Chapter 298

Words : 2789 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 298 “...?” Lost in his contemplation about the essence of divine mana, Se-Hoon suddenly noticed something was amiss. His newly forged sword was glimmering with a gray hue in the water tank, the astonished gazes of onlookers on it, and finally, the notification windows that appeared in front of him. And when he actually read the notification messages, his eyes widened in shock. Divine Mana and Purified Earth have been combined? He couldn’t figure out how the two entirely distinct forms of mana possibly connected, let alone combined. What even exactly was Divine Power? All these things were unprecedented phenomena, things Se-Hoon had never encountered before. And while Se-Hoon tried to figure it out, the atmosphere in the workshop began shifting. “Gray... divine mana...” “Th—that’s...!” The gazes of the blacksmiths in the workshop were brimming with suspicion, staring at him with dread, hostility, and unease. Seeing those, Se-Hoon could instantly tell what they were about to declare. Heretic... They were ready to charge at him, denouncing him as an apostate or heretic. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Se-Hoon swiftly readied himself to respond. Whoosh! But at that instant, his surrounding scenery changed. He was now in a golden world, standing in an immaculate white garden. Stunned, Se-Hoon surveyed his new radiant surroundings. Is this teleportation? No... there was no sign of it. Considering Se-Hoon now could detect Ludwig’s teleportation magic, he was certain he wouldn’t have missed any signs of teleportation magic moving him out of the workshop. Furrowing his brow, he sharpened his senses, realizing that it was a skill he hadn’t experienced before. “Wait a second!” A hurried voice suddenly called out from ahead. Turning his head, Se-Hoon found a man dressed in pristine priestly robes standing in the pristine garden—Karl Anderson. “I hastily created this Sanctuary, so if you too strongly perceive this place as unreal, it could collapse. Please try to relax and treat this space as reality,” Karl quickly explained, concern etched on his face. He had rushed over, worried that Se-Hoon might bring the Sanctuary down at any second. Sanctuary... Right, I remember there was a skill like that. Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes in suspicion. It was high-level Divine Magic that could only be activated by at least three archbishops working in tandem. Using what he knew, Se-Hoon could tell based on his surroundings and Karl’s expression that the place he was in indeed resembled a Sanctuary. It seemed Karl had been genuine in his explanation. But even so, Se-Hoon kept his senses alert instead of relaxing, ready to escape at a moment’s notice. I can take care of the blacksmiths outside, but it’s a whole different story if this guy brands me a heretic. If Karl declared him a heretic right now, it would mean every member of the Pilgrimage Church across the globe would rise against him—a situation that could grow even more perilous than facing the Ten Evils. As his mind raced, brainstorming ways to escape the Sanctuary if necessary, he heard Karl speak up again. “There’s no need for you to worry. I don’t see your power as heretical.” Having read Se-Hoon’s wariness, Karl reassured him with a faint smile, easing Se-Hoon’s alertness. Then, as if a switch had been flipped off, Se-Hoon started perceiving the Sanctuary as reality and relaxed. He can alter his perception so freely... With a peculiar expression on his face, Karl observed the shift in Se-Hoon’s demeanor with interest, wondering what kind of synesthetic mindscape Se-Hoon possessed to allow him such control over his consciousness. “So you’re saying that my power isn’t heretical?” Se-Hoon cautiously said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. Though he doubted Karl would lie about such a matter, Se-Hoon refused to fully let his guard down, keeping his vigilant gaze on Karl. “It is forbidden for heretics to enter this Sanctuary in the first place. If they somehow happen to be summoned here, they would’ve been incapacitated the moment they entered this place,” Karl explained, gesturing toward the pristine garden surrounding them. “So, if I hadn’t been allowed in here...” “That would mean you truly were a heretic.” Karl’s nonchalance sent a chill down Se-Hoon’s spine. What he initially thought was a disaster—being forcibly summoned—had turned out to be the very thing that saved him from an even greater threat. I guess I avoided the most troublesome scenario... Relieved, Se-Hoon took a moment to inspect himself, particularly the divine mana within him that had undergone a transformation. “Only my consciousness was pulled in here, right? And my body is still in the original location?” “That’s correct. That is the essence of the Sanctuary.” The Sanctuary’s ability, summoning only the consciousness of individuals and simulating reality, intrigued Se-Hoon. “I see. But doesn’t that mean you are putting yourself in danger outside?” Though Se-Hoon’s body was safe if the blacksmiths did anything, being in Babel under Ludwig’s watchful eyes, what about Karl? If he was still on the Pilgrim’s Path, who would ensure his safety? Yet, to Se-Hoon’s concerns, Karl merely smiled. “That won’t be a problem. Time flows differently here.” “...Really?” “Of course. Oh, I don't mean that time stops entirely here. A day here is roughly equivalent to a fraction of a second outside.” Se-Hoon couldn’t believe his ears. A fraction of a second per day?! If Karl’s claim was true, the time ratio between the Sanctuary and reality exceeded eighty thousand to one. If he plans to torture someone here, even the strongest hero wouldn’t last more than a few seconds in the outside world. Of course, Se-Hoon doubted Karl would actually stoop to such methods; the thought of the Sanctuary’s power just left him unnerved. I should stay cautious. Newly aware of the Pilgrim’s strength and its potential threats, Se-Hoon became more serious. “I understand there’s no real problem with our bodies outside now, so do you have another reason for summoning me here?” “Hm, let’s sit down first before discussing that.” The ground beneath them instantly transformed at those words, and Se-Hoon now found himself in a Western-style pavilion, complete with a small table and chairs. Everything was still pure white, blending seamlessly with the Sanctuary’s aesthetic. The newly formed furniture garnered Se-Hoon’s interest, curiosity flickering in his expression. What material is this made of? At first, he had assumed it was divine mana, but on closer inspection, the sensation felt distinctly different. “These are all made up of my power,” Karl explained with a smile, seeing Se-Hoon carefully inspecting the table. “...What?” “The white energy surrounding us. Everything here is made using my power of Grace.” So it was the power of Grace—the Pilgrim’s true power that was often shrouded in vague descriptions. Se-Hoon looked around at their surroundings again. I thought his power was just divine mana itself, but this seems to be something entirely different. What exactly was the power of Grace, and how could it create such marvels? Sensing Se-Hoon’s growing interest, Karl elaborated. “The power of Grace allows me to receive blessings from God in exchange for prayers. Simply put, it’s the power of communication.” “Communication...” “In ancient religions, gods were never able to prove their existence directly. As a result, only faithful ones could feel their presence, causing atheists to dismiss them altogether.” No matter how fervently one claimed to have seen divine visions or heard sacred decrees, if others couldn’t also perceive them, their faith would remain unverified. It was a gap that was unable to be bridged for centuries, resulting in skepticism toward religions. That was why the Pilgrimage Church, founded by Karl, had taken a different approach. “I believed that to reveal the existence of God, the first problem I needed to solve was proving it. And that line of thought ultimately led to the creation of divine mana.” A definitive proof of God's existence and faith—that was divine mana. With proof, the Pilgrimage Church rapidly absorbed other religions worldwide, growing stronger at an unprecedented pace. He created divine mana...? But the explanation left Se-Hoon skeptical. According to internal records of the Pilgrimage Church, divine mana had indiscriminately started appearing in people across the world once Karl ascended to the top of a Tower of Heroes. And among those people, there were those who had no knowledge of the Pilgrimage Church or even of Karl himself, and yet they were still able to control divine mana effortlessly. If Karl created divine mana, why are there people who can wield it without ever learning it in the first place? Pondering the mystery, Se-Hoon soon arrived at a hypothesis. Faith...? Recalling the mysterious, pure white energy—which was theorized to be an unconscious creation of believers and the raw material of divine mana—that he had discovered while investigating the Pilgrimage Church before he regressed, Se-Hoon began forming a theory in his mind. Could it be...? It sounded absurd, but if true, it would resolve several unanswered questions that had nagged him for years. Reviewing his thoughts several times, Se-Hoon decided to ask. “Your power of Grace serves as a transmitter that bridges humanity with God, right?” The essence of Karl’s power was to facilitate the transmission of inherent faith within people to God, enabling a response; divine mana was just its derivative. “If put simply, I guess you can say it like that. Let me show you in a more visual way.” Waving his hand, Karl created a small sphere on the table, which was surrounded by a translucent membrane, from which white threads extended outward to connect to a massive ring encircling everything. “Earth is represented by the sphere, my power is symbolized by the membrane and threads, and God is signified by the ring.” Just like the flat-Earth model, Karl’s sounded more like pseudoscience than reality. However, given Karl's transcendent abilities and the mechanics of divine mana, it didn’t seem implausible. Symbolizing God as a giant ring... what am I even supposed to say to that? Was the analogy merely Karl’s perception, or was God genuinely shaped like a ring? But setting aside those musings for now, Se-Hoon asked a more pressing question, “Do the other Perfect Ones wield similar influences?” “What do you mean by... similar?” “For instance, like the Netherworld Wurgen first pioneered.” The Netherworld, discovered by Wurgen upon him becoming a Perfect One, had always been regarded as an enigmatic realm. But during the conversation just now, Se-Hoon's perspective shifted. Wurgen’s power of Boundaries could have connected the Netherworld to Earth... or maybe it created the entire Netherworld in the first place. Ascending to the top of a Tower of Heroes allowed someone to create entirely new worlds or concepts—outlandish as that seemed, the near-limitless power of the current Perfect Ones made it plausible. “I can’t speak definitively about the other Perfect Ones’ powers, but it’s likely they also influence the world in some way. That’s what it means to be a Perfect One, after all.” “...” Se-Hoon fell deep into thought. If conquering a Tower of Heroes created concepts tied to one's powers, then Li Kenxie had to possess something similar. If I could present an alternative path tied to his power... Then it just might be possible to persuade the stubborn Li Kenxie to relent and consider other perspectives. With numerous possibilities racing through his mind, Se-Hoon began falling deeper into thought when Karl suddenly interrupted, cutting off his train of thought. “Um... Lee Se-Hoon?” “Ah, yes. What is it?” “Forgive me for the interruption, but would you demonstrate the new power you’ve gained? While I’m certain it’s not heretical, it has a... different feeling to it.” “Oh, give me a moment.” At Karl’s request, Se-Hoon examined the new mana type and skill he hadn’t had the chance to explore yet. [Divine Power]『A+』 [Earth mana generated from the source of stars. Specialized in wielding immense power connected to the essence of divine mana, the better the user can perceive it themself, the better they can manifest into reality.] [Pilgrim’s Prayer]『A+』 [A prayer created by the Pilgrim, Karl Andersen. By praying to the God embracing the world, the user can receive divine grace. *Allows the user to communicate with God *Allows the user to receive divine grace through communication *Divine grace can be amplified using life force, but the life force used will be permanently unrecoverable] So these powers aren’t from God, but from belief... Both the new mana type and skill had striking descriptions, but what troubled Se-Hoon most was the drawback of the Pilgrim’s Prayer. The life force used will be permanently unrecoverable... He wasn’t sure what, exactly, constituted “life force,” but if it couldn’t regenerate, it was something he had to avoid using recklessly. Deciding to reserve the skill for dire situations, Se-Hoon turned to Karl. “I’ve gained a skill called Pilgrim’s Prayer and a type of mana called Divine Power. Would you like to see them?” “Yes, please.” Karl's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Summoning his Divine Power, Se-Hoon soon felt a gray light coalescing within him. Woong! Flowing from the mana circuits that once held Purified Earth, Divine Power moved sluggishly, yet it carried a massive presence that surged within him. Perhaps because it’s my first time using it... but this is a bit rough. But while it wasn’t as responsive as other elemental mana, it was far more cooperative than his divine mana had ever been. It seems completely unaffected by outside factors, which means it won’t suddenly act on its own anymore. Bringing Divine Power to his palm, a grayish mass resembling translucent rock began materializing, visibly impressing Karl, who marveled at the sight. “I expected this to some extent, but your way of utilizing God’s power is completely different from ours.” “Different? How so?” “Think of it this way: we view divine grace as a miracle, whereas you treat it as an ordinary phenomenon. It’s simply a matter of mindset.” Karl tapped the gray energy, studying its texture, before continuing with a grin. “You perceive communicating with God and receiving power as a natural cause-and-effect process. Compared to us, you’re much more... pragmatic in your faith.” “And yet you still don’t take me as a heretic?” Unlike Karl, who found it amusing, Se-Hoon’s expression turned wry. “Of course not. Regardless of your perspective, you acknowledge the existence of God. That’s the only thing that matters.” It was the same answer he had received after Jin-Hyun was healed. It seemed oddly lax, but Se-Hoon wasn’t complaining—it kept him from being labeled a heretic, after all. Then what truly separates us from the heretics? But just as Se-Hoon was about to ask, Karl spoke up again first. “By the way, could you create something else with that? Like the objects around us?” “Creating objects... you mean like the ones in this garden?” When Se-Hoon gestured to the furniture, Karl nodded. “Yes. If it’s possible, it likely means you’ll be able to create your own Sanctuary in the future. I’d just like to confirm that.” The idea piqued Se-Hoon’s interest. Knowing how invaluable a Sanctuary had been proven in battles against demons before the regression, if he could replicate one, it would be a game-changer for his future fights. Let me give it a shot... Focusing his mind, Se-Hoon used Pilgrim’s Prayer to request a hammer from God. Woong! A small portion of Divine Power was drained from him, manifesting into a gray hammer in his hand. The sight made Karl’s eyes widened in astonishment. “I didn’t expect you’d succeed on the first try...” While Karl marveled at Se-Hoon’s talent, Se-Hoon himself examined the hammer. It feels... surprisingly real. Though gray and translucent in appearance, the hammer’s weight and texture felt authentic. Deciding to test his limits, Se-Hoon created a series of items in quick succession—a pile of gray ingots, a gray furnace, and more. It... works. Seeing the materialized objects, Se-Hoon turned to Karl with a glint of determination. “Mr. Anderson, how much time do you have before you need to return?” “Hmm? Well, I cast a protective spell before coming here, but given the circumstances, I should head back within five seconds of the outside world.” “Five seconds...” Five seconds in the outside world equated to fifty days in the Sanctuary. Realizing the incredible efficiency this afforded, Se-Hoon smirked and faced Karl. “Then let me borrow those five seconds.”

Chapter 298

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