Past Life Returner

Chapter 497

What he said was true. He was me, and I was him. So why would he not understand? Handing over the Great Silver would only stoke the fire.

That was when Arukuda stepped on the writhing tail of the Gold and looked at us. A haughty look of assured victory flickered in its eyes. It was certain that we would never pull together.

[Unholy Soul of Na Seon-Hu: Quickklyyy!]

He reached out, and that was all this poor soul could do. His face soon twisted as he knew what I was about to do.

[Time has been reversed.]

In an instant, his impending attack was erased as if it never existed. Then it was back to the beginning. The entrance to the World of Souls was right before my eyes.

[Doom Arukuda: Unique Power, Limitless Power (Blueprint not obtained)

Trait, Warrior’s Boiling Blood (Blueprint obtained)

Skill, Evil Spirit Explosion (Blueprint obtained)

Skill, Unholy Soul (Blueprint not obtained)]

I was confident that I could secure the blueprint for the Unholy Soul skill if I went through this again. However, Arukuda’s Unique Power, Limitless Power, knocked me down as soon as it was activated. The distortion of the entire spacetime did not even allow me a moment to concentrate.

It was an unavoidable future, and also my misunderstanding about the System Administrator.

My divinity was incomplete. I had already witnessed this three times. Even now, while my limit was the Overlord section, Arukuda showed me a realm beyond that. The Strongman that reflected all physical attacks did not even activate on Arukuda.

Even if the Man Who Overcomes Adversity was activated, I could not go beyond the Overlord section. If my divinity was complete, then I shouldn't have had such restrictions.

The ability to create existence from non-existence should have been the absolute condition that divinity needed to have, but I…

Compared to the Old One and Doom Kaos, it wasn't just that my energy was lacking. I was not in the same realm as them yet. When I realized that, an idea flashed in my mind. The goal became clear, and so my heart began to pound against my chest wall.

Arukuda had the final key to becoming a true divinity! It was inside its Unique Power ‘Limitless Power.’

***

I couldn’t figure out what was up with him. Perhaps he did not know what lay ahead in front of me. Despite having turned back time four times, Doom Kaos remained silent. He must have his own plan, but the clear thing was that at least he was not carrying it out here now. Therefore, the opportunity was still there.

In any case, the best scenario would be to successfully eliminate Arukuda and absorb the Gold. However, even if I just secured the blueprint of Arukuda's power, I could be reborn as a complete deity. There could be differences in the power we possessed, but I would finally exist in the same realm as the two calamities.

So why would I hesitate? I hurried.

[You have entered the World of Souls.]

I invited a guest for you…

Arukuda was about to say that.

I…

His speech was cut off at the first syllable. The past processes that repeated three times, started to unfold before my eyes. It was the fourth attempt.

[Warning: Doom Arukuda has used his Unique Power, 'Limitless Power.’]

The attempts continued even after securing the blueprint for the Unholy Soul on the fourth try. The sixth, the seventh, and the eighth. The more I tried, the more clearly I could see the past in my mind, as if the past memories were showing me a clear path ahead though it wasn't really there in front of me.

The time between his power exploding and knocking me down felt longer. The gap narrowed as time passed by. It would have been nice if that was the only thing that accumulated, but at one point, I started to think about the bastard Lunea. Specifically, it was the pain it must have endured.

I had forced the bastard to repeat the stage in the mental world without rest. Therefore, it gradually became weaker. My physical body wasn't really like that as injuries were recovered each time the time was reversed.

However, each time Arukuda’s brute force collided with me, the memory of those painful moments was seared into my brain. I absolutely could not stand the surge of anger. Just seeing Arukuda’s face again made me pissed to the point that I became nauseous.

When the starting point changed, I realized that my current feelings were showing on my face. It didn't even open its mouth and attacked me first as soon as I entered.

[Warning: Doom Arukuda has used his Unique Power 'Limitless Power.’]

That fucking annoying message. Nonetheless, the power exploding from its grip as a part of the divinity was always vicious.

"Argh."

I did not know about the countless moments that had been erased. However, it seemed like it was saying this when it looked at me falling.

Give up.

Give up? It was enough to experience such a thing once. The day I returned home as a Wall Street failure in the past, the hardest thing I had to endure was, ironically my father's comfort. I am sorry for you!

[Time has been reversed.]

Woosh.

My breath brushed my lips with breath hot as if I was having a fever. I entered the World of Souls and got right under Arukuda’s chin in one breath. My purpose was to secure its power blueprint, not bring it down at the moment.

Get it together, Na Seon-Hu!

I focused on all my senses as I burst such a scream-like shout in my brain.

[Warning: Doom Arukuda has used his Unique Power, 'Limitless Power.’]

The instant gap was narrowed down by being torn apart repeatedly. Finally, I could clearly see the reaction occurring inside Arukuda.

[Blueprint 'Doom Arukuda's Unique Power, Limitless Power' has been added.]

***

The starting point was the entrance to the World of Souls. Even after returning there and successfully getting the blueprint at the end of the relentless attempts, the already ignited anger did not easily subside.

I knew why it was like this, so I had to calm myself down.

[Doom Arukuda: Unique Power, Limitless Power (Blueprint obtained)

Trait, Warrior’s Boiling Blood (Blueprint obtained)

Skill, Evil Spirit Explosion (Blueprint obtained)

Skill, Unholy Spirit (Blueprint obtained)]

I stared at the front while keeping an eye out for Doom Kaos as he could suddenly decide to intrude.

[Reading the blueprint 'Doom Arukuda's Unique Power ‘Limitless Power.’]

[10%... 20%... 30%... 40%... 50%...]

[Successfully glimpsed the divinity of Doom Kaos embedded in this blueprint.]

[Congratulations. System Administrator Odin’s abilities are now completely stable. Please focus solely on calming your rage and eliminating Doom Arukuda. The likelihood of Doom Kaos intervening has increased. Be careful.]

Those words were for me because, after all, I was the system itself.

[System Administrator Odin's abilities have been expanded. (Limit Break)]

I immediately threw myself into action. There, in a world painted with blazing colors where evil spirits were flying around, the sickening face was waiting for me again.

How could something look so grotesque?

It was a muscular giant. The face that hung above the huge neck was so deeply sunken that it might have been trampled on by Doom Kaos. Its two eyes, taking up most of the face, and the tiny mouth was disgusting.

The traditional images of underworld gods that humanity had conceived were decent compared to that thing.

The gigantic monster rose from the throne of the World of Souls, stretching its arm toward me.

[Warning: Doom Arukuda has used his Unique Power, 'Limitless Power.’]

I stabbed my spear in the same way.

[Rebuilding System Administrator Odin's abilities. (Rebuilding)]

[You have removed the Man Who Overcomes Adversity.]

[You have removed Forerunner.]

…

[You have removed the Sensitive.]

[Your Strength has reached the divine realm, the GOD range. ]

[Strength: GOD]

***

The moment the tip of the spear touched the center of his palm…

[The power of the Great Silver has increased significantly.]

[Target: Doom Arukuda ]

A wave that could sweep away everything in its path erupted from there. The entire World of Souls shook, and screams echoed from everywhere where the cracks in space opened.

I didn’t care whether everything fell apart or not. That would actually be better for me!

[You have created the Warrior’s Boiling Blood.]

[* Doom Arukuda's same trait, 'Warrior’s Boiling Blood,' did not affect System Administrator Odin.]

Its palm was as thick as it was large. When my spear pierced it, a large hole appeared in its palm. Not only his blood but even his flesh flowed down my whole body. Arukuda was relatively slow, but it had collided with a vast area.

Only after the second hole was pierced did it seem to realize that my strength was not temporary. It probably guessed that I had received spiritual abilities from Doom Kaos, but my knowledge on combat was from the items that were originally Arukuda’s. Thus, I was capable of a hand-to-hand fight.

Arukuda immediately acknowledged its disadvantage and reacted to it. Its huge body was rapidly shrinking, but that didn't mean my view was clearly open. The spatial crack created by our collision fragmented the surrounding areas like a mosaic. To avoid being swept into that, I needed to maintain my strength.

The fate of those whose strength did not reach the divine was vanishing the moment they were sucked into the space of nothingness.

I did not stop the attack. I would never wait for it. Each time I pierced through its body, a foul smell followed.

Eventually, Arukuda was reduced to the point where it couldn't be pierced by the spear. The height of its eyes was quite similar to mine. Blood was still flowing from the holes pierced all over its body.

While the spatial cracks separated us in a distance, it took a few steps back. Then, it took its hand and body into view at a glance, and the aura of its crimson power sprouting from it started to heal the wounds. It was especially intense from the chest area, where there were relatively many holes.

I could feel its confusion. Even when it raised its head in a battle-ready posture, what filled its face was indeed such emotion.

What have you sacrificed in the meantime?