Chapter 229: #Twilight of Gods, Ragnarok (2)

I never thought the emperor would be this strong!

Ruuumble!

Kang Woo stared in astonishment as the emperor grew at a rapid rate, obscuring the sky. While the latter had been a threat in one of Kang Woo’s past regressions, it had never been this severe. Perhaps, Ant Emperor had surpassed even the terrifying Despair Dragon!

Unlike in any of Kang Woo’s previous regressions, Yu Il-Shin, the Earth god, intervened to stop the emperor. Compared to Ant Emperor, Yu Il-Shin was akin to a single raindrop against a huge

tsunami

. Nevertheless, Kang Woo could only put his hopes on that man.

Then, Kang Woo saw something flying at tremendous speed toward Yu Il-Shin and the emperor. There were many of them.

Kwaaaa!

Kang Woo went pale upon realizing that they were hundreds of missiles.

“No...”

Humanity wouldn’t stand idly by as these gods fought. They’d decided to remove the tumor before it grew too big—a brutal decision that’d cost them more lives. Just like that, history repeated itself. The only difference was that, instead of using Ragnarok—which killed the Emperor in his previous regression—they chose its upgraded version: Requiem..

Baaaam!

Combining elven and human nuclear technologies, Gotterdammerung, which could decimate the entire African continent, flew toward them.

***

Kwaaaa! Pssss...

Ant Emperor was in disbelief. Everything he’d built up over the last five hundred years was falling apart, destroyed in an instant by the mysterious divine power emanating from Yu Il-Shin’s sword.

Was that the power from God of Destroyer? No, instead of destroying his opponent to feed on them, this power seemed to reduce its existence into nothingness...

“

Aargh!”

Kwaaaa!

Yu Il-Shin finally reached the emperor’s core. However, what lay there was neither an ant nor a Chimera, but a human. Just like when he was first pulled into the tutorial, the boy was cowering.

“D-don’t come near me, you monster!”

The emperor screamed at the top of his lungs, and Arachne’s webs shot out in all directions, wrapping Yu Il-Shin in a flurry. They were torn and disappeared in an instant.

Yu Il-Shin swung Demon Lord at the boy’s neck.

Swaaaa!

The emperor disappeared as well.

Demon Lord’s mysterious and abominable divine power would reduce everything into nonexistence. Normally, he wouldn’t be afraid of death. Yet, he instinctively knew it’d be the last time he’d see the world. He shut his eyes tight, unconsciously screaming, “Save me...!”

Demon Lord flashed eerily, full of killing intent. Yet, the death the boy awaited did not come.

He hesitantly opened his eyes, and saw Demon Lord stopping right before his throat. Then, he locked eyes with Yu Il-Shin, who seemed utterly in shambles. Yu Il-Shin lost both arms, and was charred after breaking through the divine flames. Sure enough, he did not have long to live. Yet, his eyes were brimming with deep regret and compassion.

The boy became furious. “Weakling! Yet, you’re still...!”

Why did the dying man still harbor such feelings? What a filthy hypocrite! How obstinate! How’d he be able to defeat that loathsome Despair with such a weak mentality? A god had to be savage to defend what was rightfully his! Hence why the emperor was more suited to become one!

-Young Parasitic God!

Such was the first title the boy’d gained when he was brought into the tutorial. When he was eaten by the Queen Ant, he’d used this power to possess the ant in her womb.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

His tentacles, akin to soft thorns, dug into Yu Il-Shin. The latter’s eyes widened in surprise, but it was too late.

“Give me your body, Yu Il-Shin!”

Swoosh!

***

When the structural composition of a living organism was examined closely, it was said to resemble the universe. This observation gave rise to fractal cosmology—the idea that the universe itself could be a living system.

Ant Emperor was in an universe called Yu Il-Shin. He traveled at breakneck speed through the network of blood vessels that spread like the Milky Way, dodging the meteorite-like blood cells on the way toward Yu Il-Shin’s brain. High-tier gods had fallen victim to it, so he was confident in his ability, especially when his opponent was dying.

Chiiiik! Psss!

Meanwhile, his body and soul were disintegrating—such was the price for pushing beyond his limits with War God’s Blessing. He was running out of time. He had to obtain Yu Il-Shin’s body at all costs!

Was this it?

He seemed to have arrived at Yu Il-Shin’s brain just in time. A beautiful, sparkling universe unfolded all around him. HIs eyes glowed menacingly as he searched for the man’s essence. To take over a body, he had to destroy it and replace it with his own. The first thing he saw was a dazed fragment of a benevolent god, adorned with angelic wings and a halo.

Is this it!?

Ant Emperor reached for it, but as soon as he touched it, it shattered like a mirage.

Tsk!

That wasn’t Yu Il-Shin’s true essence. Then he spotted a fragment of the malevolent god, with demonic horns and wings, radiating a vicious aura.

Psss...

However, that fragment, too, vanished without a trace at his touch. They were mere shells, like exposed epidermis.

“

Aaargh!”

By now, half of Ant Emperor’s body had crumbled and disappeared. He truly had no time left.

“...What?” No matter how hard he looked, the emperor couldn’t find what he was looking for. “How...?”

There was nothing—literally nothing. Like an empty glass, his soul, his essence, was nowhere to be found. How could this be possible?

“What exactly are you...?”

Was it hidden so well that even he couldn’t locate it? Or, could it be...?

“What the hell are you, Yu Il-Shin?!” Ant Emperor yelled in despair and terror as he was reduced into nothing.

Just then, Yu Il-Shin’s universe sent a beam of light toward the Emperor—a light like that of the dawn of time, engulfing him completely.

***

Tadadadada~ Tadadadada♬

Lively music accompanied the spinning merry-go-round. Yet, in contrast to the music, the carousel was empty and desolate. The emperor stood there like a statue, staring blankly at it.

Where was he? Why was he here?

Were these flashbacks a prelude to his death? If so, how fleeting and bizarre it was, unlike his life, which had been grotesque and cruel.

“Hello.”

The sudden voice made him turn around. He saw a small boy around his age, struggling to hold a huge stack of papers.

“I am Yu Il-Shin. What’s your name?” he introduced himself with a smile.

Yet, he couldn’t recall a single word from his name. He probably had one, but it had been buried in the five hundred years of brutality.

“It’s...Emperor.”

“That’s a weird name.” Little Yu Il-Shin tilted his head and sat down beside Emperor. As he fluffed himself, a few pieces of paper scattered from his embrace.

“

Ah!

My manuscript!” Little Yu Il-Shin exclaimed, scrambling to pick up the scattered paper in a hurry.

Emperor felt slightly conflicted. Was this really a flashback? Did Yu Il-Shin use some kind of psychic power to paralyze him? Shouldn’t he be fighting back?

But then, Little Yu Il-Shin asked, “Emperor, why are you just standing there? Didn’t you want to ride the carousel? Isn’t that why you were looking at it?”

Emperor didn’t answer; he didn’t know why he was looking at the ride either.

“You know, I want to be a great writer when I grow up. How about you, Emperor?”

Emperor, who was about to swing his claws at the young boy, hesitated briefly.

What did I want to become?

At first, all he wanted was to return to Earth and take revenge on those who had thrown him into that hellish Tutorial and taken his mother from him. Yet from the fire of desire and vengeance, he was reborn. He stopped at nothing to become stronger, staining his hands with endless blood and countless lives. And just like that, he became the very monster who had once cast him into that hell.

“I actually know what you want to do.”

Emperor’s eyes flared up. “What does a weakling like you know about me?!”

“I know because you could’ve been me, and I could’ve been you.”

Then, Little Yu Il-Shin placed down the bundle of manuscript he held so dearly in his arms.

Shaaaa!

A few pieces flew across the sky, and Emperor’s gaze fell on them.

Tadadadada~ Tadadadada♬

The carousel was still running. But unlike earlier, there were others riding on it. Among them was a beautiful woman seemingly older than her age—a single mother worn down by life. She smiled happily as she gazed at a boy riding on the carousel—his younger self.

Even though five hundred years had passed, Emperor could instantly recognize his mother.

Alas, my poor, yet beautiful and precious mother.

For the first time in hundreds of years, tears flowed from his eyes.

Little Yu Il-Shin said tearfully, “You wanted to see her for the last time, right?”

Like his own name, his mother had somehow slipped off his mind. Though vengeance burned within him like an inferno, the Ant Emperor still held on to a fragile hope that he’d find some trace of her back on Earth, even if it was just a single photograph.

At last, he spoke, “That’s...right.”

***

Back in the colosseum in Africa...

Psss!

The colossal chunk of flesh that covered the continent disintegrated, vanishing without a trace. At the same time, a figure descended from the sky, landing on the colosseum ground.

Bam!

It was the emperor, left with only half of his body. He tossed what he’d been holding in his remaining hand.

Plop!

It was Yu Il-Shin’s charred body.

“

Kyaaak!

Mr. Yu!”

“You bastard!”

“I’m gonna kill you!”

Yu Il-Shin’s enraged followers and the surviving Hunters charged at him in unison.

Ant Emperor hissed at them. “Stop.”

Clack!

Those who were about to attack him froze on the spot.

“

Ugh!

”

“

Aaargh!”

Despite being the world’s leading Hunters, they were all terrified. After all, even though the emperor was dying, his power was still astonishing.

“I won’t fight you.”

“

Waaaah!

Uncle! Uncleeeee!”

The emperor’s gaze fell on Seong-Yeon and Yu Il-Shin’s older sister.

“Was I mistaken? They don’t look alike.” With mixed emotions, he lowered his gaze and smiled at Yu Il-Shin. “

Keke

. I don’t need your pathetic, dying body.”

Ssss...

Ant Emperor was barely holding on as he began to crumble to ashes.

“Do not forget, you’re only alive because I spared you... So you...must do what I couldn’t...”

Tzzzz!

His ashes seeped into the unconscious Yu Il-Shin.

Ding!

At the same time, God-Maker responded.

[Yu Il-Shin emerged victorious in Gods’ Sacrificial War!]

***

After sleeping like a corpse for a while, my eyes finally fluttered open.

“Mr. Yu!”

“Mr. Sword Goood!”

“

Waaah!

Uncleeee!”

I found myself being surrounded by my weeping relatives and followers, but I was focusing on something else. Countless missiles lit up the sky, flying toward the colosseum.

Hundreds of Ragnaroks—Requiem—rained down on the African continent, as if in memory of killing the emperor on his home turf.

Certainly, the stadium that once had a million spectators was empty, but that was meaningless. The kinetic energy and nuclei would still wipe out the entire continent. It had to be stopped. However, I was a complete wreck now.

“W-we must run!”

“Where to?”

“

Argh!

I! I will protect God Yu Il-Shin with my own body! Muuuuscle!”

“

Aaaah!”

Everyone in Africa and audiences from across the globe were filled with horror and disbelief.

I thought of the emperor.

Vroooom!

Even though I was only human, I still had the emperor’s abilities. I could use the Crushing Forefinger of God to stop the missiles, but I couldn’t since I’d lost both arms.

But then, it occurred to me.

Was it my fingers that created miracles? Or was it Yu Il-Shin?

With my charred lips, I struggled to speak.

“Crushing... Forefinger...of God...” I commanded.

Swooosh!

Each of the missiles faulted, crashing into the ground.