On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 69: Sword God Returns

Gustav’s tail swatted at Sword Demon at an almost imperceptible speed.

“Ugh!”

Punch! Craaaash!

Sword Demon flew like a rag doll, crashing deep into the shelter wall.

“Koff! Blergh!”

Sword Demon coughed putrid black blood, convulsing all over. That single attack destroyed his arm and right ribs. Still, he was fortunate to shield himself using the heavy sword. Had he used his own body, his upper torso would’ve disappeared.

Sword... My sword...?

With glazed eyes, Sword Demon looked around for the heavy sword bestowed by Yu Il-Shin. It had broken into two, rolling on the ground.

Ugh, Mr. Sword God. I am so sorry.

The fact that he had broken the sword hurt him more than his sustained injury.

-He survived my attack?

Gustav bent down, looking at Sword Demon. His eyes, now the size of a man’s head, brimmed with wonder.

-What a strong man. But alas, not quite good enough for the god.

Riiip—

Gustav spread his jaw wide at Sword Demon.

-Still, in honor of your strength, I’ll eat you!

Sharp, saw-like teeth were revealed within his elongated snout. The darkness beyond them was about to engulf Sword Demon when...

Flash! Ruuumble!

A bolt of lightning struck Gustav on the head. Caught off guard, his body stiffened from the blow.

Flick!

In the next moment, Sword Demon vanished.

-Who is that!

His prey was being snatched away! Gustav was so furious that his eyes rolled back. He spotted Sung Mi-Ri about twenty meters away, carrying the wounded Sword Demon like a princess.

“That was my maximum blast, but you weren’t hurt in the slightest! You really are a monster!” Sung Mi-Ri glowered at him in anger.

“Disciple Mi-Ri, I said not to come here as it’s danger—cough!”

“Oh no, Uncle Sword Demon! Are you alright?”

-A sacrifice?

Gustav had confirmed that the seed of sacrifice was wriggling inside Sung Mi-Ri. He smirked. He had purposefully avoided the sparring room after sensing the danger. And yet, Sung Mi-Ri came over on her own.

-Good girl. You’re unripe, but I’ll harvest you today.

Gustav charged at Sung Mi-Ri.

“Hyii!”

Flash!

Cloaking herself in lightning, Sung Mi-Ri fled with Sword Demon in her arms.

Gustav laughed at the foolishness. The idea that crocodiles were slow on land was a common stereotype.

-Do you think you can get away?

Stomp stomp!

Gustav chased Sung Mi-Ri with an unbelievable speed for a giant crocodile! In no time at all, he caught up.

“Kyaaa!”

-Got you!

Gustav slapped his palms together, trapping Sung Mi-Ri and the Sword Demon between them, like catching a mosquito.

Slam!

“Aaaaah!

”

“Arrggh!”

-Keke, so much noise.

If he wanted to, Gustav could’ve squashed them to death, but he didn’t. After all, he had to sacrifice Sung Mi-Ri to the god alive.

Well, at least one or two of her bones might’ve broken, but he didn’t care. Holding them with one hand, Gustav pointed at them with his other one.

-Kujitolea kwa Mungu (Sacrifice to the god).

His palm split open like a parted mouth, revealing hideous teeth. Gustav merely pointed his hand at her, not moving in the slightest. But then...

Slash slash!

In the blink of an eye, Sung Mi-Ri’s body was riddled with minor wounds, as if gnawed by a swarm of piranhas. Soon, her entire body was soaked in blood.

“Aaaah! Aaarrgh!”

Her flesh was being torn bit by bit, like a death sentence in ancient China. Being eaten in one go would’ve been more merciful.

“You monsteeer! How dare you touch Mr. Sword God’s disciple! Stop it!” Sword Demon screamed while coughing blood. Gustav’s hand prevented him from moving.

With his black tongue, Gustav licked Sword Demon.

“Urk! You monster!”

-Enough fuss, Human. After I offer the sacrifice, your turn will come.

“Eeeeeeeeek!”

The horrifying wail of Sung Mi-Na’s younger sister resounded in the air.

“No, noooo!”

“Ms. Sung Mi-Na!”

Wailing, Sung Mi-Na pushed away Choi Eun-Bi, running toward Gustav.

“Aaaah! Stop! Stop!”

Tzzz!

Sung Mi-Na’s eyes blazed blue as she yelled a series of commands at Gustav. But her words didn’t affect the monster in the slightest. It was her worst nightmare.

“Please help. Someone, please save my little sister... Please...” Sung Mi-Na continued to cry, calling out to those around her for help.

“Aaarghhh!”

“Hyiiiieee!”

However, the terrified students were busy running away, taking advantage of the fact that Gustav was preoccupied with Sung Mi-Ri. No one was to blame, since ants couldn’t defeat a dinosaur. The same went for Sung Mi-RI.

I’m scared...

With the mentality of a ten year old, she was basically a child. Meanwhile, her opponent was immune to her power. As such, she couldn’t help but cower. Her body shook like an aspen tree as she wet her pants.

“Aaaarrgh! Unniiiii! Save me!”

But then, she heard the heartbreaking cry of her dying younger sister. Forgetting her fear, Sung Mi-Na regained herself.

“Don’t touch my sister, you monster!”

Slam!

She kicked the ground, leaping on top of Gustav’s head.

-Hmm?

Gustav widened his eyes when Sung Mi-Na landed on his head.

-Keke, another sacrifice came to me on her own. Nice, come to me. You’re up next.

“Shut up, you fucking crocodile!”

Crunch crunch!

Veins popped on Sung Mi-Na’s forehead, about to burst. Placing both hands on Gustav’s head, she yelled, “Skill, Mental Space!”

-What?

Swoooosh!

Gustav’s mind was absorbed into the mental space created by Sung Mi-Na.

Click!

In reality, their bodies remained still like statues.

***

Infinite Abundance’s territory was extremely cozy and warm. I felt like a baby sleeping in a cradle while being rocked by my mother. Then, I dreamed. More accurately, I saw a fragment of Sung Mi-Na’s memory, which I’d unconsciously consumed.

A giant dragon with bizarre, crown-shaped horns was devouring the world. He unleashed his maw like the entrance to the abyss, about to swallow both Sung Mi-Na and the younger child in her arms.

“Hnggggg! God, please save Mi-Ri...”

Even in the face of death, Sung Mi-Ri only wished for her sister to live. But there was no god, only despair.

Ssss—

Amidst the golden field of wheat, my eyes fluttered open. I wasn’t the god Sung Mi-Na sought desperately as a child. Nevertheless, I looked up toward the sky.

“I should get going now, Abundance noonim.”

[Infinite Abundance is worried because your divine power hasn’t fully recovered. She heard that this monstrous apostle has potential for transcendence. She says you’ll need at least ten people to bring him down. She also warns that it’ll be dangerous for you to face him alone.]

Actually, she might be right. Oddly enough, I knew what was going on out there right now. Was it because my followers, Sung Mi-Ri and Sword Demon, were fighting against Gustav at this moment? Or was it because of another power I had yet to recognize?”

“Well,” I scratched my head, slowly stretching my body. “I still have to try.”

[Infinite Abundance is tearful, saying you’re already a great benevolent god.]

Tzzz—

Like a daydream, Infinite Abundance’s territory vanished, and I woke up to reality.

-God Yu Il-Shin! Are you awake?

My bodyguard, Death Knight Hades, hurriedly reached out to me. I had no time to waste.

“Hades, just to be safe, stay here and protect the students.”

Briefly, Hades flinched, but then he bowed deeply.

-I shall abide by your command. But, if you’re in any danger, I won’t hesitate to come to you.

I tried to equip my malevolent title, but to no avail. I had exhausted my divine power.

In that case, Il-Ho, lend me your power for a bit.

Il-Ho, let me use your power for a bit.

“Skill Sharing... Il-Ho, Strong Body.”

Crunch! Cruuunch!

My body transformed; my muscles rippled as strength surged like lava through my body.

“M-Mr. Yu Il-Shin?” The students withdrew in surprise.

Slam!

I charged toward Gustav, crushing the ground with my feet.

***

Sung Mi-Na and Gustav were still at standstill. Sung Mi-Ri had fainted.

“Uuugh!”

Meanwhile, Sword Demon desperately tried to free both himself and her from Gustav’s grasp. Yet, no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t move.

“Darn it! I should’ve helped the disciple escape before he made his move!”

Just then, the state of Sung Mi-Na and Gustav changed.

Drip, drip drip.

Rotten blood trickled from Sung Mi-Na’s nose. At the same time, Gustav’s body shook violently, as if the chains binding him were breaking.

In Sung Mi-Na’s mental space...

Flick! Flick!

Sung Mi-Na used all her power to bind the raging Gustav with chains.

-Grrrr!

Countless black chains wrapped Gustav’s huge body, so much so that his hide couldn’t be seen. He sunk into the mental swamp.

Shaaaa!

Just then, Gustav\'s reptilian eyes turned.

-I\'m Gustav, apostle and harvester under the great god\'s command!

Pop! Pop pop!

The chains binding Gustav shattered one by one.

“No, no! Please!”

Drip—

Despite the blood trickling from her eyes, Sung Mi-Na continued to pour all her power into restricting Gustav.

Crunch! Crunch!

-Gaaaah!

The pain, akin to being ripped apart, enraged Gustav. He unleashed a portion of the divine power bestowed upon him.

-Bitch! How dare a mere human sacrifice try to restrain me! I’m blessed by god!

Bam bam bam bam!

“Eeeeek!”

A deafening roar, akin to a dark typhoon, laid Sung Mi-Na’s mental space to waste.

“Koff!”

Sung Mi-Na coughed putrid blood in reality.

Stumble—

She fell from Gustav’s head, oozing black blood from all her orifices.

“Ms. Sung Mi-Na!” Choi Eun-Bi screamed as she witnessed it. Despite being an S-rank Hunter, Sung Mi-Na was grievously wounded. If she fell from such a height...

At that moment, the unchained Gustav came back to his senses.

-How dare a mere sacrifice insult me!

In blind rage, Gustav stretched his mouth open, about to swallow the falling Sung Mi-Na whole.

“Aaaaaah!”

Afraid to witness the imminent tragedy, Choi Eun-Bi shut her eyes tightly.

Grab! Slam! Crunch!

Gustav chomped down, only to realize that he was biting air.

In anger, he looked down. A muscular man had appeared out of nowhere, carrying the bloody Sung Mi-Na in his arms.

-Grrrr. Who are you!

Clunk clunk!

Instead of replying to Gustav, the man went to the corner to pick up something. A wooden box that had been rattling violently since earlier.

-She is my sacrifice! I’m offering her to god! Put her down!

Gustav bared his teeth, letting out a threatening, angry growl.

“Keke... Kekekeke!”

That man merely sneered at him in return.

-How dare you...

Gustav was speechless. The muscular man may be a decent S-rank Human, but that was all. He was so full of himself! Did he know that Gustav could break through an SS-rank mental space?

Gustav could not forgive this man.

-Die, you insolent worm!

Gustav pivoted his huge tail, whipping at the muscular man.

Swoosh!

It was even faster than when he attacked Sword Demon, almost reaching the speed of sound. But just as his tail was about to land...

Slice!

Instantly, Gustav’s eyes widened.

Flick!

Something very familiar flew into the air.

Thud!

Then, it fell on the ground. It was his tail, sliced into two.

-Gaaaaah! My tail! My precious tail!

Gustav let out a piercing scream while clutching his severed tail.

The muscular man, carrying Sung Mi-Na in one hand and a grotesque knife in the other, was none other than Yu Il-Shin.

“Keke! Crocodile, more. I want to cut more of you!” Yu Il-Shin roared.