Chapter 59
Chapter 59: Heaven and Earth Resonance (2)
The moment he refused, Isnael’s presence changed. For an instant, it even felt murderous.
-What a pity.
Yul immediately prepared himself for battle, but the other side did not attack.
-Then let us meet in the next created world. That is, if you survive until then.
Isnael slipped away between the pillars of light.
-Hm? He has no intention of exercising force or anything?
-Of course not. He has no intention of killing you. You are the one who opened this Heaven and Earth Resonance, and because of that, you are receiving tremendous blessings. You are being protected by exalted beings in places you cannot see.
-Oh?
-And besides, Isnael knows exactly who is casting their [gaze] upon you.
-Gaze?
-It means that someone so exalted that even mentioning them is impossible is watching over you. Hmm.
Rukit looked toward the pillar of water where the Heaven and Earth Resonance was unfolding. Countless creatures, orcas, spearfin squids, sun flying fish, and many others, were riding the water column upward.
And there was even a single mackerel. Ah. So the powerful beings of the sea were appearing now as well.
-Shouldn’t we stop that?
-Well. Do you even have the qualification to do so? They are ascending this water column of their own will.
-They’re not hypnotized?
-You have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ascend into a better existence than you are now. Are you really going to give that up?
Yul had experienced Ascension multiple times already, so he was free from such thoughts, but for some creatures, it seemed different.
Then, Rukit’s gaze became strange. It looked as though he was yearning for it.
-Does that include you as well?
-Of course. Even in this state, with only my spirit body remaining, I wish to step onto the Path of Ascension.
-You said you’d become a slave of the Aeons.
-If you choose a small pillar of light, that won't happen. Once you are far from the struggle for Moon’s supremacy, the Aeons lose interest.
-Hm.
So the large, major pillars of light meant serving under the Aeons and fighting for the Moon’s supremacy.
-Look there. Those are the heroes of the sea who were with you.
-Huh?
Among them were those who had been together in the submarine just moments ago.
-Ooooh!? The submarine controls are unresponsive!!
-Evacuate, Doctor!
-I can’t. I’m heading into the Path of Ascension together with the submarine! If there is anyone who does not wish to reach the Path of Ascension, disembark now!
Inside the gigantic submarine shooting up into the sky, Yul, together with the Regulator, locked eyes with them all.
-Ah?! Isn’t that Yul?
-Hohoho. Isn’t that Yul?
-Were you here!?
Those in poor condition escaped from the submarine and came over to Yul’s side. Yet everyone was alive. Even the True Word Dragon Lord, Timur, was still alive.
Yul glanced at Timur, then asked Tuania.
-Is this.. the power of the Regulator?
-Why is that guy still here?
-The situation changed too suddenly. There was an opinion that there was no need to kill Timur while he was in a near-death state.
Yul stared at Timur with a sulky expression, but nodded for now.
-Is everyone safe?
-Some are seriously injured, but they’re still alive. But can’t you feel it? It’s calling to us from the sky.
-No. I don’t feel that.
Yul thought that perhaps because he himself had become the key to this phenomenon, he could not feel that “call.”
-Hm. Indeed. It’s calling us from above.
When Yalmuka said that, Yul shared the information he had just learned. That one could choose a pillar of light, and that the larger the pillar, the higher the chance of being chosen by the Aeons to become their warrior.
-Well, no matter whom one serves, life is a continuous struggle, isn't it? If I go up there, I feel I’ll acquire even more perfect martial techniques.
-Kuhk. I’m going.
At that moment, the injured Gehenna stepped forward and shouted.
-Wait, Gehenna, you’re going?
-I can’t miss the chance to become part of the Deep King Tribe. Why do you think the Orca Tribe allows the Ascensionists to remain? Even among the Traditionalists, there are some who long for Ascension. And that someone is me.
-Tuania, are you going too?
-I… I don’t know yet.
-I’m going as well. With these injuries, I won’t survive anyway.
-Hohoho. To a new world!
The injured Teller and Mujin broke away from the group and disappeared somewhere.
-Tuania, are you going too?
-I……
Within Tuania, the “call” telling her to ascend clashed with a “prophecy” that she would lose everything going forward. The moment she answered this call, would that prophecy come true? After serious deliberation, Tuania chose to struggle against fate.
-I’m staying. Someone has to look after the orcas. I heard that Matriarch Lancia and the elder orcas have already headed onto the Path of Ascension. Only a few orcas will be left within the tribe.
-Huh.
Even Lancia had gone up the Path of Ascension?
-Yul, let’s go back to the tribe.
-No. I can’t go. I’m fixed in place right now.
Yul pointed at the ring-shaped Regulator floating in midair. He could move his body a little by struggling, but he could not leave the Regulator any farther.
It felt as though Yul himself had become a component of this Heaven and Earth Resonance.
-Be careful. I’ll go down to the tribe and gather the orcas who still have their senses.
-Got it.
After that, Gehenna and even Timur, who was completely at death’s door, disappeared between the pillars of water. Dr. Kowalski from the submarine that had flown off earlier was nowhere to be seen.
Besides them, many beings Yul knew were being carried upward by that flow.
‘Strangely enough, I only see sea creatures.’
Creatures such as humans or sea elves were nowhere to be seen.
‘Isn’t that Adol, the Penguin Sorcerer King?’
Among the creatures living near the boundary with land, Adol alone was soaring into the sky on this current.
-Are you going?
-Of course. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t protect my kingdom any longer, but my rival, the Sorcerer King, has also entered this Path of Ascension.
-That’s unfortunate.
-My life in the Lower Realm ends here. Another penguin besides me will rebuild the kingdom. Our species isn’t greatly affected by this [call].
With that, Adol found a pillar of light somewhere and disappeared.
As all manner of creatures passed by, Yul slowly turned his gaze to Rukit.
Rukit, no longer able to endure it, began to move.
-You’re going?
-This may be the last chance.
-What about the seat of the Orca God?
-I’ll give it to you. Even if you become another kind of creature, they will still treat you as a god. Parang will feel lonely.
Rukit brought his head to Yul’s forehead.
Within Yul’s body, he felt something like a “pillar” being erected. It was only a sensation, but he could recognize that this was [divinity].
-I’m going. The contract will be terminated as well—the Moon is a different world from here. Let’s meet again in the next age.
-……Yes.
After Rukit disappeared, Yul was soon left alone. After a certain number of sea creatures passed by, silence finally descended.
Those who could ascend had already gone up. The rest could not rise any farther, either because they lacked the qualifications, could not hear the call, lacked courage, or were satisfied with the present.
For many such reasons, Yul realized that the remaining sea creatures would not ascend.
Then, a massive light began to form from the Regulator.
Yul realized that the Heaven and Earth Resonance did not merely create Paths of Ascension. There was something more to come.
It felt as though information was reverberating from within the Regulator.
-The next schedule is, a new Aeon descends and alters the rules of this world……?
An immense presence was felt from the Moon. This was not something that could be explained as rays of light or pillars of light.
Within it, fragments of a being could be seen.
Within that presence, Yul sensed a creature of staggering scale, with a dorsal fin larger than a mountain range, eyes that spewed magma, and a breath that shone like the light of a star.
《Behold, I, Oron, the Indeterminate of Creation, descend.》
《I enforce the authority of rules according to the Aeons’ ‘Cakeworld Treaty Agreement.’》
《All sea creatures shall each gain a gem somewhere upon their bodies.》
《This gem stores karma, and through it, they can interact with First-Class humanoid species such as humans, elves, dwarves, and beastfolk.》
At his declaration, the rules of the world changed.
Even Yul, who was opening the Heaven and Earth Resonance, was no exception.
A moonstone formed on Yul’s forehead. And due to the optical effect of adularescence, the gem shimmered with an iridescent glow.
《Each creature shall be assigned a Rank, and that Rank may be raised by accumulating Karma.》
Yul confirmed that he, too, had been assigned a Rank.
[Rank : ??]
Perhaps it was unconfirmed because his Karma was in violent flux.
《Creatures that reach the Mythic Rank may ascend at any time. However, in that case, their Rank will be reset, and they will be demoted to Common.》
《All sea creatures will come to value individuals and family units over groups. However, this change will occur very slowly, gradually, over a long span of time.》
《Declaration complete.》
With that, the declaration ended.
Yul felt that something had been “decided.”
So this was the act of an omnipotent being who rewrote the rules of the world…….
As the declaration ended, a gaze turned toward Yul.
The difference in power between them should have been staggering, yet Yul could not perceive the other’s level in the slightest.”
-O opener of the gate, I shall bestow upon you a blessing befitting you.
-What?
-《Influence Prohibition》 was enacted by me, Oron, the Indeterminate of Creation.
Yul said nothing, yet he felt something settle within him.
Instinctively, he understood that this “blessing” allowed him to evade the gaze of the Aeons.
Soon, the other ceased emitting its presence.
Only then did Yul realize he had been holding his breath the entire time, and he swam, lifting his head out of the water column.
‘The force that bound me to the Heaven and Earth Resonance has been released.’
The Regulator, which had been drawing forth vast amounts of magic, split into four pieces and then vanished somewhere at the speed of light.
It would reveal itself again at the time of the next Heaven and Earth Resonance. Until then, no one would be able to find it, no matter how they searched.
Yul felt the Moon returning to its original position. At the same time, he felt the water column descending under gravity.
‘Hm?’
If a water column of this immense scale were to fall, it would cause catastrophic tsunamis and inflict tremendous damage upon the coastlines.
Yul realized that sapient beings other than the sea creatures he knew would suffer that damage.
-Damn it, I need to warn them…….
The changes occurring within Yul’s body were anything but normal.
He felt an unbearable load throughout his entire body. It felt as though every part of him was being torn apart.
Extreme pain surged, and his mind turned white. Instinctively, he opened the status window.
[Warning : Resource Storage at Maximum Capacity]
[Current Experience : 1,000,000/9,600]
[Current Karma : 10,000,000]
[Current Lifespan : 1,000 years 00 days 0 hours.]
[You have reached your ‘Limit’.]
[Evolution and Ascension are required.]
[If not resolved within 1 minute, the body will collapse. 59…… 58…….]
‘Damn it.’
Yul swiftly performed the Stage 7 Evolution, then began Ascension into a new race.