The Divine Twilight's Return

[Gungnir] became more destructive than Chang-Sun expected. Sunset-colored lightning rained down on the battlefield, devastating everything, eliminating the night, and ushering in a new day.

Dawn began to break, its light enveloping the sky.

Chang-Sun clenched his fists. ‘Dawn... Spear.’

[Gungnir] had been upgraded so much that its name no longer did it justice. Hence, Chang-Sun decided to call its new form the [Dawn Spear]. If the [Twilight Spear] contained the <Myths> of ‘Divine Twilight,’ the [Dawn Spear] would harness the <Myths> that he would create as Lee Chang-Sun.

[Congratulations! You have completed the ‘Dawn Spear.’]

[Having surpassed ‘Gungnir,’ which represents the shackle of your past lives, you can now walk down your own path.]

[Start recording your <Myths> with the ‘Dawn Spear.’]

[All <Myths> will lead the Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ to becoming ‘Divine Dawn.’]

Wooosh, woosh, woosh...!

『You...!』 Mephistopheles trailed off, greatly shocked by Chang-Sun’s new accomplishment.

Although Chang-Sun couldn’t see the look on Mephistopheles’ face, he could easily deduce what his teacher was thinking. Having been teased so many times, he couldn’t help but be pleased by how his teacher reacted.

Glancing behind him, Chang-Sun nodded. “Yes, I have created the last volume.”

Mephistopheles’ shock further deepened.『I know Darkness has given you his blessing, but still...』

Mephistopheles didn’t give Chang-Sun the final volume of [Prelati’s Spellbook] because of how reckless Chang-Sun was. Although his student looked calculating and cold, he didn’t hesitate to gamble with his life. Hence, Mephistopheles believed that it would be dangerous to give him the last volume.

One could lose themselves if they mishandled <Darkness>. In fact, Mephistopheles had been in the same position in the past. If not for <Dull Darkness>’ blessing, he might even still be swimming in darkness. That was why Mephistopheles had put a restriction on him.

However, Chang-Sun had created the last volume himself. All Mephistopheles could do now was chuckle dumbfoundedly.

‘I have nothing left to teach him,’ he concluded.

No, even if there was, Mephistopheles believed that it wasn’t needed. Chang-Sun could freely use <Supreme Light> and <Darkness> and had the [Ruyi Jingu Bang] and [Darkness Jade]. It was no longer necessary to teach him anything else. On the contrary, giving him additional lessons might just clip his wings instead.

Rummmble....

While Mephistopheles was lost in his thoughts, the big cloud of dust subsided, revealing the ruined battlefield.

『I like what I’m seeing.』

Thanatos grinned in contentment.

“Fuck...!” Sun Wukong cussed.

All his clones had been eliminated, leaving him as the sole survivor. His silky hair had been burned, and his bright [Fiery Eyes of Truth] were now opaque. Richardus and their other followers weren’t any different. The Rád?us attacks had killed or critically injured most of them.

Sun Wukong looked like he was about to pull out his incomplete [Ruyi Jingu Bang] as a frantic last-ditch effort. “I won’t let you stop me again...!”

『I can’t let you do that.』

Thanatos couldn’t bear watching Sun Wukong and his followers running wild for another second.

Wooosh―!

With the sound of pulleys turning, Divine Steel chains flew out from spatial gaps.

“Let me go! Let...!” Sun Wukong tried to parry away the Divine Steel chains with his incomplete [Ruyi Jingu Bang].

Clang! Clang, clang!

『You just won’t stop talking, huh?』Thanatos scoffed as he pulled out more Divine Steel chains.

Until Sun Wukong had gone down, he could just keep bringing out more. No matter how great a Celestial was, a flood of Divine Steel chains would sooner or later make them kneel.

Clink!

Sun Wukong inevitably staggered due to fatigue. At the same time, one of the Divine Steel chains flying toward him wrapped around his left wrist. He tried his hardest to break free, but the shackle had already weakened him, allowing more chains and shackles to tie him up.

By the time the chains stopped, they had formed a cocoon around him. Through the gaps, he glared at Thanatos’ eye.

『There is a limit to how much of a challenge an imitation can pose.』

Sun Wukong trembled in fury upon having his whole existence denied, but Thanatos couldn’t care less.

『Bring the prisoners to the <Underworld>. They’re Replicates, so take extra caution not to break them during their transport.』

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Purgatory Plane’s army dragged the arrested criminals back to the portals that led to the <Underworld>.

After observing the situation on the battlefield quickly getting sorted out, Thanatos turned to Chang-Sun. 『What about you?』

“I’ll head over after I’m done with my business here” Chang-Sun answered.

Thanatos blinked.

『Too much time has been wasted. We were able to stop the worst outcome with Songjae’s Scarlet Lotus, but that is merely a temporary solution. We have to retrieve his heart as soon as possible.』

Chang-Sun nodded with a heavy heart. To save the Emperor’s Seat and check his health, he had to go to the <Underworld> at least once.

『I’ll see you later.』

Thanatos closed his eyes and then disappeared. His presence also vanished.

Swooosh―!

As the divine ground disappeared, Chang-Sun plopped down on the ground.

It was finally over.

Perhaps it was because he had gone through so much and met such important figures in a short period, but he felt mentally exhausted. Creating the [Dawn Spear] likely also played a part in his fatigue.

Sensing a hand being extended to him, Chang-Sun looked up. He was slightly surprised to see Mephistopheles.

Embarrassed, Mephistopheles was looking in the other direction. 『What are you waiting for? Grab my hand.』

With a smile, Chang-Sun took his teacher’s hand and stood up.

* * *

By the time Chang-Sun and Mephistopheles returned to the realm of R'lyeh, <Dull Darkness> was already getting ready to go back to the Imaginary Plane.

Mephistopheles prostrated on the floor as soon as he saw him. 『Master.』

Although Mephistopheles didn’t say anything else, Chang-Sun could tell how much joy he was in just by looking at his back.

“Boo.”

<Dull Darkness>’ warm voice made Mephistopheles choke up. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had heard his old nickname.

『... Yes, master,』 he answered.

“It’ll only be for a bit, but I entrust my family and everything else to you.”

Mephistopheles quickly went down on one knee and bowed. 『I’ll carry out your order with utmost diligence.』

<Dull Darkness> patted his shoulder a couple of times before turning away. “I’ll see you later.”

Paah!

Soon, he disappeared into a pool of light.

[The consciousness of <Dull Darkness> has submerged again.]

[R'lyeh has closed his eyes!]

The long-awaited reunion only lasted for a short moment. Long after <Dull Darkness> left, Mephistopheles remained where he was, perhaps to calm himself down. Chang-Sun was no different.

“Let’s have a drink next time, maejae[1].”

<Dull Darkness>’ remarks rang in Chang-Sun’s ears. ‘What did he mean it’ll only be for a bit...? Is he coming back soon?’

He had a strong feeling that <Dull Darkness>’ words had a hidden meaning he couldn’t quite unearth. Remaining seated, Chang-Sun repeated them in his mind. Soon, he, too, lost himself in the lingering feelings from his encounter with <Dull Darkness>.

* * *

By the time Chang-Sun looked up again, <Deus Ex Machina> was also getting ready to leave.

[<Deus Ex Machina> still gives you a look of disapproval.]

Chang-Sun smiled shamelessly. “Why do you keep looking at me like that, hyung-nim? You’re making me feel shy.”

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks you to stop calling him hyung-nim.]

“But you’re my hyung-nim, so I should call you hyung-nim. How else would I call you, hyung-nim?”

[<Deus Ex Machina> grumbles that your shamelessness reminds him of someone.]

“Can I tell him what you said, hyung-nim?” Chang-Sun asked mischievously.

[<Deus Ex Machina> scowls at you!]

‘... I should stop while I can still walk away unscathed.’ Chang-Sun looked downward.

[<Deus Ex Machina> asks you to visit the Changgong Library when you get a chance.]

Chang-Sun was surprised by the sudden invitation. Chuckling, he nodded.

[<Deus Ex Machina> quietly says before he disappears that you have done a good job despite how difficult the situation was!]

Even though <Deus Ex Machina>’s golden mechanical eyes had closed, Chang-Sun still couldn’t stop smiling. Although Chang-Sun used to resent him for his <Punishment>, he couldn’t hate him now.

“Are you heading back now?”

Baal and Metatron, who had been waiting for their turn, approached Chang-Sun. In contrast to Baal, who seemed to be sulking for having to go through so much trouble because of Chang-Sun, Metatron was beaming, seemingly having forgotten their bad history.

“Yes, my work here is done, so I have to go back now. What are you two going to do?” Chang-Sun asked.

“Us?”

“Well, we haven’t thought about it.”

Baal’s and Metatron’s expressions subtly changed. They had been too busy watching the prisoners, so they had never thought about going to the outside world. However, now that their job was done, they no longer had anything else to do.

“Would you like to come with me?” Chang-Sun suggested.

“With you?”

“To Worldline #801.”

The unexpected offer made Baal and Metatron’s eyes widen slightly. After exchanging glances, they shook their heads.

“A never-ending series of disasters follows you. While that sounds fun and all...”

“We would like to retire now.”

From their bitter smiles, Chang-Sun could tell that the peace they were hoping for was a lot different from what he had in mind. Their long missions seemed to have tired them out, so they would likely just head back to Idea like other Elder Celestials.

His farewell with Baal and Metatron shortly ended afterward. Unlike <Dull Darkness> and <Deus Ex Machina>, no promises to meet again were made.

* * *

Although Chang-Sun expected the farewells with the others, there was one that he didn’t see coming at all.

“Here. Take this.” Bel-Marduk tossed something to him.

Chang-Sun reflexively caught it. Opening his hand, he couldn’t help but be surprised.

A <Star Fragment> was on his palm.

“That’s all the fragments I’ve gathered until now,” Bel-Marduk calmly said. “I’m stepping down from my position as ‘Taurus.’”

1. It’s the Korean term for brother-in-law. ☜

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