Chapter 87

Chapter 86

Why had he been unable to win in all the previous Celestial Throne Wars?

Even amidst the confusion caused by the memories of countless reincarnated souls, Jowoo continuously questioned himself.

Was it because he lacked power?

No.

Especially in the first Celestial Throne War, his side had overwhelming strength, even surpassing the enemy.

At that time, his status and reputation as the god among gods and the throne among thrones were at their peak.

Surprisingly, when he declared the Celestial Throne War, countless celestial thrones followed him.

In particular, the number of high-ranking celestial thrones above the 1,000th dimension was overwhelmingly on his side.

And the second Celestial Throne War.

The most mysterious defeat.

There were no strategic errors, and the choices made at each moment were not bad. The morale of his side was high, and even luck was on their side.

Yet, they ultimately suffered the most miserable and powerless defeat.

In the subsequent wars, despite thorough preparation and meticulous strategies through countless reincarnations, they could not avoid repeated defeats.

The cause of defeat in all those wars could be diagnosed surprisingly simply.

Unlike him, the celestial thrones had no weaknesses.

They were beings who had been granted new names by the universe and inscribed them on the 'Dimensional Stone,' making them essentially immortal.

Even if they exhausted their power in battle, their existence would only temporarily decline, and they could rebuild their foundation over an almost eternal life.

Occasionally, some celestial thrones, whose existence had drastically declined and were on the verge of extinction, would flee to the corners of the universe.

However, they were only on the 'verge' of extinction, not actually disappearing or losing their souls.

Ultimately, after a long recovery period, they would return to the battlefield.

In contrast, he was the Guardian.

As long as the human race, the object he must protect, existed, he could not win this war no matter what he did.

If the same conclusion were to repeat itself again, he would have to hide in another time period and continue his reincarnations.

To minimize the impact on his soul, he had made the extreme choice of erasing his memories (though this was also a strategically excellent choice). However, since the capacity of the soul is not infinite, it was uncertain how long he could continue this cycle of reincarnation.

‘Hmm...’

Even if his side achieved a dramatic victory in this war and all the celestial thrones suffered near-extinction, it was an undeniable truth that they would eventually return to the battlefield.

Therefore, from the moment he became the enemy of all the celestial thrones, it was as if an endless Celestial Throne War had begun.

Ultimately, the method he chose was to evolve the entire human civilization into a high-level civilization, or rather, a high-level race.

To make human civilization capable of resisting the power of the celestial thrones.

In fact, some high-level races in the universe had protected themselves and sustained their civilizations without being manipulated by the celestial thrones' interventions or games.

The question was whether humans had the capacity to control such immense power.

Humans, a race that had been in constant conflict and bloodshed across all fields and groups, from tribe to tribe, religion to religion, and nation to nation.

Some might say that humans would eventually realize their innate rights and the value of peace, but given their history of conflict and division, it was uncertain whether they could control the sudden acquisition of immense power, even to those who had loved them infinitely, like Jowoo.

This was an issue that, despite countless reincarnations, he had never been able to resolve.

There was a risk that, due to his actions, the rare race of humans in the universe might self-destruct.

Would Namgung Jangho, who had obtained the power of a giant, be able to control it after repelling the celestial thrones?

He was undoubtedly the young sword master of the Namgung family.

Given that, it was obvious that he would use the immense power of the giant for the benefit of his family.

He would inevitably project the giant's power beyond the family, which would be a harbinger of further division and conflict.

Thus, the Central Plains would become a battleground for all the awakened ones.

Jowoo, who loved the human race more than anyone, knew their nature all too well.

But he still wanted to believe in them.

The 'flame of humanity' he loved was not just about desire.

Whether this gamble of his would lead to the destruction or prosperity of human civilization was still unknown.

Most importantly, winning this tiresome Celestial Throne War was the top priority.

Late at night, Jowoo, who had been deeply lost in thought, was visited by Jegal Yun.

Creak—

Jowoo smiled as he looked at Jegal Yun, who had returned to his human form after retracting his awakened body.

"You're really lucky. Do you even need to get married? If you miss a woman, you can always... "

"Shut up!"

Jegal Yun, trembling all over and glaring at Jowoo as if he wanted to kill him, let out a long sigh.

"Phew... I'm not in the mood for jokes."

As Jegal Yun became serious, Jowoo's expression also turned grave.

"Is the military strategist of the Jo family council planning some grand strategy?"

"No."

"Then what brings you here so late at night?"

Jegal Yun's eyes darkened.

"I want to fully understand the true strength of the celestial thrones."

"Strength?"

Jowoo immediately understood his intentions as a military strategist.

Without understanding the enemy's strength, all his strategies would be meaningless, which was why he had been unable to sleep even at this late hour.

"Hmm..."

But Jowoo found it difficult to speak.

Even if he wanted to explain, the concepts of the celestial thrones' abilities and true nature were too vast to describe using the human perspective.

After some thought, Jowoo finally spoke, trying to convey the information to Jegal Yun as simply as possible.

"Let's divide them into physical and non-physical categories."

"Physical?"

Jowoo nodded.

"Exactly. Celestial thrones that project their existence physically. In simpler terms, they are like the giant form of Namgung. Most of them have the transcendent ability to crumble mountains and cause tsunamis with a single gesture. Over 70% of the celestial thrones belong to this physical category. While some have immense existence, they are not particularly difficult to deal with."

"Difficult? Not difficult?"

The only being who could say that celestial deities who could cause tsunamis and crumble mountains with a single gesture were not difficult to handle was this madman.

"The problem is the non-physical category of celestial thrones."

The term 'non-physical' did not immediately resonate with Jegal Yun.

In the martial world, the physical category would include all martial artists who had mastered martial arts.

If the non-physical category were to be called something, it might include merchants, scholars, and artisans.

"Do they have different professions and ranks based on their abilities?"

Jowoo smiled and replied.

"Not exactly. Let me give you an example."

Jowoo gazed at the distant universe outside the window.

"Among the countless races in the universe, there are those who have evolved their mental civilization to an extreme degree."

"Mental civilization?"

"Yes. For some races, what we call telekinesis is a basic ability they can use from birth, just like humans learn to speak and walk."

"Wow..."

To be able to use such advanced telekinesis from birth, which humans can only achieve through extreme cultivation and rare enlightenment!

"For them, the concept of language doesn't even exist. They don't need it because they can project their thoughts and wills to others at any time."

To project one's thoughts to others?

Of course, there is such a realm in the martial world.

The highest realm of the Buddhist sect, Huiguang Xinyu.

It is a legendary realm that can only be achieved after long meditation and enlightenment, finally reaching the stage of transcending the physical body.

However, transcending the physical body is a semi-divine realm, so it is not easily attainable.

After Dharma, only legendary masters like Huigai and Huineng could have achieved it.

"Then, what kind of abilities would a being who has broken through the ranks and become a throne among such advanced mental civilizations have?"

A being who, from birth, can use telekinesis and Huiguang Xinyu as basic abilities, and then breaks through to become a throne?

Jegal Yun could not even imagine his abilities.

"There's one called 'Thinking Vortex.'"

Thinking Vortex?

What kind of name is that?

"Is that a throne's name?"

Jegal Yun's question was met with a nod from Jowoo.

"Yes. He can wield a massive telekinetic storm and control the wills of all mental entities within it."

"Mental entities?"

"Mental entities encompass all beings with thoughts."

Jegal Yun focused on the phrase 'all beings with thoughts' that Jowoo used.

"Not just humans, but thrones as well?"

"Of course. Because of this ability, he became the leader of all the celestial thrones in his galaxy."

"How far does his telekinetic storm reach?"

Jowoo hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words.

A telekinetic storm that covers an entire star system.

It was difficult to describe the vastness of that vortex.

In the end, Jowoo had to explain it from a Central Plains perspective.

"The world."

"The world."

A term that referred to all territories under the sky.

Jegal Yun was shocked and exclaimed.

"Mad! Then there's no hope of winning!"

If his telekinetic storm covered the entire world, it would mean that all humans would be controlled by his will.

At that moment, Jowoo's eyes darkened like the depths of a black abyss.

"I can negate everything about him."

Jegal Yun felt a chill run down his spine.

The simple statement that he could negate the opponent contained an unimaginable and immense power.

A transcendent being who could control all humans in the world with his will.

Jowoo, who could negate the entire life of such a transcendent being, was truly a being who negated existence.

Even if one cultivated for an almost infinite time to build existence comparable to the universe, in front of Jowoo's absolute ability, it would all be futile and meaningless.

To the celestial thrones, Jowoo was an absolute counter and a cosmic disaster.

Jegal Yun had to deeply feel how great Jowoo was.

"Then, are there no thrones that can threaten you?"

"Hmm..."

After a long moment of contemplation, Jowoo spoke again.

"I don't know about threats, but there are many difficult ones."

"Difficult?"

Even Jowoo, who could negate the existence of any opponent with a single gesture, felt burdened by some thrones?

And there were many of them?

Jegal Yun could not even imagine their abilities.

"Who are they? What kind of abilities do they have?"

At that moment, Jowoo thought of one being.

Just thinking about him made Jowoo feel nauseous.

How could he describe this being in human language?

Vile, cruel, cunning, despicable, sinister...

No matter how many words he used, none of them seemed to fit this being.

"There's a throne called 'Gap.' He is my absolute counter."

"Gap? Counter?"

Could there be a counter to Jowoo, who could negate the existence of any opponent?

"More precisely, 'Harvesting Gap.' Among all the celestial thrones in the universe... "

Jowoo's frown deepened, and his face contorted, making Jegal Yun even more curious.

"Who is he?"

After a long moment of contemplation, Jowoo finally spoke.

"Just... a bastard?"

Harvesting Gap.

The moment Jowoo thought of this traitorous being, a surge of intense emotion overwhelmed him.

He was a being who could hide all his existence within a gap.

Therefore, Jowoo had never been able to fully perceive his essence.

The only being who could completely nullify Jowoo's ability to negate existence.

The most secretive, cunning, and vicious being among the countless celestial thrones in the universe.

Jowoo knew nothing about his origin, the thrones he associated with, or even the type of abilities he possessed.

The only advantage Jowoo had over him was that he had experienced his cunning strategies multiple times.

He was likely still observing the Celestial Throne War and claiming neutrality, but Jowoo vividly remembered the despicable actions he had taken at the end of each war.

In fact, he had always moved faster than any other thrones in all the wars.

He was undoubtedly making meticulous preparations to secure a favorable position.

'Phew...'

There was one fear that Jowoo could not forget.

Feeding.

Even as a reincarnated soul with erased memories, the word 'feeding' always evoked a vague sense of fear.

Taking advantage of the chaos in the Celestial Throne War, the despicable Gap had harvested more than half of the human souls, eventually ascending to the ranks of the creators.

Until the final moment, no other thrones knew the immense value hidden in human souls.

Only Harvesting Gap seemed to have known the true secret of humans, and his actions at the final moment were truly shocking.

Thus, when Jowoo suddenly started cursing and then fell into a serious contemplation, Jegal Yun could not help but be curious.

Jowoo's attitude was strange to Jegal Yun.

He had never seen Jowoo so perplexed and fearful about a single being.

Jegal Yun, being a strategist, immediately grasped the core of the issue.

"Even if he is a great being, you have already faced him countless times, haven't you?"

Jowoo, through countless reincarnations, was a being who transcended time.

From all the information Jowoo had shared, the abilities of the celestial thrones could not transcend time.

Transcending time meant reaching the ranks of the creators.

Among the celestial thrones, only Jowoo possessed the ability to transcend time.

With the ability to transcend time and negate existence, Jowoo was revered as the true god among gods and the throne among thrones by all the celestial thrones.

"Of course, I have experienced all his strategies and power."

Jegal Yun was even more confused by Jowoo's words.

Even before recovering his past memories and abilities, Jowoo was a man whose wisdom reached the heavens.

Why was he afraid of a being he had faced countless times?

No matter how brilliant the strategies of 'Harvesting Gap' were, he would be like a monkey in Jowoo's palm.

"If that's the case, shouldn't it be easy to prepare? You know how he will act, right? Why are you so perplexed?"

Jowoo sighed.

"There is no answer."

"Answer?"

"Yes. He can gather all his existence into a gap and erase his essence from the universe in an instant."

"Wow?"

"Any strategy or preparation is meaningless. The moment he senses my existence, he will disappear without hesitation. That guy... has not emerged from his gap for over ten thousand years."

Jowoo's ability to negate the existence of all beings by recognizing their essence.

This ability could be compared to a spear that could pierce anything.

However, Harvesting Gap could be compared to an invincible shield that could block anything.

He could gather his 'essence' into a gap at any time.

"If I had ever detected him, I would have given up all my subsequent reincarnations and infinitely negated his time."

This terrifying Jowoo, who shuddered at the mere thought of this being, must be an unimaginable demon.

"Then, does he have no weaknesses at all?"

"I don't know."

How could he know the weaknesses of a being whose essence he had never even sensed?

A sudden question came to Jegal Yun's mind.

"But... if he just avoids and hides from you, there's no reason to be so afraid, right?"

Jowoo sighed.

"Phew... What do you mean by defeat in a war?"

After a moment of thought, Jegal Yun replied.

"If the losses in manpower are so severe that our side can no longer continue the battle, that would be defeat. Or if the supply lines are completely cut off, making further advancement meaningless, or if we encounter a natural disaster that makes it difficult to continue the battle, there are many