Return of the Shattered Constellation

Chapter 516: False Celestial, the Mother Terra Celestial (10)

Celestial of Celestials. Mother of Mothers. It was obvious what they meant: None other than the Mother Terra Celestial.

‘No, maybe it’s about the <Great Mother>, the Mother Terra Celestial’s archetype,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Whatever the truth was, the discovery meant a lot. If Bestla had represented the Mother Terra Celestial’s will, it meant that Ymir, who had created Bestla and the Giants, was closely related to the Mother Terra Celestial. In other words, Chang-Sun’s hypothesis about Ymir and the Mother Terra Celestial being related to each other was correct.

‘Ymir must be the Mother Terra Celestial’s avatar, like Tiamat.’

Ymir technically had the Mother Terra Celestial’s characteristics, since everything in the world had been created from her corpse. All life in the world originated from her, like Tiamat in the creation myth of <Nammu>,

‘Bestla started her conquest war with the Mother Terra Celestial’s approval, becoming a Celestial King. Other Celestials were concerned that leaving Bestla be would cause the Mother Terra Celestial’s wrath to fill the world, so they rebelled and killed her… Is that how it happened?’

However, all Chang-Sun could do was speculate right now, and he was unsure what had happened afterward. Why had Audumla and Ymir turned on each other? How had Bestla become the Mother Terra Celestial’s apostle? How exactly were Bestla and Odin related? It seemed that Odin wanted to continue Bestla’s legacy, so why had Odin murdered Ymir, Bestla’s ancestor?

For some reason, Chang-Sun had a feeling that the answer to these questions would reveal the secrets of how Worldline #801 had been built.

‘Wait a minute. I’m the king of the Giants. What am I then?’ Chang-Sun chuckled unwittingly.

Chang-Sun was walking down the opposite path front he one his past reincarnation had gone down. He had absorbed Ubbo-Sathla, the other half of the Mother Terra Celestial, and was on good terms with Tiamat. After giving it some thought, Chang-Sun concluded that perhaps he was the closest one to the Mother Terra Celestial, the being whom all Celestials feared and even Emperors were vigilant against.

‘In many ways, I’m going to conflict with Odin.’

On the other hand, Chang-Sun could not help but wonder.

What would happen if he could actually steal the Mother Terra Celestial’s power? If he acquired [Ymir's Heart], completed [Bestla's Poem], and finished reviving the Giants, would that not make Chang-Sun the true king of the Giants? Perhaps it would allow Chang-Sun to become the new Mother Terra Celestial—no, be the heir of the <Great Mother>.

Even though Chang-Sun could not be certain about the outcome, everything else was possible for him. Perhaps because of that, he received inspiration and came up with a good plan to receive not only Audumla’s blood but also Ymir’s heart.

‘Then I’ll have to get on good terms with Audumla firstm’ Chang Sun concluded quickly, drawing his [Twilight Spear] from his inventory.

At the same time, other weapons also flew out from his inventory and completed [Gungnir], which became the [Dawn Spear] shortly after.

Click, click―!

Pzzzz, pzzzzzzz!

Then, <Duskfall> sparks flew up from the spearhead.

[You have opened the last volume of ‘Prelati's Spellbook’!]

[The second chapter ‘Phósphŏros’ has been applied!]

With Chang-Sun in the center, <Darkness> emerged from one side and <Supreme Sacred Light> from another. Behind Chang-Sun, a sunset-colored Giant manifested, and it pointed an enormous lightning bolt at the sky like Chang-Sun.

『A…Giant?』

From the spatial gap in the sky, Ymir finally perceived Chang-Sun and turned to look at him in shock.

『I heard Audumla’s soldier now had backup, but he’s a Giant…? Impossible…! How can a Giant even think of fighting against me?』

Ymir scowled.

『Who are you? Who in the world are you to point your spear…!』

“Well…” Chang-Sun smiled coldly, throwing his [Dawn Spear] toward the sky as hard as possible. The Giant tossed its lightning bolt in the same direction.

Rrrrrumble―!

The spear and lightning bolt combined in the air, creating a huge lightning bolt that flew through the spatial gap in a flash…

[Striking your enemy with a ‘Rádĭus Duskfall’ bolt!]

…and stabbed Ymir’s eye.

Staaaaab!

Booooom―!

『Aaaaargh! My eye! My eeeeeye!』

Roaaaar!

Ymir writhed and went on a rampage.

Thump, thump, thump.

Ymir’s every movement made the world quake without end. At the same time, the lightning bolt was combined with Rádĭus, so the lightning storm from the explosion destroyed more than half of Ymir’s head and wiped out the nearby heavenly warriors as it spread. The lightning storm filled up the spatial gap and struck it several times.

Kieeeeeh―!

The ghostly wails emanating from the lightning storm could give any onlooker goosebumps.

“T-That…!” Chaque li Omeister also looked at the sight in shock.

Chaque had been fending off heavenly warriors with difficulty and winning narrowly. In contrast, Chang-Sun had not only wiped the heavenly warriors out, but also inflicted a serious injury on Ymir. Chaque had thought that Chang-Sun’s level of prowess was similar to or slightly higher than his, but now he could feel to his bones how wrong he had been.

“Phew…! It’s not easy,” Chang-Sun grumbled, wiping off the sweat dripping down his cheeks.

Delivering an attack like that was not easy for Chang-Sun either. Even though it was only a fragment of Ymir, Chang-Sun did not know what her exact level was, so he had to show overwhelming power, causing him to overexert himself a little.

‘I need to be valued highly to make my negotiation with Audumla easier,’ Chang-Sun thought.

Fortunately, it seemed his attack had been effective. The storm incessantly unleashed Rádĭus bolts and destroyed the heavenly warriors one after another. Although slaughtering people who looked the same as him bothered him, Chang-Sun regained his composure and spoke in his Divine Voice, using [Wordwielding] to the fullest.

“Come at me if you’re going to continue fighting me.”

Chang-Sun’s every word heavily affected the world’s <Laws of Nature>; right at this moment, he was the one who was dominating the battlefield, not Ymir or Audumla.

『You lowly vermin, how dare you…! How dare yooou!』

“Otherwise, get lost. From today on, this place is going to be mine.” Chang-Sun scoffed.

[The Celestial ‘Divine Twilight’ has declared sovereignty over the area!]

[A Divine Ground has been installed.]

[Rewriting all of the Divine Ground’s <Laws of Nature>.]

“I forbid everyone to enter without my permission.” Chang-Sun declared.

[Restrictions have been imposed on all beings in the Divine Ground.]

[Sorting out uninvited guests.]

…

Clang!

Clang!

Ymir and the few surviving heavenly warriors froze up after Chang-Sun had declared the place to be his divine ground. They weren’t even able to use their divine power.

『Urgh…! This can’t be… This can’t be happening…! Why?! The Giants are my children… So why is a Giant using fucking Odin’s lightning?!』

It was natural for Ymir to be bewildered to see a stranger stealing her heart when she was about to retrieve it. On top of that, the stranger could be considered her descendant. However, she soon had more pressing things to worry about.

Pzzz, pzzzzz!

Lightning sparks flew up from Ymir’s destroyed eye, corroding her soul. She had already used up a lot of her power in the fight against Chaque, so continuing to fight Chang-Sun was not a good choice in many ways.

“I’ll say it one more time. Are you going to continue? I won’t go after you if you retreat now.” Chang-Sun crossed his arms.

『…I’ll make sure you regret this.』

“Can you?” Chang-Sun asked sarcastically.

『Odin! Odiiiiin!』

Ymir screamed for a long time before disappearing with her remaining heavenly warriors. The spatial gap closed, and quiet peace returned to the world.

“Phew.” Chang-Sun caught his breath, retrieving his <Darkness> and <Supreme Sacred Light>.

Just then, Chaque, who was forced to his knees, yelled, “…What is the meaning of this? Why did you put restrictions on me too!”

Chaque’s limbs had been tied up with invisible chains after being selected as an uninvited guest like Ymir and the heavenly warriors, and the same restrictions had been imposed on him. Chaque was dumbfounded to be attacked like this after revealing all his cards to ally with Chang-Sun.

“There was no way for me to know how you’d respond,” Chang-Sun answered calmly.

“What nonsens…!”

“I’m going to make a deal with Audumla herself now.”

Chaque’s face darkened as he finally understood Chang-Sun’s reason. It was to prevent him from causing an unexpected problem if Chang-Sun’s negotiation with Audumla went south.

However, that was just Chang-Sun’s suspicion. As a person who valued his honor more than his life, Chaque could not feel more insulted right now, but he stayed silent. Chang-Sun did not look like someone who would listen to him. Even if Chang-Sun did eventually do so, it would take a very long time like before, so Chaque did not want to mentally exhaust himself again.

‘He gave up on me entirely.’ Chang-Sun smiled bitterly.

Chang-Sun would be lying if he did not feel guilty at all after seeing how Chaque regained his composure and became expressionless. Nevertheless, he ignored Chaque. This place was a reenactment of historical events that had passed long ago, so there was no need to be happy or sad each time when anything happened.

“Why don’t you show yourself now?” Chang-Sun looked above Chaque’s head with his [Foretelling Eye].

However, it was silent, as if nothing was there.

“You’re going to stay aloof until the end, huh? Well, that’s not a bad choice.” Chang-Sun scoffed, extending his hand. A spatial gap emerged, and the [Dawn Spear] returned to his grip. He pointed at the [Dawn Spear] at the statue and said, “I guess this statue isn’t important then.”

Pzzzzz.

<Duskfall> sparks flew up menacingly, as if they were going to destroy the statue just like with Ymir and her heavenly warriors.

『…You’re a very hot-tempered one, aren’t you?』

At that moment, a spatial gap opened above Chaque’s head, and a palm-sized person with an adorable cow’s head popped out. However, their Divine Class was far from low.

‘It’s an idol avatar.’ Chang-Sun observed.

It was the kind of avatar used when one was reluctant to appear in their true form. The avatar only represented the person and had no abilities, so it was safe to consider it a mere doll.

『You seem like a version of Chaque, being Odin’s reincarnation and the king of Giants from a different world. Are you from the future?』

“What if I am?” Chang-Sun asked.

『Then… This world is…』 Audumla trailed off.

‘She noticed that she was inside the world of a <Myth> but didn’t say the rest to lessen the shock Chaque would receive.’ Chang-Sun could understand her reason.

『What is it that you want from me?』

“Your blood.”

『…Do you know what you’re asking for?』

“Of course.” Chang-Sun nodded.

『No, you’re from the future, so you don’t know. My blood contains more power and is capable of a lot more than the bodily fluid which I used to create Buri. My blood isn’t something that I ca rashly use to exchange with something else.』

“Haven’t you seen how I fight? You’ll need my help.” Chang-Sun tilted his head.

『Still…!』

“Forget about it if you don’t want my help.” Chang-Sun leaned against the statue with his arms crossed. “Then I’ll take [Ymir's Heart] right now.”

After hearing the blatant threat, Audumla’s idol avatar widened her eyes. Chang-Sun’s mouth curled up into a half-smirk as he looked at her.