Chapter 106: Chapter 100: Murim’s Ascension
Back on Murim,
A lot of time had passed, and it was finally time for Zeke to return. Right now, he was sitting under Yggdrasil, playing a geomungo. If someone were to see him now, they wouldn’t believe that he was the same man who had massacred the Transcendents of the Righteous Alliance. His vibe had changed.
Zeke stopped playing the instrument and opened his eyes. He found the Demonic Scribe waiting silently for him.
The Demonic Scribe said, "This lowly one greets the Heavenly Demon."
Zeke nodded and said, "What brings you here today?"
The Demonic Scribe replied, "My Liege, the awaited day of Ascension that you told us about is about to arrive. All the preparations have been completed. Every citizen under your regime is ready for the celebration."
Zeke asked, "Has it been ten years already?"
He looked up at Yggdrasil. It had become massive due to the tremendous amount of Faith being generated every day.
He then closed his eyes again and ordered, "Good. I can tell that you’ve completed the tasks I gave you all. Do a final check. Make sure that everything is in place."
The Demonic Scribe said, "As you command, My Liege."
Zeke then did something that shocked him. Zeke stretched his hand out, palm facing downward. A circle made of runes appeared, and Zeke pulled out an immaterial silver sword from it. He slashed the air in front of him.
A slit appeared in the space before him. Zeke stepped through it, and the slit disappeared. The Demonic Scribe lost his composure. Space had been split apart. This was different from when Transcendents and Ultimate Demons used Greater Void Shift. They ripped space apart using brute force, whereas Zeke had just cleanly split it into two. He had only seen one being do this before: Mammoth Head.
He said, "It seems that My Liege’s retreat went well."
At the same time, Zeke had arrived at Mammoth Head’s residence. It was surprisingly humble.
He heard Mammoth Head’s voice, "What, are you surprised?"
Zeke said, "To be honest, yes. For a guy who’s so proud of his species, you’re... surprisingly humble."
Mammoth Head replied, "I’m proud, but not to the point that it clouds my judgment. It would be difficult for me to find a place where I can appear in my original form without destroying it completely. Besides, do you know how difficult it is for me to scratch my stomach in my original form?"
(Did he really say that?)
[He did. His candidness still shocks me.]
Zeke laughed. He had found a friend in Mammoth Head.
Mammoth Head said, "If you’re here, that means it’s time."
Zeke replied, "It is. I’m just here to ask you something."
Mammoth Head asked, "You will keep your word, right?"
Zeke responded, "Of course I will. I’m just here to ensure that you have all the details."
Mammoth Head pretended to wipe a tear from his eye and said, "He cares about me."
Zeke said, "This is no joking matter. Are you really willing to give it all up?"
Mammoth Head laughed and said, "You’re worried over nothing. I’m not giving anything up. It’s more of an exchange. The past for a better present. Besides, I’ll still have the most important thing—my wisdom and experiences."
Zeke said, "And what about the other thing? I told you, my true body is that of a kid."
Mammoth Head replied, "But if everything you’ve told me is true, then it won’t really be a problem, will it?"
Zeke chuckled and said, "It won’t."
Mammoth Head asked, "How much time is left?"
Zeke checked the System Message and replied, "Twelve hours."
Zeke returned to Yggdrasil and sat down under it. Once again, he started concentrating on the Faith streams, but this time, he began commanding them. He was reshaping all of the Faith flowing through Murim’s core, and the effects were showing.
The weather started changing erratically, but fortunately, there were no natural disasters except for some very minor earthquakes. This went on until only half an hour was left before his departure.
He used the Faith streams that connected him to his believers and said, "My people, I am Cheon Ryeong-Hwang. Ten years ago, I brought peace to Murim, and now, I shall lead it to Ascension."
The people who heard his voice in their heads kneeled wherever they were. His reign had changed their lives. Before, they had worried if they would be able to pay taxes, eat their next meal, or provide for their families.
But he and his policies had changed it all. They were finally happy. They had a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, and a head free from unnecessary stress. To them, he was better than any god they used to pray to.
He continued, "Today, I will leave Murim. But worry not, for I will take you with me. The truth is, this body of mine is an incarnation. My true body is waiting for us. You all shall transform and become a part of something bigger. Are you with me?"
All of the people yelled together, "Through the suffering, to the stars!!"
Zeke couldn’t hear them, but he could feel their raw emotions.
He said, "Then let us commence the Grand Sacrifice."
Everyone remained kneeling in the streets and began chanting the prayers from the Gospel of the Neo-Nephilim Primogenitor that had been spread.
When the portal was about to open, Zeke activated the Faith in Murim’s core. Totems began lighting up all over Murim. He had them engraved on all the infrastructure that had been built. But it didn’t end there.
Totems also started appearing in the wilderness and other locations without any human interference. This was a result of him reshaping the Faith streams.
Under Mammoth Head’s orders, the beasts began to do the same. They, too, had been converted and were practicing the Neo-Nephilim Totemic Ascension. Not just them, but everyone had been practicing it. The totems inside them also started glowing.
The skies began raging as a huge door appeared in the clouds. It was a World Gate. As soon as it opened, a beam of Faith, visible to the naked eye, was unleashed from the crown of Yggdrasil and passed through it.
Zeke transformed into his Asuran form, his eyes glowing, and said, "Arise to... Aurevion."
