The Grey Absolute's Declaration

In the Otherworld War, the 10 Mainstays who wield the supreme absolute authority in each field, along with the clans of the 10 Mainstays that possess the absolute racial authority capable of temporarily manifesting equivalent power, hold the highest positions in both name and substance. It would be no exaggeration to say that the current Absolute Realm is managed and dominated in tandem by the clans of the 10 Mainstays across every domain. However, the Grey region lacked an official clan, so the Gold Clan had been managing it in their stead.

The Cyber Gods of the Cyber Realm had tried every possible means to become the clan of the Grey Absolute, but their applications were naturally rejected. After all, the Grey Absolute had not existed at the time, and their original identities were remnants of the old Absolute Realm. It was only natural.

Therefore, while the revival of the Grey Absolute’s clan was a conditional clause that would activate upon becoming the Lord God, it was no ordinary matter. As a Sage-type being, the Grey Absolute possessed the weakest direct combat power among the 10 Mainstays, yet no one could match his versatility and utility in all other aspects. When an organization forms, individual combat strength matters, but the importance of management grows even greater. Efficient administration makes it possible to elevate the collective combat power of the group.

This importance was proven by the fact that while the representative of the old Absolute Realm had been Gold, the one who had actually managed everything was the first-generation Grey Absolute. Even the nominal leader Gold had silently acknowledged his boundless authority, and under it, the Absolute Realm had developed endlessly, ultimately conquering the universe of that era. Even then, the Grey Clan had existed, but they were nothing more than hired help. The first Grey Absolute had planned everything alone and moved the 10 Mainstays to achieve his goals. That was the way of Grey.

Yet just now, he had formally declared the official revival of the Grey Clan. The common sense that the Grey Absolute worked alone had been shattered.

‘The first-generation Grey Absolute managed everything alone without a clan and still held real decision-making power. But the second generation is creating a clan? What does this mean? Could he be aiming for perfect leadership and dominion?’

The 10 Mainstays who watched the proceedings fell into silence as they meticulously analyzed the situation. No matter how they thought about it, this was not something they could simply overlook. They had to consider whether to check him, cooperate with him, or even eliminate him.

And watching this unfold, Gold felt as if his insides would burst. The official appearance of the Grey Clan was problematic enough, but the process was an even bigger issue.

‘Th-th-this—! To hang the revival conditions of the 10 Mainstays’ Grey Clan on nothing more than the position of Lord God of the Main Universe? And on top of that, to invoke the pattern, receive formal authentication, and make the declaration? What the hell has that bastard done? Grey Absolute—! Why in the world did that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guy leave the authentication authority of the 10 Mainstays to his past self? Did he not even read the 10 Mainstays’ rulebook? If he had, would he not know what the authentication authority means? Would he not realize the dangers of dispersing it? Or is this also part of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some scheme? The ranking war is important, but now I have no choice but to watch this until the very end.’

The other 10 Mainstays were too preoccupied with the emergence of a force equal to their own to think clearly, but this was an enormous matter of prestige. Even without this, the highest-ranking clan of the Black Flame had been defeated by a Preliminary Creator God of the Main Universe, causing their standing to plummet and sparking rebellions and similar troubles everywhere. If the revival of the Grey Clan reached this level, the Absolute Realm would become a laughingstock. Of course, no one would dare say such things in front of the rampaging ‘Mad Grey,’ but if such murmurs spread behind their backs, the damage to the other 10 Mainstays would be immense.

They had planned to drop this immature newcomer to the very bottom and educate him precisely because of problems like these, yet the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

The Magic God of Dimensions, who had dropped this massive bomb, continued his declaration without hesitation.

The Origin of the Mage God had been silently watching the increasingly emotional Magic God of Dimensions through the projection for a long time. He turned to the Grey Absolute, who was staring blankly at his past self, and spoke.

“Hey, Grey. Do you really intend to create the Grey Clan?”

The expected reaction burst forth immediately.

“I have absolutely no such intention. Do you not know how much I suffered at the hands of my subordinates in the past? That is why I even adjusted my own authority so that I could carry out missions alone. And now you speak of a clan? Besides, the first-generation Grey Absolute did not work alone for no reason. Even if a Grey Clan had existed in the first generation, they were ultimately treated no differently than hired employees to be used and discarded. As a Sage-type being at the pinnacle, my complex and highly advanced thought processes have no need for ordinary, dim-witted, and sentimental subordinates.”

During the surprise subjugation led by Hwi in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the past, the subordinates in whom he had invested so heavily had not only failed to help but had actively interfered—practically betraying him. To drive Hwi back, he had needed to unleash a full-power wide-area authority, but because his own allies refused to listen, he could do nothing and had been forced to allow Hwi’s approach. No matter how much he had been sealed in advance, the reason the Dimensional Mage God, who possessed the power of dimensions, could neither escape nor avoid annihilation was precisely because of that.

That was why he was already sick of even having subordinates, let alone a clan that would be no different from a community bound by fate. It was absurd.

“In the request and execution of this ranking war, would subordinates understand my thoughts and assist me? It would be fortunate if they simply did not get in the way. It would be a hundred times better to hire and use them like the Substitute Gods, paying them a fair price. For the Grey Absolute, the pinnacle of the Sage line, a clan that must be looked after would only be a nuisance. Moreover, it was not even I who made the declaration. It was my past self who misused the pattern of the Grey Absolute. Once this matter is over, I will correct it immediately.”

However, the Origin of the Mage God’s pitying gaze only grew deeper, and his mechanical tone continued.

‘As expected, simply training him is not enough. In political and delicate matters, he cannot be trusted.’

It was pathetic that the Magic God of Dimensions did not even understand what it meant to formally invoke the Grey Absolute’s pattern through an official incantation and make a declaration. In fields excluding raw power, the Magic God of Dimensions—who was relatively weak—held the advantage. Still, the value of the Grey Absolute, who could wield the Sage-type absolute authority Yggdrasil, was beyond comparison. Although the Origin of the Mage God, the Reality Denier, had intervened, the fact that he had not appeared for 500 billion years proved his worth. Therefore, he had to be educated somehow and made useful. This was a matter of pride for the Origin of the Mage God, renowned even within the Wind Family as an educator who produced the highest results.

“Your past self used even the authentication of the Grey Absolute to declare it, so of course it must be done. Originally, a mere Preliminary Creator God of the Main Universe could not interfere with the 10 Mainstays of the Absolute Realm. However, the qualifications for a report are sufficient. Because the Magic God of Dimensions is your past self in the present, all responsibility and authority are shared between you. If everything you are doing now carries the same responsibility for the Magic God of Dimensions, then it follows that your authority is also granted to your past self. Granting equal rights, responsibilities, duties, and authority is the fair law. However, the laws of the Current World prioritize the strong—this is the truth and the law of the current world. It will unconditionally prioritize your benefit, but it still protects the weak to a degree. No, it thoroughly protects only their basic rights in order to maintain and increase the number of weak who will become the foundation of the strong. Since your very life and everything you possess are at stake, I cannot oppose your actions, but I can interfere. Therefore, although it would normally be impossible, the Magic God of Dimensions, as the past of the Grey Absolute, can authenticate and file an official report. The problem is that a declaration made while invoking the pattern of the 10 Mainstays constitutes an official reporting procedure. To whom is the report made? Naturally, it would be to your direct superior, would it not?”

By the time the explanation reached this point, the Grey Absolute’s face had turned deathly pale. He desperately hoped his prediction was wrong, but the Origin of the Mage God mercilessly revealed the truth.

“Simply put, your statement that you would create the Grey Clan has now been officially reported to Grandfather Truth. Yet you say you will correct and cancel it because it was done by your past self? Even one of the 10 Mainstays at the pinnacle of the Absolute Realm dares to take back a declaration that has been formally reported to Grandfather Truth? Go ahead and try. Let us see what kind of fate awaits you when you are dragged away.”

“Huuuuurk—!”

A groan escaped him involuntarily. He truly had not known that formally invoking a sentence and making a declaration would constitute an official report ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Truth. He had decided to exist only until he completed his revenge against Black Flame, who had annihilated his past self, and since he would have no further use for it, he had ignored the matter entirely. Yet his past self had apparently investigated the 10 Mainstays in meticulous detail even though he had no need for it. As a result, his past self had committed an utterly insane act.

Truth was someone even Gold—the one with absolute immunity unless the Absolute Realm itself were to collapse—would avoid clashing with if possible. There was nothing more burdensome than the attention of an extremely competent superior. No matter how well one performed, it would never meet the standard, and one would only be scolded. There was no need to guess—Truth’s standards were undoubtedly at a level far beyond what he could handle. As one of the 10 Mainstays, albeit ranked at the very bottom in tenth place, once the matter reached him, it would be judged without the slightest leniency, and the results would be watched with the utmost attention.

‘Correcting a declaration reported to Truth? Just how much of what kind of price would I have to pay? Is it even possible? There is no choice but to create the Grey Clan. Then even if this matter succeeds, I cannot end this horrific and tiresome reality.’

Watching the Grey Absolute, whose expression had turned dazed at the sudden crisis that had completely overturned his personal plans, the Origin of the Mage God clicked his tongue in exasperation.

‘These suicidal, self-detonating gods. Whether in the past or now, they are all reckless and indifferent to anything that does not concern them. Still, it seems he has finally grasped the situation. You can no longer exit this reality until the reported matter is concluded. Creating the Grey Clan? How much time and effort will that take? So from now on, think about the future a little.’

“Tsk tsk—! Even though it was created by Gold and you dislike it, read the 10 Mainstays’ rulebook carefully and analyze it. That book is no different from a contract between the first-ranked of the 10 Mainstays and Grandfather Truth, so a mistake like this can lead to a major incident. The Magic God of Dimensions, who has nothing to do with this, seems to have checked it properly, yet you yourself are in this state. That is the problem. Let me emphasize once more: declarations made by the 10 Mainstays—the supreme powerhouses—are directly managed by Grandfather Truth, so they cannot be canceled. Otherwise, one would have to erase or annihilate the memories of everyone who heard the declaration to make it as if it never happened, but since the other 10 Mainstays also heard it, that is impossible. Until the results of this declaration emerge, Grandfather Truth will personally oversee it. Make sure to give proper interim reports later. Do not get yourself beaten for nothing.”

At those words, a desperate reaction burst forth. He had planned to dump the cleanup on the Magic God of Dimensions once this was over and cleanly erase himself, but now it seemed he could not even do that. Even if he erased himself, restoring one of the 10 Mainstays would be easy for Truth. He had run amok thinking this revenge would be the end of his life, yet now it turned out it was not the end. He had stirred things up far too greatly, and the aftermath would be truly terrifying.

“Later, during the request process from the Wind Family, I will somehow adjust it by claiming it was an accident that occurred. So please speak with him together.”

“Enough—! The revival of the Grey Clan is a great benefit to the Absolute Realm as well, so there is no way he will permit a correction. I have no desire to be scolded alongside you by Grandfather Truth for having educated you. For your past self, reviving the Grey Clan was impossible, so at least you should clean up properly. I thought it strange that although you received many things from Grandfather Truth—titles, authorities, even magic—there were so many restrictions. Now I see why. You speak recklessly with your mouth and cause massive incidents with your actions. This is the classic type that invites disaster with words and amplifies it with deeds. It is a miracle you have survived this long.”

“I will also teach him proper speech habits. Thoroughly—!”

Realizing that he might end up being hounded by Truth to revive the Grey Clan and unable to die as he wished, the second-generation Grey Absolute’s eyes finally burned with murderous intent. At some point, a copy of the 10 Mainstays’ rulebook had appeared in his hands. Though it was as thick as a dictionary, what he held was only a tiny fraction. Towers of endless books stacked two stories high had materialized around him.

It was called a rulebook, but in reality it was a historical record that listed, in chronological order, every decision, result, and follow-up measure the 10 Mainstays had taken regarding the administration of the Absolute Realm. The knowledge and experience accumulated over 500 billion years was enormous in volume. Since he had planned to exist only until he took revenge on the Black Flame Absolute, he had naturally seen no need to read it and had ignored it. Yet it seemed there were cases recorded within in which authenticating a sentence as one of the 10 Mainstays and making a declaration resulted in a direct report to Truth as a follow-up measure.

His past self had read and analyzed all of this, and now he was the one getting burned by it. If he had known in advance that a formal report to Truth could be completed simply by authenticating a sentence, he would have found some way to completely block his past self’s authority to activate sentences. Because his past self was fundamentally the same being, he had ignored the fact that it would be recognized as authentication by the Grey Absolute. He needed to check immediately whether there were any other such clauses.

As he began urgently reading through the immense volume that condensed the life experiences and precedents of the 10 Mainstays over 500 billion years, irritation and rage rose like smoke within his heart. He understood the necessity, but they did not have to go this far. It would have been enough to simply speak without making a formal report to Truth. The fact that his past self had gone to such lengths meant he intended to drag him down together even if he fell himself.

‘This damn bastard—! He noticed my intention to disappear after completing my revenge. He decided he would not handle my aftermath? He refuses to suffer any loss? And yet he dares to drag Truth into this? Who is supposed to handle the consequences? Has he truly gone mad? Even though it is my past self, working with him makes me want to lose my mind. I cannot predict what he will do next. Damn it—! Once this matter is over, we will see about this—!’

Grinding his teeth, he began to analyze the contents of the 10 Mainstays’ rulebook, maximizing his dimensional authority to stop time itself. Once again, he keenly felt that understanding the regulations was essential no matter which organization one joined.