The Mad Grey's Ruthless Bargain
This was the advance into the Absolute Realm that the Substitute Gods from the Otherworld War had desired so desperately. It had to be achieved at any cost. Yet the Creator Gods felt a surge of forgotten terror and fear alongside their joy at the next words.
They said nothing aloud, but every one of them thought the same thing. This mad Grey. Is he really planning to wipe them all out just because they challenged him once? Still… if a being like this isn’t already one of the 10 Mainstays, an opportunity like this will never come again.
It was an opportunity they could not miss, and the shared conviction that they must secure territory in the Absolute Realm at any price ruled them completely. Yet none of them had imagined that what he wanted was total war against the Grey Realm itself.
The Absolute Realm was nothing like the Main Universe. Even its lowest warriors possessed strength above the second circle—enough to threaten a Creator God from the Main Universe. The Substitute Gods stood on equal footing, meaning the realm overflowed with dangerously powerful experts whose numbers vastly outstripped those of the Creator Gods. Even if every Substitute God staked their lives, victory seemed impossible.
Worse, they could not accept the demand that the entire Substitute Race become Grey’s mercenaries to finish the purge. Though they had once been defeated by Jinri, they were the glorious next generation of divine beings who had seized a second chance as the Substitute Gods, earned merit, and risen to become Creator Gods.
But at Grey’s next words, the Creator Gods could only grit their teeth.
"I, Grey, am willing to recognize the Substitute Gods as the sole ruling power in the Grey Realm of the Absolute Realm. I have no personal clan, so there is no burden of choice. I hold no attachment or interest in the existing forces that once scorned me, so there is no need to doubt my intentions. I do not labor under mere legitimate orders, and I dispose of anyone who would scorn their superior no matter how capable they may be. Given my current disposition, the Substitute Gods—who work silently and without complaint—appear most pleasing. That is why I make this offer. Therefore, I have personally eliminated all the highest-grade warriors capable of overwhelming you Creator Gods. For a set period, should any who fled outside crawl back, I will kill them at once. Become the dominant ruling race that once dared to be rude to me. Pledge loyalty to me and develop my territory. This is what I, the Grey Absolute, demand of the Substitute Gods."
The facts were exactly as stated. With all the highest-grade warriors now disposed of by Grey’s hand, no opponents remained whom they could not face due to gaps in divine power or authority. The remaining upper-grade warriors and below possessed strength comparable to their own. Though the enemy held an overwhelming numerical advantage, the Substitute Gods were a thoroughly unified, controlled army, while their foes were scattered individual powers acting in chaos. Under those conditions, the fight became feasible.
Moreover, thanks to Grey’s near-total eradication of the previous ruling forces, ownerless planets now overflowed throughout the realm. Planets of the Absolute Realm required no erosion or improvement—mere management would generate enormous vitality. That alone would allow immediate promotion and explosive growth in the numbers of their lower clans.
If we are given time, even should the highest-grade warriors return, we possess the racial authority and power to forge a force so massive that nothing can be done about it.
They had originally been recreated as replacements for the existing powers. Thus, while the offer was brutally cruel to the original dominant race of the Absolute Realm, it was the most attractive and fair opportunity the Substitute Gods could receive.
It was questionable whether they should trust a being who would plunge his entire domain into endless war for the sole reason that they had been rude to him. Yet one thing was certain: in this colossal upheaval that sought to flip the Grey Realm entirely, they had been granted a chance to rise to the challenge.
It was also true that if they missed this opportunity, they would never seize another.
As long as the current Grey existed, no faction would dare defy or test the 10 Mainstays, and there would be no need for replacement. The only choice left was to serve this terrifying existence as their ruler.
Daeshin, leader of the Substitute Gods, made his decision. No—from the moment this mad Grey had summoned them, he had known trials and opportunities unlike any before would arrive. He simply had not realized the entire clan would be wagered.
Yet he felt no fear. The purpose for which they had been created was the noble and magnificent propagation of life and the advancement of the universe; personal emotion ranked beneath that purpose.
Time was short. The reason Grey could manipulate the Absolute Realm so freely was the absence of the other 10 Mainstays. Should they conclude the ranking war and return, checks would begin immediately, and the likelihood of cancellation was high. Before then, if the Substitute Gods could claim a vast territory and prove their worth, even the 10 Mainstays would be forced to leave them alone, for interfering with development was forbidden.
Once Daeshin decided, the Creator Gods—whose emotions were strictly suppressed and whose reason had been reinforced—followed at once.
All the Creator Gods politely gathered their planet-sized hands before Grey and bowed their heads. They acknowledged him as the true ruler of the Grey Realm and swore loyalty as his subordinate race.
Watching them, Grey bared his white teeth in a smile.
Behold—! Past self. Consideration and forgiveness are nothing but the weak’s masturbation. In the end, only betrayal awaits. As the strong Grey, I do not beg for loyalty. If my subordinates reject or scorn me, I simply strip them of everything and hand it to those who will be loyal. This is the true path of a ruler that the weak you could never walk. Even if the end is destruction, I will take this road. No, since I will disappear before the end arrives, it doesn’t matter. Kuhuhuhuhuhu—!
The sight of Daeshin, leader of the Creator Gods of the Substitute Race who had sworn loyalty in exchange for the chance to become the dominant species of the Absolute Realm, now issuing commands unfolded before him.
Before the Creator Gods, planet-shaped Substitute God Creator Gods burning with white light arrived through endless spatial shifts. Within the void of space, the silver orb-like Creator Gods of the Substitute Race appeared in uncountable numbers, as if countless grains of sand had been scattered.
The Substitute Gods—who served as the dominant force across most of the 498 Main Universes—had left behind only the minimum defense force required and committed every ounce of their strength to the Grey Realm.
Their appearance had changed as well. Unlike the hideous forms covered only in planetary bio-armor from the past, they now displayed beautiful silhouettes: black lines like nets woven across silver surfaces, engraving intricate patterns.
A spark of interest flashed in the Grey Absolute’s eyes as he examined the transformed Substitute God Creator Gods, and he immediately began analysis. The black geometric patterns engraved on the silver planetary bio-armor were, upon deep examination, the planetary magic circles of the Dimensional Mage God.
The strengthening of the Substitute Gods had been completed based on their one-on-one defeat against the Dimensional Mage God of the 499th Main Universe. And of all things, it involved dimensional authority.
It was perfectly understandable that Grey—whose primary power was dimensional authority—might be suspected of massacring the Substitute Gods precisely because they possessed the same authority, in order to install them as the ruling race.
Strengthening completed based on battle with my past self? Adding dimensional authority on top of it all—how very ironic. Or is it only natural? The data came from fighting my past self, so that was the correct answer. With the surface area of a giant planet, applying the dimensional magic circle is entirely feasible. One could even say this was aimed at replacing the dominant race with the Substitute Gods from the very beginning, and I would have no rebuttal. Well, what does it matter? My reputation is already that of the mad Grey. It won’t change even if it worsens. With the Grey Realm at this scale, the Absolute Realm will have no energy left to pay attention to this ranking war. Should anyone attempt to create variables, I will handle them all. If they try any tricks, I will flip over the territories of the other 10 Mainstays. So perform well. Past me. Am I not helping you like this, enduring such stigma and danger? Uhuhuhuhut—!
As Grey, he did not care what misunderstandings arose. He was someone with no lingering attachment to life and planned to disappear anyway. With the ranking war underway, no one could stop him, so he diligently advanced his plans.
Drawing in the Substitute Gods and shaking the entire ruling structure of the Absolute Realm was merely the foundation of the work.
Meanwhile, the Dimensional Mage God sat upon the seat of honor, muttering to himself as he created and selected clothes. Having finished plotting, this was his own style of preparation for the Main God Election.
“To draw every eye, I need to look as flashy, elegant, and irresistibly charming as possible. Let’s start by replacing the basic attire of the Dimensional Divine Realm. This has too few jewels. This has far too many.”
He used his creation ability to fill the empty floor of the Main God Temple with formal suits, dresses, and every variety of women’s clothing, discarding anything that failed to satisfy him, then creating more in an endless loop.
Unaware of what his future self was doing in the Absolute Realm, he wore a happy smile, content in the joy of labor.
He was so absorbed that he failed to notice the beings whispering among themselves as they watched him. They were the direct subordinates received from Shuddering March and the mercenary band of the Demon God King’s Castle.
The overwhelming pressure radiated by Grey and the Origin of the Mage God—both 10 Mainstays possessing more than one quadrillion in divine power—was nearly impossible for a Main God’s divine power to withstand. Those who could not endure it had taken temporary refuge in the newly created Main God Star Granraha. Now Shuddering March and the direct forces had already returned.
In truth, gaining a large share of a newly created planet held little meaning for the direct forces of the Main God of the Divine Realm. Still, they had used it as an excuse to flee, annihilated only the monsters across a region the size of a small continent, and come back.
Yet because they carried the sin of abandoning the Main God of the Divine Realm, they could not bring themselves to enter the Main God Temple and were instead observing the situation from outside.
The Dimensional Mage God had laughed and told the Main God Temple to leave, then immediately begun crafting clothes. Thus Shuddering March watched the scene from the temple’s outer perimeter with an expression of pure incomprehension.
“What does preparing for the Main God Election have to do with women’s clothing? Is this a beauty goddess selection contest? Is the Divine Realm’s Main God Election different from the Demon God Election? Isn’t the winner the one who leads the Main Gods and defeats the others? From what he’s doing now, it doesn’t look that way at all?”
The other Main God-level goddesses, demon gods, and Transcendents shook their heads in equal bewilderment. The Main God Election was hardly child’s play; there was no way it would be decided by selecting a beauty goddess. Yet because such elections occurred so rarely, they could not be completely certain.
Still, the basic history everyone studied made it absolutely clear this was not the case.
“The most recent Main God Election was the one Almighty Hwi conducted. He single-handedly overwhelmed the previous Main God Lord and his forces, earned tremendous support, and rose to the position himself.”
The other goddesses nodded. It was definitely not a beauty contest. Yet their own Main God of the Divine Realm—who had earned the right to challenge—had abandoned training or practice to make clothes. It was utterly incomprehensible.
“And most of them are goddesses’ garments.”
“Haaaaah. It’s impossible to predict what the Dimensional Mage God will do until the results appear.”
In the end, the direct forces sighed and chose to stop thinking, simply watching in silence.
Whether or not he noticed their doubtful gazes, the Dimensional Mage God now hummed cheerfully as he continued creating clothes.
My advantage is your weakness—!
My weakness is my trap—!
The moment you hand over the decision of timing and method,
victory is already in the hands of I, the Dimensional Mage God.
“Kahahahaha—! I’ll stab every last one of you in the back.”
His laughter grew louder as his mood improved. Shuddering March could not help worrying that they should not proceed with the Main God Election while the Main God of the Divine Realm remained in such a state.
Moreover, she seriously doubted how many of the Main Gods under his command would truly risk their lives to fight for him in the election. As the Main God of the Divine Realm, he would of course participate. Yet even if he merely pretended to fight and lost, no one could blame him—because the fault would lie with the Main God of the Divine Realm who had failed to control his own forces.
His personal ability and strategic talent were beyond question, but those who had fought on the same side knew well that he completely lacked leadership. What was urgent now was to soothe or threaten the subordinate Main Gods so they would fight with everything they had.
Instead he was happily making clothes. For Shuddering March, riding the same doomed ship, her worries only multiplied while he—exactly like the Mercenary God of old—delighted alone in his schemes. There was simply nothing she could do.