Chapter 225: #Warrior Il-Ho and Eternal Seeker (2)

[Infinite Abundance goes pale, crying that Silently Crawling Nightmare shouldn’t go up against War God so recklessly!]

[War of Carnage and Madness grins from ear to ear, accepting the challenge of Gods’ Sacrificial War!]

[Putting their lives and divinity on the line, the Gods’ Sacrificial War between two Top-tier gods begins!]

Hoooowl!

A massive black trident of divine power fell from the sky, only to be ensnared midair by a crimson rose vine of divine energy.

Sssss!

The skies returned to normal as if nothing had happened, and rose petals poured down like red rain.

“M-Ms. Nightmare?”

There was no answer.

[All-Cutting Heavenly Sword clicks his tongue, saying that the provocation is an obvious trap, and Silently Crawling Nightmare was too rash.]

“War God?”

Staring into space, Ant Emperor called out to the god he served, but he also didn’t receive any responses.

He smiled. “Great! With him distracted, I don’t have to be bothered by him!”

Kwaaaa!

War God’s flames burst ferociously, engulfing Ant Emperor and transforming him.

“

Eeek!

You evil god!” Royce gritted her teeth, pouring more divine power into the icy chains that bound the emperor.

“

Kyaaaa!”

With a pitiful scream, the chains shattered into a million pieces.

Thud! Thud!

Ant Emperor emerged from the rising steam, with a praying mantis’ scythe-like arms, a giant cricket’s muscular legs, and manticore’s jaws. Hairworm-like tentacles wriggled all over him.

He grinned, baring his hideous fangs. “

Keke.

Become my sacrifices.”

***

Deep underground in the colosseum...

“Magama hag isilo fu dehama lote.”

Hundreds of elves knelt in reverent prayer, their faith and power converging around the Abraxas’ Egg at the center.

Blub, blub!

Huddled inside the egg, Allohym desperately channeled the power to the colosseum—to the Great Warrior and High Priest. Jack White initially refused to get involved, choosing instead to flee to a safer world while Yu Il-Shin held off the enemy. With the descent of the Ant Emperor, a being wielding High-tier divine power, Earth’s fate was all but sealed.

Besides, to the elves, Earth was just one of many planets they had encountered over their long lifespans. However, it was different for Allohym—Earth was her homeland. It had been less than a decade since she awakened from the remnants of the fallen God of Harmony’s divine power, and was given the name “Allohym” instead of Abraxas’ Egg.

When she first hatched, the elves rejoiced, and even the expressionless Royce showed a broad smile. Allohym thrived and grew under the care of the elves and the divine power gained through the Hunter War. Her favorite shows since young were Baby Shark and Penguins on Newtube. Thus, she always wanted to visit South Korea, the show that created such wonderful and cute characters for children.

The elves were against the idea at first, but Allohym was adamant. They couldn’t be harsh to her because she was their god’s legacy. Moreover, Allohym’s divine powers surpassed Low-tier gods, and with the elves guarding her day and night, they saw no threat on Earth that could endanger her life.

-So, you’re the candidate for the elves’ god.

One day, a man in a clown mask appeared—a malevolent god who called himself Despair.

-I’ll need your cooperation for the plans I’ve laid out.

Despair's ominous and overwhelming power was unlike anything Allohym had ever encountered. Helpless against him, she was kidnapped and left to die at the hands of his followers. Yet, true to the teachings of the God of Harmony, everything held balance and harmony. Despair met his archnemesis.

“Hello. I know you’re flustered, but...”

It was Yu Il-Shin, who could’ve been the true god of Earth.

He had saved her. And now, he was fighting against the wicked emperor that threatened her homeland. Should she escape—she, who had grown up drawing divine power from the planet like a parasite?

Allohym couldn’t bring herself to do it. As Royce and Jack White were about to teleport her, her lips fluttered open.

-In the name of Abraxas’ Egg...no, Harmony, I command the Great Warrior and High Priest...!

Royce and Jack White dropped to their knees in a flurry.

“Please speak.”

“I shall obey.”

-Break your seals and help Yu Il-Shin... Protect Earth. Please...

Allohym’s voice trembled.

Royce and Jack White flinched. Originally a Mid-tier god, the closest aide to God of Harmony, her divine power ranked in the top ten among the gods. Even her combat power alone could rival High-tier gods. However, it ended up becoming an obstacle for her to travel freely across the world, so she split herself into Royce and Jack White. This happened more than a million years ago.

Black-haired Royce and white-haired Jack White, who bore an uncanny resemblance to each other, spoke in unison as if they were one.

“...In the name of Harmony, your command is fulfilled.”

Royce and Jack White held hands, unable to resist the command of their god’s legacy.

Tzzz!

With a flash, they fused into one, transforming into a beautiful elf with black and white hair, also known as God of Sword and Magic. Thus, she set off to confront the emperor, but the reality was too harsh.

“

Koff!

”

The black-and-white-haired elf coughed blood as she laid at the emperor’s feet. Her sword and staff lay shattered in her grasp. Besides her were the bodies of Sam-Shin, severed in two, and Yi-Shin, who had a gaping hole in his chest.

“Damn it! Healing Ring Finger of...” Yu Il-Shin reached his index finger out, about to heal them. “

Aaaaargh!

”

His remaining left arm exploded at Ant Emperor’s gaze.

His opponent was overwhelming, far beyond his strength. Ant Emperor paid for the War God’s Blessing with his life, gaining divine power that surpassed even High-tier or Top-tier gods. In spite of that, why did the emperor still seek more power?

Ant Emperor trampled on God of Sword and Magic’s torso, cutting off her breathing. Then, he turned to Yu Il-Shin, who was screaming in pain from his injury. His tail wrapped around Yu Il-Shin, lifting him off the ground.

“It’s my win.”

“Damn it! If I only had more time...!”

“Loser’s talk. Die, Yu Il-Shin.” Ant Emperor spread his jaw wide at Yu Il-Shin.

Allohym fell into despair. Was it truly impossible to alter their doomed fate?

Just then, a strange sound reached her ears. Quickly focusing her divine power, Allohym soon caught sight of God of Harmony’s Scales. The scales of light and darkness was leaning heavily toward Ant Emperor, but in a tower far away from Earth, someone was racing to restore the broken scales.

Ding!

[Congratulations! The Forty-Seventh Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Demon Realm has been cleared.]

[Congratulations! The Forty-Eighth Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Dragon Realm has been cleared.]

[Congratulations! The Forty-Ninth Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Heaven Realm has been cleared.]

Ding!

[Would you like to challenge the next floor?]

The warrior was in shambles. He’d ripped off a Demon God’s head, chewed through a Dead Dragon God’s heart, and torn off a Heavenly God’s wings. Yet, his eyes blazed with determination.

“I’ll challenge it!”

Allohym thought that perhaps, the one on the opposite side of the scales shouldn’t be Yu Il-Shin, but...

Creaaaaak!

Il-Ho arrived at a crossroads on the Fiftieth Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Choice. Would he continue to climb the tower for all eternity until he eventually stood on the pinnacle of all gods—a Top-tier god? Or would he abandon the enlightenment gained from the Trial of Void and return to the world of imperfections?

Once, Hermann Hesse had described Abraxas in Demian like follows:

The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.

However, the real Abraxas’ Egg was different. With a trembling voice, Allohym recited the words that followed the passage, “The bird flies to god...”

***

We lost. I struggled, but for naught, akin to uprooting a mountain with a shovel.

-----

[Quest: High-tier Benevolent God (In progress)]

Normal followers: 951,115,669,231 (Great Cosmic Empire 1,302,661(↑), Earth 33,244(↑))/1,000,000,000,000

Followers of intelligent beings at S-rank and above with potential for transcendence: 9,192 ( Great Cosmic Empire 101(↑), Earth 5(↑))/10,000

-----

The number of followers spiked instantly, as if giving encouragement in the face of a crisis. Regardless, I was still five percent short from hitting the requirement.

With his tail, Ant Emperor lifted me above his head. I was helpless, my divine power nearly depleted and my arms missing. No one could save me. Yi-Shin, Sam-Shin, and even Royce were killed.

“Loser’s talk. Die, Yu Il-Shin.” Ant Emperor spread his jaw wide, about to eat me alive.

Faces of everyone I knew flashed before my eyes—my beloved family and friends, my cute and loyal followers, my readers eagerly awaiting the completion of my novel, and someone still trapped in the Trial of Void...

“Il-Ho...”

I was sorry I couldn’t save him.

Ant Emperor’s mouth wrapped around my head. Strangely, I didn’t feel any pain.

“

Gaaah!

”

Instead of my head, a huge dumbbell was stuck in it. A blood-drenched back stood before me. Unbelievable. Was this a dream? What was

he

doing here?

Suddenly, I recalled a message from when I first built the Tower of Warriors.

-----

[Entrance of Tower of Warriors]

A replica of the Eternal Seeker. Around for 39,131,321 years.

Special note: “You can enter as you may, but not leave as you wish.”

Clear at least 50 floors to leave.

-----

“I, Warrior Il-Ho, have received God Yu Il-Shin’s summon and descended!” roared my warrior.