The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes to the System!
The King of the Demonic Heavens proposes to the System!
The System is reviewing the proposal.
Considering the special circumstances, the System temporarily accepts the King of the Demonic Heavens' proposal.
The King of the Demonic Heavens is attempting to grant you power. Do you accept?
The King of the Demonic Heavens' purpose in making this proposal to the System was obvious: to legitimately grant me power with the System's permission.
If he ignored the System and acted unilaterally, the King of the Demonic Heavens would face sanctions, just like anyone else.
To avoid these sanctions, he had proposed something to the System, and the System had accepted.
But when the moment arrived, I felt uneasy.
Is this bastard trying to pull another trick?
Something felt off. I couldn't trust the King of the Demonic Heavens, and I didn't want to.
But the situation was urgent. The colossal Anubis was closing in on me.
"...King of the Demonic Heavens! Are you planning to pull another trick this time?!"
I demanded bluntly.
The King of the Demonic Heavens shakes his head.
This time, I merely intend to assist you.
I am your Contracted Divine Seat.
His words implied that I should trust him because of our contract. Of course, I didn't take them at face value.
"If you try anything this time, you'll get nothing."
The King of the Demonic Heavens claims he can swear on his name.
"What's your name?"
The King of the Demonic Heavens calls himself the King of the Demonic Heavens.
"...I will accept the King of the Demonic Heavens' power."
The King of the Demonic Heavens' power is temporarily granted to you.
Swish... Swish... Swish... Swish... Swish...
A chilling wind swept through the air.
I felt power surging within my body the Demonic Heavenly Energy of the Demonic Heavenly Art.
I can't control this Demonic Heavenly Energy! There's too much of it!
This power far exceeded my capacity to control.
Shit! Did the King of the Demonic Heavens trick me again...? Wait, maybe not this time?
The uncontrollable Demonic Heavenly Energy didn't attack me. Instead, it enveloped and strengthened my body. A pitch-black aura began to emanate from me.
The rank of your Demonic Heavenly Art (S) has temporarily increased to SSS-Rank.
The Heavenly Demon Physique (A) has temporarily increased to SSS-Rank.
The overwhelming power, far beyond my imagination, filled me with exhilaration. I couldn't gauge the exact extent of my newfound strength, but Anubis, who was now approaching me, seemed utterly insignificant.
I raised my right fist, and pitch-black Demonic Heavenly Energy coalesced around it.
The torrent of Demonic Heavenly Energy erupting from within me, like molten lava from a volcano, surged beyond my control. That much was certain. Yet this destructive energy remained perfectly obedient, moving exactly as I willed, without the slightest hint of rebellion.
It was as if someone had already commanded the Demonic Heavenly Energy to obey my every command.
I unleashed my fist toward Anubis.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Dragon Fist.
A dragon larger than my own body surged forth. The Black Dragon annihilated the mummies in its path and slammed into Anubis's torso.
KWAHHHHHHHHH!
A deafening roar shook the air. Yet Anubis merely staggered back a few steps, sustaining minimal damage.
It's working. I've wounded him. Five more strikes should finish him off.
The Cycle of Life and Death is channeling power.
The power of the Cycle of Life and Death (Pseudo) is intensifying.
Anubis's wounds vanished. Worse, his body grew even larger, now towering at 25 meters tall roughly the height of an eight-story apartment building, assuming each floor is 3 meters high.
I glared at the creature, clenching my fist to attack again, when a sudden question arose in my mind.
"Cycle of Life and Death! Why are you trying so hard to kill me?!"
Knowing the False God wouldn't answer, I addressed the Cycle of Life and Death of Anubis directly.
The Cycle of Life and Death speaks to you.
I have been watching you since you entered the 8,111th District.
Come to think of it, a message had appeared when I first entered the 8,111th District, indicating that he was observing me.
I had forgotten about it since no further messages related to him had appeared since then.
"You've been watching me? So what? I haven't done anything wrong!"
I had broken through the traps and killed the False God. This was simply the correct strategy. I had never committed any wrongdoing. The fact that the System hasn't penalized me is clear proof of that.
"I have been watching you, and I have made my judgment."
"Your power, your knowledge, your character, your sins."
"After considering all these factors, I have concluded that you will bring a great calamity upon Atlantis!"
"You crazy bastard. Can you even see the future or something? Huh?"
Divine Thrones with the power to see the future do exist. However, within Atlantis, this power is severely restricted due to the System's presence and the influence of other Divine Thrones.
One of the very reasons Atlantis exists is for the gods' amusement. Revealing the future would be a kind of spoiler, something the game-loving Divine Thrones would hardly welcome.
As far as I know, the Cycle of Life and Death doesn't have the power to see the future.
Even if such a power existed, the ability to see the future is never absolute.
The moment the future is observed, the possibility of it changing into another future arises.
"Ammut could not bear your sins."
"Even if he were a False God, Ammut is a God who measures sins."
"Even a sinner who would destroy a nation could not cause Ammut to burst and die."
"Yet Ammut died, unable to bear your sins."
"This means you will commit sins capable of destroying at least an entire continent. Perhaps not just this continent, but other worlds may also be ruined because of you."
"There are those who live virtuous lives on this continent. I cannot allow you to ruin their lives. Even if this continent is a gambling table for the Gods, they are worthy of salvation."
I threw a punch.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Dragon Fist.
*KWAH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH
The System warns the Cycle of Life and Death! The rules must be upheld!
King of the Demonic Heavens! Do you truly intend to support this Human? This Human could bring about the world's destruction! He must be eliminated here!
The King of the Demonic Heavens chuckles.
Lord of the Heavens! Are you not a benevolent God sworn to protect the world? Why do you merely observe?
The Lord of the Heavens scoffs at the Cycle of Life and Death.
Divine Thrones watching this Human! How long will you remain mere observers?
The Fallen Star sticks out its tongue and makes a face.
The Moon Blossom looks down in pity.
The Golden Collector covets the Golden Mask.
The Sun's Adversary remains silent.
"How pathetic," I scoffed, a smirk playing on my lips. The Cycle of Life and Death had just sought cooperation from the Divine Thrones. It could only mean they felt insufficient to kill me on their own.
And the Divine Thrones showed no intention of aiding Anubis.
Anubis, now standing mere inches away, swung his massive staff at me.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Heavenly Demon Monarch's Descent Step.
I dominate the earth and claim the heavens as my domain. Therefore, I reign supreme over this world.
With a single step forward, I materialized before Anubis's head, hovering in mid-air. This was beyond mere speed; I had literally traversed space itself.
Demonic Heavenly Art: Silent Void Strike.
I struck Anubis across the nose. A massive explosion erupted, sending him crashing to the ground. As he fell, he swung his staff at me.
I took a step into the void, my body materializing directly above Anubis's head.
"Farewell."
Just as I was about to crush his skull, a notification flashed:
The Cycle of Life and Death is exerting its power.
The System suppresses the Cycle of Life and Death.
"Gah!"
An unknown force slammed into my abdomen, its overwhelming power sending me flying skyward. I bit down hard, fighting to maintain consciousness. Using the Heavenly Demon Monarch's Descent Step, I stabilized myself in mid-air and glared down at Anubis. Blood gushed from my mouth, but my body remained intact.
Did the Cycle of Life and Death directly intervene? I was severely injured, but I healed instantly. Is this thanks to the King of the Demonic Heavens' power?
Demonic Heavenly Art: Demonic Dragon Pearl.
A black pearl materialized in my palm. I infused it with Demonic Heavenly Energy. The pearl was insatiably greedy, devouring over ninety percent of my current reserves without showing any signs of stopping.
This should be enough.
I dropped the pearl. Below, Anubis had already risen to his feet and hurled his staff at me.
The falling black pearl collided with the massive, thirty-meter-long staff.
Far from shattering the pearl, the staff couldn't even push it back. Instead, the staff cracked violently and shattered.
The bead fell toward Anubis and exploded. From within the black sphere, seven Demonic Dragons formed from Demonic Heavenly Energy emerged. The dragons tore into Anubis's colossal body, ripping him apart.
As Anubis vanished into light, the Demonic Dragons also disappeared.
The Cycle of Life and Death is enraged.
The System banishes the Cycle of Life and Death from Atlantis.
Banished, huh? I guess I won't be seeing the Cycle of Life and Death again.
I descended to the ground using the Heavenly Demon Monarch's Descent Step.
The power of the King of the Demonic Heavens is dissipating.
The ranks of the Demonic Heavenly Art and Heavenly Demon Physique have reverted to their original states.
I easily shook off any lingering attachment to the power.
After all, it had never truly been my own. There was little regret; the power of the King of the Demonic Heavens had always felt unsettling.
The collapse of this space has already begun. In another three minutes, I'll be back.
I looked around. My goal was to find the item left behind by the False God Anubis when he died.
Since it was nearby, I found it easily.
It was a black cross-shaped object with a circular loop at the top.
In the original work, Anubis's Staff appeared... Just like with Ammut.
The moment I grasped it with my right hand, it lunged at the back of my hand and was absorbed. Startled, I shook my hand, but it was too late. Its black pattern had already been etched onto my skin.
The pattern on the back of my right hand faded and disappeared. However, when I willed it to reappear, it did so.
Doesn't seem dangerous. With the Golden Mask, curses shouldn't affect me. Can I check its information?
Black Ankh
Revives the user from death once.
Rank: SS
So, this is like an extra life.
It's far better than Anubis's Staff, which I wouldn't be able to use anyway. This means I'll get a second chance even if I die suddenly in an accident.
It's a shame it's not an item. If I could enhance it with the Bright Ascension Chart later, it might grant two resurrections...
Just then, I felt an unsettling gaze.
The Black Pharaoh is watching you.
The King of the Demonic Heavens is serious.
The Lord of the Heavens is wary.
The Black Pharaoh has departed.
The Black Pharaoh?
I've never heard of this Divine Throne before.
Judging by the reactions of the King of the Demonic Heavens and the Lord of the Heavens, it's clearly not some mediocre Divine Throne like the Cycle of Life and Death.
Why did it suddenly appear? Could this Divine Throne be related to the Black Ankh?
Perhaps the Black Pharaoh is the Master of the Black Ankh.
"Honey!"
Kasha called out from afar, sprinting toward me. But before she could reach me, the space shattered. Kasha, Ahmad, the bandits, and I were all returned to the original interior of the Pyramid's summit.
The room beyond the Stone Gate was empty save for a dilapidated throne.
You have gained control of the 8,111th District, Sunset Mountain.
You have been granted the title of 'Pharaoh'.
Strength, Vitality, and Mana stats increased by 1.
You have acquired 30,000 AP.
As Dominator of Sunset Mountain, you will receive 13,000 AP every 30 days.
Hidden Territory Conquest Completion Reward granted.