Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 106

I Am Kairos of the Giant Clan, Kwan

A trace was found. It wasn’t a sign left to signal an emergency, but a palm print, carelessly placed as was his habit.

The palm print, presumed to be Kairos’s last trace, was clearly imprinted on the wall of a dilapidated temple in northwestern Harun.

The temple was now strictly surrounded by warriors who had gathered in droves, leaving no gaps, and even the advance team members with them couldn’t hide their tense expressions. It was hard to find any signs of life, distinct from them, inside or around the temple.

Pachaen gave Ramirez a meaningful look. Ramirez, who had already blocked the sound waves in the area, stroked the stone platform in the center of the temple with his palm and said,

“It’s a barrier, as expected. They’re hiding somewhere around here, and I’d bet everything on it. My intuition has never been wrong.” Just as Ramirez was confident, Pachaen was coming to the same conclusion.

“Unless they’ve soared into the sky, they must have sunk into the ground. It’s under this floor.” Pachaen’s palm touched the cold floor of the temple. A hollow space was detected a few layers below.

As Pachaen nodded, the eyes of those around them sharpened. The attack would begin the moment someone shouted the start of the hunt. However, it wasn’t an easy decision. There were more than one or two things to consider first.

“First, the safety of the advance team members must be secured. The attack comes after that.” The safety of their comrades was more important than how many enemies they killed.

“I’ll do it.” Pachaen didn’t ask who would take on the task. ‘I will.’ Pachaen’s confident words made Ananda and Ramirez hesitate, unable to accept it readily.

The same was true for Perikan. Knowing well how skilled Kairos was, he couldn’t shake off his worries. If the enemy was strong enough to neutralize Kairos, Perikan himself thought it would be dangerous to face them alone.

As expected, Ananda opposed it.

“No, that won’t do. Ramirez and I will take care of it. Pachaen, please wait for our signal before you move.” Even Vulcan, who had never met Pachaen before, agreed with Ananda’s opinion.

“It seems better to leave such a dangerous task to Ramirez, who has more experience. If you were to get captured, it would be quite a headache.” Pachaen being in danger was something he had to intervene in.

‘Don’t be stubborn. This isn’t a place for a youngster like you to step in.’ Vulcan’s eyes seemed to say that. Pachaen chuckled.

“Ramirez.” “……” “Do you think the same? I’m asking. Are you confident that you can rescue the team members without being detected by the enemies?” “That’s…” “Ramirez doesn’t move like that. He charges in head-on and cuts off the enemy’s breath at once. Sneaking in isn’t his style.

“No one can guarantee what those cornered guys will do. They wouldn’t hesitate to kill some troublesome prisoners.

Infiltration must be stealthy. Entering and leaving must not be detected. Once the safety of the team members is secured… then anything can happen.” Ramirez looked directly into Pachaen’s eyes.

“Are you confident?” Pachaen only nodded slightly.

But that was enough for Ramirez. He believed that Pachaen wasn’t the type to act recklessly when the lives of his precious comrades were at stake. But how? He couldn’t shake off this question. Nevertheless, he was supporting Pachaen.

“Alright, let’s do it that way. You do it. What can I do to help?” “I’ll leave the cleanup to you.” Their conversation was over. No one among them had the influence to overturn the decision made between the two. That was enough. Ananda tried to say something but stopped.

Pachaen took a deep breath and calmed his mind. He sank his consciousness deep, as if entering a meditation where thoughts couldn’t penetrate.

He knew that a new possibility was breathing within him. It was just a possibility that hadn’t yet been realized, hadn’t yet manifested. It was entirely up to him to give it form. The limitless, infinite possibilities were always ready to open.

When he slightly opened his eyes, Pachaen’s form began to lose its light and shape. He was faintly disappearing from everyone’s sight. The form that had existed just a moment ago was seeping into space.

However, Pachaen was still there, in perfect condition, in his usual form. Yet, no one around him could detect or recognize such a Pachaen.

It wasn’t a low-level trick, a mere illusion that couldn’t be sensed. He was perfectly assimilated into space, indistinguishable as a separate entity by anything.

Now, unless Pachaen himself distinguished himself, no one could harm him. This was the first thing the guardian had taught him. Pachaen was using what he had learned very appropriately, too well.

Everyone was bewildered by the unexpected, sudden change. Especially Ramirez and Ananda, who prided themselves on knowing Pachaen well, were greatly surprised. Morgan tried to interpret the phenomenon that was happening within his understanding.

“Did he teleport? If so, that’s a foolish choice.” Ananda’s eyes gleamed.

“I don’t think so. Perhaps Pachaen-nim is… somewhere here with us.” Everyone wore the exact same expression. Disbelief. Ramirez was no different.

“Pachaen.” So Ramirez’s voice calling Pachaen was cautious. Confirming and accepting an unbelievable fact sometimes brings fear. Whether it’s an object or a phenomenon, they want it to be within their realm of knowledge.

“Now I’m confident. Everyone, wait for my signal.” Pachaen’s vibrant voice echoed through the area.

It was a shock. The shock of the unbelievable becoming reality forced everyone into silence for a while.

Pachaen had left the place and soon seeped into the underground.

However, those who remained had no way of knowing whether he had disappeared or was still occupying the same space with them.

‘How should I interpret this?’ It was only natural that Ramirez was confused.

There was someone speeding through the labyrinthine underground stone path. It was a very fast and swift movement, but it was only something he felt and recognized. Once river water is mixed with seawater, there is no way to distinguish them separately. Pachaen’s form of existence could be understood in that way.

The guardian had told Pachaen, ‘Unless you can immediately distinguish the nature and essence of a spirit, you cannot find or harm you. As far as I know, there are no more than ten people in the entire universe with that level of ability.’

The guardian’s assertion was true. Moreover, the range he included even encompassed gods and angels of the celestial palace, so there was no need to mention how outstanding and miraculous it was. However, there was one weakness to this.

While he could save himself in danger, he couldn’t attack the enemy in this state. Of course, if he could fully understand, control, and utilize the spirit, the situation would be different.

In any case, Pachaen was perfectly executing and reproducing the guardian’s teachings. It was a dreamlike teaching, but it was thanks to the results of countless repetitions of training.

Pachaen sensed the energy of living beings and moved towards it.

A considerable number of enemies were found throughout the maze. They couldn’t sense Pachaen, but Pachaen could observe them in detail.

‘Are these the Pneuma Army, one of Abaddon’s three armies? Abaddon. I don’t know its true nature, but these alone give me an idea of what it might be like.’ Pachaen strongly felt that the Pneuma Army was a cut above the warriors. Even the weakest among them seemed to be at a similar level to the best warriors of the Five Great Warrior Corps.

The underground stone path that Pachaen saw revealed that the Pneuma Army had been stationed in Harun for a long time. Escape routes were secured in all directions, and passages were prepared to secretly enter and exit major points throughout Harun.

As he approached the depths, Pachaen’s heart grew heavier. It was the moment when the weight of the name Abaddon was newly engraved in Pachaen’s mind.

Pachaen, who was quickly passing through the corridor, stopped abruptly.

‘A strong energy. This one is… different.’

Daimonion, the commander of the 3rd Support Unit of Pneuma, had a concern these days. It was the worry stemming from the uncertainty of his position within the organization. It wasn’t long ago that the feeling of being constantly pushed into a less important position had begun to turn into a certainty.

‘Even with this matter. No matter how strategically important Harun is, to send Gnosis [a high-ranking officer in Abaddon’s army] again instead of me. Moreover, from the Eretz Army, not even the main force. Isn’t this a disrespectful act towards me! I can’t be pushed out of the center like this.

My position is unstable to just wait for what Basileus [a title, possibly a king or ruler] promised. If I can just finish this Harun matter well, they will have no choice but to promote me to Gnosis. This is the last chance that may never come again.’ “Hegastos.”

At Daimonion’s call, his direct subordinate, Hegastos, hurriedly appeared in the room. He was crawling on his knees from the entrance of the stone chamber.

“Did you call for me?” “Send the prisoners to the main camp immediately. And prepare to receive the 2nd Support Unit of Pneuma, which will join us soon. Take over the Warrior Council and advance to Meden.” “I will carry out your orders.” Hegastos could be said to be an intermediate commander in the Abaddon Army, with Zeteo, Hedeos, Sanatos, and Iaomai under his command. Nevertheless, his attitude towards his superior, Daimonion, seemed to show extreme respect.

This was how strict the hierarchy was in Abaddon. It was hard to believe that it was only one rank higher. Such appearances were natural in Abaddon, mainly due to the extreme difference in authority that came from the rank. It was possible because superiors were given the immense authority to summarily execute even minor mistakes that could be overlooked.

However, this was only the case within the same army among the three armies.

It was the moment Hegastos was stepping out of the stone chamber.

“You almost ruined things.” A soft voice. The wind seeps into the calm waves. At that moment, Hegastos thought of a beautifully spreading concentric circle.

Hegastos, realizing his situation, turned around. A man with a mysterious aura was walking in, half-covering the smile on his lips with the back of his hand.

“Who are you?” “Don’t you know me?” “Could you be…” “The commander of the 3rd Support Unit of Pneuma, as far as I know, your rank is Daimonion. Is that correct?” He was Gnosis Heiron, who had come to Harun with the Chi’angma’s guards.

Knowing who he was, Daimonion slowly rose from his seat. Although he moved, what was visible was just a mass of black mist writhing.

“Yes, Gnosis.” “Your attitude in greeting me is not good. Maybe you can act like that in your Pneuma, but such an attitude in front of me is a bit troublesome.” “What do you mean…” Gnosis Heiron walked straight towards the chair where the black mist was flowing. The soft smile that always lingered on his lips turned cold.

“If you don’t understand, I’ll have to make you understand… but there will be another chance. You should be grateful that I don’t have much time right now. Still don’t understand, Daimonion?” Daimonion didn’t answer. He lowered his gaze, feeling that his eyes were being stared at through the thick, dense mist. And he stepped aside, yielding to the will. He was surprised at himself for acting so naturally. Gnosis Heiron sat in the seat where Daimonion had been sitting just a moment ago.

At that time, the Gnosis asked Hegastos, who was still at a loss in the awkward atmosphere, a short question.

“What is the current number of prisoners?” “About thirty.” “How many of them do you think are suitable as demons?” “In my humble opinion, about five.” “Then kill the rest, Daimonion.” “Yes.” “The 2nd Support Unit will not come to Harun.” “What do you mean…” “The plan has been changed.” “I have not received such instructions…” “Really? Then I’ll give the instructions. The 2nd Support Unit will not come. You will immediately gather the 3rd Support Unit and move to the southern outskirts of Harun and wait for the next order.” Daimonion was quite taken aback by the sudden change of plans.

He was frustrated because he couldn’t figure out what was going on. At least he was in a position to know that much. But the Gnosis in front of him didn’t seem to think so at all.

“Why? Do I have to explain it to you?” “It would be easier to understand if you did.” “Alright, I’ll explain it. You don’t seem very useful, but it seems you’re the only one I can use right now, so I have no choice.” It was a clear insult. Daimonion was suppressing his anger inside.

“Your plan was probably something like this. You would form the leadership of the Warrior Council with your puppets and start a war with Meden. Meden would win, but after that, the weakened Meden would not be a concern. Is that right?” “…Yes.” “Your first attempt failed. At first, I moved according to your plan out of respect for you, but as you can see, the result is far from what we wanted.

After that, you requested support from the Pneuma headquarters, and the 2nd Support Unit was supposed to come. It was a decision made entirely on your own.

You probably tried to assassinate the current leadership of the Warrior Council and plant our people in their place, but that hit a snag before it even started. You did something foolish.

Does that expression mean you can’t accept it? Do you know what the situation is like right now? Because of the prisoners you captured, the elite of the Warrior Council and the advance team have all been mobilized. They must have a rough idea of the situation here. A large-scale attack will begin soon.” Daimonion immediately looked at Hegastos.

“Nothing has been confirmed.” “Gnosis Heiron looked at his subordinates, who couldn’t even grasp the situation properly, with a pathetic gaze.” “It’s true. You were too hasty and clumsy in your cleanup. If you had left them alone, the advance team would have left Harun. It wouldn’t have been too late to plan things after that.” “Are you afraid of them?” “What I’m afraid of… is failure. At least, there should be no failure in the work that I, Heiron, am involved in. Do you know who is up there right now? Ramirez, Vulcan, Morgan, Perikan, and many others whose names alone have echoed through the infinite realms are stationed there.

If you had been a little more careful, you wouldn’t have done such a useless thing and incurred my wrath… It’s a pity.

To put it briefly, immediately lead your subordinates and get out to the southern outskirts of Harun. Then wait for my orders.” “To flee without even fighting is a disgrace to Abaddon.” “Huhu…” “I will fight.” “You yourself are a disgrace to Abaddon. Ramirez is an opponent that even I find difficult. No, except for the three Hagios commanders, no one can guarantee victory in a head-on confrontation. That’s how strong he is. And that’s not all. You can’t even handle Perikan or Ananda. But you’ll fight? Hahahaha…” “I am much stronger than Gnosis-nim judges. Even the Great Demon Baalzebul of the Demon Realm… I am not afraid.” “Are you defying me now?” Daimonion’s whole body convulsed severely. An irresistible pressure was choking him.

“I, I’m sorry…” He couldn’t even speak properly. The Gnosis laughed instead. A murderous intent flashed in his cold laughter.

“I don’t forgive twice. Be careful in the future.” “Yes…” With those words, the Gnosis disappeared from the room like the wind.

Daimonion slumped into the empty chair, catching his breath. It was as if he had just had a dream. He was dazed for a moment, but then he ground his teeth in unbearable humiliation.

“How dare he…” Hegastos didn’t need to wait for Daimonion’s orders. He knew what he had to do now without being told. And now was the time to retreat quietly. He knew from experience that if he provoked him, death was all he could hope for.

Even after Hegastos had left, Daimonion couldn’t control his anger.

Pachaen, leaving the stone chamber, recalled the Gnosis he had seen a moment ago.

‘A man with a strange aura.’

Pachaen didn’t wander around much and was able to reach the place where Kairos and the others were imprisoned. He breathed a sigh of relief when he confirmed that everyone was safe.

Pachaen first informed Kairos that he had arrived.

[It’s me.]

Kairos didn’t express his joy. He couldn’t speak, nor could he convey his thoughts through telepathy. But it was natural that his eyes widened.

‘Your Excellency, you’ve come.’ [Are you holding up?] Kairos slowly nodded, trying not to draw attention from those around him. He tried to find where Pachaen was, but it was in vain. Pachaen was not found anywhere.

[It seems like the Prisma is being suppressed… Is it because of the shackles?]

After confirming that Kairos nodded again, Pachaen reached out to examine the material of the shackles.

‘What is this that I might not be able to destroy with my power?’ A needless worry came to mind. If the guardian saw this, he would have clicked his tongue.

Pachaen couldn’t even guess how much power he possessed. How much the guardian’s arrangement had transformed him, how much stronger he had become.

Pachaen had learned much from following the Guardian, but only about a dozen things were truly essential and useful. All of them could be considered forms of martial arts, yet their power was vastly different. All of them were, in fact, derived from the two absolute powerhouses he had met at the end. This was why the Ascetic [a spiritual master] had entrusted Pachaen’s final training to them. It was a power of a magnitude Pachaen had never seen or heard of before.

Pachaen had extracted everything he could from them, but the extent of its power in actual combat was still unknown.

Pachaen knew he couldn’t break the shackles in his current state. Using his power would mean revealing his presence. That moment had to be extremely brief, and he had to free his loved ones before the enemies could react.

Pachaen, who had been catching his breath and preparing, tensed up. Hegastoss, who had been in the stone chamber just moments ago, had appeared in the arena. He quickly gave orders to his subordinates.

“Kill all except that one, that one, that one…” He pointed out Kairos, Arena, Ratzio, and Kunsa. The order to kill everyone else was given. Pachaen grew urgent. As things stood, there was no time to hesitate.

The very moment he made his decision, Pachaen’s figure became clearly visible to everyone. The approaching enemies stopped in surprise, and a mix of joy and shock crossed the faces of Arena and the others. At that moment, light flashed from Pachaen’s hands.

Prisma, thin as threads, emerged from the tips of his ten fingers. The silver Prisma wrapped around the shackles.

*Pashoot, whirring* It was the fifth technique of the Emperor’s Power.

Hegastoss, still bewildered and frozen, regained his composure and focused his attacks on Pachaen’s back.

Not only that, but Sanatos and Iaomai also launched a barrage of attacks on Pachaen. Kairos’s eyes widened.

“Your Excellency!” A desperate cry. Pachaen responded with a smile to Kairos’s cry, who was more concerned for Pachaen’s safety than his own.

It wasn’t just to reassure Kairos. It was confidence. Pachaen now knew the extent of his power.

A bluish light enveloped Pachaen’s figure, a protective measure he had deployed. It was still weak, but he had reached the point where he could use the Spirit Energy for defense. This was also part of the Emperor’s Power. He showed no signs of strain despite deploying two techniques simultaneously.

“Now that I’m free, I think I can lend a hand.” As Pachaen spoke nonchalantly, the shackles had already turned to dust and scattered.

The eight people, now able to freely manipulate their restricted Prisma, were like enraged lions. Kairos’s fury, in particular, was the greatest among them. He attempted to transform into his true Giant God form. His body began to grow to an unbelievable size.

Hegastoss noticed this and let out a short cry.

“Giant God Kwan!” “You fools, I am Kwan’s Kairos! I will make you pay for touching me!” His figure continued to grow without stopping. The floor caved in under his feet, and the interior couldn’t withstand it and burst open. His head and shoulders were already above ground.

As Kairos swung his hands, a huge crater formed. Since their location was beneath the Great Plaza of Harun, the warriors on the surface stared in shock at Kairos’s upper body.

Ramirez, who saw this scene from afar, smiled broadly.

“Looks like he succeeded.” Vulcan looked surprised.

“Isn’t that a Giant God?” There was an underlying meaning that he never expected a Giant God to be among the vanguard.

“Well, let’s begin.” Ramirez’s words were the signal. The Council of Warriors and the vanguard launched a major offensive against the Abaddon’s Pneuma 3rd Support Unit that had infiltrated Harun. It was like a storm that nothing could stop. Even in a normal clash, the difference in power was insurmountable. Moreover, the Pneuma 3rd Support Unit, having been caught off guard, was in disarray and falling apart.

Kairos’s body itself was a brutal weapon. Countless were trampled and crushed under his feet. Pachaen stood at a distance, merely watching the vanguard and warriors in action. Ramirez approached him.

“It’s too bland for the first decisive battle.” Ramirez had many questions for Pachaen, but he kept his mouth shut.

Pachaen looked at Ramirez’s face beside him. A complex thought briefly crossed Pachaen’s face. After a moment, Ramirez spoke, once he had sorted out the situation.

“We won’t be able to catch their leader anyway. If they decide to flee, they are several steps ahead of us in that regard.” Pachaen didn’t let his curiosity about the person deeply etched in his mind go unanswered.

“Do you know Gnosis Heyrun?” Ramirez was puzzled by Pachaen’s sudden question.

“I saw such a person. That person is in charge here. I think he’s still somewhere around here.” Pachaen conveyed what he had seen and heard without exaggeration.

“The southern region of Harun. They are not the kind of guys we can face head-on! A large army will be deployed soon. It won’t be easy to defend Harun.” “Abaddon… who are they anyway?” “Absolute evil. I can’t think of any other way to describe them. The three leaders of Abaddon, the Hagios [holy ones], claim to be the adopted children of those who exist on their own. Other than that, not much is known in detail.

Instead… they fought a major war in the past, and many of the powerhouses of the Infinite Realm have an unquenchable grudge against them.” “Is there a possibility of them being connected to the Demon Realm?” “Well… unless the Demon Realm is cornered, would they resort to such a desperate measure? If they were adversaries, they might join forces with them, but the Demon Realm’s position is a bit different.

The Demon Realm, in principle, does not recognize Abaddon. Of course, that’s Metatron’s position. Unless Lucifer denies that he is Metatron’s son, that won’t happen.” “Metatron is hostile to Abaddon?” “As far as I know, yes. I don’t know the specific reason, but that’s what’s known. Metatron is a complex being. It’s impossible to understand him, even his loyal subordinates, the dark angels. His true nature has always been shrouded in mystery.” “What should we do now? Should we leave Harun knowing it will be in danger in the future?” “…” It wasn’t a question that required an answer. The answer was already decided. Pachaen looked up at the sky until he saw the vanguard members approaching with bright faces from afar.

‘Light… will light be enough? Will it fill this heavy heart?’

As Ramirez predicted, a large army pressed into the southern region of Harun some time after the first battle with Abaddon.

Their main force was surprisingly from the Adversary’s camp.

The Adversary’s large army, which had already seized the southern region of the Infinite Realm, had advanced to a point where Harun was within sight. It was impossible to confirm whether Abaddon was among them.

However, judging from the circumstances, it was easy to infer that they were allied. Meden was also taken aback by the faster-than-expected progress of events. He not only dispatched envoys but also issued a general mobilization order to the Ascetics, and some of them were urgently sent to Harun.

The commander of the dispatched force was Capo. The allied forces of warriors and Ascetics were thus formed in a rushed manner, skipping many steps.

“Considering their strength, it is estimated that we are almost evenly matched at the moment. The problem is Abaddon’s main force. Once they arrive, we will be at a disadvantage.”

No one objected to Rommel’s diagnosis, who was in charge of the Council of Warriors’ staff. He continued to speak.

“Before that, Meden’s main force must join us. We currently do not have information on the strength of Abaddon’s main force.

That alone is unsettling, but in any case, it seems that the proper order would be to request cooperation from the Celestial and Immortal Realms only after Meden’s main force has joined us.”

Capo spoke in a dissatisfied tone.

“There hasn’t even been any contact from them yet, even though they are well aware of our current situation. That’s why… I think it’s necessary to clarify our stance at this point. We must prepare to wage war with our own forces, even without their help.

Our Infinite Realm cannot play a supporting role. If we make the first request, that relationship will last until the end. There’s no need to bow our heads and go in.” What problem could such things be at this time? Pachaen was about to intervene in Capo’s somewhat absurd opinion but stopped himself. He was just an outsider who couldn’t do anything right now.

At this moment, Ramirez glanced at Vulcan and Morgan before speaking heavily.

“The Celestial and Immortal Realms will not intervene in this war, even to check the Demon and Ghost Realm allied forces.

They might send a small elite force. That’s what we need to keep in mind. Only when Karan and Meteus, along with their followers and the Seven Tribes, appear can we achieve some balance of power.

The problem is when the Demon Realm will invade… Frankly, even if we include the potential power we have left, my judgment is that we cannot guarantee victory.

Abaddon’s main force has never been revealed. If they are similar in strength to the Demon Realm, we will face a miserable defeat, and in that case, the Spirit Realm… will meet its end.

Moreover, there’s no guarantee that the sleeping Sovereigns of the Earth won’t intervene. We can see that from the fact that they sent envoys. It means they will move soon.

All circumstances are unfavorable to us. The best we can do is gather all the forces we can mobilize and hope that fortune is on our side.” Everyone knew that Ramirez’s words were neither a lie nor an exaggeration. The current situation was that bad.

Formidable enemies were lurking everywhere, and their strength was not fully understood. As such, the enemy seemed even bigger and more formidable. Yet, this side had not even fully prepared its forces. In this bleak situation, victory could not be assured.

Based on Ramirez’s words, the first things to do were clear. Ananda pointed that out.

“I heard that Romero, who used to assist Lord Karan, has appeared in the Infinite Realm.

Judging by his appearance, it seems that Lord Karan will also break his seal and show himself before us.

Then the Seven Tribes will also be able to join our forces. According to Lord Karan’s prophecy, Lord Meteus will also appear with him. If those two join us, our forces will be greatly enhanced.

The decision we must make at this moment is whether to call the rest of Meden’s forces here to Harun to prepare for the decisive battle, or to retreat and buy time… We must choose one of the two.

My opinion is the latter. We must bet on the side that can increase our chances of winning. And our potential power is not insignificant either. There are still warriors and many sealed warriors and Ascetics who have not joined us. Many tribes other than the Seven Tribes.

If we combine all the power of the Infinite Realm, I believe we can sufficiently face Abaddon and the Adversary’s large army.” No matter what we do, the war between the two forces will only be known once it begins. The reason why it is difficult to predict the outcome is not elsewhere, but because of the intervention of the absolute beings who will be the decisive variables.

As Ananda said, it would be fortunate if the absolute beings of the Infinite Realm added their strength at the right time, but if not, we must avoid it as long as possible. If we were to seek immediate pride, we would have to engage in an all-out war, but that was a foolish choice that should be reserved until the very end.

It’s not just the Adversary and Abaddon. Considering the Demon Realm to be faced after that, the power of the Infinite Realm must be maintained. No matter how much we rack our brains, it was an absurd expectation.

In some ways, Abaddon is more difficult to deal with than the Demon Realm. The Demon Realm does not resort to petty tricks. They will reveal their power without hiding anything and attempt an all-out war. In another way, it could be an expression of confidence. However, Abaddon’s nature is different.

First of all, it is impossible to fully grasp their power through any means. Even if we win in an all-out war, there is no way to determine whether it was truly Abaddon’s main force or not. Their cunning is not easy to deal with. They are good at disguising their tail as their head and at striking the back of an unsuspecting enemy.

In the end, the difficulty of fighting them was that we had to bring the three leaders of Abaddon, called the Hagios, to the forefront and crush their heads at once so that they could never regenerate.

Vulcan was preoccupied with other thoughts.

‘Will Lord Karan appear this time as they expect… If the conflict between Lord Meteus and him is not resolved even after this, it will lead to a serious situation. The Infinite Realm will be divided and unable to wage war properly. There may even be conflict between Meden, the Seven Tribes, and the warriors who follow the two. Nothing can be guaranteed.’

Morgan agreed with Ananda’s opinion.

“That’s right. What the Celestial and Immortal Realms are expecting is the appearance of Lord Karan and Lord Meteus. Only when the Infinite Realm is united under the leadership of those two can we properly face the enemies. Before that, it’s impossible.

Moreover, this battle is a great war that will shake the foundations of the Spirit Realm. It’s more of a battle between absolute beings than a battle of power. Whether the war situation is favorable or unfavorable is not that important. The power of the absolute beings can overturn everything at once. The outcome may be unexpected depending on which side has the strongest.

In the end, what we must ultimately prepare for is whether there is an absolute powerhouse on our side who can face the Hagios, the Sovereigns, and Lucifer. Whether Lord Meteus or Lord Karan can… I’m not sure…” He didn’t seem very confident. Ramirez knew that neither the Celestial Lords of the Celestial Realm, nor the Eight Immortals of the Immortal Realm, nor Meteus or Karan could defeat Lucifer. However, there was something that everyone expected, though no one mentioned it.

‘The Guardian.’ That’s right. He had to be there. If he was standing firm, if he was at the forefront and commanding, there was nothing to fear from the Demon Realm or Abaddon. His only opponent was Metatron. Where was he? Was that why? Subtly, everyone’s gaze turned to Pachaen.

The culmination of the Guardian’s arrangement, the gathered people of destiny. In Pachaen, they were trying to see the last hope that was not visible at the moment.

His safety was now no exaggeration to say that it was linked to the peace of the Spirit Realm.

There was no way Pachaen could not feel such intense interest and focus.

Eyer, the chairman of the Council of Warriors, asked Pachaen, the vanguard leader, very politely.

“When do you plan to leave?” Pachaen did not hesitate.

“I plan to leave immediately. It wouldn’t be of much help to our forces if we stayed here. More importantly, I believe it is our duty to complete the mission entrusted to us. So…” Vulcan cut off Pachaen’s words.

“Good thinking. Frankly, if the vanguard were here, we could expect a significant increase in power… but we can’t expect that and miss out on something bigger.

The Guardian’s arrangement. I’m also curious. What kind of result will it bring in the end? Whether the light will bring us the power we expect. Ah, of course, assuming that we bring the light.” Now, no one treated Pachaen as an insignificant spirit anymore.

Not many had predicted that the Demon Realm would invade the Human Realm and create today’s situation. The Guardian, who had been preparing for today since the days when the Spirit Realm was at peace. Therefore, the mystery surrounding him had developed into reverence itself.

Even Ramirez, who did not trust or acknowledge him much, recognized his ability. Vulcan and Morgan, who followed Karan as their master, also revered the Guardian’s existence. Even the Celestial Lords of the Celestial Realm were the same. Even the Demon Lord Lucifer was cautious when mentioning the Guardian. Of course, it was also because he was Metatron’s only rival.

And Pachaen, who was arranged by him while talking about the fate of the Spirit Realm. Therefore, the path he was walking was not an ordinary matter for everyone.

“I see. I sincerely hope you bring the light.” Eyer sincerely wished so.

The vanguard left Harun. Those who needed to know would soon find out. The fact that the vanguard was in Harun had a meaning beyond a simple increase in power. At least two forces would not directly invade Harun for the time being.

The Demon and Ghost Realms. Under Metatron’s orders, Lucifer had to keep Pachaen alive until the last moment, and from the perspective of the Council of Warriors and Meden, it could act as the most reliable shield. Of course, the Demon Realm would have to face the Immortal Realm before entering the Infinite Realm.

The vanguard was mostly the same as the original formation, but there were some changes.

Durum, who had lost his arm, was closely attached to Pachaen and Ramirez, and the Baroque warriors who had not been able to face Baroque followed behind them.

Baroque, Pang, and Garm, who had gone missing, were never found. As a result, Durum, the Baroque warriors, and Arena’s faces were dark.

Gunther, who was walking at the very front, grumbled for some reason.

“I thought I’d get to have a real fight for once.” Was that why he was in a bad mood? Agripa, who had been hanging on Pachaen’s neck, flew to Gunther. He sat on Gunther’s head and began to chatter.

“It’s really strange.”
“What is?”
“You, I mean. No one asked you to come along, and you’re not even part of the vanguard. You’re just following because you want to, yet you’re always complaining.”
Gunther’s face twisted strangely with a mix of embarrassment and shame.

Agripa’s words were not wrong. In fact, they were so accurate that Gunther’s face flushed.

“Ahem.” Gunther, having no retort, just coughed awkwardly. Agripa, not satisfied with that, added another jab.

“Honestly, you’re not really useful. You’re just a cumbersome burden.” A cumbersome burden! Could there be words that crushed Gunther’s pride more? Gunther’s heart was not generous enough to calmly dismiss it as the words of a spirit with no spiritual power.

“You little brat!” Before Gunther’s hand could snatch Agripa, Agripa fluttered away and landed on Pachaen’s shoulder. And he didn’t forget to add a final remark.

“If you’re just tagging along, you should keep quiet and do as you’re told. It’s always the ones who can’t do their part who talk the most.”
“Ugh…” Gunther’s bitter groan was not his alone. Most of the ‘cumbersome burdens’ that made up the vanguard couldn’t even lift their heads at the heart-piercing words. It was just their own perception; Pachaen and Ramirez didn’t think of them that way at all. Nevertheless, their inferiority complex kept making them ask themselves, ‘Why do we have to be here?’

Like Agripa said, they were merely ‘tagging along’ as vanguard members in name only. Before leaving Harun, Ramirez had advised Pachaen like this:

“About the vanguard members… Do we really need to take them all? It would be better to sort them out and send some back, or leave them in Harun. They don’t say anything, but they seem quite troubled.”
Unlike other matters, Pachaen had no intention of yielding on this, even if it was Ramirez’s opinion. He insisted to the end, and it was something no one could change.

‘We go together. No matter what.’ Pachaen’s thought was firm and unwavering. However, reality would clearly prove that Pachaen’s decision was unreasonable.

Ramirez and Ananda had both warned that if there was danger ahead, it would start now.

The current vanguard formation was not something any faction could easily dismiss. Not to mention Ramirez, Vulcan, Morgan, and Pelican, there were also Ananda, Cairo, Doatus, Braham, and Pedro, all powerful figures with great reputations.

Yet, Ramirez said he couldn’t be at ease. If someone appeared despite knowing this formation, it was clear they would be well-prepared. What worried Ramirez and Ananda was Abaddon.

The situation in the Infinite Realm was roughly understood. Among the warriors and practitioners, there were none who would confront the vanguard head-on. Nor did they have the capability to do so. The Demon Realm was not a concern for the time being. Therefore, the conclusion was that it was likely to be Abaddon, a rival, or one of the Emperor’s envoys. Of course, the possibility of one of the various tribes in the central region could not be completely ruled out.

For this reason, Ramirez had advised sending some of the vanguard members back. Of course, the biggest reason behind this decision was concern for their safety. If they didn’t have the capacity to look back, Ramirez would turn a blind eye without hesitation.

The others were the same. There was no guarantee that a situation wouldn’t arise where they would be too busy protecting themselves. They weren’t necessarily considered burdens, but the possibility of them becoming so always remained.

A bigger reason was that they themselves couldn’t accept their participation in the vanguard as anything more than just accompanying them. There were differences in degree, but it was difficult for them to accept their own helplessness without any emotional turmoil.

This tendency was more pronounced among those dispatched from the Immortal and Celestial Realms. Compared to their insignificant presence, the external attention and interest in the vanguard were excessive.

‘No one opposes it except me. Not even themselves. Is it right to send them back? It’s not like I haven’t thought about it either. If I were alone, I could escape any danger. Wasn’t that what the Guardian said? If in danger, don’t look back at the vanguard and run. But… I can’t do that.’ In the end, Pachaen’s conclusion returned to one point.

‘I’ll go as far as I can.’

The Celestial Lords of the Celestial Realm Take a Gamble

The vanguard was slowly approaching the center of the central region. The central region, where the warriors had left, was quiet. Everything was so peaceful that it seemed like all the worries were unfounded.

Cairo and Pelican mainly monitored the front, while Vulcan and Morgan monitored the left and right flanks, sometimes leaving the vanguard and going far ahead.

“This excessive quiet is even stranger.” Vulcan wasn’t the only one who thought so. Come to think of it, Ramirez had been silent for quite some time. What was he thinking? Pachaen was curious. When he saw a deep forest at the edge of his vision, Pachaen urgently suggested,

“Let’s rest here for a while.” It wasn’t because they needed rest. It was because an unfounded unease was emanating from the forest in front of them. Ramirez was also staring intently ahead. Pachaen asked,

“Do you sense something?”
“No. But I feel like something’s there.” It was a difficult thing to understand. Vulcan, who had approached Ramirez, said something ambiguous.

“It’s as if we’re enveloped in a ‘Guiryu’.”
“Guiryu? From the Ghost Realm?” Only after hearing Ananda’s addition did Pachaen seem to understand what he meant.

There was a place where the Raman, who were not under the influence of the Seven Stars among the ghost spirits of the Ghost Realm, lived. The leader there was called Haman, and he grew his power by consuming the fear and evil spirits of the living. Haman had no eyes. Instead, he used a spiritual energy called Guiryu to perceive his surroundings. Vulcan and Ramirez had faced Haman before. Vulcan seemed to suspect that Haman might be in the forest in front of them.

“It’s not Guiryu. But… it feels just as bad.” The other vanguard members were on high alert. From the entrance of the forest, it was dark, and they could roughly sense that some unknown mysterious power was lurking, but it was difficult to guess beyond that. What should they do now?

“They’re not inviting us in, so we can’t just not go, right?” It was Pachaen’s words. Ramirez shook his head.

“No. Only me, Vulcan, and Morgan will go. The rest of you just watch.” It meant that there was no need for the entire vanguard to jump in when they knew there was danger lurking. Pachaen had no choice but to comply.

“Get ready.” At Ramirez’s words, Vulcan and Morgan took deep breaths. Their cautious attitude showed that they were also nervous. The fact that it couldn’t be sensed meant it couldn’t be taken lightly. It was natural to feel burdened, knowing that the enemy was waiting with a trap.

At that moment, Ramirez turned his head not forward but backward. He looked past the rearmost member of the vanguard, all the way into the distance. Pachaen’s gaze also turned backward almost simultaneously.

‘Is that also an enemy?’ He could feel someone approaching at high speed. Pelican and Cairo rushed out, on guard.

Whirr-whirr-whirr, a rapid air current swirled down from the sky. Dust swirled up from the ground, obscuring their vision. Pelican, judging it to be an enemy, was about to launch an attack.

Ramirez quickly stopped him.

“Wait a moment.” If it weren’t for his restraint, Pelican’s preemptive strike would have landed.

“Who is it?” At Ramirez’s question, a voice from someone who was still not visible answered.

“Please wait a moment.” It was a hurried voice. Two shadows emerged from the thick dust in front of the vanguard. A man with a huge physique and a man with a small and frail physique. The two stood side by side, approaching. Pelican quickly stopped them.

“Stop there. It’s not good if you come any closer.” At Pelican’s warning, the large man glanced at him. It was only for a moment, as he quickly scanned the vanguard members, as if looking for someone. Then, his gaze stopped at Pachaen.

“Are you… the spirit called Pachaen?” That’s right. The one he was looking for was Pachaen. Pachaen nodded in acknowledgment.

“Who are you?” “We are…” The small man was about to speak, but the other man, who seemed to have a very impatient personality, cut him off.

“I am Yeorok, a divine general of the Musang Heaven of the 33 Heavens of the Celestial Realm.” Yeorok, the divine general of the Musang Heaven. He was a divine general dispatched as a representative to grasp the movements of the Infinite Realm at the meeting of the divine generals of the Celestial Realm. He was also the one who had caused a commotion at the tavern in the Infinite Realm’s courtyard.

The one next to him was an Arhat [a perfected being who has attained enlightenment] of the Musang Heaven. Among the vanguard members, the Arhats of the Celestial Realm quickly bowed their heads in respect.

They had heard of Yeorok’s name, but this was the first time they had actually seen him.

Yeorok was famous in the Celestial Realm for two reasons. One was that he frequently caused problems, big and small, due to his impatient nature, and the other was that he had no sense of hierarchy.

A divine general of the Celestial Realm was supposed to serve the Celestial Lords above and command the Arhats below, with the duty of ensuring the safety of the Celestial Realm. But he was an exception. He had no interest in such things and was always engrossed in things that others found completely uninteresting.

As a result, he naturally neglected his assigned duties. Nevertheless, the Celestial Lord of the Celestial Realm had never scolded or reprimanded him. It was unclear whether they had given up on him, assuming that was just how he was, or whether he was faithfully carrying out his assigned duties in his own way.

That Yeorok had appeared before Pachaen and the vanguard. Ramirez asked Yeorok,

“What brings such a noble divine general all the way here?” It was a slightly sarcastic tone, but Yeorok didn’t take issue with it.

“You’re Ramirez? Indeed… living up to your reputation. Just by looking, I can tell you’re not my equal.” It could be considered quite rude. It was also quite offensive to Ramirez.

Even if it was the Celestial Lord of the Musang Heaven, Ramirez was the kind of person who thought that no one could easily say such things in front of him. In front of Ramirez, who had such a strong pride, it was not something a mere divine general, not even one of the Four Heavenly Kings or a great general of the Trayastrimsa Heaven [one of the heavens in Buddhist cosmology], should say.

However, the Arhats of the Celestial Realm were astonished by the fact that Yeorok had said that.

Yeorok had always boasted that there was no one among the divine generals of the 33 Heavens who surpassed him, except for the great general of the Trayastrimsa Heaven. For him to acknowledge someone was a very rare sight.

Ramirez, unaware of this background, spoke in a somewhat rougher tone.

“We are not idle. State your business briefly.” “Alright. I’m not idle either. Pachaen, without asking why, you need to make some time. Go to the Celestial Realm.” It was a nonsensical request. It was the typical tone of a divine general accustomed to giving orders.

At that moment, the Arhat next to him, flustered, quickly stepped forward. He had seen Ramirez about to explode.

“I will explain in detail. We have entered the Infinite Realm with two instructions this time. One is to grasp the current situation of the Infinite Realm, and the other is to bring Pachaen-nim to the Celestial Realm.

This is a special request from the Celestial Lord of the Byeoncheon [a heaven in Buddhist cosmology] among the 33 Heavens. Several Celestial Lords are gathered in Byeoncheon right now. They have requested to meet Pachaen-nim.”

Even though it was the same words, the reaction of the receiving side was different depending on who said them.

“Could you tell me the reason?” At Pachaen’s question, the Arhat looked troubled.

“I, as for me…” Yeorok added,

“You’ll know if you go.” Pachaen flatly refused.

“I cannot do that. I don’t know where that is, and I don’t have the time. I’m sorry. It seems you’ve come a long way, but I have to refuse.”
Yeorok shouted angrily.

“How dare you refuse the request of the Celestial Lords!” “This is…” Pachaen hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond.

Ramirez’s cold cynicism was timely, shifting the attention that had been focused on Pachaen to him.

“If you have business, you should come here. To tell us to come and go. That arrogance is still the same. Look here, esteemed Divine General Yeorok. You may be a big shot in the Musang Heaven, but it’s not okay to act like that here in the Infinite Realm.

How would you feel if I shouted at your Celestial Lord?” Yeorok’s face flushed.

The Arhat, glancing at Yeorok, stepped forward again.

“It won’t take much time. Just a moment. If you allow it, we can teleport you, and it won’t take much time there either.

The Celestial Lord of Byeoncheon said it was a very important matter. And it is believed that it will be beneficial to Pachaen-nim in many ways. So please, do not refuse.”
Yeorok was listening silently. Somehow, he felt like he had to. He was angry now, but he was holding it back. It was because he didn’t have the skill to persuade someone who didn’t want to go on their own.

“Hmm, what should I do?” Pachaen pondered. From what he heard, it didn’t seem like it would take much time. But even for a short time, it wasn’t the time to leave the vanguard’s side.

Also, emotionally, it wasn’t easy to accept. As he was struggling, unable to decide, Ananda gave his opinion.

“If it’s just a short time… I don’t think you need to refuse. The Celestial Lords of the Celestial Realm wouldn’t call Pachaen-nim for no reason, so it might be good to go.”
Yeorok quickly added,

“If you’re worried about the safety of the vanguard, you don’t have to. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen.” Whether he went or not, it was better to decide quickly.

Pachaen didn’t hesitate for long.

“Alright. Lead me to those who have called for me.” Ramirez, not feeling at ease with Pachaen going alone, requested to accompany him, but it was rejected by Pachaen himself.

“For the sake of the vanguard’s safety, it would be better for you to stay here.” That was the reason Pachaen refused.

Due to the sudden envoys from the Celestial Realm, Pachaen was visiting the Celestial Realm at an unexpected time. He had heard about the Celestial Realm through various channels, so he was curious, but he had never imagined that he would visit so suddenly.

‘Who wants to see me and for what reason?!’ This was not a question that only Pachaen had. The Celestial Realm’s position, which had never actively interfered in the affairs of the Infinite Realm, would still be the same now.

For them to show interest in a mere spirit to the point of dispatching a divine general was a very unusual event.

The divine general took a stance to help Pachaen teleport. Divine General Yeorok did not have the ability to send Pachaen to the Celestial Realm. All he could do was convey the spiritual words to inform his location and accurately pinpoint the location of the space to move to.

To summon a target from a distant place, the consent of the person being summoned was required. Yeorok did not forget to give Pachaen the necessary instructions.

“Extend both hands to the sky and accept the energy that permeates within without resisting it. That power will move you to a specific place.” It was simple. Pachaen followed Yeorok’s instructions. Before a few breaths had passed, the change occurred. Pachaen disappeared while everyone watched.

Opening and closing his eyes for a moment was all Pachaen had done.

The scenery had changed drastically. What surrounded him was not a familiar sight. Instead of the vanguard members, unfamiliar figures filled his vision, and a pure white wall blocked the open field that had been there before.

Several people were watching Pachaen. Pachaen rubbed his head, feeling a slight dizziness. It was a sensation that appeared after teleportation.

He first focused on the most prominent figure. The other person’s gaze contained a hint of curiosity but was generally calm and composed. The eyes were saying,

‘Are you Pachaen?’ Pachaen nodded unconsciously. It felt like he had to.

Pachaen thought he should ask something.

Yet, he couldn’t readily open his mouth. It wasn’t because of the imposing dignity that pressed on his heart, or because the situation he was in was difficult. Nor was it on the level of observing etiquette.

He couldn’t explain it clearly, but it was unexpectedly due to a sense of familiarity. From a time that he couldn’t pinpoint, it felt like they and he had shared a significant part of each other, many si?