NOVEL NEXT Chapter 778
<778 – Like a Hero (24)>
Sensing the sickening nature of the Rune of Misfortune, I continuously apply the power of Judgment across dimensions, reversing the outcome of the target my power has tainted.
The black World Tree’s dimensional power against a human’s sturdy mental strength, the cognitive ability to sense the Rune of Misfortune’s effects, and the mana manipulation technique to transmit the Rune’s judgments to others—all these inhuman feats were carried out by the Director alone.
‘A bad guy is just a bad guy.’
How convenient would it have been if such a human were an ally? It makes me hesitate to kill him. He was an astounding character that made me feel such temptations.
But what makes evil, evil? It is the ability to disregard righteousness, violate conscience, follow morals, and cause others to perish for one’s own benefit, hence it’s evil.
Having invested all my strength in the 332nd Round, I knew more than anyone that I was the worst kind of being. This was ‘kindred.’
“Director of the Foundation. Was it the First Wahyhiemhai?”
“Even after losing three kin, do you still feel like chatting? There are truly many magnificent beings among the Avatar of the Outsider!”
With a smile akin to that of kindness, the Director wielded their hand and unleashed a catastrophe-level chain reaction that had forced a noble sacrifice or suicide upon the 157th Round once again.
━━━
[Destruction] + [Explosion] + [Collapse] + [Spread] + [Erosion] + [Fear] + [Death] + [Regeneration]
Catastrophe-level Chain Reaction [Mana Disaster Trigger]
━━━
The Avatar of the Outsider should inherently be an entity indifferent to the Middle Realm, akin to a wretched invasion by a hundred-dimensional realm seeking to secure a dimensional colony. However, the Director’s malicious intellect could see through the 332nd Round’s “attachment” and “regret” borne from their cosmic exploration strength.
With nothing but instinct, they threatened to unleash a catastrophe-level chain reaction that would annihilate the Middle Realm unless stopped.
It was the peak of madness, something no sane person could commit, nor even an insane one dare contemplate.
━━━
[Dimensional Gate Creation] + [Alignment] + [Arrangement] + [Acceleration] + [Hyperfocus] + [Restriction]
Counter Chain Reaction [Hyper Speed Continuous Gate Creation]
━━━
Of course, that level of threat could be easily blocked by the 332nd Round. However, forced into the ‘response’ that must not be neglected, they had no choice but to defend.
Right after losing the initiative, the Director’s chain mechanism twisted into something even more insidious.
━━━
[Expansion] + [Erosion] + [Collapse] + [Rampage] + [Chaos]
Double Counter Chain Reaction [Expansion of Boundaries]
━━━
It triggered a new form of mana disaster that forcibly widened the dimensional gate, engulfing the surrounding space.
What was painstakingly created could be easily disrupted with a mere _bang_, forcing even greater efforts and cleanup costs with significantly less exertion.
The 332nd Round was haggard not merely by the Director’s wicked scheme but even more by their unthinkable ingenuity that matched or surpassed the ‘evil of the player.’
‘The mana consumption value has flipped upside down in an instant.’
The moment they had thought they could press down the Director’s mana until it ran dry, the certainty had flipped completely.
Now, if this conflict continued, it would be the 332nd Round whose mana exhausted first and was cornered.
“Seonhwang!! Are you just going to watch?!”
Help was needed. The assistance of a competent person to create a chance to escape this disadvantage.
“Which safety do you dare raise your voice to me? Avatar of the Outsider. If the Director is the worst of humanity, I am the pinnacle of mankind!”
Seonhwang dismissed his annoyance and broke down one boundary from the inner cosmos sustaining his realm.
From that vast inner boundary, an axis collapsed, and though his potential diminished, collapse inevitably came with overwhelming energy.
Explosion. Rampage. Self-destruction.
Even the tiniest tiny amount of mana could permit such deeds! How much more mana must there be amassed from all over the Empire, and even the Border Regions, so diligently collected?
━━━
Emperor Hiuqmag
Area Level 4 – Dominion Area
━━━
Beyond mere interference, Seonhwang’s powerful assault invaded the inner world of the Giant Monster’s strength investment.
━━━
[Giant Monster’s Strength Investment Mental World]
Challenge Difficulty ★★★★★★★★★☆
[Hiuqmag’s Instant Death Judgment Resistance Requirement – 5000]
[Hiuqmag’s Mental Collapse Judgment Resistance Requirement – 10000]
[Hiuqmag’s Time Sense Loss Judgment Resistance Requirement – 20000]
[Hiuqmag’s Sealing Judgment Resistance Requirement – 50000]
(x0.1 correction list)
[Situational Awareness (1852) Function Bonus Instant Judgment 185.2%]
[Thinking Power (813) Function Bonus Combat Intelligence 81.3%]
[Focus (3555) Function Bonus Mental Concentration 355.5%]
(x0.2 correction list)
[Tyrant (5505) Function Bonus Madness Protection 1101%]
[Mana Breath (3100) Function Bonus Self-Control 620%]
[Superhuman (385) Function Bonus Transcendent Resistance 77%]
[Total Requirement Reduction Bonus 2420%]
[Hiuqmag’s [Pinnacle of Humanity] Title Judgment Additional Bonus 3x]
[Giant Monster’s Strength Investment [Catastrophe’s Monster] Title Judgment Additional Bonus –2x]
[Final Variable Value 36.3x (3630%) Reduction]
[Instant Death Judgment Resistance Requirement – 137.7]
[Mental Collapse Judgment Resistance Requirement – 275.4]
[Time Sense Loss Judgment Resistance Requirement – 550.8]
[Sealing Judgment Resistance Requirement – 1377]
[Hiuqmag’s mental power is above 1377.]
[Hiuqmag’s mental power temporarily reaches 5005.]
[Overwhelming mental disparity causes the Giant Monster’s Strength Investment’s mind to enter reverse judgment.]
[The Giant Monster’s Strength Investment’s mind is sealed.]
[The Giant Monster’s Strength Investment loses its sense of time.]
[The Giant Monster’s Strength Investment is already in a state of mental collapse. It cannot collapse any further.]
[The Giant Monster’s Strength Investment does not die. This being is classified as [Indestructible].]
━━━
The stronger the being’s mental power, the more powerful they become in mental realms, surpassing even gods.
Interfering with another’s mind is akin to defeating a god. With a stroke of luck, the Giant Monster’s Strength Investment might already be in a collapsed state, and Seonhwang happened to possess the mental power of humanity’s peak.
‘Now this Giant Monster cannot move for a while. But how bleak it is.’
Temporarily sealing the mind of the Strength Investment and stripping it of its sense of time created a state of action cessation. Yet his expression was far from pleasant.
If the Strength Investment, devoid of rationality and indestructible, would realize it could just wake up and act again without losing sanity, within the distorted sense of time.
But much time isn’t needed. Just once is enough.
One intervention is enough to create an opening for the 332nd Round’s Strength Investment.
Crack!
The black World Tree, controlled by Seonhwang’s dominion, suddenly engulfed the Director’s left hand.
Ultimately, the black World Tree was tainted by the Director, so it wasn’t truly following him; it had been just waiting for an opportunity to resist, causing an unexpected clash.
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance of effect activation has failed.]
However, the Director, who had overpowered the black World Tree’s spirit with pure mental power, enacted a series of repeated judgments using the World Tree’s dimensional dispersion authority, swiftly subduing its rebellion.
Initially, it was intended that Seonhwang’s sudden strike would take out the entire upper body or at least up to the left shoulder joint, yet he managed to control everything with just a single palm.
“Finally opened, huh? Even with your sturdy connections, there are gaps.”
“…!”
The 332nd Round’s Strength Investment did not let the opening slip by. Their knowledge of the universe extended well beyond mere dimensions, asteroids, and coordinates heading toward the sun.
After all, where could he invest all the resources and hidden pieces he gathered from the entire planet?
A non-fair flight.
An Aeorodilon.
A sky-dominating magical organism that roams dimensions, devouring all high-tier life forms to use as parts for its non-fair flight.
This was made possible through its extreme development into a warped vessel that drifts through all dimensions and space, resulting in cosmic exploration.
“Can you withstand the might of a mad ship that can erase an entire dimension with one blow?”
“Hahaha, you really are something else!”
On the other side of the dimensional gate opened by the 332nd Round’s cosmic exploration Strength Investment, the strongest Aeorodilon, created using all living beings of the planet and hidden pieces, was drawing up the energy of a [Planetary Destruction-class Main Gun].
As soon as the main gun shone, the black World Tree enveloped the Director’s entire body and screamed.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three dimensions connected to the black World Tree were obliterated in a single strike.
The primal force of destruction scattered one refined property throughout the universe, undoing the discrepancies born from the existence and property concentration of spirits.
If such hits were repeated until all dimensions connected to the black World Tree were annihilated, the Middle Realm would transform into land, devoid of any mystery or magic, prohibiting mana.
[The Fire Spirit King forcefully severs the connection with the black World Tree.]
[The Water Spirit King forcefully severs the connection with the black World Tree.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance of blocking has failed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance has missed.]
[The Rune of Misfortune]
[50% chance of blocking has failed.]
Yet, even if one dimensional realm wishes to break away, the repeated judgments unfolding from all other dimensional realms do not allow even the Spirit Kings’ attempts for separation.
The moment the Director gained both the black World Tree and the Rune of Misfortune, he acquired tremendous authority able to exercise influence across dimensions.
However, a means to resist that power emerged.
As long as the 332nd Round can keep firing their [Planetary Destruction-class Main Gun], every connected dimension will lose its power, and the Director’s infinite judgment will meet its end.
“Seonhwang. Why do you persecute me?”
“Though I might have turned my back on the Empire of the Ground, I remain the peak of humanity. How could I let you close the door to humanity’s future?”
“Is it me that blocks humanity’s future, or is it the ‘Principal’ that blocks it?”
“…!”
Now it truly seemed that the Director was cornered and on the verge of ending, yet even in their final moments, they did not cease to wield their vile wisdom.
“Look. Through the black World Tree, I have obtained the authority of access to ‘a hundred dimensions’ and indirect dominion. Do you still not understand?”
“…Truly, is that possible?”
“Yes. As I am now, it is indeed possible. I am the only one who can ‘nullify’ the magic of the Dragon Principal, the Evil Dragon.”
“…The Spirit Realm will perish, so the Evil Dragon will also lose its power.”
“The result is that the Middle Realm becomes a mana barren land, and humans, unable to shrink the gap with Dragons, will forever fall to become subspecies, annihilated without any chance of resistance. If what you seek is indeed the eternal subjugation of humanity, I shall willingly give this life! But if not…”
The eyes of the 332nd Round’s Strength Investment widened in realization.
Seonhwang, who had been glaring at the Director, turned his body.
Toward me.
“Pinnacle of humanity. You know better than anyone which path you ought to vanish from this place in order to ensure humanity’s future.”
Seonhwang’s betrayal.
The mere thought sends shudders of foreboding for such tragedy.
Seonhwang and the Director.
If those two joined forces, even toppling the Dragon Principal might not be impossible.
But the future lying behind them is undoubtedly tragic.
A world solely waiting for the Director remains unpreventable.
Composing edicts.
Extinguishing lives.
A new ruler of humanity capable of summoning and extinguishing the maternal womb as needed spreads despair across the Middle Realm, a hundred dimensions, and even all alien realms.
“Seonhwang. Just think of one thing. Will that future truly become what your offspring desires?”
One word from the 332nd Round’s Strength Investment caught Seonhwang, who had teetered on the edge of realizing a long-held ambition.