On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 79: Listen, My Name is Sword God!

Wooong!

The sword, surrounded by a black aura, vibrated quietly. It was a stark contrast from when I fought Gustav using Demon Lord's Descent.

The saw-like, toothed blade was over a meter long. Embedded on the black hilt was a pair of blood-red eyes, staring back at me.

It looks so ominous! Is that really my old kitchen knife?!

-Die!

The Chariot of Fire was about to spew searing flames at the Gayami soldiers.

Dammit! I quickly reached for the sword.

“Skill Sharing, Sword Demon.” I employed the best offense I could in this situation. “Demon Lord’s Descent!”

With the same sword that had defeated Gustav, I slashed horizontally at the apostles.

-Grr! Something’s afoot!

The beast was the first to sense the sword’s unusual aura. It warily spread its bat wings and flew into the sky.

-Huh?

Meanwhile, Chariot of Fire noticed it too late. It shifted its gear in surprise, avoiding the incoming bloodlust, but it couldn’t dodge completely.

Slash! Thud!

A third of the Chariot of Fire, including its rear wheels, was sliced off.

Baaaam!

Chariot of Fire stumbled and rolled on the ground. It screamed as if its head were being torn apart, spewing flames the whole time.

-Arghhhhh! My precious body! My master sculpted it personally for me!

As for the last apostle, Hydra, it took the Demon Lord's Descent right to the face

Slash slash! Thud thud!

All seven heads were decapitated and fell to the ground.

Pwooosh!

Blue blood gushed out like a fountain as the gigantic body fell to the ground.

“Huff puff!” I caught my breath and was taking in everything that had happened.

Thankfully, the sword didn’t break after using Demon Lord’s Descent. The miser seemed to have done a good job repairing it for the amount I’d paid.

Only one left.

Hydra was dead. Without its rear wheels, Chariot of Fire shouldn’t be able to move for the time being. I glared at the saber-toothed tiger beast flying in the air.

Great, I just have to kill that one!

It hadn’t been that long since it devoured Il-Ho. I might be able to rescue Il-Ho if I took it down and split open its stomach. Besides, I had a small chance of winning.

Ding!

[The seal on Earth Branch’s follower, Sung Mi-Ri, has been released.]

[Sung Mi-Ri has potential for transcendence!]

-----

[Quest: Low-tier Benevolent God Promotion (In Progress)]

Normal followers: 50,212,321/1,000,000,000

Followers of S-rank or higher intelligent beings with potential for transcendence: 7(+2)/10

-----

Sung Mi-Na had finally broken Sung Mi-Ri’s seal in the real world! As a result, the number of my S-rank followers increased by one! It seemed to have an influence on me, as I could feel some power surging in me. Despite the severe pain from the burn, I felt like I could still fight for a while.

I pointed the sword at the beast.

Alright, let’s execute Demon Lord’s Descent once more!

Hisss!

Then, a deafening sound echoed from behind me. Something wrapped around me like chains, and I turned in surprise to see a creature covered in snake scales.

Flick! Bam bam bam!

“Ugh!”

Hydra, the apostle I’d decapitated earlier, was crushing me!

Although, calling it “Hydra” was a stretch, seeing it was left with only two heads. One of its heads looked down at me and said.

-Hiss! Took you by surprise, didn’t I? You lowly, misfit malevolent god. The Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp has blessed me with immortality! A mere sword won’t kill me!

Bubble bubble!

In the meantime, one of Hydra’s severed heads regenerated. He now had three heads.

Bubble bubble!

Another new head appeared, smirking.

-Hiss! Yes, you can’t kill us!

Oh, I see now... So that’s how it is.

I saw a certain phrase when I first appraised this apostle.

-----

[Apostle of Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp]

An androgynous snake. Around for 2,000 years.

Special note: Summoned by Goddess Arachne. Regenerates endlessly.

-----

Hmm, so this apostle isn’t only similar to a hydra in appearance.

-Arrrghhh! My boooody!

Hydra shook its heads as it watched Chariot of Fire rolling over in pain and screaming.

-Hiss! Hisss! Why make such a fuss? You don’t even have a living body! That thing is an embarrassment to the apostles.

-Grrr! You snake! Don’t monopolize the malevolent god! Give me a third of him! We had a deal!

The flying beast growled, glaring at Hydra. In response, Hydra licked its lips with contempt.

-Hiss! A puny sword qi is enough to make you flee like a frightened kitten! You don’t have any right! This god belongs to the Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp!

-Grrr! You snake! Should I knock some senses into you?!

-Hissss! Come at me, Beast. See how useless your wind is!

-Shut up! Gaaah!

The beast snarled, about to lunge at Hydra when...

-”Puny sword qi,” you said?

A chillingly, brittle voice resounded. Even though it was so low and quiet, everyone on the battlefield heard it. It stood apart from the voices of humans and even apostles.

I was terrified, but it was a natural response. The sword I held just spoke!

Hydra looked at the sword in my hand with an avaricious gaze.

-Hisss! That sword is more handy than I thought! Alright, I’ll be taking you as a trophy...

-Silence, Snake. Did you just call my sword qi “puny”?

Hydra looked at the sword with reproachful eyes.

-Hiss! Am I mistaken? All the great divine swords in the world, including you, are powerless in the face of my endless regeneration. How utterly insignificant. Hiss! Now, come here, Demonic Sword. I’ll use you as you were meant to be used—to decorate the entrance of my cave!

-Keke! Kekeke! Kehahaha!

Sword God went berserk all of a sudden. As I held onto the knife, it felt as if I was laughing in a fit of insanity.

Huh? But how did I still retain my sanity despite wielding Sword God?

Anger appeared in Hydra’s eyes.

-Hiss! Did you just laugh at me?

-How could I not? The dead one is spouting nonsense!

-Hiss! Speak for yourself! Who are you calling dead?!

-You, of course, Multi-headed Snake.

Sword God mocked and declared.

-You’re already dead!

Sizzle...

-Hiss?

Soon, Hydra’s body began to crumble like a sandcastle.

-Hiss! You put a curse on me! Hiss! B-but if I use the Blessing of Regeneration given by my master...!

Bubble bubble!

Pssss!

Hydra’s entire body attempted to regenerate, but to no avail. Its body was disintegrating faster than it could heal. He met the same fate as Gustav, who was struck by Demon Lord’s Descent.

-Hiss! Hisss! N-No way! How could a mere sword...?!

The green scales covering Hydra’s heads became white as if struck with fear.

-Everything submits to my Demon Lord’s Descent, and you’re no exception.

-Hisss! N-noooo! Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp! P-please save...!

Hydra’s remaining snake heads pleaded to its master for help. Before it could finish its words, it crumbled into dust and disappeared.

Psss!

Sword God sneered.

-Keke, puny snake.

Following Hydra’s death, more messages appeared from God-Maker.

Ding!

[You have killed the Apostle of Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp.]

[Absording sacrifice.]

Hydra’s ashes seeped into my body.

Ding!

[Congratulations, God Yu Il-Shin. The Apostle of Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp is a sacrifice equivalent to 2 S-rank beings.]

Then, along with Apostle Johan; Gustav, an equivalent of five S-ranks; and Hydra, an equivalent of two S-ranks....

Ding!

-----

[Quest: Low-tier Malevolent God Promotion (In Progress)]

Normal sacrifices: 52,023,002 /1,000,000,000

Sacrifices of S-rank or higher intelligent beings with potential for transcendence: 8(+3)/10

-----

As the number of S-rank or higher sacrifices hit 8, a tremendous power surged within me.

Ssss—!

Not only that, my burn wounds began to heal rapidly, probably due to the regenerative power of the Hydra I’d absorbed.

“W-wow.”

While I was marveling at the dramatic change, Sword God bellowed.

-You stupid bastard, behind you!

Startled, I turned around and...

Whiiing!

The beast flew past me like an eagle, enveloped in a blue gust of wind.

-Grrr! Too late! I shall rip you to shreds! Try dodging this!

Flapping its bat wings, the beast sent a blade of wind cascading toward where I stood.

“Damn it!”

I hurriedly lifted Anty, who had been caught in the fight between me and the apostles. Then, I shouted to the Gayami soldiers, “Everyone, run!”

Then, I sprinted in their direction with all my might.

Bam! Bam bam bam!

Struck by the gust of wind, a huge crater formed on the ground, as if slashed by a giant sword.

The beast laughed at our escape.

-Krrr! It’s futile! Struggle like the rats you are... Keeeek!

The beast’s eyes widened to the fullest.

-W-what?

Growl growl!

Suddenly, its stomach began convulsing, wriggling wildly...

-Weight Increase! Weight Increase! Weight Increase!

A familiar voice came from within its belly.

-Aaaah!

The beast’s stomach sagged as if it’d swallowed a massive boulder. He plummeted rapidly to the ground, gravity dragging him down with relentless force.

-Arghhh! M-my stomach! My stomach is getting ripped apart! Arghhh!

Covered in blood, the beast clutched its abdomen in agony. Then, its stomach burst.

Pow!

-Gaaaah!

The beast dived head first toward the ground, crashing to death.

...Moments later, “Muuuuscles!”

Il-Ho crawled out of the beast’s torn belly, soaked in blood.

“Il-Ho! You’re alive!”

Il-Ho chuckled as he wiped off the blood on his body. “Of course I am! Hahaha, like I said earlier, I’m going to make a mess out of these gigantic monsters from the inside out!”

“Waahhh! Il-Ho! You’re indeed the best!”

Il-Ho was so amazing that I wanted to show him off to the entire world.

-Keugh. So, you’re just a lowly servant.

Sword God sneered.

By the way, Sword God had been bothering me since earlier. I cautiously asked, “Who are you, exactly?”

I had known it during its time as a crazed kitchen knife, but now it felt strange—completely unfamiliar.

Sword God then exclaimed.

-Argh! What a buffoon! You didn’t know who I was this whole time? Clean your ears and listen well! I am...!

Gulp!

I swallowed nervously. “You are?”

It felt like a soap opera scene where a character revealed the truth about his birth.

-...Um, who was I again?

Looking at the way he was acting, I guess he was the same old Sword God.

Mr. Heavenly Sword, please explain this bizarre situation. This after-sales service is so strange.

Just as I was seriously considering requesting a refund...

-Kaaah! How dare you destroy this body given by my god! Unforgivable! I will never forget this!

Kwaaa!

A tremendous flame erupted from the other side of the battlefield.

Chariot of Fire, left with only two-thirds of its body, shouted at the commander.

-Goddess! Offer sacrifices now! I need more to kill them!

The spider, who was staring at me in fear, suddenly yelled, “Y-yes, Apostle! Take a hundred million—n-no, a billion soldiers and defeat that hideous monster!”

-No! That’s far from enough!

The face on Chariot of Fire contorted fiercely.

-Mm... yes, everyone here... I need all of them!

“W-what? Apostle of Fire Shining in the Highest Skies, what do you mean...?”

-Offer them! For the honor of god! Offer all of your lives!

Following Chariot of Fire’s grim cry...

Flick! Kwaaaa!

A hundred billion imperial soldiers on the battlefield began burning in unison.

-Kehahaha! Look, insects! This is the power of the Fire Shining in the Highest Skies!

Then, the sun of despair descended.