Past Life Returner

Joshua arrived at the pitch-black stairs. He had not been called by Doom Kaos, and instead, he had willingly entered. He raised the amulet in his hand as he started to go up the stairs. It was a warning that if he was not allowed to enter beyond the curtain, he would use the powers embedded in the talisman.

It was the first time he revealed his true intentions to Doom Kaos. As expected, the curtain did not block him nor did it send any negative effects.

When Joshua went into the curtain, he could look up and see the entity just as he had imagined. It was an evil being left with nothing but the intent to monopolize the power. Even amidst a fierce confrontation against the Old One outside of the stairs, his eyes still held firm strength.

The light from the light beams that stretched out from Doom Kaos was intensely bright. However, Doom Kaos’s wicked eyes remained clear. Joshua felt fear again from that point. The creeping dread was making his spine chill after a long while.

Joshua had tried his best to mentally prepare himself, but it fell into an unavoidable realm. However, he was confident he would not succumb there.

Even now, the voice of his one and only true master still resided deep in his mind.

“Death hunts down those who flee in fear. If you are scared, prioritize understanding where its cause lies and ignore the rhythm of your body. Then, you will be able to find a path that benefits you. Whether it is survival or retaliation, you have to know how to use fear, Joshua. Remember that.”

That was one of the master’s teachings and the reason why he could survive Act Two, Stage One. Although the master’s lesson assumed the situation was in combat, it was applicable in daily life as well.

The fear he felt from Doom Kaos was nothing more than a difference in overwhelming power. That was all he could feel from the being that was left with nothing but greed. Joshua could not find a reason to respect Doom Kaos.

Compared to Joshua’s true master whom he admired, Doom Kaos was nothing.

Then, Joshua received Doom Kaos’s message.

“You are annoying. Do not treat me the same as you.”

His message was filled with anger, intimidation, and persuasion.

“If you want me, offer yourself in my place. But you would not be able to do so.”

Then, Joshua once again lifted the amulet with an expression as if he was saying, ‘You would know what this is better than anyone else.’ Master would keep rejecting it, but Doom Kaos must have planned for him to eventually use it.

Joshua was certain as the tide of the battle had turned. The best scenario for everyone and his master was that the Old One and Doom Kaos would mutually destroy each other. Thus, the reason why Doom Kaos handed this to the master was too obvious. Doom Kaos had been trying to use Joshua as a substitute for the master. Joshua gritted his teeth just by holding it.

He said, “Do not make me use this right here. This must not be the reason why you made this.”

If he was thinking of making decisions here, then why did he hide the map from the master’s woman and his followers? Joshua did not care about the eyes that were full of anger from people who thought he had betrayed them. Nonetheless, when he thought about the insults that the master had to bear…

Joshua felt one suppressed emotion trying to stretch out. He hurriedly uttered the name of the devil.

“Kaos…”

Then, his real story continued.

“Are you not tired of this? Battling for power without manifestation is ridiculous. Watching your fights was suffocating. If it were me, then I would not have cared about life after death. You cannot find an answer while worrying about what you could lose, especially in a fight among equals like you guys.”

Joshua took another step up. This was where Arukuda used to stand, who no longer existed. Even then, Doom Kaos did not stop Joshua.

“You have never taken your eyes off me, so you would know. Master does not know this, and it is solely my decision. But I believe not taking action when the opportunity lies in front of me is betraying him. You cannot understand it even if you try. So it may seem like I am plotting something.”

Joshua did not take his gaze off from Doom Kaos and continued, “It may look similar from the outside. I want you guys to be sincere. All the servants who have fought on your behalf are dead anyway. You cleaned up Entegasto with your hands, and now you are trying to remove the Master.”

He added, “It is time to stop. Fight on your own. Collide flesh with flesh, and look at each other’s blood. I, the Emperor of the Dead, will side with you, risking my life.”

When Joshua was about to continue speaking without stopping, Doom Kaos’s eyes moved. To be precise, they were directed toward the amulet in Joshua’s hand.

“Now I can have a proper conversation with you. Yes, the preparations are over. Many dead things that linger in the Saint Land of Death will also disappear for you. If you give me the authority to manage the World of Souls, then the spirits that have accumulated over time will also fight for you.”

Joshua responded by slightly lowering his head to Doom Kaos’s message. There was no sound, but one corner of Joshua’s lips lifted up.

“It is fun to just think about it. There would be nothing better if you annihilate the Old One. However, do you think I would stand in front of you with such obvious intentions? I will be the only one dying. If you open the way to the Old One, then I will become the sacrifice of this evil thing. I am saying I will do what you wanted the master to do instead.”

Doom Kaos replied to him again by sending him a message.

Joshua answered, “Yes, I sincerely hope for your final battle with the master. I believe that the master will defeat all of you and become the only deity. Don’t you think so? You guys do not deserve to possess divinity.”

Meanwhile, there were no apparent abnormalities in the amulet so far. The invincible Common Power was there without being activated. It was confirmed that Doom Kaos had definitely planted his control in the trap that was sure to exist, not on the invincible Common Power. He probably intended to blow it up with a big bang at this desired time.

“If you do not want to take any risks, then getting rid of the problem is one way. I will not use the Common Power. I will let you do whatever you want to me. Blow it up,” Joshua said while bringing the amulet to his chest.

Nonetheless, neither explosion nor curse burst out from Doom Kaos. He stayed silent, probably because he did not want to waste what he had painstakingly made.

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Joshua said without any apparent relief, “If not, then open the way to the Old One. Or else, I will go this way to the master and reveal your weakness. Do you think you can stop me? Are you confident you can repel the Old One? If you are planning to do something to Mary, then don’t even think about it. It will never work.”

Doom Kaos’s eyes rolled at him again.

Joshua added, “You will be able to cause mental distress to the master, but you won’t be able to stop him with Mary. I am curious which side your crappy lords will take. But this is the worst assumption for both you and the master. Only the Old One will be pleased… Heup!”

It was sudden. A surprised breath burst out of Joshua’s mouth. An enormous pressure blew out and threw him down a step of the stairs. The pressure shattered, and each of the energies transformed into a sword.

Slash! Slash Sheeeeek!

They started slashing Joshua mercilessly.

Joshua was clutching the amulet. His body was tearing apart, and flashes of pain filled his vision, but he knew this was a positive sign. Indeed, the blade was delivering consistent pain while avoiding his critical spots.

However, now Joshua’s face was filled with scars that could be seen as the marks of a sinner. He knew what a wreck he was without even having to look at his face. The old face that was restored by the master was gone again as it had transformed into something that anyone would gasp or turn their heads away from.

Nevertheless, he could still smile. A laugh actually escaped from his mouth although he was lying pinned to the ground.

“Keuk…”

Doom Kaos had accepted the offer. Although he would lose his life, he was glad that he could open the final gate that his master would face. It was something that no one, not even the King of Hell, who had received the full support of his Master for a long time and Mary, could even imagine doing.

Only Joshua von Karjan, who inherited everything from the Undead Emperor and Entegasto, could do it!

“Keukeukek… Hehehehe…”

Blood flowed with his laughter. Moreover, blood dripped from all the wounds on his face, pooling on the floor. Joshua was lying with his nose in his own blood until the force that choked him completely vanished. Doom Kaos was standing up from his throne.

Seeing Doom Kaos, Joshua was not completely without regret. There were two things. One was that he could not stay by his master’s side until the end. Another was that the last comrade he would fight on the same side would be Doom Kaos. Nothing else lingered in his mind other than those two facts.

After going through the Stage of Advent, his emotions had dried up. When he finally regained his old face, his purpose for continuing life solely relied on that.

If someone tells me to live the same life again, I can’t. I can’t give any more than this.

That was why. He was not sacrificing for the master. He was just living a life loyal to his purpose. The master would not want him to do this, but Joshua was adamant.

Please do not grieve my death, Master. I am satisfied.

Then, he hurried things as Doom Kaos could change his mind. The amulet did not need purification. It was made to tempt the master to use it at any time.

Joshua clutched it tightly. Then, forces sufficient to be mistaken for something holy and sacred began to flow throughout his body. He was truly ready to die.

For the last time, he spat out a word in a loud voice.

“Master…”