Chapter 108- Another chance?

It felt empty. Nothing tangible. No pain, nothing at all.

All I could see was void. An eternal darkness that my eyes couldn't perceive entirely.

I was looking at countless stars, spread across the sky, yet I couldn't hold my gaze at a certain point. It felt empty.

'Did I die...again?' The very thought of dying scares me now; unlike the time when I first got shot by the bullets of some soldiers.

However, considering what I did just some moments ago (or was it some moments ago), I couldn't think of any other conclusion than death.

The number of dungeon crawlers easily exceeded ten thousand. I didn't have the manpower to handle all of them before an astronomical amount of casualties didn't get crushed by those creatures.

Forget about me, even with the amount of shadow soldiers, Sunbae possessed, it was nigh impossible to tackle those many monsters without turning the whole planet into a battlefield.

I also never paid much mind to my Slavery skills since I thought I was enough to face possible adversaries in the future.

I was getting a little ahead of myself.

However, there was no point in crying on spilled milk. I had to do something that would save the Earth from going through another time reversal. Forget about my own personal gains and losses, maybe time leaping would cause a lot more than just my memories.

After all, in this timeline, I have interfered enough to handle the betrayal of Rulers and also, even if the Rulers don't go against their principles in the new timeline, Sunbae wouldn't be able to save everyone despite going through the same canonical events.

Many things could have changed and ended up in a far worse condition. As such, I had to do something.

In the end, I expanded my domain and locked every human under my Elemental Sight, and using Mist Dispersion, I erased the existence of twelve thousand eight hundred fifty-seven dungeon crawlers within the period of point zero one second.

I was using Reverse Cursed Technique to heal my brain even before I initiated the chain spell...however, once I pulled the trigger and used Mist Dispersion, my brain wasn't able to cope with the damage that arose from Six Eyes, Elemental Sight, Gram Dispersion and Mist Dispersion.

My body refused to get repaired by 'Regrowth' since I was dead....or so I believed. After all, Regrowth can repair me, but couldn't bring me back from the clutches of my demise.

'Jinah...must be sad...' A sigh leaked through my lips as the image of the most beautiful girl flashed across my eyes.

I tried stretching my hands and reaching her...but I failed. My body wasn't listening to me. Or more like, maybe, my brain was no longer commanding my body.

[You have broken yourself, Child.]

A glimmer of hope radiated in my eyes as I heard that voice. However, I didn't have the strength to look behind me and greet the Goddess.

"I...I...a-am...a-a-aware..." My voice was slurry and I was stammering to pronounce a simple word.

Suddenly, against my will, my body began to float.

I was, once again, face to face with the same entity who had given me the chance to reincarnate.

The golden congregation of light was a lot dimmer than before, allowing me to rest my eyes on her. Even though I couldn't see her face, there was a feeling that she was concerned for me.

[You have worked hard, child. Your planning didn't have any flaws. It was just, that the winged residents of the heavens deemed it better to have your attention diverted so they could get their hands on the vessel of Shadow Monarch.]

"...and I ended up losing my life rather than just being distracted," I replied with a dejected sigh escaping my lips.

[Don't phrase it like that. You knew that the Cup of Reincarnation could make you lose everything. And because I can no longer interfere with the lower world, your decision was on the mark.]

"Even if it was, I still lost my life." I knew it was unreasonable to utter my frustration here. I knew she wouldn't be able to help me any further. In the first place, the blessings I have received were more than enough to have me handle most of the things all alone.

However, I underestimated the Rulers and the remaining monarchs. They risked all their armies except for the draconic forces just to distract me.

Regardless of my thoughts, nothing mattered now...or so I thought,

[There is a chance for you to retain your life.]

I raised my brows and looked at the sole flickering light of hope in this endless abyss.

"...please tell me." I couldn't have sounded any more desperate as I leaned my head and pleaded.

There was a brief silence that ensued in the void before her voice enlightened me,

[The Gates of Divination.]

My eyes widened at that before I reflexively asked, "I can get myself revived through the fourth floor?"

If that was the case then I would do everything in my power to conquer the fourth floor as soon as I can. However, her response was a little different than what I expected,

[It's actually on the fifth floor—you need to first conquer the fourth one to ascend there. And given the condition, I need to restrict some of your skills for the time being.]

A frown marred my face as I asked,

"Which means, I have to level up using only some fragments of my true strength?" The thought made me feel a little complicated but I was ready to face any challenge if it could provide me another chance.

[As it sounds, you have to let your mind and body, rejuvenate for the time being before you can return. For the time being, you have to majorly rely on your physical strength to clear out the fourth floor.]

It was my sword skills then—I concluded. I couldn't rely on Six Eyes or the magic I have learned from Shiba Tatsuya.

I could only rely on my martial arts and the skills that Kurogane Ikki instilled in my head.

It was ironic how I just told some minutes ago, how I don't like relying on my physical prowess but rather fight without moving much. And now...

[Child...]

I was surprised to feel a soft hand over my face as the Goddess suddenly appeared before me and softly spoke,

[...whatever happens, just follow your heart. It will always lead you to the right path.]

Hearing her words, a strange warm sensation spread across my body as I felt a lot calmer than before.

...for some reason, for a moment there, I thought I saw someone familiar from behind the curtain of lights. However, I soon lost my consciousness.

*****

A/N:- Guess the fourth and fifth floors.