The Weight of Absolute Command

In the Otherworld war, earning another person’s trust naturally required a great deal of effort and time. Yet for an entity with the verified qualifications of the Main God of the Divine Realm, that process was drastically shortened. A swift reevaluation of the position and authority needed to receive divine power support was already underway.

‘The authority and trust of the Main God of the Divine Realm. There are so many things I can do with this…’

Meanwhile, the Hero God and his companions, who stood in opposition to the Main God of the Celestial God Tribe and the two High Lord Gods nearly equal to him, were losing their minds. Overwhelmed by the Main God’s divine rank, their bodies kept stiffening as if they were frogs exposed before a snake. Had they not already experienced the killing intent and fighting spirit of the outstanding Creator God known as Almighty Hwi, they would have collapsed on the spot.

Even after being struck by this Main God’s wide-area authority, only an extremely small number had managed to approach. And now, the very same individuals found their most painful memories from the past resurfacing.

‘The same oppressive feeling as when we first encountered that high-ranking Demon King — no, even greater.’

There was the bitter memory of their rookie hero days, when they had been intoxicated by the sudden surge of power granted by the Divine Realm’s blessing. They had charged straight at the Demon King, only to flee with their lives by the skin of their teeth. When the endlessly blazing wide-area authority that shattered entire armies came rushing in, they had reflexively scrambled to block it, only to feel nothing but despair at the overwhelming gap in power.

‘And now there are three of them. We can’t even twitch. I even dragged along my disciples who have experience fighting Demon Kings, yet instead of helping, they’re just trembling beside me.’

The reason such a pathetic sight made sense was because even the High Elf Queens — intermediate gods of the same 8th circle who surpassed them in strength — were merely staring at the enemy, locked in a standoff. There was no way the disciples, who had only just crossed from lower god to intermediate god, could endure this pressure.

By current common sense, two hero parties composed of intermediate gods and five High Elf Queens had no chance of defeating three Main Gods. Moreover, the level of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠authority these three emanated placed them in an entirely different class from ordinary high-ranking gods. They did not even fear the Eternal Samsara, the forbidden magic that guaranteed self-sacrifice and endless challenges.

On the contrary, they displayed absolute composure. The Magic God of Dimensions silently pointed at the divine artifact he had infused with his magic and gestured with his finger, as if inviting them to activate it and come at him.

They were completely overwhelmed by the endless depth of fighting spirit and killing intent radiating from him — so much so that one might doubt whether he was truly a god of light.

‘No matter how many times we risk our lives and charge in, we can never win. Charging means nothing but meaningless death. We have to pull back here. We’ve done everything we could. We clearly achieved victory.’

The Magic God quickly assessed their current state and conveyed his will to his companions.

‘If no reward can be obtained no matter what, then it holds no value. These beings are not ones we can overcome.’

Still, because they were comrades, he desperately tried to persuade them.

The reward was certainly enormous. Killing high gods would grant them higher circles and formal acceptance into the Divine Realm. Yet thanks to maintaining the Indomitable wide-area authority and fighting individually, they had already been credited with killing at least ten each. And now, more than half of the ten thousand high gods had been brought down. They had clearly won.

Even if they killed the remaining five thousand and defeated those Main Gods, they still wouldn’t reach a hundred kills. The opponents blocking them now were simply too strong. Greed beyond this point was far too dangerous.

Even the Hero God, who had been the most aggressive, could only nod at the Magic God’s continued words.

‘Even a death-defying strike cannot kill them in a single blow. Considering the recovery power of the god race, Main Gods like them can never be defeated that way. Even intermediate gods require time to resurrect, but by then their recovery would be complete. To prevent that, continuous successive attacks are necessary, but we don’t have that capability. Without a saintess to heal us, we cannot keep fighting at full strength.’

To subjugate a Demon King, the hero was the one who received divine protection to block mental attacks from higher beings. Warriors and swordsmen who broke through the enemy’s authority to deliver direct blows, along with mages who disrupted and launched long-range attacks — that alone was not enough to form a complete party.

Human bodies and minds had limits. If an arm or leg was lost, combat power would plummet. That was why the existence of a saintess, who granted regenerative and recovery abilities on par with gods, was absolutely essential.

Only the saintess, who could perfectly restore stamina, mind, and everything else through divine blessings, made it possible to unleash ultimate techniques in rapid succession during extreme battles. Without her, it was far too difficult for a hero’s party to subjugate a Demon King.

‘We lack the endurance to fight at maximum power. No matter how sacrificial the attack, it won’t be a fatal blow or a decisive strike. According to the data, Main Gods possess more than ten times the healing power of high gods. So is this our limit? But what about the selection? The first mission I received as a god? Is this a failure?’

The Hero God clenched his teeth tightly.

The army of lower gods had certainly defeated the high gods. However, they could not overcome those three Main Gods. If judged by the result, it would undoubtedly be recorded as a victory. Yet what the Magic God of Dimensions desired was a perfect victory that no one could raise any objection to.

Even by his own judgment, for a human-born Magic God of Dimensions to become the highest high-ranking position of Main God of the Divine Realm, he naturally needed outstanding achievements and results that surpassed others. However, that did not mean he could push his comrades into a battle they could not win while forcing them to endure massive sacrifices.

Already, several groups of lower gods who had been moving like hunting parties to subjugate high gods were regaining their senses and showing signs of retreating. It seemed the transcendent sages mixed among them had persuaded the others.

‘Stopping here is the rational choice. Continuing won’t improve anything.’

Once beings had been convinced by reason, it was difficult to make them display fighting spirit close to madness again.

‘There’s no turning back now.’

He steeled himself to accept whatever reprimand he might receive from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Main God of the Divine Realm later. No matter how much the Indomitable authority supplemented their will and leadership, he could not force those who had already given up on the battle to fight once more.

“All troops, retrea—!”

The Hero God’s mouth, which had been about to issue the withdrawal order, snapped shut in panic.

Suddenly, an illusion of the Magic God of Dimensions appeared before the Main Gods. Sharp fighting spirit and killing intent gleamed from the eyes hidden beneath the black robe, instantly suppressing the three Main Gods and forcing them to take a step back.

The pressure they had felt from the Main Gods — the very beings who had made them feel the presence of a Creator God — vanished completely, only to be replaced by a new, deeper terror. Then a voice filled with cold emotion rang out.

“Hero God? What were you trying to say? It sounded like you said ‘all troops retreat.’ Surely I must have misheard, right?”

The moment he heard those words, goosebumps erupted from the tips of his toes to the top of his head as if struck by lightning.

‘If I answer wrong, I’ll be turned into a bug and crushed to death.’

One wrong word and he could truly meet the worst possible end.

‘Didn’t he turn comrades who betrayed his trust and interfered with his authority into bugs and stomp them to death? Above all, I almost forgot. That the Magic God of Dimensions, his direct superior, is a higher god than these three Main Gods — and a far more terrifying existence.’

Thinking that, the courage and fighting spirit that had been fading away surged back to life.

“There is absolutely no all-troops retreat—! I was about to say, ‘Let’s fight to the very end here—!’ Please believe me.”

At the utterly shameless answer, the Magic God of Dimensions shook his head and scanned the surroundings once more.

The forces gathered to face the three Main Gods consisted only of the five High Elf Queens, the Hero God and his four companions, and the active hero party. Though the hero and his companions were trembling as if forcibly dragged here, their fighting spirit still burned thanks to their experience battling Demon Kings.

After confirming that the red-robed mage with the especially voluptuous chest was the lower god who had conveyed her will to him, he finished his judgment.

‘For a perfect victory, I will end these Main Gods with only them. Then no god in the Main Divine Realm will be able to say a word.’

The rest of the lower gods who had refused even to approach were irrelevant. He would punish them later for losing their nerve and attempting to retreat on their own. For now, he would make use of them.

What emerged from the empty air was a single ordinary-looking book. However, the magic power contained within was by no means light. It was a grimoire holding power equivalent to at least the 8th circle.

He handed it to the red-robed enemy mage among the hero party, who was staring at him with wide, startled eyes.

“I heard your opinion well. My Root School requires special physical conditions, so it is impossible to accept you as a disciple. Besides, even though I am the Main God of the Divine Realm, I doubt you would want to become the disciple of a black mage, would you? Therefore, if you activate Eternal Samsara and win, I will give you this instead. It is the grimoire of Red Crowd, the enemy mage once called a legend among enemy mages. I will also introduce you to a suitable master who will surprise everyone.”

The enemy mage was utterly shocked.

‘Red Crowd—!’

That name belonged to the legendary enemy mage who had reached the pinnacle of flame magic and fought a Demon King alone, perishing together with it. Every enemy mage dreamed of becoming like him. Yet because of the nature of flame magic, when one was defeated, their entire body would burn to ash, along with any grimoires they possessed. Naturally, it had vanished together with him when he perished alongside the Demon King.

Yet now that very grimoire was suddenly placed in his hands, he could hardly believe it. It was a tome that should not even exist.

Watching that doubt, the Magic God of Dimensions gave a faint, mischievous smile.

Snap—!

With a light flick of his fingers, the air split open and a colossal library appeared. Countless books flew up from the shelves that seemed to reach the end of the sky. Then, as if asking to be read, they appeared before the lower gods.

The eyes of all the lower beings who unconsciously began reading the books grew wider and wider. They contained the names and histories of their races’ legendary heroes, along with their training methods.

When a tremendous uproar erupted among the lower gods who had confirmed the contents, words infused with the Magic God of Dimensions’ divine power flowed out.

Asking and answering his own question with clear enjoyment, he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers loudly.

CRACK—!

With that sound, the air ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠split open once more and a massive screen unfolded. On the screen, a mage wrapped in the power of a colossal flame bird was engaged in a desperate battle with a demon god race being of enormous stature. The demon god’s magic power and the flame bird devoured each other as they desperately tried to kill one another.

The ground was already covered in lava and burning fiercely. In the sky, endless fiery meteors fell toward the Demon King. Their power was so great that even the Demon King could not withstand a direct hit and was frantically dodging. Although assisted by high-ranking mages from the enemy magic tower, the red-haired enemy mage enveloped in the flame bird displayed power that made one hesitate to even call him a human mage.

“This is the battle between the enemy magic tower and the Demon King that took place about six hundred years ago in your time. It is the final moment of Red Crowd, the enemy mage whose tower was attacked by the Demon King. I am showing it to you by transcending the walls of time and space. Although Red Crowd could only exert one-tenth of his power due to the planetary barrier, he fought against a Demon King possessing the strength of an intermediate lord god in order to protect himself and the enemy magic tower. This battle with the Demon King not only burned him but also the entire enemy magic tower and kingdom of that time. That is why the enemy magic tower is now only of medium-to-high scale. All records and data from that time were lost in the battle against the Demon King. It is a chronic problem for enemy mages specialized in flame magic. If not for this incident, they would probably still hold the highest position. Heh heh heh—!”

They did not understand the meaning behind showing such a scene, but in the next moment everyone let out sorrowful gasps.

The flame bird made of magic power charged at the Demon King, delivering the final blow and causing its annihilation. However, as the price for power beyond human limits, the enemy mage’s body, having exhausted all its magic power, burned away into ash. At the same time, the magic tower that had consumed all its power also collapsed and shattered.

Among the hero’s companions, the enemy mage let out the loudest sigh. At that time, the enemy magic tower and enemy mage — the strongest on the continent — had perished together with the Demon King, bringing their golden age to an end. The enemy magic tower had lost all its vast experimental data and secret techniques. The branch families not present in the tower at the time had desperately worked to restore it, barely managing to raise it to medium-high rank.

If Lord Red Crowd were still alive or if his magic had been properly passed down, it would never have come to this. Although they had become lower gods, the ties to the Middle World were still far too strong because the reality had not yet sunk in.

The voice of the Magic God of Dimensions continued.

“When one displays power that transcends limits and dies, even their soul disappears. That is the miserable end of most heroes who became legends. However, did you really think I would let it end that way? Beings possessing such immense power? When I need even a single piece of knowledge or authority to become a higher god? So I did this. Come forth from the past—!”

In the next instant, everyone’s eyes widened as if they would tear apart.

Beyond the screen, a hand grabbed the enemy mage’s body as it was turning to ash. Then, as if pulling it out, the hand yanked it from inside the screen. Like an illusion, the enemy mage’s body materialized in reality. At the same time, the body and clothes that had been turning to ash were instantly regenerated by an enormous surge of divine power.

While the enemy mage, who had resolved to die and killed the Demon King, was confused and bewildered by the fact that he was alive, a voice reached him.

“Red Crowd—! I pay my respects to you, a mortal who single-handedly subjugated a Demon King. I have now denied the fate that ended for you in the past and made you exist in the present. Welcome ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to my reality after receiving a new life. Well, no one knows what will happen to you personally, but let’s do our best for now.”

When the Magic God of Dimensions called his name, the red-haired mage turned to look at him. A furious voice burst from his lips.

The black magic power he felt was so clear and powerful that it was obvious this was a black mage. Because black mages endlessly summoned demons and Demon Kings to obtain magic power and raise their circles, the Middle World had been plunged into endless turmoil. Among the black mages who were killed on sight, there was only one arrogant faction that proudly engraved circles of magic power on their backs, wore black robes, and walked around bare-handed.

They were the mages of the Root School, who possessed particularly dangerous power even among black mages.

“Are you a black mage of the Root School? Was all of this your doing? Did you cooperate in this Demon King summoning?”

This time, because most of his magic tower and kingdom had been sacrificed, his hatred was beyond words. However, what returned was only a chuckle of utter disbelief.

“Pfft—! I am indeed a black mage of the Root School and its leader. But cooperating in a Demon King summoning? The Root School? Heh heh heh—! Borrowing the power of demons to become stronger is a disgrace to those who have properly learned black magic. Only third-rate clowns of other schools do such things, and I have already cleaned them all up. Rather, let us negotiate quickly. What I will give you is peace and rest sufficient to die a natural death within my space. It will be maintained until I die. In return, I will take all the foundations of your power. What do you think?”

To the Magic God of Dimensions who spoke playfully, an answer of course not came back. No, he seemed ready to activate his flame magic and charge at any moment.

“Shut your mouth—! How dare a lowly black mage try to scheme against me, the leader of the enemy mages? I don’t know what kind of illusion or magic this is, but pay for the sin of mocking me by turning to ash immediately.”

“That kind of reaction is only natural at first, but why don’t you look around and then look at me? Is this a situation where you can rampage with that kind of power? Or not?”

Though he was raising his magic power in fury at the absurd proposal, as expected of a mage, he heeded the warning and examined his surroundings. Transcendents so powerful that their divine power could be felt were gathered in numbers too great to count, and on the opposite side was a battlefield where beings with multiple layers of light wings — clearly high gods — were responding. The transcendents were all powerhouses who in no way fell short of him, gathered in countless numbers.

Moreover, a female mage wearing tight-fitting red silk clothes that accentuated her incredibly good figure was desperately waving her hands from beyond the black mage’s illusion, signaling him not to do it.

‘Since no one is paying any attention even though such a high-ranking black mage has appeared, this is clearly not a normal situation where I can openly curse at him. No, even though it is an illusion, I cannot even gauge the opponent’s magic power. This is an existence I cannot handle.’

What was even more shocking was the unbelievable fact that divine power of light, as strong as the immeasurably vast black magic power, was positioned on the other side.

“W… who are you?”

“I am the 11th-circle Magic God of Dimensions who denies reality, and the Main God of the Dimensional Divine Realm. Yet what did you just say to me? A mere 7th-circle transcendent? I saved a bastard who would have disappeared without leaving anything behind, and you dare insult me by calling me a lowly non-black mage? How should I dispose of this?”

Now he understood. He had certainly died earlier while fighting the Demon King. Yet the black mage before him had changed that fate. Above all, a ruthless black mage who was also a god of light — and a Main God at that — was an impossible existence. However, seeing the female mage who was clearly from his own magic tower desperately sending her will that further rudeness would cause great trouble, his spirit was completely crushed.

“If you are a god of light, you must know that toying with life and changing fate is wrong. How can you commit such tyranny….”

“Kuk—! KHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAT—!”

It was an extremely moral statement that one must not toy with the life and death of precious living beings at will. However, the Magic God of Dimensions burst into a refreshing laugh that echoed across the sky. The illusion grew even larger, covering the entire heavens.