Chapter 261
Chapter 261
Chapter 261
Transcendence (3)
The energies that had been rampaging wildly were now creating a system of circulation through the medium of the sword.
Rudian's momentum, which had been close to a rampage, gradually began to subside.
'He's doing well.'
The administrator chuckled as he watched Rudian finally realize the utility of the sword.
'To think he's only now reaching a place he should have completed long ago... indeed, having good starting stats isn't always a good thing.'
Even looking back through all of history, a case like Rudian's could be considered almost unique.
Heavens, to think someone could exist stably while possessing seven different types of power!
But such imbalance would soon come to an end.
The chaos that had been flowing complexly within Rudian was finding order and would be created into 'divinity.'
'Hmm?'
It was then.
The administrator, who had been happily watching Rudian's transformation, noticed something from the 'outside' forcing its way toward this place.
It was definitely an assassin sent by Berus to kill Rudian.
'Faster than expected?'
This place was the 'outside' of the world.
Unlike places that existed 'within' the world like Shub's domain, its very existence couldn't be known through ordinary methods.
Yet the ability to find this place was likely due to the absolute influence of the 'law-twisting power' that Berus had granted.
'I thought they would come, but they shouldn't come now.'
The administrator stretched his hand toward the sky and made a motion as if crushing something.
Then the crack that had been opening from the outside was instantly sealed and hardened.
'Wait a bit. Things are getting interesting now.'
Whether twisting laws or not, such things were useless before overwhelming power that transcended even that.
Besides, this was his own domain.
Unless Berus came personally, no mere subordinate's power could break through the defenses of this place.
"I'll open it when the time comes, so wait a little."
Did that will get transmitted?
Whatever had been causing a commotion outside became quiet.
The administrator turned his gaze to Rudian with a satisfied expression.
"Now then... I'm looking forward to seeing how you'll overcome the first gateway."
***
Guiding chaos into order.
In truth, while easy to say, it was originally close to impossible.
Why would chaos be chaos?
Chaos was an infinite tangle mixed disorderly without law or rule.
'But I must do it.'
Only those who accomplished this near-impossible task could finally bear the name 'god.'
Even if was a world where power inflation had gone to space, the difficulty for advancement was definitely not easy.
Most of the strong ones appearing in this world were born with talent befitting their strength, and were those who had achieved their results by pouring in time and effort without reserve.
'Such pain and effort is still like getting a free meal compared to their efforts.'
That thought was the driving force that allowed Rudian to maintain his mental state even in this terrible pain.
'Control it. Combine it. And create it.'
This wasn't something that could be solved by entering a trance and leaving it to the unconscious.
It was like fitting together tens or hundreds of thousands of jigsaw puzzle pieces one by one without a single mistake.
Without thoroughly keeping his wits about him, it would be straight to hell.
As such, he didn't care how long it would take.
He wouldn't give up before completing it.
That was the only will Rudian could carry through in the current situation.
How much time had passed...
At some point, Rudian felt that the energy sword in his hand had disappeared.
It meant that even without the energy sword's help, the energies within was naturally stabilizing.
But even so, he didn't release his sword-holding posture.
He intended to go to the end in this very posture.
CRACK! CRACK!
After realizing much time had passed, and then much more time after that.
Rudian's skin began to crack and crumble like when it had collapsed before.
"It's almost finished."
The administrator muttered in a small voice.
This current appearance wasn't due to Rudian's body being destroyed.
Rather, it was proof that he had truly cast off the constraints of flesh and achieved a true divine body, reaching ascension.
CRACK! CRACK!
As evidence, from inside where the outer shell had weathered and fallen away, white flesh sparkling with spiritual energy was revealing itself.
"Hmm, I have no hobby of watching a man's naked body... but still, the sight of a life form ascending to divinity always feels good."
Most divine beings born with divinity from birth and wielding tremendous power don't give much impression, but those who climb up through effort like this often give quite a special feeling.
FLASH!
As light flashed in Rudian's eyes, the remaining remnants of his body all shattered and scattered down.
A pleased smile formed on the administrator's lips.
"Breaking through the chrysalis to become a butterfly and soar."
Rudian asked the administrator.
"...How much time has passed?"
"In this space's time, roughly 200 years have passed."
"...!"
"To think you're only now taking your first steps... how slow."
At the mention of 200 years, Rudian was dumbfounded.
He had thought quite a long time had passed, but 200 years...!
Toward the confused Rudian, the administrator clapped and said:
"Congratulations. You have now become a god."
"..."
"Looking at you right now, you seem to be sufficiently at the level of a mid-level god. Though you still have a long way to go."
Rudian stared blankly at the administrator.
Only now that he had ascended to divine status could he see to some degree what fragments of power he possessed.
"Are you really... an avatar of the Demon God?"
"Yes, that's right."
"But your power is..."
Seven Great Gods, or perhaps even higher.
This wasn't simply talking about the size of divinity.
Having reached a level where he could measure overall capability, he realized that the opponent's level was absurd.
Even though he had truly awakened to divinity, he could understand why the opponent had sneered at him as taking first steps.
The administrator spoke seriously to Rudian.
"Didn't I tell you? I am the Demon God's 'past.'"
"Hmm..."
"That past could be yesterday, a year ago, or a thousand years ago."
"..."
"In other words, within this space, questioning the degree of variability is meaningless. The extent of my strength is, after all..."
The administrator's hand pointed toward Rudian.
"Determined according to your capability."
"My capability?"
"How many times have I said it? This is ultimately a task to receive causality for meeting the Demon God."
Since those challenging that task couldn't all be at the same level... Naturally the administrator's level in dealing with them each time had to be different too.
"Anyway, now that you've become a god, you should take the next step, right?"
"Yes."
Rudian knew well what came next.
"...Authority."
At those words, the administrator snapped his fingers.
"Right. Actually, the authority you have now is quite powerful, but the problem is that its limits are also clear."
The authority Rudian currently possessed was the authority of 'Domination' from Leviathan of the Seven Seats.
There were a few others as well, but those were all things that could only be used with Adi or Diablo's assistance.
Of course, the authority of Domination was a powerful force that could shake heaven and earth, but it wasn't particularly helpful to Rudian's personal combat power.
"Originally, you would go through processes like deep meditation and soul-searching to develop your own authority..."
At the administrator's strangely trailing words, Rudian asked.
"How long is that development period?"
"Usually 1,000 to 2,000 years."
"..."
"In your current situation, it's hard to use orthodox methods."
In fact, that was also quite a short estimate.
In the case of divine beings who ascended from mortal to immortal, there were often cases where they remained at lower god status even after tens of thousands of years had passed.
"But you're lucky. In your current crisis, a very good training partner has appeared."
"...Training partner?"
Rudian felt a strange unease at that moment.
And that unease hit the mark without fail.
CRACK!
A fissure opened in the sky and someone popped out.
"That guy is..."
Hair that had once been shining golden but had somehow become bleached white.
And dead eyes where no emotion could be found.
But most of all, the familiar face was impossible to forget.
"...Abel!"
"..."
Abel Retsutain.
The original protagonist who had formed an alliance with Rudian but was defeated by Berus and subordinated to him before reaching the Creator God's temple.
"Now, before challenging me, this guy will serve as an appropriate practice opponent."
"...Appropriate opponent?"
Rudian was speechless.
The divine rank Abel had shown at the Creator God's temple was at least high-level god or above.
Having received even the characteristics of an avatar of the end from Berus, he possessed transcendent regenerative abilities that even ignored authority.
'There's no way this guy would fail to properly assess an opponent's capability.'
As if noticing Rudian's gaze, the administrator formed a strange sneer at the corner of his mouth.
"A guy who completed divine status is already cowering before the fight."
"..."
"Well, I understand. I can guess roughly what happened outside."
The administrator continued speaking while tapping his neck with his scabbard.
"But listen."
The administrator's eyes shone strongly.
"Know this one thing. Except for the ‘speciality’ Berus granted him, that guy is much weaker than his original self."
"...!"
"And the current you has sufficient power to offset that speciality."
Offsetting the speciality.
Was that really possible?
"Of course, to properly display that power, you must clearly awaken to your authority... but in my view, you have sufficient chance of victory."
Rudian sighed.
"Facing Abel is easier than receiving causality from you."
"Naturally."
"...Then I must do it."
"Now your eyes are finally worth looking at. Use this."
The administrator threw the jet-black sword he had been carrying to Rudian.
A scabbard with elegant Chinese characters engraved on it.
'Chinese characters?'
The moment Rudian saw the name carved on that scabbard, he hesitated slightly.
'...Heavenly Demon Divine Sword (天魔神劍)?'
Since it was a sword used in the past by the being called the Demon God, it wouldn't be strange for it to have such a grandiose name.
But the problem was that Chinese characters, which he had never seen as actual writing in this world, were brazenly written here.
Grin!
Even to Rudian's gaze requesting explanation, the administrator just smiled and didn't properly answer.
'Come to think of it... the battleship that destroyed Marba was also called Heavenly Demon Dragon Battleship.'
And that Heavenly Demon Dragon Battleship was said to be a relic of the Demon God.
'Investigating in the current situation wouldn't be particularly good for me either...'
For now, dealing with Abel in front of him was the priority.
"Abel."
"..."
Naturally, there was no answer from Abel.
Even so, Rudian continued speaking.
"I had a sense of debt toward you. No, I still do."
"..."
"I was confident I could create a better future than you, and until just recently, that confidence was unwavering."
A self-mocking smile formed on Rudian's lips.
"Well, in the end, I messed up spectacularly beyond that, and the world was destroyed..."
Never had the saying about going to hell with one mistake felt so keenly real.
"Still... What can I do? I've come this far."
TWITCH!
Whether it was a simple optical illusion or real, for just an instant Abel's eyebrow seemed to twitch.
CLICK!
Rudian drew the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword the administrator had given him and pointed it at Abel.
"In the current situation, I can't guarantee I can return you to normal. But..."
Rudian's determination pierced Abel's ears.
"I will kill Berus and save this world. I will return this world to seven colors again... and save everyone."
POP!
The moment those words ended, Abel and Rudian simultaneously kicked off from their positions.