Chapter 356

“What kind of ‘Primordial Ascendance’ is that? Where in the world is there a 9-star so pitifully weak like that?”

Hefferman scoffed upon hearing it.

“How dare you! Shut your arrogant mouth.”

An icy spear shot straight at Chris.

A simple spell, but empowered by the authority of Primordial Ascendance, it carried a force more intense than any miracle magic.

Yet, once again, something incomprehensible happened.

Shatter!

Just like before, the magic was undone!

“!!”

Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief, and Chris smirked as he looked around at the white world unfolding around him.

“This is what you call Primordial Ascendance? Such a sloppy excuse? You don’t even know when the world’s framework might collapse, and yet you’re stuck using only basic magic?”

He took a step forward, and then an even more shocking sight unfolded.

Whoosh.

White concentric circles spread out around Chris.

It was a Domain of Domination.

A radiant power began pushing back the murky white.

“How can a Domain of Domination repel Primordial Ascendance?!”

The lords of the Round Table shouted in astonishment.

Normally, a Domain of Domination, a higher-tier authority, could never push back Primordial Ascendance.

“Didn’t I say? This isn’t even worthy of being called Primordial Ascendance.”

“!!”

“And my Domain of Domination isn’t an ordinary one.”

Flash!

Suddenly, a blinding light engulfed the surroundings, and intricate geometric star patterns adorned the area.

The World of Star Radiance.

Chris’s Domain of Domination, attained upon reaching the upper 8-star level of Star Radiance.

A domain that established all the power of Star Radiance within his world.

“You, who’ve crudely mimicked Primordial Ascendance by forcibly using the Apostle’s method without even properly establishing a worldview, can’t compare to this level.”

“Shut your mouth!”

Crackle!

Perhaps sensing his growing anxiety, Hefferman unleashed a furious barrage of spells again, but it was useless.

The moment he stepped into Chris’s domain, his magic shattered into pieces.

‘Dealing with a forcibly enhanced Primordial Ascendance like that is actually quite simple.’

Chris sneered.

In truth, it wasn’t something to belittle so easily.

Hefferman’s power was no joke, as evidenced by how Duke Duma, also an upper 8-star, was thoroughly overwhelmed.

Even if he hadn’t properly established a worldview, the Apostle’s method of power enhancement was beyond what those of lower ranks could handle.

But when it came to a similar level, the story changed.

‘My World of Star Radiance is a Domain of Domination with a fully established worldview, not inferior to most Primordial Ascendances.’

Of course, the sheer magnitude of power wasn’t equal to Primordial Ascendance.

If the Primordial Ascendance before him had been unleashed by a Nordian or a Demon Lord, Chris wouldn’t have dared to oppose it.

But this guy was different.

The depth of the worldview embedded within Chris’s Domain of Domination was incomparable to that sloppy Primordial Ascendance.

“What are you all standing around for? Are you just going to leave this to me? Kneel this bastard down!”

The lords of the Round Table snapped out of their daze and charged toward Hefferman.

“How dare you!!”

Hefferman roared in anger and met them head-on.

Repeatedly thwarted by Chris, he abandoned Primordial Ascendance and resorted to pure white magic.

Still, at 9-star level, Hefferman’s magic was incredibly threatening even without Primordial Ascendance.

Just as the lords of the Round Table were about to be swept away, Chris acted again.

Flash!

The geometric star patterns embroidered across his World of Star Radiance began to glow, and the lords’ eyes widened.

“Is his power increasing?”

“No, it’s not just that!”

One lord exclaimed in horror.

“His attainment is rising?”

An unbelievable claim.

The World of Star Radiance was different from the Domain of Domination called the Reign of Seven Colors, which was woven with dark magic.

The Reign of Seven Colors forcibly amplified energy by dominating all elemental forces through dark magic.

In contrast, the World of Star Radiance allowed individuals within Chris’s established world to surpass the limits of their own Star Radiance power.

It was enough to tip the scales of victory.

“You bastard…!!”

Cornered, Hefferman radiated furious energy.

“Dare to challenge me. I will kill you all.”

Whoosh.

Everyone’s faces hardened.

A foreboding aura began to emanate from Hefferman.

“Could it be… that aura?”

Then, a terrifying sight appeared.

Crack.

From behind Hefferman, a pair of white radiant wings began to spread.

The Wings of the Constellation.

“No way! How is this possible?”

Everyone stared in disbelief, as if a Constellation had descended.

Only Chris looked at Hefferman’s radiant wings without a flicker of surprise.

‘It’s no secret that those bastards from the Holy Assembly are the vile puppets of the Constellations.’

It wasn’t just a simple contract with a Constellation.

Many had contracts with Constellations—Evan, for example, had made pacts with several and received their ‘Blessings.’

But the Holy Assembly’s members were different.

They didn’t just receive blessings; they directly wielded the power of the Constellations.

‘Why the Constellations allowed the Holy Assembly to use their power, I don’t know.’

Whether it was to pit them against Gehenna’s forces during the apocalypse or some hidden agenda, it was unclear.

Regardless of the Constellations’ true intent, the Holy Assembly misused that power for their own greed.

As a result, the already sinking alliance suffered even more devastating blows.

‘Thankfully, the Bloodthirsty Demon King swiftly eliminated the Holy Assembly’s members, or else the alliance might have been doomed because of them.’

For reference, the Bloodthirsty Demon King fought all four members of the Holy Assembly alone and wiped them out.

Now that he was gone, it was up to Chris to deal with the remaining Holy Assembly members.

“Duke Duma, how long do you think you can hold out?”

“…Not long. At most, a few minutes.”

A few minutes—that was an extremely generous estimate.

It was like facing a Constellation descended to the mortal realm.

And not even a low-ranking Common Constellation.

From a glance, it seemed to be a mid-to-upper 6th rank—roughly equivalent to a count-level demon or higher.

Even with the rank of his soul, Chris couldn’t stand against such a being, yet he calmly said something insane.

“One minute. That’s enough. If you can hold out that long, I’ll take care of the rest.”

Everyone looked stunned, but Chris wasn’t bluffing.

‘I have a plan.’

Though, it would be difficult alone.

“Evan, Lanya. I need your help. Especially you, Lanya.”

“…What kind of help?”

“Simply put, Evan and I will work together to create an opening, and you’ll use that moment to cut off Hefferman’s lifeline.”

Lanya looked troubled.

She hadn’t even reached a proper 8-star level yet, so this was an impossible task for her.

“Don’t you want revenge?”

“!!”

“You’re the only one who can do this. You know that filthy bastard better than anyone here.”

Chris thought through the details in his mind.

‘I can somehow bind the Constellation’s power with the rank of my soul, at least for a moment. The problem is what comes after.’

The difficulty in facing the Holy Assembly was that they were 9-star while simultaneously wielding Constellation power.

The Bloodthirsty Demon King crushed them with overwhelming force, but Chris couldn’t do that now.

‘And as a hero, I can’t just use Andril recklessly.’

There was only one way.

He had to eliminate Hefferman during the brief moment the Constellation’s power was bound.

Lanya was the best fit.

“…I’ll do it.”

Lanya bit her lip hard.

“I will make sure he pays for his sins with my own hands.”

Chris nodded.

“I’ll help you.”

Looking ahead, the lords of the Round Table were struggling to hold back Hefferman’s Constellation power.

“Evan, you go first. Hit him with a blow.”

Evan raised his sword.

Star Heaven Flash.

A miraculous technique Evan had recently developed upon reaching upper 7-star.

A single streak of light slicing through the stars above.

Perhaps he had sensed that today he would face a Constellation.

If his previous miraculous techniques were optimized against dark beings, Star Heaven Flash was designed to counter celestial entities.

‘I’m Christian’s comrade. I will definitely help him!’

With firm resolve, Evan’s sword flew toward Hefferman.

Hefferman, who was fighting the lords of the Round Table, couldn’t dodge the strike.

[!!]

Hefferman’s divine form wavered for a moment.

It wasn’t a heavy blow.

Even Evan couldn’t overcome the vast difference in rank.

He had only created a tiny opening, but for Chris, that was enough.

Flash!

Like ripples spreading across a lake, transparent waves radiated around Chris.

A sharp, sword-like aura undulated through the surroundings.

A transformation of the World of Star Radiance.

Previously, it had played a supportive role in raising Star Radiance attainment; now, it took on a direct offensive nature.

Countless Star Radiance powers Chris had encountered and mastered in his past and present lives began to form order and shape within a single world.

The Star Radiance Sword.

An intangible sword existing only as a concept.

A sword imbued with deeper meaning than any blade in this world.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s invincible.’

True Star Sovereigns—like the Dark King, the Creator, or the Prophet—could unleash ultimate Star Radiance techniques far more powerful in sheer force.

But even their ultimate techniques wouldn’t carry the profound meaning this sword held.

‘What I need now isn’t just raw power.’

Chris closed his eyes.

Through his spiritual sight, he peered into Hefferman’s mind.

More precisely, it was a spiritual conduit connected to the Celestial Realm.

The fact that the Star Spirit Sword had no physical form or substance meant it could cut through anything.

Whether it was a soul, an intangible force, or even an abstract connection.

Shhh.

Chris’s spiritual energy infused the Star Spirit Sword, and through the gap Evan had opened, it slipped in stealthily.

Shing.

In the silent world of ideas, the sound of something being sliced echoed.

No one sensed anything unusual, but Chris knew.

The terminal linking Hephelman to the Celestial Realm had been severed.

“W-What?!”

Hephelman’s panicked voice came too late.

The celestial energy he wielded fractured strand by strand, and Chris’s gaze sharpened.

Star Spirit Sword—transform.

A flurry of starlight erupted.

Like a burst of fireworks, all the power of the Star Spirit surged toward Hephelman.

Still, even as a 9-Star Master, he conjured white magic to block the assault.

But that was only to buy time; Chris’s true objective lay elsewhere.

Shing.

Again, the sound of something being cut.

While Hephelman’s attention was diverted, Chris severed the terminal connecting him to the constellation once more.

This time, he also sliced into Hephelman’s soul.

[!!]

Hephelman’s face drained of color.

This is the only chance.

With his current strength, it was impossible to completely damage the terminal linking him to the constellation.

It would be restored soon enough.

Before that happened, Hephelman had to be eliminated.