Chapter 274: #The Eternal Seekers

This took place in the timeline where Yu Il-Shin was defeated by the Ant Emperor during the Hunter War, and both Antrinia and Earth were destroyed.

[The Forty-Sixth Floor of Tower of Warriors: Trial of Void.]

The catatonic Yi-Ho wandered in the seemingly endless void. How long had he been here? A hundred years? Two hundred years? Five hundred years? Or perhaps even longer?

Clearing the trials faster than Il-Ho, who had entered the tower first, filled Yi-Ho with confidence. He believed he’d soon catch up to Il-Ho, surpassing his comrade and becoming a true warrior. However, that was nothing but pure arrogance. The only reason Yi-Ho was faster was because he’d reached the level of a master before entering the tower.

Yi-Ho got stuck at the Trial of Void. At first, he did everything to escape this place. He trained until he could feel himself collapsing, meditated to seek enlightenment, and even went as far as to tear his flesh with his own hands—but to no avail.

The trial lived up to its name and devoured all of Yi-Ho's desperate efforts into nothingness. He fell into despair. Was this all he was capable of?

“God Yu Il-Shin... has said this in Space God...” A voice faintly echoed from the far distance. “No matter how much you build your muscles, if your mind is weak... you’re nothing but a useless lump of flesh...”

It belonged to Il-Ho, the Gayami Tribe’s great warrior and the only man Yi-Ho ever acknowledged as his rival. Gone were any traces of his former self, his steel-like physique, and explosive muscles. Il-Ho was now as thin as a skeleton. What a heartwrenching sight!

“One hundred billion and one, one hundred billion and two...”

Despite looking like a mummy that was ready to crumble at any moment, Il-Ho didn’t stop swinging his dumbbell sword.

Il-Ho...

Yi-Ho couldn’t understand his comrade’s actions. Why and for whom was Il-Ho enduring all this suffering for? Their god had long been killed by the cruel emperor. The empress they were meant to protect, Anty, along with their entire people, had fallen to the God of Destroyer and Despair.

They had nothing left to protect. What was the point of escaping this void? Yi-Ho closed his eyes. He’d stopped thinking at some point—the only refuge that allowed him to endure this hellish place.

Thus, an eternity passed. One day...

Tzzzz!

A light as bright as the sun struck Yi-Ho’s eyes.

-Yi-Ho, open your eyes.

Like a loud bell, a voice filled with immense divine power roused Yi-Ho’s consciousness.

Ah...

His mouth had been closed for so long that he couldn’t even muster an exclamation.

A god stood before him. The muscular giant emitted a dazzling golden glow, appearing so awe-inspiring that he’d effortlessly command admiration from anyone. Born as the lowest race of the 10th-ranked world, he’d achieved godhood through unwavering and indomitable willpower, without precedent or successor. He was Il-Ho.

Unlike Yi-Ho, who’d long given up, Il-Ho had become a god through countless years of training. However, Yi-Ho’s admiration didn’t last long. While it was a cause for celebration, it didn’t change their horrific past.

As if reading his thoughts, Il-Ho began to speak.

-It’s too early to give up. We still have a chance.

We do?

-When one reaches the pinnacle of gods, they could travel back in time by consuming causality, albeit for a price...

Sss!

As Il-Ho’s divine power-filled voice reached him, Yi-Ho finally realized what his comrade was about to do. Il-Ho was willing to sacrifice everything he’d achieved so far—his godhood, and even his life, all to travel back in time and save Yu Il-Shin, who was destined to be killed by the emperor.

-However, I alone am not enough to achieve that. While my sacrifice may prevent God Yu Il-Shin from being killed by the emperor, I can’t stop God of Destroyer or Despair. I’ll merely become a catalyst for Yu Il-Shin’s endless loop of life and death...

Il-Ho’s voice wavered momentarily.

-As his follower, it’d be my duty to prevent him from experiencing such a cruel loop. Nevertheless, I can’t forsake him and our world.

Il-Ho shed tears and clasped Yi-Ho’s hand, which had turned rock hard.

-I need your strength. Please follow in my footsteps and become the next Eternal Seeker. That way, when God Yu Il-Shin finally escapes that hellish loop, you shall become his strength.

Such a cruel request it was. Yi-Ho would have to become a Top-tier god and sacrifice everything, including his own life. He thought to himself,

I’m different from you, Il-Ho! I gave up long ago. I’m but a weak warrior! I can never hope to become a god like you!

-No, you can do it. You’re the only rival whom I ever acknowledged.

There wasn’t a hint of doubt in Il-Ho’s eyes as they locked with Yi-Ho’s.

-Yi-Ho. I’m certain that you can become a god, surpassing even me. Because of you, I could sacrifice myself with peace of mind. Please, follow in my footsteps and save God Yu Il-Shin, Saintess Anty, and our world. My friend, can you do it?

Such were Il-Ho’s last words.

Yi-Ho couldn’t bring himself to refuse. How could a man—a warrior of the Gayami Tribe, refuse his friend’s final request?

Alright, leave it to me.

Seeing Yi-Ho’s resolve, Il-Ho laughed heartily.

-

Kekeke!

Thank you, my friend! Now, I’ll show you the last volume of my true essence as Eternal Seeker! Engrave it deeply in your mind!

Eternal Seeker clenched his fist tightly.

-It’s about how to build the ultimate set of muscles!

Hyaaa!

Muuuscles!

Baaaam!

With a flash, Eternal Seeker’s last volume ripped the world of void apart. Then, he vanished. The man who had conquered the Tower of Warriors and became a Top-tier god went to sacrifice his own life.

Craaack!

Movement slowly returned to Yi-Ho's solidified fingers. With a trembling hand, he reached into the darkness, retrieving his spear. He no longer felt empty now that he had a goal to work toward.

Swoosh!

Thinking of the enlightenment his comrade had left behind, Yi-Ho swung his spear. The number increased to the millions, billions, trillions, to Nayuta, and eventually to beyond infinity...

There was a blinding light.

The world of void that imprisoned Yi-Ho was finally pierced through by the god’s spear.

***

I stared at the man bowing before me. Just like Il-Ho, he had explosive muscles. However, his physique, seemingly forged through combat, was devoid of any excess fat, exuding a sharp aura akin to a sword.

He was the next warrior that challenged the Tower of Warriors after Il-Ho in my past life. And following Il-Ho, he became the next Eternal Sekeer. Perhaps that was why the Tower of Gods appeared as a spear in Antrinia.

My heart throbbed. “Yi-Ho... Did you regress like Il-Ho?”

“Indeed. I’d followed the great warrior and Eternal Seeker Il-Ho’s final wish. After you had escaped the endless loop, I helped you create the Tower of Gods. Seeing you ascend to transcendental godhood stirred emotions in me so deeply, I couldn’t contain them.”

Then, Yi-Ho respectfully handed me his spear.

“My lord, I cannot assist you in the Trial of the War God, as it is a trial exclusive to gods and must be faced alone. Instead, please use this in your battle.”

Tzzz!

His Divine Spear glowed a dazzling golden, imbued with the entirety of his divine power. I was certain it’d be a great help in my fight against War God.

Sss—

However, Yi-Ho was slowly fading away, reminding me of Eternal Seeker Il-Ho. No matter how powerful, even a Top-tier god couldn’t alter the past and create the Tower of Gods at the same time. To do so, they’d have to risk their lives and consume an immense amount of causality.

“It's alright. I don’t need your divine weapon.” Instead of taking his spear, I grabbed his shoulder. “I also don’t wish to see another Eternal Seeker disappear, Yi-Ho.”

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Experiencing the heartbreak of losing my follower once was more than enough.

“Pardon?”

I injected my divine power into Yi-Ho, who had exhausted all of his causality. It surged into him like a tidal wave.

Kwaaaa!

His eyes went wide in astonishment.

“M-my lord! If you share your precious divine power with me, then you will...! Please stop!”

He tried to refuse my power, but he couldn’t resist my powerful grip.

Would this be enough? I stopped transferring my divine power, then headed toward the gates of the Trial of War God.

Overwhelmed by the sudden surge of power, Yi-Ho collapsed to the ground, crying out earnestly, “My lord, please, no! This is suicide! Your divine power is no longer sufficient to challenge War God!”

Sss—

Placing my hand on the gates, I turned to look at Yi-Ho.

“Yi-Ho, did you know? There’s this saying from my world.” I twirled my pen and pushed the gates open. “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Creaaaak!

At the same time, a blinding light poured out, engulfing me. I was transported into a familiar place—the War God’s Temple.

“At last, you’re here.”

A colossal greatsword stood embedded in the ground like a massive pillar. Beside it stood a man, waiting for my arrival.

“It’s been a while since we last saw each other. You’ve grown... younger.”

Not a single wrinkle was visible on his face. His long beard, touching the floor, was jet-black. Gleaming golden armor covered his robust physique. Once a frail old man, he now lived up to his title as the War God, a towering warrior.

Moreover, his right eye and left arm, which were lost to Silently Crawling Nightmare in my past life, had regenerated.

“I owe it to them.”

A beauty was chained on the cross behind him, her blonde hair reminiscent of a lush, golden wheat field. A black rose was planted at her feet. Infinite Abundance and Silently Crawling Nightmare.

“Soon, your divine power will become mine as well.”

He drew out his greatsword, smiling ominously like a ravenous beast salivating over its prey.

Then, I aimed my golden pen at him.