The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years

Several thoughts popped into his mind at the same time. That seemed to be the case. But the words that escaped from Lukas’ lips were much simpler than those thoughts.

“Are you saying you can do that?”

Confirming the authenticity.

Tch, he heard the sound of the Lightning God clicking his tongue in his head. He didn’t know why but seemed disappointed in Lukas for some reason.

He didn’t care about that. Without him realising, Lukas’ senses and attention had become focused on the Exile.

“How is that possible?”

Space manipulation.

Lukas had also become able to skillfully wield that power. Due to an explosive increase in his proficiency, he could visit any place that he’d been to before. The same was true even for restricted areas like the ‘Dump Site’ and other ‘territories’.

However, the range of that movement was limited to the World of Void. He couldn’t go to the Three Thousand Worlds outside. He couldn’t find a path. Every time he tried, it felt like he was stuck in something.

[I have no reason… to tell you lies…]

“That could just be your thoughts. The cracks themselves could be traps.”

Even as he said that, Lukas was aware of how slim the chance of that was. Then he realised that the reason he denied it in the first place was because he wanted the Exile’s words to be true.

It was a ridiculous and pathetic response.

In his home universe, Lukas had been betrayed too many times. Therefore, even though hopeful observations came to his mind, he shook his head, denying them.

‘A weak defence mechanism.’

He calmed his agitation, he didn’t want to display an unsightly appearance.

Even if the ‘Lukases’ themselves were no longer there to watch, Lukas wouldn’t allow himself to make the wrong choice again.

The Exile looked at him silently. It was difficult to predict what he was thinking.

That thought caused him to be even more uncomfortable facing this being.

Should he just put an end to this farce and ask him to show him the way to the Magic Planet?

However, what if his statements really were true?

[It’s true.]

The Lightning God’s voice confirmed that possibility.

‘What?’

[That being is the only one across time and space that can travel between the World of Void and the Three Thousand Worlds.]

‘How is that possible?’

[All kinds of miracles are possible with that right hand of his…]

The Lightning God turned his attention to the Exile’s right hand. His hand, which was huge and thick as if there were iron plates beneath his skin, was still emitting the unknown blueish energy, however, Lukas couldn’t tell exactly what kind of energy it was.

[The Occult Hand… It can be said that your knowledge of space is pretty good too. So I can speak assertively. Now that God has died, there is no other being in existence who is more skillful at manipulating space than the Exile.]

From the start, the Lightning God had spoken as if he knew the Exile.

In other words, there was a high chance that his words were true.

“What is the Occult Hand?”

[Kuku. Well… All of the records related to the Exile have been erased. There isn’t even any information about him in the Akashic Records, but the Exile was able to wipe out 17 Great Universes on his own. Do you understand what that means?]

Taking a deep breath, Lukas said.

“He can travel between universes without God’s help?”

Instead of answering, the Lightning God smiled grimly. As if to say his answer was correct.

…The thoughts in his head became several times more complicated.

The Exile’s words were true.

And it was none other than the Lightning God himself that had confirmed his words. Rulers didn’t lie. Although they might hide some truths to deceive someone, they would never outright lie.

In other words, this meant that it really was possible for the Exile to send him to those two worlds.

“What do you want from me?”

[…]

“Is your goal to listen to my old wishes?”

Lukas chuckled.

“Even if that’s the truth, I’ll have to ask you to stop right there. I’d prefer it if you had an ulterior motive. Maybe even to use me for some grand scheme.”

[Lukas Trowman… do you not know… that such pure intentions also exist…?]

“So? Because I’m such a good person, I’m showing mercy to a man I’ve never seen before. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

[I am… an ally… of every exiled being…]

As he was about to shoot something back, he closed his mouth. The sharpness that he’d been projecting before dulled a little. This was because, for the first time, he could feel a glimpse of emotion in the Exile’s voice.

[You can still change… Those that can change… with a place they can return to… beings like that… I always help them.]

“…”

[These cracks… take a closer look… not at the reunion with those dear to you… but at the real threats…]

Lukas’ gaze turned to the crack in space again.

[If it was the original you… you wouldn’t have been able to respond… However, the current you… might be able to… do what you have to do there…]

Lukas looked at the being glowering beyond his home universe.

Pure, white bones without a hint of flesh, surrounded by a black, cloth-like robe, an undead.

He knew the name of this being very well.

“Diablo.”

This time, his gaze shifted to the Earth universe where Min Ha-rin was.

There, sitting on a throne surrounded by countless demons, was a huge demon.

A being with multiple horns, a gigantic body, grey skin, and a bored expression.

…Kasajin, no.

“Demon King.”

[Likewise… left as they are…]

The Exile murmured in a low voice.

[These two universes… will soon be destroyed…]

* * *

Lukas suddenly thought about Pale who was outside this space. The last thing he’d seen from her was her distorted expression. Perhaps she knew what the Exile intended to do.

“…”

A useless thought.

Even if it wasn’t, it wasn’t something he should be thinking about at that moment.

Lukas realised, then, that the fact that he was thinking about Pale at that moment showed that conflict had already arisen in his mind.

“Diablo and the Demon King. Are you saying those universes will be destroyed by those guys?”

[Their destruction… will come unannounced…]

[Hoh…]

The Lightning God reacted to those words. He looked at the Exile with an attitude of curiosity.

Was there a hidden meaning within the words he’d just said?

It was still a riddle for Lukas.

But there was one word that he could understand with certainty.

Destruction.

One way or the other, these universes were facing an unprecedented crisis.

In the past, this thought alone would have filled him with anxiety. He might have even felt powerless at the fact that he couldn’t do anything on his own.

But it was different now.

“They do not need a guardian anymore.”

[…]

“I know the truth now. At first, I thought people needed me to lead them. Perhaps, I thought that I was the only one who could fill that role. I’m not sure if that came off as arrogance. But if it wasn’t.”

The scene from his home universe.

A confrontation between beings that Lukas held dearly.

At first, their behaviour made him angry. He couldn’t stand it. He’d risked his life to drive the Demigods away, to kill Lord, and left his home universe with hope.

And yet, the conflicts didn’t disappear. Instead, the confrontations only grew. It was so intense that they made each other bleed.

However, in the end, that was human nature.

“Not all conflicts are wrong.”

[…]

“Sometimes, the wisest answers can only be found through conflict, and the greatest of possibilities, blossomed in the midst of the extreme hardships.”

There were many things in the world that couldn’t be linearly divided into good and evil.

It was the same for them. They were all living as their hearts desired. That wasn’t wrong.

Iris, Ivan, and Snow, they all had their thoughts.

And one thing was clear. They hadn’t changed. Although their methods were different, it was obvious that their thoughts were the same as before.

Of course, they wouldn’t have quarrelled if Lukas had still been there, because he would have controlled them not to, and led them in the right direction.

…Right. Now that he thought about it, Lukas would have used coercion in the guise of goodness to lead them in what he considered to be the right direction.

“I’m glad I left.”

He finally voiced the words he’d hated to admit the most.

“They don’t need me anymore.”

This went not just for his friends in his home universe,

But also his disciples on Earth.

Of course, in the future God had shown him, everyone he knew ended up in miserable states or dead. God had also said that Lukas was the only one who could change that ending.

‘However…’

He could stop it even if he didn’t go directly to that world. Diablo wasn’t in the Three Thousand Worlds, but the World of Void.

Maybe if he killed that guy in the Dump Site, that would solve everything.

[Is that… your choice…?]

“Right.”

As he replied, Lukas turned around.

He didn’t care if the Exile was satisfied by his answer or not. Lukas had the ability to escape this space he’d created.

[I see…]

And it was exactly in the next moment that the Exile suddenly took action.

[I am not fond… of coercion, but… I am not confident… in my ability to convince you…]

“What?”

[I’d like to… apologise in advance… but it can’t be helped… Regrets… there is a being who… doesn’t want you to have them…and I… owe them…]

“What are you talking about?”

[Go… take a look and… judge for yourself…]

Fwoosh.

He felt a strong suction force. It was a pressure as if his entire body was being pulled somewhere. It took a bit too long to figure out what was happening.

The Exile was trying to force him into one of the forces.

He grit his teeth.

He pretended to give him a choice, only to act hypocritically in the end?

“Cut… it out…”

Lukas shouted violently as he swung his arm. It wouldn’t be too hard to deal with this suction force.

Or at least that would have been the case if there wasn’t any interference.

[Kuku… Kuhaha!]

The Lightning God chose this moment to suddenly burst into a frenzy.

Boom!

‘Kuk!’

A huge bolt of lightning crashed into his mind. For a moment, his vision went black and it felt like brain was burning.

‘You… motherfucker…’

He knew that the Lightning God still had some power left, but he never would have thought that he’d interfere at that moment.

For a moment, Lukas lost control over the power of void and his body was helplessly dragged into the Exile’s hand.

“-ah.”

Then he was thrown.

Floating, and falling.

Lukas’ body fell into the pitch black space.

* * *

…He felt warm sunlight.

His head was resting on something soft, but he had such a headache that he couldn’t properly identify the texture.

They combined; the warmth, the softness, and the pain.

As he felt these three sensations at the same time, Lukas frowned.

“Kuk…”

His head ached and he felt nauseous. Overall, his condition wasn’t too good. This was more a matter of his mind than his body, so it would have been wise to just wait for a while, but he couldn’t afford to.

Just as he was about to try to get up from where he lay.

Guk-

He felt fingers press against his forehead.

The force wasn’t strong, but strangely enough, he couldn’t resist.

“You should lay for a while longer.”

He heard a voice that was closer to a whisper.

A familiar voice.

“Pale…?”

“Yes.”

He opened his eyes.

He could see Pale with her back to the sun. As she looked back at Lukas, she smiled, showing off her pure white teeth.

“How are you?”

“…”

Instead of answering, he closed his eyes again.

Then he pieced together his last memories.

…The Exile. The two universes, his offer, his rejection, the Lightning God’s interference, floating, falling…

And…

“…where are we?”

It was clear that he’d been swept away by the Exile’s power. And, through the lack of void, he could tell that this place wasn’t the World of Void.

Then?

Was this Lukas’ home universe? Or Earth?

“Don’t you know?”

Pale tilted her head to the side.

As he looked at her, he asked the biggest question he had.

“Why are you here?”

This time she replied indifferently.

“Hmm. I don’t know. I think we might have been caught up in it, but I’m not sure.”

“We?”

Pale pointed to the side.

Standing not so far away, was another familiar face.

It was Yang In-hyun.

(Announcement: Apologies for the delay. I made an announcement in discord but forgot that a large portion of the readerbase doesn’t have it. Long story short, I required a break, took it, and now I’m back. Will commit myself to at least one chapter a day. Even if I have to find alternative methods to post them.)