On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 151: Gather Around, Forest of Beasts! (3)

Flash! Ruuumble!

Like spiderwebs, lightning crisscrossed the night sky, threatening to split the world.

“Aaargh!” Il-Ho screamed at the top of his lungs, as if torn apart. Not even his steel-like muscles could protect himself from the terrifying lightning.

“How dare a filthy insect sully this paradise under my watch!” the shrouded, mysterious, strange man yelled. As enormous waves of lightning spewed out from his wooden staff, his face was revealed. He was a raccoon with a huge black spot on his face.

“Get lost, Insect!”

That was the last Il-Ho heard from the raccoon.

“Aaargh!”

Slam! Flick!

Scorched by lightning, Il-Ho was thrown off the island in an instant.

Caw, caw—

Inside a shack with a pointed roof that resembled an urchin, Rollie was asleep. She was suddenly woken up by the loud rumbling of thunder. She saw a burning meteor crossing the sky through the window.

Rollie murmured, feeling anxious, “Is that... Il-Ho?”

***

“Il-Ho! Where are you?” Rollie rolled all over the island as soon as day broke, looking for Il-Ho, but he was nowhere to be seen. Tears welled up in Rollie's eyes.

“Waaah! Guys, did you see Il-Ho anywhere?”

The animals, who had been working hard in the fields since the early morning, looked at Rollie curiously.

“Il-Ho? Who is that?”

“Did we have a friend by that name-nya?”

“It's my first time hearing that name.”

“Rollie, are you mistaken?”

Aji the dog wiped the tears off Rollie's face with a handkerchief. “Our cheerful Rollie must have had a nightmare. Look at all the tears-woof!”

“Don't cry, Rollie. It's your birthday today, isn't it!”

“Hoohoo. Look forward to it. I'll give you an amazing violin performance today!”

“Mongsil will give you a sweater made from my own wool!”

“It’s a party! A party! I’m excited-oink!”

The fox, sheep, and pig beamed at Rollie, circling her, but she found them strange. Why did they all forget about Il-Ho? Although Il-Ho had only joined them recently, he was still their dear friend. He helped Minyang plow the fields with his bare hands, pulled out a huge boulder stuck in Piggy’s wasteland, and even saved Waddly from a shark while fishing by the waters.

So, how could no one remember Il-Ho?

A few hours later, the party celebrating Rollie’s birthday began.

“Rollie, Rollie~ Happy birthday!”

“Try some of this, oink oink! I grew these pork potatoes!”

“I got these pearl shells from the sea!”

It was a wonderful birthday party, with tons of presents from Rollie’s friends. Delicious food was served, accompanied by lively music, but Rollie wasn’t happy at all.

Hic. Il-Ho, where are you?

Only thoughts of Il-Ho filled Rollie’s mind.

“Is everyone enjoying the party?”

Just then, a voice that sounded like iron scraping against each other rang over the music.

“Ah, that person is...?”

“It’s the apostle-nya!”

In the distance, stood a dwarf covered in filthy black robes, carrying an old staff.

“All hail to the apostle of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity!”

The faces of the Divine Beasts lit up as they bowed down respectfully in unison.

The same dwarf had protected them from the God of Destroyer and brought them to this paradise island, Eden.

Sss—

The apostle pulled back its hood, revealing a raccoon with a wrinkled face.

“Apostle, for what business have you descended today? Have you brought us a new friend-moo?” asked Aray, the cow with a magnificent physique, on behalf of the other Divine Beasts on the island.

The apostle would visit Eden once or twice a year with a newcomer to introduce to the island.

The raccoon apostle, Zappa, glanced briefly at Rollie, then raised his hands with those ugly fingernails. “I have descended to celebrate Rollie’s birthday.”

Sparkle sparkle! @@novelbin@@

A golden apple, shining like the sun, dazzled in the raccoon’s hands.

“Here, take it, Rollie. Don’t you always long for this golden apple? It’s imbued with the divine power of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity. He has bestowed this special gift upon you.”

The eyes of the other Divine Beasts widened.

“Isn’t that the golden apple-oink!”

“Waaah! Rollie must be ecstatic!”

“I’m envious-woof!”

In Zappa’s hand was the golden apple all the Divine Beasts coveted—the ancient treasure that could apparently resurrect the fallen world that was destroyed by God of Destroyer.

Yet, something was strange. As much as she wanted the golden apple, as much as she wanted to bring back those who served her and her family...

I-I’m scared!

For some reason, the sight of the golden fruit only filled her with extreme dread! Was this an animal’s instinct? The fruit was akin to the shiny antennae of a deep-sea lanternfish luring its prey, Rollie.

“What's wrong? Could it be that you’re refusing the sacred gift god has specially prepared for you?”

Seeing Rollie's hesitation, Zappa's face crumpled.

“Rollie, what are you doing-nya?”

“Are you not going to accept the golden apple bestowed by god-woof?”

“This is sacrilege!”

Tzzz!

The other Divine Beasts turned red with anger.

“G-guys, what's wrong?” Rollie asked, retreating with fear.

“Grrr!”

They surrounded Rollie so that she couldn't escape, stretching their claws toward her.

“Eat it already-nya!”

“God wants you, Rollie-woof!”

“Eat the apple, or I’ll pluck off all your thorns!”

Rollie shrieked as her friends tried to force-feed her the apple.

“Aaaah! Il-Ho! Save me!”

Shudder!

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Zappa's eyebrows wriggled and her grey eyes stared at the far end of the island.

“Seems like that insect hasn't given up yet.”

Zappa stomped his staff on the ground and cried out solemnly, “I, Zappa, Apostle of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity, won’t allow any insects on our sacred island! Eden! I command you in the name of Zappa, fly!”

As if responding to his command, the island rumbled.

Then, a colossal flying whale, carrying the whole island on its back, wriggled its fins and flew toward the clear blue sky. It was the hidden creature of Eden, also known as the 666th Divine Beast.

***

Sss—

Charred by the lightning, Il-Ho drifted unconsciously on the sea. After a while, his eyes finally fluttered open.

“My eyes...”

Did his eyes get injured by the lightning? Everything in his view looked blurry, as if shrouded in fog.

“Ah, I'm still too weak.” Il-Ho let out a deep sigh. The muscles that he was so proud of couldn’t withstand the lightning of the malevolent god’s apostle. Could he even call himself a warrior at this point?

“Aaaah! Il-Ho! Save me!”

Just then, he heard a faint cry from Rollie. She was desperately asking for his help.

“I must go!”

Il-Ho snapped to reality.

He clenched his jaws until they bled. Although he hadn’t fully recovered and felt numb all over, he moved toward Rollie’s scream. He’d save the pity party for later, after saving her.

Chaaak!

Il-Ho’s movement parted the calm sea like a violent wave, and the silhouette of an enormous island came to his view.

“Just wait a little while more, Rollie! Il-Ho is coming!”

But then, he saw the “island” move, followed by a deafening roar of a beast that could shake up the heavens and earth.

Ruuuumble!

The “island” lurched ferociously, and tsunami waves, incomparable to the ones that he’d created, engulfed him.

“...Puha! Cough!” Il-Ho sank to the seabed and resurfaced, catching his breath. By then, the island was already gone from his sight.

Roooooar!

Instead, a huge shadow loomed over him. He looked up in surprise, seeing a silhouette of an indescribably large beast flying in the air amidst the fog, flapping its giant fins.

“I don’t want to eat iiiit! Il-Hoooo! Save me!”

Il-Ho heard Rollie’s scream again, this time from above. He fell into despair. Not only was he partially blinded, he was adrift in the sea. He couldn’t think of a way to chase the beast that flew in the sky.

“O’ great and merciful God Yu Il-Shin... Are you watching me?”

Trickle!

Hot, salty tears streamed down Il-Ho’s face, pouring into the sea like rain.

“I, Warrior Il-Ho, am still too weak and helpless. Still, I dare to ask you to please bestow upon me wings that could chase after and save those poor Divine Beasts held captive by the wicked god!” like a man grasping at straws, Il-Ho prayed desperately to Yu Il-Shin.

The entire time, all Il-Ho felt was dread. Could God Yu Il-Shin really grant him wings? After all, there was a limit to his god’s divine power. In fact, God Yu Il-Shin almost met his end at the hands of the three evil gods of the Three Martial Association.

-...Is that Il-Ho? Ugh, my head. My head’s finally clearing. Damn it. What was that dream from earlier?

God Yu Il-Shin’s voice came through, sounding like he was in pain.

-Argh, Il-Ho. You wanted wings, right? Wait a moment, I may have something that could work. Hey, Mr. Gal Joong-Hyuk. Can I borrow that for a while?

-W-what are you doing! Don’t touch my armor!

-Geez, it’s just for a while.

Baaam! Slaam!

-Aaargh! S-stop! J-just kill me already!

An explosion and terrifying scream rang in the air.

-Sheesh. Stay still and stop whining. Um, the size is kinda big for you. Il-Ho, can you increase your size? To the maximum?

Il-Ho didn’t understand why, but he still did according to God Yu Il-Shin’s instructions anyway.

“Skill, Enlargement!”

Tzzz!

Then, Il-Ho grew to the size of a male human with the skill.

-Good. Take this, Il-Ho.

Ding!

[God Yu Il-Shin has bestowed upon Warrior and his Temporary Apostle Il-Ho the Soul Mecha Lazenca.]

[There won’t be any penalties as this isn’t considered direct aid.]

Riiip!

The air split open, and a black armor flew down on Il-Ho.

Clank! Clank!

They stuck onto Il-Ho like a magnet. However, it was no ordinary armor. His burn injury no longer hurt. Even his sight recovered, and a familiar text appeared in his view.

[Recognizing new user, Il-Ho. Soul Sync On... Sync rate 100%!]

[User Il-Ho and Soul Mecha Lazenca are fully assimilated!]

[Soul Mecha Lazenca senses the will of pilot Il-Ho. Do you wish to use the flight function?]

Il-Ho burst into tears of joy.

Ah, how dare I doubt God Yu Il-Shin, the omnipotent being!

-Fly, Il-Ho!

“Yes sir! At your command, O’ great and merciful God Yu Il-Shin!”

Swoosh!

Clad in the Soul Mecha Lazenca, Il-Ho swooped across the sea toward Eden, the flying whale.