ALL NOVEL
Chapter 477: Star, the Emergency Meeting (2)
“...Are you really planning on becoming a Celestial King?” Michael asked, faint anger in his voice.
The emergence of a Celestial King fatigued everyone in a Worldline. Having experienced it firsthand, <Maleakhe> and <L’Infernal> had been making sure that no new Celestial King would be born after Bestla and Odin.
Although the Nine Heavens, who could be considered Celestial King candidates, had been running wild, none had emerged victorious in this power struggle yet. However, Tiamat was now trying to put an end to this stalemate.
“It is the most efficient way to handle this,” Tiamat said with a shrug.
“... Forget about us. Do you seriously think the other Nine Heavens would agree with this?”
Tiamat looked right into Michael’s eyes. “That is my business. I’m asking for your and Satan’s decision right now.”
At that moment, Michael realized what was going on. ‘She has already discussed this with Loki.’
Chang-Sun and Loki from the United Army would support Tiamat. If Michael and Satan chose to support her as well, Tiamat would have the majority of the Nine Heavens’ votes. Tongtian Jiaozhu had always claimed to be neutral, and Sun Wukong had vanished long ago. Hence, their votes were as good as excluded. Considering Bel-Marduk had been working with Chang-Sun recently and Durga was acquainted with Chang-Sun’s subordinates...
Michael shut his eyes. ‘She practically has the unanimous decision.’
No one could stop Tiamat now.
‘Does that mean she doesn’t even need me and Satan?’
Michael quickly looked around, finding Loki grinning at him. He had finally realized the true goal of this emergency meeting. Rather than finding ways to stop <Extinction>, it was to root out anyone who would threaten Tiamat’s reign. Should Michael and Satan oppose her, Tiamat would immediately take action under the pretext of punishing those who insisted on prioritizing their vested interests in the face of imminent <Extinction>.
After that... <Maleakhe> and <L’Infernal> would be destroyed too. They were at ‘Nastrond,’ the central divine ground of <Niflheim>. Many of the United Army’s forces were already here.
Michael gritted his teeth. ‘This is why I didn’t want to come here!’
Did he have any chance of victory if he started a fight here? Could he even flee successfully? Perhaps Durga was sitting in the outermost part of the room to block any attempts to escape.
“Decide,” Tiamat pressed Michael, her Dragon eyes staring daggers at him.
Michael couldn’t even wipe down the sweat rolling down on his forehead. However, before he could speak, Satan suddenly stood up, catching Tiamat’s and Michael’s attention.
“I’ll secede,” he declared.
“Secede?”
“I’ll drop out from our alliance with <Horoscope> and join your side.”
“... Satan, you—!” Michael screamed, appalled, but Satan seemed to have zero intention of going back on his words.
Tiamat grinned. “Is that your decision or <L’Infernal>’s?”
“Consider it both.”
“Didn’t all seven of you have to agree before making that kind of decision?”
“I can handle them.” Satan licked his lips, flicking his scarlet tongue. “So spare me.”
Having come to the same conclusion as Michael, Satan threw in his towel. When Tiamat nodded curtly, Satan snickered and stood behind her. Tiamat looked at Michael again, silently urging him to make a decision. She clearly wasn’t going to listen to any excuses.
“... I want to set a term.” Michael clenched his fists.
“What is it?”
“‘Divine Twilight’... Give me his head,” Michael demanded with difficulty.
Dumbstruck, Loki and Bel-Marduk burst into laughter.
Nevertheless, Michael stood his ground, his eyes turning bloodshot. “Gabriel’s prophecy was right. <Extinction> befell on our Worldline because—”
“Because of Twilight?”
“Yes!” Michael sounded dead serious. “Gabriel is the only one who can observe the Outer Universe and law of Causality within <Maleakhe>. Her ability showed us that the Outer Celestial will just keep going after Twilight. Give me his head, and the United Army will have the full cooperation of <Maleakhe>. That would be enough to stop <Extinction>.”
Tiamat’s silent stare made Michael more anxious as time passed.
He hurriedly added, “You should also think about the future after you become a Celestial King, Tiamat.”
“After I become a Celestial King?”
“That’s right. Both Bestla and Odin ultimately had to give up on their dreams because they had enemies who were as formidable as them.”
Tiamat narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying that Twilight will be my problem? He’s my dearest friend.”
“There is no friend before power.”
“Hmm.”
For a moment, Tiamat quieted down, seemingly contemplating.
Michael had a point. Chang-Sun was very influential within the United Army. Should he wish, he could become a Celestial King himself at any time. Michael quickly went on, thinking he was close to persuading Tiamat. Far too focused on the conversation, he failed to notice that Loki, Bel-Marduk, and Chang-Sun’s acquaintances had gone dead silent.
Tiamat slowly broke her long silence. “Alright. Let’s do it.”
Michael’s face brightened up.
* * *
‘... It went a lot smoother than I expected.’
Bel-Marduk clicked his tongue, looking at where Michael had been. He had been dead certain that the meeting would end in a disaster. However, on the contrary, it went so well that he felt a little embarrassed to have made such a conclusion.
As soon as Tiamat answered Michael’s proposal to kill Chang-Sun, Loki ambushed Michael. Those standing guard in the meeting room—Hel, Fenrir, and Pabilsag—swiftly joined as well. Despite how powerful Michael was, he couldn’t take on all of them, especially not in a surprise attack.
In the end, only traces of blood and some feathers were left where he had been. Dragged away by Hel and Fenrir, he was likely locked up in some kind of dungeon now.
What Bel-Marduk found most surprising was that Satan not only joined in on the surprise attack but also played a big role in Michael’s helpless downfall.
Satan was currently licking Michael’s blood off his hand.
‘No, maybe it’s only natural for someone as wicked as him not to miss this golden opportunity.’
Satan likely thought this was a golden opportunity to commit Celestial Cannibalism. Still, considering the alliance between <Malaekhe> and <L’Infernal> had lasted thousands of years, he betrayed Michael too easily.
Bel-Marduk could feel Tiamat’s and the other Nine Heavens’ eyes on him as they waited for his decision. Satan was smiling from ear to ear, anticipating his objection. Even Tiamat looked ready to go after him as soon as she had a justification.
“I don’t have any other choice, do I?” Bel-Marduk asked with a shrug.
[Congratulations! A new Celestial King has been crowned in Worldline #801!]
[All beings in Worldline #801 have begun to perceive the Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon.’]
[All laws of nature in Worldline #801 have begun to center around the Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon.’]
...
[The <Management Bureau> is now closely monitoring the Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon.’]
[<Deus Ex Machina> has begun to perceive the Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’.]
...
A column of public announcements showed up before everyone. Tiamat closed her eyes, seemingly enjoying the moment she had been waiting for. However, Bel-Marduk didn’t miss it. ‘She isn’t happy.’
Bel-Marduk knew very well how much Tiamat had been waiting for, so he found her reaction odd.
‘She’s nervous.’
Just like Bestla and Odin, Tiamat felt as if her position wasn’t secure yet. Worse, her nervousness likely started with Michael’s remark. Power could never be shared, and Chang-Sun was too influential within the United Army. Having gone through a similar experience multiple times, Bel-Marduk could already feel what was going to happen.
* * *
Rummmble―!
Tap!
Chang-Sun quietly landed amid powerful hot gales. He then created a raging storm.
Pzzz, pzzz!
Lightning sparks flew up from Chang-Sun, an indication that he could still go on. Having absorbed the [Forbidden Fruit], he had gained a connection to the Great Universe’s mana stream, which now served as his infinite source of divine power. Perkwunos called it the Celestial Pathway, the level where one was connected to the sky and ground and could freely use their power.
Pzzzz―!
Perkwunos slowly walked out from the subsiding clouds of dust, not even a scratch on him. He looked the same as before, except his eyes sparkled with interest now instead of lethargy.
“Over a hundred times, huh? You’ve finally graduated from being a pushover.”
Chang-Sun had managed to parry away Perkwunos’ Rád?us attacks over one hundred times. He had also successfully landed a counterattack, as evidenced by the very small scratch on Perkwunos’ cheek. Since eating the [Forbidden Fruit], Chang-Sun had made remarkable progress.
Woosh, woosh, woosh...!
Supreme sacred light and <Darkness> spun around Chang-Sun, creating a sunset-colored Giant, which also served as another proof of his progress. He had acquired a deep understanding of <Duskfall> and could now use [Bestla’s Poem] proficiently with the help of his past reincarnations’ memories and accomplishments.
“How much of the [Forbidden Fruit] have you absorbed?” Perkwunos asked.
Chang-Sun glanced down.
[Current progress: 26.7%]
“About twenty-seven percent,” Chang-Sun answered.
“Over a quarter of it, huh? Once you’re done, your <Molting> will also be complete. At that point, you’ll be able to call yourself a true Outer Celestial,” Perkwunos explained. Chang-Sun would be comparable to him and Hsan by that time.
However, Chang-Sun seemed to have a different question in mind. “By that time...”
“Hmm?”
“Can I absorb you too?”
Perkwunos’ eyes widened. After a moment, he burst into laughter. “Hahahaha! I gave you an inch but you want to take a mile! Taking Rád?us wasn’t enough?”
Chang-Sun nodded. “You’re my Original and first past reincarnation. I feel like I need to absorb you and Odin to complete myself.”
“Do you also plan to merge with Hsan, Bel-Marduk, and our versions in other Worldlines?”
Chang-Sun’s silence was all the answer Perkwunos needed.
“It’s possible.” Perkwunos laughed with sincerity, making Chang-Sun’s lips tremble. “Of course, you’ll have to overpower us first.”
Chang-Sun bowed to express his gratitude for taking care of him all this time. Perkwunos was another one of his version and his first past reincarnation, but to him, he was more like a teacher. “Thank you for everything.”
“Thank me once you’ve stopped <Extinction>.”
“I’m going to stop it using any means necessary. I’ll come back afterward,” Chang-Sun said. He then turned away.
Pzzzz―!
Chang-Sun slowly disappeared into the wind to go back to the outside world and walk down a new path. Trying not to miss anything, Perkwunos’s eyes remained glued to Chang-Sun until Chang-Sun’s lightning sparks completely disappeared.
“... It’s going to become quiet again,” Perkwunos muttered.
『You seem to be looking forward to watching his journey.』
Perkwunos smiled brighter as he turned in the voice’s direction. “The same goes for you too, Hsan.”