Overwhelming Firepower

While Alexander and Cael were under the respective illusions, Lucen was sitting alongside the Heavenly Demon and Martial God.

'I wonder what they're experiencing right now. Is this like the genjutsu used by ninjas? Damn, I would want to see what kind of thing they're seeing right now.' Lucen thought to himself as he examined the unconscious Alexander and Cael.

"Hey brat, you want to see what they're seeing, right?" The Heavenly Demon spoke to Lucen.

'As expected of the Heavenly Demon. His insight was so great that one might think he could read minds. Even Acting Adept could not completely hide my thoughts from him.' Lucen responded by nodding his head.

"You see that, the brat wants to see."

The Martial God looked at the smiling Heavenly Demon but did not say anything. The Martial God pointed at the unconscious Alexander and Cael. He then flicked his finger upward.

The air above the two rippled. Two circular images appeared, floating side by side like mirrors made from clear water. At first, their surfaces showed only darkness, but the images quickly became clearer.

Lucen leaned forward with undisguised interest. 'Is that a spell, but since it's done by the Martial God, it should be a sort of technique. This world is truly weird; magic becomes something similar to technology. Well, whatever, let's see what kind of trials the two are having.'

Lucen watched the two mirrors and was quite surprised. Cael's side was oddly similar to the main timeline back when it was a game. As for Alexander's side, it was something else entirely.

'What the f*ck, when did this world have anything like cosmic horror. At most, the Demon Lords, the Overlord, and the Demon God were quite similar to Lovecraftian beings, but that thing is basically an Outer God.'

The thing beyond the blood-red sky was difficult to describe, even through the watery projection. Its form constantly shifted whenever Lucen tried to focus on it. Sometimes, it appeared to be an enormous eye. At other times, it resembled a shadow wrapped around the world itself.

"Did you think of that thing?"

"The illusion creates nothing of its own. It merely takes what lies within one's mind, reads one's heart and soul, then builds a world around it."

"So that is something Alexander had seen before? When? How? If something like that has appeared before, then we should have heard about something..."

'In a normal world, an Outer God who can affect one's psyche would be hard to find, but this world has numerous deities. An unknown God would be hard pressed to move around undetected.'

Lucen was already thinking about how to deal with an Outer God. He remembered that he had read many books about Outer Gods since he had gotten interested in them because of a certain anime using the same names.

'I'd better use the memory potion later to see if I can find ways to survive against Outer Gods.'

"Hoh, this brat has some unknown secret. That thing in his illusion, I want to crush it."

The Heavenly Demon's smile widened as his eyes remained fixed on the impossible being beyond the blood-red sky.

Lucen actually wanted to see that fight. On one side was the kind of being who would be the strongest in most martial arts novels he had read. On the other was an eldritch horror.

"I can't allow those who look down upon me. If there is a higher sky, I will crush it down. There's already this annoying guy who shares the same sky as mine, can't have another one."

Lucen could not help but admire the Heavenly Demon's confidence, or perhaps arrogance was the more accurate word.

The Martial God glanced toward him. "There is always a higher sky."

The Heavenly Demon's smile disappeared. "What did you say?"

"Did you not say the same thing when we first arrived in these lands? Did you not learn about the deities who were above you? Not to mention, there is always a realm beyond the one you currently stand upon. Believing otherwise is how a Martial Artist's path ends."

The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue. "Tsk, where is your pride as a Martial Artist? You always find a way to make everything sound boring."

"Recognizing that the path continues is not a matter of pride. The path is never-ending, which is why the two of us have continued onward, or are you telling me that you have already fallen behind?"

Lucen was having fun listening to the conversation between the two as the tension increased. This was also the first time he saw the Martial God answer in a more aggressive manner.

The Heavenly Demon's eyebrow twitched. "You dare imply that I have fallen behind?"

"I simply asked a question," the Martial God calmly replied.

"You already know the answer, or do you wish to see for yourself?"

The pressure around the Heavenly Demon grew heavier. The stone platform beneath him produced several faint cracks, while the air around the Martial God remained completely still.

Lucen, who was at the side, did not mind the pressure, as he was getting even more excited. It was like he was watching multiple cut scenes happening at the same time.

In the illusion, he heard Cael say his iconic line, the one he told Alexander in the game, but this time he saw him say it to a knight. Lucen was a little surprised to hear so much emotion from the current Cael.

"If I run away now, I will be betraying everything that makes me a Thornehart! Everything has already been taken from me. All I have left are the people of Ironhold, my sword, and my name!"

Cael's grip around his sword tightened.

"Will you deny me the glory of dying as a Thornehart?! Will you take away my chosen place to die?! Will you take that from me too?!"

The Heavenly Demon, who was arguing with the Martial God, stopped for a moment and started laughing when he heard Cael's words.

"Hahaha! That brat really has the same feel as Martial Artists from the central plains. You see that! That's what a Martial Artist is about!" The Heavenly Demon went back to arguing with the Martial God.

"That is but one possible path of a Martial Artist, but it is not the only path, as you should know."

The Heavenly Demon scoffed. "Of course, it is not the only path. But a Martial Artist who cannot stake his life upon the path he chooses will never reach its end."

"And one who mistakes recklessness for conviction may die before taking a single meaningful step," the Martial God replied.

"Are you telling me that his conviction to lay his life down was wrong?"

"I have not said anything. I simply provided a different view. His willingness to die is not what gives his choice meaning. What matters is why he chose to stand."

While the two were talking, Lucen noticed that something equally exciting was happening in Alexander's illusion.

Alexander was carrying Cael, Mina, Ryan, Nina, and Catherine away from the impossible town.

Even through the projection, Lucen could see the strain on his face. His Aura Mantle flickered, his body trembled, and blood continued to run from his nose. Yet he did not leave anyone behind.

The Heavenly Demon glanced toward the image. "Hmph, that brat is truly a boring one, but... I suppose he is not a hypocrite like those orthodox b*stards."

Hearing what the Heavenly Demon said, Lucen couldn't help but smile. That was the closest thing to actual praise the Heavenly Demon has given Alexander.

"To follow one's path no matter the difficulty is always an admirable sight to behold," the Martial God commented as well.

The Heavenly Demon clicked his tongue, but he did not argue. Inside the projection, the enormous eye finally turned toward Alexander.

Despite it just being an illusion and he was even outside said illusion, Lucen felt a strong discomfort.

"Hm, that thing is a truly interesting being. Despite not being the real thing and just something coming from that brat's imagination, that being is emitting some deadly mental pollution. I wonder how powerful the real thing is."

The Heavenly Demon was smiling viciously as he was trying his best to restrain his excitement for battle.

He knew that with Lucen's current strength, if he released something excessive, he might accidentally permanently damage Lucen. It was at that moment that something else happened within the illusion.

Alexander, who was bleeding from his mouth, nose, eyes, and even through his pores, stood up and shouted.

"They belong to no one!"

After continuing forward with his injuries, Alexander, who seemed to be communicating with the being above the red sky, shouted something else. "I said... I'm taking everyone home!"

Lucen could not help but get excited to hear Alexander say those words. Even against something like Outer God, Alexander remained the shining hero in his memories.

When Lucen saw Alexander place down his companions, he could already guess what the hero who valued everyone would say.

"Take me instead!"

'As expected of my childhood hero. Even against something similar to Outer God, which brought in despair, you still found a bit of hope.'

"Huh? What is that brat saying? Did he just give up the battle?" The Heavenly Demon commented, feeling a little irritated.

"The young man simply chose the only path he saw to save his friends." The Martial God continued, "To sacrifice oneself is not the same as surrender. He understood victory was impossible, so he changed what victory meant."

The Heavenly Demon frowned, but he did not respond to the Martial God's words and continued to look at Alexander's illusion.

Inside the illusion, Alexander drew the being's attention away. His companions woke up from their dazed state and escaped. They then vanished into the forest while darkness swallowed Alexander.

Watching the scene before him made Lucen's smile grow wider. 'As expected of my hero. Even in such dark despair, he found a way for hope to shine.'

On Cael's side, he was also fighting fiercely against the monster wave, and despite losing all his limbs, he continued to fight; he even started biting the monsters until he died.

There was a moment of silence when the illusions of the two ended. Lucen was glad he got to see how the two of them confronted their respective illusions.

"To never waver on your own convictions, no matter the circumstances. They have done well," the Martial God praised.

"Hmph, I guess these two brats have the makings of great Martial Artists." The Heavenly Demon acted like a tsundere and praised the two as well.

"So did they pass your tests?" Lucen asked the two.

"They have," the Martial God responded.

"Well, later they might wish that they had failed instead," the Heavenly Demon said, grinning as he cracked his knuckles.

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