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Chapter 417: Star, the Parallel Universe (2)

‘Come to think of it... This isn’t the first time.’

Chang-Sun also recalled another name.

‘Hsan.’

He still did not know who that Outer Celestial was, but just like the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, the Outer Celestial had the same appearance and voice as Chang-Sun. Apart from that, the Outer Celestial had helped Ithaca reincarnate as Cha Ye-Eun, so it was likely that Chang-Sun would have a similar encounter.

‘Is this genuinely a coincidence?

The only conclusion that Chang-Sun could reach was...

‘No way.’

[The Celestial ‘Taurus’ is watching the encounter between you and the other you with intrigue!]

Chang-Sun’s gaze became sharp. ‘I knew it. He’s behind it.’

He still could not tell what exactly was happening, so he had a feeling that it would be best to sort out the situation and subdue the Heavenly Dragon Emperor to find out something, at least.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ strokes her chin after seeing that there is one more of the concubine candidate who turned her down!]

‘...I don’t think it’s time to think about that,’ Chang-Sun thought.

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ grins, asking you if you are jealous right now!]

Chang-Sun envied how Tiamat could afford to joke at a time like this.

“On second thought, a magic scholar who used to be in the Imperial Palace told me a story before,” the Heavenly Dragon Emperor said. “He seemed to love watching space outside the galaxy, so I asked him why.”

Just like Chang-Sun’s, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s gaze turned sharp. He continued, “Then, he told me that a turning point is created upon every trivial choice we make in this universe, resulting in the birth of a new universe. Those choices can even change the universe’s appearance or the laws of nature.”

Wondering what the Heavenly Dragon Emperor wanted to say, Chang-Sun just listened quietly.

“The results of the universe’s infinite division are called parallel universes, or the multiverse. That was what the magic scholar told me, and he was observing a parallel universe that looked similar to ours to find something in there. Do you know what it was?”

“What is it?” Chang-Sun asked.

“He was looking for his other self in the parallel universe.”

“...!”

“He had a point. If the universe looks similar to the one I’m in, then the people living in that universe might be the same as the people in mine. Another me... It’s an interesting idea, but nothing can be creepier than that if you think about it,” the Heavenly Dragon Emperor said with a half-smirk. “I may be leading a leisurely life now, but my childhood was very intense.”

The remaining languor in the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s eyes gradually faded, revealing his true self that had been hidden behind the image of a tyrant. “I personally squeezed the necks of my half-siblings, and even those siblings who were born from the same womb, to take this throne. Otherwise, I would have died.”

And as expected, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor looked...

“That was how hard I had to work to earn my peace, so what would happen if a person who looked the same and had led a similar life as me showed up? What if that person had chosen to flee because he couldn’t win in his own power struggle? Despite that choice to flee, perhaps he would want to take over my throne after arriving here.”

...just too identical to Chang-Sun.

“It’s truly horrible. The law of causality applies to the border between universes, but crossing the border isn’t impossible. That was why I was always on alert, but... I can’t believe I actually got to meet my other self like this!”

A beast. An untamable beast was right there.

“Although it didn’t happen in the way I was concerned about, the fact that you’re trying to take my throne is the same,” the Heavenly Dragon Emperor muttered to himself bitterly.

Whooosh―!

A pool of golden light spread out from the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, and those light particles took the form of a long Dragon that coiled around his body.

Roaaaaar!

The Dragon let out a roar at Chang-Sun as it released a storm of its Class. At the same time, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor overwhelmed the area with his fighting spirit, displaying the absolute dignity that only an overlord could have.

[The Celestial ‘Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon’ has revealed his Divine Class!]

However, the storm of his Divine Class contained the madness of an intense battlefield and the murderous energy of a wandering wolf who had lost their home. He had said that he had to go through an intense battle to ascend the throne, and his storm seemed to represent his life. Many seemingly-conflicting characteristics combined chaotically within.

“Whoa... Wow!”

“I can’t believe His Majesty held such power...!”

“The reason behind his seclusion until now was...! Ahhh, we’ve been blaming you for the lack of your presence in the imperial court without knowing the depth of your insight. Please forgive us, Your Majesty.”

“Please forgive us!”

The emperor’s subjects exclaimed loudly and collapsed on the floor, shedding tears of repentance.

“It’s the birth of a new Star Sign!”

“One who transcended mortality, becoming an immortal Celestial and now a Star Sign, is with us!”

The priests were impressed by how the level of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s energy was equivalent to that of a Star Sign, and recited prayers. The emperors of Arcadia had long been called the sons of the Star Signs, or the incarnations of the Star Signs; they took on the role of a chief priest who connected <Heaven> and the <Saha World>.

Thus, those emperors had absolute power and reigned over both the secular and spiritual worlds. That was why Arcadia considered their emperors to be divine beings, albeit never equal to their gods. However, it had been revealed that the Heavenly Dragon Emperor had reached such a high level that it was comparable to the numerous Star Signs who brightened the night sky. A mortal reaching the seat of a Star Sign held an indescribably divine significance.

As the people in this place had the privilege of watching the birth of a new god, they felt that they could have received no better honor. That was why subjects and priests alike firmly believed that the emperor would punish the enemy who irreverently flaunted his appearance; it was natural for their rock-bottom morale to skyrocket once again.

In contrast to the subjects and priests, who were letting out a cheer, Chang-Sun was seeing something entirely different from the Heavenly Dragon Emperor. The emperor’s two primary characteristics could be described as ‘fiendishness’ and ‘cataclysm’, just like those of Chang-Sun, who had become a Celestial after going through one intense battle after another.

Chang-Sun and the Heavenly Dragon Emperor were so identical, it was as if someone had put a mirror between them. If not for their clothes, people would not have been able to distinguish between them. Aside from their clothes, the one difference was that while Chang-Sun usually fought alongside a Giant, a Dragon was by the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s side. However, the problem was that Chang-Sun was all too familiar with the Dragon.

『Sun! That is...!』

Ardrin Tigernmas hurriedly sent a telepathic message to Chang-Sun; she had also noticed that something was up and looked in Chang-Sun’s direction, becoming greatly surprised. With a heavy heart, Chang-Sun nodded.

『It looks like you’re right.』

『What in the world happened...?!』

Arin felt as if she would go insane, which was understandable. The Heavenly Dragon Emperor was her long-time enemy, so the fact that the emperor looked the same as Chang-Sun alone was surprising. In addition, it seemed that the one person she wished to save no matter what was working with her enemy.

Yes, the Dragon that had appeared with the release of the Heavenly Dragon Emperor’s Divine Class emanated Crom Cruach’s energy.

『Let’s find out now.』

Chang-Sun sprang forward as soon as he finished speaking.

Paah―!

At the same time, he heard the sound of pages turning inside his mind.

Rustle!

[The first volume of ‘Prelati’s Spellbook’ has opened!]

Pzzzzzzz―!

Chang-Sun’s [Gnostic Eye] blazed with navy blue fire, and his <Darkness> shrouded him, slowly taking the form of a Giant.

[The ninth chapter ‘Atrox Immortálitas’ has been applied, and a Giant lets out a roar!]

Chang-Sun’s goal was to subdue the Heavenly Dragon Emperor, not eliminate him, so he did not manifest an Anomaly or an Abomination. However, his current choice was enough to shake the entire Imperial Palace.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud...!

A Giant’s footfall followed whenever Chang-Sun took a step, causing the Imperial Palace to tremble—no, space itself shook, because his increased Spiritual Pressure was distorting the area around him.

‘I wasn’t actually planning to go this far though,’ Chang-Sun thought as he pulled out the [Twilight Spear] from the [King’s Treasury]. The spear shook violently as he fiercely slashed through space. ‘If he has my talent and can properly use Crom’s power, he’s already beyond the level of the Eighty-Eight Star Signs.’

Swooosh―!

‘Maybe...’

The ray of black light that Chang-Sun had created with his [Twilight Spear] turned into a lightning bolt, falling on the Heavenly Dragon Emperor.

‘...he’s at the level of the Zodiacs!’

Slaaaash!

The attack was destructive enough to split most Celestials in half, but the Heavenly Dragon Emperor calmly drew a long spear from his golden shadow. Once again, the emperor’s spear also looked like the [Twilight Spear].

Claaang!

The collision between the two spears created a shockwave that spread outward in concentric circles.

Rummble...!

“Keough!”

“Arrrggh!”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The subjects and priests were blown away, unable to withstand the shockwave. The durability of the Imperial Palace was reaching its limit, and cracks spread all across it.

However, Chang-Sun was surprised for an entirely different reason. He muttered, “[Shadow Play] and [Shadow Armor] too?”

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor drew a long thread out of his golden shadow and wrapped himself in it, creating a suit of golden armor that shone radiantly as if a knight from legends had appeared. Chang-Sun could disregard the emperor drawing a weapon from his shadow, but the fact that he was wearing the armor of shadow, and how he was using his shadow as a whole, was the same as how Xerxes used [Shadow Play]. The only difference was that the emperor’s shadow was golden, not black.

“What in the world have you done to them?” Chang-Sun growled.

Without answering, the Heavenly Dragon Emperor pushed Chang-Sun back. The emperor’s long knight helmet covered his face completely, so it was difficult to read his expression.

Slash, slash, slash―!

[The Celestial ‘Emperor of the Heavenly Dragon’ starts his dash!]

The Heavenly Dragon Emperor closed in on Chang-Sun and repeatedly thrust his spear. Every time the emperor’s spear traveled through the air, it tore a hole through space itself. Chang-Sun continued to deflect the emperor’s attacks to the side, moving to search for a vulnerability.

Thud, thump, thud.

Booom, boom, boom―!

The two contrasting warriors clad in gold and black collided. The golden Dragon fiercely swung its tail, and the black Giant struck down with its ax.

Rumble, rumble, rumble―!

Whoosh, swish, swoosh!

A series of shockwaves emerged from the collision between the two supremely powerful individuals. They turned into a whirlpool that destroyed the Imperial Palace, which had already been on the verge of breaking down.

“R-Run!”

“H-H-His Majesty is enraged!”

The subjects and priests hurriedly retreated from the Imperial Palace, realizing that it was not a fight they could join in; Chang-Sun’s subordinates also distanced themselves from the palace to observe the battle.

Rumble―!

Parrying away a spear strike aimed at his face, Chang-Sun thought, ‘If Crom and Xerxes are actually locked up in the dungeon, the emperor might have done something to take their power.’

Chang-Sun did not know for sure whether the Heavenly Dragon Emperor was really another version of him from Worldline #802, but that was likely to be the case. Regardless, the fact that the emperor had revealed connections to Crom Cruach and using Xerxes’s techniques mattered the most to Chang-Sun.

‘Yeah, I should subdue him.’

The problem was that Chang-Sun was on a planet, not the center of a galaxy or his divine ground.

[You have requested the activation of the Authority ‘Execution Sword’!]

[Your request has been rejected because the requirements have not been met.]

The [Execution Sword] could only be used against the criminals designated by the <Underworld>, so Chang-Sun failed to activate the Authority. However, continuing to fight like this could end both Helath and Arcadia. So...

‘I’ll finish this with one attack,’ Chang-Sun thought, drawing forth his full power.

[You have opened the middle volume of ‘Prelati’s Spellbook’.]

[The third chapter ‘Jūs Postrémo’ has been applied!]

[Anomalization has begun, distorting the law of nature around the area.]

The black light around the [Twilight Spear] instantly turned the color of sunset.

Ooooong―!

The spear released a clear howl, but it sounded like someone’s desperate plea for salvation in Chang-Sun’s ears.