Chapter 107 : Chapter 107

Chapter 107

In ancient times, there were the Gods, called the source of all species.

Numbering in the hundreds, they existed in various forms, each radiating their own innate power.

While some possessed the power to change the world's geography with a single word, many others were beings derived from the five senses, natural phenomena, or the principles of all things.

Their power was far too great for their dispositions, and beings who did not possess Authorities revered them.

It was an era when the Giants, said to have the strongest bodies, were hunted, and the Dragons, also said to have the strongest bodies, were treated as common lizards.

One ancient Human raised a rebellion against the Gods.

“Humans are not toys.”

[A worthless mutant.]

[Mana? Do you defy the Gods with such a trivial trick?]

The Human who had awakened to mana was called the God-slayer.

In the end.

[You shall not receive the blessing of oblivion.]

[You shall live in frozen time.]

[Spend eons in agony.]

Unable to overcome the inferiority in numbers, he met his end by being sealed within a blade.

“Abominable bastards.”

However, the battle between numerous Gods and a single Human sparked a possibility in countless species.

“I will tear you all to shreds without a single one left!”

The blessed heart of the Dragon race soon became capable of storing the largest amount of mana among all terrestrial beings.

The long-lived Elves and Dwarves accepted mana as needed.

Meanwhile, there was an inferior race that neither possessed a massive heart like the Dragons nor lived as long as the Elves and Dwarves.

Human.

They created the Mana Heart and no longer feared the Gods.

But the Gods no longer spoke of blasphemy.

Little by little.

Refraining from the kind of intervention they had before.

Little by little.

They began to erase their presence from the world.

Afterward, so much time passed that even the Gods' evil deeds were diluted.

During that time, countless Superhumans who wrote myths were born and faded away.

The ancient Human sealed in the blade realized that the presence of the Gods was fading.

As the years flowed by, the Mana Heart became widespread, and when the development of civilization reached its peak.

Humans had become the hegemons of the vast continent.

The Elves crept into the forests, the Dwarves into the mines.

As the monsters retreated to the mountain ranges and the few remaining Dragons hid themselves in their lairs.

Thus, the age of humans had begun.

***

To think they would drag the power of the Gods back into a history that humans had just begun to pioneer with their own strength.

“Foolish bastards.”

Killian clicked his tongue.

The days when the Gods treated humans like livestock and took their lives as if for sport were still vivid.

Now, a group that followed such beings was obstructing Eurasia's great cause.

And without even providing a convincing reason.

“Insolent.”

Pierre spoke in an indifferent tone.

A pure white light began to leak from the scales he was holding.

‘A Divine Object?’

An object said to contain a part of a God's Authority.

It wouldn't be strange for someone of the Chief Priest's rank in the temple to possess one.

‘Pantera is a God with the Authority of Domination.’

Befitting his Authority, he used to manifest in the form of a Cougar even in ancient times and take countless lives.

He was such a ferocious being that even other Gods avoided him so as not to get on his bad side.

Not a few species were annihilated by his whims, and the blood and flesh shed by the species he killed became fertilizer.

That was why he came to be unfittingly revered as the ‘God of Husbandry.’

To think that such a being's Divine Object was a set of scales symbolizing balance.

‘It's not even funny.’

“You seem to know something about Divine Objects?”

“It's obvious if it's Pantera.”

“……”

“A piece of trash who couldn't control his emotions. He even took the form of a Cougar just to chase down and bite other beings.”

“……”

Contempt filled Pierre's eyes.

“How rude.”

From his perspective, he could only think that Killian was insulting Pantera.

“The Scales of Domination. It is a Divine Object bestowed upon Pantera-nim's most faithful servant.”

As if dealing with a poor, lost lamb, he kindly added an explanation and lifted the scales.

Kuooh.

The light of the radiating divine power grew even stronger.

Soon, a perfectly recreated Cougar appeared above Pierre's head.

The difference in divine power made any comparison to Esteban de Pantera's embarrassing.

‘The pressure feels like Carpe has been deployed.’

At the sensation pressing down on his entire body, strength entered Killian's eyes.

He was not unaware that the levels of the temple's Chief Priests varied wildly.

The Pierre de Pantera before him.

‘He possesses the martial prowess to face a Superhuman.’

He had expected it, but it was an unwelcome situation.

If things went this way, his plan to apply moderate pressure and resolve the situation through dialogue would be ruined.

‘I'll subdue him.’

Having made his decision, Killian reached for Aether.

But at that moment.

Swoosh.

Mana unintentionally escaped from his body.

The blue mana, barely the size of a fist, squirmed and clumped together to form a sphere.

Emitting a clear light, it floated up and headed for the scales Pierre was holding.

Thud.

As the lump of mana was placed on the scale pan, the scales tilted to one side.

“There's no need for cheap tricks. I am in the middle of weighing your sins.”

“Sins? That Pantera fellow had such a rotten personality, he wasn't fit to weigh anyone's sins……”

“That mouth of yours sins without hesitation.”

“……”

“How can a mere creature understand the will of a God.”

“We'll find out in due time.”

While engaging in a pointless battle of wills, he checked the changes occurring in his body.

‘The amount of mana that escaped isn't even 10 percent of the total.’

It wasn't continuous either.

Meaning.

‘Something has already been activated.’

Divine power surged from Pierre's body.

“The God will pass judgment, so confirm it with your body.”

Swoosh.

The pure white divine power that bloomed from Pierre's body formed a lump and settled on the scales.

Thud.

Two spheres rested on the two scale pans.

Creeak. Creak.

The scales trembled and slowly began to balance.

Creeeeak. Creeeeak.

As the scales balanced, the pressure intensified.

‘Leaving it alone won't do any good.’

Just as Killian had drawn the Aether he was holding about halfway from its scabbard.

Kuaaak.

The Cougar symbol above Pierre's head growled.

The oppressive feeling, comparable to Haki, froze the hand that was drawing the sword.

“If you defy a God, that precious Mana Heart of yours will be damaged.”

Pierre pointed towards Killian's heart and continued.

“One knight and one dog. To come here with just that……. As I've heard, your arrogance pierces the heavens.”

He closed the distance and thrust the scales forward.

“Your mana has been placed on the Scales of Domination.”

“So what.”

“It means the judgment has begun.”

Fwoooosh.

The space flickered, and the surrounding area was reconstructed.

The vividness was comparable to a mage's illusion magic or a knight's Carpe Illusion.

Cold sweat trickled down his back.

It was likely because the remnants of the Gods, which he was encountering for the first time since his reincarnation, brought back bad memories.

‘Even if it's just an imitation, there can't be no conditions for its activation.’

He knew because he had tried imitating the Authorities of numerous Gods using mana.

‘Pantera's Authority of 'Domination' not only seizes ownership of the body but also the opponent's consciousness. It's not an easy Authority to imitate.’

Divine power and mana were fundamentally different forces.

Even for one who had mastered the 7-star, victory could not be guaranteed against a Chief Priest-level individual using a Divine Object.

‘I'll have to reorganize the intelligence network regarding the Chief Priest class.’

As Killian thought so, he relaxed his stance.

A look of surprise appeared on the face of Pierre, who was watching.

“You give up faster than I thought. Are you trying to find an opening in me?”

The corner of Pierre's mouth twisted.

“I'll decide that after hearing your explanation.”

Pierre, holding the scales, walked right up to him and stopped.

“Potestas.”

Chrrrk. Chrk.

“……!!”

Chains of divine power shot out from the Cougar's mouth and bound Killian's body.

Killian gritted his teeth at the sensation of his Mana Heart being squeezed.

“Pantera-nim is the God of Husbandry. He wishes to dominate not only his followers but everything.”

Pierre's explanation continued.

As he spoke, the restraints of the chains enveloping Killian's body grew stronger.

‘I see.’

Killian glared at Pierre, who was giving a long speech about Pantera and the Divine Object.

‘The more he explains, the stronger its power becomes.’

Then what did the two spheres on the scales signify?

“What are those?”

Killian, cutting off Pierre, gestured with his chin towards the scales.

“Did I not say? I am weighing your sins.”

Looking at the completely bound Killian, Pierre continued speaking.

“Mana was originally an imitation of a God's Authority, spread to lesser beings. Pantera-nim and the other Gods were not pleased with that fact.”

He spoke of a history written in holy scriptures and spread to many.

A truth now altered to suit their tastes.

“The more mana you use, the more your sins on the scales will increase. And when the balance is broken.”

Smirk.

Pierre gave a chilling smile.

“You will become a servant for Pantera-nim.”

‘I see.’

It seemed that even a Chief Priest couldn't directly use the Authority of Domination, so it was designed to work indirectly using a medium and divine power.

Since it was activated through such a cumbersome process, the manifestation of the Authority would be certain.

‘I also used Authorities in a way that wasn't too different.’

Pierre's face, confident of victory, became much more relaxed.

“I had a few things I wanted to ask you. It's fortunate you came here on your own two feet.”

“……”

“Killian Eurasia. Why do you want a medium-sized Warp Gate?”

“Isn't it obvious? To strike the Empire.”

The monster waves and supply issues, the weaknesses of the frontier.

Only by solving these could Eurasia devote its full strength to a war with the Empire.

“A war with the Empire. You're harboring excessive delusions just because you defeated Brussels.”

“It would seem that way to someone who relies on the Gods. The future is something you carve out for yourself. Someone who offers up the freedom they've painstakingly earned would have no way of knowing.”

Killian, scoffing, released his mana.

His Mana Heart throbbed under the influence of the chains.

“Do you intend to sacrifice your Superhuman status? You are not Escardo Schtenberg. And you are certainly not Simon Eurasia.”

He meant that even if he possessed the status of a 7-star Master, he couldn't do anything about the Authority contained in the Divine Object.

He wasn't wrong.

The more mana he unleashed, the larger the sphere of mana on the scale grew.

According to the principle of the Divine Object, Killian's sins were growing.

“Foolish fellow.”

“Didn't I tell you.”

Not all Mana Hearts are the same.

Sreung.

Muttering, Killian forcibly drew Aether.

The divine power binding his body grew stronger.

He would have to endure a reflux.

‘It was a good thing I stored mana in Aether and its scabbard.’

The weapons made by the two master craftsmen spewed out mana.

“You will regret this.”

“You're the one who will.”

Kwa-deu-deu-deuk.

Mana and divine power.

The two energies clashed, and the space wavered.

Drip.

Blood seeped from between Killian's gritted teeth.

‘More.’

The mana stored in Aether and its scabbard was instantly placed on the scale, shattering the balance of weight.

‘Even more.’

Drip. Drip.

Blood began to flow from Killian's nose and eyes as well.

It seemed his efforts were not in vain, as the divine power in the area finally began to waver.

Geu-geu-geuk.

When about fifty percent of the mana from Killian's Aether had been drawn out, Pierre's eyes narrowed.

And when about seventy percent had been drawn out.

Eurasia Style.

Killian steadied his breathing and thought of a sword style to overcome the current situation.

It was the moment he tried to fully draw his sword.

[Killian.]

A voice emerged from the scales.

[Eurasia.]

“……!!”

“……?”

It was not a delusion.

At the voice that came out once more.

“How can this be……. How could the God……”

“……!!”

Both Pierre's and Killian's eyes shook violently.

‘How is this bastard…….’

With trembling eyes.

Kwa-aaaaaaah.

Killian stared at the scales, which had begun to run rampant.

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