Chapter 535: Star, the Beast (6)

Chapter 535: Star, the Beast (6)

Paah―!

Sun Wukong quickly turned his upper body and narrowly dodged the Mother Terra Celestial's roots, which were flying like tentacles. After heaving a sigh of relief for successfully avoiding the attack, he reached out for his Replicated [Ruyi Jingu Bang].

Give. Me. Food.

However, before he could, spatial gaps surrounded him, and more of the Divine Tree's roots flew out of them.

“Shit!”

Sun Wukong quickly extended his arm forward instead of pulling out the Replicated [Ruyi Jingu Bang]. He then launched the Heavenly Bracket Flame Wheel, which he had completed through a long cultivation.

Rummmble―!

The fire swiftly crept up the Divine Tree’s roots and trunk, closing in on the core in no time.

Crack!

Some of the Divine Tree fragments in the air turned into roots again, and one of them managed to stab Sun Wukong in the abdomen. He immediately grabbed the root with two hands to break free.

“Aaargh!” he screamed, his eyes turning bloodshot.

Riiiip!

After tearing away the root, Sun Wukong tried to draw up his divine power to close up the hole in his abdomen. However, [Gaia's Curse], which had already deeply infected him, took over every part of him except his head instead.

Stab―! Stab, stab!

The vines flying at him pierced into his chest, arms, and legs.

Paaaah―!

Hiss, hiss, hissss!

Sun Wukong's already white face turned paler as he began to slowly disintegrate.

[The <Myths> of the Celestial ‘Ill-Tempered Buddha with Golden Eyes’ are crumbling down!]

“You're just an old monster who couldn’t even defeat <Dull Darkness> and <Deus Ex Machina>! How dare you...!” Sun Wukong trailed off and gritted his teeth hard, realizing what the Mother Terra Celestial's plan was.

Give. Me. Your. Power. Existence.

The Mother Terra Celestial wasn’t going after Sun Wukong just to acquire more energy for her resurrection. What she truly wanted was the Divinity of <Supreme Light>, the power that created a universe in a vast, empty space. Although it was uncertain if it would be of use to her, since the Mother Terra Celestial also represented fertility, she must have concluded that it would be a great help in her resurrection.

Even though he wasn't an Original, Sun Wukong was very proud of the fact that he was a <Supreme Light's Face>. However, because of it, the remnant of an old Celestial, who hadn't even contributed to the universe's creation, was now coming after him. He was naturally angry! <Deus Ex Machina>, Chang-Sun, the Mother Terra Celestial... he wanted to kill everyone who was mocking him.

“I'm not... letting you people have your way...” Sun Wukong snickered.

[The Celestial ‘Ill-Tempered Buddha with Golden Eyes’ has self-destructed to create an intense explosion!]

Deciding to die with everyone, Sun Wukong blew himself up and destroyed the Divinity of <Supreme Light>, which lay dormant within him like a seed, since he would never use it again.

Paaah!

A pool of golden light—his <Supreme Sacred Light>—enveloped Sun Wukong, who was now in his Spiritual Body. Although it was only for a split second, his Divine Light Wheel drove away [Gaia's Curse] and engulfed the Divine Tree vines that had pierced through him in flames. It then instantly struck the Divine Tree’s core and tore apart the fog corrupted by the curse, purifying it.

Ah. Ah. Hurts. It. Hurts. Hurts. Hurts.

Thud, thud, thud...!

Tiamat the Beast writhed in pain. As golden flames enveloped the Divine Tree, its branches fell like rain.

‘It worked,’ Sun Wukong thought.

He believed that the Mother Terra Celestial's natural enemy was <Supreme Light>. Burning up the Divine Tree using the Celestial Fire purified it, damaging not only Tiamat but also the Mother Terra Celestial’s true form, which had been preparing to descend from beyond.

[The Celestial ‘Tsunami Bringer’ starts a raging storm as he says that he has been waiting for you to give him the word!]

[The Celestial ‘Antlered Animal King’ has activated all his Authorities at full strength!]

[The Celestial ‘Plague Monarch’ is spraying all her lethal toxins!]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ has delivered her Divine Punishment of Justice!]

...

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is pulling her bowstring as far back as possible!]

...

[A Sudden Event has been started!]

[The Sudden Event “United Army's Animal Hunt” has begun!]

At Chang-Sun's command, the United Army's special unit came out of hiding and simultaneously opened fire.

Boom, boom, boom―!

Rummble―!

Tiamat and the Divine Tree were bombarded with numerous Authority attacks. Not even Tiamat, now a Beast whose level had to be measured using the Great Universe’s scale, could sustain the Great Celestials' barrage of attacks and come out unscathed.

Hooooowl!

A plaintive howl echoed across the collapsing Imaginary Plane, sending shivers down the Great Celestials’ spines.

Kill. You.

Chang-Sun opened a spatial gap and appeared right in front of Tiamat's eyes. While withstanding the collapsing world’s pressure, he took seven steps and hit Tiamat's eye with a right spear-hand strike.

Shhhk!

Hurts. Hurts. Hurts. Kill. Kill.

Thud, thud, thud!

With her eye destroyed, Tiamat writhed in pain once more. Unable to vent her agony due to the restrictions on Tiamat, the Mother Terra Celestial became so frustrated that she felt as if she was going to go insane.

[The restriction is destabilizing!]

[The restriction durability is drastically decreasing!]

...

[Warning! Your Divine Body is taking immense damage!]

Tiamat's writhing was also greatly affecting Chang-Sun, who was using his power and Authority. With his Divine Body reeling, he began to feel dizzy, and his head began to spin. To counter it, he concentrated harder and traveled deeper inside until he finally found what he had been looking for.

Right in front of Chang-Sun was a child hugging her legs. Although she was fast asleep, she still looked terrified by the ghosts grimacing in pain around her. It took him no time at all to realize that it was Tiamat’s personality, driven into the corner of her soul because of the Mother Terra Celestial. Tiamat's true personality was far from the mighty Celestial King that she always appeared to be.

“Tiamat!” Chang-Sun shouted.

He believed that this was the side that Tiamat had kept to herself. Since she had always needed to look like a formidable ruler in front of everyone, she couldn't be true to her own fear. Unfortunately, that was exactly what led her to her current condition.

Tiamat, who had buried her head between her knees, slowly looked up. Her blank gaze fell on Chang-Sun.

“Twi... light...?” she murmured.

“Take my hand.” Chang-Sun smiled gently, holding out his hand for her. “It's time for you to go home.”

Tiamat’s eyes regained focus. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she could take his hand. However, when he lightly waved it, urging her to take it, she finally accepted his offer.

Chang-Sun smiled crookedly. “Hang on tight. It's going to be quite a ride.