Ranker Who Lives Twice

“How…?” Allforone’s voice, which had previously been transmitted in a multidirectional fashion, became like any other player’s voice.

Seeing Allforone’s expression of disbelief, Yeon-woo unwittingly burst out into laughter. “Don’t you know? System operators are no match for hackers.”

[System functions have been paralyzed by an unknown force!]

[Another unknown force has hacked the central information processing unit, causing huge disruption in the decoding of commands!]

[The entire system is down!]

The first unknown force applied to the Tower’s system was the Yang Sword, and the second was the Yin Sword.

The Yang Sword was the process of fitting one into the framework of the world, so Scythe was adapted to become a part of the Tower system’s world. Essentially, Scythe acted like a Trojan horse virus. The Yin Sword forcibly influenced the framework of the world, imposing ‘one’ onto the framework. It took the role of forcibly hacking into the Tower’s system. These two approaches allowed Yeon-woo to squeeze into the system’s processes and cut everything off from within.

[The ninth-level firewall has been disabled!]

[The ninth level vaccine has been canceled!]

…

[All defenses are gone.]

[The operating system has been stopped.]

[All command functions recorded into the system have been lost!]

By disabling and erasing the domain, Allforone, who was essentially the system operator, a new path for players was created. Perhaps this was due to a gift from Shaohao Jintian, who wanted to give players a different opportunity. Yeon-woo had no clue as to what Shaohao Jintian was thinking at the time. However, Shaohao Jintian, as one of the Trinity Wonder who initially opened the Tower, certainly had a good reason for leaving such a skill behind. Thus, Yeon-woo learned the skill and succeeded in breaking the system down.

[Player, Vivasvat, has lost the divine domain of ‘Allforone’!]

Finally, Yeon-woo could have a proper fight with Allforone. No, to be more exact, he would now be able to dominate over Allforone.

[All the gods who are watching the seventy-seventh floor are in shock!]

[All demons watching the seventy-seventh floor are screaming at the destruction of Allforone’s legends!]

…

[All gods of death greatly bless the coming of the King!]

[All the demons of death rejoice at the King’s coronation!]

…

[As if expecting this result, Vimalacitra contentedly nods his head.]

[Cernunnos gazes at you serenely before turning his gaze to the existence behind you.]

......

[The leader of <Malach>, Metatron, leads the way to appease the divine beings on the ninety-eighth floor.]

[The leader of <L’Infernal>, Baal, has become very wary of someone.]

[The faith that went to the player, Vivasvat, is transferred to the player, Cha Yeon-woo!]

[Holiness…]

[Legend…]

…

[The level of your soul, which has been in a state of ‘excessiveness’, has risen. Current status: Excess.]

…

[You have far exceeded your soul’s acceptable faith level!]

…

[Your exuviation is slowly progressing: 31, 32… 35%...]

[The rate of your exuviation is continually decreasing in speed. Great pain shall ensue.]

[If you lose consciousness, you may have a significant setback to your exuviation. It is recommended that you evacuate to a safe place and finish your exuviation!]

Once all the faith that previously went to Vivasvat had been rerouted to him, Yeonwoo felt the rate of his exuviation significantly decrease in speed.

The rerouting of faith was because the gods and demons, the main beings left in the Tower, began to tremble when they saw Allforone’s legends, which had been considered ‘invincible’, broken. Moreover, the Tower’s system, which the gods and demons considered absolute, had faltered and shut down.

Up to now, be it challengers, transcendent beings, or other beings bound to the Tower, everyone had considered Allforone an insurmountable ‘wall’. Allforone had been the strongest in the Tower and was viewed as an undefeatable figure.

Such beliefs and perceptions added faith to Allforone, who was already favored by the system, and played a role in making Allforone an immovable stronghold that could not be penetrated. But now, the gates of such an impregnable fortress had been bust open for the first time, and it made everyone doubt Allforone’s invincibility and undefeated image.

As the faith that flowed into Allforone disappeared, the faith in ‘Allforone’ also rapidly collapsed. As a result, the light that had been emitting around him gradually faded away.

Conversely, a brilliant light distribution emitted around Yeon-woo. This was because the gods and demons had chosen Yeon-woo as their new absolute being. As a result, the amount of faith rushing into Yeon-woo continued to grow, and thus, his exuviation was delayed. Additionally, the 7th-step Awakening was also progressing, which would only inflict greater pain on Yeon-woo. Furthermore…

[The Black King is very pleased with the achievements of his successor.]

As the Black King’s belief in his successor became stronger, the amount of darkness that Yeon-woo could use increased. And, obviously, Yeon-woo was not someone who would squander an advantage.

[The Heavenly Demon looks down at the seventy-seventh floor with sadness.]

Rumble! Yeon-woo grabbed Vivasvat’s neck and descended downward. Vivasvat tried to escape Yeon-woo’s firm grasp, but he could not break free from Yeon-woo’s strengthened grip.

Bam! Soon, a large crater was formed, and cracks spread throughout the world of light. It was as if a large glass window had shattered after hitting the ground. Fragments of space protruded here and there, reflecting Vivasvat, who had been thrown down onto the ground, and Yeon-woo, who was atop of Vivasvat. Tens of thousands of images were formed.

Furthermore, as Yeon-woo’s power to suppress Allforone grew, the pressure of the surrounding atmosphere increased. The shadows around Yeon-woo began to swirl more violently and tear the world of light into finer pieces. Boom! Shatter! Then, once a critical point was reached, the fragmented pieces of the world of light started pouring downward at the same time.

[The holy territory, ‘World of Light’, has forcibly ceased to exist due to a strong impact!]

[The seventy-seventh floor, the Gate of Light, is fully revealed!]

As the holy territory collapsed, a stage composed of beautiful rolling green hills under a bright sunlight was revealed. It was a sight that had rarely been seen before.

“I… I…” Vivasvat violently trembled. His contorted face was full of bitterness, resentment, and a dire will to scream. It was like Yeon-woo’s expression after Yeon-woo learned of his brother’s disappearance and his mother’s death.

“I can’t lose like this! I have to ask!” Vivasvat forcibly shook off Yeon-woo and started running. Even though he had lost his divine powers, the inherent power of his body remained. From the Heavenly Demon Ruling Steps to Great Handprint, Vivasvat sequentially executed a series of attack moves.

Although the luminosity of Allforone’s light distribution was not at the level it previously was, there was still a dazzling brilliance flashing around him. However, it was true that the brilliance was not as menacing and overpowering as it was before.

Moreover, Allforone could not break through the shadows and darkness that surrounded Yeon-woo. Rather, Allforone was slowly succumbing to Yeon-woo’s overwhelming power and dominance.

[The density of the shadow has become thicker and is taking on more darkness properties.]

[Darkness has engulfed the brilliance of light!]

As if moving through a tunnel, the darkness chased the brilliance of light at once and tightened around Vivasvat. At the same time, the darkness that had existed on the stage gradually expanded and covered the brightly shining stage sky.

[The seventy-seventh floor has been completely covered in darkness.]

[An Illusory World is manifesting.]

[A great holy territory has been established.]

…

[Underworld territory has been declared!]

[Death is encroaching.]

[Time is warping.]

…

[The Black King laughs while looking at the newly formed territory of his clone/successor.]

[Currently, all floors from the first floor to the seventy-seventh floor are covered in darkness.]

[The Underworld territory is engulfed in darkness!]

Boom! Boom! Boom! Yeon-woo narrowed the gap between himself and Vivasvat while deflecting the brilliant light that approached him from all sides with Scythe. Yeon-woo consumed all the magic power within Dragon Heart and the Philosopher’s Stone, but his magic power quickly filled up due to the countless amount of faith continuously poured in. Thus, Yeon-woo had no issue keeping up his movements.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble! Sword Thunder strikes appeared one after another. The brilliance of light soon took the form of a shield and deflected the oncoming Sword Thunder strikes sideways, but each time Vivasvat did this, Kronos activated Yang Sword to restrict Vivasvat’s range of movement. While this was going on, Yin Sword was activated to sharply cut through Allforone’s side.

Vivasvat looked like a tiny ship floating alone on the open sea; a ship that precariously floated above the water, waiting for a fierce gust of wind to sink it at any moment.

All the power and prestige that Allforone previously possessed was gone, along with the protection of the system to the never-ending flow of faith that had always filled his magic power. His holy territory had now swapped for Yeon-woo’s, and all the laws of the territory had passed over to Yeon-woo as well.

[The first step of ‘Heavenly Demon Ruling Step’ is about to unfold!]

[Activation of the Heavenly Demon Ruling Step has been forcibly canceled by the spring of time!]

…

[With the loss of the divine domain, all effects of the power, ‘Immortal’, have been lost!]

…

[Power, ‘Great Handprint’ has failed!]

…

All the powers Allforone had used and were proud of…

“I have to ask Father! Why did he create such a world? Why did you create such a hellish, cycling wheel?!” The current Allforone was best described as isolated and alone. He was someone who had lost everything. Only tragic despair and desperate screams remained.

[The seventy-seventh floor is filled with player Cha Yeon-woo’s divine domain!]

Crack! Then, as Scythe cut through the brilliance of light, it lodged into Vivasvat’s right chest.

[‘Death’ is forcibly infiltrating the player, Vivasvat!]

[Curses related to death are pouring into Vivasvat.]

[‘Disease of Death’ is implemented.]

[‘Poison of Death’ is implemented.]

[‘Starvation of Death’ is implemented.]

[‘Execution of Death’ is implemented.]

[‘Punishment of Death’ is implemented]

…

[Player, Vivasvat’s legends are crumbling and flowing away!]

Splat! Blood splattered around Vivasvat’s cracked chest. However, a much larger number of letters poured out from his injury. They were all achievements and legends that Vivasvat had accumulated over the years as an absolute being.

Scythe’s blade, which had its original powers restored, was so sharp that it cut not only Vivasvat’s body but also his soul. There was no choice but for Allforone’s legends to leak out, elements that essentially made up Allforone’s divine spirit.

Moreover, Kronos had used <Seal of True Spirit>, a power that a young Kronos had acquired after overcoming Gaia’s curse.

This slaughtering of Vivasvat’s soul, plus all the deadly curses, sickness, and poisoning, started to sting Allforone’s throat and inject heat into his body. Soon, all these influences caused Vivasvat to completely collapse.

[The Heavenly Demon turns his head to the side, unable to continue watching the fight.]

“I…!”

Whoosh! Yeon-woo quickly swung Scythe, pushing Vivasvat to the edge.

Vivasvat’s left arm was cut off, and soon, his right calf was also cut off. There was a deep gash on his side, and the flesh of his shoulder was made ragged from injuries. Every time Vivasvat took another hit, his legends gushed out with his blood. Vivasvat…collapsed. “I… I…!”

[The Heavenly Demon shuts his eyes tightly.]

Scythe cut across Vivasvat’s right shoulder to his left flank, leaving a long line in its wake. Blood and letters started splattering out from Vivasvat’s shattered heart. His body collapsed backward. His unfocused eyes stared at the sky in dismay. “Have to…ask…!”

[The Heavenly Demon puts his hand over his ears.]

Even though Vivasvat collapsed and called out to his father, the Heavenly Demon did not respond or appear. It seemed that the message related to the Heavenly Demon, which appeared in Yeon-woo’s eyes, did not appear for Vivasvat. For whatever unknown reason, the Heavenly Demon did not interfere.

Yeon-woo reached out with his left hand. A set of jagged teeth greedily bared its teeth. “Devour.”

Crack! The serrated teeth bit into Vivasvat’s shattered heart.

[Power, ‘Hades’ Spirit Eating Sword’ attempts to devour player, Vivasvat!]

[The Heavenly Demon crumbles to his knees and weeps.]

[The Black King bursts out into laughter at the proxy battle victory.]