"My skills seem to have improved."
His expression of surprise was in stark contrast to his matter-of-fact statement. Kang Sihyun shrugged his shoulders towards him, who had regained his composure relatively quickly compared to others.
"It's more accurate to say I've regained them rather than improved."
"What?"
"I can explain later if needed. For now, everyone, get ready."
It seems he's really angry.
It's the same as with the Nonus. When the rules within their created space collapse, the rulers become angry. At first, when I was ignorant about them, I thought it was simply because it was their space. But after regaining my memory, I understood the truth hidden beneath their anger.
They are afraid.
Afraid of their space collapsing, of losing control in the only place they can exist.
They desire to be flawless, even in a confined space, since they cannot come out.
It's like the life of prisoners who must live hidden in the shadows, unable to see the sun.
Although it's been a very long time, the memories of my youth are as vivid as if it was yesterday. My body remembers how I fought, how I handled the bow.
So, was I meant to be marked as an archer?
Kang Sihyun glanced at the divine weapon that had returned to his hand after collapsing the sanctuary.
I now understand what that voice I encountered during the Decumanus battle was.
The sealed memories of Adam.
That is, they were mine.
Adam's suppressed self-awareness awakened to assist me in a moment of crisis. Now that the memories have awakened, I should be able to use the same abilities I had when facing Decumanus. Kang Sihyun stood upright as the fury of the raging Irregular blew fiercely, swirling his hair and clothes mercilessly.
"Ugh!"
Several Awakened Individuals staggered under the wrath of the first-generation Irregular, who had received the most power from Eve. Even Hahyuk frowned. Kang Sihyun, without a hint of worry, switched his bow for a sword and swung it.
A white aura sliced through the air, breaking the momentum. The Awakened Individuals blinked in astonishment at Kang Sihyun.
"Aura…?"
One of the Chinese Awakened muttered incredulously. Whispers of confusion about him not being a swordsman reached his keen ears, prompting a low chuckle from Kang Sihyun as he readjusted his grip on the sword.
At this point, class distinctions are meaningless.
All power originally stemmed from one source.
'Did you know? That the source of the power you wield is ours.'
The words of a Nonus he met in Russia flashed through his mind.
It was almost a sophism. Strictly speaking, it was true that the source of power for both Awakened Individuals and Irregulars was the same, but it was not the Irregulars. Rather, they were merely a byproduct of that power.
The source of all 'abilities' was the Creator.
Eve shared a part of the divine power granted by the Creator with the Irregulars, and that same divine power became the core of the Awakened Individuals. I didn't know when my memory was vague, but now that it's clear, I understand.
The core was, in essence, a form of divine power.
"So it was Copy…"
"What?"
"I've realized something new."
"…?"
Hahyuk looked puzzled at his monologue. Knowing he was being scrutinized with suspicion, Kang Sihyun, with a novel expression, felt the power of the core, the divine force, coursing through his body.
When Kang Sihyun first mentioned the Copy class, it seemed absurdly overpowered, but now it made sense. In fact, it wasn't just a copy. It was more appropriate to consider it omnipotence.
All classes were originally powers granted by the Creator, belonging to him.
All classes combined represent the power of the savior and the executor. The power was fragmented into classes.
The question is, how did it come to be?
Kang Sihyun lowered his gaze, piecing together the information he knew.
The power he had sealed and shared with humans was not fully unleashed, but the potential of the divine force circulating within him was no different from when he was Adam. There was only one conclusion left, so he smirked bitterly.
"I see why we became so weak."
It was too much interference. Although it felt foolish, he knew it was the best course of action, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
It was inevitable.
To protect humans from the escaped Irregulars, as the sealing power weakened.
It was best to split the remaining power and implant it in talented humans.
"In the end, both Adam and Eve were me."
Those two, hailed as the first Awakened and saviors of humanity, were indeed one being upon closer inspection. Kang Sihyun bit his lip, contemplating the Creator who had weakened
.
He used his power to seal Gulra, to be reborn and defy fate. Additionally, his excessive interference in human lives and even reversing time would have significantly weakened the divine power. Conversely, the chains of fate constricting him would have strengthened.
'You are the savior, Adam.'
The divine proclamation echoed in his ears. Knowing his role as a savior, Kang Sihyun steeled his heart and observed the entity emerging from the collapsed sanctuary.
A thunderous vibration spread in all directions. Sephtimus, clearly furious, made his presence known with each step laden with anger. The Awakened Individuals shuddered at his aura.
The battle had started playfully, but now he was seriously angry. Just as Kang Sihyun had trembled in the battle against Caris, the Awakened who had not faced the power of a first-generation Irregular were overwhelmed by sheer murderous intent. Kang Sihyun took a step forward on behalf of his group.
"Sephtimus."
Calling his name, Sephtimus's gaze locked onto him. Without his favored black sword and with Pia thoroughly monitoring the psychic realm, there was no one among the group who could be puppeteered. Confident in the drastically different situation from before his regression, Kang Sihyun smiled as Sephtimus belatedly surveyed his group and burst into laughter.
His powerful and resonant laughter echoed endlessly. Even the simple sound waves felt threatening to the Awakened Individuals.
"What, what's this?"
"Is that creature the master of this dungeon?"
"Everyone, stay alert!"
Caught off guard by the sudden laughter, the crowd murmured. Kang Sihyun, leaving Hahyuk and Lao Qian to calm them, stared directly at the laughing Irregular. Sephtimus, ceasing his laughter, straightened up and raised a hand.
"You've all swarmed here, thinking you could defeat me with these numbers?"
"…"
"And showed such provocation?"
Glancing at the collapsed sanctuary, Sephtimus smirked derisively. Kang Sihyun silently gathered his divine power.
This cannot drag on. Even with strong Awakened by his side, realistically, only those with extensive combat experience and S-class rank could fully unleash their power against a first-generation. Only Hahyuk and Lao Qian met Kang Sihyun's criteria, so he remained alert as Sephtimus tilted his neck, cracking his bones and laughing ominously.
"Whatever you thought coming here, it's folly."
Black mist flowed from beneath him. Kang Sihyun, recognizing its nature from experience, gripped his sword and shouted.
"Everyone, take more than three steps back!"
The mist, inducing primal fear beyond mere suffocation, made the Awakened flinch. They immediately stepped back, no longer doubting Kang Sihyun's capabilities. In fact, they were too preoccupied with following the unfolding situation to doubt. Kang Sihyun focused on Sephtimus's fingertips, gathering his divine power. Sephtimus smirked before speaking.
"Mother granted me control over life."
It was a familiar phrase.
"You shall perish by your own kind."
The ground trembled. Except for a few details, everything was as it had been before the regression. As the earth split and legions of undead rose, Kang Sihyun smiled amid the terrified and astonished Awakened.
I knew this would happen.
Now was the moment he had been waiting for. Slowly opening his eyes, Kang Sihyun scanned the rising corpses and mindless people before locking eyes with Sephtimus. Smiling at his dilated pupils, Sephtimus frowned.
"Anything you try will be futile."
Having heard this too often before the regression, Kang Sihyun no longer paid it any heed. Instead of responding, he stepped forward towards the army of ten thousand. At that moment, no one stopped him.
Hamin, who seemed capable of easily winning competitions, Haru, the Chinese guild members, and even Hahyuk. None of them halted Kang Sihyun, merely watching as if enchanted. Only the freshly risen army of ten thousand, moving at Sephtimus's command, responded when Kang Sihyun spoke.
"Poor, foolish son of a woman."
"…?"
"Do you really think your power is omnipotent?"
His voice, different from usual, echoed through the space like telepathy. Kang Sihyun smiled, listening to his own voice resonate. It was the same as what he had heard during the Decumanus battle.
Adam's voice.
With his abilities unleashed, Kang Sihyun widened his eyes to see silver threads connecting the puppets and Sephtimus.
Whatever power Eve granted Sephtimus, it could not extend to controlling 'humans.' Eve's power was only absolute over Eve's creations.
Not even those created by a higher deity could be tampered with.
"This power isn't yours."
After releasing his power and sending forth his energy
, Kang Sihyun's original voice returned. The divine weapon in his grasp glowed, urging him to unleash his power. Kang Sihyun poured all his accumulated strength into the weapon's tip.
"Save them."
A massive white light engulfed the space as he swung his sword, reciting the words.
Crack, snap. The sound of control mechanisms breaking reached only Kang Sihyun's ears. As the blinding light faded, the sound of people collapsing filled the gaps one by one. A single sound became the noise of ten thousand, overwhelming Sephtimus.
One strike.
In a single stroke, ten thousand puppets were reduced to nothing.
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