Chapter 288

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍laws of the world.

Words ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Gods who faced him after his reincarnation had ultimately been unable to speak.

[They ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were immutable laws that had continued since the era when Gods existed.]

Styx's ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍voice resembled that of Rational Murus. The difference was only that it had a feminine quality.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as Killian listened to the explanation, a question arose.

"I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍thought there was a Prohibition?"

[Ordinarily, there would have been. But ‘this place’ is different.]

Killian looked around again.

The white space.

Floating above him was the enormous gate he could no longer use.

"Did you not call this hell?"

[To those who are not permitted, it is no different from hell.]

Creak—

Eyes formed as if slashed into place on Styx's face and turned toward Killian's chest.

"It is because they do not have a Hollyheart?"

Those who were not permitted must mean those who had not forged a Hollyheart.

"Lan de Styx called this place Temporary Boundary."

[Yes, it is indeed a plausible name.]

With ambiguous words that gave no indication whether it agreed or disagreed, Styx continued.

[To think you would cross the Boundary into the divine realm to contact us, whose connection has been severed.]

Humans often created things that were not expected.

[You have made great progress.]

It was the reaction of someone observing an interesting life-form.

"The divine realm……"

It was a domain he had not entered even when he was an ancient human.

[If someone who had not forged a Hollyheart forcibly entered, a moment like hell would have awaited them. Even if they had forged one, they would have been annihilated had they not possessed sufficient rank.]

Only now did he understand why Lan had not provided a specific explanation of this place.

‘This is not a place outsiders should enter.’

And whatever the reason, it was also a place that should never be known to outsiders.

Yet Lan had opened a passage into such a place herself.

‘She must not have wanted to acknowledge it aloud.’

Those who believed in the Gods did have a close-minded side.

‘Then this must be something like an entrance.’

What mattered was that Killian had judged that this place held a clue to becoming 9-Star.

‘Are they telling me to hunt the Gods?’

Styx seemed to have read that thought.

[Wrong. You cannot cut us down here.]

It said that their rank was different from when they were in the middle realm. Unless he regained his former power, he would merely perish at his current level.

"……"

Killian silently looked up at the gate.

The pattern was all too familiar.

It was the form of mana he had used when he was Adamas, an ancient human.

‘If not to cut down the Gods, then why?’

As he held that question.

[The laws of the world refer to the ‘rules of existence,’ encompassing physical, magical, and divine concepts.]

Styx continued.

[‘Time’ and ‘space’ cannot be separated.]

Living beings require energy. Using energy entails consumption.

And.

[Gods live eternally and stand outside such laws.]

"What does that have to do with me?"

[Do you still not understand? You affected the laws of the world.]

He had killed beings who lived eternally and stood outside the laws of the world.

[It was the first time the laws of the world changed.]

The higher Gods who noticed this change were flustered as well.

They had believed the laws of the world existed for them.

[They realized that was not so.]

After the mutant named Adamas became a Godslayer.

[The laws of the world no longer defined Gods as immortal beings.]

They became beings who could perish at any time and whose eternity could not be guaranteed.

The Gods quickly recognized the change and acted.

At first, some Gods attempted to control the mana that had spread like a wildfire.

But the backlash was too fierce for that.

Distrust was widespread among not only humans but the other races as well.

Instead, it caused mana to spread even to the other races.

That alone imposed a penalty close to annihilation upon the God who had led that situation.

The flustered Gods watched the situation.

Among them, the laws concerning humans changed greatly.

The weakest race began to advance across the continent little by little.

Some God incited competition among the lesser beings and sparked a great war.

They intended for humans to check each other and destroy themselves, but mana did not disappear.

Furthermore, the God who had led the great war also suffered damage close to annihilation and was forced to return to the divine realm.

Not only lower Gods but higher Gods stepped forward several times.

But each time, humans survived and the Gods who intervened suffered grave damage.

Around then, some higher Gods took the lead in changing their approach.

They encouraged humans to build temples.

Rather than a hard-line policy, they adopted an appeasing one.

It produced astonishing results. The stronger the faith humans held, the more their godhood was preserved.

Only then did the Gods realize that the laws of the world had changed greatly, and they began issuing revelations in a rush.

They changed their attitude in favor of reviving and controlling humans.

Meanwhile, civilization advanced.

Humans became the complete rulers of the continent.

One by one, more Gods acknowledged that they could no longer exert influence over the world as before and returned to the divine realm.

Then one day.

[The situation changed once again.]

A being that ignored the laws of the world.

[An Anomaly appeared.]

"……"

At the unwelcome name, Killian's brow furrowed.

[We will speak of that later.]

As though it were important but not worth spending time on now, Styx naturally changed the subject.

[Temporary Boundary is the space immediately before entry into the divine realm. If the gate is opened, the connection between Gods and the human realm will grow stronger.]

Some humans besides Killian had entered this place, but none had met a God.

"Why me?"

Although he had not opened the gate, he had already met two Gods.

[Ordinarily, even one of your rank would not have prompted a response. But……]

"Because I was the owner of the gate."

[That is correct.]

The person responsible for changing the laws of the world.

Though he had reincarnated and his body had changed, his essence had not gone anywhere.

‘Murus and Styx likely responded because they are also guardians of the Boundary here.’

It was only a deduction, but it was probably not wrong.

[Only you can open the gate.]

As if denying all other possibilities, Styx stated it decisively.

[Simon Eurasia attained 9-Star, but he did not forge a Hollyheart.]

"What about the Emperor?"

He was someone who could use divine power as the result of research.

Moreover, he was a monster who accepted the Curses of Anomaly even while creating cracks in the Barrier.

[Heinrich…… You mean that aberration?]

Displeasure colored Styx's voice.

[He may be able to arrive here by force, but he would have to face Murus and me first.]

As guardians of the Boundary of the divine realm, they would not allow entry easily.

"……"

His thoughts deepened.

Humans had done this in hopes of borrowing the Gods' power.

Yet it turned out that he alone could play that role.

‘Strengthening the Holy Nation's forces would help in the war with the Empire.’

Was reviving the Gods the right choice?

The question lingered in his mind.

"……"

It was absurd.

Now, with his own hands, he had to return the laws of the world changed when he became a Godslayer to how they had been.

His deliberation did not last long.

"I accept."

[You decide quickly.]

"Circumstances have changed a great deal since then."

In the past, he alone was someone who had awakened mana.

That was not the case now.

Even if the Gods' connection grew strong again.

‘It will not return to those days.’

There was Simon Eurasia, who had reached 9-Star alone.

Looking across hundreds of years, there were also people such as Edan and Diana.

If their will was inherited intact, the Gods would not be able to wield the same absolute influence even if the laws were returned.

‘For now, checking the Empire comes first. It also seems related to the Anomaly and the Monster Lord.’

That was why Killian could make his decision quickly.

"Can we begin immediately?"

[You cannot open the gate at your current level. You must become at least 9-Star.]

‘Does that mean I must be able to use Palantir?’

Even if he could not create the gate after becoming 9-Star, he would be able to open it.

‘I came here to become 9-Star, but I cannot open the gate without becoming 9-Star.’

The situation was no different from putting the cart before the horse and returning to the starting point.

[There is a way.]

Murus, who had listened the whole time, opened his mouth.

"You are not going to use bizarre logic again, are you?"

[You must accept divine power completely.]

"……"

[Do not make that face. The traces of Gods remain strongly within you.]

Neptune, Silvana, and Murus.

Within Killian, the traces of all three higher Gods remained strongly.

[Once you fully accept divine power, you will become no different from a Demigod.]

"That is dreadful. And after that?"

[To counter the enlarged Hollyheart, your Mana Heart will struggle for survival.]

Struggle.

It was one of the mana-training methods mages used through the symptoms of Heart Break.

This case was different.

‘There is a possibility that my Mana Heart will be transformed by divinity.’

If things went wrong, he would only lose his Mana Heart and become a mere Demigod; the possibility of surpassing human limits would vanish.

In the worst case, there was even a risk that his ‘self’ would collapse.

Even so.

"Let us begin."

Killian accepted the situation quickly.

Risking his life to overcome a limit.

He thought it was not greatly different from what he had done until now.

[Murus, I will help you sustain it at the Boundary.]

[Understood.]

Click.

The moment a light seemed to flicker within Murus's Hollyheart.

The surrounding environment changed.

He had been invited into Murus's Mind Image World.

But the state of the world was alarming.

"……"

Broken stones floated in the air.

Every Barrier standing there was covered with spreading cracks.

The Authorities of Gods were being destroyed throughout the space, creating currents of chaos.

‘The impact of the battle?’

In the battle with Neptune, Murus had suffered a shock great enough to collapse his godhood.

This must be its effect.

[Enduring was reaching its limit anyway.]

Murus said that he had been unable to answer Killian's call because he was devoting all his strength to restoring the Mind Image World.

"What is the plan?"

[I will release the other godhoods here and create a new Mind Image.]

"You are not going to state the obvious—that if this fails, we will both perish?"

[You understand well. All I can do is serve as a Barrier so that the Mind Image does not run wild.]

"I do not understand."

[What do you not understand?]

"Why are you going this far?"

He could not understand why Murus and Styx would take such a risk.

Murus's calm answer was concise.

[Because it is our duty.]

The duty of Gods.

A powerful imperative engraved upon those born immortal.

It was not something Killian, a Mortal, could understand.

"Let us begin."

At Killian's permission, Murus began to chant something.

Ssssss—

The divine power manifesting in green belonged to Silvana.

Kwarrrrr—

The divine power manifesting in blue belonged to Neptune.

The powers symbolizing the two higher Gods—life and Encroachment—began to merge.

[Do not lose consciousness.]

Hearing Murus's warning, Killian closed his eyes.

At the same time.

"……!!"

The pain of his heart bursting overwhelmed him.

"Kugh……"

A groan escaped him without his realizing it.

The blood vessels connected to his heart tore apart.

Excessive divine power was affecting his Mana Heart and even his original heart.

‘At this rate…….’

As the pain that felt as though his whole body were being torn to pieces and the rampage of divine power made him forget even to breathe, Killian trembled.

[There is no need to worry.]

Then Murus's voice rang out.

[I have always guarded the Boundary.]

An enormous Barrier rose between the two colliding divine powers.

"……!!"

Only then could he breathe again.

[Adamas.]

He composed himself amid ragged breaths.

[This time, I will protect your Boundary.]

The Mana Heart, reacting to the Hollyheart, began to churn.