Chapter 275: #Tower of Gods 99th Floor, Trial of War God

“In your past life, I thought it’d take at least a hundred thousand years before you become a Top-tier god. But I was pleasantly mistaken. You attained Top-tier godhood in less than a thousand years. No, you’ve even surpassed it! This is an unprecedented feat since the dawn of time!” War God said with admiration.

I didn’t care about his admiration. After all, I’d been idle grinding, clearing the trials using multiple clones the whole time.

His sharp gaze landed on my golden-nibbed pen. “So, that’s the divine weapon you forged.”

“One that can alter the destinies of all living beings using causality... An ability fitting for a god, indeed. But

alas,

it’s useless against me.” He then reiterated, “The Top-tier gods are beings that transcend causality, hence why they’re the pinnacle of gods. Silently Crawling Nightmare stands as proof, having fallen into my hands in your previous life. Use this instead.”

War God raised his left hand, splitting open the space above, and countless weapons surrounded me.

“Choose one from here. It isn’t comparable to All-Cutting Heavenly Sword’s treasury, but I’m still the War God. These weapons are capable of harming me.”

“You are quite the host.” As he said, they all radiated an aura worthy of the name divine weapons. “I’ll help myself then.”

I picked a broad-bladed, Kukri-looking dagger that emitted a dark aura. I only chose it because it reminded me of the Demon Lord.

“Since you’re so generous, could I ask for one more favor?”

“Go ahead.”

“Can we switch to another location? We can’t have them getting caught up in our battle.” I pointed at the two women bound behind him, albeit one was a rose. “You aren’t planning on using them to threaten me, are you?”

War God smirked in amusement. “Worry not. If anything, I left them here to bolster your fighting spirit. After all, we need the spoils of war.”

That old-fashioned remark would’ve made the women from Earth recoil and scream in horror.

Just then, Infinite Abundance struggled to lift her head. “

Haa... haa...

You mustn’t fight him... He has surpassed even the Top-tier gods... Please, don’t worry about us and escape from this place... Not even the War God could force a duel on another Top-tier god...”

“Indeed.” War God nodded. “But it’s not like he’d run, right? You, of all people, should know that, Infinite Abundance. You came here to save your sister, after all.”

That question was directed at me, but I never gave him an answer. Instead, I looked at Infinite Abundance. This was the first time I’d seen her in person. As expected, she was abundant with generosity.

Touched by her warmth, I said to the ladies, “Don’t worry and just wait for me, Abundance noonim, Ms. Nightmare.”

Clutching the dagger tightly, I aimed it at War God. “I’ll take care of him in no time.”

War God widened his eyes and burst into laughter. As if echoing his laughter, a thunderous roar shook the heavens and earth.

“That’s the spirit! Yes, a true man should be courageous! Alright, I’ll grant your wish and change our battle location.”

With a snap of his fingers, I found ourselves in a barren desert full of black sand. The scorching sun mercilessly shone down on us, raising the desert’s temperature to hundreds of degrees. Toxic gas filled the atmosphere instead of oxygen. It was a harsh environment where no living thing could survive for even a minute. Of course, it didn’t affect us.

“This is a barren planet without a single living entity. Would this suffice?”

I nodded.

Then, War God declared solemnly, “I hereby declare to engage in a Gods’ Sacrificial War with Yu Il-Shin, god of the destroyed world, Earth! Will you accept?”

I felt a pang in my heart.

That’s right. Earth was eventually destroyed.

Although time flowed differently in the Tower of Gods, it still took me far too long to reach this point.

But it’s alright. I can still turn back time.

Like the two Eternal Seekers, Il-Ho and Yi-Ho, I was determined to return and save everyone after this battle.

Thus, I declared, “I accept the Gods’ Sacrificial War.”

Ding!

[You have accepted the challenge.]

[The God's Sacrificial War between Top-tier gods—War of Carnage and Madness vs. God Yu Il-Shin (title TBD), staking their lives and godhood, will begin!]

Tsss!

Simultaneously, the mark of a skull impaled by a dagger appeared on the backs of our hands. Originally, only a higher-ranking god could challenge one of a lower rank. This proved that I was on equal standing with War God. Aside from combat power, of course.

“

Kekeke.

This is the first battle I’ve looked forward to since facing the Silently Crawling Nightmare!” War God laughed triumphantly, raising his greatsword. “Why don’t we start with something light?”

He struck his sword down.

Kwaaaa!

Although the sword was less than four meters long, its immense divine power and overwhelming destructive power made it feel like a gigantic sword weighing millions of tons. I felt like a bug about to get squashed.

However, instead of panicking, I swung my dagger. “Demon Lord’s Descent.”

The moment our weapons collided, the world split apart. Literally.

Amid the raging black sandstorm, a huge, cross-shaped crack opened in the air, expanding endlessly.

Shaaaa!

It relentlessly sucked the black sand, reminiscent of Niagara Falls pouring into a desert. However, this wasn’t the time to be impressed. War God’s shadow loomed over me as I floated in midair.

“Incredible! How about this?!” War God swung his sword once more.

Tzzz!

Shrouded in pitch-black aura, his sword came hurtling at me, ready to cleave me in half. He wasn’t lying—he did start with something light. His second attack soared beyond the mountains, like a planet plummeting down from the sky. I could never block such an attack in my original state. However, I knew a Top-tier god who could rival War God in terms of Strength.

“Skill Sharing, Mountain-Gnawing Titan.”

Soon, rocks and stones encased the arm that held my dagger, and Mountain-Gnawing Titan’s colossal strength surged within me.

Claaaang!

The sound of blades colliding echoed like a death cry. I’d stopped his greatsword with my dagger.

“Y-you stopped my attack with one hand...?” A look of bewilderment flashed across his face.

In response, I nonchalantly reached out my left hand toward him.

“Skill Sharing, Eight.”

Clack, clack!

My left arm transformed into Machine God’s mechanical arm. Despite having altered Eight’s—

Lazenca’s

fate, his godhood still remained in me. And now, it was being reborn.

“Soul Mecha cannon, God Fist.”

A light beam blasted from my left arm, engulfing War God. An explosion erupted.

Baaaam!

The yellowish atmosphere, filled with sulfuric gas, evaporated. Briefly, the air became as transparent as glass. That blast could’ve wiped out a planet and fatally wounded even a Top-tier god.

“Impressive. You’ve grown so strong.”

However, War God remained unscathed. He tore off his shattered, melting armor with his bare hands, revealing his muscular physique.

War God chuckled, revealing his pearly white teeth. “Enough playing around. Let’s get serious.”

Then, he clenched his fists until they almost broke, summoning his divine power.

Ruuumble!

The ground shook violently as if hit by an earthquake.

Tzzz!

At the same time, his divine power began to take shape. Thorny rose vines surrounded him as his greatsword shone gold, transforming into a sickle. This was the true beginning. He was going to unleash the power of the Top-tier gods he’d devoured over eons.

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Please help me, everyone.”

Then,

I

responded.

“

Hmph.

Don’t forget, we’ll determine who is the main body after all of this is over!”

“Des...troy!”

Yi-Shin became a Top-tier god after conquering the demon realm, which was full of malevolent gods. Though born from the God of Destroyer, Sam-Shin grew righteously, untouched by its corruption. Lastly, the powers of countless gods I’d gained while climbing the Tower of Gods began to transform me.

Black and white wings burst out on my back, and massive horns protrude from my head, making me look like a demon.

Sss—

My eyes flung open, revealing crimson eyes that seemed capable of destroying and burning down everything.

I locked eyes with War God.

“Impressive. If I devour you today, I’m certain that I can finally put an end to God of Destroyer!”

“

Ew.

I don’t wanna be eaten by a man—especially not by an old man with bad breath.”

War God cackled at my disgusted reaction. “

Gwahahaha!

You’re still cracking silly jokes at a time like this?! Some guts you have there!”

“

Hehe

. Don’t mention it. I was born a comedian after all. Comedy is the only comfort in a harsh life like mine.”

We laughed like old friends, then bared our teeth ferociously at each other.

In the next moment, we swung our weapons at each other’s necks without any hesitation.

***

All living beings who had nightmares would gather in the Nightmare Hall, Silently Crawling Nightmare’s mental domain. There, she bit her nails so hard as she anxiously watched the battle between War God and Yu Il-Shin.

-Kehaha! How delightful! To have an opponent who can fight me on equal footing with all his might, isn’t that a blessing?

-I’m a devout believer of love and peace. Fighting isn’t really my thing.

Their battle left the barren planet completely obliterated.

Claaang!

Their weapons collided in the vast universe. At a glance, it’d seem like they were evenly matched, but those who’d fought against War God knew better. He was a god specializing in battles, fitting of his name: War of Carnage and Madness.

Moreover, War God had a secret weapon.

Il-Shin doesn’t stand a chance against him! I must stop him, or he’ll die!

After War God had stripped her of most of her power, she’d been reduced to a fallen god. Nevertheless, if she risked her life, she could still buy enough time for Yu Il-Shin to escape!

-

Kieeek...

Just then, her pet plant, Night Rose, let out an agonizing scream. It was the same rose that had devoured Yu Sa-Shin.

“What’s wrong?”

-

Kieeee!

Boom!

Soon, the rose’s stem swelled like a balloon, exploding with a horrific scream. Nightmare went pale as she looked at the massive shadow looming over her.

“Y-you are...?”