The Sword Emperor Transmigrates

Chapter 255

The impossibility of connecting Nine Hells with the outer dimensions had been mentioned before.

The nine passages that connected the Nine Hells to the Middle Realm were fundamentally different phenomena from the Rifts or Corroded Realms created by Outer Gods. If the schemes of the Outer Gods were invasions, the periodic attacks of the Demoniacs could be seen as jailbreak attempts.

Cut off from the Middle Realm during the God-Slaying War and forcibly separated into its own sub-dimension, the Nine Hells resembled a broken branch. But even if a branch was snapped, its fibers would cling stubbornly unless severed at the joint.

Even the Celestial Realm, which abided by a mutual non-aggression pact, followed a similar structure.

“If the Outer Gods and the Demoniacs have joined forces... it would explain why the Celestials abandoned this world and decided to migrate to another dimension. Can you share the details?”

“Of course, Archduke of Sword,” replied Antonius. “For centuries, we’ve held a fundamental misunderstanding. Just because the dimensional structures and coordinates of the Celestial Realm and the Demonic Realm, also known as the Nine Hells, are similar, that doesn’t mean their origins are the same.”

“What do you mean by origins?” asked Declan.

“The Celestial Realm was formed by merging territories once separated by the gods of old—places like Olympus and Asgard. Even the presumptuous Celestials couldn’t fully absorb divine territories, so they degraded them before taking control.”

“However,” Antonius went on, raising his voice, “the Demonic Realm was born from the remnants of divine beings who perished or whose remains were scattered during the God-Slaying War. Specifically, the Nine Hells emerged from the corrupted blood and flesh of Crom Dubh.”

Also known as the Great Evil, Crom Dubh symbolized the end of an ancient era. To defeat this monstrous being, the dragons—rulers of the age that followed—had to use all their power. Following his demise, Crom Dubh’s torn remains gave rise to countless grotesque creatures, which eventually evolved into the Demoniacs.

Both Declan and Leonard were familiar with this much. The real problem lay in what came next.

“The historians of the Arcane Society assumed that it was when the Demoniacs were born that Crom Dubh truly perished. If he had retained the immortality unique to divine beings, he would have persisted in some form, like the Void Deities. His remains would not have given birth to the Demoniacs.”

“Are you saying Crom Dubh didn’t really die?”

“Exactly.”

Antonius declared with certainty, “The Great Evil still lives.”

“The body that was torn apart by the dragons remains in the Middle Realm, but what of his consciousness and soul? We already know that battles involving divine beings can fracture dimensions or create gaps between realms. What if, in the final moments of his battle to the death, his soul escaped to an outer dimension? In that case, what became of Crom Dubh?”

Declan’s face paled like a marble statue.

A god who fled to the outer dimension—everyone at the scene knew what that was.

“...An Outer God.”

Antonius nodded solemnly, his beard swaying as he did so, “If this hypothesis is accurate, Crom Dubh’s role becomes clear. Unlike the Outer Gods, whose temples, records, and relics were obliterated during the God-Slaying War, his influence remains intact. That influence stems from the byproduct of his body, namely the Nine Hells.”

“So the Outer Gods are using Crom Dubh to infiltrate the Nine Hells, bypassing the laws of this world to invade the Middle Realm,” Declan concluded.

“Precisely. Even though the Nine Hells is Crom Dubh’s domain, it cannot completely escape the world’s natural laws. But compared to the Middle Realm, where large-scale rituals face severe restrictions, the Nine Hells is far more efficient for their purposes.”

Leonard, who had been silently absorbing the discussion, looked increasingly grim. If Antonius was correct, the Outer Gods had essentially discovered a way to bypass the world’s laws and the dimensional barriers that blocked them from entering the Middle Realm.

The devastating strength of the Outer Gods—faintly demonstrated by Nidhogg and Scylla, who had managed to overwhelm five Demigod Tier warriors—was already beyond what this era could handle.

Destruction loomed ahead, closing in like an unstoppable tide.

“Antonius,” Empress Laila cut through the oppressive silence, her tone calm but inquisitive.

“If Crom Dubh has turned into an Outer God and found a way into the Middle Realm, why hasn’t he—or the others—made a move in over a thousand years? By your logic, this world should’ve already fallen.”

“That is a valid point, Your Majesty. The reason lies in the temporal perception of divine beings, which differs greatly from that of mortals.”

“Ah, I see. So while a thousand years feels like a very long time to us mortals, it’s just a short span for a divine being to restore its power after becoming an Outer God and ready itself for an invasion?”

“Exactly, Your Majesty.”

There was a significant difference between ascending to godhood and being born a god. Although dragons were transcendental beings, it would take them around five hundred years to reach maturity. Therefore, it wouldn’t be unusual for Crom Dubh to take a thousand or even two thousand years to regain his footing.

“In that case, doesn’t this invasion feel a bit rushed? It seems less like Crom Dubh is leading the charge and more like the Outer Gods are hurriedly using him as a tool.”

“The historians of the Arcane Society share a similar perspective. Though we don’t know why, it appears the Outer Gods are pressed for time.”

“Perhaps that’s why they’ve been recklessly expanding their influence and zealots in the Middle Realm. Maybe they’re so desperate that they’re trying to retrieve every fragment of power they’ve scattered,” Laila mused.

After contemplating briefly, Laila turned her gaze to Leonard.

“Leonard, I’d like to hear your thoughts. Do you have any insights into their goals or intentions?”

Leonard straightened his posture under her scrutinizing gaze and replied firmly, “It may sound presumptuous, but perhaps they wish to act before the Divine Throne is occupied once more. No matter how powerful Crom Dubh or the Outer Gods may be, their plans would likely collapse once someone takes the Divine Throne. They could be running out of time.”

Looking around at the others’ expressions, Leonard raised his chin confidently and posed a question.

“Is there no way for us to preemptively conquer the Nine Hells before the Outer Gods launch a full-scale invasion?”

“...Oh?”

“Hmm...”

“Ambitious.”

Laila, Antonius, and Declan each nodded thoughtfully, their reactions reflecting their own perspective. Conquering the Nine Hells was an incredibly bold idea, bordering on madness, yet Leonard had dared to suggest it.

“If Crom Dubh’s influence indeed stems from the Nine Hells and the Demoniacs residing there, wouldn’t striking there directly cut off their source of power? Sir Antonius, is my reasoning correct?”

“It’s more complicated than that... but you’re not entirely wrong either.”

“Thank you.”

Leonard, emboldened by Antonius’ affirmation, continued with fervor, “Therefore, I propose that we launch a campaign against the Nine Hells. By reducing the number of Demoniacs and diminishing their influence and territory, we could weaken the connection to Chrom Dubh.”

“Go on...” Laila encouraged.

“Though the Demoniacs are formidable, they are nowhere near as threatening as the Outer Gods. Even a single True God entity descending in full power could endanger the entire world. Cutting off the ladder before they can climb it would be our best option, wouldn’t it?”

Leonard’s idea was radical, breaking conventional thought, but Laila had her reservations.

“You’re right. The descent of a True God entity would be catastrophic. But this empire has survived thus far because we’ve fought invasions from the Middle Realm, within our domain. In the Nine Hells, neither the knights of Cardenas, the magicians of Wickeline, nor the weapons of Jehoia can perform at their full potential. Even a single mistake could lead to catastrophic losses from which we would never recover.”

As an empress, Laila’s cold, calculating logic weighed human lives against the greater good with detached precision.

“Preventing the invasion entirely by attacking the Nine Hells would indeed be ideal, but that’s not feasible. Chrom Dubh’s influence permeates across dimensions. While we could reduce the scale of the Outer Gods’ invasion, does that outweigh the risks of losing significant forces?”

The choice between striking the Nine Hells and defending from the Middle Realm was not a simple one. Antonius and Declan, likewise, silently calculated the outcomes, trying to foresee every possibility.

“...It’s a tough decision,” Antonius finally admitted.

“It’s not something we can resolve in a single day,” Declan agreed.

Like Laila, the others also realized the importance of deeper consideration before making such a monumental decision.

“Court Mage, Archduke of Sword,” she commanded.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Convene the Three Noble Houses immediately to gather their opinions regarding a campaign against the Nine Hells. Ensure the report on the possible alliance between the Outer Gods and the Demoniacs is included in your discussions.”

“We shall carry out your orders,” they replied in unison.

Without delay, Declan strode out of the room, and Antonius disappeared with a few murmured incantations. Only Leonard remained, alone in the now eerily quiet chamber.

...What about me?

Unintentionally, Leonard found himself in a private audience with the empress.

“No need to look so tense. I kept you here on purpose,” Laila said, her tone light but filled with authority.

Now more at ease with Antonius and Declan gone, she reclined back on her throne, idly tapping her toes against the air. She seemed almost careless in that posture, yet her regal aura remained undeniable, most fitting for the ruler of a grand empire.

“I’ve heard from Declan that you’ve been struggling with the imbalance in your Deification,” she remarked.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Leonard confirmed.

“I kept you behind because I want to help you resolve it. Go ahead and give it a try.”

“...Pardon?” Leonard tilted his head in confusion, unsure of what she meant.

Laila chuckled softly and clarified, “You spoke of invoking the Deification of the opposite attribute to restore balance, did you not? I’m asking you to do it here, before me.”

“Do you mean... Your Majesty’s power could influence my Deification?”

“I haven’t tried it before, but I believe it’s possible for you. With the world’s blessing upon you as a candidate for the Divine Throne, my power might triple or quadruple your chances of success.”

Though hesitant, Leonard seated himself cross-legged on the floor, his face a mixture of doubt and determination. Laila, noticing his attempt to focus, raised her eyebrows briefly before relaxing them, careful not to disturb his concentration.

The moment Leonard closed his eyes, his Mindscape stirred violently.

The opposing force to the energy of the Vermilion Bird—one of the Four Symbols that had been affected by Deification—flowed into him, sending a chilling frost through his veins.

Whooooooong—

The Guardian Spirit of the North, the Lunar God of the Northern Heavens, and the Black Tortoise had awakened.