Chapter 44: Deus (5)
Lakshmi likened it to industrial electricity, but mana is something completely different, a concept that cannot be explained by any theory, including physics.
A super-scientific substance that cannot simply be cut through by sharpness.
The shields erected by the enemies were filled with mana, which could easily neutralize a nuclear bomb detonating right in front of them.
The reason why such a mana barrier was so easily cut by Hyun Suho's sword was incredibly simple.
A miracle is overshadowed by a greater miracle.
A power is rendered powerless in the face of a greater power.
The act of defense performed by the enemies lacked the strength, concept, and will compared to the cutting action of Hyun Suho.
It wasn’t just because it was divine power.
Divine power is, after all, only a possibility.
To use divine power, which stems from nothingness, in any way, it must ultimately be given form and concept.
Even a powerful weapon like divine power must be accompanied by the strength and mana to wield it.
Just because someone reaches Level 8 and attains the lowest tier of divine power doesn’t mean they can reign like a god.
This was something Lakshmi had emphasized repeatedly.
It’s just that one can use a special power.
Even though he had met several rankers so far, weren’t they also ordinary humans?
It would be the same even at Level 9 or Level 10.
‘Or maybe Level 10 would be a bit different?’
In any case, no matter how much divine power one possesses, the fact that the one using it is human remains unchanged.
The same goes for the Death Star.
Therefore, defeating him isn’t an impossible task.
“This is the end.”
The Sonic Blade, which had cut through all the enemy shields, quickly returned to being a chain sword.
In the first place, Hyun Suho had acquired divine power by unconventional means.
No matter how much his rank is EX-rank, it was a power that could not be used until reaching Level 8, the level at which one realizes the lowest tier of divinity.
By a stroke of luck and another, Hyun Suho cleared a hidden epic quest and, with Lakshmi's guidance, was able to use divine power at Level 5, but… he couldn’t maintain it for long.
When he reached Level 5, his divine power stat, which was 1, had only increased to 5.
‘Before, mana was the problem, but now there’s a shortage of divine power.’
In fact, after obtaining the Over Technology skill, the first thing Hyun Suho wanted to evolve was Nova.
Nova was also Over Technology that, by Earth’s standards, only existed in imagination.
If he could evolve Nova, she would become an incredible power.
But the result was truly unfortunate.
[Insufficient divine power.]
It meant that he couldn’t evolve Nova with his current divine power.
The second thing he tried was Genocide, but again, there wasn’t enough divine power.
He was finally able to evolve the chain sword, but the duration was too short.
‘It reminds me of the time I fought Gung-gi with the lightsaber.’
Later, when his divine power stat increases, he would naturally be able to evolve Nova and Genocide as well.
He could obtain technology that even the Eosians, who prided themselves on reaching the pinnacle of scientific technology, could not have imagined.
He looked forward to that time.
‘First, let’s deal with these guys.’
With just one swing of the Sonic Blade, the enemy’s defense was completely neutralized.
Of course, even without shields, they were all exceptional hunters, but their opponent was Hyun Suho.
Bipo was wildly firing the submachine gun, and Hyun Suho also drew Genocide.
[Output at 15%, can fire three consecutive shots.]
With the application of magitech, Genocide was now capable of continuous attacks.
Of course, the barrel overheats as a result, but it can be repaired later.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
As Hyun Suho pulled the trigger of Genocide, all three healers fell.
Now only the warriors were left.
Though there were still ten warriors standing, the battle had already significantly tilted in his favor.
Without shields, mages, or healers to support them, they were no different from a flock of sheep trembling before a ferocious wolf.
“Let’s end this.”
Hyun Suho charged forward energetically.
Tatata-tat!
And soon after.
Only Hyun Suho and Jin Seo-yeon emerged through the cracks in the shattered magic circle.
* * *
After the event ended, Lakshmi sat down calmly to enjoy some meditation.
Teaching children with great potential was Lakshmi’s greatest joy, pride, and life goal.
She took a sip of the moderately cooled tea, and as the warm sunlight touched her face, she felt a sense of emotion she hadn’t experienced in decades.
“Do you remember? There was a time when you were also this cute and full of passion.”
She spoke as she set down the empty teacup.
It was a statement spoken like a soliloquy in a room where she was clearly alone.
If anyone had seen it, they would have whispered that she had gone senile.
But at that moment, a voice was heard from somewhere clearly empty.
“Are you comparing me to those brats?”
Someone appeared, slowly phasing through the wall.
Zzztzzztzzzt!!
The first thing that caught the eye was the third eye blinking right in the center of their forehead.
Long jet-black hair cascading down to the waist, and a face as delicate as a woman’s.
They were wearing a white, wide-sleeved garment resembling a traditional Japanese shaman’s outfit, called a kariginu.
Around their neck hung a necklace made of unknown bones strung together with red thread.
As the attire suggested, this person was an onmyoji.
And not just any onmyoji, but the world’s greatest, most powerful onmyoji.
The 4th-ranked top ranker, Shuten-doji.
Leader of Japan’s Imperial Guild.
Unexpectedly, he had arrived in Korea.
Lakshmi, as if she had known he would come, calmly offered him a seat.
“You must have had a long journey. Would you like to sit here?”
In response to Lakshmi’s words, a feminine voice, as delicate as the face, flowed out.
But the tone was sharp and cold.
“You’re as crafty as ever, old hag. If I wanted to, I could have come here in a single step. It was you who blocked that, wasn’t it?”
The Japanese government, through the shrine maiden’s oracle, learned that Korea’s EX-rank would be the greatest obstacle to their grand plan.
Hyun Suho, who heard this through Nova, made thorough preparations to guard against any possible surprise attacks.
But in the end, that was all for nothing.
Japan's solution was to play its strongest card: the top-ranked Shuten Doji.
A transcendent being at Level 10.
According to Lakshmi, someone who had mastered mid-level divinity.
Shuten Doji took his name from a legendary Japanese yokai.
He wielded his destructive onmyodo magic with terrifying ease.
If he wished, even someone like Eun Hui-gwang or Hyun Suho, who were still inexperienced, could be wiped out from existence in an instant.
Yet, even Shuten Doji had to enter Korea under Lakshmi's control.
"Damned old hag. How long are you going to interfere with me?"
"Hohoho! Every lesson comes with a price."
Even Shuten Doji had once sought Lakshmi's advice.
In his younger days, he would do anything to grasp the thread of enlightenment.
But back then, he didn't realize what it meant to receive Lakshmi's help.
Lakshmi was a guide, an absolute mentor.
As a teacher, she had the right to not only impart knowledge but also to discipline.
One such rule was preventing students from fighting each other.
"Code of Conduct! Damn it!"
Lakshmi's power, the Code of Conduct.
Even a top-ranked like Shuten Doji could not escape its absolute force.
Among Lakshmi's disciples were seven top-rankers.
The remaining two top-rankers were a bystander and a protector.
Because of Lakshmi's power, top-rankers couldn't fight against other factions.
Lakshmi, by her very existence, maintained world peace.
Shuten Doji glared at her as if he wanted to devour her and said,
"The shrine maiden saw it; there's no way you didn’t. But I still don’t get it. That Silver Knight... he just seemed like an idiot to me."
"Hoho! He’s a cute boy who reminds me of your younger self."
"...Was he worth spending your last moments on?"
Most people only knew that she imparted wisdom, but Shuten Doji knew better.
Lakshmi's true power wasn't just the Code of Conduct.
It was her ability to see the future and alter destiny.
A power far beyond mere future foresight—‘Destiny Interference.’
A truly divine ability, but one that required an immense cost.
The price Lakshmi paid for tampering with destiny was everything.
Fate, connections, health, senses, emotions, even lifespan...
Lakshmi’s condition was far worse than her frail exterior suggested.
Even simple tasks like moving her fingers required immense willpower, as if her body was burning.
And even that willpower was almost depleted, leaving her with only a few years to live, like ashes after a fire.
Shuten Doji sneered at her.
"A year at most? Two? What do you think will happen to the world after you die? Even without future sight, I can tell. The world will turn into a living hell. And it will all be because of you, for forcing us down."
When the restraints are lifted, the top-rankers who had remained silent until now will begin to move.
Transcendent beings with mid-level divinity.
If they clash, it’s obvious that Earth will plunge into chaos.
Despite his threatening words, Lakshmi still smiled lightly.
"Hoho! I’m just planting seeds for tomorrow. What remains is up to those left behind."
"...Even with your so-called great power, the future hasn’t changed. Isn’t it time to admit it? The only way to truly save humanity is to bow down before him."
Lakshmi classified the top-rankers into three groups.
Those who gave up.
Those who tried to flee.
And those who surrendered.
Shuten Doji was one who had surrendered to Death Star.
From the moment he felt Death Star’s terrifying power, Shuten Doji made his choice.
Hearing this, Lakshmi’s smile grew bitter, but soon she regained her serene expression.
"That too is a possibility. As I said, my role is to guide you, even if it leads to that choice."
Lakshmi’s words made Shuten Doji’s face twitch with displeasure, and he finally snapped back,
"You’re not a guide. You’re just a coward who avoids making choices. If I had your power..."
Lakshmi was ranked 10th.
The lowest among the top-rankers.
But that ranking was merely based on the achievements she had shown the world so far.
Who would actually be stronger would only be known in a real battle.
But every top-ranker knew.
The true strongest was Lakshmi.
Even among the Level 10 rankers, Lakshmi’s divine power and level were far beyond the others.
Power is rendered useless before a greater power.
Shuten Doji couldn’t break free from the Code of Conduct because, ultimately, he was weaker.
And the same went for the other top-rankers.
"Two years at most. I’ll wait that long. But after that..."
Leaving those words as a warning, Shuten Doji disappeared through the wall again.
His visit had been to confirm one last time whether he had surpassed Lakshmi.
But even after Lakshmi had expended so much energy on Hyun Suho, Shuten Doji still hadn’t surpassed her.
As Shuten Doji quickly returned to Japan, Lakshmi leaned back in her chair, feeling exhausted, and gazed out the window.
Despite the impending destruction in ten years, the sky remained clear and beautiful.
"Two years..."
Shuten Doji had been right.
Lakshmi had at most two years left.
But there was something Shuten Doji didn’t know.
"That should be enough."
Lakshmi smiled softly, thinking of her last disciple.
