least one race was disposed of and converted into vitality. The fair punishment Truth—who never permitted death—inflicted upon all clans that acted recklessly, believing him soft-hearted, was to convert all but a tiny number of individuals capable of continuing the bloodline into vitality.

'One could not even begin to imagine how many lives had been converted into vitality by the Taegeuk Heavenly Sword.'

And now that blade was about to be drawn against the Substitute race.

“Do you all wish to die? The next generation of Substitute Gods has already been prepared. They are at least twice as strong and twice as useful as you. However, their performance is not yet worth the effort of completely erasing the existing ones and introducing them. I have delayed it because I believe in your potential to grow stronger on your own. But a race that would so easily dispose of its own kin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who have grown stronger together has no future. You would simply repeat cycles of coalescence and division until you vanish. Rather than wait for that, converting you all into vitality is also a fine choice.”

“Woo… wooooong? (Truth… are you saying we should acknowledge that thing as kin?)”

“Woooooooooong—! (A puppet that moves according to manipulation, without consciousness or ego—!)”

“That is for you and Seongmyeol to decide. As Absolutes who possess titles, settle it one-on-one. Besides, the Substitute race still has the potential to surpass Black Flame. That is why they were chosen as the ruling race. Prove that potential.”

“Woo—! (Truth—!)”

“Woooooooooo. (If that is your will, then we shall fight and win.)”

“Wooooooooo—! Wooo—! (Do not rampage—! A mere puppet—!)”

Seongmyeol, who had already activated Ego Ayuta, charged like a beast toward the Creator Gods of the Substitute race that now emanated killing intent toward him. No matter how one looked at it, there was no way to defeat Seongmyeol, who possessed the Authority of Black Flame and even control over the Substitute race’s ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠racial authority. Yet since Truth had spoken thus, there must be a chance of victory.

Watching Seongmyeol and Great Cause about to clash, Truth smiled faintly and suddenly turned to look at the Black Flame Absolute beside him.

The Black Flame Absolute, who had seemed ready to kill his highest-ranking clan members for their recent defeat, was now subtly reading the room. He quietly released the hand gripping the clan member’s head and tossed him back into the group.

Hohohoho—! The highest-ranking clan members are indeed precious. Moreover, he secretly obtained what he wanted, so there’s no reason to dispose of them. As always, whether the first or second generation, pretending to be stupid while securing real benefits is something they never miss.

No matter how problematic they were, they were the fewer than ten highest-ranking clan members created over 500 billion years. He would make them pay for this later, but killing them now would drastically reduce the entire clan’s power, leaving them unable to check the highest-ranking members of the other 10 Mainstays. Even if he lost his reason, in the end he had no choice but to act this way.

But that was not the real problem.

The Magic God of Dimensions, whom he had permitted to pass, could not retrieve his authority and thus could not leave. He had ended up caught by the bloodline members ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Wind Family.

'Those children are so full of curiosity toward anything unusual or beyond their experience that they have endured remarkably well until now. I intended to send him away quickly and prepare the procedures slowly, but because of this fool, he cannot leave. In the end, this greed causes Black Flame to create problems to the very end. Or should I say, as expected of a transcendent born from a hunter? He lives purely by emotion without preparation or effort, yet he always snatches the most crucial things. This is why Grey ultimately fell. Or rather, in human terms, he collapsed from pent-up rage.'

Because if the achievements gained through desperate preparation and those gained through half-hearted effort were treated the same, no sage could maintain their reason.

But now, that was absolutely impossible. There would be no reward for those who did not accumulate achievements. One must obtain only as much as they had contributed through effort.

Therefore, he spoke coldly.

“Spit it out—!”

“Truth, what exactly are you saying? As the Black Flame Absolute, I acknowledge that this one’s sin is great. However, since we are short on highest-ranking clan members, I shall give him a chance. I will personally subject him to the brutal training befitting the Eternal Judgment that you preside over, and I will restore the damaged dignity myself. All of this comes from a heart filled with loyalty as one of the 10 Mainstays who seeks to contribute to the development of the Absolute Realm and the Main Universe, and as the Origin of Black Flame…”

He spoke with innocent, pure eyes sparkling, but Truth read straight through the mindset of the Origin of the Black Flame race, who had never listened to a word in his life. It seemed he really did not want to give it up.

'Well, there is nothing more troublesome for the short-tempered Black Flame Absolute than raising a child over a long period. Moreover, to absorb over one trillion units of Innate Divine Power, they must go through at least 100 million years of infancy. When a means to drastically shorten that is right before his eyes, giving it up would indeed be difficult.'

That was why he was acting this way—knowing it wouldn’t work, yet trying even harder, practically begging for leniency.

But this could not be tolerated. Merely intervening in the Eternal Judgment that Truth himself presided over was grounds for erasure.

“It doesn’t suit you. If you’re going to ask for a favor in exchange for me turning a blind eye, at least pick someone else to discipline. But I’ve already taken care of that. Just manage the Absolute Realm properly. Idiot—!”

Thuuuuud—!

Urk—!

“Kueeeeeeeeeek—! Cough, cough—!”

With a bizarre scream, the Black Flame Absolute bent his upper body at a ninety-degree angle and began vomiting uncontrollably. A small fist mark was clearly imprinted dead center on his chest, slowly sinking inward. Unable to endure the shock, the Black Flame Absolute helplessly spewed the gastric fluids from his stomach right in front of Truth.

“The first-generation Black Flame was weaker than you, but he was a much better actor. Who would believe you if you suddenly started speaking so politely? So stop flapping that mouth that never listens. And pretending to be hit by the dimensional authority while secretly keeping it for yourself? You’d rather raise a child than protect the clan’s dignity or your seat among the 10 Mainstays? What should I do with you? Be forever grateful that you are the only one qualified to become the Black Flame Absolute.”

The Black Flame Absolute, who had concentrated all his power to barely prevent his body from being pierced through, finally calmed his insides and stood up with a disgruntled expression. In the past, an attack like this would have left him writhing all day, but now he could endure it with some effort. Of course, that didn’t mean the pain disappeared. The agony of having all his authorities and defenses stripped away, feeling as if a fist-sized hole had been punched through his body, was not something one could simply endure. At least he could be grateful he hadn’t disgraced himself by rolling on the ground.

'Just say it with words. Why does it always have to be violence? No matter how much you say that the rod is the only medicine for children who know nothing and adults who commit wrongs despite knowing everything, this is too much, isn’t it?'

Even as he grumbled inwardly, his eyes never left the gastric fluid he had vomited. Within it floated the nucleus of the dimensional authority he had rashly placed directly on his own body when first receiving the infant.

This had clung to his body and reduced the activation probability of the Authority of Black Flame to its worst possible state.

'This is truly fortunate. For the 10 Mainstays who occupy the highest position in every field of authority, any other authority is subordinate. With a bit of effort, they can extract from other fields just like this.'

Just as the Origin of the Mage God of the Wind Family could absorb the existence of lower-ranking Magic Gods.

Of course, absorbing other fields normally required direct contact and long-term effort. But this fool had stupidly placed most of the dimensional authority directly on himself. Truth had snatched it away as if it were free food.

'Argh—! I almost secured an Absolute-level dimensional authority. What a waste. An authority that manipulates time and space to that degree is extremely rare. Moreover, he was absorbing the vitality of Wind Star without issue even within the time acceleration. It was the perfect child-rearing tool. Is there really no way to get it back? None? At least until Truth lets go? How the hell am I supposed to interfere with Truth’s Eternal Judgment? I’ve been stuck like this for 500 billion years myself! Damn it—! When I first conducted the judgment, I should have just killed him and forcibly incorporated him into the Black Flame race. Instead, I ran my mouth and bought time. Look at the mess I’ve caused!'

From within the gastric fluid vomited by the Black Flame Absolute, a brilliant golden light shimmered as a sphere of light rose. The pattern engraved on the fist-sized golden orb was a tree. The tree was vividly depicted wrapping its roots around a regular hexagonal object. The expression on Truth’s face subtly twisted as he gazed at it.

Upon closer inspection, it was the image of the Magic Tower from the Main God Star where the Magic God of Dimensions had originated. Seeing that he had linked his own Magic Tower with the dimensional authority to keep it permanently active made it even more absurd.

“So this is the new title of Dimension? Good grief—! This is the first time I’ve seen an Absolute use his own house as the symbol for his title. Most create something based on their name or an ideal symbol of strength, but you chose your house? Does that mean your house is that precious to you? And what is this emergency escape authority for traveling to the Otherworld? Moreover, maintaining it permanently? You’re devoting more than half your authority to simultaneously instant-dimensional-shifting both yourself and your house? And the authority is structured together with the house, making separation or dismantling impossible? Hahahahaha—! No wonder the destructive power of Dimension is like this. Thoroughly specialized in support, defense, evasion, and escape. This is insufficient. And these children dare to act on their own—!”

The increasingly troublesome situation caused his eyebrows to furrow on their own.

Beings who performed spatial movement into his domain were all too familiar, but he had never permitted it.

Once again, a tremendous roar echoed through the void.

Kwaaaaaaaaang—!

“Kwaaaaaaaaaaang—!”

It was the scream and roar of the Black Flame Creator God, Seongmyeol, mixed together. The Ego Ayuta he had activated against the Creator Gods of the Substitute race was effortlessly blocked by an absurdly massive hand that suddenly tore through space. That hand then snatched Seongmyeol—who was the size of a giant planet—as easily as catching a mosquito.

Kwaaaaaaaaaduduk—!

A horrifying sound of bones shattering and muscles rupturing rang out. Seongmyeol, who had been struggling wildly, went limp. No matter how much of a Creator God he was with the Authority of Black Flame, if his bones and muscles were completely crushed like this, he could not move.

'He was defeated far too easily, but the opponent was simply too bad. It was not an opponent he could fight using only the body and authority of Black Flame while possessing the body of a Substitute God.'

The owner of that massive hand was none other than the Origin of the Substitute Gods, who maintained dominance over most of the 499 Main Universes.

Using the authority of the Substitute God Origin, he had severed all racial support for the Substitute Gods and sealed the majority of their authorities.

Great Cause, who had been prepared to fight to the death after being scolded by Truth, cried out in overwhelming emotion.

“Wooooooooooooong—! (Our great Origin—!)”

“Wooooooooooong. (We are truly grateful for your assistance.)”

But the Origin’s response was a voice that sounded rather troubled.

“…I’ve caused an accident. He’s going to be very angry. I thought I might use this guy for something, but the clan was in danger so I reacted instinctively. Above all, intervening in a fight between lower beings—what kind of disgrace is this? Preventing the sacrifice needed for growth… as an Origin, my discipline is still lacking.”

Tap tap—!

When he shook his hand, Seongmyeol’s body—flattened like a mosquito crushed in a human palm—fell through space and trembled.

“I’m sorry, Grandfather Truth. From now on, I will not act without permission. I will make adjustments as you wish, so please quell your anger. Even though he is a Substitute God, his injuries are so severe that it would be strange for him to still be alive, yet he is persistently recovering. As the Origin of the Substitute Gods, I cannot help but admire such vitality.”

However, although the authority of the Substitute God Origin worked, this was a race created by a Magic God.

'No matter how I think about it, killing such a mutant would be better. But since I have interfered with the Eternal Judgment presided over by Grandfather Truth, even with the rights of an Origin, merely sealing the Substitute God’s authority is already pushing the limit.'

He needed to clean this up quickly and go into secluded training to avoid the coming wrath.

“I recognize Seongmyeol as a Substitute God. However, his rank is excluded. I will not grant him any rights or duties. The use of his authority is also prohibited.”

“Woong? (Yes?) Woong? (Yes?)”

“All Creator Gods, return at once—Huuuuurk—!”

He felt something very small touch his hand. In that instant, his entire body that existed beyond space was forcibly extracted and thrown.

Huaaaaaaaaaa—!

Thuuuuuuuuuuud—!

After crushing several planets with his body and rolling across them, a small figure descended onto the nose of the Substitute God Origin. And with a voice that sounded quite angry, its tone rising slightly at the end, Truth spoke.

“You impertinent little grandsons—! I told you so many times not to interfere in the affairs of adults and children and to focus only on your own tasks, yet you dare act on your own? Now that I look, although you are young, you have already had children and it has been quite a while since I last disciplined you directly. That’s why you have no fear. The less one knows and the stronger and higher the being, the more effective the rod is than words. It’s been a very long time since you last took a hit from me, hasn’t it? Have you become strong enough to endure it? Let’s see.”

Before anyone knew it, he had grabbed the neck of the Origin of the Mage God—who was now almost reduced to rags—with his left hand and was shaking him violently. His right hand, gripping the Sword of Ruin and Soul, slowly rose into the air. At the sight of Truth standing on his nose, the face of the Substitute God Origin turned deathly pale as nightmares from his training days resurfaced.