The Voice of Truth from the Seal
The Eternal Beings had all guessed what the Grey Absolute had just done in the Otherworld War. He had linked miniature space-time bombs together like threads and triggered them in a sequential chain of explosions to assault the Black Flame Absolute of the 499th Master Universe. And he had done so by launching the condensed absolute sealing authority Yggdrasil at the very forefront.
Yggdrasil was the supreme absolute authority of the Sage lineage, the only one capable of affecting a true Eternal Being. The fact that such a high-level authority could pierce straight through the defensive barriers of each Master Universe as if they did not exist was nothing short of a miraculous absurdity. Moreover, its range appeared to have no limits whatsoever.
Most terrifying of all, if something like this can be manifested at such speed and fly toward its target at such velocity, even we would have no confidence in blocking it.
If one of the 10 Centers—Jinri’s own royal guard who was simultaneously attempting to oppose him—could activate a sniping attack capable of toppling even Eternal Beings regardless of distance or defenses, the horror of it was beyond words.
Once the 10 Centers clearly declare whether they are Jinri’s subordinates or a rebel force, we can respond accordingly. But they flip back and forth depending on the situation, so the correct answer is to avoid getting involved with them at all.
Yet we cannot completely ignore them either, so we offer cooperation while erecting barriers around each Master Universe to prevent entry.
Even now they fought over every little issue of initiative. Dealing with the 10 Centers was already overwhelmingly difficult. And now another being had appeared who could ignore even the Master Universes’ defensive barriers that had been effective against the existing 10 Centers. Peaceful days ahead seemed impossible.
The number of monsters we cannot handle has only grown.
Jinri! Oh, Jinri! Why are you doing this? What sin have we committed?
Have we not done everything as instructed? We created the Master Universes and brought forth countless Spiritual Beings—why are you acting this way?
Are the Master Universes not enough? What more would you have us do? At least speak plainly so we may understand!
Ever since Jinri had claimed the pinnacle among the Eternal Beings 500 billion years ago, not a single moment had passed without them feeling this crushing emotion. In the past, many Eternal Beings had grown so bored with silence and stillness that they had chosen self-erasure, but such a thing was unthinkable now.
All the Eternal Beings had been living quietly at the center of the Absolute Realm until they were forcibly driven out into the empty void to create the Eight-Ring Seal for the 1st Generation 8 Absolutes.
The moment we let our guard down because Jinri remains silent, the 10 Centers or the Wind Family stir up these unbearable incidents.
I think I finally understand the feeling of intelligent beings whose blood runs dry.
As if their business was concluded, the Eternal Beings watched the Grey Absolute and the Origin of the Mage God depart into the distance without so much as acknowledging them, sinking into a melancholy mood. Seeing them bicker and leave after dumping such worries on everyone made their insides churn.
“Stop hitting my head, I said—! Ah! And stop pulling my ear!”
“Once the Ranking War ends, release that Eight-Ring Seal immediately! The results may be good, but what exactly are you doing to yourself?”
At those words, the Grey Absolute paused to think before replying carefully.
“My past is no longer necessary, is it? Let’s just leave it as is. You know better than anyone how difficult it would be to safely undo the seal on what lies within. Isn’t finishing the Ranking War the more urgent matter right now?”
“...We’ll handle the Ranking War first.”
It was extremely unpleasant to hear his past self referred to as a mere “thing,” but the Origin of the Mage God understood. Implementing such a high-level seal was difficult, but undoing it was even harder. Tampering with it from the outside would only strengthen it or cause an explosion that would devastate the surroundings. The internal safeguards that reinforced the seal if anyone attempted illegal release were equally thorough.
The physical bodies of the 1st Generation 8 Absolutes—who possess strength surpassing even Eternal Beings—are not trapped in silence for nothing.
The more they rampaged inside, the stronger the control became. It could not be undone by force, and unless one perfectly matched both the fusion ratio and sequence of the eight simultaneously activated authorities, it would not budge an inch. Any attempt at forced release would, in the worst case, turn it into a bomb capable of annihilating everything around it. Its destructive power was not on the level of a space-time bomb but rather world-ending. One could not touch it lightly.
On top of that, countless identity verification procedures had to be completed. In conclusion, the Eight-Ring Seal could not be undone by anyone other than the one who had cast it.
“But why do I feel so uneasy all of a sudden?”
“I feel the same.”
The Grey Absolute’s expression suggested he had missed something. The Origin of the Mage God also felt deeply unsettled despite trying to wrap things up for now. The Dimensional Mage God had completed the request to lower the Black Flame Absolute’s authority with the highest grade of success, only to stab them in the back. That alone was displeasing, yet an even greater anxiety was surging.
It feels like something will happen to the Eight-Ring Seal containing the Black Flame Absolute before the Ranking War ends.
At our level, such unease is practically a prophecy of a confirmed future.
Since the 4th ranked Black Flame Absolute was blocking ultra-long-distance spatial movement, they could not go directly. Instead, they theoretically examined every possibility at high speed.
“The possibility that the Dimensional Mage God attempts to undo it from within and succeeds?”
“None. A mere 11th-circle mage god has no chance of surpassing me, a 14th-circle mage god, does he?”
“That is true.”
The 2nd Generation Black Flame Absolute attempting to break out through sheer force from within was impossible due to the seal’s nature. More than the possibility of destruction, no one but the caster could even attempt it. They could not pass the various identity verifications. Of course, since the Grey Absolute had been the one to cast it, the Dimensional Mage God could at least try. However, his divine rank and computational power were far too insufficient to undo it with magic.
“There is no problem with the Eight-Ring Seal, yet I still feel anxious.”
“Yes. It would be best to go confirm it or retrieve it for additional sealing, but that would take too much time. We do not have that luxury right now.”
There was no time to take additional measures for this anxiety. Once an operation began, it had to be carried through like a storm. Hesitation would inevitably bring a backlash. Moreover, their opponents were the 10 Centers; there was no room for leisure. Even though the Grey Absolute and the Wind Family had joined forces, the difference in military strength was vast.
And the long-awaited moment to unseal the prison door was finally approaching. The days of turning away from cruel reality and unchangeable helplessness were over. If they could simply create a situation where claiming the 1st rank would naturally force them to unseal it, they could step forward without suspicion. Creating such favorable conditions was far too easy for the Origin of the Mage God.
“For now, let us move to the Ranking War’s location and push for its conclusion. We must proceed as quickly as possible. We are almost there—any delay that causes an unforeseen incident must be avoided.”
“Understood.”
Thus, the Grey Absolute and the Dimensional Mage God hurriedly moved toward the Ranking War’s location.
And in the Main Divine Realm of the 499th Master Universe, which had regained its silence, the traces of the fierce battle that had just occurred remained perfectly intact. No one could approach because of the aftermath of the absolute authority lingering on the countless scattered Swords of Ruin and Soul.
At the center, where the authority had transformed into a massive vortex, the orb that was the Eight-Ring Seal vibrated as it emitted sound.
Gugung!
Fwooooooo!
Just as the anxiety had suggested, the seal was not perfect. Had the Grey Absolute known this fact, he would have rushed back immediately regardless of any interference or time constraints. Unfortunately, he had been unable to confirm the scene in person.
Of course, Yggdrasil itself was perfect. The problem had arisen from sealing two beings inside a container meant for one. Or rather, because he had been so focused on the 14th-circle Black Flame Absolute that he had completely disregarded the 11th-circle Dimensional Mage God.
The greatest error was overlooking the fact that the Dimensional Mage God contained the Divine Spirit Purgatory—a prison holding fifty Origins and several thousand high gods.
The Origins of the 500th Master Universe were currently weak, but their potential was equal to that of the 499th. The same applied to the high gods who possessed main god-level divinity. The total combined potential of all of them slightly exceeded Yggdrasil’s spare capacity, creating a very small gap.
It was not enough to destroy the seal or allow the Dimensional Mage God to escape—it was merely a minuscule crack in perfection. So tiny a flaw that the Grey Absolute who had cast it would not have noticed. Through that tiny crack leaked the voice of the Dimensional Mage God, who had been driven nearly insane by curses and rage.
“So it really is permanent imprisonment, not ten billion years. Grey—! You future self who I could just grind up and drink. I won’t let you get away with this. Wait… what am I even saying right now? Hahahahaha—! I’m going crazy.”
Fortunately he had not died, but this could hardly be called living. As a spiritual being he could not even die, so he was doomed to be permanently confined in this cramped Divine Spirit Purgatory. The fact that the one who had done this to him was none other than his own future self was a miracle he had not gone completely mad.
Yet the more he thought about it, the more furious he became. Just as he was on the verge of another outburst, a solemn voice reached his ears.
“To suffer such humiliation at the hands of your future self… Are you truly a Sage? How pathetic your life must be. Heh—! And I, who got dragged into it, am even more pathetic. Who could I possibly blame?”
The Origins and high gods inside the Divine Spirit Purgatory had been shoved deep inside because they were too noisy, so their voices could not be heard. Then the one speaking must be the spiritual body of the Black Flame Absolute sealed alongside him—but the atmosphere had completely changed.
The height exceeding three meters, the muscles so densely compressed they seemed ready to burst—those were the same. However, the aura emanating from the spirit was nothing like the rampaging giant berserker from before. An aloof, untouchable dignity overflowed from him. It was not merely a difference in divine rank but the inherent nobility of the being itself.
It was a level of grace the Black Flame Absolute—a fusion of fighting spirit and killing intent—could never have dreamed of possessing.
“Your style seems to have changed quite a bit. I thought you would immediately smash me apart while demanding I take responsibility, yet here you are speaking so calmly. For the record, there is nothing I can do about this either. I am a victim in this as well.”
It was my future self who did it, but I helped. This is complicated.
Though they shared the same fate of being sealed together, the root cause of all this was ultimately himself. Of course the finishing blow had come from the Grey Absolute, but to an outside observer it was his future, past, and present self all at once. Even if the Black Flame Absolute beat him to a pulp and annihilated him right now, he would have nothing to say in his defense.
The fact that the Grey Absolute—who should have been cleaning up this mess—had instead sealed him together with the Black Flame Absolute only made his teeth grind harder. Yet instead of the expected fist, words carrying far heavier meaning came.
“Do not question me. Except for Jinri, only cold and perfect defeat awaits anyone who does, for I am Truth itself.”
“The Black Flame is Truth? And you’re telling me not to question you? Did you eat something wrong? Or have you already gone mad?”
Being trapped for a long period would cause problems even for a spiritual being. But to show such symptoms before it had even begun was serious. However, what returned was a reply that somehow sounded pitying.
“To think one such as this would become the pinnacle of Sages known as the Grey? Truly the end of days. Well, from the moment the half-Eternal being known as Jinri became the pinnacle of the world, it has been an endless repetition of the end of days and the present world. An eternal chaotic era. Since you maintain it, the result may be ideal from the world’s perspective, yet I cannot understand why you choose such a difficult path. Come out and sit here. I have many questions.”
“......”
It only got worse. But one thing was certain.
As always, it doesn’t look like I’ll get beaten, but this is incredibly unsettling.
Sensing that refusing would only lead to something worse than violence, the Dimensional Mage God emerged from the Divine Spirit Purgatory, knelt politely, and sat down. Strangely, the Black Flame Absolute sat down in the exact same kneeling posture across from him. The posture was far too natural, the courtesy far too familiar.
“We seem to have more than enough time, so tell me of your past. Since Jinri personally appointed the Grey Absolute, there must be a reason. That is what I wish to know.”
The three-meter-tall, massively muscled giant who had been radiating fighting spirit and killing intent moments ago was now treating someone far beneath him with perfect courtesy. The sense of dissonance was so strong it made his entire body tremble. This was far more terrifying than fighting a rampaging opponent.
In the end, expecting the worst the moment the seal had closed, he spoke the words he had prepared.
“Um, excuse me. Couldn’t you just destroy this Divine Spirit Purgatory or my spiritual body? If you did, I might be able to escape.”
As expected of him, the supposedly perfect Eight-Ring Seal was not flawless. Though it was only an imperceptible crack and a tiny gap, if his spiritual body were shattered into fragments, it seemed possible to slip through. Then, using the effect of the Origin title and his dimensional authority, he could somehow resurrect outside. Of course the success rate was slim, and he would lose all his authorities and magic power to start over from the beginning, but it was still better than being trapped forever.
“If I intervene midway, the meaning may change, so I shall remain silent from now on. Therefore, tell me your past from the very beginning.”
“......”
Seeing the Black Flame Absolute sitting with his eyes half-closed, silently waiting to hear his story, the Dimensional Mage God felt an emotion even stronger than all the absurdity he had experienced until now. He instinctively realized that unless his explanation was sufficiently satisfying, he would have to recount his entire past endlessly.
Refusing was not an option. The difference in spiritual power was nearly ten thousand times greater. If his memories were forcibly read, the chance of him turning into an idiot was extremely high. He would have no choice but to reveal everything himself if he wished to remain safe.
Did I enjoy talking about my past?
Just thinking about those memories was horrific, so of course not. Yet he had no choice but to do it. The difference in rank was incomparably vast, and the fact that mere silence could exert this much pressure was astonishing.
I’ve stepped on a landmine.
He began with his relatively decent days in the Divine Realm, but receiving no reaction, he eventually started his story from when he was a baby.