And so, as Giant Statues brought their giant swords down on helpless Sung Jin-Woo one last time after he 'accepted System'.
They cleaved his body in half, successfully ending his life for once.
But not for long.
All organs, all limbs and all blood around Sung Jin-Woo moved, in seconds all the lost blood entered back into his body, leaving no trace or proof of his previous injuries, and his organs returned too, followed by his right leg miraculously re-growing back.
Not even blood on his tracksuit remained.
Only proof of earlier attacks would be Sung Jin-Woo's tattered tracksuit.
~Thud!
~Thud!
~Thud!
Statues proceeded to return to their previous positions they were on just minutes ago.
~Thud!
But..
Something un-explainable happened, something out of possible scenarios both Ashborn nor Architect had in mind.
Sung Jin-Woo was supposed to become strong with the help of 'System' and eventually become suitable Vessel for Ashborn, that was the deal Architect made with Ashborn the Monarch of Shadows.
And Sung Jin-Woo was supposed to become Ashborn's eventual successor, that was Ashborn's plan because he planned to betray Architect in the end.
But something outside of their understanding and expectation had happened, something wrong. Something that should have not ever happened.
Under keen eyes of Architect and Ashborn's looming shadows inside the Double Dungeon, Sung Jin-Woo's tattered and repaired form began to emit glowing and startling light.
Not just any light, but light so pure, so holy, so beautiful.
Such Light has been till now only possessed by Rulers, a race of Heavenly Supreme Warriors that command Heaven and it's Armies, before there were eight Rulers, now are Seven Pure Rulers and Fallen Ruler who goes by name of Ashborn in present times.
Not even Heavenly Soldiers possess such light, only Rulers..
But yet..
That same light is now being emitted from a Human Being.
"Intriguing." Architect's voice echoed out through the Double Dungeon as he turned his head from his previous position to look directly at 'Sung Jin-Woo's' form. With that grin splitting his stone-like face even further.
But, Ashborn manifested himself in his full form behind Architect to watch at unknowable source of intrigue that's creating right now, and just in case if there is need to, to make certain that Architect would not interact.
But Sung Jin-Woo did not know, that upon his 'death' and receiving 'system', something that should not have happened indeed happened, something between the cracks of reality took it's chance and used the free vessel of a Human to escape from the cracks.
That something was long since long gone remnants of Absolute Being, before His death, Absolute Being sent out remnants of His last powers out to cracks between realities and dimensions, this remnant is strong enough to rival a monarch or ruler in it's potency, and it's obviously of Ruler's origin.
It has been tasked as last wish from it's creator to choose a worthy vessel to attack to and fuse with them.
And there are barely any people with potential to hold a power such as it's, so it took the first chance it had.
Upon 'Sung Jin-Woo's ' death, it slipped from reality straight into Sung Jin-Woo's body, undetected from Rulers or Monarchs, but before fusing into Sung Jin-Woo, it had to indeed 'watch' over Sung Jin-Woo's memories and decide if he was worthy enough to obtain powers of 'good' and fight against Monarchs.
Upon it's conclusion, it came to decision that Sung Jin-Woo shall become new Eight Ruler, and replace old Eight Ruler so balance between good and bad can be restored, for one last time.
Side that prevails in this use of 'Cup of Reincarnation' shall be absolute and rule the worlds, since Absolute Being has long since perished, it will thus be last chance for Rulers to win against Evil.
But let's return to reality and inspect Sung Jin-Woo's body changes?
As both Architect and Ashborn watch the anomaly before them, Sung Jin-Woo's body had slowly undergone major appearance changes.
First noticeable change would be Sung Jin-Woo's height, from previous average 180cm it shortened to little less than 160cm. His body shrinking and becoming slim.
~Thud!
Ashborn jumped from the walls behind Architect as he continued walking forward in Sung Jin-Woo's direction, so he himself could in first view inspect unfathomable changes happening. 'This should not be happening.' Was what he though.
His armored boots hitting stone floor beneath him heavily, as he continued walking till he was just above pedestal where Sung Jin-Woo's body is undergoing bizarre changes.
Sung Jin-Woo next changes were facial structure and hair.
His once neck long black hair increased in size and length till it was longer, till it was Arm pit length. It still remained black colored but with dark pink or almost red highlights. Sung Jin-Woo's skin paled further, before it was very pale.
But..
The most striking changes would be Sung Jin-Woo's face and his body obviously gaining female additions he shouldn't have had before. His face became even more feminine, striking temperament of 'doll' in it, his eyelashes became longer too while his lips became more rosy-colored.
And extraordinary accessory on Sung Jin-Woo's head would be three pairs of small wings stretching from the back of his head, 3 wings on each side, six in total.
"Fascinating, Sung Jin-Woo became female specimen while also gaining attributes of a Ruler." Architect's voice echoed behind Ashborn who was too pre-occupied watching a birth of a new Ruler. "This exceeded my expectations, [System] should not have made her so much stronger this time yet.."
But Ashborn noticed it.
This was not work of Architect, [System] doesn't have anything to do with it. This was done by his old Master, the Absolute Being. He can feel remnants of his Masters once great power at play here.
He assumes that Master must have sent small remnant of his power away somewhere, remnant strong and potent enough to rival a true Ruler. And the first chance it had, it latched onto Sung Jin-Woo and fused with him.
Turning Sung Jin-Woo into first Female Ruler.
And last change occurred on Sung Jin-Woo's small body, her back once bare now are sprouting three pairs of large Angel-Like wings, 3 meters long wing each. A true and last testament to Sung Jin-Woo's status as an Ruler. Only Rulers possess three pairs of wings in all of Heaven.
Architect had become wary at the moment, and he immediately readied all of his six arms and weapons. He came to a simple decision.
Eliminate failure Sung Jin-Woo before he becomes a threat.
But..
The moment Ashborn felt even slight amount of hostility from Architect incoming at defenceless small Ruler, he needed to act fast.
And he acted fast.
He immediately locked Architect out from the System, there was not a need for Architect anymore since he already completed his purpose of sending [System] into Sung Jin-Woo.
Next step, Kill Architect.
Architect did not even have time to process what is happening. One moment he was going to kill new Ruler, next moment he was locked out from [System] and last moment he was fist slammed to ground away from the Sung Jin-Woo.
But Ashborn was not too keen on waiting for it yet, he summoned a Spear made from shadows themselves. Three meter long spear with halberd like design at the end, he moved so fast that Architect couldn't even comprehend what is happening, he slammed the point of his spear at Architect's stone like body.
Then Ashborn pulled his spear out from Architect's body before he proceeded to unleash hundreds of cuts at Architect, next second, once mighty Kandiaru the Architect lays in pieces of stone, a formidable existence itself it was.
But, Ashborn did not waste time. Despite this being a false Dungeon compared to others Rulers send to Earth, it would still collapse on itself after it's 'Boss' died.
Ashborn turned around before walked in front of Sung Jin-Woo, once again inspecting his 'little sister'.
He couldn' tbring himself to ask, why did he go to such measures to help her?
Then it hit him, she is his responsibility, he was the sole reason for her race change, her newfound strength. And technically, the young man who was supposed to become his successor in turn became his 'little sister'.
He released a sigh before he looked at ceiling.
"Did you plan this?" He couldn't help but speaking out loud, Statues won't move anymore since their Master is dead, there is no threat to young and sleeping child beneath him. But he couldn't help thinking about it, did his Creator plan this since the beginning?
It wouldn't surprise him. But..
"They must have also noticed the appearance of a new Ruler too." 'They' obviously he was talking about his other brothers in heaven, each Ruler has a link connecting each one to other. Albeit Ashborn is still a 'ruler' he is a fallen Ruler whose most of his abilities have been exchanged into Monarch variants. But he still retained such connection. And upon Sung Jin-Woo's transformation, the seven connections he felt in his mind became eight.
These connections are meant to be a proof of separate Rulers still existing, if a connections disappears. They're dead, but in Ashborn's case, it was a bit complicated case. But nevertheless, he is uncertain on how to proceed further.
Despite Sung Jin-Woo gaining powers of her own, becoming a Ruler on her own, Ashborn still has access to [System] inside Sung Jin-Woo and he was still capable to look through Sung Jin-Woo's [Stats] and her skills.
He immediately recognized that this 'appearance' is now Sung Jin-Woo's true appearance but that's caused bu [Active Skill: Spiritual Body Manifestation] so Ashborn with his authority over the [System] abused his power and managed to de-activate Spiritual Body Manifestation for now.
Key word is for now.
And with that, Sung Jin-Woo's body returned to normal, back to what he was moments ago before becoming Ruler, but all healed up.
His Human body is still exact same, but his True Form is that of a beautiful woman, Ashborn mussed before he picked Sung Jin-Woo in princess carry and carried him out of the Double Dungeon.
"Once you get hold on your powers you won't need me to control your Spiritual Body Manifestation myself, right now I can barely control it for you." Spoke Ashborn, his deep voice stretching out from the halls of the temple as he exited from it, he himself despite knowing that Sung Jin-Woo couldn't heard him didn't care, he continued talking. " Your rise to power made a great ripple in my plans, now I will have to contact my brothers... No, our brothers soon enough."
Ashborn noted that Sung Jin-Woo's power in Human form is still adequate, he thinks proper terms for such level would be National-Level Hunter.
Chapter Word Count: 1754