Chapter 503: Chapter 503

Set scanned their surroundings.

The coliseum was rebuilt according to his will, and it largely looked the same as before. However, there was one crucial difference, and that would be the sense of desolation in the audience seats, as well as the arena itself.

He muttered, So many have disappeared already.

Compared to the beginning, only a fraction of the past lives remained now.

All of Su-hyeuns innumerable past lives filled with negative thoughts of the world and the universe were gone. They had been forcibly subjugated by Su-hyeun and could no longer voice their opinions.

With this, Su-hyeuns dilemma stuck in a delicate balance began tilting to one side.

However, what good would any of this do? Set wasnt disappointed in the least, however. After all, if we kill you here now, the ideals you held dear, in reality, would be crushed flat, leaving behind not even a husk.

This s.p.a.ce that seemed similar to the Dark World was actually Su-hyeuns visualized inner world. His war against his past lives had been taking place in such a s.p.a.ce.

In other words, none of this was real.

Quite literally, he had been fighting countless personalities and ideals of his past lives inside his mind.

And so, as his ideal was clas.h.i.+ng against the others inside the coliseum

We have won.

Two of the biggest headaches remained among their ranks.

Step

Another individual stepped forward from behind Set.

This mans eyes were strange. Their whites and irises had been swapped around.

He had the same face as Su-hyeun, but he was making an eerie grin that he would never make in his life.

Su-hyeun was exhausted, but the man with the same face as him looked completely fine. No matter who saw it, they would agree that the difference in their remaining stamina was too great.

Youno, hang on a sec. You are all me anyway, so its kinda weird to say it like this, huh? In any case, Su-hyeun scratched his head, I knew you were here since the beginning, but I never worried about you.

What?

I think I know myself pretty well. Like, what I really want and what I really wish to achieve. And also

Grip!

Huh?

Su-hyeuns hand grabbed the throat of his other self. In the blink of an eye, he was already in the middle of his enemies, including Set.

I know what my desire is.

KA-BOOM!

He then slammed the head of his other self on the ground.

The barely restored ground exploded and overturned in an instant, causing a curtain of dust to kick up. With a loud rumble, incredibly hot crimson flames billowed up to force the enemies to step back, including Set as well.

What I want to achieve isnt something grandiose like destroying the whole world or killing everyone I can see. Its nothing like that. I dont care about revenge, nor do I have lingering resentment.

Kuk, kugh!

What I really want, though, is to live a simple life in a perfectly normal world. Like, going to a cafe on my day off with a good book in my hand or just staying in bed for the whole day. Things like that.

Squeeze

Su-hyeuns desire urgently grabbed Su-hyeuns wrist. It tried to pry off the hand gripping its throat somehow, but Su-hyeun remained steady and unmoving.

The difference in raw strength between the two was just too stark.

Thats not that amazing, right? Meaning, youre not that amazing, either.

Crunch

Bones broke, and desires eyes rolled back. Just like that, Su-hyeun had trampled on his deepest desires with utmost ease.

You see? Dont you agree?

Shuffle

Su-hyeuns head s.h.i.+fted to his side.

He saw Set and a few thousand others still remaining.

All thanks to the continuous battle, his magical energy reserve and stamina had been depleted, almost reaching their limit. It didnt really matter, however.

[Trait, Hero Immortality, is activating.]

[Vitality and stamina are rapidly recovering.]

[All physical stats are being greatly enhanced.]

Squeeeeeze

His depleted stamina filled back up rapidly while much greater strength than the start of the battle welled up in him.

There wasnt much he could do about the exhausted magical energy reserve, but his physical abilities alone were more than enough to deal with the remaining enemies before him.

Pah-aht

His figure vanished from the spot, but he wasnt using the Earth Shrink Technique.

Slice!

No, he was simply too fast for naked eyes to follow.

Splat!

Two, no, three more heads went flying in the next second.

Su-hyeuns figure was too fast to follow, but at least during the moment he swung his sword, he could clearly be seen.

Thats nothing more than his last-ditch struggle! He wears a set of armor, so aim only for his head or neck! If you cannot follow his movements, wait until he needs to stop to take a swing with his weapon! Set immediately started commanding the battlefield.

Out of everyone in the coliseum, only he could accurately track Su-hyeuns movements. That was why he was able to respond in time.

CLANG!

Creak, creaaak

He was able to parry Su-hyeuns sword as it slashed down.

You blocked it?

It seems that I can at least hold my ground.

Su-hyeun had been thinking of eliminating Set first, so he couldnt help but tut unhappily.

He suddenly began thinking that all the magical energy he used up to deal with the small fries until now had been a waste. He still had a little bit left in his reserves. Still, carelessly using that might make it harder for him to move around later.

I need to think about what will happen after the end of Immortalitys duration, Su-hyeun thought.

His a.s.sessment was quick, his actions even quicker.

Pah-aht

Swish, slice!

He cut off several more heads in a row. A little swifter, he kept moving without rest.

But then

No need to fight back! Set issued a new command. Buy as much time as you can! Hold on until he runs out of his newfound stamina!

It sounded like he changed the battle tactic.

Set and Su-hyeun were the same person in the end. It wasnt that hard to figure out where Su-hyeun had gotten his second wind from.

It was the same story for the others, too. They all figured out that Su-hyeun had activated Immortality to gain a sudden burst of strength and stamina. Their movements switched to something much more pa.s.sive.

Clang!

Slice

Of course, it didnt matter one jot in the end.

Dodging or blocking. You think things will change by doing that? Su-hyeun yelled out while cutting off a magicians head using a wall of magic circles to protect itself.

His sword had shattered all those dozens of magic circles and barriers in one strike.

What happened afterward could only be described as a one-sided ma.s.sacre.

Even Set, the only one capable of detecting Su-hyeuns movement, had to think that way.

Su-hyeun ignored Set and dashed around. He was planning to eliminate everyone else except Set within the allotted time.

Tick, tock

Fifteen minutes pa.s.sed by like that.

Tick, tock

And soon, it became 29 minutes.

Splat!

The head of the last remaining past life was sliced off.

At a certain point, Set gave up chasing after Su-hyeuns figure, his hands resting by his sides. He was the only one remaining now.

Su-hyeun called out, Hey! Have you been waiting long?

Surely, now cant be a good time for you to leisurely shoot the breeze with me.

Obviously.

Swiiiish

Claaang!

Flying like a flash of light, Su-hyeuns sword slammed down on top of Sets sword. The ground beneath Sets feet caved in deeply, his arms quaking unsteadily.

I know that all too well!

Whoosh!

Clang, claaaang!

Su-hyeuns sword strikes came flying in from seemingly every direction.

Set stood resolutely on his two feet and defended against the strikes. He focused all of his magical energy on his weapon and did his best to keep up with Su-hyeuns speed.

And so, after they crossed swords about a hundred or so times

Pow!

Sliiiiide

Sets foot kicked Su-hyeuns abdomen, pus.h.i.+ng the latter far back.

Its been 30 minutes.

The last minute pa.s.sed by without too many surprises.

Drip

No, the truth was, something did happen. Su-hyeuns sword managed to cut off Sets ear.

However, this level of blood loss was nothing much. Set wiped the blood off with his hand before staring at the stain. Well, losing only one ear for this end result? This isnt a bad trade-off at all. Dont you agree?

When Set asked that, Su-hyeun simply reined in his heavy breathing.

Immortalitys duration came to an end, and Su-hyeuns fatigue rushed in like a tidal wave. His body, overflowing with vitality only a second ago, now felt as heavy as a lump of lead. His breathing became so heavy and shallow that he found it hard to breathe properly.

In a way, you could call what was happening now Immortalitys side effects.

The skill Immortality did recover Su-hyeuns lost stamina, but it also came with a hefty penalty when its duration was over. Now that the skill had deactivated, all the strength and stamina he had been freely using had come back to bite him as a severe rebound.

Yeah, I agree. Despite the rebound, Su-hyeun was still grinning. Its not a bad trade-off.

He looked fatigued, yet he seemed at ease.

And at his relaxed demeanor

Wait, Set finally recalled something he had forgotten about.

All of you, arise.

Shu-shushushu

Black smoke rose from all around Su-hyeun. Then, shadows with all sorts of shapes and sizes rose from the darkness.

As for the number of summons he would be controlling

Every single one of you.

It consisted of all the summons Su-hyeun currently commanded.

Thuuud!

The first creature to grab Sets attention was the biggest of them all, Gyges.

Shwa-aaaah

Next was Kali, who appeared grandly as blood poured down from the air.

And then, Gluttony and Prince Nezha made their entrance. Aside from the quartet, more Predators now serving under Su-hyeun appeared as well.

A small but powerful army filled up the coliseums arena.

Well, now, its the reversal of fortunes, isnt it?

Hah, Set watched this happen and chuckled hollowly.

Without a doubt, many were fighting against one man not too long ago. However, the situation had reversed. Now, Set was alone while Su-hyeun had become many.

Shu-wuk

Sets arms moved. Su-hyeun reacted to that and was about to command his summons, but then

I give up.

Clang

Set dropped his sword on the ground, then raised his hands high.

Huh? Su-hyeun made a confused face.

Was this a ploy to waste time or something?

Thats not going to be advantageous for him, though, Su-hyeun thought.

Indeed, Su-hyeun would benefit from wasting time like this.

He was currently exhausted, but if his stamina recovered in time, Set would have zero chance of defeating him.

Well, he still doesnt have a s...o...b..lls chance in h.e.l.l even now.

Breaking through all these summons, which included the members of the Ten Great Evils like Kali and Gyges, to reach Su-hyeun was simply impossible.

The current Set did not have the ability to do so. If he had existed for seemingly an eternity like Osiris, then maybe. However, Set wasnt like that.

He really was surrendering right now.

Im sure you already know this. Even if you give up now, I cant let you leave here alive. Doing this is basically pointless, said Su-hyeun.

Yes, I know. All I need is a little time to talk to you.

Time, you say?

I want to ask a favor, Set grinned as he spoke. Osiris Can you find out why that idiot ended up in his current state?

Why should I?

Something must have happened to him because, out of everyone I knew, that idiot used to love the world more than anyone else.

Su-hyeun wordlessly stared at Set, who was bowing down with a genuinely worried face.

What an ironic situation this was.

Worrying about a friend you tried to kill with your own hands Dont you think it all kind of sound weird?

Thats true. I wont deny that.

Well, sure. Ill do that. Im also kind of curious, after all. And its an undeniable fact that you are me, anyway.

Thanks. Honestly, Im hoping youd lose to Osiris, and everything burns down to the ground, but I guess you wont allow that, huh?

Of course not.

I see, Set muttered before picking up his sword from the ground.

Su-hyeun briefly wondered if he would try to fight back, but that wasnt it. Set simply pointed the sword at himself and powerfully thrust it straight through his throat.

Stab!

Blood exploded forth from Sets throat. His body gradually scattered away in smoke.

My favor thanks for humoring it.

Take care now.

Snap

Ruuumble

Su-hyeun snapped his fingers, setting Sets figure on fire. He watched his first past life burn down to nothing and ordered his summons to go back.

After that, the coliseum was left completely empty. In the beginning, this expansive s.p.a.ce was teeming with activity, but only he remained now.

And right at that moment

[You have satisfied the condition.]

[The Guide of Past Lives is activating.]

The fourth option of his Six Paths had awakened..