Chapter 277 (1/2)
Act 5
Fluff, fluff—
The fog that covered their surroundings began gathering in one place.
Falling rain met with the flames burning on the ground and evaporated. The fog created in that manner soon morphed into something closer to clouds and, in turn, became Su-hyeun’s “territory.”
“So, this is it?” Su-hyeun thought.
Su-hyeun was in a dreamy state after creating this territory. It felt as if the whole area had become a part of his flesh. More importantly, everything within it was under his beck and call now.
“This is what the Somersault cloud is.”
“Freely wield it” was what the Somersault cloud told him.
Along with that permission, Su-hyeun was able to wield the divine artifact anyway he saw fit. More correctly, he began believing that he could wield it as his heart desired.
But he was naive.
He thought he managed to figure out what kind of being the Somersault cloud was and that he had seen through all the types of power it possessed. But he was so wrong.
He didn’t even know one-tenth of what the Somersault cloud was capable of.
“The proof of godhood, was it?”
The cloud of the beginning and the proof of godhood. Initially, Su-hyeun couldn’t understand what those words implied, especially so when it came to godhood—this term just felt so foreign to him.
But now, he thought he finally got it.
“Godhood.”
It was basically the qualification to become a god, and it was something you should obviously possess if you were indeed a god.
The Somersault cloud was a divine artifact that allowed its wielder to take a peek at the abilities of such a godly being.
While he stood inside the fog, he felt as if time had come to a standstill. He became one with the fog covering the surroundings, and he felt that the world was in his palm.
For a very brief moment there, a moment shorter than even a blink of an eye, he felt confident enough to do anything he wanted.
“Isn’t this…?”
In the meantime, the Jade Emperor’s eyes grew extremely large from pure shock because he knew intimately well what that aura emanating from the fog surrounding him was.
It was from the divine artifact that the Great Sage Heaven’s Equal wielded.
“But how can that bastard control the Somersault cloud?!”
Sun Wukong’s invasion of the Heavenly World 500 years ago still remained fresh in the Jade Emperor’s head even to this day.
This was the greatest weapon—an ability of sorts—that symbolized the boundless strength of Sun Wukong, along with the magical staff, Ruyi Jingu Bang.
He couldn’t forget it since he felt the exact same aura from the Somersault cloud while it summoned storm winds and lightning bolts half a year ago when the Heavenly World’s army tried to invade the Bull Demon King’s territory.
Crackle, craaaackle—
The arcs of lightning buzzed and danced within the Somersault cloud that was spreading out to seemingly everywhere. Su-hyeun hadn’t even issued any particular commands at that—the artifact itself simply changed its shape according to its wielder’s current emotions.
“Dammit!”
Finally realizing the situation he was in, the Jade Emperor hurriedly curled within himself once more.
Right after that…
“Destroy him…”
FLASH—!
The “clouds” cast over the ground emitted a bright light and then…
“Somersault cloud.”
At that very moment, Su-hyeun finished issuing his commands…
RUUUUUMBLE—!
Heavenly calamity got underway.
WHOOOOSH—!
Violent storm winds whipped crazily within the “clouds.” These winds were sharper than prized swords and vicious enough to shatter tough boulders into smithereens.
Rumble, flaaaaash—!
On top of this, lightning bolts twirled and writhed with the vicious winds. Those lightning bolts that were powerful enough to split the earth and turn one’s body into ash ceaselessly exploded everywhere.
Su-hyeun was in a complete trance as he stood tall within this maelstrom.
As for the Buddha statue, it had been torn apart to pieces by the winds and scorched black by lightning a long time ago. The story wasn’t any better for the Jade Emperor hiding within.
Su-hyeun looked at the burnt-black Jade Emperor’s quivering lips and muttered, “All you can say in your final moments are cheap profanities and nothing else?”
He then flicked his finger at the Jade Emperor who barely managed to open his lips at this point.
Swiiiiish—
Splat—
The scorched Jade Emperor’s head transformed into a pile of ashes only to crumble away.
And at that very same moment, all strength escaped Su-hyeun body, and the bluish aura swirling in his eyes flickered out.
“And so…it’s really the end.”
[Immortality’s duration has ended.]
[The recovery effect on your stamina and the abnormal status conditions have disappeared.]
[Physical stat points have reverted to their original values.]
[Fatigue: 87]
The Immortality trait had lost its effect almost at the same time, and a great amount of fatigue washed over Su-hyeun’s body.
Shu-ruru—
He slowly fell on his back.
And at that very moment…
[You’ve acquired 10,000,000 achievement points.]
[You’ve attained the highest possible accomplishment points.]
[You’ve surpassed the clearance condition for the 60th floor’s trial.]
[Your ranking cannot be possibly determined.]
[Awarding of additional rewards has been postponed.]
[The Administrators have convened for a conference.]
[Please be on standby for a little while.]
Su-hyeun, who was gradually fading into unconsciousness, woke up abruptly for a moment there when he heard the vague echoing of the system messages in his head.
“…What?”
**
“How surprising,” said the Bull Demon King with a serious voice.
Erlang Shen’s own impression after witnessing the battle while sitting next to the god-like Yogoe wasn’t all that different either. He shot up to his feet, his shock obvious as he tried to take in the unfolding spectacle. “That…was that the Somersault cloud?”
Sun Wukong mentioned earlier that he handed the Somersault cloud to someone else. And that someone else happened to be Su-hyeun.
Erlang Shen thought that was a rather foolish choice.