Chapter 877: The Day A God Was Born (4)
When Lycoris used the power of life to make Kang So-hyun's blood go berserk, attempting to kill him by bursting all his blood vessels.
Paradoxically, Kang So-hyun was able to escape this approaching death by using the power of death.
He had been intimidated when told that Infinity alone wouldn't be enough to make him despair.
The moment he thought he could somehow overcome if she was merely using the power of life, a modest light enveloped Lycoris's hand.
He realized she had only used the power of life to create distance, and he tried to resist this, but the new power Lycoris revealed was about to break the shackles that barely kept her bound.
"This is the first time I've shown this to anyone. Perhaps even Adonis doesn't know about it."
The balance he barely maintained by twisting Infinity through Heaven Defiance began tilting in the opposite direction as that fragile light erased his Heaven Defiance.
"The name of this power is Obeying Heaven. It's the power to return everything to its original form, according to heaven's will."
Cold sweat ran down his face.
"You could say it's the opposite of your power. Little brother."
"...Stop using so many cheat powers, would you? First sister."
"Hmm..."
How many times had this happened now?
Lycoris's fist embedded in his stomach, forcing Kang So-hyun to his knees.
"I think that among all people, you're the one who shouldn't say such things, little brother."
*
Cold sweat broke out.
He knew he was no match for her, but now even the areas where he had some confidence were being overwhelmed.
The fear he had been suppressing crept up, blurring his vision.
His body, heavy from holding his breath, refused to move as if turning to stone.
"Actually, this power called Obeying Heaven is inherently unable to defeat your Heaven Defiance."
Obeying Heaven. The power to fulfill heaven's will and make others submit to fate.
Heaven Defiance. The usurper's power to twist heaven's will and break all laws.
Conceptually, Heaven Defiance actually seemed slightly stronger.
"Do you understand why you're losing to me despite this?"
How could he not know?
He had struggled with this all along; it was the problem that kept holding him back.
"It's not about the type or purity of the authority, but about output?"
"You understand well."
He tried to straighten his knees and stand again.
But with a shoe pressing down on his head, he lacked the courage to look up.
"Little brother. Stay down just like that. Honestly, you've already tried hard enough."
Tried hard...?
The foot pressing on his head applied more pressure, naturally tilting his body forward.
"Honestly, I didn't expect you to come this far. I didn't think I'd need to use my secret trump card against you when you're not even awake from your dream."
His forehead touched the floor, but she didn't press down any harder, so he felt no pain.
"It's already impressive that you rushed at me so desperately that I felt pressured for a moment."
Her precise control of force, just enough to keep him from raising his head, was almost admirable.
"Born as the strongest, without equal, the first guardian who can supervise all beings within this world. That's who I am."
That sounds like a similar setting to a certain someone I know.
That bastard was also born with such a destiny.
"...Well, perhaps I wasn't created that way from the beginning, but what matters is the present."
"...Why is your tongue so long? Just crush my head and be done with it."
"...Your death wouldn't be the end, and I don't want to break you. I'm trying to persuade you."
"What fresh nonsense. You call stepping on my head persuasion?"
"...Didn't you also claim brainwashing and violence were persuasion?"
Ah, that's right. I do that too.
I shouldn't accept this, but I can't really deny it either.
"I'm not blaming you. We're in positions where we can do that. We're beings who can force our way, though our methods differ."
"We? What are we?"
"Guardians and administrators of this world. The strongest Balance Breakers created to eradicate Balance Breakers. Among them, I am the strongest, and you are probably second."
Haha, so because our job is to manage and supervise the world, we have the right to punish those who don't listen?
"That's not it."
"Pardon...? You too..."
"I don't do what I do because it's allowed. I do it knowing it shouldn't be done."
"...Isn't that worse?"
"You're right. It's bad. It's really terrible. People who commit sins knowing they're sins are more problematic... Why wouldn't they be? Yes, I know it shouldn't be done..."
"Are you still planning to resist?"
"But that's what humans are."
"...What?"
"Contradictory, fierce, not unified, strict with others yet infinitely kind to themselves."
When I tensed my body, Lycoris seemed flustered and tried to step harder on my head.
"But among such fools, there are occasionally those who bloom like wildflowers in a field, radiant and foolishly kind beyond measure."
Some people are strict with themselves, cry like fools because they have nothing left to give, and share things they don't need to share—that's also what humans are.
"That's what the creature called human is..."
Whether in the world Adonis created before or in this world, they remain the same foolish creatures, but...
"If that's what humans are, I can't help it. I've decided to love even that contradiction."
I don't deny the weeds in the field because they make the wildflowers look more beautiful.
If the entire field were filled with only flowers, many would surely forget the value of flowers.
In a world where everyone only does good deeds, good deeds would lose their meaning.
A world without evil would blur the boundaries between self and others, making all stories similar.
An extreme way of thinking?
Ah, perhaps.
Honestly, a world where no one is hungry might be more perfect than one where someone takes the initiative to give bread to a hungry child.
"I am the great Dragon King."
But in that perfect world, emotions like compassion, justice, and love would lose their meaning, making it closer to a colorless existence.
That might not necessarily be true, but honestly, isn't a perfectly equal world boring?
Such a thing could be accomplished by machines rather than humans—it's just a simple operation.
The energy I had barely managed to gather within my body surged again, making my head spin.
But the power given in exchange was still remarkable.
"...You bastard. How have I been blocking this until now?"
Gang Ha-neul grumbles in my head.
"You really won't regret this?"
Of course not. Pull it out.
The tree of hope rooted in my mental world gradually shakes, and perhaps Gang Ha-neul and the Dragon King are watching this with even more anxious eyes than I am.
I can feel it.
My body changing.
My head is dizzy, I have chills, I'm trembling, and "I" am fading.
It's terrible.
The disappearance of "me" is a truly terrible feeling, though it's been a while since I've experienced it.
But.
"A selfish bastard like me has no choice if I want to win. What's Arcadia, you weeb? Go to hell."
As long as I exist, there's no need for an ideal world.
Humans are ugly and foolish, but among them are occasionally beautiful and wise ones.
This mess is enough.
With my dizzy body, I raise my head, emit the power of the dragon, and charge at Lycoris.
"You... I don't know what to say..."
My fist connected.
Though it was blocked, the fact that she defended herself meant my attack was effective against her.
"You're beautiful."
"You must have meant to say ugly...!"
"No. You're beautiful. There was a reason he was drawn to you, why he chose you instead of me."
Lycoris blocked my flurry of punches while speaking in a regretful voice.
"It's truly unfortunate that I must be the villain who breaks you and crushes your hope."
As she said this, a massive gate appeared on the ground, and something began to emerge from it.
"I've just released one of my pets on earth. A child I created after devouring all life in the first world."
What appeared on earth was a massive lion-like creature.
People screamed in terror at the appearance of the enormous beast resembling a lion with a reddish-golden body.
Design-wise it might be considered quite impressive, but in a situation where it's presumed to be an enemy, it would certainly be frightening.
"That child isn't guardian-level, but even so, it won't be easy for those in this world to resist..."
"Thanks for boosting my faith?"
I interrupted her and swung my fist at her face, but she blocked it without panic.
"The more desperate the situation on earth becomes, the stronger the faith transmitted to me grows. What are you thinking~?"
"...Do you think those remaining on earth can defeat that child? The things you want to protect are about to be destroyed. Why aren't you despairing yet?"
"Through my many reincarnations, I've learned something. Do you think I wouldn't have raised some reliable people on earth?"
"It won't be enough."
"No, it will be."
"And I can release more than just one."
"Well, while everyone holds out, I just need to knock you down."
"You?"
"No."
Fine, I admit it. If all this effort isn't enough, then "I" won't be enough.
"The bizarre emperor with scales of pitch-black and eyes of ruby...!"
So not "me," but [me].
"You're like the sun, burning yourself to illuminate the world. But didn't you decide not to sacrifice yourself anymore?"
My head is spinning.
The side effects are worse than I thought.
"I" am disappearing quickly.
I feel like vomiting.
Who is in front of me right now...?
Are they talking to me?
Sacrifice, right. I decided not to...
Ah, what should I say at a time like this?
In place of my crackling, noisy mind, my tongue moved as if by instinct.
"You made me do it, you fucking bitch. Don't make me out to be some sacrifice addict."
"Hmm, that's true."
With my dizzy mind, I can't think of many things anyway, so even if I forget everything else, I'll remember just one thing.
Tear apart the enemy in front of me before it's too late.
Don't give up on the possibility of not letting go of myself until the very end.
The punches I threw with all my might, though not imbued with any technique or clean movement.
"Ugh...!"
They shook the world itself and pushed back the strongest.
The enemy is getting stronger than me?
Then I'll get stronger to match you.
You have no limits?
Then I'll just break my own limits.
Yes, that's it.
If both of us are ultimately monsters of ultimate power like something an elementary school kid would imagine...
Let's see who has the more childish ability.