The Divine Twilight's Return

Chapter 301: Star, the United Army (1)

『So this is how things turn out in the end.』

Neptune looked up as he heard Tiamat’s voice from above. Her gigantic eyes were surrounded by distinctive reptilian scales and wrinkles, so it was difficult to read her expression. And yet, Neptune had a feeling that Tiamat was smiling. He said, “You seem to be having fun.”

A view of the <Saha World>, ‘Doomsday City’ on Earth to be exact, unfolded below Neptune. Although the surface of R’lyeh was covered in black sewage water, it continued to expand and shrink, holding a myriad of spirit and specter fragments…

It certainly held remarkable power that was also tempting for Neptune, the great Celestial. Nevertheless, Neptune had no intention of being swayed by R’lyeh, in contrast to the <Purple Star Astrology> and <Horoscope> Celestials, who were blinded by their greed. After all, if Neptune attempted to get his hands on R’lyeh, the <Underworld> would brand him as a public enemy, and he would end up on the radar of the other <Societies> in <Heaven>. While trying to acquire some power, he would thus meet a miserable end. He did not want to go through the trouble without any good reason. Above all…

‘If the original owner found out…!’ Neptune thought, shivering in fear.

The <Horoscope> and <Purple Star Astrology> Celestials had no way to know how terrifying <Dull Darkness>, the original owner of R’lyeh, was. On the other hand, Neptune knew what kind of being <Dull Darkness> was better than anyone, and what happened if the wrath of <Dull Darkness> was unleashed.

However, Neptune could not begin to fathom what would happen after the wrath of <Dull Darkness> swept everything away. Who would survive? What would happen, and to whom? That was also the reason why Neptune had accepted the proposal from Chang-Sun and the <Underworld> and set up a meeting to establish the United Army.

『That is what my dear wants, so it’s only right for me to help him as his wife.』

Of course, it seemed as if Tiamat was participating in this operation because she liked Chang-Sun, regardless of her bad blood with <Dull Darkness>. The problem was that her affection for Chang-Sun was romantic.

“It’s funny. He’s a baby compared to you, but you want him. Do you not have a conscience?” Neptune asked as he looked at Tiamat in disbelief, not expecting her to call Chang-Sun ‘dear’.

『Do I need it?』

Tiamat genuinely tilted her head in confusion.

“…Yeah, you were always like this,” Neptune said, shaking his head.

He himself was advanced in age, but he was nothing compared to this granny who had seen the beginning of the universe. Despite everything, she was shameless, so there were many things he wanted to say. However, he knew that she wouldn’t pay any attention, so he held himself back.

‘Even if she does listen, she’ll take out her anger on me, so there’s no need to incur her wrath. That granny may be old, but she’s as narrow-minded as a flea,’ Neptune thought.

『I think you had some offensive thoughts about me, but I’ll let it off.』

Tiamat narrowed her eyes.

Neptune flinched, but he held back his emotions as much as possible as he quickly changed the topic. “What are you going to do now? Fortunately, it seems the agreement will be fulfilled without a hitch. Not only Heoju, but also Wu Yong, the brains of <Purple Star Astrology>, have been captured.”

『We didn’t get a lead on the <Horoscope> guys in the end, though.』

“We at least apprehended the people from <Purple Star Astrology>, didn’t we?”

『You’re right.』

“I want to ask about what will happen afterward. You also know very well that this United Force will never last for long,” Neptune said.

Rumble…

Tiamat nodded in agreement. The number of <Societies> that had accepted Chang-Sun’s proposal was around twenty, but of course, that total would be larger after including the Celestials that operated on their own. Almost forty percent of the <Heaven> Celestials were in the United Army. Judging from its size alone, the United Army of the <Anti-Star> Alliance looked as if it could take on numerous <Stars> of the <Horoscope> and <Purple Star Astrology>, just as their name implied.

『Of course it won’t. There are too many of us.』

The problem was that there were too many cooks in the Anti <Star> Alliance that could spoil the broth. Right now, everyone in the alliance was moving in perfect harmony because they had a deep grudge against <Purple Star Astrology>, and the giant faction known as the <Underworld> was supporting the alliance.

However, after that was over, a conflict would break out over who would take the privileges that <Purple Star Astrology> had failed to acquire. On top of that, some factions in the United Army had a complicated history with one another, and many other problems that could not be taken lightly remained between them. That was why the <Heaven> Celestials had never united despite the long history of their universes.

Perhaps some of them would try to backstab the other members and seize R’lyeh after the <Purple Star Astrology> Celestials disappeared. Then the <Purple Star Astrology> Celestials would initiate a counterattack. There was no way Tiamat would not know about that characteristic of the Celestials.

“That’s why I want to know your thoughts on this, Faraway Heaven. Your wisdom is as deep as Mimir, who nourished a World Tree,” Neptune added. That was also the reason why Neptune wanted to know Tiamat’s future plans. As a matter of fact, Tiamat’s presence had played the biggest role in establishing the United Army.

However, Tiamat just chuckled; and yet, her laughter sounded ominous to Neptune. Just as expected…

『I have none.』

“…What?” Neptune asked. He got the impression that Tiamat was smiling with her enormous mouth, like a child who was having so much fun they wanted to see the ending of a book as soon as possible.

『I’m saying that I never made any plans in the first place.』

* * *

[‘United Army―<Anti-Star> Alliance’ Participant List]

0. Underworld

1. Muspelheim

2. Olympus

3. Memphis

4. Niflheim

…

A system message appeared in a large window up high in the sky, so anyone in the area could see it.

‘It begins,’ Chang-Sun thought. His eyes shone as he looked at the image.

Ever since Thanatos had turned this place into Sanjiva, Chang-Sun had seen it coming, but he could not stop his heart from racing as the moment that he had been dreaming of came true.

Badump, badump, badump―!

[Your ‘Ferocious Heart’ is racing!]

[You are experiencing an unusual level of adrenaline and <Darkness> rushes. Your adrenaline level is reaching its limit.]

[You have entered an ‘Abnormal’ state!]

[Warning! You have to calm down.]

[Warning! Your ‘Ferocious Heart’ has manufactured more <Darkness> than you need, unbalancing the ratio of your divine power to an unusual extent. If it continues, your soul may be dyed and damaged by your <Darkness>.]

[Warning!]

[Warning!]

…

Several messages popped up, telling Chang-Sun to calm down, but he could not–no, would not.

‘Finally… It’s starting,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Up until then, Chang-Sun had sealed Xue Yong and the Emperor’s Seat, but it was hard to call it an act of revenge. It was more akin to venting his frustration or having some entertainment. His goal was to overthrow <Horoscope> and <Purple Star Astrology> completely. He would put all the <Stars> through Divine Trials, making them suffer the same kind of pain he had gone through.

Now, he could finally see the start of his dream coming true. He no longer hid his real identity, so he could retaliate against them as ‘Divine Twilight’ the fiend. He found the moment so fun, happy, and thrilling that it was difficult to maintain his composure.

The idea of the Anti <Star> Alliance, the United Army, had started from <Muspelheim> and been developed by <Nammu> and <Olympus>, by the people in the <Societies> who held a deep grudge against <Purple Star Astrology>. Of course, Chang-Sun had no foolish belief that the United Army would last long.

However, he was still elated with the fact that the attempt had been made. Even if the United Army fell apart later, the fact the Celestials had united would never disappear, so the pressure that <Purple Star Astrology> was under would grow to incomparable heights!

‘That’s why the <Underworld> people are doing their best right now,’ Chang-Sun thought, his gaze turning sharp. ‘Jingwang and Chogang… Two of the Ten Elders became Purgatory Kings, huh? Thanatos is really hellbent on winning this fight. ’

The two judges that Thanatos had brought as allies were the First and Second Elders. As <Fallen Stars>, they had taught Chang-Sun the methods to acquire the [Impervious Body] and [Fire of the Eight Trigrams Brazier] respectively. They had been sealed in the Abyss for their felonies, but it seemed Thanatos had changed their sentences to labor and appointed them to fill the positions of Purgatory Kings.

Due to that appointment, Jingwang and Chogang were able to release their divine power for the first time in a long time…! With the addition of the new Authorities they had gained as the Purgatory Kings, Sanjiva was filled with the storm of their Divine Classes.

Swoosh, swish, swoosh!

Although Chang-Sun wanted to say hello to them, it seemed he would have to wait for another chance due to the situation. At that moment…

『You bastard!』

Booom!

…Heoju slammed [Nothung] hard against Chang-Sun’s [Yuchang Sword], his[Hohwan Mama] waving menacingly like sharp claws.

『I’m right here in front of you, so how dare you become distracted about something else!』

Heoju was furious after realizing Chang-Sun was paying attention to something else. Since Chang-Sun was going up against him, Chang-Sun should have focused on this fight alone and felt so threatened that he was unsure of his own survival, even if he put his heart into this fight. However, Chang-Sun did not seem to be experiencing a sense of crisis at all.

“Nothing much,” Chang-Sun remarked.

Whoosh!

Navy blue flames lit up in Chang-Sun’s black eyes as he continued, “I was just thinking about what I’d do with my new tiger skin.”

[Your ‘Inferno Sights’ have opened!]

『I’ll kill you!』

Perhaps because he having difficulty maintaining his rational judgment, Heoju’s face was covered with bulging blue veins as he fired a series of sword attacks.

Swoosh, swoosh, swish―!

[Tiger Teeth] and [Tiger Claws] flew chaotically toward Chang-Sun, aiming for his knees and waist, but he did not bother to counterattack Heoju’s every attack. Chang-Sun deflected and dodged the attacks he could, but when the attacks tenaciously pursued his vital spots, he retreated backward without countering them. From the outside, it seemed as if Chang-Sun was losing, unable to use his power due to Heoju’s ferocious attacks.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is watching the fight, trembling because it looks as if you are in serious danger!]

『Don’t run away! If you’re really the Twilight I know! If you’re really the famous fiend! Then fight me!』

Flash!

Slash―!

As [Nothung] shone, Heoju scratched the bridge of Chang-Sun’s nose.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ screams, turning pale!]

A wound opened up on Chang-Sun’s face, his blood splattering through the air.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ jumps up and down in nervousness because you now have a sword wound!]

If Heoju had cut Chang-Sun an inch deeper, his head could have been cut in half. Despite the danger, however, Chang-Sun did not even blink; rather, he closed in on Heoju by sprinting forward.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ slams her desk, yelling ‘what are you doing’! Her monitor falls onto the floor after wobbling for a moment.]

Chang-Sun had only been dodging Heoju’s attacks until then, so Heoju had not expected Chang-Sun to counterattack so suddenly. Surprised, Heoju pulled [Nothung] closer to him, but Chang-Sun was quicker. By using [Windstalking Tiger] at its maximum output, Chang-Sun got as close as possible to Heoju, then drew [Balmung], which happened to be close by, and swung it upward.

The location of [Balmung], the angle he could swing the sword at, the distance to Heoju, the trajectory of [Nothung]… His attack had been performed after quickly calculating all the variables, making it extremely precise.

Slash!

A deep cut appeared on Heoju’s clothes.

Drip―!

Heoju’s blood poured out from a long cut that stretched from his waist to his abdomen.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ screams and hurriedly puts her monitor back!]

“Oops. The cut is shallow,” Chang-Sun said as he clicked his tongue in disappointment.

『You bastard…!』

Heoju scowled.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ missed some of your fight, so she does not understand what just happened, becoming very confused!]

“Is that the only word you know?” Chang-Sun remarked with a smirk.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ tears out her hair in despair, asking everyone to please tell her what just happened!]

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ bawls and slams her desk, saying that she feels as if she missed this fight’s highlight!]

“Do better, or else the first thing you’ll lose is that sword.”

Swoosh―!

Chang-Sun darted forward once again.

Claaang!

The two swords fiercely collided.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ is gloomy!]

…

[The Celestial ‘Primordial Evil Dragon’ looks at her youngest daughter with narrowed eyes, unsure what to do with her.]