Chapter 302

Chapter 302
Chapter 302

—

Deliverance

Clang—!

The impact was immediate. Metal met metal. Soul met soul. It was a wordless conversation conducted through their weapons, shared for both the starting and the concluding time.

‘It carries such weight.’

The pressure behind Wilhelm’s blade was immense. It was an unfathomable heaviness. There was a profound sense of density that existed on a plane entirely separate from any warrior I had previously encountered. Paradoxically, there was no set pattern to his movements. Within the martial art of the Creation of Heaven and Earth, there was no rigid structure. Without a framework, the strikes should have felt ethereal and light. It was a contradiction. How could something so vacant feel so incredibly burdensome?

‘The Creation of Heaven and Earth is the manifestation of the practitioner themselves.’

The weight came from Wilhelm himself. His very essence, his journey, his triumphs, and his heartbreaks—all of it possessed mass. Only in this moment did I grasp the subtle profundity of the Creation of Heaven and Earth. I understood that this discipline was a vehicle for translating one’s entire existence into a physical force.

‘Heaven (Cheon).’

The ‘Heaven’ aspect of the technique. I had previously assumed it was merely a method of spatial dominance used to suppress an opponent. But its scope was wider. This was a faculty no different from perceiving the opponent’s soul and synchronizing with it.

…I was deciphering Wilhelm, and I was becoming him.

I observed him with absolute precision—the shifting of his joints, the infinitesimal twitching of his muscles, even the rhythmic pulses emanating from his vital organs. Moving deeper, I even accessed Wilhelm’s underlying thoughts and sentiments. At last, I became a reflection of Wilhelm.

Cl-cl-clang—!

The blades grew even more laden with significance. In that heartbeat, a flicker of emotion crossed Wilhelm’s features. Under normal circumstances, it would have been invisible to me, but now that I had expanded the territory of Heaven, I felt I understood with certainty.

‘He is caught off guard.’

As I correctly manifested the ‘Heaven’ of the Creation of Heaven and Earth, Wilhelm felt a surge of agitation. To perceive the opponent was to truly comprehend them. In other words, I—the ‘hound-like’ God—now shared a common understanding with Wilhelm. I, a being he believed would never reach his level or grasp his perspective, had done exactly that.

And just as I had deciphered Wilhelm—

‘You must be perceiving me as well.’

…Wilhelm, too, must have finally come to recognize my true nature—to understand exactly what occupied the mind of a being like me. It was a genuine communion of steel. Within the domain of Heaven that we shared, our movements aligned as if we were a single entity. Guided by the vibration of the metal and the murmurs of the blades, we traded blows as effortlessly as a mountain stream.

Then, Wilhelm escalated the intensity.

‘Earth (Ji).’

The ‘Earth’ of the Creation of Heaven and Earth. A defensive mastery that could repel any strike. Yet, this was not a mere technique for neutralization. One merges with the opponent and vibrates in harmony with their entire being. Harmony required empathy. It meant moving past simple observation to experiencing the opponent’s reality as one’s own. It was a mastery that only Wilhelm could achieve—he who had isolated himself in a labyrinth of mental projections, tirelessly striving to interpret and empathize with me.

‘Do you believe I cannot mirror you?’

…Consequently, Wilhelm seemed convinced that I would naturally fail to follow his lead. There was a razor-thin margin between understanding and true empathy, and total empathy was traditionally deemed impossible for an outsider—barring a unique circumstance like Wilhelm’s, who had been forced to witness my actions for an eternity.

Wilhelm had swung his blade while submerged in the persona I inhabited, merging with my intent and logic. To discard one’s ego to resonate with another was no small feat.

But.

‘You are a part of me, and I am a part of you.’

Wilhelm was no ‘outsider.’ He was an entity akin to my own shadow. He was a different version of myself. I recognized his agony and his grief. He had loathed me, labeling me a ‘hound-like’ God, yet he had simultaneously held me in high regard. He had eventually been shaped by my own unyielding spirit.

The sentiment was mutual. At this moment, I held a deep respect for the unbreakable will Wilhelm had displayed. I hungered for the relentless dedication he had shown and the pinnacle of skill he had eventually scaled. We were mirrors of each other’s desires. Despite everything, we were so alike that we resembled a reflection in a glass that felt strangely repulsive.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Involuntarily, we were striking with identical stances and tracing the exact same arcs with our swords. Verbal communication was now redundant. The very act of analysis was pointless. Because my consciousness was Wilhelm’s consciousness, and my resolve was Wilhelm’s resolve. I instinctively anticipated his every move.

‘Open (Gae).’

The ‘Open’ of the Creation of Heaven and Earth. The blade that carves out the world. It was the power to transcend the opponent’s environment and everything within it, eventually becoming the focal point of existence. At this tier, one could commune with every element of the surroundings. Quite literally, one ascended to a divine state.

However, I ceased to merely follow Wilhelm.

‘…Merge into a single entity. Integrate what exists to forge something original.’

Instead, I turned my gaze inward. Communion with the world was not meant for observing the exterior. It was for identifying, unlocking, and understanding the manifestations of the ‘clashing’ elements I held within. Now that I truly knew my adversary, it was time to truly know myself.

First… this vessel, Randolph.

‘There are far too many discordant elements gathered here.’

The Star of the Goddess and the Shards of Devastation. He carried two clashing powers. Although he was somehow sustained by the latent trait ‘Nothingness,’ Randolph’s fundamental nature was undoubtedly closer to ‘Malevolence.’ The strength of shadows and horrific portents. Furthermore, was the ‘Supreme Sword’ not also a power rooted in ‘Demise’? The Malediction of Baal was the same. Because of these, I had grown powerful at an accelerated rate, but if I failed to distinguish and harmonize these forces, I would never attain the same Infinite Domain as Wilhelm.

‘This is precisely why I cannot attain the Archangel’s Grace while in Randolph’s form.’

Then, what of Park Hyunmyeong’s physical form? What of my true self? Though I had received the Archangel’s Grace, it was becoming increasingly fragmented. At this pace, my own body would eventually warp just like Randolph’s. All manner of forces would clash and descend into chaos, and perhaps ‘another Park Hyunmyeong’ would manifest.

If there had been no fragmentation from the start, there would have been no opportunity for such a presence to emerge. Even if that weren’t the case, catastrophes like this could occur—just as the Primal Deities of Malice and Cinder had exploited the cracks in Randolph when he was called to the Tower of the War God.

‘Radiance and shadow cannot occupy the same space.’

Now, I had to admit and embrace it. Coexistence was an act of greed. Reality was structured so that radiance and shadow were distinct from the beginning. That was the essence of equilibrium. At this moment, my balance was shattered.

‘I cannot restore balance entirely on my own…’

There was a threshold. Yet, a solution existed. I looked toward Wilhelm. In response, Wilhelm gave a silent nod.

[Remaining manifestation time via ‘Intact Golden Rule’: 2 minutes]

However, even with Wilhelm’s assistance, the undertaking would be grueling. It was excessively deep and intricate. Two minutes was a desperately short window.

…Could I succeed? No, I had to succeed. I absolutely had to prevail. If I failed now, the chance would be gone for eternity. I possessed the required insight.

‘The insights that surged from the Portal of Truth are still within me.’

The lore left behind by the alternate Randolph had not yet faded. Of course, this was merely a temporary reprieve, but regardless, I had no choice but to attempt it. Because the most vital component was ‘the resolve to persevere, regardless of the consequences or the odds.’

If the two of us combined our efforts, it might be possible. However, a single doubt remained.

‘…Wilhelm. Do you not feel hatred toward me?’

Even if it wasn’t my goal, I had usurped Wilhelm’s body. I had disregarded Wilhelm’s autonomy and consciousness to act as I saw fit. Although he had survived because of it, bitterness could still linger in the depths of his soul. Human sentiment was a convoluted thing. I wondered if it was truly possible for him to assist me with a heart free of malice, setting aside his personal grievances.

I searched Wilhelm’s eyes. In that instant—

Grin!

…Wilhelm’s face broke into a smile. But that expression, that grin—

‘It is incredibly forced.’

It was so clumsy that I found myself laughing out of nowhere. Thinking back, the Wilhelm in my records had never once smiled for anyone. Even though Wilhelm had regained brief flashes of autonomy when I exited the simulation, he had only ever traveled the road I paved. He had played the role of the Knight King perfectly, never venting his own feelings. Far from mirth, he was always cold and rigid.

…Smiling for someone was a new experience for Wilhelm. That was a gesture of absolution, and it was my redemption.

I couldn’t explain it. I simply felt as though I had been vindicated. Observing Wilhelm’s smile, my spirit found peace. That was why I felt a pang of guilt. I felt a deep regret. Was it right for me to claim this remaining time for my own benefit? Should I not dedicate it to you, rather than me—for your own peace?

Then, Wilhelm shook his head, signaling that it was unnecessary. Soon—

“……I.”

He began to speak. Even while merged, I couldn’t perceive the words he intended to form. Instead, Wilhelm spoke with a serene expression, as if he could read my mind.

“Have already found peace.”

…Already found peace? In what way? …How?

His peace was supposed to be liberty—shattering the chains to find freedom. But in the end, he perished during the Great Crusade. Death was not liberty; it was not release. There was no way he would have sought such an end. Yet, he claimed he was redeemed. He said he had no more regrets.

“Focus. O ‘hound-like’ God.”

His command swept away my distractions. He was telling me it was alright, that there was no need for concern. Speaking with indifference, he was offering a final tutelage. He was granting me his ultimate lesson and his parting gift.

Hoooooooop.

I drew a long breath. I cast aside all stray thoughts and began to refine my being in rhythm with Wilhelm’s pulse. And—

‘Wall (Byeo-k).’

The ‘Wall’ of the Creation of Heaven and Earth. Once more, I forged the world. I reconstructed myself, and us, anew.

[The ‘Sword Mastery’ level increases.]
[Sword Mastery has reached Level 34.]
[The ‘Sword Mastery’ level increases.]
[Sword Mastery has reached Level 35.]
[You have completed the hidden quest ‘Surpassing the Mastery Level’ originating from the ‘Master of the Practitioner’s Mountain’!]
[No further quests exist.]
[You have acquired the title ‘Standard-defying Practitioner.’]
[The hidden trait ‘War God Wilhelm’ is added.]
[You have acquired the standard-defying Mystery ‘War God.’]
[You have acquired double Honor (10,000) according to your ‘Great Status.’]
[Your ‘Honor’ has surpassed 50,000.]
[You can acquire the ‘First Qualification’ at the Sanctuary of Honor.]
[You have cleared Main Quest 5, ‘Acquiring a Mystery.’]
[Your level has increased.]

……
………

[The Champion of the ‘Tower of the War God’ has been changed from ‘Randolph’ to ‘Wilhelm.’]
[All curses of the ‘Tower of the War God’ are purified.]
[The Primary Gods of ‘Ill-Omen and Ash’ recognize you, who has presented a new path.]
[To understand each other. And thus, to create anew.]
[Recognizing that this is a supreme realm that can never be achieved through curses and resentment.]
[The two Primary Gods, as a sign of their agreement and to you who has completed all trials, present the ‘Glove of the God of Ill-Omen (Primal)’ and the ‘Glove of the God of Ash (Primal).’]
[The two gloves are completed as a pair, and each glove contains the status of a different Primary God.]
[You have achieved the achievement ‘The First Person Recognized by Both Primary Gods.’]
[You have acquired double Honor (10,000) according to your ‘Great Status.’]
[Your ‘Honor’ has surpassed 60,000.]
[You can acquire the ‘First Qualification (2)’ at the Sanctuary of Honor.]

……
……

[Emptying, filling, and building anew.]
[The second ‘Molt’ begins.]

……

[The ‘Intact Golden Rule’ has been completely consumed.]
[The manifestation of ‘Wilhelm’ has ended.]