Chapter 425: Chapter 425

A being who had surpassed the limits of their existence, their being defined by the boundless karma they had accumulated.

Whether it was through physical training, mental discipline, mastery of magic, or the perfection of a skill…

…what mattered was transcending their limitations, breaking free from the established order, and forging their own path.

Their power transcended ordinary abilities, approaching the realm of divine authority, allowing them to reign supreme over those who hadn’t crossed the threshold.

A being who had proven their worth, a champion standing at the pinnacle of the world, ready to ascend to godhood.

“Ugh! Malpi! Quickly…!”

“Huu, Ahn, are you alright?”

“Good. You still have some fight left in you.”

But as with everything in this world,

…even among those who had reached such a lofty realm, there was a hierarchy.

When conflicting ideals clashed, only the stronger one survived.

Not all transcendents were equal.

“Jose! Are you okay? Can you hold on for another thirty seconds?”

“…Don’t underestimate me. I can last for at least a minute.”

“Really? Then make it a minute.”

“Just… try to finish this quickly. I can endure it, but I’m going to lose a limb or two.”

Having transcended their limits, they had entered a… limitless race, a competition without rules or restrictions.

There were those who were already far ahead, those who had… modified themselves, enhancing their abilities with technology and magic, and there were… traps and obstacles everywhere.

Ahn, confident that she had at least… passed the starting line, took a deep breath.

And as she exhaled slowly, she shifted the flow of chakra within her body.

‘…I can’t worry about Oracle right now. My priority is minimizing casualties and buying time. Until Malpi can disable the spatial seal and secure an escape route.’

She had been enraged when she realized that the President had been… replaced… but she had calmed down since then.

After all, revenge was a dish best served… alive.

It was more logical to escape and plan their next move than to fight a losing battle.

‘…Fortunately, this is Malpi’s domain. Even if the exit is sealed, the other functions are still active. It won’t be easy for them to break through.’

The vast difference in their power levels meant that she couldn't win a direct confrontation.

So, she focused on disrupting the battlefield, manipulating the environment, creating traps and obstacles, preventing them from engaging her directly.

And another… fortunate development was that Ken, their… benefactor, was holding off the Executioner, Heaven’s Turn Society’s strongest warrior.

He was barely holding on, but…

Ken, his body wreathed in black flames, was thrown back, crashing into the wall as the Executioner’s tail, like a fiery whip, struck him.

[“You’re quite durable. This is… almost… entertaining.”]

Ken, emerging from the rubble, shook his head, trying to clear his vision.

An unprecedented power was surging through his veins, but the demon, the Executioner, was still overwhelming him.

If it weren't for 「Thought Transference」, which had forcibly increased his synchronization rate with the newly acquired energy, he wouldn’t have been able to last this long.

‘…If only I could control this power properly!’

He was barely holding on because his opponent was… intrigued by him.

But it wouldn't last.

And when his opponent’s interest waned… that would be the end.

‘…Damn it, employer! What are you doing?! Hurry up!’

Ahn, sensing Ken’s distress, focused her mind.

They were both in a precarious situation, their time running out.

Malpi was manipulating the space, creating advantageous positions, and the other combatants, including Jose, were buying time, fighting desperately… but they were outmatched.

Their allies were falling, one by one, their sacrifices buying them precious seconds…

…and Ahn’s ability, her power, was their only hope.

The energy within her, swirling and churning, resonated with the world around her.

Chakra, the power to manipulate concepts and phenomena through one’s inner universe.

Her inner universe, expanding and opening, began to impose its will upon the surrounding reality.

Her chakra, the chakra of ‘Fate’, combined with her unique skill, 「Probability Manipulation」, which had allowed her to evade Oracle’s precognitive abilities and transcend her limits, manifested its true power.

One of the Heaven’s Turn Society members, who had been attacking the Burning Torch executives, suddenly frowned.

He looked down at his hand, his eyes narrowed, and then scanned the surroundings.

He wasn’t the only one.

Attacks that should have connected missed their targets.

Counterattacks that should have been meaningless suddenly became… dangerous.

The terrain, already shifting and changing, became even more treacherous, and their advance, hampered by unexpected obstacles, slowed down.

“Tsk, this is going to take a while.”

Nagaraja, the Branch Manager, who had been observing the situation, clicked his tongue, having realized what was happening.

He had entrusted the… cleanup of the Burning Torch remnants to his subordinates and had been focusing on the Executioner’s fight against Ken, worried that he might… kill him.

He shrugged it off and turned his attention back to the Executioner.

It was impressive that she could affect so many transcendent beings at once, even indirectly… but there were limits.

All she could do was… buy some time.

“There’s no need for me to intervene.”

He could end this quickly if he wanted to, but he wasn’t planning to.

The outcome was already decided, and the spatial seal wouldn’t be broken anytime soon.

It was better to be prepared for any unexpected situations.

…If it weren’t for a certain… variable.

‘…What is this? Why is fate… fluctuating so wildly…?’

Ahn, assisting her allies and manipulating fate to increase their chances of escape, frowned, a strange expression on her face.

An unknown force, emanating from somewhere outside, was constantly… interfering, disrupting the flow of causality.

The numbers displayed by 「Probability Manipulation」 fluctuated wildly, and an unknown fate, its origin unclear, beckoned her, its presence… alluring.

As if it held the answer she was seeking.

But she didn't know what it was.

But her contemplation didn’t last long.

‘…Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than this.’

Her ability had bought them some time, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.

She had to do something, create a variable, even if it meant… taking risks.

She gathered all her remaining energy and unleashed her power, ‘Fate Manipulation’, following her instincts,

…praying that this unknown variable would be… beneficial.

And as she grasped a thread of fate, a faint… connection emanating from somewhere outside, and pulled it inwards,

…a blinding light erupted nearby,

…and a blade, gleaming with a brilliant light, pierced through space.

There was no time to react.

The blade, after a brief… pause, as if… hesitating, suddenly moved, slicing downwards, creating a long, jagged tear in the fabric of reality.

And from within the rift,

“…Hmm? The resistance… it’s weakened. I got through easier than I expected. Is it vulnerable to external intrusions?”

…a man’s voice echoed.

The heavy sound of metal clashing against metal.

Ahn’s eyes widened slowly as she watched the scene unfold.

A figure, emerging from the rift, had just… entered their sealed space.

And as he appeared, the room… seemed to… brighten, as if the very air itself was… glowing.

It wasn't just her imagination.

After all, he was radiating a… halo!

That the variable, the one who could turn the tide of this battle…

“…Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m here now.”

…a miracle… had arrived.

But she hadn't anticipated…

“Khaha! Who’s been bullying our rookie?!”

“…Ugh, the air here is… stuffy. I knew I shouldn’t have come. I’m going to throw up… I have to finish this quickly and go home…”

“Oh ho, this is… a feast.”

Heinrich, clad in a pristine white suit of armor, calmly scanned the surroundings.

The fight had already… paused.

‘…Well, it’s understandable.’

He had made quite a… grand entrance.

And this place was supposed to be… sealed, impenetrable.

Even he, with his holy sword and 「Spatial Slash」, had struggled to get through.

And then, a group of… strangely dressed individuals had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

It would have been strange if they hadn’t attracted attention.

“…Who are you? How did you get in here?”

Nagaraja, who had been observing the situation with a relaxed and almost… bored expression, finally spoke, his voice low and grim, his face hardening.

He had drawn his spear, his posture tense and alert, his previous nonchalance gone.

His yellow eyes, like a snake’s, narrowed as he looked them over.

“The Saint… Phantom… and…”

A knight in shining armor, his helmet concealing his face, his body radiating a holy aura.

Phantom, impeccably dressed in a black suit, a white mask covering the upper half of his face.

He recognized the two of them, and then his gaze shifted to the other two.

‘…So the Saint was also involved. But those two…’

A massive, muscular man, his upper body bare, a grotesque beast mask covering his head, and a figure completely covered in loose clothing, gloves, and a motorcycle helmet, its face completely concealed.

His mind raced, accessing his vast database of information, as the regional manager of Heaven’s Turn Society.

‘…That helmet… I’ve seen him before. He’s the one who appeared during the Seoul terrorist attacks, the one who helped with the rescue efforts and then disappeared. And the other one…’

He had memorized the profiles of various suspicious individuals while preparing for this trap… but he couldn’t place the other figure.

It was because of the incomplete memories he had received from Doctor, which had omitted some crucial information.

And then, the massive, half-naked man, who had been stretching his limbs, stepped forward and declared loudly, his voice booming, his posture confident and… theatrical.

“Khaha! If you’re asking who I am! I am the Lion Mask, a member of the Masquerade!”

“…Um… well… you can just… call me whatever you want…”

And then, a listless voice, devoid of any… enthusiasm, echoed from behind him.

Nagaraja’s eyebrows twitched at their… casual self-introductions.

They were clearly… underestimating him.

[“Hmm— This is… interesting.”]

As he was about to retort, his words were interrupted by another voice.

The Executioner, the demon who had been silently observing the situation, having casually thrown Ken across the room,

…had approached them.

[“I had some… expectations… but this is… more than I anticipated. To think they would all come here together…”]

The demon, his lips curling into a sinister grin, revealing rows of sharp teeth, slowly scanned the newcomers, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light, as if he had just received an unexpected… gift.

Their presence was… heavy, their auras… overwhelming.

It wasn’t just the combined power of multiple individuals.

Each one of them was incredibly powerful, their level far surpassing his own, their auras… almost divine.

His body, honed through countless battles, twitched and writhed, his muscles flexing.

He wasn't afraid of numbers.

On the contrary, he was… excited, his bloodlust rising, his desire for battle… uncontrollable.

[“Excellent! A struggle for survival! A battle to the death! This is the true meaning of life! I was starting to get… bored… but it seems trip was worth it after all!”]

“Haha! You and I… we think alike! Here, let me give you a… gift! To celebrate our… newfound friendship!”

“Yes, something I… enjoy very much. It’s… exquisite.”

Harley grinned, his eyes gleaming, and approached them.

And as he got close enough,

“Khahaha! Make sure you… savor it!”

…without a moment’s hesitation,

“…It’s for our rookie!”

…he unleashed his attack, a devastating blow, a… surprise gift.