On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 132: The Slumbering Water Goddess and Divine Beast Akdol

As they said, time flew when one was enjoying themselves or hyper-fixated on something.

In the Jin Dynasty, China, there was a story about a woodcutter named Wang Zhi. When he wandered in the mountains, he came across some people playing Go. He lost track of time, and before he knew it, his axe had rusted.

It was an exaggerated tale, but time flowed differently between the realms of gods and humans.

***

Clang! Ruuumble!

Red and black flames engulfed the sky, followed by the rumbling of thunder. It was as if the sky was divided into two.

-Krik?

The red birds that frantically attacked Il-ho and the cactus girl stopped in an instant. They exchanged glances, before screeching at the top of their lungs and soaring into the sky.

The cactus girl looked up in bewilderment. “W-what just happened?”

Il-Ho stiffened and did the same. His guts told him that God Yu Il-Shin was fighting in the skies!

“You thieves! Take me with you! Muuuuscles!”

Bam bam bam!

“Eeek!”

Il-Ho whipped up a sandstorm as he leaped into the sky.

Grab!

“Gotcha!”

He grabbed a hold of the mysterious bird’s tail.

-Kieeek!

Screeching, it tried to shake off Il-Ho, only for him to tighten his grip even more, unwilling to let go.

“You bastard! Stop struggling and bring me to God Yu Il-Shin right now!”

-Kieee!

Sss—

The other birds exchanged dreary glances, looking at Il-Ho with their beaks open. Suddenly, the bird Il-Ho latched on burst into flames, sending him crashing to the ground.

-Kiiieeek!

After casually killing their fellow, the birds hurried back to their master, who was still fighting Yu Il-Shin.

“Eep! Oh no!” the cactus girl exclaimed, rushing over to them.

The burning bird laid in the middle of the desert, emanating a delicious scent.

“W-warrior! A-are you alright?”

Jump!

Despite being crushed by the dead bird, Il-Ho jumped to his feet. Despite being charred all over, he glared furiously at the black dots in the sky.

“Keugh! Those darn bastards! How dare they interfere! I must hurry and help God Yu Il-Shin!” Il-Ho clenched his fist, slamming it on the ground in anger. The impact was so immense, it brought upon a sandstorm that shook the earth.

“Waaah! You’re amazing!” the cactus girl, who watched in awe, grabbed Il-Ho’s strong arm. “I think you can wake our slumbering Water Goddess!”

“Water Goddess? Who is that?”

“The creator of this world, and the great god that I worship!” the cactus girl then began telling her story.

Originally, this world wasn’t a desert, but a beautiful one, with two-thirds of it covered in pristine water. But one day, an evil god who coveted their world, Fire Shining in the Highest Skies, appeared. He was the very same colossal, second sun that hung in the sky.

With his power, the evil god dried up the waters of this world. He also instructed his alter egos to kill the Water Goddess’ followers to weaken her. Thus, this world became a desert.

Il-Ho shook his head as he listened to her story in silence.

“While I feel sorry for your plight, I don’t have time for this! I must help God Yu Il-Shin right now!”

“The time in the god realm flows differently from ours, s-so there’s still plenty of time! Besides, I’m sorry to say this, but you have no way to ascend to the heavens, is there?”

“Ack.”

She’s right... Il-Ho gulped dryly.

The cactus girl knelt before Il-Ho. “Please help me! Though weakened, our Water Goddess is still a High-tier God! Surely, she’ll be able to help your God Yu Il-Shin!”

Her desperate plea and tearful eyes moved Il-Ho. Certainly, rather than standing idly, he should do something that could help Yu Il-Shin win his battle.

“Alright! Tell me, what should I do?”

The cactus girl jumped to her feet, exclaiming in delight.

“W-what did you just say? Did I hear that correctly?” Il-Ho doubted his ears.

The cactus girl nodded vigorously and handed Il-Ho a shovel. “Yes! Please dig the ground with me now!”

***

Back in the Holy Nation of Gayami, in the castle’s training ground, a man glared fiercely at a boulder multiple times his size with a spear in hand.

“Hyaaa!”

With that scream, the spear shot out like a flash, piercing cleanly through the boulder.

Clap clap clap!

“Amazing, Sir Yi-Ho.”

A tall, white-haired knight joined the training ground.

“Sir Cheon-Ho.” Yi-Ho bowed slightly. He was the captain of the Guards of Gayami nation.

Cheon-Ho gazed admiringly at the broken boulder. “You seem to improve every time I see you. I’m no match for you now.”

“I’m honored by your compliment, General Cheon-Ho of the Termite Kingdom. But compared to Il-Ho, I’m still far off.”

“Haha, who’d dare to compare themselves against the greatest warrior on the continent?”

Yi-Ho fell silent at his words. Originally, Yi-Ho and Il-Ho were in a close race for the title of their tribe’s greatest warrior. But now, the gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

“I have a favor to ask, Sir Cheon-Ho.”

“Haha, please speak.”

“Would you be willing to take the position of captain of the Guards in my stead?” Yi-Ho asked.

Cheon-Ho’s expression stiffened. “I’m overwhelmed by the sudden request. Is something wrong?”

Yi-Ho tightened the grip on his spear. “I am planning to challenge the Tower of Warriors as well.”

The Tower of Warriors was built by God Yu Il-Shin using his divine power. According to the legend, those who climbed and emerged at the top would gain unparalleled power. Il-Ho, whose name and fame as a warrior had spread far and wide across the continent, was climbing it.

“But that place is extremely dangerous! Didn’t God Yu Il-Shin and Holy Empress Anty forbid entry to it?”

“I’m about to ask for their permission.”

For a while now, Yi-Ho had been feeling helpless. Compared to the overwhelming divine power of the apostles, his physical strength was nothing. He hadn’t challenged the Tower of Warriors with the excuse of being Anty’s bodyguard. But now with so many other great warriors joining the Gayami Nation, including Cheon-Ho, there was no need for him to remain here any longer.

“You seem to have made up your mind. Still, even Il-Ho struggled in the Tower of Warriors.”

“I am prepared for it.” Yi-Ho’s eyes burned with determination. He was willing to risk his life to become stronger.

Slam! Ruuumble!

Just then, an explosion echoed through the castle, and both men turned toward the sound in panic. The guards rushed toward them, looking pale.

“What’s going on?”

“We’re in huge trouble! H-Holy Empress Anty has been kidnapped by Divine Beast Akdol!”

Cheon-Ho was stunned. “What?! Is that true?!”

Craaack!

Yi-Ho gritted his teeth in an instant, sprinting toward the castle. “S-Sir Yi-Ho!”

It has happened! @@novelbin@@

In fact, Yi-Ho didn’t like Akdol at all. He merely tolerated it because Holy Empress Anty was fond of it. However, the malicious aura exuding from it made it impossible to be considered as a divine beast. Seeing it being fed like a pig and lazing around in its own mud pond had made Yi-Ho let his guard down!

Yi-Ho’s eyes burned with rage. “You ungrateful brat! If you as much as hurt Her Majesty Anty just a little bit, I’ll make sure to pierce through your skull!”

***

The entire Holy Nation of Gayami was turned upside down.

“Kyaaa! Run!”

“Divine beast Akdol has gone insane! He’s trying to eat our Holy Empress Anty!”

With his short legs, Akdol raced across the continent at tremendous speed.

“A-Akdol? What are you doing! Let go of me now before something irreversible happens!” Anty screamed in panic while being held by Akdol in his mouth.

However, Akdol didn’t listen and merely ran away from the pursuing soldiers.

-Krr, krrr

Akdol acted out of the norm because his brothers had entered this world. At first, he thought that they were here to save him, only to realize how absurd that was. Didn’t they abandon him before he was even born?

It was the law of the jungle. They could be blood siblings, but the weaker ones would be abandoned. Akdol had been napping in his mud pond until a while ago, but turned berserk after the dream he had.

In the dream, his crocodile brothers were working on a big mission. With every swipe of their claws and tails, mountains crumbled, the ground split, and glittering gold emerged.

-Take the sacrifice to the monsters!

The imperial soldiers rushed in, delivering the gold they mined to the Creation-type Hunters.

Tzzz! Flash!

The drooling Hunters, whose brains were wired with webs, would use the gold to summon legendary equipment.

-Incredible!

The spider, Arachne, marveled at the sight.

-At this rate, we’ll be able to attain our goal much sooner than expected!

-Keke, this is nothing.

The leader, Alpha, a giant black crocodile, looked down arrogantly at Arachne.

-But you didn’t ask us here to just dig for gold, did you?

-Hoho, of course not. It’s all for the sake of defeating that evil god. We’ll start by destroying the area where he is gathering his faith and followers.

-Krr. I’m looking forward to that.

Alpha and Arachne exchanged glances with menacing laughter.

Akdol broke out in cold sweat as he recalled that nightmare. Despite being abandoned, he still shared a psychic connection with his blood siblings, thanks to his mother, Gustav.

His brothers were coming for them! They wanted to reduce this entire nation—the source of God Yu Il-Shin’s divine power, to ashes!

-Krr! Krr!

Akdol might not be close to his mother’s nemesis, Yu Il-Shin, or the people of this nation, but Anty was different. Anty was his savior—the first person in this world to show him kindness. He knew his brothers would never spare her.

“Akdol! Stop, please!”

Akdol ignored Anty’s cries. He could’ve been amassing strength, but he wasn’t confident he could defeat even one of his brothers. Getting away from this place, even just for a little while, was the only way to save her.

“You ungrateful beast! Die!”

Along with that yell full of rage...

Swaaah!

A spear flew toward Akdol’s head at the speed of light.