The Bait for the Black Flame

At the words Otherworld War, the eyes of the Magic God of Dimensions darkened with gloom.

There is no need to doubt that this ‘Grey’ standing before me—a 14th-circle Magic God with over one thousand trillion in divine power—is my future self. As a Magic God himself, he was specialized in time and space, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and above all, few beings of the same rank could surpass him in grasping essence. Such talent was so rare it could only be found in the most exceptional cases even among the Almighty God Race, the former supreme ruling species. Still, because this future self had manifested from information absorbed during the Eternal Judgment, his abilities would shift according to present changes, though his disposition would remain nearly identical. What kind of “good request” and “plan” that future self had accepted was painfully obvious.

He would risk the greatest danger for the greatest profit. If the reward is certain, I’d accept the risk—but why does this insane bastard have to pick the Black Flame Absolute as the opponent? How in the world does he plan to overcome ‘Always Coin Heads,’ that absolute intuitive authority which is the natural enemy of all management gods? Even after twenty thousand years of preparation, I ultimately had no choice but to avoid him. Has he decided he wants to die? Or what possible benefit could be worth fighting the Black Flame Absolute? It can’t be vitality. Not for the current me.

The Dimensional Magic God was already a wealthy man set to receive more than thirty trillion in vitality from his contributions in the 500th Master Universe. He had left it untouched since there was nowhere to spend it, but it was enough to let him act as a Creator God anywhere he went. With an absolute-grade Karma Contract guarding it, he had nothing to fear. If they interfere negatively or fail to deliver it, everything ends instantly.

To a Dimensional Magic God whose vitality overflowed and whose creative power had already reached Creator God level, the arrival of such a dangerous contract made him want to hurl a spell on the spot. It was absurd. Yet because he was a higher Magic God of the third circle or above, the spell itself kept fizzling before it could activate. In the end, he could only argue with words.

“Th-this…”

But his rage had grown so fierce that the Magic God—who lived by incantations—found his tongue twisting, and he began to stutter. At that pathetic display, the Origin of the Mage God, who had been manifesting ‘Grey’ with a faint smile, clicked his tongue.

Who would dare say he is not a Magic God? He stakes his life on compensation simply for intervening in a hellish reality.

Of course, since he could afford to pay far more than enough, the Origin cut straight to the main point.

“The compensation is one guaranteed complete regeneration through absolute negation of reality. On top of that, if you manage to raise your rank to Creator God and learn it properly, I will teach it to you immediately.”

“Of course I’ll do it—! Black Flame or whatever, I’ll smash them to pieces!”

“That’s it—! That’s how a Magic God should be. To realize the ideal, accept any sacrifice. What does dying a few times matter? As long as profit is guaranteed and resurrection is possible, throw yourself in with everything you have.”

“Is death certain? And how many times?”

“Hm? Ah—! We hadn’t reached that part yet. Explain it quickly, Lord Grey.”

The tone was polite but contained not a single grain of actual respect. Even so, he was one of the 10 Mainstays, an existence that received honorifics from the Origin of the Wind Family, bloodline of Jinri. The title of strongest in each category was an honor entirely separate from raw power. After all, even the immutable Golden, strongest of all, could be miserably defeated by the other 10 Mainstays if conditions shifted even slightly. Yet the words that emerged from the mouth of such a supreme management god were brutally simple.

“In the ranking battle, you lure the Black Flame bastard who killed me first with irresistible bait into a trap, and I strike him down immediately. Perfect, isn’t it?”

“Ugh—! I knew it.”

Thud—!

The Dimensional Magic God didn’t even need time to think. Strength fled his legs and he collapsed straight onto the glorious throne.

As expected, it really is my future self. That future bastard must have gone mad with rage after getting killed by Black Flame in the ranking battle and falling to the very bottom. It’s the petty mindset that since I died, you should die too.

His eyes had been glittering with killing intent and sarcasm from the start, which had already made him uneasy. Sure enough, there was no detailed plan. No—the Black Flame Absolute was not someone who could be lured so easily.

Though still imperfect and missing once every twenty-five thousand attempts, ‘Always Coin Heads’ demonstrates near-absolute accuracy. It is the natural enemy and mortal foe of Magic Gods who specialize in negating reality and wielding fascination and distortion. No, it is the eternal adversary of every management god. If it were anyone except that Golden, I would at least try to fight them, but the Black Flame I have faced directly is an opponent I must never confront.

He was beginning to suspect his future self had gone insane for accepting such a “good request.”

“Heh heh—! Don’t look at me with those pathetic eyes. No matter how complex a scheme may be, it ultimately comes down to lure, trap, and elimination. Irresistible bait and a flawless trap have already been prepared, and the finishing blow is ready. Above all, the procedure is nearly complete. All you have to do is move.”

“You be the bait. You rampaged through the ranking battle and personally earned the grudge of the other 10 Mainstays. Wouldn’t that make you far more effective bait than me?”

The moment he realized they intended to use him as bait, the Dimensional Magic God immediately lost all interest. No matter if he could learn an authority guaranteeing complete regeneration and receive one guaranteed life, death or failure meant the end.

It’s definitely a death sentence. Yet would I really be crazy enough to take such a risk?

The Origin of the Mage God had already declared several times that he would die, so it must be certain. But the other party spoke as if he had anticipated this exact reaction.

“If I moved personally, the Black Flame would receive ‘Always Coin Heads’’ strict warning and would never stir. No matter what provocation or interest he feels, he would focus solely on the ranking battle. But with you, it’s different. Against an existence so weak it could never pose any threat to the Black Flame Absolute, even if that intuitive authority with its one-in-twenty-five-thousand inaccuracy activates, the effect would be so faint that he would ignore it himself. The current you will be the perfect bait—and the perfect fishhook.”

“I am neither worm nor hook. I understand that my weakness will make the Black Flame lower his guard. But I’m not interested.”

His mind was already overwhelmed preventing the Main Divine Realm’s invasion by properly operating his Creator God nature. The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ranking battles of the 10 Mainstays, the strongest beings of the Absolute Realm, felt like a distant tale. From past experience he expected only pointless suffering and death, so he had been ready to refuse coldly. But the next words sent fresh worry and blood pressure surging through him.

“If you can sever the Black Flame and reduce his power, you will receive one use of the absolute authority of reality negation that enables complete revival and regeneration, plus the full support of the Wind Family. This is desperately needed for both you and me. Without a proper background, you cannot rise any higher than this. If you had even the background of a Creator God, there would have been no need to revive the Demon God. Even a spare life enabling complete revival would have let you fight with everything you had instead of struggling pathetically just to survive. Above all, it may not matter when you are alone, but now that you have become the leader of a group, you must understand how critical this difference is. A powerful background and guaranteed life are the leisure and pride of the strong. Self-survival sounds noble but is ultimately nothing more than the excuse of those with nowhere to lean and no underlying strength. Because this is what we need most, I created this request and had it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠approved. You must accept it, my past self. It is a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity to become a Creator God and grow even stronger. If you miss it, they will come for you over even the smallest mistake, regardless of any transgression about reviving the Demon God or imprisoning a spiritual body. You will never endure it. The reason I went so far as to persuade the Wind Family was for your survival and growth.”

“Chiiii—!”

Grind—!

The future self’s words dug into his heart more painfully than any attack and shattered his pride. At the same time, they ignited an endless hunger.

When I spoke insolently to Jinri and faced death, I received the most miserable fate in the entire universe. I tried everything imaginable just to survive. When I took mercenary requests alone, I never received even half the reward—often less than ten percent. How I ground my teeth and resented the world.

What he had longed for then was exactly this: liberation from the terror of death and the support of a powerful force.

The watching Origin of the Mage God added his voice.

“I will give the compensation in advance. Even if you fail, as long as you inflict a certain level of damage, I will not reclaim the reward. Furthermore, support for you was decided the instant this request was brought and approved. It will be implemented the moment you accept.”

“I’ll do it—! Hup—! The opponent was the Black Flame… Absolute, right.”

It was a reflexive answer. Advance payment and no massive penalty even in failure made it seem worth risking his life. Yet the moment he remembered the opponent was the Black Flame Absolute, gloom swallowed him again. He had already realized that even the twenty-thousand-year preparation accelerated inside the Black Flame’s Wind Castle had been meaningless. The truth was he had been unable to attempt anything, using a baby as a shield while only checking the enemy’s movements. No matter how he lured the Absolute, he could never survive.

But the future self, as if he had expected exactly this, fixed his gaze on him and spoke.

“The weak are led by contracts. The strong create them. My past self—! This is your first chance to create and preside over a contract. If you succeed in this matter, no being in the Master Universe will dare force a contract that is unfairly disadvantageous to you. Land a blow on the Black Flame Absolute and prove that you are a powerhouse capable of standing alone in the Master Universe.”

“Pour out every ounce of your strength, revive, and bite into the Black Flame. According to my calculations, there is a chance for my past self. The chance that the Black Flame will lower his guard, take the bait, and fall into the trap—! Take it. With this, deliver a blow to those insolent 10 Mainstays. Excluding Grandfather Yuil Yongsinje, every grandfather has approved and permitted this. This is the support and sponsorship of the Wind Family.”

A black hole opened in the air. It was a subspace every being above spiritual-body rank possessed. Yet its contents were anything but ordinary.

“Th-this… is…?”

“Kuhahahahahahaha—! A spectacular sight, is it not? The grandfathers are the primal origin and source of the origin of all living beings and spiritual bodies. That is why the evidence of every origin and the lingering remnants of their authorities are gathered here. This is the Wind Family’s support. Is it sufficient? Puhahahahahahaha—!”

The Origin of the Mage God laughed like a madman. The laughter carried both pride and ecstasy for the battle to come. It was the momentum of a war god who had completed every preparation in perfect condition and now advanced toward certain victory.

Yet he was of Jinri’s bloodline and the Origin of the Mage God. Reckless movement could collapse the still-immature Main Divine Realm, so only lower clans were permitted to intervene in the present world with full power. But here stood two beings who could strike a blow against the eight Absolutes in his stead.

The success rate of inflicting damage on the Black Flame is extremely faint, but that is fine.

The descendants of the eight Absolutes who had received direct instruction from Grandfather Jinri and suddenly risen above them had been truly strong. At the time, no one except the grandfathers who had studied directly under Grandfather Jinri could face them one-on-one. Overcoming that despair, they had shouldered the burden of becoming newly formed origins across the entire Master Universe and Absolute Realm, reinforced their potential, trained their true bodies, and reached this point. In the end they had grown strong enough not to lose pathetically even against the 10 Mainstays, earned recognition from Grandfather Jinri, and learned that the true truth and reality was hell itself.

Only futility rushed in until it felt like I would go insane, so I severed all ties and trained in something close to seclusion. It was to turn the futility that would one day arrive into truth.

That was why, despite being the Origin of the Mage God, he had merely tossed introductory books to all Magic Gods and left them abandoned. Yet a being who should have been disqualified as an origin had grown so magnificently with nothing more than that.

To think a mere Main God defeated the highest-ranking clan of the Black Flame—who boasted the strongest close-combat power in the Absolute Realm—and passed the Eternal Judgment. It was a miracle. What clan would grant such glory to an origin?

Even if meaningless, it proved there was value in throwing oneself into danger for the sake of reality. That was why he had used reality negation to manifest into the present the future of the Dimensional Magic God—a being with insufficient potential, no background whatsoever, and an unstable personality who should have vanished midway.

Does this fellow realize? The fact that a Dimensional Magic God exists who will become the future Grey manifested by the Origin of the Magic God of reality negation ultimately means one thing: in any normal reality or future, the future Dimensional Magic God cannot exist. He will probably never understand why Grandfather Jinri allowed passage of the Eternal Judgment so easily. It is because he summoned a miracle that should not be possible. The Origins of the Wind Family who know the truth of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reality shattered their policy of non-interference, and I participated because of that. The other Origins of the Wind Family also wish to intervene actively in reality as I have, but because we are blood kin they did not force the issue. However, once I participated, the other grandfathers began to show interest as well. That is why they permitted it. Originally they would have thrown him straight into the Golden’s Wind Star.

If they had not done so, the fate of the Dimensional Magic God would have cruelly withered away midway. Reality was not romantic enough for such a weak and talentless being to endure until the end.

Had he been able to stand alone, he would not have become one of the tiny minority of Magic Gods but would have become another influential god race. Reality is not so gentle that a being lacking both background and potential can rise smoothly. For now he is the Main God of the Divine Realm, but at some point he will be betrayed and fall.

But now it was different. Since he, the Origin of the Mage God, had intervened directly in reality, he had resolved—even if it proved futile—to raise the Dimensional Magic God to the seat of Grey.

“Kihihihihihut—! If I lose even after all this, I suppose I will have to take down the Magic God’s signboard, won’t I?”