Return of the Shattered Constellation

[Ruyi Jingu Bang]

This great divine relic, wieldable only by chosen <Supreme Light’s Faces>, was made to keep the order of the universe, preventing anyone from flaunting their power before its majestic presence. It was also known as the preferred weapon of Sun Wukong and King Wu.

“He shall exert his will where light can reach.”

‧ Type: Great Divine Relic.

‧ Effect: Infinite Length Increase. Infinite Weight Increase. Infinite Sealing.

[Darkness Jade]

<Dull Darkness> cut this great divine neidan from his ring finger and gave it to his student when he won his favor. Containing the purest <Darkness>, it offers versatile utility. As an ingredient, it can increase the grade of a relic. When used as a neidan, it will guide its owner to the path of an Outer Celestial.

‧ Type: Ingredient. Great Divine Neidan.

‧ Effect: Infinite Growth. Infinite Elevation. Infinite Transcendence.

Chang-Sun gulped as he read through the Effects of the two items that <Dull Darkness> had given him, surprised that the word ‘infinite’ was used with such ease. Although it was likely because the items symbolized two Emperors, Chang-Sun still found them burdening.

[The Effects of the Trait ‘King of All Weapons’ cannot be applied because the item’s grade is too high!]

[The Effects of the Trait ‘King of All Weapons’ cannot be applied because the item’s grade is too high!]

…

Although Chang-Sun had always been able to tell an item’s characteristics and how to use it, he couldn’t do the same with these relics. Hence, he had no idea if he could even put them to good use.

After clashing with the fake Sun Wukong’s Replicated [Ruyi Jingu Bang], Chang-Sun came to a realization.

‘I can win.’

Ooong, ooooong!

‘The [Ruyi Jingu Bang] is responding nicely.’

The [Ruyi Jingu Bang] seemed to be wholeheartedly helping him accomplish his desire to stop his opponents.

[The ‘Ruyi Jingu Bang’ recognizes you as its new owner!]

[You have been rewarded with the ability to open ‘Fiery Eyes of Truth’ for as long as you’re using your ‘Ruyi Jingu Bang.’]

[Opening your ‘Fiery Eyes of Truth’!]

Woooosh!

Chang-Sun’s eyes glowed golden. Fiery Eyes of Truth was what allowed Sun Wukong to see the truth of those before him. With its help, he beat everyone in <Heaven>, earning him the title of the Great Sage of Heaven's Equal even though his previous title was only Stone Monkey.

[Your ‘Fiery Eyes of Truth’ and ‘Foretelling Eye’ have similar Effects.]

[Your ‘Fiery Eyes of Truth’ and ‘Foretelling Eye’ have been merged, increasing the efficiency of your ‘Foretelling Eye.’]

[The level of your ‘Foretelling Eye’ has increased!]

[The level of your ‘Foretelling Eye’ has increased!]

…

Wooosh!

With his heightened Inferno Sight, Chang-Sun glanced behind him. “You okay, Teacher?”

Confused, Mephistopheles stared at Chang-Sun. 『What in the world happened to you?』

He was certain that the man before him was his cheeky student, but Chang-Sun looked entirely different for some reason.

“I was simply lucky.”

『Have you found my master?』

“<Dull Darkness>? Yes, I have.”

With his left hand, Chang-Sun tossed the [Darkness Jade] in the air.

Woosh, woosh, woosh!

Spinning like a top, the jade created a huge whirlpool of <Darkness>. Mephistopheles couldn’t help but be amazed. The fact that Chang-Sun had the <Supreme Light>’s relic was already surprising in itself, but he had also earned the favor of Mephistopheles’ master, whose personality was the most difficult to handle in the universe.

『Is he alri—!』

Chang-Sun returned his focus to the opponents in front of him. “I’ll tell you everything later. We should kick out these uninvited guests first.”

The faces of Sun Wukong, Richardus, and the others darkened, realizing that they would now have to deal with the same strategy that they had been using to drive Mephistopheles into a corner.

However, unlike them, Chang-Sun was using a real [Ruyi Jingu Bang]. It was extremely difficult to fathom how much stronger it was compared to their replica.

To further worsen his opponents’ situation, Chang-Sun used [Wordwielding].

“Come.”

Various relics and weapons flew out from the [King’s Treasury] and merged with his [Twilight Spear], creating [Gungnir].

Chang-Sun held the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] with his left hand and [Gungnir] with his right. The [Darkness Jade] circled him like a planet orbiting around the sun, multiplying the amount of his energy.

Pzzzzzzzzzz!

Chang-Sun unleashed <Supreme Sacred Light> and <Darkness>, which had become even stronger.

Paaaaah―!

Not long after, the energies turned into a tsunami, threatening to sweep away his foes.

Thinking that their odds of winning were far too low now, Sun Wukong ordered, “Everyone, ret—!”

“I didn’t say you can go.” Chang-Sun interrupted. He had already finished his preparations.

[The Authority ‘Avatar’s Descent’ has been activated, imposing restrictions on everything in your sight!]

Ooooong…!

As a temple bell echoed, intense pressure fell upon Sun Wukong and the others, preventing them from escaping.

“Uuurgh!”

“Keough!”

[The Authority ‘Heaven and Earth Great Shift’ has been activated, turning the area upside down!]

The area they were standing on was flipped over, destroying their balance and sending them falling to the stage that Chang-Sun had set up.

[The Authority ‘Execution Sword’ has been activated!]

[The Divine Ground ‘Twilight-Setting Battlefield’ has been opened.]

The black, empty world changed to a wasteland with innumerable weapons embedded in the ground like tombstones. On the horizon, the sun could be seen slowly setting.

Sun Wukong and his followers’ expressions darkened. According to the investigation that they had done a while back, they had to avoid getting caught by Chang-Sun’s [Execution Sword] at all costs because it severed all connections to the outside world, including their connection to the Cloud Server.

Nothing could be more dangerous for these Terminals than losing their ability to upload their Data in real time. Now that they had been captured, they could no longer confirm with the Cloud Server how much information and Data had been compromised. Since most of them were Replicates created to capture Mephistopheles, their access to information was quite high.

[The ‘eye in the darkness’ has opened!]

『Although I’m not sure what to do with these fakes…』

Much to Sun Wukong and the others’ horror, Thanatos’ eye appeared in the sky.

『... having them in captivity is still better than nothing. I’m going to interrogate every last one of you until I’ve gotten all the details of your little scheme. I will not let any of you walk away from the consequences of disrupting the world’s order.』

[‘Sanjiva’ has opened!]

Rummmmble―!

Cracks spread on the ground, allowing magma to erupt. With lava flowing on the earth, the air dried and heated up. Hot gales soon blew across the wasteland.

『Under the command of the King of the Underworld!』

『We will arrest these criminals!』

The Purgatory Kings descended from the sky, leading their troops to carry out Thanatos’ order. Facing their army, Sun Wukong tensed up and clenched his fists.

*

Swooooosh―!

Chang-Sun chased after Sun Wukong and Richardus. Although Thanatos and the Purgatory Plane army could handle the other small fries, they’d have a hard time taking down those two.

“Ah, shit! Things can’t get any worse than this! This is driving me crazy!”

“I’ll stop Twilight,” Richardus said. He activated [Mountain-Crushing Supremacy] to draw up as much power as possible before springing forward.

“... I’m not sure if I’ll succeed, though.”

Thuuuuud―!

After imbuing his legs with a great amount of strength, Richardus darted toward Chang-Sun like a menacing cannonball, a [Blood Sword] made of his own blood in his hand.

Chang-Sun crossed [Gungnir] and the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] to block Richardus’ [Blood Sword] while also locating Sun Wukong, who had vanished.

Claaaaaang!

[Gungnir] and the [Blood Sword] clashed, sending a shockwave and lightning sparks in every direction. However, Richardus clearly lost that collision.

“I knew it… The one who destroyed my Terminal in R’lyeh is…!” Richardus murmured.

“It was obviously me.”

Shock filled Richardus’ expression. His suspicion was right. Having believed that their martial prowess was at least equal or even superior to Chang-Sun’s, he had never expected Chang-Sun to overpower him like this.

Seemingly reading Richardus’ mind, Chang-Sun scoffed. He then closed in on him.

Paah!

However, Sun Wukong suddenly showed up behind him and launched an attack toward his nape. Chang-Sun lowered one of his shoulders and turned around, clawing the ground with [Ruyi Jingu Bang] before striking Sun Wukong. Sun Wukong exploded on impact, leaving behind a white strand of hair.

‘He’s using his clone technique.’

According to legend, shapeshifting and his clone technique were Sun Wukong’s favorite Bians.

Behind the ruined clone, more Sun Wukongs appeared and attacked Chang-Sun.

Although Sun Wukong’s overwhelming power alone could’ve made him the Grand Heaven in Worldline #801, his legion of clones, which were just as strong as he was, was the real reason he had been deemed worthy of such a position.

After all, considering how powerful he was, his cloning technique essentially allowed him to summon hundreds of people who were at the Nine Heavens’ level. Hence, he got the position unchallenged.

Sun Wukong found it unfortunate that he could only use his technique for a short period. Nevertheless, having the option to bombard an enemy with a barrage of powerful attacks for even just a split moment provided him with a great advantage in combat.

Sun Wukong had resorted to that tactic. With his hundreds of clones, he would subdue Chang-Sun and destroy Thanatos’ Sanjiva.

Chang-Sun bit his lower lip. ‘If I can just launch stronger attacks…!’

Firing Rádĭus Duskfall attacks infused with his upgraded <Supreme Sacred Light> and <Darkness> wouldn’t be enough. Sun Wukong had more experience as a <Supreme Light’s Face> and had higher-level <Myths>.

Chang-Sun only had one option left.

‘I have to simultaneously destroy him and all his clones with everything I got.’

Fortunately, Chang-Sun had his gifts with him.

Chang-Sun shoved Richardus away and then disassembled [Gungnir]. “Undo.”

With the [Twilight Spear] in the center, the four slayer swords and several other weapons from the [Omni-Weapon Chest] pierced into the ground. Chang-Sun grabbed the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] with his right hand.

Realizing what Chang-Sun was trying to do, Richardus yelled, “Stop hi—!”

“Come again.”

Before Richardus could finish shouting, Chang-Sun swung the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] at Sun Wukong and his clones. At the same time, the [Darkness Jade], which was orbiting him, glued itself on the tip of the weapon.

Due to their contrasting natures, the two great divine relics reacted against each other, causing them to tremble profusely. Just as they began to look as if they would crumble down, Chang-Sun quickly harmonized their energies the same way he did with <Duskfall>.

Ziinnng―!

Once the two items began to resonate, everything else proceeded smoothly. Similar to when he had built [Gungnir], the other weapons in the [Omni-Weapon Chest] merged with the [Ruyi Jingu Bang], which was fused with the [Darkness Jade].

Click, click!

Thud! Thuuuud―!

The [Twilight Spear] integrated itself into the center of the [Ruyi Jingu Bang], serving as the spear’s handle. At the same time, the four slayer swords melded together, turning into a spearhead.

The spear was so thick that it looked more like a blunt weapon.

Pzzz―!

Everything happened in a flash. The tip of the spearhead released a pool of golden light, which then quickly turned into runes that contained the <Myths> of ‘Divine Twilight.’ The upgraded [Gungnir] and ‘Divine Twilight’ then completely assimilated with each other, strengthening his Rádĭus.

“Roar.”

Grrrrrrr―!

As [Gungnir] roared, Rádĭus bolts swept away Sun Wukong’s clones.

Rumble, rumble, ruuuummmble!