The Return of the Legendary All-Master

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

[Would you like to raise the title's count to the maximum?]

[The title's count has been raised to the maximum, and you have acquired 'Master Enhancer.']

Hooh.

It was a title he had given up on after it became unnecessary, but as the rightful owner, he obtained it in the blink of an eye.

And that wasn't all.

[Titles are being absorbed.]

All the titles Jeong-hoon had acquired until now were absorbed into him and vanished.

In exchange, the effects of those titles were amplified by 1.2 times and applied directly to his abilities.

<What a shame. If you had obtained full authority, you could've become even stronger.>

Tenebris couldn't hide its disappointment.

The owner Jeong-hoon had chosen.

With exactly half of the role fulfilled, he could exert a degree of authority just slightly below that of a Heavenly Lord.

Even so, Jeong-hoon couldn't suppress a satisfied smile.

Not only had he swept up all the titles he hadn't been able to obtain before, but his stats now far exceeded the previous ones, and he'd gained entirely new abilities. Furthermore, he had fused old abilities to recreate them into new skills.

"Ah, if I could've used the Creation Engine here, it would've been even stronger."

The one regret was the Creation Engine.

Even though he could manipulate it through an avatar using the Chalice of the Void, he couldn't use it to upgrade the skills he possessed.

<You need to gather all of the divine energy. Then, you'll be able to acquire the Creation Engine.>

"Easier said than done."

Divine energy.

The condition required to ascend from Ultimate to God-level.

But fulfilling that condition was like plucking stars from the sky.

Even after eliminating a Heavenly Lord, he still hadn't obtained any divine energy.

It likely meant it could only be gained through a Named-level being.

At his current level, it was impossible, and all he could do was let out a dry laugh.

<That's strange. Why is it so quiet?>

Tenebris tilted its head.

Since Jeong-hoon had deleted the Great Rift, there should've been a significant reaction. But it was oddly quiet.

"It's because you're concealing your presence."

<You think so…?>

There were two possibilities.

The first: Logos was desperately trying to reassert control by recovering the stolen code through intervention on Earth.

The second: He was fixated on tracking down Jeong-hoon, who was now moving alongside Tenebris.

Given that he hadn't made any moves yet, it was more likely that he had chosen the second option.

Which meant he considered finding Tenebris to be more important than recovering the lost authority.

'That actually works out. This makes it much easier to act.'

The next step was to sever the connections with the transcendents.

As Jeong-hoon opened the server, countless transcendents came into view.

Icon-like blocks.

He manipulated one of them and expelled it.

[You have expelled the demon Sekro.]

[Due to expulsion, the demon Sekro can no longer re-enter.]

After the expulsion message, the icon never appeared again.

Jeong-hoon selected all the icons and expelled them at once.

Even though countless messages poured in, Jeong-hoon didn't spare them a glance.

<The demons of the demon realm I ruled were already removed beforehand.>

Following Baal's instructions, the demons of the 96 Demon Realms had completely severed their contracts with their Avatars, even at the cost of penalties, and no longer held any interest in Earth.

However, the other demon realms were a different story.

With Escanon, the original ruler, gone, the demon realm he once governed had fallen into utter chaos.

Although the structure remained under the existing demon lords, if another demon realm invaded, using the God's absence as a reason, it would be absorbed without resistance.

"Then I'll take it first."

The moment Jeong-hoon chose the path of becoming the owner, his first plan had been territorial expansion.

Of course, expanding wouldn't directly harm the enemy, but he couldn't just stand by and do nothing either.

If the situation allowed, it might even cause confusion among the enemy.

[Warning: Invasion detected.]

At that moment, a new message appeared.

Unlike the previous ones, this message had a red border.

It wasn't a system-wide message sent to all users, but one visible only to Jeong-hoon, the Master of the Dimension.

"As expected, they're not just sitting back and watching."

Still, it seemed they weren't acting directly.

<There's no room to relax. He's not intervening only because the rules prevent him from interfering with a dimension he no longer has authority over. The one he's really after is you.>

"Technically, it's you."

<Ahem.>

Jeong-hoon glanced at Baal beside him and spoke.

"Baal, shouldn't you return to your post as a demon lord by now?"

Baal had only pretended to be subdued by Jeong-hoon—he had never actually been defeated.

Which meant he could return to the demon realm anytime he wanted.

<Right now?>

"Yeah. I'm also planning to help you take over the other demon realms."

<Hooh, so you intend to put me at the forefront!>

"Correct."

Jeong-hoon nodded.

He would consolidate the demon realms once ruled by Escanon under Baal's leadership.

But that plan fell apart before it even began.

<Shit! I can't return to the demon realm!>

Baal needed to return to the demon realm to reclaim his true form, but now he couldn't.

Even though Jeong-hoon had become the Master of the Dimension, he hadn't gained control of the connected demon realms.

Logos had anticipated this and quickly claimed ownership of the demon realm.

'Hmm, so we really are isolated.'

Having seized Earth and deleted the Great Rift, this outcome was inevitable.

The enemy was trying to isolate Earth and then destroy it through invasion.

<Tsk, totally useless. What are you even doing?>

Tenebris clicked its tongue at the frustrated Baal.

<Kgh… I didn't expect things to turn out like this either.>

Since Logos had sealed off the gate to the Demon Realm, not even a Demon Lord could force it open.

In the end, Baal in his current state couldn't be of much help to Jeong-hoon.

"Don't be too discouraged. I'll help you reclaim your true form soon enough."

<Is that really possible?!>

Baal looked at Jeong-hoon with hopeful eyes.

"Oh, not right away."

If Logos had intentionally blocked it, then even for Jeong-hoon, entering or exiting would be difficult.

<I see…>

Baal's shoulders drooped.

He had thought he could return to the Demon Realm and reclaim his original form at any time—he hadn't expected the Named one to block the way.

"Well then."

Leaving Baal behind, Jeong-hoon pulled out the final Sin Box he had taken from Escanon, and at the same time, summoned the Seven Deadly Sins.

"Now, I'll completely undo your seal."

"Really?! You defeated Escanon!"

"Yeah. The divine relic you gave me played a big role."

The Chalice of the Void was powerful, but the Heavenly Retribution Reversal Scroll was what made it possible to cut off Escanon's final breath more easily.

"Keh, good thing I held on to that!"

The Sin grinned with pride.

<Hmm, but isn't that one a traitor? Are you sure it's okay to undo the seal so easily?>

As Jeong-hoon reached for the box, Tenebris interjected with a sharp comment.

"Traitor? Hah, are you talking to me right now?"

The Sin glared at Tenebris.

<Then who else would I be talking to, you rude, treacherous bastard.>

"Still, isn't being a traitor better than leeching off someone without any pride?"

<If you've regained most of your memories, there's no way you don't recognize me.>

"You're joking. Why should I show respect to someone who was exiled before I even existed?"

<Wow… seriously, you son of a—>

Before Tenebris could finish, Jeong-hoon cut in.

"It's fine. When I opened the Sin Box, that one became my vassal."

<Vassal?>

"Yeah."

Even if the Sin harbored ill intent, there was no reason to worry.

Upon opening the Sin Box, the Sin had become Jeong-hoon's vassal.

That's why, after being sent back, the Sin had stayed with Fenrir and Michael, who had been tamed by Jeong-hoon.

'Unless it gains the power to forcibly sever the vassal bond.'

Since Jeong-hoon had already taken down Abaddon and Escanon, the chances of him being overpowered were virtually zero—there was no need for concern.

<If that's the case…>

Tenebris seemed convinced and no longer tried to stop Jeong-hoon.

Jeong-hoon immediately opened the remaining Sin Box.

[You have obtained the Sin of Lust from the Seven Deadly Sins.]

[All sins have been gathered.]

[Thanatos awakens.]

"Keuhuhu, it's done! It's finally done!"

Thanatos of the Seven Deadly Sins burst into loud laughter that echoed all around.

He was so overjoyed that he twisted his entire body in excitement, creating a scene.

When six sins had gathered, he already radiated the majesty of a great demon, but with the addition of the final Sin of Lust, what emerged was a true demon—a being exuding death energy, enveloped in an ominous aura far beyond any demon encountered before.

Even Baal, once a Demon Lord, couldn't hold a candle to the sheer perfection of that demon.

<……>

Baal, already deeply intimidated by Thanatos, didn't even try to meet his gaze.

"Thanatos of the Seven Deadly Sins. Your memories are complete now, right?"

Thanatos.

Like Abaddon, he was a transcendent being who symbolized death.

"Kukuk, yes. They're absolutely perfect."

Thanatos reached out his hand toward Jeong-hoon.

<That bastard!>

Startled by the gesture, Tenebris shouted, but Jeong-hoon simply snorted and slammed his fist into Thanatos's face.

Thud!

With a dull sound, Thanatos's head jerked to the side and he tumbled to the ground, losing his balance.

"Gahk!"

Thanatos groaned in pain, clutching his face.

"Thanatos, I really hate people who repay kindness with betrayal."

"W-Wait a second!"

Thanatos hurriedly waved his hand.

"What, got something to say?"

"You've got it all wrong! That wasn't an attack just now!"

"Your eyes said otherwise."

"What do you mean my eyes?! I've always looked like this!"

"Then what were you trying to do?"

"I figured transferring my memories would be easier than explaining everything one by one!"

"Then you should've said that before you made a move."

"...Sorry."

Thanatos scratched his head with an awkward expression.

Jeong-hoon healed the swelling on his cheek and continued.

"Then hand over all the memories you have."

"Transferring everything I have would be impossible. It's too vast."

Unlike mortals, Thanatos lived an eternal life.

"Really? Then what were you trying to share?"

"Information about the Named ones."

"Oh, that's fine. I can hear all of that from Tenebris here."

When Jeong-hoon glanced at Tenebris, he simply shrugged.

<Right. No one needs intel from a guy like you.>

"Isn't that all you've got anyway?"

Their glares clashed like sparks flying in midair.

"Stop fighting. If you go off again, I'll seal you both up for good."

With Jeong-hoon's intervention, Tenebris flashed a victorious smile.

Seeing that, Thanatos protested with an indignant face.

"Why am I the only one getting sealed? He's the one who keeps provoking me!"

"What are you talking about? I'm sealing both of you."

<Both of us?>

Tenebris tilted his head.

"Yeah. You know I'm the master of this dimension now, right?"

<…So?>

"What do you mean 'so'? I'm going to maintain the status quo and put your revenge on indefinite hold."

<Th-That's not fair!>

"So just shut up, will you?"

<……>

Tenebris shut his mouth tightly, unwilling to let go of his vengeance.

"Alright. Then, Thanatos, there's something I want you to do."

"What is it?"

"Make contracts with the humans on Earth. As many as possible."

"Huh, you mean you want me to create a bunch of Avatars?"

Jeong-hoon nodded.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]