Chapter 427 - Karmic Debt (1)

[This is really bad. At this rate, he’ll atrophy until he ceases to exist!]

They had no idea what was going on, but their question was soon answered.

[The Great Spirits have used the Rule Book. They have used the Rule Book to steal his Faith.]

The disciples were surprised by the words of Kunlun’s Great Spirit.

“I’m guessing the Rule Book is literally a book... A book was able to put Uncle in this state?”

The gods were having a hard time accepting it too. It was understandable.

[The Rule Book is a Divine item that turns anything written inside it into law. It manifests the law. But the Rule Book never contained this law!]

The Rule Book was made to keep reins on the extraordinary gods. Anything written inside it held a binding power in reality. This Divine item was born because only an item of that caliber could take on the gods.

[However, there is no way the Primordial god would put in a rule that will allow one to steal Faith from others...!]

[That’s right. Faith has a direct connection to a god’s power. If stealing it were possible, the Divine world would have become a battlefield where gods would try to steal each other’s Faith!]

[It is known that Faith cannot be stolen even if a colony is taken away. The gods know that it isn't a very efficient process. This is why they wage fewer wars....]

[It shouldn’t be possible! The only ones who can make changes to the Rule Book are the Primordial god and the Creators...]

Kunlun’s Great Spirit spoke in an offhand manner.

[The Lord of the Sky possesses Change, one of the Primordial god’s powers.]

[!]

This surprised the gods. It was known that the Great Spirits had divided the eight powers of the Primordial god. Amongst them, Change had gone to Valhalla’s Great Spirit. It meant he was using Change to modify the Rule Book.

[I’m guessing the part that says “Faith cannot be transferred” was modified. The “cannot” was changed to “can.” It allows them to steal the Faith of the Serpent Bearer temple.]

Chun Sungjae furrowed his brow. “However, they shouldn’t be able to steal the Faith of the Serpent Bearer temple merely by fixing the rule.”

[It seems they used Chun and In.]

“!”

Mimir immediately recognized what was going on, and he spoke up. The Great Spirits had divided five of the six abilities of the Primordial god. They had also divided his three Divine items amongst themselves.

This was how six Great Spirits were able to possess eight powers.

If Kunlun’s Great Spirit possessed “Ji” amongst the “Chun-Ji-In...”

[Babylon’s Lord of the Perishing possesses Chun, and Olympus’s Lord of the Sky possesses In.]

“...!”

If the Divine item possessed by Kunlun’s Great Spirit had dominion over the body, Chu had dominion over space, and In over the soul.

[Since “Chun” holds dominion over the space of the universe, it can manage earth to its taste. As for “In,” it holds domain over the soul and was probably used to brainwash humanity.]

Brainwashing.

“Then...”

[This means they changed the rule in the Rule Book and brainwashed humanity. It allowed them to direct the Faith of humanity toward them.]

“...!”

It might be the case where Lee Gun’s presence was replaced by the Great Spirits in the humans’ minds.

With his Faith stolen, Lee Gun taking a big hit was inevitable. After all, to fill up an expanded fuel tank, one needed a constant flow of fuel.

The disciples and the gods were dumbfounded.

[Even if such a thing is possible, they won’t be able to dodge the Karmic debt. Such actions would create enormous Karmic debt for themselves...!]

Gods were incredibly powerful, but that power came with as strong a restriction. It was the Divine Achievement.

If the gods excessively changed the order of the universe, they suffered an equal and opposite reaction.

When the gods incurred enough Karmic debt, they became degenerates and evil gods. They were either executed, or they self-destructed.

Chun Yooha furrowed her brow. “What if they can dodge the Karmic debt because they can change the rule itself....”

[No. That’s probably not it. If they changed the rules for their gain, they would have received a penalty.]

[They won’t be able to dodge the Karmic debt by doing that.]

Virgo and Kunlun’s Great Spirit answered her.

The order of the universe wasn’t something to be trifled with. Anyone who did anything that went against divine providence was punished. They would receive Karmic debt.

However, the disciples had a bigger meltdown when they heard Virgo’s words.

“They can’t dodge the Karmic debt, yet they were able to change the rule and brainwash humans?”

[That’s right. It makes no sense. Even if the Great Spirits have high-rank permission tickets (Exoneration)....]

Some of the gods’ abilities could cause harm to the order of the universe. This was why they couldn’t use their power rashly.

The disruption to the order of the universe would give rise to Karmic debt, and this was why the permission tickets were issued.

When Lee Gun had gone to the Divine world, they were the precious item that Lee Gun kept taking from the others.

[However, a change of this magnitude cannot be smoothed over even if the highest-rank permission tickets (Exoneration) are used!]

[The Great Spirits probably don't want to self-destruct by becoming evil gods. What are they thinking...!]

[I’m not so sure. From how reckless they are, they must have a way to erase the Karmic debt...]

At that moment, the feverish Lee Gun gritted his teeth as he got up. “It’s fine... I can endure this.”

“Lee Gun-nim!”

He just had to find and get rid of the Great Spirits.

Zzuhng!

“Kuhk!!”

“Lee Gun-nim!”

Suddenly, an enormous darkness pressed down on Lee Gun as if it was trying to snatch him away.

The gods were shocked when they realized what this darkness was.

[That’s...! That is the Karmic debt!!]

[Why would the Karmic debt go to Master...!]

[Mimir!]

Mimir ground its teeth after taking a closer look at Lee Gun.

[You just asked how the Great Spirits can get away with what they did? You asked how they can handle the Karmic debt??]

[No way!]

[That’s right. They transferred their Karmic debt to Master.]

[Those bastards!]

It seemed that after killing the Primordial god, the Great Spirits had transferred their Karmic debt to the five Creators who were working directly under the Primordial god. And this time, the Karmic debt was transferred to Lee Gun.

[At this rate, Master will lose his sense of self and power... He’ll transform into an evil god!]

Currently, as Faith had been stolen, Lee Gun’s defense and power were weakened. The Karmic debt was the last nail in the coffin!

[He might self-destruct at this rate...!]

Boom!!!

“Ahhk!”

The chaotic power of the Karmic Debt around Lee Gun started invading his body, and the tormented Lee Gun’s appearance started to change.

“Uncle!”

“Lee Gun-nim!”

Like the evil god Creators, Lee Gun started to turn into a monster. However, he was already a Great Spirit rank.

Kwahng!!!

“Ahhhk!!”

He possessed a power that couldn’t be compared to those Creators. It flung the gods and the disciples away from him.

Koo-goo-goong!

They didn’t even have time to come to their senses.

An enormous power poured out from Lee Gun’s body as he changed into an evil god. The power ruthlessly tried to destroy his surroundings and kill humanity.

“Kuh-huhk!”

The black power surged up like hooks, and these hooks caught the high-rank disciples and the gods.

[Master!]

This power saw them as pretty and was trying to rip them apart.

“Lee Gun-nim... Huhk!”

“Koohk...!”

The power suddenly came to a stop.

Lee Gun, who was barely hanging onto his mind, was trying to control it. However, he was having an incredibly difficult time. In the end, it seemed too hard.

“Ahhhk!”

Lee Gun continued to change into a monster, and he was tormented by the high fever and the pain.

In the end, he couldn’t control his power after turning into an evil god. The power indiscriminately rushed forward.

Everyone realized the danger.

Flash!

Kunlun’s Great Spirit, Sagittarius, Virgo, Leo, and Kevin used their power to restrain Lee Gun.

The strand of light retrained and pushed down the power of Lee Gun, who was now an evil god. However...

“Koo-oohk...! He is so strong!”

[As expected of the Serpent Bearer...!]

Four of the highest-rank Zodiacs and a Great Spirit had combined their powers, yet they were having trouble with the extraordinary power possessed by Lee Gun.

The other gods and disciples added their power, yet Lee Gun’s power still threatened to swallow all of their powers instead!

[No! This is our limit...!]

At that moment.

“Keep him in place!”

“!!”

The gods’ expressions changed because of the familiar voice.

A slime appeared before them. No, it was Aslan.

Then a large pillar of light landed atop Lee Gun’s head.

Boom!!

[The magician of Divine Will has created a binding ability.]

The enormous pillar of light lifted the earth from the ground and imprisoned Lee Gun.

Kwahng!!!

Then a sphere was created. Enormous chains appeared on top of the sphere, encircling it.

Lee Gun was sealed, unable to come out.

“Aslan!”

[Aslan-nim...!]

Aslan landed in front of them. He was glad that his cooldown time had barely ended. During his cooldown time in the slime form, he was unable to use his power.

“This should last a while.”

[Aslan...!]

Virgo couldn’t believe her eyes.

Sagittarius was shocked for a different reason.

At that moment, Aslan looked at Leo since he knew imprisoning Lee Gun wouldn’t solve the actual problem.

“Idiot cat. Hurry up. Go with your Zodiac Saint to destroy the Rule Book. I know you can do it.”

[How dare you call me a cat!!! Damn bastard! I’ll eat you!]

“I’ll give you 100 churu.”

[What the hell did you just say?!!]

Despite its complaints, Leo knew it needed to destroy the Rule Book. The Zodiac grabbed Stevens by the head, and they disappeared.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, mocking the gods’ efforts.

[Do you think that’ll change anything?]

“!”

It was the Lord of the Sky.

The Great Spirits, who had hidden on the earth, could guess what had happened. They were laughing.

[We will recover as the residents of this place send their Faith toward us. In the meantime, Lee Gun will turn into an evil god. He will self-destruct.]

[Earth will be our new temporary home.]

Above all else, they had found out that the disciples were quite useful here. They liked that the disciples here could be used as a fighting power.

Soon, the disciples grated their teeth.

“Will Lee Gun-nim recover if the Rule Book is destroyed?”

[If you get rid of “Chun” and “In,” you can stop the humans’ brainwashing. They’ll no longer be able to steal his Faith.]

The voice scoffed at the words of Kunlun’s Great Spirit.

[Hmmph. It’ll only be possible if you can locate us.]

“!”

The Lord of the Sky contemptuously laughed.

[You want to get rid of Chun and In? You are a traitor. You will never be able to find us.]

[That’s why you should just die.]

The voice of Valhalla’s Great Spirit disappeared.

The Constructs ground their teeth when they realized what the Great Spirits were trying to accomplish.

[They plan to hide until Master self-destructs...!]

[Damn it! If only we knew where they are...!]

“Mister? Why can’t you find them?”

As they spoke, they could feel the Serpent Bearer’s power weaken.

When Chun Sungjae looked at him with desperation in his eyes, Kunlun’s Great Spirit spoke up.

[We can’t find them since they are actively trying to hide. It is perfect. Not even the gods can find them.]

Even if it finding them was possible, it’d take a very long time.

[Since the four of them have combined their powers, it’ll take around fifty years to find them...]

“Are you kidding me? Uncle will be dead before that!”

Boom!!

Suddenly, a booming sound came from the space containing Lee Gun. It was as if Lee Gun was violently kicking the walls from inside.

“L...Lee Gun-nim?”

It didn’t end there.

Boom!!

The disciples started to sweat when the ground started to shake.

“Is he going berserk?!”

Taken aback, everyone raised their guard. They were about to use their power when...

[I can smell the delicious gods here.]

Zzuh-uhng!!!

An unfamiliar voice, accompanied by an earthquake, rang out. The source of the earthquake was in the sky!

They almost screamed when they looked at the sky.

“That’s...!”

A door opened in the sky, and beings that caused goosebumps rushed out.

[I can smell the delicious scent of the gods.]

[Gyah-ha-ha. This is nuts. This place is full of food. I thought there were only humans here. I thought we wouldn’t be able to satiate our hunger here.]

Humanity turned pale from fright as they watched the black shadows of the monsters appear from the gate in the sky.

“M...Monarchs?!”

The gods were also shocked.

[They are the second-generation monarchs...!!]

[Why would those predators come here...!]

Behind the numerous monarchs were hundreds of monsters in shadow forms. They were descending to the earth.

Humanity fell into despair

Of all the times these monarchs could have shown up, they had appeared when Lee Gun-nim was unwell!

“Those bastards are...!”

“Can’t they take a hint after taking a beating from Lee Gun-nim...!!”

The Zodiac Saints and the high-rank disciples gnashed their teeth as they prepared to attack the monsters.

The second-generation monarchs ignored the humans as they uproariously laughed.

[Hey, look! There are eight Great Spirits here!]

[What?!]

[Bring more of our troops! We came here on the orders of the first-generation elder, and we hit the jackpot!]

[That’s odd. Our elders told us not to go to the earth.]

[Did Elder Eternal Change lure them here?]

[Who cares? They are Great Spirits!]

[I think some of them are hiding.]

[Who cares if they are? It isn’t as if they can erase their scent.]

[You are right. We’ll find them in a minute.]

Were they sent here, or were they summoned here? Beings who were best at sniffing out the gods had appeared on the earth.