Level 0 Master

His daughter, who had volunteered to save the people who had been swept up by the civil war, had ultimately lost her life.

At first, he had tried to take revenge. He wanted to send everyone within that world to hell, even by a deal with the devil. He wanted to mobilize all the nuclear bombs in the current government's possession to destroy their lands, but… his daughter's will had wanted him to do otherwise.

Her last words recorded on his phone as a voice message willed something different than his desires.

Father… I love you…

And…

These people…

Please, forgive them…

"What do you… want me to do!?"

A second chance had been given to him while he had fallen into despair: it was an invitation from the gods who were from "Valhalla."

He became the Kaiser and created a world where there was order and peace for his daughter after having extracted the souls of the people of Seryuu and of his daughter.

An absolute order for the unruly, and a world for his daughter to remain as a "resistor," but… his daughter had broken out of his world.

Sigh. I suppose that man is showing you a much happier world than the one I placed you in. Varka smiled softly. Then, I suppose that's it. How could I ever deny your wish?

His body turned into specks of light, and he smiled in satisfaction, which was unbefitting of someone who had just been defeated.

A man who had defeated him: such a person was worthy of trust.

He had thought she was too young, but she had brought someone like him.

Had the day his subordinates with daughters talked about finally arrived?

His child was… really… Has she really grown to the point where he wasn't needed?

Freedom, huh…

Another speck of light intertwined with his own. The image of Dungpyung wavered within that light, and his form slowly began to change into a large golden retriever. This was the sub-commander's true form: a loyal dog who wanted to protect the "prison of Eden" as his had master ordered in order to protect his second master. He was a family member who had tried to protect Sooryun with the regret of failing to protect her in its previous life.

Varka silently stroked its head, which was pointing towards Sooryun with worry in its eyes. That child will be okay now. You've done well.

The retriever looked between Sungjin and Sooryun but did not bark.

Let's leave that child in that man's arms and leave together. I believe it's time we let our beloved person free because she's our family. Varka and Sooryun and the last family member.

Dungpyun nodded at his master's words, and, after looking and staring at Sungjin for the longest while, silently dissipated.

"Farewell. I'll take responsibility as promised." Sungjin said his last words to the most powerful enemy he had met and his loyal dog.

It was a reassurance for them to no longer be so overprotective of her.

* * *

A speck of light hovered around Sungjin.

Allow me to advise you one last time.

"What?"

As you have defeated me, you will have no problems in your fights against the other Kaisers, who are on the same level as I am.

A victory attained by his own skills and not luck. Varka believed that Sungjin could continue winning his subsequent fights. Now that Sungjin had grown from his fight against him, the next opponents would not be as hard.

"And?"

Do not challenge the Ark Master. That is the only region you will not achieve victory in.

"Oh?"

I know your spirit. I know your goal. But think about what you could do as a Kaiser. That… is a human's limit… the reason being…

Varka's words disappeared.

"Hmm." Sungjin noted the last words of his best enemy.

The previous two Kaisers had been those who had challenged the Ark Master and failed. How should he interpret this advice?

"Ha. Well, I'll remember what you said." Sungjin laughed it off.

The Valkyrie began its announcements.

[The challenger has won. The gods will grant you a special drink as a reward for your victory, and this will raise your strengths to a new height.]

The wine of the gods in a golden chalice descended before Sungjin and his teammates. They could tell in a glance that an amazing amount of power was within that glass.

Sungjin and his teammates drank. They could feel the power swirl inside their bodies.

[That power will grant you seven hundred years of life and inexhaustible stamina, and it will grant you fortune that will make all curses and calamities ineffective unless it has been done by a god.]

"Hmm. Amazing." It was a reward befitting the defeat of Varka.

[If you defeat the remainder of the guardians, you will earn the right to rule over all of humanity, but do remember: a defeat may cause you to lose everything.]

A crisis and an opportunity.

After announcing the news to everyone, the Valkyrie flew away.

"Ha. Am I one step away from being a Kaiser?" Sungjin murmured to himself before turning around to face everyone. "Everyone, good job. Thank you." He had been able to win because of them. "Let's think about the next competition later and enjoy today."

"Yes, Sungjin."

A banquet was prepared for the victors. They talked to each other before the delicious food that didn't exist on earth.

"Sungjin looked amazing when he was against the five guardian robots all on his own."

"Oh my. I wish I could have seen, too."

"Huhu, but you must have seen much more than I have until now."

"That is true."

Hmm. Sungjin smiled at the scene that looked like a cut from a historical drama. But that's the reality of things. The battles he was raging were a part of history.

A fight to conquer the continent and change the world. He knew what he was fighting against. This was not something he could laugh off after a defeat and hope for the best next time.

I really do have one more person to fight for.

Eustasia offered Sooryun some cookies. "This is tasty."

"It is."

"You're a warrior, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am."

"Hu, aside from my personal feelings, it's a good thing you've joined. Your stat is the most appropriate for when he's competing with pure martial art skills."

"You're overpraising."

"It's an observation. From now on, his fights will become more competitive, which means there will be areas in which I cannot support him. Let's all do our best." This was Eustasia acknowledging Sooryun in her own way.

"Of course."

The girls kept talking to one another.

"He was a difficult opponent but worth defeating."

"Yes. He has become the cause of Sungjin's growth, after all."

"Right! I even kissed Oppa!" Rachel said.

"Pfft." Sungjin spewed out the drink he had been drinking.

"Oh my, Rachel?" Ereka smiled brightly.

"Uh, um?" Sungjin tried to interrupt.

"Oh, jeez, I wasn't going to tell you…" Ereka smiled shyly.

"What happened?"

"While your soul escaped your body, we had to give you some of our life force to protect your body." Eustasia smiled.

"…. ?!"

"Yes, it was quite heated, enough so that I am expecting the real deal to be better."

Zakiya also crinkled her eyes in an expression that said, "It was good."

"Haha, I… I see."

"Don't mind it, Sungjin. It was simply respiratory aid… but I'm still happy."

"Uh, um…"

"I will wait for the real deal with dear excitement."

"Haha." Sungjin simply laughed. He also had obstacles he did not wish to challenge. "With this, I see that a person of every class has gathered!"

Zakiya nodded at the girl who was unbelievably bright after the bomb she had just dropped. "Huhu, yes. Now all that remains is the promised day."

"Yes, if Oppa wins until the very end." Jenna and Zakiya's eyes met. It was an exchange that only the competitors could understand.

Sungjin smiled helplessly. The promised day, huh… It seemed like there had been some unknown progress while he had been busy. Yes, I should be prepared. That determination should not be for one thing but two. One was for the women who had given their everything for him. The other was… for victory. Yes, whether it would be defeat or victory, a result had to be decided on. All that was left was the last Kaiser and the last victory, although it wasn't set in stone.

Arc Master. Should he or should he not?

A God's ability. A God's position. If he wanted to change the world, that was what he needed to gain, but at the same time, he could lose everything. If he was alone, it wouldn't matter, but there were people around him who could die. He was spirited, but he was also fearful.

Sungjin looked up. Should he reach for it, or not?

Ha, no. I should focus on the goal before me.

It was the golden Kaiser first. He couldn't let his guard down because of something that would be decided later.

I wonder what challenge awaits me next? His heart trembled from fear and from excitement.

He had seen the holy magical sword, the white six-winged holy magical sword he had seen when he used The Holy Sword of Halt.

But… there was also the magical sword. The girls didn't see it because they were busy talking, and he didn't see it because it occurred behind him.

Twelve wings were revealed for a brief moment in his shadow behind him.

The six pairs of light.

And…

The six pairs of darkness composed of souls.

Together.

<End of Vol. 5>