And thus, ten years passed.
***
[A brilliant light distribution fills the space.]
[Many people admire the dazzling light and naturally bow their heads.]
[You are gathering faith!]
[A divine being is being created!]
[Caution! Your spirit power has reached a maximum volu. You cannot retain or collect any further faith. You must grow your maximum levels through exuviation and transcendence.]
[Exuviation was forcibly canceled.]
[Transcendence was forcibly canceled.]
[Your spirit remains in its original state.]
[You can no longer accumulate divinity, so it starts to be discharged.]
[Your light distribution becos brighter!]
[More followers are praying for you.]
[More faith is gathered. A divine being is created.]
.bender
[Exuviation has been canceled.]
It was like an endless loop. Over the past ten years, Vivasvat's performance in the world of the Tower while leading Allforone, influenced countless others and made the gods and demons hostile towards him. Thus, many people started to recognize and place their faith in him. Mortals looked up to him as a savior. They prayed for his victories, and when word of his successive triumphs ca, they worshiped with greater fervor.
On the other hand, the gods were jealous of Vivasvat. They despised and hated his existence. They felt great indignation at the fact that they could not deal with a re mortal. Furthermore, they considered Vivasvat's existence itself as a mockery towards them, as Vivasvat continually accumulated achievents while maintaining his status as a mortal. Whether liked or hated, Vivasvat arguably beca the most important figure in the world of the Tower. However, that fact put Vivasvat in even greater danger.
Bam!
"It's this again?"
It's this again?
Vivasvat muttered in frustration as he stopped ditating and slowly opened his eyes. Along with his physical voice, divine speech also rang out. It was as if several people, not just one, were speaking in unison. It was further proof that he had reached the limits of a mortal and was suppressing his transformation into a god.
In fact, it was difficult to say that Vivasvat's current appearance was absolutely 'human' though he looked the part. The light distribution that had symbolized him even before he entered the Tower was now endlessly radiating around him. He was now imrsed in the constant halo of light because he continued to radiate divine power to avoid exuviation and transcendence.
The problem was that Vivasvat's appearance evoked a sense of mystery and almightiness, so the people that previously supported him had now moved to place their absolute faith in him. As a result, Vivasvat gathered greater amounts of faith, and the light distribution beca ever brighter.
Because of this, even within Allforone, there were many people who had a hard ti approaching or relating to Vivasvat. And as the organization grew, a greater number of people started to blindly follow Vivasvat, and those concerned about this were naturally pushed out of Allforone's leadership. Among those who were pushed out were Garmr and the mbers of Bifrost, who had always referred to Vivasvat as the 'youngest'.
[The faith flowing into you has reached another all-ti high!]
[The law of causality highly rates your potential.]
[The current system has designated those who want to interfere with the smooth execution of the floor's missions as viruses. To resolve this issue, the system is planning to deploy a vaccine program.]
[Are you willing to accept the system's suggestion and act as the vaccine program?]
Clank. Clank. Vivasvat hated the restricting sounds that ca from his body. System access, creation of antivirus programs Vivasvat knew it would give him the power he needed. Every ti he accepted the system's proposal, he gained unparalleled power No, it was more appropriate to state that he was reaching a level of omnipotence.
Thanks to this, from a certain point, Vivasvat was no longer being chased. He was now launching massive counterattacks and starting to win. He succeeded in driving out all divine societies from the lower floors.
And thanks to that, all the lower floors up to the twentieth floor were now Allforone's territory. Actually, it was probably more appropriate to state that it was Vivasvat's territory. Furthermore, his advancent into the twenty-first floor was just around the corner.
Vivasvat had essentially acquired the power he had longed for But the problem was that, in the process of acquiring this power, many people had drifted away from him, leaving him in isolation. Vivasvat struggled with utter loneliness.
Clank. At that mont, Vivasvat was pulled from his thoughts when a door opened. The figure who erged looked at Vivasvat and his light distribution with a face full of rapture. He hurriedly bowed his head when Vivasvat turned his gaze towards him. That action of utter obedience annoyed Vivasvat, who noticed that the man's expression was closer to worship than respect. Vivasvat could not see an inkling of the man seeing Vivasvat as a fellow comrade. Only these types of people were left in Allforone.
"Everything you have ordered has been completed."
"Everything?"
Everything?
A strange voice that arose after mixing a physical voice with divine speech.
The man's eyes widened even more. "I ordered their execution, and the executions were finalized a mont ago."
"Is that so?"
Is that so? Vivasvat muttered a reply and then fell silent. Execution was a word carved onto his heart like a scar.
"Why? Why did you betray , Garmr!"
"Sorry."
"I'm asking why!"
"If we left things as they were, you alone would beco Allforone."
"What!"
"You know this to be true as well, right? Allforone has beco a religious cult organization that centers around you. Of course, if one were to ask the clan mbers, they'd state that they're fighting for their freedom and beliefs But you know that's not true, right?"
"But!"
"I know. I know what you're thinking. I know that your heart is in the right place. However, all your actions will eventually lead to a dictatorship and singular power structure That eventuality would beco a poison for our ultimate endeavors. No, to be frank, it will poison you as well. Your objectives will eventually imprison you and only cause a reiteration of subjugation. That's why." Garmr's voice rang clearly in Vivasvat's ears. "Please open your eyes and see the truth, Vivasvat. That's my last request."
Vivasvat felt fortunate that his figure was covered by his light distribution. He did not have to show his subordinates the tears that flowed down his cheeks. Having co to a state where he was no longer able to properly express his emotions, Garmr's last words echoed in his mind like a prophecy.
"Vivasvat?"
lightsvel "It's nothing."
It's nothing.
Vivasvat slowly got up and shook his head. His recent tears had already evaporated from the heat he was radiating. His trembling gaze had already steadied. The tears he shed just a mont ago were to be the last signs of emotion that exhibited as a 'mortal' being.
"Let's go."
Let's go.
Vivasvat had wavered for only the briefest of monts. It was not too late to reflect and possibly regret once he achieved his ultimate objective. The power he currently possessed ca after various sacrifices, like the execution of his forr colleagues. Thus, Vivasvat was adamant to continue progressing forward.
***
Ti flowed on. Years passed.
'Father.'
The actions and steps Vivasvat took to find the Heavenly Demon were now cumberso and weighing down on him. He was going in a slightly different direction from where the Heavenly Demon was.
'Where are you?'
Vivasvat had reached an age where he had now spent more ti in the world of the Tower than when he lived as Son Jae-won. After he t the elder gods and so on, Vivasvat began to vaguely piece together the existence of things like Day and Night. Thus, Vivasvat knew where the Heavenly Demon was. He also knew that the Heavenly Demon was constantly observing him.
The system had long ago recognized Vivasvat's existence as an antivirus. Vivasvat knew this was all the Heavenly Demon's intention. Nevertheless, he still hated his father for not replying to his call.
"If you can't co down" Vivasvat clenched his teeth. "I'll go up."
The Ascentthis was what Vivasvat's actions ca to be called.
***
Did you ever have any regrets?
On the twentieth floor, inside a hidden stage within the floor, Vivasvat was reunited with an old acquaintance. His constricted and hardened heart softened in an instant.
Sun Wukong was his father's friend, who once guided Vivasvat to the world of the Tower. Of course, it was not the real Sun Wukong that Vivasvat had fatefully t outside the Tower. It was Sun Wukong's exuviate. Still, just seeing the presence of an old acquaintance was enough to please Vivasvat.
HoweverVivasvat was imdiately t with a sowhat heavy line of questioning from Sun Wukong's exuviate. Sun Wukong exuviate's golden eyes, which shone bright like jewels, were full of playfulness, but sohow, Vivasvat felt that his soul was being penetrated.
Whatdo you an? Vivasvat was now fully in command of his voice. He abandoned his physical voice and only utilized divine speech. To be more precise, he invented a new mode of communication, thought voice. He invented a way to convey his intentions.
Don't dilly-dally. The question is as it is posed. Do you not regret anything? In my view, you're doing such nonsensical things.
To be honestyou're making your current actions because you're rebelling against your father, right?
What!
I'm right, huh? Dividing the Heavens and the Earth. Literally dividing the heavenly world from the lower floorsto liberate mortals from divine interference. It's the sa principle and belief that your father and I, another 'face' of him, had long pursued. You've just copied us.
! Vivasvat felt that Sun Wukong's exuviate seed to smirk.
Even if you lay out a plethora of different reasons, in the end, you're ultimately just rebelling against your father. You're suffering this much You're doing this much But why is your father not showering you with attention, right? You're just acting up for attention. Am I wrong?
I will not listen any further. Vivasvat got up from his seat with a look of displeasure. He soon felt a cooling sensation in his heart. The ideal and goal that was the driving force behind his actions and decision Vivasvat was faced with an alternative interpretation that what he thought may not be what it seed. He wondered if his emotions, which had not made an appearance since he shed his last tears, reappeared.
You won't be able to go too far. Anyway, stop wandering around like a rebellious teenager and go ho. Your father is well aware that you've suffered.
Vivasvat silently exited the hidden stage's cave with his mouth tightly shut.
***
"Please open your eyes and see the truth, Vivasvat. That's my last request." Garmr's last words kept echoing in Vivasvat's mind like a mantra. After executing his last remaining followers, Vivasvat started dry heaving. His new reality seed to be haunting him. The thought that his past actions, killing off his lover and colleagues, over the past few decades had all originated from a sense of rebellion
However 'No. That's not true. It's different.' After reflecting for a long ti, Vivasvat regained his senses. 'I may have acted that way in the beginning, but now, it's different.'
Vivasvat could not forget the utter elation that he saw in the eyes of the captives who were liberated from the lower floor's many farms. They cheered at their newfound freedom and their capability to beco players. The sensations he felt then remained within him. Furthermore, his actions were not sothing anyone could do.
'Father Father just ended up just keeping the gods and demons in one placebut not . The people here are also important to .' Vivasvat clenched his jaw. 'No matter how other people see I will protect my people.'
Being alone was beneficial. Vivasvat did not care if others called him a loner. Even if other people pointed fingers, even if he was misunderstood, even if he perished without anyone understanding his selfless purposeVivasvat was determined to continue. He had no idea what his father was thinking or doing, but Vivasvat felt sure that he would et his father once more if he continued onward.
[It turns out that the law of causality and your will are the sa. You have beco more tightly coupled to the system.]
[The antivirus program is being updated.]
'Thus' Vivasvat clenched his teeth. 'Let's get rid of everything that is causing ntal anguish Cast it all away.'
There was a place where he could do this.
[You are moving into the twenty-first floor.]
***
reminiscing about the past ended here.
"If it is the physical body that gives rise to anguish, wouldn't casting off one's physical body, with all of its useless thoughts, onto an illusion on the twenty-first floor be okay? That's what you thought."
""
The Heavenly Demon took a sip of his drink as he continued speaking calmly. Nocturne fell silent while looking at the glass.
"You have always been troubled. You were always deep in thought. And, whenever you ca out from your thoughts, you moved once more with purpose. There were people who followed you and people who had their hopes on you."
""
"Sun Wukong called your actions a childish rebellion No matter if your initial intentions were based on a sense of rebelliousness, if it becos your belief, I thought that it would beco your path."
After stating these words, the Heavenly Demon stopped speaking. A long silence ensued before Nocturne spoke up.
"During all that, when I was eagerly searching for you and awaiting your response Why didn't you reply?"
"I don't know if it'll sound like an excuse Ah" The Heavenly Demon sighed as he crossed his arms. His sigh was full of bitterness and sorrow. "At the ti, I did not have the ntal capacity to think of anything else. I was vaguely aware that you ca into the Tower looking for , but my body was already exhausted from the long battle I had with the Black King, so I fell into a deep slumber Within this library, my mind did not operate normally. Moreover, I was already overwheld just maintaining the Tower"
Nocturne now knew the fact that the Ruyi Bang had been utilized to create the Tower to suppress the Black King from awakening from his 'dream'. By imprisoning the gods and heroes within the Tower, a greater suppressing weight would weigh down on the Black King.
"And" Just when the Heavenly Demon was about to continue speaking
[Another librarian has entered the Changgong Library.]
"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation."
Hearing the sudden voice, the Heavenly Demon and Nocturne's eyes turned towards the speaker. Nocturne looked slightly startled at seeing the figure's face, but Nocturne soon realized that the temperant exuded from this newcor was quite different from the figure he had previously t. Nocturne nodded his head.
It was Deus Ex Machina, Cha Jeong-woo, appointed by the Heavenly Demon as the new librarian of the Changgong Library. For whatever reason, Jeong-woo's expression did not look good.
"What's wrong? Why are you wearing such a downcast expression? Did sothing happen?" The Heavenly Demon tilted his head, wondering what was wrong. Now that the long battle over the 'wheel' and 'dream' with the Black King was over, the Heavenly Demon felt that there was no longer cause for any large concern.
However, after hearing Cha Jeong-woo's words, the Heavenly Demon and Nocturne's expressions hardened.
"My brother." Cha Jeong-woo's voice quavered. "My brotherdisappeared after rewinding the 'wheel'."
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