Clockwork Bride

Page 354

However, Karen, in her thousand reincarnations, resolutely fought against heaven and earth, refusing to relinquish her obsession with changing the world. She was determined to liberate everyone from suffering and bring happiness to all beings by transforming the world. In Mithra's eyes, this was a dead end, a dead end... and so she died a thousand times without turning back.

Those who are fearless in the face of death are rare, but not uncommon. However, someone as headstrong as Karen is another matter entirely.

Fearless in the face of death, determined to change the world with one's own will, and committed to upholding one's conscience and righteousness, never wavering or regretting, such people are few and far between throughout history.

Invincible power requires an invincible mindset to truly become invincible. Kallen's achievements today are by no means accidental. Even though she dies halfway through each reincarnation, her tenacity is astonishing.

As the saying goes, even an idiot can be cured after dying once. What is this person made of?

So Mithra thought for a moment and then made a decision.

Seeing how stubborn Karen was, he felt that there was probably only one kind of life that could heal her and free her. So with a wave of his hand, he cast Karen into a new illusion.

In a life he knew best.

This is a story from a very, very long time ago, about five hundred years ago.

In a small town in Persia, there lived a very intelligent young girl.

She came from a middle-class merchant family in the city and was an only child. Although she was not of noble (divine) birth, her parents were very loving towards their children, and she received a good education.

Moreover, she possessed extraordinary intelligence from a young age, as well as the ability to see through the essence of things.

Her name is Mitra.

443: The Wheel-Turning Holy King

Karen entered Mithra's life in the cycle of reincarnation.

As everyone knows, that was the era of the tyrannical rulers of the old gods. Mortals lived in poverty and hardship, and the frequent wars between the god-kings only added to their suffering and unrest, with no hope of improvement in sight.

This is an era of true human suffering.

Mithra believed that Karen would surely experience the same feelings as him in this era, when she personally experienced his life.

...As a result, Karen did not.

Mithra learned arcane arts from a young age; Karen also learned them.

As Mithra grew into adulthood, he became increasingly disillusioned with the Old Gods and the tyrants; so did Karen.

Mithras traveled far and wide, seeking out renowned teachers and a way to save humanity; Karen did the same.

Mithra deeply realized that his power was insufficient. With just a few passionate mortal mages, it was impossible to overthrow the deeply entrenched feudal system of the gods. Therefore, he decided to venture into the desert alone to undergo arduous training for the final stage of cultivation.

…This is the vinegar Mitra used to make dumplings. He firmly believed that as long as Karen embarked on the same path as him and undertook the same practice, she would surely come to the same understanding.

As it turned out, Karen didn't go at all!

After learning magic, she traveled around, made friends and companions—and then directly gathered a group of people and rebelled!

Karen, through her rebellion, successfully led her companions to overthrow the Persian god-king who had sealed him away, and established a new nation of equality for all. However, due to limited strength, they were ultimately besieged and defeated by the former god-kings of multiple nations. Karen herself perished in battle.

Throughout the entire process, she wavered, felt regret, and carried the responsibility and sorrow of her companion's death, but her unwavering will never collapsed.

"Peacock's daughter, I originally thought you were someone who could get close to me, how come you are so dull-witted?"

Mitra could only sigh and erase her memories, allowing her to start the cycle of life anew.

Once wasn't enough; she tried a similar method and died again. So, twice, ten times!

As a result, in the twenty-third reincarnation of the same life, although Kallen did not inherit the memories, she still led her companions to defeat all the surrounding ancient god nations and managed to gain a foothold in that era.

Then bigger trouble began.

Because Loki has arrived.

The Hayden Loki that Mitra simulated in the illusion has finally crossed over.

Since Hayden is just a time traveler simulated in the [Reincarnation] illusion, he should only do things that follow the original historical trajectory... That was Mitra's original prediction, but things just didn't go as planned here!

For some reason, this Hayden Loki, who was simulated in the illusion, actually confided in Karen Mitra after spending two or three years with her in the Mitra suit!

As a result, Hayden Loki and Kaleen Mitra became inseparable best friends in this illusion. Working together, although neither of them reached the ultimate level of Mitra's power—they still united the world's arcanists and managed to defeat the Old Gods!

Why!? Why why why!?

Mithra was utterly baffled! This wasn't Kallen, but merely something with Kallen's soul, no memories, and wearing Mithra's skin! Why would Hayden Loki confront "this" Mithra and confess, but not the original Mithra from the past?!

Moreover, not only Hayden Loki, but also Kalen Mitra's interactions with Mitra's other companions in the original history were different. The other seven bodhisattvas did not treat Kalen with the same reverence and worship as they did the real Mitra. Instead, they would argue, quarrel, and fight with Kalen Mitra, and their meetings would almost always turn into a mess.

This should have led to a decrease in the cohesion and efficiency of the new gods. But then, something strange happened. Despite this situation, everything began to progress rapidly. Technological barriers that historically took thirty or forty years to overcome were suddenly broken one after another!

As a result, although Kalenmitra did not go to the desert to seek the ultimate state of enlightenment and realization on her own, the overall strength of the Mithra group and the total combat power of the eight bodhisattvas were actually similar to the original history!

The same life, simulated in the same parallel universe, the same abilities, the same eyes (since it's reincarnation, the same qualities should be given), why is there such a difference in development between the two sides? Why!?

Although he didn't lose, and although it was more like a tie in terms of performance, Mitra felt a strange sense of absurd frustration as he looked at this cycle.

However, he still comforted himself—the important part is yet to come.

Just as history had originally unfolded, the final battle against Asmodius began.

Asmodius will open a spacetime rift here, allowing Mithra to see a glimpse of the outer universe and the outer gods.

Once Karentra witnesses that unimaginable and irresistible power of the Outer Gods, she will surely make the same judgment as Mitra. She will realize that a decisive battle against the extraterrestrial invaders is necessary, and that many sacrifices must be made for the victory of the apocalyptic war!

...At least that's what Mithra thought.

Ashina Castle in Ashihara Province: a time labyrinth where the past and future constantly interact.

Karentra leaped forward to help Hayden and Angela fight Asmodius. Just as she was about to reach Hayden, she accidentally saw a rift in spacetime through her double pupils.

Through the rift in spacetime, she saw beyond the universe, beyond the veil. Like Mithra, she also glimpsed, in an instant, countless parallel universes connected to the hidden gods of the outer universe.

There are countless universes, some better than their world, and some worse. And in every world, there are all kinds of hardships that are both different and similar; in every world, there is more suffering than happiness; in every world, most people suffer, and only a few can enjoy a sweeter life.

Karen saw the exact same sight that Mithra had seen.

She and Mitra both realized the same terrifying question:

If all life and the universe are filled with such suffering, if our world can be a living hell, if even other possible worlds are filled with endless suffering just like our own, only differing in degree... then how could the source of all this, the creator of all things, the First Cause, possibly be the existence of beauty, goodness, and love?

If the multiverse is so evil, how could there possibly be a benevolent creator god?

After realizing this question, Mithra chose to do what he is doing now.

...Karen, however, turned her head away indifferently and went about her business as usual, without letting it bother her at all.

"Why, why, why, why!?"

Mitra, who was sitting in the core of the [Reincarnation] system, finally, finally couldn't take it anymore!

"Kalen, daughter of the peacock, I originally thought that you, like Loki, were a wise person close to me, capable of comprehending the truths I have comprehended—or at least a part of them."

"Now it seems that I, as always, had too high expectations of others. I'll send you into a hopeless environment where you are born powerless to resist, to be reincarnated for a million years, to linger in a world devoid of all pretense, so that you may awaken to the truth!"

By activating the cycle of reincarnation, Mitra pulls Karen out of "his" life. Then, in a flash, he throws Karen into a completely hopeless illusion where she has absolutely no capacity for subjective resistance, forcing her to endure endless torment and achieve a forced enlightenment when justice, will, and faith are completely useless.

"Kallen, Karen, your talent is too dull. My expectations of you are my failure!"

Mitra sighed and pushed with his hand, about to push Karen into the cycle of reincarnation.

...However, he couldn't push it.

Something unbelievable happened.

Karen opened her eyes from the illusion of [Reincarnation], sneered at Mitra, and uttered a shocking statement: "Mitra, you're dumber than a pig, why don't you go eat shit?"

Even with his profound cultivation, Mitra was taken aback by Karen's words and froze. He was the supreme ruler of modern society, the head of all bodhisattvas, and the strongest capitalist god. From the moment he was born until now, he had never uttered any vulgar language, and had rarely been the one uttered it by anyone. Now, Karen had suddenly launched into a tirade against him, and Mitra was completely unable to react.

"You really should go eat some shit and taste the bitterness of ordinary people's lives, then you won't be so out of touch with reality."

Karen scoffed at the world's ruler and hurled insults at him without mercy.

“I used to worry that you had really seen something, that there was some evil enemy that we had to fight against at the cost of the people, but it turns out that’s all there is to it—that’s all there is to it!! You know nothing about the suffering the people endure every day, and you know nothing about the thoughts and worries of your companions! You have greatly disappointed me and the people!”

What?What?

Mithra was completely baffled. He didn't care about Karen's outburst of insults; he didn't care about other people's opinions. What puzzled him now was something else entirely: "How did you awaken from my cycle of reincarnation?"

"If you, you idiot, can do it, why can't I? I'm only four hundred years behind you in terms of 'time accumulation'!"

Karen responded with a cold laugh.

"Back then, in order to enter the final realm, you cultivated diligently in the desert, casting your mind into an illusion, experiencing hundreds of reincarnations, gaining a thorough understanding of the world's principles, and finally achieving great supernatural powers... Aren't I the same?"

Before the war, Karen had told Hayden that she didn't have much time to think about and unravel Mitra's cycle of reincarnation. However, Hayden also reminded her that time wasn't really an issue: wasn't reincarnation itself just endless time for contemplation? Given time, Karen's mental fortitude was in no way inferior to Mitra's!

“I see… I did underestimate you in this respect,” Mithra said thoughtfully. “But great perseverance is not the same as great wisdom. You have seen through the illusion of reincarnation, but do you still believe in that Outer God like your husband, believing that He is good and poses no threat to our world?”

“Mithra, you are truly hopelessly stupid. Who says I believe in Outer Gods? I don’t believe in those mysterious, invisible things at all! I only believe in myself, and in the people I love and trust!”

Karen was both annoyed and amused.

"You demand that all of humanity believe in you, yet the one who distrusts no one is yourself, not even yourself. The most foolish and weakest person is yourself, Mithra! Just seeing something stronger than you makes you lose all your confidence and treat everything else as unimportant. That is your weakness!"

"I don't mind if you're afraid of external gods, but don't drag others into your fear! We still have our own lives to live!"

His final outburst was, in effect, a fatal blow.

In that instant, even Mithra's golden body seemed to crack. It showed that he was undeniably wavering.

“And there’s something even more ridiculous: you actually think I think like you! How arrogant do you have to be to assume that everyone else will have the same thoughts as you? Of course I’ll do better than you—and I’m going to start doing better than you right now!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Karen pointed one finger to the sky and one finger to the earth within the illusion of [Reincarnation], making a grand vow:

"When I attain the supreme righteous path, all people will find peace and happiness. There will be no more exploitation or oppression in the world, and no one will be bound by force, labor, or debt!"

"When I attain the supreme righteous path, all people will be free from barriers. There will be no class, no country, no noble or lowly among all beings; all will be equal, and everyone will receive fairness and justice!"

In the blink of an eye, the entire [Reincarnation] illusion suddenly trembled violently, shimmering with dazzling light. Palm-sized pieces of five-colored glass appeared out of thin air, raining down and dancing in the sky.

Beneath Karen's feet, layers of golden lotuses, each the size of a bowl, surged forth from the ground. These were all [Dream Flowers], growing endlessly and wildly. In an instant, the fragrance of the flowers surged like a tide, covering the earth and transforming the entire [Reincarnation] illusion into a paradise of immortals.

Flowers rained down from the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the ground. Without relying on any external force, Kallen, through immense willpower, finally escaped the illusion of [Reincarnation]!

In the material world, on the moon, the Great Wheel Vajra King was still standing dumbfounded beneath Samsara. He had no time to do anything, and couldn't even resist, when he saw Karen leap out of Samsara, a huge golden wheel appearing out of thin air in her hand.

Then Karen slammed the treasure wheel down hard on the head of the Great Wheel King, flattening him with a single blow!

The allied forces of the gods behind her were completely dumbfounded!

"Mithra's incarnation, the Great Wheel Vajra King, has already been killed by me!"

Karen raised her precious wheel high and declared to the entire army that victory was assured.

"Victory is within reach! All troops, charge with me!"

This precious wheel is very similar to the golden wheel of [Reincarnation], but it is also clearly different.

Because Karen has attained Nirvana. She has grasped the truths about suffering and life that Mithras had also grasped.

But Karen would not choose the same "answer" as Mithra.

Although it was just a deduction of the illusion of [reincarnation], Kallen did indeed sense Mithra's life.

In his eyes, there were only ignorant people crawling on the ground waiting for him to rescue them; in his heart, there was only "wisdom" that transcended worldly affairs and stood high above.

He was blind to the suffering of the common people, believing his wisdom and insight were sufficient to understand the truth of the world. He thought he could devise a brilliant grand plan through his superior intellect, a plan he considered the best, most perfect, and most beneficial to everyone. For the sake of this plan, all other problems of humanity could be temporarily abandoned.

Is it all for a greater good?

...But is that really the case? Are you really as smart as you think, with such keen eyesight, truly believing you understand everything in the universe? How do you know that what you think you know is necessarily correct?

Karen knew very well that her past self could have ended up on Mithra's path. The only difference between her and Mithra was a few special choices.

Therefore, she will not become the Buddha, nor will she transcend worldly affairs. She will become an emperor, the most sagacious ruler in the history of the earth.

When injustice, inequality, tyranny, exploitation, and oppression still exist in your homeland, how can you have the face to transcend worldly affairs and make any grand plans?

You must come down, put your feet on the ground, and fight what is right in front of you and what you can see.

If foreign enemies invade, then fight them; if a tyrannical ruler governs unjustly, then fight him.

If the people are poor and society is unjust, then fight against the injustice; if the world is full of all kinds of suffering, then defeat all of these sufferings one by one!

If suffering and evil in the universe never cease, then Kallen will never compromise and will respond with an eternal battle!

She will embark on this path, with this as her goal. From this moment forward, she will dedicate herself to the eternal battle she seeks.

Today's battle is not the end, but the beginning of the legend of Kallen, the Wheel King!