Chapter 189: Star, Execution Sword (5)

Chapter 189: Star, Execution Sword (5)

Was. I. Mistaken.

In a world filled with darkness, Mephistopheles quietly groaned as navy-blue fires lit up in his eyes. A crystal ball was floating in the air, showing Chang-Sun overwhelming Xue Yong with a <Dusk Lightning>. If other Celestials saw what Mephistopheles was doing, they would have been shocked. After all, no being in the sky should be able to see what Chang-Sun was doing right now, considering he had summoned his divine ground in his mind palace, then upgraded it with Underrealm, the power of the <Underworld>.

Even Ruling Celestials from major <Societies> or Creator Celestials would never be able to look into Chang-Sun’s divine ground. Unaware of what was going on, many of the Celestials watching Chang-Sun, like J?rmungandr and Heoju, panicked. Mephistopheles wasn’t sure if this certain fool knew his notoriety as the ‘great will of absolute evil,’ but she confidently came to him to ask what was going on.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ pounds the door and asks if you know anything.]

[Ignoring her.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ yells that she will barge in if you do not answer her.]

[Ignoring her.]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ hops around in anger, asking why you are ignoring her!]

...

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ throws a tantrum in front of the door, pestering you to tell her what is going on!]

...

Mephistopheles thought Pabilsag was bothersome. Although she often provoked him, he never reacted since things would become more troublesome if he bothered to respond to her every provocation. Besides, he was really busy. Some might call Mephistopheles the observer of the many worldlines in <Nihil>, where time and space didn’t exist, but they didn’t know anything.

An <Observer> was busy in their own ways. After <Deux Ex Machina>, the great mediator, divided the universe into several sections, the vast universe became complicated and grand, becoming composed of numerous multiverses and parallel universes.

In the grand universe, Mephistopheles continuously observed countless universes from the sidelines, but the only reason why he was doing so was to find his master, who had disappeared after leaving their shell in this grand universe...

However, even though Mephistopheles had spent eons trying to look for him, he hadn’t even found any clue yet. However, he did make some progress since he did find some people who could be his master.

Among them, the closest to being Mephistopheles’ master was Lee Chang-Sun from the Earth of worldline #801. The Lee Chang-Sun that Mephistopheles had been watching so far surprisingly shared a lot of traits that his master had. Chang-Sun was from Earth, had black hair and eyes, was very cold and calculating, worked closely with death, and mainly used special fires that were different from ordinary fires.

He also held grudges against Celestials and had a past filled with combat. On top of that, he was also talented in utilizing <Darkness>, which no Celestials could easily do... Appearance, behavior, motives, choices, achievements, the temper to smack the back of his enemies’ heads without hesitation... everything about them was similar, so how could Mephistopheles think otherwise?

More importantly, Chang-Sun immediately caught Mephistopheles’ attention.

He. Himself. Doesn’t. Know. He. Has. Died. Several. Times. All. The. Reincarnation. Possession. Regression. That. Happened. Around. His. Every. Death. Are. Bugging. Me.

The experiences of Chang-Sun’s soul were totally different from ordinary souls’ samsara. Hence, Mephistopheles stopped observing other worldlines for a while and focused on Chang-Sun. When Chang-Sun suddenly asked Mephistopheles to take him as a disciple, Mephistopheles accepted because he believed doing so would allow him to observe Chang-Sun in more detail. Any movement of an observation target affected the quantum dynamic that made up a worldline, so Mephistopheles thought he would get a meaningful result.

The. More. I. See. The. More. Different. He. Is.

However, Mephistopheles started to think of Chang-Sun as someone different from his master. Although they had similarities, observing Chang-Sun closely showed him that Chang-Sun was different in many ways.

First of all, Chang-Sun’s drive was totally different from Mephistopheles’ master’s. Unlike his master, who kept sacrificing themself for their family, Chang-Sun only cared about getting what he wanted. He was also a lot more selfish and calculating, and he had this cold habit of making his enemies dance on his palm.

Yet. He. Really. Loves. To. Fight.

Although Chang-Sun was wearing an iron mask, Mepshitopheles could tell through his crystal ball that Chang-Sun was definitely smiling and having a lot of fun. There seemed to be some sort of bad blood between Chang-Sun and Xue Yong, but Chang-Sun was definitely not smiling just because he had finally begun with his revenge. Mephistopheles wasn’t aware of it, but Chang-Sun was feeling nostalgic. After all, he liked swinging his sword, slitting his enemy’s throat, battles, and wars.

Besides.

Mephistopheles narrowed his eyes.

His. Fire. Changed. At. Some. Point.

After blending with the <Darkness>, Chang-Sun’s Retribution Fire, which stemmed from <Muspelheim>, completely changed into purple lightning energy—Dusk Lightning. Mephistopheles could tell that the lightning energy was what Chang-Sun had been desperately trying to acquire. Even though it produced similar results—death and combat—it was a little bit different. Dusk Lightning was destruction—no, it was annihilation that obliterated everything in its way.

Chang-Sun was trying to become a catastrophe himself. As the Dusk Lightning bolts destroyed everything they touched, the world around Chang-Sun was tinged with a sunset-like purple light that his Dusk Lightning bolts exuded.

Is. He. Trying. To. Summon. Extinction.

‘If I get out of here somehow...!’? Xue Yong desperately thought.

Of course, he had no intention of keeping his word. Although he had no idea how Chang-Sun recreated his divine ground and used the power of the ‘Divine Twilight,’ Xue Yong was sure that Chang-Sun hadn’t regained his divine class. When Xue Yong observed Chang-Sun through his apostles’ eyes, Chang-Sun’s Class was mortal.

Hence, if he could just get out of this fucking divine ground, Xue Yong could attempt to retaliate. If he ever got that opportunity, he would show Chang-Sun who he had messed with. If necessary, Xue Yong would even get his numerous colleagues from the <Purple Star Astrology> involved. After all, countless Celestials held a grudge against the ‘Divine Twilight.’

‘No, it might be better to enslave him for eternity so he can never try something like this again!’ Xue Yong came up with a plan while trying to change Chang-Sun’s mind.

However, Chang-Sun just smirked at Xue Yong while looking at him. Seeing Chang-Sun smile behind his iron mask gave him goosebumps because it seemed as if... Chang-Sun could see through what he was thinking right now.

“I don’t need that. Your fate has already been decided, after all.” Chang-Sun tilted his head.

『What...?』Xue Yong nervously asked, but Chang-Sun didn’t answer. Soon, Xue Yong vaguely heard the sound of a metal chain moving from afar. His eyes widened.

Clink, clank—!

『Wa-wait...!』Xue Yong stuttered, and Chang-Sun’s eyes turned cold.

“You’re familiar with that sound, aren’t you? There’s no way you don’t know what it is. That was what you all gave me as a present as you put me through the <Divine Trial>, after all.”

『...!』

Claannkk!

[The defendant has entered the courtroom!]

At that moment, a big message window popped up before Xue Yong. Instinctively feeling nervous, he tried to yell something, but the sound of metal chains muffled it. The sound was more horrible to Xue Yong than the thunder caused by the Dusk Lightning bolts that Chang-Sun had thrown.

With Xue Yong in the center, cracks formed in the air. When they broke apart, black metal chains jumped out from the gaps. Those were the Divine Steel chains, which were used to arrest the ‘Divine Twilight’ before.

『Let me go! Let me go!!!』

What Chang-Sun had said when they had first met crossed Xue Yong’s mind.

“I, Lee Chang-Sun, will begin the sealing process of the criminal Xue Yong as the special-rank <Underworld> reaper.”

Criminal! Reaper! And the <Underworld>! Xue Yong finally realized what Chang-Sun had meant.

『Twilight! Have you become a dog of the <Underworld>?!』

“Is there a problem with that?” Chang-Sun shrugged.

『You crazy son of a bitch! Do you know what the people of the <Underworld> do...?! Those bastards are always looking for an opportunity to make stars like us fall from the sky—!』

Xue Yong couldn’t finish his sentence, however, because the Divine Steel chains didn’t only tie him up. They also covered his entire face, silencing him. It was more severe than when the ‘Divine Twilight’ was arrested.

Clink.

With the sounds of a pulley turning, the chains tightened around Xue Yong, pinning him down just like a defendant that had been dragged out to the courtroom!

Woosh!

Soon after, a slit much bigger than the spatial gaps that the chains had popped out from appeared in the air. It then opened up, revealing one giant eye.

[The ‘eye in the darkness’ is looking at the criminal!]

Pressured by the divine class that was incomparably higher than any existence, Xue Yong’s remaining resolve to fight back was obliterated. All he could think of right now was death!

『Are you the criminal Tranquil Star Xue Yong?』

Thanatos, the judge and King of the <Underworld>, opened his eyes.