Chapter 273 – Part 2 – Divine Command

It had been a happy life.

A life without regrets and a successful life.

After the regression, he had not only prevented the coup but had also been connected with Cha Ye-rin once again like fate, so it was natural to think that way.

But…

‘To think that life in the mortal world wasn’t the end…’

Having come up to the underworld, he now understood.

That life was not yet over.

“God.”

[What is it?]

“Must all souls without exception have their memories erased and be annihilated?”

[That is so.]

Annihilation.

For souls, it was equivalent to death itself.

All souls that came to the underworld could not escape annihilation.

Of course, there were exceptions like Min Do-jun.

[Do not worry. As promised, you and your family will not be annihilated for generations to come.]

“Thank you.”

[Of course, that’s only if you succeed in the task assigned to you.]

“…”

Min Do-jun had promised to do whatever was asked of him in exchange for not annihilating his family.

It was unavoidable if he wanted to live happily with his family forever.

‘Of course, there’s no guarantee that God will keep his promise.’

Though he didn’t show it, Min Do-jun didn’t trust God.

‘God holds the power of life and death over souls. To put it bluntly, he could just break his promise.’

Right now, under the pretext of a promise, he wasn’t annihilating souls, but…

‘Who knows when he might change his mind.’

Depending on God’s mood, Min Do-jun and his family could be annihilated at any time for any reason.

That’s why the promise with God was merely buying time.

After all, hunting dogs become useless once the hunt is over.

‘Still, since I’ve bought time, I need to find a way to resist during that period.’

He didn’t know if there would be a way, but he couldn’t just sit idle.

That’s why Min Do-jun followed the form of light while asking various questions.

To gather information.

“I have something I’m curious about, God.”

[Speak.]

“Is there only one God?”

[If you’re talking about a single entity, then yes. I am unique.]

“Then did you create humans and Earth?”

[Of course.]

“But why can’t you directly intervene in the world?”

[Even gods cannot manipulate the world at will. It’s like watching insects in an acrylic box that you cannot touch.]

Min Do-jun looked at the form of light with narrowed eyes.

From the comparison to insects, he could vaguely sense how God viewed humans.

[However, I can give indirect influence. Like connecting the dimensions of monsters and humans, or applying the awakener system.]

“Or turning back time?”

[That’s right. That too is something a god can do.]

“Come to think of it, when I met the underworld guide this time, he didn’t remember me.”

[It’s natural since I turned back the axis of time.]

“Then you weren’t affected by the regression?”

[Being outside the test tube, I am free from the flow of time.]

Indeed, it seemed only souls except for God were affected by the regression.

“Last time you said you used all your energy turning back the axis of time.”

[I did.]

“Have you recovered somewhat now?”

[I still haven’t recovered as much as before, but I will gradually recover.]

‘It seems this energy thing gets recharged over time.’

It was like using mana to cast skills in a game.

[Do you have any other questions?]

“You said before that souls without authority cannot feel touch?”

[That’s correct.]

“Then the underworld guide has authority, so he can touch me?”

[That’s right. The underworld guide has a higher rank than you.]

“Rank?”

[Yes. It actually refers to the soul’s status, but we call it rank for convenience.]

“Is this rank something you decide?”

[That’s right. All souls belong to a basic rank and cannot touch higher ranks. That’s why you cannot touch the underworld guide.]

‘Then that means God has an even higher rank and authority than the underworld guide…’

It was hopeless.

If he couldn’t even touch the underworld guide, how could he possibly face God?

‘No, I don’t necessarily have to make God an enemy. He might keep his promise.’

But what if he breaks the promise?

Then he might end up being discarded after serving as God’s minion.

‘It wouldn’t hurt to prepare for the worst-case scenario.’

Just then, while following the form of light, he saw blue waves.

“It’s beautiful.”

[That is the Spring of Oblivion. If you enter there, your memories are erased and you are annihilated.]

“…”

He had thought it was beautiful as the only color he saw in the gray world, but it turned out to be the gates of hell.

Come to think of it, other souls were being forcibly led into it by underworld guides.

‘I’m fortunate. My family and I can avoid annihilation.’

Of course, if Min Do-jun failed his mission, they would be mercilessly annihilated.

[Hurry and follow. There’s no time for sightseeing.]

“Ah, yes.”

Then another place caught his attention.

There was a golden door within the gray mist.

“What is that place?”

He asked, thinking it might be some kind of treasure vault, but once again it was different from his expectations.

[It’s a prison. A place to confine souls that don’t listen.]

“Ah… I see.”

With a deflated expression, he followed the form of light again until they came to a river with black waves rippling.

[We’re here. Throw yourself into that.]

“Excuse me?”

[It’s a passage you must go through before crossing to another dimension, so don’t be afraid.]

“Another dimension?”

Come to think of it, God had said so.

That he had to go solve problems in another dimension.

[I’ll explain the details once you’re inside, so just jump down for now.]

“Ah, yes.”

Min Do-jun threw himself into the black river as instructed.

It felt strange, as if he was throwing himself into an abyss, but he couldn’t actually feel anything.

A space of darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

The only thing Min Do-jun could see here was God in the form of light.

[All preparations are complete. Now you can cross to another dimension.]

“What will I do in the other dimension?”

[It’s similar work to what I asked you to do before. Kill the villain and prevent the world’s destruction.]

“Please tell me in detail.”

[You will possess someone in another dimension.]

“What? Not my own body?”

[Your flesh has already been buried in the earth. I cannot create a new body either. As I said before, the world is in an experimental box where I cannot intervene. I’m not in a situation where I can directly create something.]

“That means…”

[You have no choice but to enter another body.]

“…”

Possession.

He had only heard about it, but never thought he would actually experience it.

“Wait a moment. Surely I won’t enter a monster’s body or something…”

[Don’t worry about that. Even souls have bodies that suit them. You will possess a human body.]

“Does that mean the dimension I’m possessing has an environment where humans live?”

[Yes. The dimension you will possess has humans living in it. On the same Earth, no less.]

There was an Earth in another dimension too?

“Is it a parallel world?”

[You seem to know that concept?]

“Yes. It appears in novels.”

[In the sense that it flows on the same line, you could call it a parallel world. In my case, I call it a sample world.]

“Sample world?”

[Originally, Earth was divided into two. The sample world and the non-sample world. The sample world refers to a world for testing various things before implementing them.]

“So you’re saying there’s another Earth?”

[Yes. It’s much smaller than the Earth you live on and has only 1 billion humans, but it has the same environment and similar civilization.]

Min Do-jun couldn’t hide his surprise at the news that there was another small Earth.

[When I first created the awakening system and applied it to humans, even I didn’t know what results it would bring. So I needed to test it first in the sample world.]

“Like a beta test in games.”

[That’s right.]

“How did it turn out?”

[It was ruined.]

“…”

[Due to poor balance adjustments, the hunters became far too powerful. The monsters were overwhelmingly defeated and species imbalance occurred. Moreover, the hunters intoxicated with power seized control and began ruling the world with force.]

“…That’s a complete mess.”

[Fortunately, I was able to apply improved versions of these system problems to the world you lived in, but the sample world could no longer be salvaged.]

“…”

[At this rate, the monsters would be completely wiped out and humans would eventually walk the path of destruction. So I closed the dungeons and stopped the supply of monsters. I essentially abandoned the sample world.]

“You’re sending me to such a place now?”

[Yes. With your level of skill, you should be able to kill the 8 Heroes ruling the world and prevent humanity’s destruction. Then I can reactivate the abandoned sample world.]

‘8 Heroes…’

In short, it was an order to possess someone in another dimension and assassinate the 8 hunters ruling Earth.

‘It seems easier than taking revenge on 15 people and killing Adam…’

The problem was whether he could maintain his existing power.

“Can I exert my existing power even after possessing another body?”

[Unfortunately, that’s impossible. You cannot transfer new version data to an old version.]

“Then I have to start from nothing?”

When Min Do-jun asked in surprise, God spoke as if telling him not to worry.

[That’s not the case. You’ll be able to start with at least the Hunter Slayer trait engraved on your soul.]

But that didn’t ease his worries.

“By any chance, is the body I’m possessing an S-rank hunter?”

[Let me see. Looking for a hunter’s body in a coma suitable for soul possession… Currently there’s only one F-rank hunter.]

Min Do-jun was dumbfounded.

“So you’re telling me to assassinate the 8 strongest hunters ruling humanity by entering an F-rank hunter’s body with just one Hunter Slayer trait?”

[Th-that’s right…]

“Does that make sense? That’s completely insane difficulty!”

[Of course I’m not planning to send you as is. I’ll give you special treatment so you can defeat the 8 Heroes.]

“Please engrave more traits on me.”

[That’s impossible. Each soul can only be engraved once.]

“Then what are you planning to do?”

[I’ll give you information advantageous for growth. The traits and main information of the targets you need to assassinate.]

“…”

[Of course that’s not the end. I’ll prepare one weapon and one trait you want in the human world so you can become strong quickly.]

“Just one?”

[…I can’t give them out as I please due to system constraints. I can only give one item and one trait each.]

“…”

Why were there so many restrictions?

Min Do-jun was at a loss for words.

‘This means I have to start from the bottom again?’

Starting from F-rank, when would he become S-rank and when would he assassinate the 8 Heroes?

‘But I can’t refuse either.’

If he said no now, who knows what God might do.

‘He might immediately annihilate me and my family.’

The condition was that he had to succeed in the mission to prevent his family from being annihilated.

‘There’s nowhere to retreat. I have no choice but to succeed in the assassination.’

Since God held the leash, Min Do-jun had no choice but to nod.

“Sigh… I understand. I’ll try.”

[Good thinking. Now choose the trait and weapon you want. By the way, since it’s an old version, there will be things that don’t exist in the new version.]

God showed him a system window listing traits.

“Are there no EX-rank traits?”

[No. EX-rank is a grade that came with the new version.]

“Hmm…”

Various S-rank trait information appeared before his eyes.

‘I can only choose one from these?’

If he could only have one, the Magic Swordsman trait would definitely be good, but unfortunately it was a trait that didn’t exist in the old version.

‘Then…’

After much consideration, Min Do-jun chose one.

[You chose well. Now, choose a weapon too.]

Looking at the information of the listed weapons, Min Do-jun made a puzzled expression.

“God. Are these all old version weapons?”

[That’s right.]

“Why do they only have rank restrictions and no level restrictions?”

[Ah, I didn’t mention it. The old version doesn’t have a level system. No achievement system either.]

“What?”

The existing version allowed weapons to be used according to level, but the old version system had no such thing as levels.

“Then when equipping gear or entering dungeons, you only look at rank?”

[That’s right.]

F-rank equipment could only be used by F-rank and above, and S-rank equipment could only be used by S-rank and above.

“Then how does ranking work?”

[Rankings are displayed purely by combat power order.]

“What about ranks?”

[When you exceed a certain combat power, your rank goes up.]

“What about experience points? When you kill monsters, there’s no experience and only items drop?”

[That’s right. Instead, there’s something called the rune system.]

Runes were a type of item that dropped when killing monsters, and when obtained, stats would automatically increase.

‘A system of increasing stats with runes instead of levels.’

After hearing explanations about which monsters gave which runes, Min Do-jun selected a weapon.

[Oh ho. You chose that.]

“Yes. Rather than choosing a weapon that S-ranks can wear, this seemed better.”

[You chose well. Then the trait and weapon you just selected will be placed in a temporarily created secret dungeon two weeks after you possess someone. I can’t give them to you immediately.]

“I understand.”

God finally gave him information necessary for assassination, information needed for growth, and other useful information.

[Did you memorize everything?]

“Yes. I memorized it all.”

[…You’re fast. Then are you ready to possess someone now?]

Min Do-jun took a deep breath before answering.

“I’m ready.”

[Good. I’ll proceed with the possession immediately. Make sure to kill the 8 Heroes and prevent destruction.]

He was going to do that anyway.

Because he had to protect Cha Ye-rin and his family.

“Yes. Please send me.”

As soon as he finished answering, his vision brightened and Min Do-jun soon opened his eyes in a new world.

In a new body named ‘Seong-min’.