My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness

Deep within the abyss.

The being observed the lifeform that had suddenly entered its domain. Even though the concept of time was meaningless to it, it wasn't completely devoid of emotions like boredom. So, it was only natural to be intrigued by this unexpected visitor.

“Hmm, could it be… a god? A god trapped in this place? Interesting… Then…”

Just maintaining its form in this space was impressive enough. Its physical body, as well as the sheer level of its existence, was undeniable. Driven by a growing curiosity, the being decided to test the newcomer.

Rumble—

A wave of chaotic energy, like a ripple in the abyss, swept through the surroundings.

But the lifeform, the Master of Heaven's Turn Society, remained unfazed.

As if distorting the very space around him, he simply let it pass.

“…So, this is the kind of world it is. Troublesome. I prefer a more hands-off approach.”

But the being that ruled this space wasn't interested in his words.

It had long since ceased to care about the thoughts and feelings of mere mortals.

So, it didn’t hesitate in its next action.

-Oh, my Lord! My God—!

It took a copy of a soul, a plaything it had stored away, a slave under its control.

And then, it shoved it into the Master’s body.

If it worked, and it could obtain that physical vessel, it might be able to restart the project it had failed earlier.

‘Gods are so self-centered, no matter the dimension.’

But the Master, narrowing his eyes, simply scoffed.

“Tsk, what a pointless charade.”

-Kyaaa—!

And then, he tore the invading soul to shreds.

At the same time, a pair of massive wings, over three meters long, unfurled from his back.

Whoosh—

A sunset glow, radiating from him, pushed back the chaotic energy and the abyss, filling the space with an otherworldly light.

An energy unknown to this dimension, divine power.

Twitch—

The surrounding space twitched uncomfortably.

The torn soul was a mere copy, easily replaceable. There were plenty more where that came from.

What truly bothered it was that unsettling energy.

Holy power, in its domain?

But its anger was quickly replaced by curiosity.

An unfamiliar holy power.

It was clearly not from this world, a foreign god’s energy.

But that lifeform wasn’t borrowing it from someone, it was emanating from within, as if it was its own.

It meant the newcomer possessed divine power.

Then perhaps, it had finally found a worthy opponent.

-Kyaa— Oh… God…

The copied soul continued to cry out, its voice distorted, until it crumbled and vanished. But the being no longer cared. Its attention was elsewhere.

“A god, you say… It seems you’ve been banished from your rightful place.”

Gurgle—

As if offended by his words, the surrounding space writhed violently.

Even a fallen god was still a god.

The sheer pressure of its emotions was enough to distort reality.

But the Master, unfazed by the chaotic storm, calmly continued.

“Why don’t we have a little chat before you get too worked up? There’s no point in getting angry. I can just leave.”

He stared at the being submerged deep within the abyss, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.

He wasn’t fond of gods, but the one trapped here… was no longer a true god.

It had been banished and sealed long ago.

And that meant—

‘It must have something it wants. I can use this.’

This could be a valuable opportunity to expedite his plans.

Of course, the fact that he had entered this dimension’s prison, its trash can, was a problem.

‘This is taking longer than I expected. But… wait.’

As he surveyed the surroundings, his brow furrowed slightly.

Amidst the chaotic flow of energy, he sensed something familiar.

‘…Hmm, must be my imagination.’

But he quickly dismissed it. The remnants of worlds were all similar, and he didn’t have time to dwell on such trivial matters.

And so, within the all-encompassing abyss,

Two masterminds, from different worlds, finally met.

____________________

The rapidly growing online community, Dawn’s Shrine.

Even this site, which had been growing at an alarming rate since its inception, was showing signs of stagnation.

The fact that most of those interested had already joined was one reason, but the prolonged absence of their central figure, Hahoe Mask, was also a significant factor. ＲâŊốＢĘŠ

‘Well, it’s a fan site, so it’s understandable.’

They were all gathered here, inspired by the dark hero’s actions, and now he had suddenly disappeared. It was only natural for them to feel uneasy.

<I heard rumors that Hahoe Mask died in Japan?>

-(Link) Someone posted a photo of a broken Hahoe mask and a bloodstained robe as proof. Is this real?

-No no no fake fake fake

-How long has Hahoe Mask been gone? Over a week? Closer to two? Could he really be…

-Come on, it hasn't even been a month. Stop overreacting.

└He finished his work in Japan before disappearing, right? That’s why I’m worried. It’s suspicious that he suddenly stopped in the middle of his activities.

└ㅜㅜ No sightings in Korea either. Even if he’s alive, he must be seriously injured.

└If he's alive, why doesn’t he just give us a sign? We’ll wait, just tell us you’re okay! Pleaseㅠㅠ

Thanks to his ruthless judgment of criminals, the improved public order, and his overseas activities that had even made international headlines, Hahoe Mask had garnered more support than expected.

Not just on this fan site, but on other communities as well. His followers were growing.

And as a result, comparisons with Heinz the Second, the recently popular ‘Phantom’, also increased.

Of course, it wasn’t just a simple comparison…

<Those Phantom fanboys are annoying.>

-Who do they think is responsible for this peace? Now that Phantom is active, they’re turning their backs on Hahoe Mask? Disgusting.

Some were overly invested, seeing them as rivals.

Those who had directly benefited from Hahoe Mask’s actions, or those who had been positively influenced by him.

But such reactions weren’t widespread.

-They’re just trying to use this opportunity to discredit Hahoe Mask.

-Seriously lol. Who cares who does it, as long as we’re safe?

└Exactly. A yellow cow or a black cow, as long as it works.

-I appreciate his efforts, but honestly, I’m a bit uncomfortable with a dark mage… Hehe.

└Same. What if his dark magic goes out of control and that’s why he’s gone? He might snap and become a villain.

└Whoa… That’s actually possible.

└Opera House’s media manipulation is disgusting.

After all, Hahoe Mask's popularity was based on his contribution to public safety, and Phantom’s fan site, ‘Opera House’, which had been growing rapidly since its recent establishment, also actively defended him.

‘Hmm, Heinz’s popularity is growing faster than I expected. It must be because he didn’t try to hide from cameras from the beginning.’

Unlike Hans, who could teleport instantly, Heinz’s mobility wasn’t limited either.

Within Seoul, he could reach any location in minutes.

And unlike Hans, he didn’t use the ominous dark magic power, he could conceal his vampire traits with “Existence Denial”, and most importantly…

<Phantom's legendary photo>

<Praying for Phantom's face reveal, Day 5>

<OMG he’s so handsome lol>

…He was incredibly handsome.

That single photo, accidentally taken, had gone viral.

It was a shot of Heinz the Second, dressed in a stylish suit and wearing a white opera mask, turning to look at the camera under the moonlight.

Even though he hadn’t posed for it, and it had been taken from a distance with a zoom lens, it looked like a professional photoshoot.

‘And it seems like his “Charm” skill was also subtly activated.’

His enhanced level had probably amplified the skill’s effects, even influencing the photo.

He had acquired the skill after dealing with Alpha but hadn’t had a chance to use it. He had almost forgotten about it.

And perhaps because of that, the criminals lying around him seemed like mere props, enhancing his dangerous yet alluring charm.

‘It’s definitely different from the gloomy and mysterious dark mage Hahoe Mask.’

And that was probably why Heinz the Second, the charismatic Phantom, was gaining popularity, especially among women.

It was a sad reality, but what could he do?

‘Well, since they’re both me, it doesn’t matter. Maybe I should create a secret society of masked heroes? How about…’

He pondered a suitable name for the organization.

Masquerade?

He could gather all his avatars, including Heinrich…

‘No, I should focus on the task at hand.’

He dismissed the distracting thought and concentrated on his current objective.

An important plan was about to be put into action.

Swish—

A sharp whistling sound ripped through the air.

Under the silent moon and stars,

The blurry image of the sea below transformed into a dazzling cityscape.

A city of lights, shimmering in the darkness.

‘Let’s see… The location is…’

Having crossed the sea, Hans arrived above Shanghai and, using 「Abyssal Eye」, pinpointed his target’s location.

[…Found you.]

He muttered coldly, his voice barely a whisper.

Even with his enhanced senses, he wouldn’t have noticed it without prior information. The security was incredibly tight.

But amidst that impenetrable fortress, a familiar presence was detected.

‘Heaven’s Turn Society’s East Asia Branch Manager, Yulryeongja.’

There was no reason to hesitate any longer.

They would have already detected his arrival in Shanghai.

It was time to end this quickly.

Hans descended rapidly, his speed even greater than before.

And finally.

Kaboom—!

A barrier shattered, a deafening roar echoing through the air.

It was a spectacular firework, announcing Hahoe Mask’s return.

____________________

An office, lavishly decorated with ornaments and a dazzling night view.

“Whew.”

Having finished his discussion with Scribe, the North America Branch Manager, Yulryeongja slumped back in his chair.

He turned towards the window and, extending his right hand, picked up a teacup.

Sip—

A moment of leisurely relaxation, enjoying the breathtaking cityscape.

But as his gaze fell on his right arm, his face contorted slightly.

Five thin, metallic wires extended from his fingertips, connected to the back of his neck.

It was a state-of-the-art magical prosthetic, crafted by Doctor after he lost his arm in Hahoe Mask’s mental world. It allowed him to control his limbs with his thoughts.

‘Hahoe Mask…’

He flexed his fingers, the prosthetic responding seamlessly, and his thoughts drifted to his nemesis.

The Society’s enemy, who had vanished from Japan and hadn't been seen since.

It had been quite some time.

‘I’m also working on countermeasures. Once the collaboration with Scribe is finalized, we’ll finally be able to…’

But then.

As the saying goes, speak of the devil.

Or perhaps, in this case, speak of the Demon King.

Beep—! Beep—! Beep—!

-Yulryeongja-nim! Emergency! We’ve detected an unidentified presence in Shanghai’s airspace…!

An alarm blared from the base’s security system, and an urgent message from his subordinate in the security room followed.

And at the same time.

<High-Energy Approach Alert!>

<High-Energy Approach Alert!>

<High-Energy Approach Alert!>

<…>

A series of red warnings flashed across his cybernetic eye.

Crash—!

The teacup slipped from his grasp, shattering on the floor. But Yulryeongja, with the prosthetic’s help, jumped to his feet, ignoring the mess.

He didn’t have time for such trivial matters.

Kaboom—!

A powerful shockwave ripped through the building, shaking its very foundation.

[Kkuk kuk— It’s been a while.]

And along with that impact came a voice.

A voice he had only heard once before, a sound that seemed to emanate from the depths of hell.

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