Chapter 554
Cycle. A god who governed it itself.
A being naturally crossed Taesan’s mind.
The serpent that governs the cycle of all things—Ouroboros.
[There’s no need to talk in such a cramped space.]
Arilnan said that and clapped her hands.
At the same time, the world was rewritten.
Arilnan’s rank covered everything.
And they arrived.
A space that was deeply dense and intense, yet utterly empty and vast.
[This place is…]
Akasha let out a groan. Having once been Arilnan’s apostle, she had memories of this place.
This was Arilnan’s domain.
With a face full of longing, Arilnan brushed her hand through the air. The aura surrounding the domain warmly wrapped around Arilnan, as if welcoming its master.
[I’ve missed it. Rise, my temple.]
Ruuuumble!
The domain resonated with its master’s will. A colossal temple made of Cycle filled the space in an instant.
Arilnan settled onto the jade throne at its center.
[Now, then. Where should I begin?]
Still seated on the throne, she slowly leaned forward.
[First… let me offer my thanks once more. Thanks to you, I was able to reclaim the reason I exist as myself. I’m not complete yet, but I should be satisfied with this much.]
Genuine satisfaction was clear on Arilnan’s face.
[I can hold what I lost in my hands again. Akasha. You as well.]
[I…]
Akasha trailed off. As if she already understood, Arilnan waved her hand.
[Enough. As you are now, you are his possession. It is regrettable to have lost a faithful apostle, but unless you and he desire it, I have no intention of making you mine again.]
Arilnan spoke calmly.
[Live your life as yourself, Akasha. Though calling it “life” is questionable. In the end, you are a tool. Still, if you are satisfied, that is enough.]
[…Thank you.]
[I should be the one thanking you. In the end, it’s no exaggeration to say I was able to return because of you. As expected, you are someone worthy of being appointed as my apostle.]
[…]
From Akasha’s silence, a deep emotion could be felt. Arilnan’s gaze returned to Taesan.
[I debated how to explain things, but it’s better to keep it simple. You must have quite a few questions for me. Ask. I will answer.]
“If that’s the case.”
Taesan asked the doubt he’d carried since hearing Arilnan’s identity.
“What is your relationship with Ouroboros?”
Ouroboros. The serpent of Cycle. It, too, was a transcendent existence that governed the cycle of all things.
Its concept overlapped with Arilnan’s. By common sense, that shouldn’t have been possible.
[You have seen something similar. Two Transcenders who govern the same concept.]
The God of Death, Dersha.
The God of Strife and Death, Rakiratas.
Both governed the concept of death. The difference was that Dersha governed all death, while Rakiratas governed death born of strife.
“So it’s like that.”
[It’s not something I can call identical, but it is similar. Ouroboros is a mechanism-like existence that governs the cycle of all things. It cannot be viewed as a single entity. It is part of the vast universe itself. That is why its authority is great and immense.]
It could literally twist the time of the entire universe and rule the cycle.
And even Transcenders could do nothing about that interference, because it was such a colossal concept.
[If Ouroboros is the cycle of the entire universe, then you can think of me as an independent Cycle. It is difficult to put into words.]
“Should I think of it as a relationship similar to Dersha and Rakiratas?”
[Well. I wouldn’t say you’re wrong… but phrasing it that way bruises my pride.]
Arilnan looked openly dissatisfied with Taesan’s comparison.
[I am not Rakiratas. I am the God of Cycle.]
Arilnan had the authority to intervene in Cycle itself as a whole.
Her rank was above even Rakiratas and Maria. Even now, incomplete as she was, the difference was easy to feel.
Which was why Taesan couldn’t help but be puzzled.
“Even someone like you lost to the Usurper?”
[Lost. Saying it that way bruises my pride, but it is true, so I have nothing to say.]
Arilnan grumbled.
“How?”
How had she lost to the Usurper?
To that question, Arilnan answered evenly.
[It encountered me. It fought me, and after an incalculable span of time, it won. And then it usurped me. That is all.]
“Someone like you lost to the Usurper without any interference?”
Arilnan was strong.
Even now, incomplete as she was, she carried a rank higher than any god Taesan had ever seen.
By the standards of a Transcender, it wouldn’t be strange to say she had reached the highest place. Cycle was, to begin with, a concept that pointed to the universe’s beginning and end.
And yet, she lost to the Usurper.
[I am strong. I do not deny that. But the Usurper had its own trump card.]
“A trump card?”
[If only temporarily, it can devour this world.]
“Wasn’t that something it could already do?”
The Usurper could devour the world’s concepts, put them into a treasure chest, and wield them.
[Yes. But it is different. It can devour it completely.]
Arilnan’s narrowed gaze turned toward Taesan.
[You defeated the Usurper’s fragment and emptied that treasure chest. The Usurper must have been greatly weakened. However, when it defeated me, that treasure chest held nothing so remarkable. There were only one or two great concepts.]
That meant the Usurper back then was far weaker than it was now, yet it still defeated Arilnan.
[It will be aiming for you. I would like nothing more than to tear it apart myself, but…]
A cold killing intent settled in Arilnan’s eyes.
Having had everything stolen by the Usurper, she would surely hate it.
But she restrained her emotions.
[It is unbecoming for the defeated to step forward again. I will leave it to you. Do not be careless.]
“I understand.”
Taesan silently took Arilnan’s warning to heart. He had no intention of leaving the Usurper to someone else, either.
At that posture, Arilnan smiled in satisfaction.
[Then, do you have more questions? Ask anything, and I will answer.]
“One thing.”
Taesan looked at Arilnan.
“With who you are now, you should know about my past.”
[I know enough. What you have done is related to me as well.]
“Then I’ll ask. Arilnan-nim, can you do the same?”
[…Oh?]
Arilnan’s lips curled upward.
[I understand what you are asking. I’ll give you the conclusion first. It is not impossible.]
“I see.”
[It would be unstable. Unlike that, I govern an independent Cycle. However… that does not mean it cannot be achieved.]
“That’s enough.”
Taesan nodded. Arilnan laughed with clear enjoyment.
[It seems you are thinking of something interesting. Save that as a pleasure for later. It seems your questions are roughly finished… then I should do what I must.]
Arilnan rose from the throne.
She stepped down slowly and approached Taesan.
[Do you remember? What I told you when you accepted my quest.]
Taesan nodded.
Arilnan had declared it then.
If he reclaimed what was hers, she would give what was hers to Taesan.
And the reward for the 96th Floor quest was Arilnan’s authority.
[For a hero who achieves a great feat, a fitting reward must be bestowed.]
Arilnan’s fingertip touched Taesan’s forehead.
[Receive it. It is ‘me.’]
At the same time, Arilnan’s authority settled into Taesan.
It was immense.
To the point that it was difficult for Taesan to endure.
‘This is…’
Arilnan’s authority. It anchored itself within Taesan, and that alone shook his rank. His body and soul couldn’t bear the power and twisted unsteadily.
Taesan raised Boundary Line. The beast howled, pressing down on and suppressing Arilnan’s authority.
How much time passed like that?
Taesan barely managed to bring Arilnan’s authority under control.
[You have obtained Transcendence [Cycle].]
And Taesan could tell.
He had gained control over the concept called Cycle. Arilnan let out an admiring exclamation.
[You truly accepted it.]
Cycle was Arilnan’s complete, exclusive authority. It was a point of attainment she had reached by staking everything.
No one but her could accept it, let alone make it their own.
But Taesan assimilated it as his own without much trouble.
[Is that the authority you possess? No wonder the Usurper would lose its mind.]
“Is this alright?”
Unlike Old Gods, Transcenders had limited domains.
It meant she had taken a loss equal to what she had given Taesan.
And it wasn’t a small part.
It was significant. He couldn’t judge precisely, but it would be a considerable blow even to Arilnan.
[I told you. That I would give you myself. I want to give you everything, but… that would not be good for you either. So I only gave you that much. If you need more, I will give you more.]
“No. This is enough.”
The concept of Cycle could be felt within him.
It was immense.
So immense it could devour Taesan himself if mishandled.
He was more than satisfied. It was an overflowing reward.
[Now, then…]
It was the moment Arilnan was about to say something.
Ruuuumble!
Arilnan’s domain shook as if an earthquake had struck.
And it wasn’t limited to Arilnan’s domain.
The entire universe trembled.
The world’s concepts and all things shuddered, vibrating with instability.
[It broke.]
Arilnan muttered calmly. Taesan understood what had happened.
The barrier that separated the world and the Old Gods.
It had shattered.
[Hmm.]
Snap.
Arilnan opened space and arrived at the barrier.
There, dense black was invading the universe.
Countless Transcenders were blocking it with their authorities, but they were slowly being pushed back.
[It broke.]
“Ah.”
The Magician who created the Labyrinth let out a groan when he spotted Arilnan.
“…Arilnan-nim.”
[You remembered.]
“I remembered a moment ago. To think I’d forgotten even about you. How strange.”
The Magician’s posture toward Arilnan was exceedingly courteous, like he was facing an honored elder.
[Not only me. You will have recalled memories of many gods as well.]
“Yes. Truly… so many.”
[Well. There are many minor things to discuss, but we have no room for that now.]
Ruuuumble…
The world was being contaminated.
After watching it briefly, Arilnan opened her hand.
[Bloom, and come into full bloom.]
Then crimson flowers covered the world.
They were crimson flowers large enough to cover a portion of the universe itself.
They devoured the contaminated universe and every bit of the Old Gods’ filthy power.
[Let the blossoms fall.]
And the flowers fell.
Ruuuumble…
A portion of the contaminated universe, along with the Old Gods’ power, was buried in the falling blossoms and vanished.
A chorus of astonished cries rose from the Transcenders. Taesan was awed as well.
She alone had erased contamination that even multiple Transcenders couldn’t deal with.
‘And you still lost to the Usurper.’
Arilnan’s face was dissatisfied.
[Only this much? Even accounting for the fact that I handed over a portion, I am weak. Is it because it has been so long since I last wielded it? It takes some effort.]
“You handed over…”
The Magician’s gaze shifted to Taesan.
[I gave what I promised. It is not an important issue. Now, what will you do?]
Arilnan’s gaze turned to Taesan.
[I will protect this world as I did in the past. What will you do?]
“What I want has always been the same.”
His first wish.
To save Earth.
In the end, he had to kill or drive out the invading enemies—the Old Gods.
From the moment he stood opposed to the God of Fall and the Usurper, there had never been another choice.
Arilnan smiled in satisfaction at that answer.
[Good. That is enough.]
“That’s good to hear. You’re planning to go down the Labyrinth, right?”
“That’s how it’ll be.”
Dealing with the Old Gods was important, but he had no intention of neglecting the Labyrinth clear.
“Then it’ll be convenient to give you the 97th Floor quest here.”
The Magician waved his hand.
At the same time, a System window appeared before Taesan.
[97th Floor Quest Start.]
[Defeat the Möbius Lizard.]
[Reward: ???.]
[Secret Reward: ???.]