Chapter 150: Gather Around, Forest of Beasts! (2)

Amidst the forest was an apple tree so tall, it looked like it could pierce the sky. Ripe, golden apples hung off its branches, sparkling under the brilliant sunlight.

It always looks so amazing...

Il-Ho stood in awe, just as he had when he first laid eyes on this tree. He associated it with the World Tree that stood tall in his homeland. Although it couldn’t be compared to this apple tree yet, he believed that it’d eventually grow up to be as majestic and magnificent.

All 665 inhabitants of Eden gathered on a few hundred meters of space surrounding the apple tree. Among them was a large tiger, Holyn, wearing a showy cone hat. She was the main character of the banquet today.

Tohsoon hopped over to her, gifting a precious carrot she grew on her farm. “Happy birthday, Holyn!”

Holyn smiled, baring her fangs, before appreciatively chomping on the carrot.

“Thank you! The carrot is delicious!

Roar!

”

“Holyn, listen to this. I'm going to perform for you~” Miho, a fox, seductively wagged her tail and played an amazing violin piece.

Tadan tadan tadan~♬

“

Roar!

Such a beautiful piece!” Holyn was so moved, she gave a round of applause with her convex feet.

“Guys, let's dance!”

“Yes, yes!”

In awe of Miho’s violin performance, the other Divine Beasts rushed forward and began dancing together.

“

Ya-ho!

”

“This is

fun-nya!

”

“I'm joining, too!”

Il-Ho watched in awe as Holyn’s birthday banquet transformed into a lively dance floor within moments. Many Divine Beasts joined the revelry: rat and cat, sheep and wolf, rabbit and tiger. The natural law of the jungle—predators and prey, carnivores and herbivores—played together in harmony.

This unrealistic sight embodied the name of the paradise-like island, Eden.

However, there was one person who didn't join in the fun.

“Why are you here all alone?”

Rollie's shoulders slumped as tears began to fill her eyes. “They won’t let me dance with them because of my sharp thorns!”

Il-Ho held his hand out and said with a smile, “Then, would you like to dance with me?”

“R-really?” Rollie’s face lit up briefly but soon turned hesitant while staring at Il-Ho's hand.

“Are you sure? Won’t you get hurt by my thorns...?”

“

Kekeke!

Don't worry! My muscles can withstand your thorns!

Muscles!”

Il-Ho showed his red, hot, steel-like muscles. “What about you, Rollie? Do you want to dance with me?”

“Yes yes!”

Rollie and Il-Ho then joined everyone else on the dance floor.

Due to the difference in size and actions, they didn’t look compatible, especially since Il-Ho was just slightly larger than the usual ant. However, that was quickly resolved using Aran’s skill, Enlargement.

As per Il-Ho’s promise, Rollie’s thorns didn’t harm him in the slightest, but...

“

Ow!

It's

painful-nya!”

“

Quack!

My precious pork belly!”

“

Cockle-doodle-doo!

”

“Oh! Is it morning already?”

Instead, all the other Divine Beasts were pricked by Rollie's thorns as they yelped in pain.

“

Hoo,

it's great to dance once in a while.” Il-Ho wiped the sweat off his forehead with a smile.

Rollie exclaimed in delight, “

Yeah!

I like dancing as much as rolling!”

They had a lot of fun, leaving a lasting impression, especially Owly. All the beasts were in awe by the flashy footwork Owly showed with its long legs.

Just then, Il-Ho spotted a small figure clad in a black robe handing something over to Holyn.

“I finally got it, too! It's so beautiful,

roar!

”

Holyn jumped in joy at the sparkling golden apple she received.

“Oh, right!”

“What's wrong, Il-Ho?”

“I forgot to give Holyn a present for her birthday!” Il-Ho quickly fumbled through his inventory. He was so caught up in the moment, he forgot to give his close friend a present! What an impudent muscle lad!

Il-Ho pulled out a honey bottle hidden deep in his inventory. The fairies gave it to him, and he’d treasured it ever since. But since it was his friend’s birthday party...!

“Alright! Holyn, wait a moment! I shall let you taste the world's sweetest honey!”

Suddenly, Rollie poked Il-Ho on his side.

“Il-Ho, Il-Ho.”

“What's wrong?”

“You've been looking for Holyn since earlier, but who is that?”

Il-Ho thought that Rollie was pranking him. “

Kekeke!

What a lame joke! Aren’t we here to celebrate Holyn’s birthday?”

“

Huh?

Everyone is here for your welcome party though?”

𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

“What?”

“Look, everyone is here for you. Don't you remember?”

Il-Ho looked around for Holyn, flustered. But he couldn’t see her anywhere.

“D-didn’t you see her just now?”

“Who is that-woof?”

“It’s my first time hearing that

name-nya

.”

Il-Ho tried asking the other beasts about Holyn’s whereabouts, but no one had a clue. Even though she’d been dancing and playing around with them earlier.

Meanwhile, Rollie clung onto Il-Ho, drooling. “Il-Ho, that honey looks delicious! Won’t you give it to me? Pretty please?”

However, Il-Ho only remained frozen in place like a statue.

Chills!

Il-Ho had never been that afraid before, not even when facing all his foes.

***

After the party ended, Il-Ho searched the entire island for Holyn, but to no avail. It was as if she never existed in the first place. Not even a trace of her remained in anyone’s memories. How could this happen?

I let my guard down!

Il-Ho regretted it terribly. It was the trial for a warrior bestowed by God Yu Il-Shin! As if it’d be easy to resolve! He glowered furiously at the magnificent apple tree, abundant with golden fruits.

He had explored every corner of the island, leaving only this apple tree unsearched! Spitting on his hands, Il-Ho looked up at the tree and was about to start climbing...

“

Ah,

Il-Ho! You mustn’t climb the sacred tree!”

Rollie, who was rolling by, stopped and clung to Il-Ho's legs.

“Let me go! I must investigate this place!”

“No! If you recklessly touch the tree, you’ll suffer divine punishment!”

“Divine... punishment?”

“Yes! I heard in the past, Monkie the monkey climbed the tree to grab a golden apple, only to get struck to death by a bolt of lightning!”

The rumor startled Il-Ho. However, he wasn’t afraid of the lightning, but rather the punishment itself. Could this trial be related to some god as well?

“Still, I have to take a look!”

“No! Don't do it!”

While they were arguing, a dog and cat passed by. They stopped to pray humbly at the golden apple tree.

“Expressing our overwhelming gratitude to Beast of Deceit and Rapacity for saving

us-woof!

”

“Minyang loves Beast of Deceit and Rapacity for bringing us to

heaven-nya

. I’ll keep working hard, so please give us a golden apple someday as well!”

Il-Ho’s ears perked up.

Beast of Deceit and Rapacity? Sounds extremely familiar!

Il-Ho slapped his bald head, racking his brain. Where did he hear that name before?

“Oh, that’s right! It’s them!”

At last, it dawned on him that the god was the master of one of the apostles he’d encountered during the invasion of the Gayami Nation! The giant, flying one, whose stomach he entered directly in order to kill it!

But now, they were saying that god saved them and brought them here?

“Hey, Minyang and Aji. Could you tell me more about that story?” Il-Ho asked, then listened to the story recounted by the cat and dog.

Originally, they were sacred beasts who nearly attained Low-tier Gods statuses during their prime, revered by the people in their homeland. But one day, an alter ego of God of Destroyer appeared in their world. Despite possessing god-like abilities, they were no match for the creature that even the highest-ranking gods feared. As they lay trembling and waiting for their death, a being appeared before them, claiming to be the apostle of god.

-I am the great Beast of Deceit and Rapacity, the god of all beasts’ Apostle Daguri. I’m here by his command to lead all of you to Eden, the land of peace.

Minyang’s tail shuddered as she recalled that fateful day. “It was horrifying back

then-nya!

The sky split open, and a gigantic mouth appeared, trying to swallow our entire world whole...!”

“But then, the apostle brought us to this island! It’s a paradise! We’re all so happy

here-nya!

”

“That’s

right-woof!

Also, if we work hard, god will bestow us with golden

apples-woof!

”

“Golden apples? Are you talking about those?” Il-Ho pointed at the shiny golden apple on the mountainous apple tree.

Minyang looked up at the golden apple, envy filling her gaze. “Yes! The apostle said that we can restore our ruined world when we get that

apple-nya!

I’ll definitely get my hands on that and revive our world!”

“Me

too-woof!

”

Il-Ho then remembered the last time he’d seen Holyn. She disappeared as soon as that figure in a black robe gave her the golden apple.

Pondering briefly, Il-Ho then asked cautiously. “Then, is the apostle on this island as well?”

Minyang and Aji shook their heads sadly. “He isn’t. Rumor has it that he only appears to give out the golden apples. Oh no, we shouldn’t be here any longer! We need to water the

fields-nya!

”

“See you

later-woof!

”

Minyang and Aji held hands and went to work in the fields. Il-Ho then asked Rollie, who seemed to be dozing off from boredom. “Rollie, did you come here because of the same encounter?”

“...

Ah

, yes! I was also brought here by the apostle.”

Il-Ho stared skeptically at the golden apples hanging from the tree. Everything about it was suspicious. Il-Ho took another look at the apple tree, counting the number of apples on it.

Shiver!

There were 664 golden apples on the tree. After Holyn disappeared... The number was exactly the same as the number of Divine Beasts living on this island!

Rollie then spoke to the mumbling Il-Ho, “Il-Ho, actually, tomorrow is my birthday. Can’t you give me that delicious bottle of honey from yesterday?

Uhm,

Il-Ho? Are you listening to me?”

But Il-Ho was still in deep thought. Was this just a coincidence? Or...

***

That same night, when everyone was fast asleep, Il-Ho disguised himself and stealthily approached the sacred tree. Amid the darkness of night, the golden apples shimmered mysteriously under the starlight. Those fruits must hold the secret behind this island!

Il-Ho spat on his hands, speedily climbing up the tree. Rather than a tree, It felt like he was climbing a cliff. But as someone who’d undergone the trials in the Tower of Warriors, it was as easy as walking on normal ground. Stepping over branches that spread out like roads, Il-Ho reached for the nearest golden apple.

This should be fine...

Just when he was about to reach for the apple...

“Why is there a beast unchosen by the god on this island?”

Il-Ho turned around in surprise. Behind him stood a small stranger shrouded in black robes. How strange; he didn’t feel any presence nor signs of anyone approaching. He scrunched his nose.

The stranger’s animalistic glare couldn’t be hidden by his cloak.

“Are you the apostle of the malevolent god?”

Instead of answering Il-Ho, the beast pointed its wooden staff at him. “Those who try to steal the holy apple of god shall be punished!”

Flash! Ruuuumble!