Chapter 248: #Brothers and Sisters, Will You Believe in Yu Il-Shin Again?

Sword Demon was in utter disbelief. He felt a huge sense of despair, as if he was facing a massive wall. The swordsmanship he’d practiced for his whole life couldn’t even graze his opponent once.

“

Kekeke!

”

His opponent—a child barely two heads tall—laughed maniacally. Moreover, the child blocked all his attacks with a tree branch[1] that could slice through rocks like tofu.

“This can’t be!” Sword Demon yelled in frustration as chills went down his spine. “Skill, Stepping Shadow!”

He didn’t want to resort to his assassin skills, but he couldn’t allow himself to lose so easily. Sword Demon dissolved into the darkness, vanishing without a trace.

Die!

Sword Demon moved behind the child and aimed for his neck.

“

Keke

. Demon Lord’s First Stance.”

Just before his sword could soundlessly behead the child...

“Kneel. Demon Lord’s Descent.”

Sword Demon saw the divine sword.

“

Gaaaaah!

”

The power of the sword was so overwhelming that he was being nailed to the ground, as if a giant were crushing an ant from the skies.

Baaaaam!

“

Ugh

...”

The half-wrecked blade fell beside the collapsed and bloody Sword Demon.

Sss—

Catching his breath, Sword Demon looked up at the child standing beside him.

“

Urk!

You... who are

you

?”

“I am Yu Il—” The child suddenly cleared his throat and laughed maniacally again. “

Keke.

I'm Sword God.”

Was it his imagination or did the boy blush for a moment? Still, it didn’t matter because Sword Demon believed that the latter was the true Sword God.

Sword Demon kneeled, slamming his head against the ground. He screamed eagerly, “Sword God! Please accept me as your disciple!”

Ding!

[Congratulations. You have succeeded in nurturing fanatical faith by showcasing the overwhelming majesty and terror of gods.]

[You have gained Sword Demon as a follower (Fanatic).]

[The skill of Sword Demon has been added to the Skill Share menu.]

“Oh, finally! Hey, are you alright?”

The child—no, Yu Il-Shin, suddenly pulled up Sword Demon to his feet, throwing away his insane facade.

Thus, Sword Demon heard all sorts of stories from the child—stories about his past life, and the impending doom that would soon befall Earth. The tales were utterly unbelievable, but Sword Demon listened intently, kneeling humbly before the almighty Sword God.

“As mentioned, go find Kang Woo.”

“Kang Woo... Got it, I just have to kill him right?”

Yu Il-Shin smacked the back of Sword Demon’s head sharply.

“You punk! Have you been listening to what I said?!” Yu Il-Shin then began another long lecture. “...Remember this. You must never kill anyone carelessly.”

“Y-yes sir!” Sword Demon bowed down respectfully in a flurry.

Yu Il-Shin only scratched his head. “Oh, and I'm sorry about your sword. I never expected the same thing to happen as in my previous life.”

“Pardon?”

Ding!

[Demon Lord devours Sword Demon's Beloved Sword (A) and begins evolving.]

Tzzz!

Yu Il-Shin’s tree branch shone blindingly and transformed into a dagger.

“

Ah...

” Sword Demon stared at Demon Lord, mesmerized by its beautiful new form.

Yu Il-Shin then whispered to him, “I’ll see you soon.”

***

Boooong!

“Ah!” Sword Demon’s eyes flung open as he heard the buzzing of an insect’s wings by his ear.

W-what happened?

He then found Cheol-Du next to him, still unconscious and foaming at the mouth.

Sword Demon was confused.

Was that a dream?

But it was too vivid to be called a dream. He could still feel the large bump on the back of his head.

His eyes widened all of a sudden.

“T-this!”

His beloved sword was broken in half, and thrills traveled all over him. A heavenly martial artist had imprinted his mark on Sword Demon’s possession.

No, this isn’t just a dream. It’s a sign sent to me by Sword God!

That very day, Sword Demon wasn’t the only one who saw Yu Il-Shin in a dream.

***

At Wuwon City, which had been reduced into a ghost town after a catastrophic rift...

Is this the place?

Creeeak!

Upon arriving, Kang Woo alighted from his Lamborghini. This desolate area, where abandoned buildings stood like graves, was also the base of Apostle Johan, who worshipped God of Destroyer.

I hadn’t planned to get involved in this life.

After six failed attempts to save the world, he only had one chance to live. So, he decided to enjoy it until the bitter end. But a dream from last night brought him here.

“

Um...

How long are you going to keep following me?”

“Mr. Sword God has ordered me to protect you,” Sword Demon replied with a cold expression, clinging to Kang Woo like a shadow.

He had suddenly appeared early yesterday morning, claiming to have received enlightenment from Sword God in a dream, and the rest was history.

Kang Woo let out a sigh and looked around their surroundings. They weren’t the only ones here.

“Hmm? So this is the place where God of Destroyer’s disciple is supposed to be?”

“

Hoahm~

I’m soooo sleepy. What’s all this commotion on my day off?”

“Alright, let’s do some light stretching!”

“

Keke.

The smell of death in the air is dense.”

“Hey you! You’re Kang Geom, right! It’s true when he said that I would see you here!”

There was also Sung Mi-Na, Baek Yoo-Hyun, Choi Kang-San, Ko Sa-Deuk, and even Shin Yoo. All the top Hunters of South Korea had gathered there, supposedly having dreamed of Yu Il-Shin the night before.

We can probably catch this Johan person alive with this group of people.

Though he couldn’t be certain how true his dream was, the location was clearly Johan’s hideout. For the sake of a more carefree life, it’d be best to deal with Johan while he was still in South Korea.

Is this the place?

Kang Woo followed the memories in his past lives, making his way to the basement of one of those abandoned buildings.

“

Uuugh

...”

“

Keuuugh

...”

He came across others who appeared to be followers of God of Destroyer lying on the ground, groaning in pain. His eyes widened after examining the white powder covering their skin.

I-is this poison powder?

Kang Woo recalled the dream he had last night. The child, who called himself Yu Il-Shin, said he’d prove that he could change the fate of destruction today. Kang Woo and the other Hunters advanced forward to the underground labyrinth, which resembled an anthill. They found many other followers who’d been subdued by the mysterious poison powder, some of them being A-rank Hunters. Yet, none of them had died.

“Ah, there are people here!” The sharp Shin Yoo spotted people trapped in a corner despite the gloomy darkness.

“Move aside!” Choi Kang-San tore open the iron door with his bare hands and rescued those trapped inside. There were nearly a thousand of them, varying in age and gender.

“

Huhu

, thank you...”

“What exactly happened here?”

The people testified, but it was hard to believe their tales.

-

Fufu

. I, Buttor, shall dedicate this victory to His Majesty, and my beautiful and noble Goddess, Arachne.

Last night, a moth with wings appeared, sprinkling white powder and downing all the followers.

A moth?

The story was absurd, but Kang Woo still contacted the authorities and had them transported to the hospital.

Was this the evidence mentioned in my dream?

Those destined to be sacrificed to God of Destroyer for his descent were saved today.

No, that isn’t enough.

Kang Woo shook his head.

Whatever he had encountered today was nowhere near enough. Knowing the horrific disasters that laid ahead, the events today offered him little comfort. Moreover, he hadn’t even found Johan, the leader of this place.

Just then, an email arrived on his phone. It was a message from the intelligence group he had formed, an attempt to have a safer life after giving up on saving the world. His eyes widened at the information he had received.

T-the Three Martial Association has disappeared?

The Three Pure Ones from the Three Martial Association had been one of the biggest obstacles in his past lives. However, he was informed that they had suddenly gone missing last night. Yet, that wasn’t the only shocking news.

No way!

The strongest member of the Three Martial Association Lin Xiaoming, the legendary French Hunter Jeanne Lehman, and even the elven Royce and Jack White had expressed their intention to join Kang Woo by the name of Yu Il-Shin.

Kang Woo shivered in excitement. History was being rewritten.

Kang Woo had failed to persuade them in his previous lives and even met his demise, so it felt like a miracle.

-I’ll leave the rest to you then. I’ll be back soon, without fail.

Perhaps this time...

Recalling the words that child—no, Yu Il-Shin, had left him in his dream last night, Kang Woo harbored a new found hope that maybe his final chance at life would turn out differently.

***

Back in Antrinia, in the emperor’s training hall...

I stood in a vast white space that was said to be a deterrent to even the slightest shock. And I was beginning to regret entering this place now.

“W-where is this place? Who are you?”

A handsome man with smooth, long hair stood before me. I even found him attractive. The only problem was that he was a pervert, without a single thread on himself. That pervert was also the apostle of God of Destroyer, Johan.

“

Grrr!

How dare you kidnap the apostle of the great God of Destroyer! Where did you hide my eggs?!”

And there was Renek—no, Gustav the crocodile monster, growling as if about to spit fire.

“Heh, you see all kinds of things when you’ve lived this long.”

“Child, are you doing this despite knowing who we are?”

“

Kihihi!

You worthless insect don’t even fear the heavens!”

Even the Three Pure Ones from the Three Martial Association were there.

All of my former enemies from my previous life were crowded in one space, as if they had gathered for a reunion.

I turned at Ant Emperor, the mastermind behind everything.

“Why are you looking at me with such resentment?”

“Emperor, my friend. I did ask you to bring them here, but not all at once...”

These wicked beings shouldn’t be left on Earth, albeit among them, Johan could have a chance at redemption. Hence why I asked Ant Emperor to bring them here—but this was too far!

Even though I’d nurtured the Faith of S-rank Hunters and the elves, as well as recovering a significant amount of divine power in the process. Nevertheless, I was still a Low-tier god. I couldn’t possibly deal with them all at once?

“Weakling. Stay here and watch.” Ant Emperor chuckled and approached God of Destroyer’s apostles and the Three Pure Ones.

“What is this bizarre insect?”

“

Grrrr!

”

“

Hehe.

A Lowest-tier god of a lowly realm does not know his place!”

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“

Kihihi!

Eating him will still increase my divine power a bit, though!”

The group burst into ridicule at the approaching emperor, who was smaller than a finger.

I cautiously asked Ant Emperor, “Friend, are you sure you don’t need any help?”

“

Hmph.

Who do you think I am!”

Baaaam!

A red aura erupted from him like an active volcano.

“I am the one and only, strongest god in the entire Antrinia!”

Indeed, as they said,

“Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

1. last time it was a kitchen knife, now it’s tree branch. Bro got schooled ☜