Chapter 196  

The Emperor of Lostria slammed his armrest. Frustrating news had been delivered to him yet again. He just could not understand why things like these were constantly happening.

Crack—!

His fist was covered with mana, so the armrest broke when he slammed it. He got up from his throne.

"How are these damn situations arising one after another? Huh? Tell me you, Chancellor!" the Emperor shouted in anger.

"I have no excuse, Your Majesty," the Chancellor replied.

"I’ve dedicated my mana to God, and yet the Apostle died so helplessly. Why?" The Emperor's gaze flickered with anger.

An Emperor of the Lostria Magic Empire was destined to a life of offering mana to the God who protected the Empire. This Emperor was praised as a child for having the endowment to become a Great Wizard. However, as he ascended to the throne as an Emperor, his mana had been forcibly taken away and he ultimately had to relinquish that dream.

The Emperor commanded immense authority but had his own power stripped away. That was the reality as the Emperor of this nation. Yet, this time, regret about such a life was creeping in.

"What is that Astria thing they were talking about? And what do you mean our God could not even enter there?" the Emperor asked, because he was full of questions.

"... I’m not so sure, Your Majesty," the Chancellor replied.

"Ugh, you damn…!” The Emperor could not control his anger any longer.

An invisible force extended from the Emperor's fingertips, gripping the Chancellor's head and yanking it downward. His head was as if being sucked by the Emperor’s grasp into his hand.

"Uaaah... Please forgive me..." the Chancellor said in pain.

"What is it that you know! Huh?” the emperor shouted.

One could see through the gaps between the Emperor’s fingers, the tears of pain that welled up in the Chancellor's eyes. Driven by anger, the Emperor glared fiercely at the Chancellor with his bloodshot eyes.

"Figure out why the god is not revealing himself when he has been insulted by an ordinary wizard, who is not even an Emperor! Figure it out right now! Immediately!" the Emperor shouted.

"Ah, alright! Understood!” the Chancellor replied.

The Emperor threw the Chancellor onto the ground. He gritted his teeth while glaring at the exit through which the Chancellor had left. If the god could not properly resolve this situation this time either, the Emperor intended to destroy everything related to the god, including the religious platform, and erase them from this world.

***

Lee Shin introduced Yu Jia to Jeon Jae-Yong and Yoon Sang in the Office of the Chair of the Korean Challengers Association.

"This person is the Chief of the organization Reverse?”

"Well... I didn't expect the Chief to be such a young woman."

The two could not hide their astonishment as they looked at Yu Jia. They never imagined they would meet the Chief of the organization that had shaken the world in such a way.

"I'm sorry," Yu Jia apologized, lowering her head because she was aware of her own actions.

"The recent terrorist incidents caused by the Empire were also stopped by Reverse. Yu Jia took action at my request,” Lee Shin said.

"So then, does that mean Reverse also prevented the incident that could have happened in our National Security Agency...?" Yoon Sang asked.

Looking at Yu Jia nod shyly, Yoon Sang felt a sense of unease. Despite their strict security measures, Reverse seemed to have infiltrated the National Security Agency.

"Oh, don't worry. Dealing secretly with the magical devices of the National Security Agency was quite challenging for us," Yu Jia replied.

Although she was saying this to comfort them, Yoon Sang did not feel comforted at all.

"Ahem... Could you possibly tell me who it was that did it?” Yoon Sang asked.

"Um... that's..." Yu Jia looked at Lee Shin for help.

That was because she hesitated to provide information about her organization's members. While she could entrust all information to her savior, Lee Shin, she could not do that for anyone else.

"You don’t have to say it. As long as Reverse is under your control, it shouldn't matter," Lee Shin said, looking at Yu Jia.

"Yes! Thank you. I think I won’t be able to reveal the information about my organization members," Yu Jia replied.

"Ahem! Fine. We should be able to find any spies that infiltrated our National Security Agency on our own," Yoon Sang said.

"Haha.?Alright. Try your best to find them,” Yu Jia replied with a light smile to Yoon Sang’s words.

Irritated by her response, Yoon Sang angrily grabbed the phone and dialed.

"... Hey, Kang Sang-Jun!” Yoon Sang shouted over the phone.

- Yes sir!

"Find the member of Reverse who sneaked into our organization!” Yoon Sang ordered.

- Sorry? W-what are you talking about all of a sudden?

Hearing Kang Sang-Jun's bewildered voice over the phone, the people who were standing in the office could not help but chuckle.

"Remember the mischief the Empire did on us the other day? Apparently, Reverse had stopped it for us. So, find out who it was! Right now! Immediately!" Yoon Sang shouted.

- Oh, u-understood!

"Find them by the end of today. If you don't, all of you will be penalized! You understand?” Yoon Sang said.

- Yes sir! We will be sure to find them right away.

After ending the call, Yoon Sang angrily threw the phone onto the chair and took a deep breath and looked at Yu Jia.

"Good luck to you," Yu Jia said.

She teased him with a smile until the end, and Yoon Sang had to try hard to suppress his anger. "Let's move on to the main point," Lee Shin proceeded to explain the reason for gathering them here. "The WCA conference is about to be held, right?"

"Yes, that's correct," Yoon Sang replied.

Only Jeon Jae-Yong was going to attend that conference from this place.

"Due to my provocation this time, the God of the Golden String might reveal himself," Lee Shin warned.

"The God of the Golden String…? Do you really think that mysterious being would reveal himself?" Yoon Sang asked.

"He might not reveal himself, but, in that case, it would be easier. That’s because he can't be anything more than a god who trembles in the face of such provocation," Lee Shin explained.

"What do you mean by 'easier'?" Yoon Sang asked a sharp question, sensing the implications behind Lee Shin's words.

"We need to take over Lostria in order to increase the power of Earth," Lee Shin replied.

"...Are you suggesting an invasion? That's not something we can simply decide," Yoon Sang replied.

"But haven't you already suffered a preemptive attack?" Lee Shin pointed out.

"But starting a full-fledged war is a different story," Yoon Sang replied, shaking his head.

This matter was not something that could be taken lightly, as he pointed out.

"This is what a Dimensional War is like. We cannot miss this opportunity if our Earth is to become stronger. While individuals from the Lostria Empire possess great power, the Gods who protect them have a relatively low divinity class. We need to subdue Lostria and make them share their strengths with us," Lee Shin said.

"...Many people will die though," Jeon Jae-Yong also voiced his concerns.

"We will have to try our best so that they don't die. And that is why we have to wait for their God to come over to Earth," Lee Shin said.

"Is that any different from meeting that God in their dimension?” Jeon Jae-Yong asked.

"The gods cannot easily cross dimensions, especially as their divinity class gets higher. Especially to come to a world like Earth, where dimensional energy is low, they have to pay a significant penalty. The same goes for that God," Lee Shin explained.

"But, didn't you say he was a low-ranking God?” Jeon Jae-Yong asked.

"A low-ranking God is still a god. Dealing with him in their dimension is fine for me, but this is not the case for others. If they cross over to the other world and meet that God, what they will face is death," Lee Shin explained.

As long as the god had divinity class, this was unavoidable. Divinity class was a force that suppressed opponents based on their divine standing. When the gods met opponents without divinity class, they got even stronger. Therefore, to face the gods squarely, one needed an equal divinity class or have Transcendence.

Even if the god was considered a low-ranking god, if an entire Empire like Lostria worshiped that god, the god’s divinity class must be quite high. At least, it would be over 10. That meant when ordinary challengers meet that god, the god’s strength could become two times more powerful than usual.

"This is why we need to move cautiously and observe the opponent’s reactions. If the god crosses over to Earth, I'll kill him," Lee Shin said.

"...You’re going to kill a god? Is that really possible?" Yoon Sang asked.

To them, Gods seemed impossibly distant, so killing them felt somewhat like a grandiose dream.

"Yes, it's possible," Lee Shin replied.

"It was Mr. Lee Shin who killed the Great Devil. Let’s believe in him, Director,” said Jeon Jae-Yong.

Yoon Sang nodded.

"Alright then. I'll convey your message at the WCA conference, Mr. Lee Shin," said Yoon Sang.

"Thank you," Lee Shin replied.

"Then, what should I do?" Yu Jia asked.

"You need to keep an eye out for any new Gates appearing," Lee Shin said.

"Okay," Yu Jia replied.

***

A week passed. Pyon Dunaide, the Emperor of Lostria finally unleashed his boiling rage.

"Nobles, listen up! Kill all the priests right now, and tear down the religious platform—" Pyon Dunaide was in the middle of shouting.

Baaam—!

All of a sudden, the main entrance of the Throne Room broke apart, and someone wrapped in golden light entered. It was difficult to see who it was, because golden strings obscured the figure's body and face.

"What did you say you’ll do with the religious platform?” the one who entered asked in an accusing way.

The voice was eerie. Amidst the golden strings, when a white radiance flickered around the figure’s eyes, the throne that Pyon Dunaide was seated on transformed into hundreds of golden strings, encasing him.

"Sto... Ugh...!" Pyon Dunaide gasped.

Even though Emperor Pyon Dunaide was captured by the intruder, the nobles positioned on both sides could not step forward to help him. They too had sensed it—the God of the Golden String had descended and was indeed here.

"Are you questioning God?” At the god’s words, the nobles collectively bowed their heads.

Emperor Pyon Dunaide locked eyes with the god, the intruder. Simply looking at the indecipherable white radiance around the eyes muddled his mind.

'Could this... really be a god?'

Pyon Dunaide gulped in nervousness.

"D-dear God... My lord..." Pyon Dunaide stuttered in panic.

"Look at me. Emperor," the God of the Golden String said.

"Yes..." Pyon Dunaide replied.

"It seems like you were about to go against the god,” the God of the Golden String said.

"Um… I mean…” Pyon Dunaide muttered.

"Considering the sacrifices you've made so far, I'll give you one more chance. But you will have to pay the price for this," the God of the Golden String said.

The golden strings that bound him loosened slightly, and a sharp end was stabbed into his body.

"St... Nooo—!" the Emperor screamed in agony. A tremendous amount of mana flowed from the Emperor into the god like never before, and the Emperor's face rapidly began to age.

Thud—!

"Gah... Ugh!" Gasping for air as he fell to the ground, the Emperor was convulsing for a while.

His mana, which used to be overflowing, had mostly disappeared. Overwhelmed by the sudden surge of exhaustion, he lost consciousness and collapsed.

"Look up,” said the God of the Golden String.

The nobles who had been bowing their heads turned pale at the sight. The Emperor looked terrible.

"Your, Your Majesty..." the Nobles were stunned.

"This is the price for going against a god. Stand up, everyone,” the God of the Golden String said, looking at the Nobles.

The Emperor was not dead, but it would have been reasonable to say that he was only barely alive. It seemed he could not remain on the throne any longer.

'Your Majesty the Emperor...'

Ade McNaois, who was present, was consumed by anger at the sight of the dying Emperor, but he could not make his feelings obvious. Stepping over the Emperor, the god walked toward the throne. The throne, which was a pile of golden strings a while ago, returned to its original form. The god sat on it as if it was a natural thing.

"Prepare for the next Emperor. And we’re going to head to Earth immediately. Gather all the wizards," the God of the Golden String ordered.

"Yes! Your Majesty!" In response to the god's command, the nobles trembled as they replied.

***

Wizards poured out of the three Dimension Gates that connected Earth and Lostria. The army that had been guarding the place collapsed suddenly under the onslaught of magic.

"Pathetic," the God of the Golden String muttered, looking at how easily the army was defeated.

Every time the God of the Golden String moved his hands, tanks, missiles, and everything else turned into golden strings and attacked the South Korean forces and challengers instead.

"Keaugh!"

"Damn it! Defend yourselves! Shoot those golden strings!"

"Request for reinforcements! We have a god here! It’s really the god from the other world who has invaded!"

The army surrounding Haeundae in Busan crumbled in an instant, and the wizards who followed behind the god also turned Busan into a trail of destruction with their immense firepower.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news, Yu Jia immediately used her abilities and headed toward Lee Shin.

"Mr. Lee Shin!” Yu Jia said urgently.

When she went to his house, Lee Shin was already staring at the carnage on the TV with a cold look.

"You're too late," Lee Shin muttered.

"I'm sorry!" Yu Jia apologized, bowing her head.

It was not just South Korea. Chaos had broken out due to the sudden invasion of wizards in the United States and China as well. While Korean challengers did their best to hold off the wizards in Busan, dealing with them was not easy due to the god's movements.

"Hurry up and open it quickly before more damage is done," Lee Shin said.

"Yes sir!" Yu Jia replied.

A black hole formed in the air, and Yu Jia and Lee Shin immediately crossed over. Thick smoke billowed here and there beneath the blue sky. Some wizards were flying in the sky, and in the distance, the god who was surrounded by golden strings, was moving.

After seeing them, Lee Shin immediately took out the tail of Razmo that he had used before from the Subspace Pocket. Then, dozens of enhancement spells were casted onto the tail. It was in the shape of a spear, suspended in the air.

[Target Fixation]

[Rotational Acceleration]

[Strengthening of the Durability]

[Strengthening of the Piercing]

[Resistance Reduction]

.

.

.

The God of the Golden String and Lee Shin were approximately several kilometers away. However, the gazes of the God of the Golden String and Lee Shin met mid-air, foreshadowing the immense mana power to come.

‘Try blocking this.’

Woong—!

As the spear was thrown, the pre-deployed mana in the air condensed and exploded together.

Baaang—!

With a rough tearing sound, the tail of Razmo flew toward the God of the Golden String. The God, who had transformed the surrounding buildings entirely into gold strings, twisted the strings all the way into a spiral shape and summoned them to collide with the tail of Razmo.

Baaaam—!

There was a deafening explosion. The golden strings were torn apart; Razmo's tail lost its strength and fell to the ground before the god's eyes.

"You arrogant..." the God of the Golden String muttered.

The God of the Golden String, who had instantly grasped his opponent’s strength in this one attack that threatened him, looked up at Lee Shin.

"Wow, you walked into hell on your own," Lee Shin muttered, standing atop a building, looking down at the god, mocking him.