D.I.O

Chapter 211

“Are you trying to reach Enlightenment?”

“I’m not interested in religion. What I see is not the reality of truth but only the original form of existence. It was only a coincidence that the results of my realization were similar to the Buddhist goal of Enlightenment.”

She grumbled a response with a sullen expression. When he saw the dissatisfaction on her face, Yongno felt she hadn’t come here of her own accord.

“… The lecture has gotten a bit off track. Since we’ve reached this point, shall I take your questions?”

As Yongno spoke, the audience buzzed after overhearing the two’s conversation, which seemed contentious but also had friendly undertones. A beautiful woman quickly raised her hand, her eyes twinkling as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Yes, you, over there. What are you curious about?”

When Yongno called out to her, the woman responded.

“Uhm, I heard that Mr. Merlin is the strongest Master in DIO. Is this true?”

“That’s incorrect. That title would fall to Arthur or Cruze. However, I cannot deny that I am one of the top users.”

In truth, within the Heaven above the Heavens, Arthur and Merlin were both Level 19. Arthur’s growth had initially risen at a terrifying pace, but recently, it had stagnated, virtually coming to a screeching halt. So, Merlin was able to catch up ever-so-slowly.

As for Cruze, she developed the slowest among the three but maintained a steady pace, allowing her to reach her current status as Level 17.

“According to a survey conducted by Masterpiece, a site specializing in users capable of manifestation, even new Masters are said to have combat power that easily exceeds a military division once they manifest. Then, how powerful would a member of the Heaven above the Heavens be if they manifested?”

Masters had appeared from ordinary people seemingly out of nowhere, and these entities completely overturned the world’s power dynamic, especially in terms of military strength. Once a Master manifested, no force on Earth could handle them; a Master’s power could even withstand the blast from a nuclear bomb.

The number of Masters increased significantly as users began to feel a sense of urgency from the aliens’ invasion, but the leading players’ pace of development began to stagnate. Even if users with considerable talent exerted effort, they couldn’t break through the Level 15 wall. Only the original Heaven above the Heavens had passed this point.

“You can use nearly 100 percent of the power you exert in DIO through manifestation. However, it’s a pity, but you cannot retain anything once manifestation is over.”

A Master who successfully manifested could utilize all of their in-game avatar’s gear and abilities. This meant that Yongno, as an enchanter, could make magic items in his manifested state.

However, when the manifestation period was over, [everything] that one brought from DIO disappeared like a mirage. Not only any items given to others but also any spells cast. The spell’s magic would vanish, and the effects of the magic would be canceled.

‘Everything probably returns to Dynamic Island.’

It was impossible to use magic in real life unless special abilities were utilized, like Yongno, who directly circulated energy through his spiritual pathways. Yongno had awakened an understanding of spiritual pathways through his knowledge regarding weightless controlled movement. If it weren’t for Mari’s Seal of Heaven, he would’ve found it impossible to fully utilize spiritual pathways and use mana in reality. As such, how could anyone expect others to be able to use spiritual powers in real life without manifestation?

“Then, how powerful are you?”

“I don’t know for certain. Probably about the same as a modern aircraft carrier?”

Yongno shrugged as he answered the question. However, he wasn’t telling the whole truth.

‘I’d probably be able to finish off an aircraft carrier in three minutes.’

This was how much time it would take for Merlin to defeat not only an aircraft carrier but the entire squadron accompanying it, including fighters and escort ships. With his water affinity attribute, Merlin could handle such a collective force without breaking a sweat.

“I heard that the Heaven above the Heavens was strong, but for a single person to be capable of defeating an aircraft carrier….”

“Still, if it’s the power he showed in the recent video, it might be enough.”

“That’s amazing….”

In shock and awe, the audience started making a commotion. There were even a few Masters present, but Yongno’s formidability was overwhelmingly greater than theirs.

“If you manifest in the middle of a city, isn’t it possible you may blow up the entire area?”

“What are you getting at?”

When Yongno answered with a question, the woman stared back at him with clear, wide eyes.

She then said, “I’m saying that Masters are too strong to blend in with normal people. Shouldn’t Masters be quarantined and kept away from the general public?”

This was one of the more sensitive issues circulating mass media recently. As Masters blocked the attacks of the aliens, the Legion and Grotesque, their fights were being filmed through remote cameras more and more frequently. Hence, people could observe exactly how much power Masters could output.

Thus, many soon understood that Masters were no different than a powerful biological weapon, a biological weapon that modern weapons could not contend against.

“That makes sense. Some people may feel that us Masters mingling with others in our day-to-day life is akin to fully armed tanks roaming the streets. I understand why there are those who may want Masters to be isolated from society, whether voluntarily or through force.”

As Yongno calmly replied, some audience members stared disappointingly at the woman who posed the question. Some who seemed to be Yongno’s fervent [fans] even glared at her, but Yongno didn’t seem bothered, and he continued talking.

“Basically, a Master is an influential entity that didn’t exist before, and their very existence disrupts current power structures. There are nations that have properly embraced Masters, but for those that haven’t, such as China and some countries in Africa, chaos ensues.”

“Wait. That sounds like a threat to embrace Masters or else, regardless of other citizens’ safety.”

The woman spoke in an aggressive tone, but Yongno didn’t panic and responded confidently.

“Yes.”

“W-what?”

“Phew. I’m sure that what I’m about to say will be heavily edited without any regard to the context, but… but I still have to say it, Miss Reporter.”

The woman was taken aback, struck by Yongno’s cool-headed words and tone.

“No… wait… it’s not-”

“Let’s talk about the problem first. The clearest example occurred when a dictatorship, a country with a tendency and history of easily suppressing its citizens, tried to restrain its Masters. On the flip side, Tibetan independence was possible because they embraced their Masters.”

Several photos floated behind Yongno. As he talked atop the lectern, Yongno searched and found some information on the Internet, so he started sharing his findings as supporting material while he spoke.

“As you all know, when Tibet insisted on independence, the Chinese government responded negatively. It was to the extent that the government raised an army and slaughtered Tibetan monks. Perhaps this decision stemmed from a belief that the government’s perceived control over its various outer regions and respective citizens had weakened due to the severe damage caused by the Legion and Grotesque’s persistent attacks. In the past, China’s government would have likely controlled the narrative, while leaked information would cause global condemnation, which the Chinese government would likely ignore as it had previously. Yet, now… a variable arose that broke the status quo. As everyone knows, Aung Nina, a female Tibetan monk, is a Level 14 martial arts user. She became the variable.”

And because of that one person, the situation in Tibet took a completely different turn. When the protesting Tibetans were being massacred, the Chinese army was thoroughly smashed by a single Master.

A Level 14 Master was a formidable user that fell within the top five percent of all Masters. Aung Nina’s Great Tantra Hand strike could not only traverse several hundred meters, but it was also strong enough to destroy a tank in a single blow, so it was impossible for human armies and modern weapons to hold up against her.

Once she manifested, she became a monster that couldn’t be defeated even by missiles.

“At first, the Chinese government, which defined Aung Nina as a mass murderer and terrorist, tried to capture her using other Masters, but they suffered significant blowback. As the Chinese Masters rebelled, the regime teetered to the brink of collapse. This all occurred because the Chinese government did not negotiate with their Masters and instead threatened and coerced them, often holding their families hostage. That became a problem.”

The ill feelings the Chinese Masters had towards the Chinese government and its high-ranking officials were severe.

These officials couldn’t become Masters themselves, and they naturally did not like the mere existence of Masters. So, these officials held the Masters’ families hostage, drugged the Masters, or even went as far as installing bombs in the Masters’ bodies to prevent them from acting out against government orders.

However, once manifested, a Master was free from all restrictions placed on their physical body. In an instant, the Master transformed into something superhuman, capable of curing any addictions and diseases the respective Master was suffering from.

Even a person with a natural disability, that is, a hunchback or a lack of legs, would possess a healthy superhuman body after manifestation. It was like a forced metamorphosis.

If a Master body had a bomb installed within their body, the explosive must be detonated before the Master manifested; once manifested, Masters could easily endure an internal explosion while smiling.

Also, regardless of which ability one specialized in, a Master-level user could easily remove a foreign substance in their body, so it was essentially impossible to control a Master through such crude means.

“As you said, on the one hand, it makes sense that Masters should be quarantined away from the general public. However, even that isolation must be achieved through a peaceful agreement. If isolation is achieved through oppression, intimidation, and/or discrimination, it’ll be like someone carrying a ticking time bomb. Once a Master manifests, the only thing that can stop them is another Master.”

After Yongno spoke, the woman continued her line of argument.

“However, some Masters use their power to commit crimes. Are you saying we shouldn’t even try to contain them because we can’t?”

“Yes. They cannot be isolated. If you dislike a specific Master’s disposition, you shouldn’t try to contain them.”josei

Yongno continued speaking with a calm expression.

“You have to kill that Master.”

“…”

The reporter was about to argue further when she was left speechless. Yongno continued.

“The correct approach is negotiation. If that doesn’t work, then it’s obliteration. Otherwise, there are no other options. And fortunately, while suppressing a Master is nearly impossible, killing one is simple. Once they manifest, they are virtually invincible… but afterward, they are essentially just normal people.”

Since the number of gem points required for manifestation was remarkably costly, it was almost impossible to constantly be in a state of manifestation unless a user was at quite a high level. Unless a user was a psychopath or someone who didn’t understand how precious their life was, Masters couldn’t help but worry about what would happen after their manifestation ended.

“Well, I understand your general concern, but punishing people for something they didn’t even do isn’t right either. Without the requisite gem points, Masters aren’t any different from normal humans.”

Saying this, Yongno turned off the lectern’s projector. He was wrapping up his lecture.

“We are not aliens; we are the same as normal people. I hope you will cherish Masters with affection and interest. So… next question?”

The reporter came to her senses and tried to ask another question, but others soon drowned her out.

“Hey, are you close with Arthur?”

“We’re on friendly terms. These days, we’re so busy that we don’t even have time to see each other.”

As questions began to come from all parts of the auditorium, the atmosphere, which had been heavy and contentious, gradually eased. Yongno kindly answered the audience member’s questions one by one, and after he completed the lecture, Yongno left the lecture hall with thunderous applause.