Chương 715: Fireworks

Kugugugugu!

The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable suddenly swells up his body, becoming a flower field worm more massive than all our true bodies combined, and whips at us with his tail as if to create distance.

:: Ridiculous.:: However, Hyun-seok Hyung-nim grabs the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's tail, and the Heavenly Venerable of Time speaks.

:: Stall for time. I shall... tell you the way to seal that one.:: At those words, Oh Hyun-seok also inflates his size and begins to charge at the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's true body.

:: Is it really possible to seal the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable?:::: Yes. If it is from this position where I now stand, it is certainly possible to seal him.:: I look around this strange world of nothingness called the domain of Cakravāda and ask,:: What exactly is here?:::: Look carefully, spread your consciousness wide...:: Following the words of Time, I spread my consciousness as far as I can and survey the surroundings.

And I understand.

'This is...!'

This domain of nothingness, compared to the chaos of the Outer Sea, forms a very clean boundary, drawing a peculiar curvature.

If such a domain of nothingness blocks off the entire Outer Sea and Mount Sumeru like this...

'Its shape is... almost like an eggshell.'

And among those eggshell-like forms, I see something strange.

'The place where the Heavenly Venerable of Time stands...'

For some reason, the form of nothingness there isn't as smooth as in other places.

It's as if...

... it was 'broken and then patched up again'.

I can't help but feel baffled.

'What is this...?'

:: In an unimaginably ancient era... [someone] pierced through the boundary of Cakravāda and created a path to the outside without going through a place like the Audience Chamber.::::...!:: My eyes widen at the unbelievable claim.

'Break? This place? Is that even possible? It just looks like endless nothingness...'

This strange boundary of nothingness.

This emptiness called the boundary of Cakravāda is a realm that exudes a strange power of absolute.

Like the True Immortal Realm where the three planes coexist, it is a mysterious purity where the three absolutes are all felt.

'Putting aside breaking it, I can't even fathom how one would pierce through it... And yet, there exists a being who actually did?'

But now is not the time to ponder over the phenomenon.

:: What must I do?:::: This is the boundary of the world. A wall where one can cross over into worlds other than Mount Sumeru. And, in a way, this place could be called the wound on that wall. What you must do is... patch up that wound with the clay called the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.:::: So I just need to throw the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable into this nothingness?:::: Yes. More precisely... throw him into this void and fuse his Gandhara with it.:::: How do I do that?:::: Throw him into this place...

and with your single strike, cleave Sal Tree. If it's a strike of Martial Pinnacle, it will be enough to fuse Sal Tree's Gandhara with the nothingness of this place.:: I quickly send a heart message to my companions explaining the situation, then shout,:: Come, Sal Tree!:: I provoke Sal Tree to lure him toward me.

Agitated by my provocation, Sal Tree comes flying at me in a frenzy and screams.

:: Aaaaah...:: Kugwagwang!

The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable crashes into me with a body slam.

:: Why...?:: And then, the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's face meets mine.

Within his pupils, I feel an endless emptiness.

:: Why have you still... not awakened to your fate?::::...:::: Why do you still not know your fate...!?:: I receive Sal Tree's strike and meet his gaze.

In Sal Tree's eyes, I am still nothing but the unchanged Seo Eun-hyun who has not grown.

'Why have I still not awakened to my fate... huh?'

Through Indra's Net, I did gain some sense of what my fate is.

But even now...

I still do not truly feel why that fate is mine.

:: Even if your fate and authority... are not currently clinging to you, that fate is meant to guide you, so it should be impossible not to awaken...! Due to the heaven-bestowed nature you were born with, you shouldn't be able to endure not following that fate...! How is it possible that you've reached True Immortality, gained strength at the level of a Governing Immortal, and yet still not awakened to your fate!? Why!?:::: The reason I haven't awakened to my fate...:: I respond simply.

:: I don't know either.:: Shukwak!

I shake off Sal Tree and swing the Impermanence Sword in crisscrossing slashes.

Jjeoeok!

The sea of chaos splits into a cross, and the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable is flung away.

At the same time, the flowers that form his body begin to scatter.

The scattered flowers each transform into black butterflies and spread across the entire world.

:: But maybe... if the beginning, development, twist, and conclusion of fate means losing someone precious...:: Kwarururung!

Lightning Tip.

The lightning bursting out from Jeon Myeong-hoon's body wraps around the world of chaos, then shifts into the shape of a net, extending Indra's Net across this world.

Immediately after, the circle of Flawlessness behind Kang Min-hee turns blue, and thousands of ring-like structures appear, overlaying the net.

Each and every one is a law that governs the principles of the world, Through Kang Min-hee, the laws of Indra's Net revealed by Jeon Myeong-hoon begin to be restructured.

The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable, who tries to escape beyond the chaos by becoming a swarm of butterflies, becomes trapped within the barrier formed by Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kang Min-hee.

Kurung, kurururung!

:: I declare in the name of the Red Pearl Cycling Heavenly King...:: Red light dyes the space around Jeon Myeong-hoon.

:: The pain you gave to us shall now return to you as reality.:: Jeon Myeong-hoon's authority overturns the principles of the world and begins to impose the causality of annihilation upon the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's existence.

:: I declare in the name of the Lapis Lazuli Flower Heavenly King...:: Kang Min-hee's authority alters the laws within the net, dyeing the area around her in blue.

In an instant, the world inside the barrier is split into a red and blue Taiji, driving the scattered butterflies of Sal Tree toward the center of the Taiji.

:: How strange...:: Eventually, giving up on escaping, the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's Gandhara gathers and compresses.

Kuguguguguk!

The countless butterflies transform back into flowers, and the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable transforms into a humanoid figure covered entirely in flowers.

:: Why is it? I took someone precious from the distinguished ones. I separated them from you. And yet... why do none of you... resent me?:: He looks around at us, asking as if genuinely curious.

Just as he says, everyone present remains composed, with firm yet calm eyes.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Oh Hyun-seok, Kang Min-hee...

Even Kim Yeon and I as well.

::... We do not hate you. Because of you, Seo Ran became unhappy. Because of your prophecy and authority, we were separated from our child... But even so...:: I rise toward the upper boundary of Cakravāda and gaze up at Sal Tree, now trapped in the blue-red world.

:: In the end, was it not you who designated Ran to us?::::...:: The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable is the divinity of Birth.

And thinking back to when Ran was first conceived, and White-Winged Heavenly Pegasus descended back then using that power as a coordinate...

Smile— The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable smiles.

:: Strictly speaking, it was a transaction between Vast Cold's split soul and me. Vast Cold's split soul whispered to me first. It asked me... to let it be reborn near Vast Cold's successor and Seo Eun-hyun, the one who gave it grace. In return, I gained the authority to interfere in the fate of Vast Cold's split soul—Seo Ran.:: Indeed, it seemed that Seo Ran coming to us was not merely due to Sal Tree's power, but also due to the innate will of Su In and Hong Yeon themselves.

That is why the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable was able to guide Seo Ran each time she sought an answer from fate while avoiding my gaze entirely.

She herself was the medium that called the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.

He laughs as if admitting defeat.

:: Truly fitting for one who seized the Origin Essence of Acceptance at Fate's End... Though life may have been swayed by me, it seems I have overlooked that the form of death, at the very least, is something they can decide by their own will.:: We silently look at him.

He, too, gradually smiles as he looks at us.

:: Perhaps the reason the distinguished ones do not resent me... is because Seo Ran's Acceptance at Fate's End left something behind for you. Just what did you see in her death, that makes the distinguished ones not resent me? Why do you not suffer?:::: What did we see... huh?:: We all smile gently, as one.

:: A person's life is...:: Through her final Immortal Art, Seo Ran showed us much.

Through that child's fireworks, we all came to understand.

:: Even if one is enveloped by fate and cannot make everything go their own way... the act of dreaming and living within it... is our own responsibility... That is what she taught us.:: The Unruly Realm was a play made solely for Seo Ran.

Because that child's fate was a fate that overcomes fate, we wished to create for her a definitive 'target point' she must surpass with her own hands.

But...

Watching the child, we instead came to understand.

She sought to overcome the flow we created with our own hands.

And... only after seeing Kim Yeon's sincere heart, and being supported by Kang Min-hee's unwavering persistence, did she finally properly see her path.

And that path was one none of us could have predicted.

:: Fate is chosen by one's own hands. Even if that fate does not belong to oneself... as long as the heart is strong, even if one collapses from exhaustion, choosing by one's own hands is what life is...!:: We wanted Seo Ran to live.

We wanted her to be happy.

But Seo Ran chose to abandon all those paths, and instead chose to reach the domain Kim Yeon showed her.

We tried to determine our child's life with our own hands and bring her happiness, But she rejected it all and chose, by her own will, what she will overcome.

:: Fate does not need to be decided by another. One can stay by someone's side, cheering them on and supporting the fate they choose... but there is no need to determine it for them. That is what that child taught us.:: Hearing our answer, the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable nods and bursts into hearty laughter.

:: Indeed... so that's how it was. You all have never... not even once...:::: Been apart from her.:: Kang Min-hee speaks.

:: Not only I, but even those who abandoned their physical bodies and continued to watch over Seo Ran like Seo Eun-hyun, Kim Yeon... and all of us. Our hearts have always supported Seo Ran together.

:: If the beginning, development, twist, and conclusion of fate means losing someone precious, then we... have never once left that child's side, and always supported her heart. That is why your intention never came through.

:: So... we don't resent you. You couldn't push through any of your intentions onto us. Even though you distorted her life, that final moment—she chose it on her own...:: Kugugugugugu!

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee, Oh Hyun-seok, Kim Yeon, Oh Hye-seo.

My Immortal Treasures and Song Jin.

And I, alongside the Heavenly Venerable of Time Cheon Woon, begin to press down on Sal Tree with all our strength.

:: That is why, even if we defeat you now, we will not do so with hatred against you who passed on to us such a precious connection. Because that, more than anything, is the will Seo Ran left us. Even if you try to force upon us some development of fate... the one who chooses it... are us.:: The will to choose, with one's own hand, a life in which one becomes happy within fate.

That is the will Seo Ran left behind for us.

That is why, we will not follow the development of pain as foretold by the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's prophecy.

:: Hahaha... the greatest revenge, indeed.:: The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable is without a doubt the enemy who drove our child into a miserable life.

Yet, seeing what Seo Ran showed us in her final moment, we all came to understand.

Even if she was born to live a miserable life...

Even if she was made to live a life like a play through our hands...

The one who rejected all of it, who accepted our hearts and chose her own fate, was Seo Ran herself.

Therefore, as the one who even gave her the opportunity— We will not hate Sal Tree.

We all simultaneously raise our weapons toward the smiling Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable, and the smile vanishes from his face.

:: In that case... I will not be able to defeat you. It seems the split soul left behind by Vast Cold was greater than I expected... Very well. The distinguished ones are all fully qualified to subjugate this Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable. Now... come hunt me.:: After listening to our words until the end, he looks around at us, completely exposing himself without defense.

And seeing that, the Heavenly Venerable of Time widens his eyes.

:: Sal Tree... Gwan Myeong! No!:::: I... as the first Immortal Beast King, hereby connect cause and effect...:: Kugugugugu!

The body of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable begins to scatter.

His body, which until now has been covered in Annihilation Flowers, turns entirely white and transforms into a swarm of butterflies imbued with the light of all of the heavens' natural colors, beginning to scatter again.

:: Just as the Eastern Sal Tree, Gwan Myeong, has opened his eyes... so too shall the Southern Sal Tree, Cheon Woon. The Western Zero King shall awaken as well...:: Tsuahhhhhhh!

All of us unleash a full-scale attack on the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.

Something feels off.

At this very moment, the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable has connected with [something].

Shiver!

Mount Sumeru, Thirty-Three Heaven.

Beyond the Head Realm, at the edge of the [Inverted Cone], the Audience Chamber.

There...

A certain [gaze] seems to descend upon this place.

And the moment that [gaze] touches Sal Tree— Peobeongbeongbeong!

From Sal Tree's body, an immense repulsive force erupts, and the swarm of butterflies begins to break through our barrier and fly off into some distant unknown.

Strangely, the butterflies are completely undetectable, as if they don't exist at all.

:: Ancient force... That is the first form of ancient force.:: Cheon Woon, dodging the butterflies approaching him, cries out with an urgent expression.

:: The very first Zero King... that bastard Sal Tree is offering up all his power to send ancient force containing the Future King's enlightenment into Mount Sumeru! If that reaches any of the beings in Mount Sumeru whose names contain Heaven, Fate, or Black... they will all become just like Sal Tree is now!:::: Are you telling us to intercept them?:::: We cannot let a single one get through! Shoot them all down!:: Immortal Art, Sunlight Hunting!

Peong, peobeonng, peobeongbeongbeong!

I fire the Immortal Art of Sun Shooting, but the butterflies made from Sal Tree's body simply pass through the arrows.

'The attacks don't work at all...? That's...'

Then all that's left is...

:: Jeon Myeong-hoon, Kang Min-hee! Lend me your hearts!:: Only the power of the Sword God Dance that has reached Martial Pinnacle!

Just then, Sal Tree, not yet fully extinguished, with only half his body remaining and still scattering butterflies, smiles.

:: That is a bit dangerous, so use it on this old man instead.:: Shukwaaang!

The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable throws an Annihilation Flower at us.

Kuguaaaaang!

The power of annihilation that causes existence itself to wither crashes down upon us.

Kang Min-hee and Jeon Myeong-hoon lend their hearts to my sword, but this single strike has to be used solely to block Sal Tree's Annihilation Flowers.

Kang Min-hee manipulates the rules.

The principle distorts, and the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's butterfly-shaped entities become 'absolutely' unable to leave the barrier.

Only then do the butterflies stop in place.

But when the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable snaps his fingers, the butterflies simultaneously transform into [Transparent Seeds] and once again soar into chaos.

Kang Min-hee tries to intervene again, but the countless Annihilation Flowers blooming from the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable's body shoot toward her.

The clusters of light that had become seeds turn back into butterflies, flapping their wings as they begin to fly beyond the chaos.

The Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable meets my eyes.

:: Thanks to the time you bought for me... I was able to create plenty of Annihilation Flowers, close to the Ganges' sands.::

'Damn it...!'

Defeating the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable himself is easy.

But stopping every single one of those [powers of the Future King] that he launches in acknowledgment of his own defeat is nearly impossible.

Unless one's power is at the level of a Heavenly King or has reached Martial Pinnacle, all Immortal Arts simply pass through those butterflies.

'The power infused into the butterfly swarm...'

It's the exact same powers of the [absolute] in the realm of Cakravāda.

Perhaps because they contain a part of the Future King's power, most of us can't even touch those butterflies.

'The main body is burning his own life to buy time with Annihilation Flowers, and the butterfly swarm, imbued with the power of the absolute, passes through all ordinary attacks. Just one move... Is there a way in just one move... to take them down all at once...?'

It's just then.

Immortal Art.

Yeon's Play.

A beautiful melody flows from Kim Yeon, and a familiar Immortal Art begins to envelop the surroundings.

The composed face of the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable changes.

:: What...!?:: And at that very instant, the final moment of Seo Ran— The past of that time unfolds in this space.

All of us look at Seo Ran within her past.

From the past, Seo Ran locks eyes with Kim Yeon.

Then, Kim Yeon embraces Seo Ran and whispers.

:: Show them, my daughter. Everyone is watching...:: Feeling Kim Yeon's warmth...

Seo Ran raises her gun.

Sal Tree's face twitches as he charges at her, but Oh Hyun-seok tackles Sal Tree to block him, and Jeon Myeong-hoon's net and spear wrap around Sal Tree's body, restraining him.

:: Hah... Even so, a mere projection of the past could never influence anything beyond its spacetime...:::: It can. Because I will make it so.:: Kang Min-hee appears next to Kim Yeon.

She raises her hand behind Seo Ran.

Clang!

A new law is added, and Seo Ran's Immortal Art becomes the starting point that stretches beyond the spacetime of the past.

Immortal Art:: A mere Immortal Art made by a mortal being at best... A mere Immortal Art made by one who has not even reached the Immortal Rank...!:::: Sorry to say, but Yeon's Play is also an Immortal Art made by a mere mortal being.:: I smile as I look at the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable and take my place behind Seo Ran as well.

:: A person's life, by itself, is an Immortal Art more powerful than any other. Therefore... this, which holds our child's life, is never weak.::

"Era of Fireworks."

Seo Ran's clear voice, this time with everyone behind her, is launched toward the sky.

The Immortal Art of Seo Ran fired beyond the past through Kang Min-hee.

Era of Fireworks.

The Era of Fireworks contains Seo Ran herself.

It contains the fate [that overcomes fate].

Taaang!

We all pour our power into Seo Ran, And the bullet of fate unleashed from her hand touches Sal Tree's butterflies.

And then...

Peobeobeong!

Flames burst forth, and firework-like light brightens the sea of chaos.

:: I shall illuminate the path. Shoot.:: The Heavenly Venerable of Time Cheon Woon, with eyes that have discovered hope, visualizes the 'trajectory' of the butterflies and shows it to us.

Seo Ran smiles and raises her gun toward the butterflies flying away from the Sal Tree Heavenly Venerable.

The power of my Impermanence Sword.

The power of Kim Yeon's Full Blossom.

The authority of Kang Min-hee as a Heavenly King.

And...

Seo Ran's Immortal Art, imbued with the fate [that overcomes fate], possessing the nature to resist the absolute, erupts skyward alongside fireworks.

At the edge of the world.

At the boundary of chaos and emptiness...

We grasp the final legacy left behind by our child...

And begin the fireworks show.