Debuff Master

Chapter 1291

“This guy is completely off his rocker, no?” Siegfried grumbled in frustration.

“...Huh?” Michael blinked, shocked by what he heard.

“I mean, come on. How can you just destroy living creatures just because you don’t like them anymore? They’re not some kind of pottery you can just destroy on a whim!”

“Well, that may be true, but...” Michael hesitated. Then, he carefully continued, “To our Father, all things in this world don’t hold much significance. How could mere creations hope to comprehend the will of their Creator—”

“So what are you saying? A parent can just kill their child if they don’t like how they turned out? Just start over again and have another one, is that it?”

“Well...”

“And how are we supposed to understand that kind of parent?”

“...You have a point when you put it that way.”

“Creator, my ass. He doesn’t like what he made, and now he’s throwing a tantrum? He’s gonna destroy everything because he screwed up? What a gracious Father indeed.”

“...”

“If he wanted to cut ties and leave, he should’ve just stayed away. Why come back now and make a mess of everything?”

Siegfried’s disgust was palpable. Sure, the act of creation was an awe-inspiring miracle, but that did not mean the Creator had the right to destroy everything at his whim.

It was fine if the Creator just wanted to destroy objects, but what he was trying to destroy was the home of all sentient beings. Countless lives, souls lived in this place, and they, too, would perish the moment the world was destroyed.

No matter who the Creator was, Siegfried couldn’t forgive someone who would try to take that away.

“I guess one thing’s clear now,” Siegfried said with a shrug.

“What do you mean?” Michael asked.

“I’m talking about the Oracle’s goal. I told you before, didn’t I? That the angels and the demons would have to put aside their hatred and work together. That’s the reason the prophecy was split into two.”

“Ah...”

“It makes perfect sense now. If the enemy is the Creator himself, then it will take both the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm to stand a chance.”

“As expected of you, Siegfried...” Michael muttered in awe. He couldn’t hide his admiration. After all, Siegfried had seen straight through the Oracle’s goal.

“Anyway, we will have to find a way.”

“But how do we stop the descent of Father?”

“There has to be a way,” Siegfried said. Then, he added firmly, “Even if there isn’t a way, we will make one. Are we supposed to kneel and beg for our lives? Not happening.”

“You have a point.”

“Let’s start by listing down our options.”

With that, Siegfried began preparing to save the world from destruction—once again.

If the new Executor of Destiny, Lee Geon, was successful in summoning the Creator, then Siegfried would be facing the Creator of the world himself this time.

‘Hmm... I wonder if Master knows about this, too?’

Suddenly, the thought crossed Siegfried’s mind as he left the Demon Realm and was on his way back to the Proatine Empire’s imperial palace. He decided to seek out Deus the moment he returned to the imperial palace.

Why? It was all because there was a high chance that he was already aware of the Creator’s descent, and perhaps, he probably even knew how to stop it.

***

As always, Deus was fishing by the lake.

Splash!

Just then, a jet of water shot up.

“Who dares summon me?”

However, what he caught was no ordinary fish—it was a dragon. This was not the typical dragon that resembled a four-legged lizard often found in Western mythos.

This was a long and serpentine Eastern dragon, one with scales glimmering azure in the sunlight. Judging by the color of its scales, it was without a doubt one of the Four Divine Guardians—the Blue Dragon.

The Four Divine Guardians were believed to protect the four cardinal directions—Blue Dragon of the East, White Tiger of the West, Vermilion Bird of the South, and Black Tortoise of the North.

‘A-Are you kidding me?! I know this is a game, but how can someone fish up a dragon?! Please don’t go around fishing up divine beasts from a freaking lake!’ Siegfried screamed inwardly.

Who could have thought that Deus could literally fish a divine beast from another mythos?

The Blue Dragon looked down at Deus and asked with a hint of displeasure in its voice, “O being from another realm. Why have you summoned me?”

“Hoho! My apologies. I was merely passing the time by doing some fishing. I seem to have hooked you by accident,” Deus replied calmly.

“You could’ve been more careful.”

“My fishing line must’ve wandered into your realm while I was lost in thought.”

“I’ll overlook it this time since it was not intentional. I shall hold no grudge where there’s no malice.”

“Then I am deeply grateful for your magnanimity,” Deus replied politely, pressing his hands together in a respectful manner.

‘H-Hold on! Is that a Palm Hold Fist Salute[1] ?!’ Siegfried shrieked inwardly, his eyes widening.

The gesture Deus had just performed, the Palm Hold Fist Salute, was often seen in martial arts stories or old Chinese shows.

‘I’m so confused right now...’ Siegfried thought, confused by the fusion of two worlds.

Deus was simply making a gesture of courtesy, according to the customs of the world where the Blue Dragon had come from.

“Then I’ll be off. May your fishing be bountiful.”

“Why not take a look around this world before returning? You’re already here.”

“A kind offer, but I must refuse. Humans known as martial artists are causing great upheaval in my world. As one of the beings tasked with maintaining balance, I have my duties to attend to.”

“Ah, I see... so you’re capable of intervening in the laws of causality of that world to some degree.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Then I won’t keep you. My apologies once again for summoning you uninvited when you’re so busy.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“I am grateful for your kind understanding.”

“Farewell. Perhaps fate will bring us together again.”

“Go in peace.”

With that, the Blue Dragon plunged back into the lake.

Splash!

“Kyuuuu! Owner punk!” Hamchi exclaimed, quickly opening an umbrella to block the spray before it hit them.

‘What the hell...? Is there even a wuxia-themed world in this game?’ Siegfried wondered.

He was itching to satisfy his curiosity, but he pushed it aside for now and approached Deus.

Right now, he had to focus on saving this world rather than exploring others.

“Greetings, Master.”

“Hm? You’re here again? Didn’t you already come to pay your respects yesterday?” Deus asked nonchalantly, as if he had not just reeled in a divine beast from another dimension.

“I did, Master.”

“Then what brings you here again today?”

“I was wondering if there was a—”

Before Siegfried could even finish his words, Deus cut him off.

“No, there’s none.”

“...Eh?”

“I said, there’s none.”

“What do you mean by that, Master?”

“There’s no way to stop the Creator’s descent.”

“Eeeh?!”

It seemed that Deus had already guessed Siegfried’s reason for visiting today. It was not surprising at all, as what could possibly be hidden from the eyes of the Level 999 Hidden NPC?

After all, everything happening in the world of BNW was probably laid bare for him to see.

“B-But...!”

“If that being descends, none can oppose Him.”

“Is there really no way?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Even you, Master?”

“Bah! Nonsense! I surpass even the Creator of this world, so how could I not stop Him?”

“Ah! Then—!”

“But I am bound by the laws of causality, so I cannot interfere directly in this world.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?” Siegfried asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Most likely... die.”

“...”

“The opponent is the very being who forged this world, so His descent is preordained. You might be thinking that the so-called Executors of Destiny are summoning Him, but they’re nothing more than a tool meant to trigger His descent. Anyone can become one as long as they’re fitting. Even if you slay them, another will rise in their stead.”

“So you mean that... the Executor of Destiny is not someone predestined? Just whoever happens to fit the role will become one?”

“Hoho! It seems your brain has finally started working.”

Based on what Deus said, Lee Geon becoming the new Executor of Destiny was a mere coincidence. Even if it had not been him, someone else would have filled that role and brought ruin to the world.

In other words, Lee Geon was not chosen—he was simply suitable.

“A great calamity is coming, my disciple,” Deus said.

“Master...!” Siegfried gasped, shocked.

He had never heard Deus say something like this before. If he was calling it a great calamity, then it had to be something the world had never seen before.

“I have already taught you all that I can. Within your mind lies the enlightenment I have attained over my lifetime,” Deus said firmly.

“Yes, Master.”

“Believe in yourself and face it head-on. That is all I have to say to you.”

“I will remember your words, Master.”

And with that, Siegfried had no choice but to leave without any solution to the imminent crisis.

‘Is this the third main scenario? The Legacy of the Creator?’

As BNW’s main protagonist, Siegfried had already cleared two main scenarios. He defeated Acheron and Lucifer, preventing the world from being destroyed.

However, the incoming calamity this time was something on an entirely different scale.

He had to go up against the final boss, the very being who had created the world of BNW itself.

***

On that same evening, Tae-Sung shook his head in absolute disbelief after seeing how much money he had in his bank account.

‘Ah... This is too much...’

His wealth had multiplied yet again by an absurd amount that his cash balance exceeded one trillion won[2].

Thanks to going all-in on the Hive Games Entertainment stock during the crash, he made an absolute killing when the stock rebounded.

Of course, that was not all...

As a reward for resolving the recent brainwashing incident, he was given a hefty stake in Hive Games Entertainment, named as an executive, and was even promised to receive a personal copy of the game itself.

The source file of BNW was something no one could own—except for Tae-Sung. He had, quite literally, obtained immense riches and prestige imaginable in the gaming industry.

‘I have too much money. I should spend some of it.’

With that thought, he called his company secretary and instructed her to gift each member of his security team a luxury R-brand watch and a P-brand sports car, as tokens of appreciation for always protecting him.

He did not forget the rest of his employees either, so he issued generous bonuses across the board.

After treating everyone around him, Tae-Sung decided to head to the gym for a light workout.

Just as he stepped out the door, he jumped back in utter shock.

Cheon Woo-Jin was standing right outside.

“You scared the crap out of me! Shit!”

“What’re you being so jumpy for? I didn’t think it would be this easy,” Cheon Woo-Jin sneered with a smirk.

“What did you say, punk?”

“Mind if I come in?”

Without even waiting for permission, Cheon Woo-Jin waltzed in as if he owned the place, and he was not alone.

“I’m here, hyung-nim!”

“Hello, oppa.”

“How have you been, Tae-Sung?”

“What were you up to, babe?”

Seung-Gu, Gosran, Daytona, and Yong Seol-Hwa walked in, too.

Judging by the way they entered so casually, Yong Seol-Hwa had to have allowed them in.

Tae-Sung stood dumbfounded and asked, “What’s going on? Why’s everyone here? Did we have something planned today?”

All of them turned to him with their eyes wide open.

“Huh? Haven’t you heard the news, hyung-nim?”

“Don’t you ever check the news?”

“How can you be this rich and famous yet not follow the headlines? Seriously?”

Seung-Gu, Gosran, and Daytona all shook their heads in disbelief.

“Why? Did something happen?” Tae-Sung asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Lee Geon held a press conference, and he called you out publicly,” Yong Seol-Hwa whispered.

“That guy? Lee Geon?”

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?”

“He challenged you to a one-on-one match. A live match.”

“Huh?”

“Here, just see for yourself.”

Yong Seol-Hwa mirrored her smartphone to the TV and played clips from the press conference.

— Clean and simple. Best out of five, random stages, no time limit.

The moment the video ended, Tae-Sung felt as if he had been struck in the head with a hammer.

It wasn't because he was afraid of Lee Geon. It was more like something about this whole thing was really fishy.

‘What the hell is that lunatic plotting this time?’

Lee Geon was most likely the Executor of Destiny and was plotting to summon the Creator, yet he was challenging Tae-Sung to a live broadcast duel?

There was only one reason he would do something like that—he had something up his sleeve.

Lee Geon was sly, manipulative, and never acted without an agenda.

“Excuse me, sir?”

Just then, his head of security leaned in and whispered.

“Someone’s on the line asking to speak with you.”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Lee Geon, sir.”

1. A Palm Hold Fist Salute is used when martial artists greet each other. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fist-and-palm ☜

2. Roughly $700m USD in today’s exchange rate. ☜