Chapter 1

Return of the Archmage

 

“Impressive, human!”

The Dragon God Sephiro exclaimed in awe as he looked down at his own chest from halfway up the Dragon God’s Temple.

A human. An inferior species he didn’t even consider as a mere creature dared to pierce the heart of the Dragon God!

But what was most astonishing was that what damaged his body was ‘magic.’

Dragons were known as lords of magic, and Sephiro, the being who ruled over those dragons, was the Dragon God. To inflict damage on him with magic was truly an incomprehensible feat.

“I’ll personally grant you the title ‘Archmage’. Feel free to boast about it wherever you go!”

The human who received recognition from the Dragon God Sephiro was unique. Among all the races, there was no other being who had been called an ‘Archmage’ by him. Everything that imitated the dragon’s magic was pitifully inferior. The only beings were the ignorant ones who couldn’t even use the gifts they were given, not even reaching the level of common talent.

But the human before him was different.

“Human. What is your name?”

“…Yo mama.”

Park Chan-woo spat out a rough breath and extended his middle finger on his right hand. It was his final, desperate attack, where he poured all his magical power into one last strike.

However, it only managed to destroy one of the twelve hearts that Sephiro possessed.

Even though he was called an Archmage, his opponent was the god of magic, the pinnacle of the dragon race, which was powerful enough to be ranked among the top three of the twelve species that invaded Earth.

From the start, the outcome was predetermined.

Before long, the chest that had been pierced was completely restored by super-regeneration.

Sephiro tilted his head, indifferent to Park Chan-woo’s words.

“But why are you only using basic magic? With your level of intellect, you could easily have understood and mastered advanced magic.”

“…”

Park Chan-woo remained silent.

Because it was true.

The magic that pierced Sephiro’s heart was a fireball. The most basic of basic spells, which 90% of mages learn first.

Understanding why Park Chan-woo was silent, Sephiro chuckled.

“Aha. You embarked on the path of magic too late. That’s why you had to cling to basic magic. It’s miraculous that you raised a first-tier spell to the level of a tenth-tier spell, but naturally, there were limits.”

…That’s right.

It was too late.

Originally, Park Chan-woo wasn’t a mage. His first class was ‘Barbarian’. After three class advancements, he became a ‘Knight,’ but it wasn’t until much later that he realized his talent and learned magic.

The only magic he could use was basic magic.

Thanks to this, he earned the title of ‘First Magic Swordsman’, but that name was a terrible nightmare for Park Chan-woo.

“However, don’t be disheartened. At least the basic magic you used surpassed the foundation of a lord. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s an entirely new system of magic. You are the first being in countless eons to pique my interest to this extent. So…”

Sephiro was excited. It was also the first time he had spoken so much.

Words were laced with magic. Words themselves hold power, and thus, they must not be spoken carelessly.

Yet, the human before him had aroused his curiosity.

Clap!

Sephiro clapped his hands.

Simultaneously, twelve suns rose above his head.

This was magic beyond the reach of the Archmage, a kind of magic beyond the tenth tier.

Even high dragons must engrave thousands of runes in advance to use magic above the tenth tier.

Sephiro wielded it without any runes, without any incantations.

The overwhelming difference in talent.

An existence that humans could never reach.

And so, he showed him.

That there was a supreme world he could never touch.

That no matter how hard he struggled, it was useless.

With a smile, Sephiro spoke, representing that unreachable world.

“I’ll have to dissect your brain.”

“…When did I ever…”

At that moment, Park Chan-woo lifted his head.

Was he about to despair at the overwhelming difference?

However, there wasn’t a trace of despair in Park Chan-woo’s eyes.

Rather—

“When did I ever say I could only use basic magic?”

“…?”

“Oh God of Sacrifice! I offer everything I have and the Dragon God Sephiro as tribute!”

“Hmm? You’re offering me as a tribute?”

Sephiro blinked in confusion.

A tribute meant offering something to someone. But it could only be something the person offering owned.

It was strange enough that a God of Sacrifice existed, but offering himself as a tribute was even more peculiar.

“…Wait.”

Sephiro looked down at his chest.

The wound that had healed through super-regeneration was opening up again.

What was even more surprising was that one of the twelve hearts, which he thought was destroyed, was still beating.

‘An illusion? No. There’s no way I could be fooled by such a spell.’

No illusion magic could deceive the Dragon God’s eyes.

It was a much more complex magic.

Not a simple illusion, but…

“…Dominion Magic. A mere human has mastered twelfth-tier magic?”

Pouring all his magical power, Park Chan-woo had succeeded in dominating one of Sephiro’s hearts.

Sephiro mistook it for being destroyed.

He didn’t doubt it.

Because he believed the human before him could only use ‘basic magic’.

Indeed, Park Chan-woo had only used basic magic to reach the Dragon God’s Temple.

However, the gap between basic magic and twelfth-tier magic was enormous.

Moreover, Dominion Magic, which controls another, required extremely advanced runes.

There were only a few in this world who could use this magic.

“It’s only one heart.”

“It’s enough.”

Park Chan-woo grinned, showing his teeth.

Thanks to the time he bought, he completely dominated one of Sephiro’s hearts.

A heart that was fully dominated was recognized as Park Chan-woo’s own.

But even if he offered this heart as a tribute, he couldn’t kill Sephiro.

“One is enough to drive you berserk.”

Brrrrr!

In an instant, the entire body of the Dragon God Sephiro began to swell.

Soon, Sephiro’s form vanished, replaced by masses of flesh. Even the magic that maintained his human appearance was running wild.

Boom!

Losing control of his magic, the advanced spell he had cast—the twelve suns—struck directly at him. A massive explosion, like the explosion of creation, engulfed the Dragon God’s Temple.

However, even this would not kill Sephiro. It only bought a brief moment of time. He would return to his original state in thirty seconds.

‘It would be impossible if not for this moment when all his magic is running wild.’

His entire life had been leading up to this single moment. Park Chan-woo immediately pulled out a chalice from his chest.

‘The Chalice of the Sealed God.’

The vessel where the God of Sacrifice had been sealed.

As soon as he opened the chalice, Sephiro’s masses of flesh began to be absorbed into it. At this moment, for just a short time, Sephiro’s existence became ‘Park Chan-woo’s possession’.

The condition to offer him as a sacrifice was complete.

—Park Chan-woo, my contractor. What is it that you desire, offering everything you have?

“Turn back time. To the moment I first awakened.”

Park Chan-woo answered immediately. From the beginning, he had only wished for a return to the past. He believed that all the treasures he possessed, the Dragon God Sephiro, and the Chalice of the Sealed God would be enough to offer as sacrifices to turn back time.

—It is not enough.

“…What? You said it would be sufficient!”

—Only half of the Dragon God Sephiro is currently sealed in the chalice.

“Half? What do you mean?”

—The Dragon God Sephiro has two bodies.

“So this isn’t his complete form?”

—I only realized this a moment ago… His other body will arrive soon.

“Damn it…!”

He couldn’t help but curse. The absolute being Sephiro, the monster who had snatched away humanity’s hope, was only a half.

Chan-woo had already given everything.

He had used all he had to get this far.

He had pushed his comrades into the abyss of death and used a hundred thousand warriors as shields.

All for this one goal.

To turn back time and grasp hope once more.

But now…

But after all that…

“I don’t care what it takes! If what I have is not enough, I’ll sell my future! If that’s still not enough, I’ll offer my soul as a sacrifice…!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In the distance, an enormous presence, larger than the entire Dragon God’s Temple combined, was approaching.

It was a transcendent dragon, beyond even the size of a dragon.

Only then did he realize.

The flesh inside the chalice, which he thought was Sephiro’s true form, was nothing compared to that colossal body.

【I will grant you the greatest despair.】

【Humans, vanish.】

Ah…

Below the Dragon God’s Temple.

All of humanity on Earth was being erased.

They turned to dust and disappeared.

Park Chan-woo reached out desperately, but he couldn’t reach them.

He couldn’t reach them because even his own hand was slowly disappearing.

Just one word.

Humanity’s struggle couldn’t withstand even that one word.

It was frustrating and infuriating.

To meet the end in destruction without ever properly starting, without being prepared.

If only I could start again… at least it wouldn’t end like this.

—The transaction is complete.

“…!”

At that moment.

Tick, tick.

Suddenly, the hands of time began to turn backward.

—Contractor Park Chan-woo. Your final return to time and space shall begin.

 

***

 

Chirp, chirp, chirp!

The sound of birds chirping could be heard.

It was strange.

There shouldn’t be any birds left on Earth.

‘This place…’

It was a park.

A very familiar lake park.

Was it a dream, or was it reality?

 

 

The words floating in front of him snapped him back to reality.

‘I’m back.’

He had succeeded in returning to the time right before the awakening.

There was no time to waste.

Park Chan-woo quickly spoke.

“Status window.”

Soon, a window appeared before his eyes.

At the same time, Park Chan-woo’s face hardened.

“Wait. What is this…?”

Even though he had returned to the past, he couldn’t simply rejoice.

This wasn’t the status window he remembered from the past.

 

 

“Level… Negative 99…?”