Chapter 38

'Hmm? What is it?'

Kairos, who had been sound asleep inside the iron mace, suddenly awoke, sensing an immense storm of energy.

'Huh? Where am I now? Why is that guy over there making such a fuss?'

Kairos was puzzled to see Auto screaming inside some kind of tub.

But that was only for a moment.

'Rebirth?!'

Kairos was shocked to see Auto undergoing a process called 'Rebirth' inside the tub.

'Rebirth' referred to the act of a powerful individual, who had reached a certain level of mastery, reconstructing their physical body using the power of their mana.

Reconstructing the body!

The concept of 'Rebirth' was to transcend the limitations of the body determined at birth and form a more powerful one.

'To perform Rebirth with such a concoction? This is ridiculous! This is a scam! A scam!'

He was flabbergasted.

As far as Kairos knew, 'Rebirth' was a privilege granted only to those who had achieved a high level of mastery.

Yet, that slick guy was artificially achieving 'Rebirth' through a magical concoction.

'He's not just any slick guy. To try to achieve Rebirth through such a trick.'

At that moment,

"Really... like... a dog..."

After screaming and suffering for a while, Auto slumped and lost consciousness.

'What an idiot!'

Kairos was terrified at the sight of Auto.

'You fool! Wake up! Hurry! Losing consciousness during Rebirth means it's all over!'

But it seemed that Auto, who had already lost consciousness, could not hear Kairos' cries.

'Tsk tsk. In the end, he's going to die because of his tricks.'

Kairos watched as Auto's body dissolved in the golden liquid and clicked his tongue.

Kairos, a supreme strongman who had once dominated an era, knew all too well what it meant to lose consciousness during Rebirth.

'You brat. You were quite clever, but it seems your life has come to an end. They say one falls for their own tricks, and you are a perfect example. Don't be too resentful; you're just reaping what you sowed.'

As he was mourning for Auto,

'Wait. What will happen to me if that slick guy dies?'

A sudden thought crossed his mind.

'Could it be... I'll be trapped here and have to spend another eternity?'

If Auto died, it was obvious that Kairos would not be able to keep his promise.

Kairos' hope of obtaining rest by destroying the iron mace, which contained his soul, would be in vain.

'Damn it!'

His heart raced.

'You slick guy! Wake up! Hurry! What will I do if you die?'

He didn't want to spend another few hundred years trapped in the iron mace, like some kind of ghost.

He just wanted to rest.

'Damn it! I have no choice!'

In the end, Kairos decided to help Auto.

Whoosh!

Kairos gathered the energy within the iron mace and sent it to Auto.

He then took control of the rampant mana in place of Auto, helping the Rebirth process to proceed normally.

Kairos, who had once been a supreme strongman controlling a third of the continent, easily controlled the rampant mana.

Having undergone Rebirth twice in the past, he was adept at controlling the rampant mana.

* * *

A few hours later.

"Huff!"

Auto, who had regained consciousness, gasped and sat up abruptly.

Splash!

Golden droplets splashed.

It seemed he had lost consciousness and was half-submerged in the liquid in the tub.

"Am I... not dead...?"

Auto looked at his hands in disbelief.

He was sure he was going to die.

- Are you feeling better?

At that moment, Kairos' voice echoed.

"Huh?"

- Such a foolish and ignorant brat. Trying to achieve Rebirth through tricks, of course, leads to this.

"Tricks? Rebirth? What are you talking about?"

Auto knew a lot about 'Territory War' but was clueless about the realms of the strong.

Since this information couldn't be obtained through the game, he couldn't understand what Kairos was saying.

- Reconstructing the body!

"Huh?"

- Rebirth is accompanied by immense pain. To control mana while enduring that pain requires superhuman mental strength. No matter how many tricks you use, if you lack the mental strength to endure the pain, it's impossible to reconstruct the body!

"I don't really understand what you're saying..."

- Such an ignorant fool!

Kairos burst into anger.

- You lost control of the rampant mana and lost consciousness, so I had to step in!

"R-Really...?"

- If I hadn't stepped in, you would have been reduced to a puddle of blood by now!

Only then did Auto realize why he had survived.

'Ah! He helped me while I was unconscious!'

Even though Auto thought he was going to die, there was a reason he had survived.

"Thank you so much. I really thought I was going to die."

- I don't need your thanks, you worthless brat. It wasn't a difficult task for me.

"Still, I'm grateful."

- I just want you to keep your promise. Since I showed you mercy, you must keep your promise. Understand?

"Of course."

Auto was determined to destroy the iron mace to repay Kairos for saving him.

'Wait.'

But a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

"Why...?"

- Hmm?

"Why didn't you just take my body? You just helped me?"

- Why would I want your body, you insignificant brat?

Kairos replied curtly.

- I have no attachment to this world. Although I was betrayed by Argon and couldn't achieve my great cause, I was a man who dominated an era. I've done everything I wanted to do. Why would I want your body?

"Ah?"

- I just want to rest. I can't take revenge on Argon now.

"I understand."

Thus, Auto completely trusted Kairos.

Why?

Kairos had the opportunity to take Auto's body but didn't, and he was a deceased person with no attachment to life.

'Well, he must want to rest now.'

Auto understood Kairos' feelings and expressed his gratitude again.

"I won't forget my promise."

- You should.

"Is it a bit embarrassing? That's all I can do to repay you?"

- Hmm! If you really want to repay me...

Kairos cautiously suggested.

- Have a drink with me sometimes.

"A drink??"

- Let me borrow your body for a moment so I can have a drink. I don't need anything else, but I want to have a drink.

"That's not a problem."

Auto readily agreed to Kairos' request.

Since he owed his life to Kairos, how could he not repay him to that extent?

- Really?

"It's not a big deal."

- Hmm! You're a grateful one!

"Anyway, thank you. I'll let you have a drink when we get out of here."

- Understood.

Auto finished his conversation with Kairos and decided to check his status window to see his current condition.

* * *

[Notice: You have completed the <Body Modification> quest!]

[Notice: Your body has been reconstructed!]

[Notice: You have achieved <Divine Body>!]

Thanks to Kairos' help, the <Body Modification> was successfully completed.

[Divine Body]

A body enhanced to use the powers of the Invincible Emperor.

The owner of this body becomes a unique being as a magic swordsman, capable of using magic and sword skills freely.

Effects:

- Skill enhancement +7% per level

- Stat enhancement +7% per level

- All abilities +20%

- Health regeneration +200%

- Mana regeneration +200%

- Stamina regeneration +200%

- Sword skill proficiency increase +25%

- Magic proficiency increase +25%

- No cooldown between sword skills and magic