Return of the Shattered Constellation - Chapter 340

Chapter 340

Chang-Sun, who received a report about the current situation ten minutes ago, leaned back in his seat. He quietly ran his hand on the necklace that Cha Ye-Eun had given and told him never to take off because it would be his talisman. For as long as he was wearing this necklace, he could never risk getting into danger. Unfortunately, the path to Richardus was likely filled with all sorts of traps.

‘Maybe the others would think I have weaknesses now,’ Chang-Sun thought.

‘Divine Twilight’ was notorious in <Heaven> because he had nothing to lose, which allowed him to attack his enemies blindly. The fighting spirit he displayed as a result overwhelmed many Celestials.

Unlike before, Chang-Sun had many people to protect now. His family, subordinates, and comrades who were beginning to gather together again… He also had Ye-Eun now, who was more important to him than his own life. With them by his side, he had no idea when the Celestials in <Heaven> would start scheming about using them against him. In a way, they could really be considered his weakness.

However, Chang-Sun felt otherwise. From his perspective, they made him stronger. Chang-Sun ran wild like a blind, mad dog in the past, never to experience even a moment of peace. Now, he could watch events unfold with more composure. He had a different mindset as well, allowing him to see a much bigger picture. It wouldn’t even be farfetched to say that he was a brand new person now.

‘Besides, I have this.’ Chang-Sun fidgeted with [Machina’s Clockwork].

Although it looked like an ordinary rosary, <Deus Ex Machina> gave it to him to support him. That was probably his way of asking Chang-Sun to protect Ye-Eun on his behalf. Those two siblings essentially protected him with their blessings.

‘… I also have this.’ Chang-Sun held [Peter’s Key], which was also hung around his neck.

He still hadn’t figured out Peter the Apostle’s identity. Not even the ‘Changgong Library’ had any hints. It didn’t have any information about Hsan either, but there was at least a book about him. On the other hand, not a single book mentioned Peter, making it seem as if he wasn’t from this world.

However, Chang-Sun believed that during his journey, he would keep finding more of the preparations that Peter had made. Ithaca had gone to Hsan, who was basically another Chang-Sun, and reincarnated as Ye-Eun. That would have been impossible without Peter’s interference.

Using that same line of thinking, Chang-Sun wondered if he should assume that Peter didn’t really know everything but had all the important information about Chang-Sun’s artifacts and relics. After some time, he took off [Peter’s Key] and brought it toward [Machina’s Clockwork.]

Click―!

As expected, he easily inserted the key.

Chang-Sun chuckled dumbfoundedly. This divine relic was made by <Deus Ex Machina> and even contained some of his Authorities, yet the key could unlock its full potential?

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ tilts her head in confusion and asks what you are doing.]

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ wonders how the Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ still does not know that your wicked smile is a sign that you are about to do something big again.]

[The eyes of the Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ twinkles radiantly!]

…

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ asks where you got the bracelet because she can feel a significant amount of Causality from it.]

…

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ is looking forward to the results.]

[The Celestial ‘Madness Infuser’ raises his glass and yells that he wishes for bigger and more brilliant explosions!]

[The Celestial ‘War-Loving Fighting Deity’ also raises his glass and cheers in delight.]

[The Celestial ‘A Blacksmith in a Volcano’ yells explosions, explosions, and explosions!]

[The Celestial ‘Twilight-Piercing Owl’ looks away from her embarrassing brothers.]

…

The Celestials waited in anticipation of what would happen next. Also quite curious, Chang-Sun sharply inhaled as he rotated the key clockwise. Considering <Deus Ex Machina> was this relic’s maker, anything could happen.

Creeeak―!

Chang-Sun had so much trouble turning the key that he had to exert his full power. By the time he had completely unlocked the bracelet, Chang-Sun felt as if the world around him had turned upside down.

His soul… was rising above the vast <Heaven>—no, above the Worldline he was in. Earth began to look smaller and smaller in the distance and was eventually replaced with a view of the galaxy below his feet. He had gone so far away from the Worldline that it now looked like a dot to him. Moreover, he could now see numerous other Worldlines.

The dimensions lined up, and Chang-Sun flew even higher.

……

…

…

‥

·

The knowledge and information from the infinite number of planes, Worldlines, and dimensions below Chang-Sun’s feet poured into his head, making him feel undefinable emotions. The only words he could think of were ‘rapture’ and ‘ascendance’ because no human language could accurately describe it.

After some time, Chang-Sun finally realized what he was experiencing. ‘Omniscience…’

Only those who had reached the end of Worldlines could acquire this power, and only Emperors, who had superseded the restrictions of Worldlines to become completely free, or those equal to them could freely utilize it.

Chang-Sun did not expect to be in this situation so soon, but he refused to let it go to waste anyway. Considering he normally wouldn’t have access to omniscience, there had to be a limit to how long he could use it. He had to make the most of it before he reached the time restrictions.

While wondering how to make the most of this opportunity, Chang-Sun suddenly remembered Peter. He decided to use this power to find the person who made this impossible miracle come true!

『I was wondering who suddenly opened the door to ‘Nil Domain.’ So it was you, huh?』

Chang-Sun quickly turned around when he heard a familiar voice behind him. He could never forget who it belonged to.

“You…!”

『Haha, isn’t that reaction a bit rude? It’s been a while since we last met, you know.』

Smiling, the two-meter-tall man shone more radiantly than any stars in the world. He was impressively muscular, had bull horns on his forehead, and a long tail drooping down from his bottom like a therianthrope.

In front of Kang Chan stood Bel-Marduk, ‘Taurus’ and the leader of the <Horoscope>!

『Hmm. This is a bit strange, though. You’re nowhere near the level needed to open this passageway to the Imaginary Plane—!』

Chang-Sun charged at Bel-Marduk before he could finish speaking, making the latter back away.

Paaah―!

『Urgh! Isn’t it cheating to attack someone while they’re still talking?』

Paying Bel-Marduk’s grumbling no heed, Chang-Sun closed in on him again and delivered a swift knife-hand strike. it was a shame that he didn’t have any weapons on him, but he was an expert in hand-to-hand combat too.

Booom!

Bel-Marduk threw a punch to deflect Chang-Sun’s attack, the collision creating a powerful shockwave. Considering Chang-Sun could summon lightning storms and Bel-Marduk was the Celestial of rainstorms, floods, and tsunamis, their clash was bound to be destructive.

‘Nil Domain,’ the mysterious space they were in, undulated, flinging Chang-Sun a few distance away.

『Phew! That was close. How in the world did you become this strong so quickly? Your Divine Class seems to be higher than the last time I saw you, too, which was when you brought down Sangwon. 』

Pretending to be in pain, Bel-Marduk shook his supposedly numbing hand. Chang-Sun hated it. Unlike Chang-Sun, who had been pushed back quite a distance, Bel-Marduk was still standing in the same place. That clash alone made it obvious who was superior.

However, instead of dispiriting him, it only made Chang-Sun’s will to fight burn even stronger. If Bel-Marduk was sturdy, then he could just hit him until he broke. Moreover, although his omniscience was likely only temporary, it made him feel omnipotent.

Rumble…!

Chang-Sun balled his hands into fists and unleashed as much divine power as he could, causing ‘Nil Domain’ to circle around him.

『Fine. If you don’t want to talk, then I won’t just stand still either!』

Bel-Marduk smirked as he clenched his fists. Along with deafening noises, he exuded a large amount of divine power.

『Oh, my. I only took my eyes off my dear for a moment, yet he’s already gotten himself in trouble!』

Before Bel-Marduk could attack, however, a Dragon’s mouth opened behind Chang-Sun, revealing what seemed like a cave that was as dark as the Bottomless Void.

“Tiam—!” Chang-Sun tried to stop Tiamat, but she had already swallowed him. Turning to her giant form, she used her tail to strike Bel-Marduk.

『Ah, I keep getting interrupted! I hate this!』

Booomm!

An incomparably more powerful shockwave spread throughout ‘Nil Domain.’

* * *

Chang-Sun felt the same way as when he acquired omniscience but soon realized that his soul was quickly falling this time. As the old saying went, those without wings were bound to fall.

‘Tiamat saved me,’ Chang-Sun thought as his descent accelerated.

Tiamat seemed to have taken matters into her own hands when she realized that Chang-Sun’s omniscience and omnipotence were about to expire. It made him feel bad and grateful to Tiamat, who always helped him. His fury blinded him so much back then that he stubbornly refused to stop his rampage. If Tiamat had really let him, he would have ended up getting gravely injured.

With his omniscience about to end, Chang-Sun did his best to come to his senses and find his target as quickly as possible. He knew that finding Peter’s exact location among the infinite number of Worldlines was impossible, but it was better to try anyway than just waste this chance. After all, it might at least lead him to traces that Peter left behind.

‘Come on, come on…’ Chang-Sun tried not to miss anything as countless Worldlines flashed across him.

[Your area of perception is quickly shrinking!]

[Searching for your target within your area of perception…]

[Your area of perception is reducing]

[Searching…]

…

[You have successfully accumulated new gnosis by observing numerous Wordlines.]

[Your Divine Class has increased.]

[Your Divine Class has increased.]

…

Just as Chang-Sun began to feel as if his brain was going to overload and fry up, a message popped up before him.

[You have successfully located a familiar entity in a fragment of a shattered plane.]

‘A familiar entity?’ Chang-Sun wondered. Did he know any other Worldline aside from Worldlines #801 and #802?

Beeep.

『Oh, this signal is… Is that you, master? It is you! Hahahaha, it’s great to meet you out here.』

Chang-Sun’s eyes widened. ‘This voice is… [Wait]?’

『You remember me! To express my gratitude, let me pay my respects in the most adorable way possible. Kyoo?』

The weirdly adorable sound convinced Chang-Sun that he really was talking to the AI system of ‘Doomsday City.’ It should have disappeared when the Dungeon was cleared, but since it was here, he decided to use this as an opportunity instead.

‘I don’t know how you’re still here, but would you like to form a contract with me again?’ Chang-Sun asked.

『A-are you serious? Well, this place is so boring that nothing would make me happier than getting to go back. Can you really do that, though?』

In that moment, Chang-Sun was reminded that one of the Effects of [Machina’s Clockwork] was getting to connect to and control all machines, including [Wait].

Beep―!

[Processing your request to connect ‘Machina’s Clockworks’ and ‘Wait’!]

[Connecting….]

[‘Machina’s Clockworks’ and ‘Wait’ have been successfully connected!]

[You can now use all installed functions in ‘Wait.’]

‘[Wait], start searching for a man named Peter in there.’

『Roger!』[Wait] answered loudly. his voice gradually sounding more and more distant.

Chang-Sun felt his consciousness return to his Worldline, galaxy, and, finally, Earth. His omniscience and omnipotence had ended, but the experience gave him a far stronger afterglow than when he accumulated numerous gnosis in the ‘Changgong Library.’ Getting to use omniscience, which surpassed even his Divine Classes, made him rethink how to use his power.

Instead of trying to make sense of what happened in the helicopter, Chang-Sun focused on observing the grand draconic army and the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Players for now. Like a powder keg about to explode, they could erupt into a full-blown battle at any moment.

Beyond the battlefield, Chang-Sun looked at someone, who in turn stared right back, seemingly noticing his presence.

[The Celestial ‘New Tian Shi Yuan’ welcomes you fervently!]

Seemingly glad to see him again, Richardus beamed as he welcomed Chang-Sun. Chang-Sun found him to be an even bigger eyesore than Bel-Marduk in some ways.

Hence, Chang-Sun had a change of plans. He could go up against Bel-Marduk any time, but the same didn’t apply to Richadus. If Richardus really knew where Crom Cruach was, then he had to prioritize capturing him. He also had to finish things between them before the imminent fall of the <Purple Star Astrology> anyway.

[The Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ has descended!]

Rumble!

Chang-Sun appeared before Richardus.