Chapter 135: Divine Beast’s Awakening! (1)

The Holy Nation of Gayami had been reduced into a sea of flames by those wretched crocodiles.

My children...!

“Stop! That’s enough, you bastards!”

I punched the crocodiles reflected on my phone screen, almost shattering it.

[Your attacks were blocked by Achilles Armor.]

Clang!

However, a powerful rutilant force repelled my reddened fist.

“

Ugh?”

The crocodile scratched its head, looking up in the sky.

-Did someone hit me just now?

Tzzz!

The crocodiles’ armor shone golden, making them look like armies from Ancient Greece.

I activated my appraisal skill.

-----

[Achilles Armor Set]

Purchased at the Hunter Shop, blessed by Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith.

Special note: The armor is blessed by a semi-immortal Greek hero, Achilles. It blocks out most attacks, with Achilles’ strike being an exception.

-----

[Achilles Spear, Baptized by Fire]

Purchased at the Hunter Shop, blessed by Guardian of Fire and Blacksmith.

Special note: Bears the powerful blessing of Fire Shining in the Highest Skies, a god that the Empire serves.

-----

That’s the Birdhead!

Fire Shining in the Highest Skies was the Sun God I’d been fighting earlier.

The crocodiles we were facing weren't only armed with legendary equipment, but also blessed by a High-tier God. Naturally, the soldiers of Gayami Nation stood no chance against them.

If only Il-ho were around!

But he was currently stuck in the Tower of Warriors, battling another apostle.

-

Aaaah!

God Yu Il-Shin! Save us!

-

Aaargh!

Hot! It burns!

God Yu Il-Shiiin!

The screams of my people rang all too clearly in my ears. What should I do? How do I best destroy those crocodiles and save my precious Gayami Nation?

The evolved Gayami soldiers, Skull Chickens, and even the Yaksha Soldiers led by Lilith were no match for them.

-

Krrr...

Just then, I heard something amid the chaos. It was a pitiful groan, resembling the cry of a beast. The voice was tinged with fear, despair, and above all, anger at its own weakness. I turned in the direction of the source and found a small beast lying in a burning house.

-

Krrr...!

(Anyone, please. Save mommy—no, Anty!)

The dying Akdol sniffled. Though his end was near, he wished for nothing but Anty’s salvation. Tears welled up in my eyes. Did he think of Anty, who raised and took care of her, as his mother?

Ding!

Just then, God-Maker responded.

[All conditions for race evolution have been met!]

[Almighty God Yu Il-Shin, do you wish to evolve your temporary Divine Beast Akdol into a true divine beast? (Yes/No)]

“True... Divine Beast?”

***

Aah... No...

The bloodsoaked Anty caught a glimpse of the burning Gayami Nation. It reminded her of the time before she encountered God Yu Il-Shin. They were powerless against the empire’s invasion, mocked, and even slaughtered like livestock. A life full of misery.

Tears streamed from her emerald eyes, evaporating in the flames' heat before they could touch the ground.

Aah, God Yu Il-Shin... Please grant us mercy and salvation...

She prayed fervently, yet didn’t receive any response. Even though she could feel his lamenting gaze from the skies, something prevented him from descending.

As she wallowed in despair, a tall shadow loomed over here.

-

Kahaha!

I found you! Now

you

are my prey!

The crocodile monster drooled, scooping Anty up with his fingers.

The other crocodile monsters beside it pounded their chests, gnashing their teeth.

-

Krrr!

No! It should’ve been me!

-

Keke

, just be satisfied with what you have.

-A promise is a promise! There’s nothing we can do!

Lilith, Yi-Ho, and Cheon-Ho were also captured by the crocodile monsters.

Pow!

Just then, a dull noise rang, and the head of the crocodile holding Anty snapped to the side.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

-What’s wrong, brother?

-

Krr!

Something hit my face!

Wiping off the blood from the corner of his mouth, the crocodile looked around their surroundings.

-Are you sure? I don’t see anything.

-No! I’m sure something hit me!

The enraged crocodile scanned the area with his snout wide open, determined to find the culprit.

-What’s this?

Instead, he found something else—a tiny crocodile hatchling, barely an inch tall, with horrible burns on his back. Anty struggled to call his name.

“A-Akdol...”

-

Krr, krr!

Lying helplessly on the ground, Akdol sent a telepathic message to his brothers.

-I-I am your brother, blood descendant of Gustav, our great mother, Apostle to God of Destroyer! Please, brother! Please spare this child, Anty, for my sake!

The invaders’ eyes turned cold.

-You call yourself our brother?

Akdol shuddered at the cold gazes from his brothers. Seeing his brothers clad in gleaming armor, radiating the majesty of a War God, Akdol felt small and shamefully insignificant.

Just then, one of the crocodiles became astonished as he recalled something.

-Krr! Oh, I remember! Wasn’t there an egg that didn’t hatch properly? I thought he was long dead, but he was hiding here the whole time!

-Y-yes, brother!

Akdol cried out in delight. They recognized him! But the looks on their faces were off. As their kin, Akdol could tell that rather than happy, they were boiling with anger and killing intent.

-B-brothers?

-Don’t lump us together with you!

The crocodile holding Anty raised the spear in his other hand.

-Die!

The spear burst into flames as it plunged down at Akdol. Horrified, Akdol squeezed his eyes shut.

-

Aaargh!

The one who screamed wasn’t Akdol, but the crocodile that tried to attack him.

-

Gyaa!

My hand, my hand!

His hand was wrapped in black flames, burning.

“Stay away from my Akdol!”

Akdol then saw

her

. Although her dazzling white hair had turned jet-black, whereas his emerald eyes were burning like rubies, she was definitely his Anty.

She stood guard over Akdol, infernal flames raging in all directions around her.

[The Fallen Saint and The Holy Empress of the Holy Nation of Gayami, Anty]

At the same time, a strange text hovered above her head.

“Run, Akdol!”

-

Kyaak!

How dare you! This filthy insect bitch!

The crocodile monsters flinched as they attempted to dodge her flames. Then, they aimed their blazing red spears, imbued with the Sun God’s power, at Anty.

Kwaaaa!

From their spears, the power lent by the Sun God poured out.

Baaam!

Black flames and red flames collided, resulting in a terrifying explosion.

-

Kyaaaak!

Caught up in the explosion, Akdol screamed as he was thrown into the air.

-

Krr...

Finally back in the ruins of the burnt house, Akdol struggled to open his eyes.

Clack...

All around him laid bones of smashed Skull Chicken that were twitching slightly.

-

Kyak!

My precious arm! I’ll never forgive you! Die, you puny little bitch!

Anty had fainted. Meanwhile, the crocodile monster’s arm was charred by the black flames. With bloodshot eyes, he glared at Anty, spreading his jaw wide.

-No... Stop...

Akdol squirmed and crawled, pleading to his brother, who was about to eat Anty.

-

Krr

... Brother, eat me instead... spare her...

The crocodile’s eyes glowed ferociously.

-

Kiieek!

Get out of my way! Why would I eat an utter disgrace like you?!

Snarling, the crocodile monster trampled on Akdol.

Kieeek!

Akdol vomited his innards out from the impact. Yet, he remained unflinching, his gaze unwavering. Instead, it became blood-red like Anty’s.

-

Krr

... It’s my last warning... Don’t touch... Anty, Brother...

-

Huh?

As the crocodile gave a sinister look, he popped Anty into his mouth.

Gulp!

The crocodile monster swallowed Anty, looking down at Akdol with a sneer.

-

Kahaha!

There, I ate your precious bug! What are you going to do about it!

-...

Not a single word came from Akdol, his mind turning blank.

“Hehe. Akdol, is it delicious?”

The cute Anty patted him as she fed him delicious trout.

“You can’t fall asleep Akdol? Shall I sleep with you tonight?”

Suddenly being thrown into a bizarre world, Akdol was terrified. However, the motherly Anty would embrace him warmly as they spent the night together.

“Gosh, stop rolling and come here! I want to show our people how nice and cute our Akdol is!”

Nagging, Anty tugged on Akdol’s tail as he resisted going for walks. She kept urging him to follow her...

Anty, Anty, Anty, Anty!

His Anty was gone!

-

Krrr!

I said, what are you going to do about it?!

The crocodile monster continued mocking Akdol. Then, he grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up.

Drip drip!

Tears streamed down Akdol’s face. Anger and regret washed over him like a

tsunami.

If only he were much stronger, then he could’ve protected Anty!

-...Do you need more power?

Akdol’s eyes widened. A deafening voice had resounded in his mind—one that he could never forget. It was his enemy, the cruel, evil god Yu Il-Shin!

-If you need it, I’ll give it to you.

Akdol roared, opening his mouth.

It’s too late, Anty’s already been eaten!

-It’s not too late. My Saintess is still alive.

Crack!

Akdol wavered.

At the same time, Yu Il-Shin’s voice changed.

-You don’t have to pledge allegiance to me, but you must protect Anty. If you’re willing to do so, I’ll give you all the power within my disposal!

The majestic, fearsome voice was mixed with the voice of an ordinary, weak man who wanted to protect his precious child. Right there and then, Akdol felt a sense of kinship with Yu Il-Shin.

-Can you protect Anty?

Protecting Anty was all that he wanted. His tears refused to stop.

-

Krrr...

So please give me strength, O’ great and merciful God Yu Il-Shin!

-I’ll leave it to you, my divine beast Akdol!

Kwaaaa!

Then, Yu Il-Shin’s power poured down on Akdol like a huge tidal wave.

Ding!

[Akdol has become Yu Il-Shin’s follower.]

[Yu Il-Shin’s temporary divine beast Akdol has evolved into a true divine beast!]

-----

[Divine Beast: Akdol]

Attribute: Chaos

Race: Dead Dragon

-----

[Having embraced true faith and realized its mission of protecting the Saintess, divine beast Akdol is a divine being equivalent to 20 S-ranks.]

***

-

Krr?

W-what’s that?

The crocodile monster’s face hardened.

Clack clack!

The smashed Skull Chickens, who had been scattered all over the place, began moving in a rampage, as if praising their king!

Flash!

Akdol’s eyes flung open in an instant.