# 109
109
My last memory was going into the room and closing my eyes.
And when I opened my eyes again, the Milky Way was spread out before my eyes.
“….”
A band of stars densely embroidered on the black curtain of space.
There, Daeseong was not in a physical body caught up in the material world.
His body was covered in red mist from head to toe.
The thick, billowing smoke gathered together to form the shape of a man named ‘Han Dae-seong’.
‘What is it?’
As he looked around at his image turning into smoke and swimming through the Milky Way, he felt puzzled.
A system message soon appeared.
[The connection to the plane gate has been completed.]
[When you activate the power < Connection >, you will be reborn as ‘Ethereal’, the body of the spirit world created by Hekkar.] [The energy of ‘
ether’ A body made of will allow you to travel across the multiverse.]
[The maximum time you can stay in the multiverse through < Connection > is 336 hours.]
[Remaining stay time: 335:59:54]
Many messages are in front of you. was filled in, but all Daesung paid attention to were the last two words.
I skipped the mention of the body of the spirit world or the ethereal.
‘I don’t need to know the secret techniques made by Hekar or something.’
What we really needed to pay attention to was the residence time reported by the system.
336 hours. That is, 2 weeks.
‘Does time on Earth and time here flow the same way?’
Or does it flow differently?
The system did not provide a clear answer to that question.
If time passes the same way here and on Earth, it would be a bit difficult.
‘No matter if it’s Korea or anywhere else for two weeks, there’s no guarantee that the gate won’t open again like in the United States.’
Didn’t that happen exactly 10 days after the gate entry ban occurred in the United States as well?
Of course, to prepare for emergencies, the command soldiers were armed with orihalcon and Hwang Jun-young and his party were stationed there.
‘done.’
What’s the point of worrying about a problem that doesn’t have an answer anyway?
What you need to do is to uncover the secrets of this Plain Gate as much as possible during the two weeks given.
And
‘I will see with my own eyes what kind of bastards in heaven they are.’
This is where you get the answers you couldn’t get even if you worked hard to kill the Heavenly Transcendant.
Because that’s what I came here for.
‘It was said to be a power that allows access to the multiverse.’
Daesung moved his body.
It was a completely different feeling from stepping on the ground with your legs and flying through the sky with your wings spread.
It feels like it just flows quietly, like dandelion seeds fluttering in the wind.
How many hours did I wander aimlessly through this distant Milky Way?
‘What about that?’
There was something vast in the space where there was only endless darkness and starlight the size of millet.
It was so long that it radiated white light and seemed to pierce the ceiling of the Milky Way.
At first, I thought it was just a white pillar, but upon closer inspection, I realized it was a tree.
A message appeared.
[The ‘Dimensional Tree’ has been discovered.]
[To enter, contact the ‘Guardian of the Root Tree’.]
Not only was the content of the message the content, but the strange shape of the giant tree caught his eye.
The giant tree did not have the appearance of a typical tree with a trunk and spreading branches.
‘The branches are all wrapped around the trunk.’
This was the reason why I could not recognize it as a tree at first glance.
Even the branches surrounding the trunk had lost their vitality and dried up.
If you look at it from a distance, it probably looks like a white pillar with dark wire wrapped around it.
‘Is there any correlation between access to the multiverse and the number of dimensions?’
No, if you think differently.
Perhaps this dimensional number is the path to the multiverse itself?
There is no clear certainty. Since there is a time limit of two weeks, there is no time to just look at it idly.
‘Guardian of the root neck.’
If you contact him as the system tells you, you will get a sharp answer.
As the name suggests, it will be at the bottom of the stem.
Daesung headed straight down.
And
– that’s strange.
A voice was heard, with the final note faintly ringing like an echo.
As Daeseong went down to the base of the stem, he saw a man sitting on a shallow root as a chair.
-I haven’t heard of any ascetics performing the ‘Rite of Ascension’ this year.
The man wore a black priest’s robe and a fedora over his body, which looked like a corpse.
The hem of the priest’s robe was fluttering like an animal’s tail, as if it were a living creature in itself, and the sight was very familiar to Daesung.
It’s inevitable that
‘Why is the priest of hell here?’
I don’t remember exactly how many years ago, but the man in the priest’s uniform was a demonic beast he had encountered in hell.
Priest Oddi.
He serves the absolute monarch, the Demon God, and is the only one who established the concept of religion in the abyss of hell.
‘I was almost reduced to a soulless puppet soldier after being deceived by the coaxing rumor that if I served the demon god, he would be sent back to Earth.’
A puppet who has no intelligence and only follows the orders of demons and priests.
Since I remember what happened, it is natural that I still recognize that impression.
But there’s one thing that’s different
: ‘You’re acting more interesting than before.’
A long sword and a long spear were pierced through Oddi’s chest in the shape of an X.
It is no different for demonic beasts to lose their lives if a spear knife pierces their chest.
-Are there any ascetics who try to engage in rituals at will without receiving permission from the apostles? Come here and listen to the story.
Although common sense suggests that he should die immediately, Odi’s voice was full of peace.
Daesung arrived at the root neck.
The phrase [Guardian of the Root Tree] appeared in the priest’s head.
“Why are you here?”
-Is it any wonder that the watchman carries out his given mission? How can you call yourself an ascetic if you don’t know such obvious common sense?…
Odi’s eyes, slightly lifting his fedora, were intertwined with Daesung’s gaze.
Eyeless black eyelids twitched faintly.
-My lord?
“….”
Even though Odi was in a blurry spirit form, he recognized Daesung anyway.
The moment he faced the Absolute Person of Hell, he straightened his awkward sitting posture.
Odi suddenly got up from his neck and asked in a trembling voice.
-How could my lord be here… Ah! First of all, I would like to offer my greetings to my lord, who has newly taken over the throne of hell.
“Do you know that I defeated the demon god?”
-Although I am currently living in the heavenly world, the roots of my existence are inextricably linked to hell. You don’t have to see it with your own eyes to know the extent of the upheaval of changing the ruler of the dimension that was your home.
Audie politely got down on one knee and bowed her head deeply.
When I waved my hand as if I had become a great star, Odie carefully raised his head.
Daeseong recalled what Flame King Magnus had told him when he first obtained the Fire Flower Greatsword two years ago.
“I heard that those who die in Hell fall into Pandemonium.”
-That’s right.
“But what are you doing here?”
-I was also in Pandemonium when I met my death at the hands of my lord. However, as time passed, I was selected as their laborer and became a guard protecting the dimension tree.
“A laborer?”
– Among those trapped in Pandemonium, those who are useful may wear shackles and become laborers. I don’t know if it’s bad luck or good luck.
At the word shackles, Daesung’s eyes moved to Odi’s upper body.
A sword and a spear pierced through the chest.
The corners of Oddi’s mouth twisted upward as if smiling bitterly.
-These are my shackles. As soon as I violate my mission as a slave, the spear knife will dig into my heart against my will.
“What is your mission?”
-My job is to guard and guard the entrance to the Dimensional Tree and at the same time welcome ascetics who have received permission from the apostles.
Before any additional questions could be asked, Audi continued his explanation.
In summary,
‘ascetics’ are people who go through the ordeal of ‘promotion ritual’ in order to be reborn as a prospective apostle of heaven.
And the dimension tree served as the place where the ordeal took place.
“Do you know anything about dimensions?”
-I don’t really know the identity of this giant tree that I have to protect.
The heavenly beings did not tell much to a mere toiler.
-I only vaguely know that it is a divine tree that connects dimensions… and symbolizes the multiverse itself.
Odi turned and pointed to a huge tree that stretched to the end of space.
-The countless branches extending from the trunk can be viewed as paths that connect to each dimension.
“Now it’s not stretched out, but tied to the stem?”
-Because it was sealed. The branch that originally radiated brilliant light now.
It lost its shine and turned a dull black-gray color.
Odie stared at the eggplant with a more angry face than a sad one.
If the branches of the giant tree are ‘passages’ that connect the dimensions of the multiverse, then it means that ‘hell’ is also included somewhere among them.
‘Things seen in Ramish and Elheim’s memories.’
A vision of heavenly soldiers pouring down from the sky and a giant silver chain encroaching on their planet flashed through my mind.
The hell I saw at the Pantheon was experiencing a similar phenomenon.
The seal of space and time and the heavenly soldiers.
‘Dimensions sealed like that lose their color and are tied to the stem.’
then.
What does the concept of ‘binding’ mean?
“What else do you know?”
-This tree is the only way for extradimensional beings to reach Heaven. Other than that….
“It seems that ascetics are not from heaven, are they?”
-That’s not it. They are also beings born and raised in heaven. However, to become a prospective apostle, you are forced to start from scratch. That’s why it’s called an ‘ordeal’.
“Hmm…”
Daesung rubbed his chin and looked at the top of the tree.
It’s so far away that you can’t even see it from this side.
-There is no way to enter the heavenly world at the top unless you directly enter the dimensional tree and climb up.
“Unless you perform the designated trials.”
The ordeal wasn’t a problem.
Because I had the confidence and confidence to overcome any obstacles as if they were natural.
The only thing that brought Daesung joy was the fact that there was a clear path to heaven.
‘There is a way. That’s enough.’
What remains is about the ordeal.
There was a question and answer.
The inside of the dimensional tree consists of a total of 100 layers up to the top.
And the ordeal is divided into two aspects.
One is a simple trial of defeating celestial beings.
The other is a trial of patience.
-I heard that the trial of patience is different from the form of fighting the enemy and achieving victory.
“then?”
-I’m sorry, but I haven’t experienced the ordeal myself, so I can’t explain the details…
“It’s done. “What you don’t know, I just have to experience it myself.”
Enough of the gossip.
Two weeks is definitely not something to be considered leisurely. Daesung took one step closer to the dimension tree.
“I’m going in.”
-….
“Why are you doing that?”
The only one who can open the entrance to the tightly closed pillar is Audi.
But when he suddenly saw Odi giving him a blank look, Daesung twitched his eyebrows.
No matter how deeply you obey the Absolute, do you intend to completely distinguish between public and private life?
-Master, I… am afraid of death. Because I was afraid, I had been surviving as a loyal dog to the enemies who had driven me to such a remote place.
“….”
-I’m embarrassed. But now, seeing my lord, the absolute ruler of hell, I was able to remember what kind of bastard I was.
A person who served the demon god, the lord of hell.
A priest of hell who was willing to die for the devil.
And the current lord of hell was not a demon god, but the man in front of me, Daesung.
-For me, the most glorious death would be death for the Absolute.
“….”
-I’m sorry, but could you hold my hand?
Odie offered his right hand as if shaking hands. Daesung looked at the hand for a moment and held it.
This is because I felt that it was not some kind of trap, but pure favor from a loyal subject to the monarch.
The moment I held Audi’s hand, a message appeared.
[‘The watchman’s seal’ has been engraved.]
[From now on, you can challenge the ‘Rite of Promotion’ as an ascetic.]
Whoop!
The joined hands twitched greatly.
This is because the mulberry right in front of me was pouring a lot of blood from its mouth.
More blood poured out of the upper body where the spear knife had penetrated deeply than from the mouth.
-For victory….
“….”
-Walk only on the path of victory…. Great One….
Shake.
The hand slipped out of my grasp. Before we knew it, the dead mulberry had turned into powder and disappeared.
-These are my shackles. As soon as I violate my mission as a slave, the spear knife will dig into my heart against my will.
Oddy arbitrarily allowed unauthorized beings into the dimensional water.
The shackles must have pierced his heart because he violated his duty as a slave.
I felt a foreign body in my throat.
Although Daesung could not be seen, the ‘Watchman’s Seal’ was engraved on the nape of his neck.
Damn it -.
The seal flashed once, and the tightly closed stem opened to the left and right, creating a space that could barely accommodate one person.
“….”
I felt no sympathy or sadness.
However, I highly valued his dedication and sacrificial spirit in sacrificing his life for his master.
Jerk.
Daesung approached the bright light pouring in from beyond the space, looked back at the spot where Odi had just fallen, and added,
“I won’t let death be in vain.”
[Enter the dimensional tree.]
[‘Ritual of Ascension’ begins.]
***
Inside the dimensional tree, another world unfolded.
The land that Daeseong stepped on was a huge disk floating in the sky.
A giant disk about 50 meters in diameter made by carving out plaster.
When I stood at the edge and looked down, I couldn’t even see the shape of the ground because it was so high up.
The characteristic of the spirit body, which allows it to swim in the air at will, was not displayed here.
“Implementation of the Seophwa Great Sword.”
First of all, we decided to arm ourselves in preparation for any upcoming situation.
But when nothing happened, Daesung’s head tilted.
[‘Rite of Promotion’ cannot use any items or skills other than the rewards provided by the trials.]
Daesung’s eyes narrowed after checking the system message.
According to the information in the text, does this mean that you should break through with your bare body rather than relying on items and skills?
[The trial of the first floor begins.]
[The trial of repelling.]
[Defeat ten ‘white hounds’ to advance to the next floor.]
Boom!
A blue fireball flew out unknowingly and exploded on the ground.
Deflagration rose thickly, and flames instantly engulfed the disk.
Tsk! Tsk!
White dogs with spotted holes that appeared to be furnaces were barking, their molars flashing.
Just when they were convinced that they had burned the ascetic to death with a fireball that had just been shot from their mouths.
– Jeopuk.
At the sound of footsteps, Daesung appeared beyond the smoke.
“I needed confirmation.”
He collided with firepower comparable to that of a cannonball, but his body suffered only scorched wounds.
Even that recovered quickly.
“What level is my pure physical strength?”
The trials of the Dimensional Tree allow the spiritual body to interfere with things and be hurt in the same way as the physical body in the material world.
The defense and resilience that Daesung has shown now means that he is completely free from being a spirit.
“But that was a poor attack that wasn’t even worth using as a standard.”
Daesung kicked the ground.
It was impossible for even the hunting dogs’ quick wits to keep up with the flash of lightning.
Among the countless afterimages, a magical hand reached out at random.
Wow!
Wow!
Every time it touched the bodies of the hounds, their necks were broken, their bones were crushed, and their limbs were torn.
The ten hunting dogs instantly turned into rags and died.
[You have achieved the conditions for the 1st floor.]
[A portal to the next floor has been created.]
The exact center of the disk opened wide and a pillar of light rose.
Daesung stepped onto the pillar without even a drop of sweat.
Beyond the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor.
From the 3rd floor to the 4th floor.
The ordeal of simple and ignorant repulsion was repeated.
No matter how many hunting dogs appear, the time it takes for him to break through one floor is uniformly 5 seconds.
It took less than a minute to reach the 9th floor.