CHAPTER 492: THE FINAL BATTLE (2)

“I get the gist. You’re giving up a promising future to invest in that so-called romance.”

Jang Dal nodded his head.

His expression showed that he completely understood Seol-Hwi’s words.

“It’s truly a pity. Trading divine power for a meaningless death. Well, with such an abnormal mindset, it’s no wonder you reached the level of a Demon God at once.”

The previously calm atmosphere turned cold in an instant.

From the gaze to the aura emanating from him.

Jang Dal seemed to have solidified his stance due to Seol-Hwi’s remarks.

“Alright. The offer is over. From now on, I’ll present you with an end full of regrets. Struggle all you want!”

With his shout, numerous information windows appeared before him. The system responded as if in tune with his power.

[Interference of the Absolute Within 5 seconds, 99% of the abilities of the characteristic target within the system's domain are reduced.]

[Severe Punishment of the Absolute Within 3 seconds, the characteristic target within the system's domain cannot make any movements.]

[Retribution of the Absolute Within 1 second, the characteristic target within the system's domain cannot defend against any attack.]

A vast array of responses unfolded.

The first among them was the ability witnessed in the past with Earth Demon.

[Applied.]

Perhaps because he had experienced such phenomena reacting to warnings from opponents too many times.

This environment was not unfamiliar to Seol-Hwi.

3...... 2......

[Applied.]

‘Uncreative bastard.’

Seol-Hwi muttered to himself.

Even as time passed, the system’s method remained the same.

Suddenly appearing, shouting warnings, and changing the course of the situation.

1......

[Applied.]

As soon as everything was over, Jang Dal’s laughter pierced my ears.

“Kuhuh. Hahaha!”

His hearty laugh was like that of someone who had already secured victory.

Jang Dal then raised his finger and spoke.

“Any last words?”

At the same time, various colored currents began to appear around his finger.

It was clear at a glance that this was a power imbued with absolute authority, transcending nature.

“Seems like there aren’t any. Then….”

When Seol-Hwi didn’t respond, a murderous glint flashed in Jang Dal’s eyes.

He slowly raised the corners of his mouth and continued.

“Disappear.”

Swoosh—

As soon as he snapped his fingers, the currents flew towards Seol-Hwi.

It couldn’t even be defined as speed.

It was as if light was pouring down. Because the moment he saw it, it pierced through Seol-Hwi’s body.

However, for some reason, Jang Dal’s expression, confident of victory, began to harden gradually.

‘What, what is this?’

It was inevitable.

Despite being pierced by his absolute power, Seol-Hwi was staring at him intently instead of collapsing.

“What trick did you pull?!”

“What are you talking about?”

Seol-Hwi replied calmly to Jang Dal’s outcry.

Jang Dal couldn’t comprehend the situation.

The fact that his transcendent power didn’t affect his opponent shocked him greatly.

Then, an information window appeared before his eyes.

[The person in front of you is alive.]

[The target is a player, but cannot be identified.]

“What?!”

The information continued to appear before his eyes.

Even after seeing it, Jang Dal found it hard to believe.

[NPC settings cannot be applied. Although the player has characteristics, they cannot be identified for this reason.]

[Although within the system, it's uncertain if it will affect him.]

The system continued to spew error messages. Even the administrator, Jang Dal, couldn’t comprehend the information.

“What are you saying! You haven’t even reached the Demon God?!”

Jang Dal shouted furiously.

This phenomenon was something he, as the administrator of this world and its creator, had never experienced before.

And the confusion surrounding Jang Dal held significant meaning for Seol-Hwi.

Because through the information window he deliberately showed, he was able to grasp the current situation.

“Isn’t the system judging me accurately?”

“……What?”

“Literally. It’s not the realm of the Demon God, nor the realm of a player. In other words, a state that the system cannot define. That would be the reason for the current situation.”

“Does such a thing…… exist?”

“You’re seeing it. With your own eyes.”

Seol-Hwi continued calmly as he watched Jang Dal’s expression crumple.

“Isn’t it surprising? That one of those you considered expendable has become something special.”

For a while, Jang Dal remained silent.

Eventually, after keeping his mouth shut for a long time, he slowly began to speak.

“I’d like to say so…… but honestly, it’s not surprising at all.”

“……?”

“No matter what schemes you pull, the difference in power doesn’t change. Being within the confines of the system means you haven’t reached the realm of the Demon God.”

As he spoke, the surrounding space began to change.

Boom!Boom!Boom!Boom!

Stone walls interlocked, enclosing the space like a barrier.

Numerous rocks tightly connected to form walls.

The space they were in suddenly became confined.

“Even if the system doesn’t recognize it, as long as you have a tangible presence, you can be affected.”

When Jang Dal raised his hand, the system responded.

[Setting up the area.]

[You can control all spaces.]

‘Control space?’

Meanwhile, Seol-Hwi was also quickly analyzing the situation.

He confirmed that with the power that reached beyond the current realm, he could effectively counter the opponent’s attack.

However, it was uncertain if it was beyond the system’s influence.

Jang Dal aimed to exploit this point and launch another attack.

‘Now I’ll find out. Just how far I’ve come.’

Seol-Hwi naturally let his qi flow through his body.

To him, internal qi was now a meaningless concept.

His very existence became part of the space, even the system couldn’t recognize him.

‘It’s coming.’

Shoo. Jang Dal’s attack began. The transcendent fourth force, an extreme power spanning the primordial realm, surged toward Seol-Hwi.

Boom!

A murky light struck the spot where Seol-Hwi stood.

Even the assembled rocks blocking the retreat shattered, but surprisingly, the destructive force couldn’t penetrate Seol-Hwi.

“Why, why is it refracting…!?”

Astonishment filled Jang Dal’s eyes.

He clearly saw his qi not reaching Seol-Hwi and uttered those words.

‘Did he distort space? No. That’s impossible.’

His chaotic power should have pierced even distorted space.

So there was no reason it couldn’t hit the opponent’s core.

“What kind of trickery is this!?”

Jang Dal drew upon all his strength.

A more powerful Fourth Ability emanated from his body.

Among the realm of demons, the final echelon.

He attempted to harness the power of chaos, which only the trained could handle.

‘I’m not sure if my qi can counter that force.’

Seol-Hwi felt uneasy witnessing this ultimate power.

That chaotic qi was what he had unleashed when he ascended to a demon in the past.

Based on the primordial qi, it was an invincible power that completely dismantled fundamental forces.

‘However, this qi too is the power of a god.’

He couldn’t yet discern its origin. Yet, the power emanating through his core contained a microcosm.

Thus, he felt it was worth a try.

Fwoooosh.

The qi’s of the two beings collided.

And in a split second, an explosion beyond imagination occurred.

Space and time twisted, and the laws of reality wavered.

This was a clash of the universe’s fundamental forces, beyond a mere duel.

Amidst the destruction of everything around, only the silhouettes of the two figures were faintly visible.

“Ugh!”

“Gah!”

After the collision of the two qi’s, both Seol-Hwi and Jang Dal were shocked.

But the mental shock hit Jang Dal harder.

“How…….”

Jang Dal muttered in disbelief.

Because Seol-Hwi’s qi stood equal to his Fourth Ability, the power of chaos.

“Did you turn chaotic disorder into order?”

That was the conclusion he reached after witnessing the clash of the two forces.

Surprisingly, what countered the power of chaos wasn’t chaos itself.

It was order and harmony with the power of the universe, opposing the primal force.

In a way, it was a force closer to the beginning than chaos.

Thus, it could fight against chaos rooted in domination and control.

‘From nothingness to existence, from existence to nothingness.’

Seol-Hwi was also able to witness his own strength and realize what the source of it was.

‘Even though it doesn’t exist in the world, it seems to exist. That must be the supreme state, like the divine nun I saw in the past.’

And then suddenly, there was this one being which came to his mind. The Bhikkhuni, who had liberated herself from the world and stepped into Nirvana.

The Bhikkhuni who attained nirvana might have possessed such power.

A being who transcended humanity. Perhaps this is how that power is manifested.

‘Is this the path that central murim’s martial arts warriors seek?’

Seol-Hwi suddenly realized that he had transformed into a God.

Understanding all things and becoming one with them.

From the perspective of the universe, it’s merely transcending humanity, but from a human perspective, it becomes a god-like existence.

Jang Dal asked with bright eyes.

“The power of domination and control is countered with harmony and unity… what kind of life have you had to come up with such a method?”

“At least it’s a different path than the one you reached with just martial arts. And it’s the path you feared the most.”

“…Surely, that is a state which goes beyond the realm of reality, right?”

“Probably so?”

“……!”

Jang Dal’s eyes widened.

The one who reached the realm he worried, feared, and denied.

He seemed shocked that it was Seol-Hwi standing before him now.

“Ah, now I understand.”

After a brief silence, Jang Dal’s reaction became intense.

Like someone who realized a new truth.

“The system couldn’t comprehend it because it was a new form of realm. That’s why it caused an uncontrollable error despite being within the system.”

The Fourth Ability, even the power of chaos, could be controlled within the system.

Yet, the reaction was due to new information and a new power that had never been recorded before.

“But don’t be too pleased. After all… you are ultimately in a human body.”

His face twisted into a sneer.

“No matter how much you achieve unity and harmony. Just as the power of chaos I possess is not infinite, you too cannot use that power infinitely. In other words, it’s about confining you until you tire out.”

Snap!

As he snapped his fingers, a dozen men materialized in the surrounding air with a sound.

“Those are……”

Seol-Hwi’s expression hardened.

They were faceless and expressionless. Yet they didn’t feel unfamiliar, due to the extraordinary aura emanating from their bodies.

“Didn’t I tell you? This world is mine. I can create anything I want and imbue any ability.”

He said, raising his palm to the sky.

“No matter how much you fly and crawl, in the end, you’ve entered the world I created. As long as you can’t escape this system, you can never defeat me. Hahaha! Mwahahaha!”

With his maniacal laughter, the figures he created began to move one by one.

The very ones possessing the fourth power were revealing their murderous intent towards Seol-Hwi.