I dont understand why you waited for someone who said they would save their family.

At Seong Jihans question, Ashoka held up one finger.

If you were someone who wholly upheld a great cause for humanity, you would have eventually become the Red Administrator.

Even if you were someone who only cared about yourself, you would have become the Red Administrator.

Becoming the Red Administrator whether you think of humanity or not.

Seong Jihan felt like he understood what that meant.

The very purpose of humanitys rebirth was for the Red Administrator to rise as the active Administrator. Unification with the Administrator could be called the races secret wish.

And if you only care about yourself, youd accept becoming the Administrator and set the world tree on fire.

So seeing him trying to take care of his family, is that why he said he was waiting for someone like this?

Well, anyway.

Thats not whats important.

So, now that the person youve been waiting for is here, whats the plan going forward?

The plan, you say.

Yeah. First how strong is Martial God?

Now that Ashoka was also cooperating, Seong Jihan decided to gather information first.

Martial God his talent is inferior to yours.

Thats a vague talent. Below me, then.

Yes. He doesnt deserve the title of Martial God. However, that doesnt mean you should underestimate him.

Swish

In front of Seong Jihans eyes, an orb appeared.

A desolate mass of rock with a bumpy, rocky surface.

This is

Its Tuseong. Martial Gods star, much smaller than the moon.

Zing.

As soon as Ashoka finished speaking, small lights began to flicker around the rock.

Centered around Tuseong, that object engraved like a star was,

upon closer look, the constellations relic that Seong Jihan had seen when he went to Tuseong before.

Its the constellations relic. This.

Thats right. Have you been to Tuseong before?

I have. It was about Martial Soul, when you were asleep.

Seong Jihan then briefly told him about what happened then.

Dongbang Sak said he would give the constellations relic if he gave up on martial soul, but,

I refused that offer and chose the stars power instead.

If you had chosen the constellations relic then, you would have been eternally bound to Martial God.

Zing.

As the constellations relic enlarged, Ashoka tapped it.

I told you before. Inside this, Martial Gods pre-return power is stored.

Yeah I heard that from you.

Martial God can focus all of this power entirely on himself. Then, the power he can use in an instant rivals that of an Administrator.

Comparable to an Administrator, huh.

Its the power hes accumulated bit by bit through endless returns. Its at that level. And

The screen changed.

The enlarged constellations relic shrank again, and this time Tuseong was zoomed in on.

Inside this rock mass too, a huge energy is hidden.

In Tuseong itself?

Yes. It seems hes stored power not only in the constellations relic but also in this star.

Swish.

Tuseong turned 180 degrees, revealing a huge golden tower.

My prediction is that Gilgamesh and Pythia are related to this.

Those two?

Yes. Since I was always sealed during the infinite regression, I cant say for sure but Martial Gods arrangement is likely hidden in that golden tower.

That Gilgamesh bastard gets used until the end.

Its the karma of wanting immortality.

Ashoka spoke coldly and summarized.

In the end, the sources of Martial Gods power are the constellations relic and the golden tower.

Hmm.

The constellations relic will be handled by Dongbang Sak, and I will destroy the golden tower.

Uh is that so?

The two sources of Martial Gods power, if Dongbang Sak and Ashoka each take care of one

Then I have nothing to do, right?

No. The moment we rebel, well immediately die by the golden wheel. Its impossible to eliminate all the sources of power.

Hmm so youre saying I should deal with whats left. Martial God.

Thats right. It wont be an easy fight, but I believe you can achieve victory. However,

However?

Before that, a prerequisite is needed.

What condition?

As Seong Jihan furrowed his brows, Ashoka pointed at his own chest with his finger.

The fire that the Red Administrator has planted in humanity must be extinguished.

Extinguish the red fire how do I do that?

Become a new Administrator, not a red one.

Become an Administrator? Its similar to what Yggdrasil said.

Oh? Can you tell me what Yggdrasil said?

Seong Jihan told him what Yggdrasil had said to him.

Yggdrasils offer to make him a temporary Administrator if he showed amazing achievements.

You defeat the Great Constellations, ascend as an Administrator, and remove the red factor My thoughts are similar.

Even Yggdrasil says the right thing sometimes.

Ill tell you here the means to remove the red factor once you become an Administrator.

Hmm, I thought becoming an Administrator was the end.

It wont be easy for a temporarily ascended Administrator to remove the red remnants. And theres not enough trust to fully believe Yggdrasils words, is there?

Thats true.

Seong Jihan nodded his head.

Although Yggdrasil gave him information because it was afraid the Red Administrator would ascend as active before him,

The World Tree Elves are basically a race that shouldnt be trusted.

Then whats the method you thought of?

At Seong Jihans question, Ashoka made a strange smile.

Hmm Ill ask just in case.

What?

Are you interested in the teachings of Buddhism?

* * *

What was he suddenly saying?

No, not at all.

Thats a shame. If you were interested, I would have taught you directly.

Since Ashoka said he was Buddha Sariputtas teacher, if he learned from him, wouldnt it be like learning from the beginning of Buddhism?

Still,

I have no interest in religion, and no time for it now.

If you dont want to, thats that.

Then theres no choice. Well have to do it the short way.

Swish.

Ashoka, as if he had expected that answer, handed him a leaf.

Whats this?

Its a Bodhi tree leaf. Chewing this will allow you to briefly experience ones-self. That will help extinguish the red fire.

Youre quite prepared.

Ive been waiting for this day to come.

Seong Jihan felt an unfamiliar feeling as he watched Ashoka take out this and that for him.

He had always only given humanity a free ride, so being cared for like this felt strange.

Still, thanks to that, a solution has emerged.

If Ashoka hadnt shown him the way, he would have struggled a lot.

Around the time Seong Jihan was thinking this free ride feels nice,

Crack

The giant hand covering the two slowly began to crack.

Is the time up for this?

Yes. It held out for a long time.

Ashoka, watching the hand crumble, pointed to Seong Jihans sword.

Then, please stab me with the sword.

With this?

If I return unscathed, it will raise suspicion from Martial God.

It felt wrong to touch someone who shouldnt be touched

Okay.

Puk!

Still, Seong Jihan faithfully stabbed the sword as Ashoka said.

Then,

Shatter!

The hand covering the two shattered and,

-Oh oh what

-What the. It was definitely paused?

-Yeah, the screen suddenly changed to a stabbing scene lol.

-What is this lolol

-Could it be that the two fought in stopped time?

-But seeing Seong Jihan stab him, it seems like he won.

The chat that had been paused began to fill with messages.

Kuk

Step. Step.

Clutching his chest, Ashoka stepped back.

But there was a smile on his lips.

The hands seal is complete.

What he was looking at was Seong Jihans right hand.

Hearing those words, the viewers were startled.

-What? Seal?

-Whoa, I dont see the eyeball on his right hand anymore.

-So he cant shoot lasers now?

-Is not being able to shoot lasers the problem? Its practically the same as his power being greatly weakened

-We dont know how they fought so ;

The humans worried for Seong Jihan.

-Then doesnt this make the tournament meaningless?

-No, seals are meant to be undone. If you just get the hand, theres always a way.

-Rather, this makes it easier to defeat Seong Jihan.

-Thats true. With that arm gone, even a Level 8 constellation could overwhelm him.

-This will make the tournament competition even more intense, right?

The alien viewers predicted the aftermath the hands sealing would cause.

Swish

And as Ashokas body turned to dust and disappeared,

[You have won the tournament finals.]

[The special reward, Race Evolution Bonus will be given.]

[Fire affinity has increased by +1.]

[Vitality has increased by +3.]

The arena immediately began handing out the species evolution bonus.

* * *

[Seong Jihan, victorious in the tournament!]

[Another fire evolution bonus obtained. Even water mages can learn fire magic with the increased affinity.]

[The tournament opponent, Gautama Siddhartha? Records indicate he was known as an Indian prince.]

[When is the evolution to intermediate species? Experts say it could happen within this year at this rate.]

Wow, theres barely any news about our beginner arena! I was active again too!

Yoon Seah pouted as she looked at articles related to the tournament.

As expected, she couldnt compete with her uncle in terms of being a hot topic.

All the articles were about the beginner arena until a few days ago. Youre being too greedy.

Well thats true, but it feels sad to see my face disappear from the portal main page after seeing it every day. Uncle, but what will you do about that hand?

This?

Yeah. Your Red got sealed.

Tap tap.

Yoon Seah approached Seong Jihan and tapped the back of his hand.

The red eye that had become small like a dot.

The vitality that used to be felt here was gone.

Ashoka that person even got stabbed to seal this. Does he hate your Red that much?

Why do you keep calling it Red?

Isnt it cuter than red hand?

Youve developed quite the strange taste, dear niece, to find cuteness here.

This guy would sometimes stare at me intently when you were resting in the living room, Uncle. So I thought I should name him.

Is that so?

Yep.

Seong Jihan frowned.

This guy probably didnt watch Seah for no reason.

Its sealed well. This.

Thinking that, Seong Jihan examined his bodys condition.

Although his hand was sealed, the stats and red value that had risen so far remained unchanged.

However, it would be difficult to continuously gain additional stats from the hand like before.

Now that I cant use Total Annihilation, I need to think more about how to utilize red.

The red stat, which was ambiguous to use despite rising tremendously.

Finding a way to make use of it would be helpful in the future battle against Martial God as well.

As Seong Jihan was thinking about the red stat,

[Main Body what did I say the fire]

The hands voice weakly reached Seong Jihans mind.

[The seal must be undone]

This guy, tenacious in vitality.

While thinking that, Seong Jihan calmly replied to him.

How do I undo the seal?

[Make the absolute weapon]

The absolute weapon?

This couldnt be ignored.

How do I make it? That absolute weapon.

[Contain Total Annihilation in a weapon and converge it With that the seal can be undone!]

Hoh.

Hearing those words, Seong Jihan smiled.

Tell me in detail. How to make that weapon.

The ability, he found a use for it.