Chapter 125: Guardian of the Fire and Blacksmith

Johan stared at Kang Woo with a gaze full of lunacy, as if he was some sort of precious gemstone.

“

Ah,

I see it! You haven’t reached your fullest potential, but it’s definitely in you! A brethren!

Oh,

how delighted I am! All this time, I’ve been wandering alone in the wilderness!”

I was taken aback when Kang Woo recounted his past. After all, he mentioned Da-Hye, the scammer trio, and even Apostle Johan. His tale resembled my experience in some areas.

After that, fearful, Kang Woo tried to escape but was eventually kidnapped by them. He was locked up in Johan's base at the abandoned city, where I'd been before.

Kang Woo shook as chains emitting an eerie aura restrained him.

Sweetly, Johan whispered, “Worry not, Brother. I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m just trying to help you reach your full potential. I can’t wait for the day when you open your eyes and witness the grace of god!”

Kang Woo’s hell started from that day on.

Drip drip—

Holding a bloody dagger, Johan spoke morosely, “Why? I've been working hard for so long, so why hasn’t your power awakened yet?”

Kang Woo laid on the ground, dying. His guts were cut open, and his insides spilled onto the floor. He slowly turned his eyes.

In truth, Johan wanted to awaken Kang Woo's potential so he could sacrifice him to his god.

Like a terrified child, Kang Woo thrashed around, screaming, “Please! Stop! You’re mistaken! I'm just an ordinary C-rank Creation-type Hunter! God’s grace, there's no such thing

—

”

Grab!

With his blood-stained hands, Johan grabbed Kang Woo's face. “Brother, why are you denying your own value? It might be faint, but I can sense god's grace in you!”

The eyes that Kang Woo stared into brimmed with madness.

“

Ah,

I see... In order to accept god’s grace, you have to lose everything precious to you.”

Realizing the implication behind those words, chills ran down Kang Woo’s back.

Johan grinned. “Alright, Mr. Kang Woo. Let's offer your most precious thing to receive god’s grace.”

“Stop it, you madman! I beg of you!” Kang Woo’s scream rang in the hallway.

A few days later, Kang Woo’s family, friends and even Da-Hye, whom he had feelings for, were sacrificed before his eyes.

Ssss—

His hollow gaze fell upon a set of armor beside him.

Rooooar!

They emitted ominous energy, which were absorbed from the sacrifices. Such was Johan’s ability: to offer sacrifice and summon armor imbued with the God of Destroyer’s power.

“

Waaah...!”

With a face devoid of color, Kang Woo hugged the armor tightly, impaling himself with the sharp blade and spear.

Kang Woo hugged the armor tightly with his pale face. As the sharp blade and spear dug into his body, blood was shed instead of tears. With no tears left to cry, he shed blood instead.

“Aaaargh! Kang Woo!”

“Oppa! Noooo!”

“Kyaaa! Mr. Kang Woo! Save me!”

He could still hear the screams of those dear to him vividly. Kang Woo decided there and then.

Johan! If I really do have that potential you so desperately covet, I'll make sure to awaken them! Then, I’ll tear you apart with my own hands!

In the next moment, an illusionary whisper rang in his ears.

Ding!

[...has his eyes on you.]

After that, Kang Woo asked Johan to build him a workshop. Johan was happy, thinking that Kang Woo was finally motivated, and agreed to build him one.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Since then, he’d hammer away in the workshop nonstop for twenty-four hours. A Hunter's rank was determined at the moment of their Awakening and was nearly impossible to surpass. However, Johan’s obsession to Kang Woo broke that limit.

Above all, the armor, summoned from the sacrifices of those dearest to Kang Woo, had the greatest impact on his abilities. Since it was the origin of Johan’s power, Kang Woo analyzed them with madness in his eyes,

Ding!

[Increased understanding of God of Destroyer's equipment, A-rank Destroyer Sword.]

[Increased understanding of God of Destroyer's equipment, S-rank Destroyer Spear.]

[Increased understanding of God of Destroyer's equipment, S-rank Death Armor....]

At some point of time, Kang Woo had begun hearing strange noises. It was the system notification that only S-rank Creation-type Hunter could hear. Driven half-insane, Kang Woo paid no heed to it.

Ding!

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the Hunter Shop.]

[You can now purchase something from the Hunter Shop.]

[The commonly accepted currency in the Hunter Shop is G(Gold).]

Finally, Kang Woo gained access to the Hunter Shop, exclusive for S-rank Creation-type Hunters. There were countless arrays of weapons and items available for purchase. If used properly, could be used to take revenge on that diabolical Johan. Yet, he didn’t have the gold to pay for them.

Kang Woo tightened his grip on the hammer. He might not be able to purchase anything, but he bore the knowledge of the God of Destroyer’s equipment. Then, he raised his hammer at the Hunter Shop’s system window.

Wham!

The hammer whizzed through the air, past the system window. He didn't stop, throwing it repeatedly, perhaps hundreds or thousands of times, days after days.

Clang!

Until one day, through his sheer insanity and persistence, the hammer finally made contact with the system window.

Ding!

[Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith has his eyes on you.]

***

One day, Johan’s underling suddenly dragged the insane Kang Woo out from his workshop. He was like a dazed animal. Soon, he smelled the stench of blood and rotting flesh in the air.

Briefly, he thought that he’d soon be relieved of this hellish life...

“

Hahaha!

Rejoice, Brother! The day has finally come!”

He was mistaken. There were deaths, none of which were his. On top of a giant magic circle, drawn in blood, lay a mountain of corpses. Their number might have reached the thousands.

“

Hahaha!

” the shirtless Johan laughed maniacally on top of the mountain. “Unfortunately, you’ve yet to reach enlightenment. But let me share this glorious moment with you regardless, for we are favored by the gods!”

The bodies writhed violently on the magic circle. Looking down at them, Johan declared, “Behold! The great being that would cleanse this filthy world, the one and only god that I serve!”

Ssss—!

Johan chanted an unintelligible incantation, and the mountain of corpses were absorbed into the magic circle, as if sinking in a swamp.

-

Krrr!

Ruuumble!

The growls of a hungry beast echoed from within the magic circle, and the ground trembled violently.

Johan raised both arms in the air, exclaiming, “

Ooh! Oooh!

O’ Almighty God! Please descend and cleanse this filthy wor...!”

But then, Johan’s face stiffened. He stared in disbelief as a colossal golden eye gleamed through the magic circle...

“G-god? W-why...?

Aaargh!

”

Tzz! Swoosh!

Johan’s hair suddenly turned white. His young, delicate body began to wither and shrivel like a mummy. It seemed like he’d outlived his usefulness and was about to be discarded.

“Aaargh!”

“A-Apostle Johan!”

The underlings who held Kang Woo panicked and ran to Johan. Before they could even reach him, they were caught by the tentacles that shot out from the magic circle.

“S-sav...

Aaargh!

”

Swoosh!

Even B-rank Hunters like them couldn’t resist the tentacles, which rapidly drained their life force. Within seconds, nothing was left of them but ashes.

Rip! Riiip!

-

Krrrr!

The magic circle began to crack. After devouring thousands of sacrifices, along with its own underlings, the monster was about to descend on Earth. Half-insane as he was, Kang Woo instinctively knew it shouldn’t be allowed into this world.

“...Open Hunter Shop.”

The system window opened before Kang Woo’s eyes, and he selected the item he had been eyeing for a while.

“Select Fáfnir’s Breathe.”

It was an artifact made by condensing the destructive venom of Fáfnir, an evil dragon slain by the legendary Norse warrior, Siegfried. Its power was enough to devastate an area spanning several hundred meters. Kang Woo had originally intended to use it to self-destruct along with Johan.

[The price of Fáfnir’s Breathe is 30,000,000G.]

It went without saying that he didn’t have such an outrageous amount of gold. Nevertheless, he did manage to remodel the Hunter Shop during the period. Just like how Johan offered sacrifices to the God of Destroyer to obtain armor, he had modified the Hunter Shop to accept currencies other than gold: his own lifespan.

“Purchase.”

Ding!

Along with the ping, a metal sphere, exuding an ominous aura, appeared in Kang Woo’s hand.

Trickle!

At the same time, deep wrinkles appeared on his face.

“Purchase Fáfnir’s Breathe.”

Kang Woo didn’t stop.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Amid the incessant pings, the metal spheres multiplied until they overflowed from his hands, rolling at his feet.

“

Kekeke!

”

With Fáfnir’s Breathe in both hands, Kang Woo glared at the monster with madness in his eyes, thinking it might be his true enemy.

“Let’s die together, monster.”

He then slammed the spheres in hand.

Baaaam! Ruuuumble!

Dozens of spheres exploded in a chain reaction, engulfing the entire abandoned city, including the magic circle. Thus, the descent of the God of Destroyer was halted, and Kang Woo died in the explosion.

No, he should’ve died.

...

...

...

Ding!

[Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith is watching you with a maniacal gaze.]

[Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith praises you for stopping the descent of the God of Destroyer’s 1/100th alter ego.]

[Your consciousness is being linked to the workshop of Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith.]

At that moment, just before his death, Kang Woo had a vision.

Kwaaa! Bang bang bang!

A gray-haired giant was hammering frantically in front of a roaring furnace. Aside from the huge difference in size, everything else was a perfect replica of Kang Woo.

Sss—

The giant stared at Kang Woo and spoke.

-Are you my chosen apostle?