On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 172: #Earth’s Strongest Uncle (3)

Oh god!! This can’t be happening!!

Choi Bong-Shik watched the monsters emerge through the crack in horror.

There must be at least a hundred of them!

Even more alarming than that was the fact that they all looked familiar to him. Kaizer Hydra, who reduced San Francisco into a toxic death swamp. The master of the labyrinth dungeon, Minotauros, whom the former Hermit, Choi Kang-San, had risked his life to defeat. Then, the nightmare of planes, known as the Wings of Death, Archaeopteryx...

Choi Bong-Shik had learned these subjects during his undergraduate studies at the Hunter Academy in New York. They were S-rank and above monsters that had left their marks on the history of mankind—and now, they stood right in front of him.

But what’s that one over there?

He spotted an odd-looking monster amid them. Compared to other massive monsters towering 5 to 30 meters, its 2-meter height made it look like a midget. However, it had the head of a lion and the tail of a snake, walking on two legs and was even armed.

The lion-headed monster’s jaundiced eyes looked in Yu Il-Shin’s direction, baring its sharp fangs.

-Are you the god of this planet, Yu Il-Shin?

It spoke in a strange tongue that sounded more like a lion’s growl. In response, Yu Il-Shin smirked and nodded.

“That I am. Astute judgment, Lion.”

-I’m the Apostle of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity, and also his third son—the great demigod, Lyonos. I’ve come to punish you on his behalf for plundering his sacrifices and refusing to duel in a Sacrificial War with him.

Busy cultivating, Malevolent Yu Il-Shin had disconnected himself from the main body for a while. As such, he was unaware of the events related to the Divine Beasts in Eden. Not that he was all that interested, either.

“Pfft! A lion is sending another lion?!” If anything, he found the entire situation to be hilarious.

Lyonos’ expression contorted ferociously.

-Grrr! You’re indeed as arrogant as I’ve heard! We are different from the army of Ruler of the Abyssal Swamp! These are the elites of the elites who serve my father, and I am a Mid-tier God who has inherited his divine blood!

-Unlike you, defeating Fire Shining in the Highest Skies isn’t even a struggle for us! Besides, you’ve just reached the Mid-tier status!

Crack!

The smile on Malevolent Yu Il-Shin’s face disappeared. Not only could he not stand his ground against the Sun God on his own that day, he even needed the help of Main Yu Il-Shin! Such an embarrassment it was!

“Do you wanna die, Insect?”

Rooooar!

A ferocious aura emitted from Malevolent Yu Il-Shin.

Meanwhile, Choi Bong-Shik, who watched, slowly backed away. They stood no chance! No matter how powerful Yu Il-Shin was, there was no way he could take on all of those legendary monsters on his own!! Just a single blow from one of them could devastate an entire city!

Choi Bong-Shik shut his eyes tight. All the attention was on Yu Il-Shin! This was his only opportunity to escape!

Flash! Swoosh!

Choi Bong-Shik disappeared from the site, reappearing in the air 2 km away from Dysneiland in a flash. Seeing the monsters and Yu Il-Shin reduced to dots on the ground, he bit his lip hard.

I have no choice!

It was unfortunate, but fighting those monsters head-on was just suicide.

I’ll bring reinforcements as soon as I can, so just hold out until then!

If he could enlist help from America’s SSS-rank Hunter Royce and her special Hunters...! He attempted another teleportation.

Hooooowl!

A sonic boom echoed as a clawed hand seized his head.

-Grr, got you!

“Aaaargh!”

The claws sank into his head, instantly covering his face in blood. Enduring the searing pain threatening to knock him out, Choi Bong-Shik turned to face his captor.

It was the lion monster, Lyonos.

H-how?

Did this monster also have Spatial-type abilities? Still clutching onto Choi Bong-Shik, Lyonos stomped its feet on the ground.

Baaam!

The earth underneath its feet crumbled.

Thud!

With a single leap, Lyonos brought Choi Bong-Shik back to Dysneiland, where Yu Il-Shin was.

Flick!

Then, Lyonos threw the half-dead Choi Bong-Shik at Yu Il-Shin’s feet with contempt.

-Grrr. How dare a servant abandon his god to flee! The standards on this planet are ridiculous.

-Kikikiki!

The beasts laughed with mockery.

Holy shit, I-I’m dead meat...

Choi Bong-Shik fell into despair. Despite only suffering one blow, he could tell from his countless battle experiences that this lion monster was an SSS-rank—or maybe much higher. In fact, it’d only used a fraction of its strength to subdue him earlier, like a lion playing with a mouse.

Swish!

Dozens of black tongues flicked out, and Kaizer Hydra looked at Lyonos.

-Hiss! Great Demigod Lyonos, may we have that servant?

-Do as you please. All Father wants is the young god’s head after all.

The other monsters cheered in delight.

Choi Bong-Shik shook in fear, tears running down his face. As an S-rank, his life was supposed to be easy! Yet, here he was, about to be eaten by a group of terrifying monsters! He hadn’t even been in a proper relationship!

-Grrr!

-Kikekekekek!

The monsters roared in glee, gaping their mouths at Choi Bong-Shik.

Baaam!

A shockwave hit the area along with a tremendous roar.

-Kieeek! Kyaaak!

The monsters roared, scrambling backward.

“Shut up, you filthy worms.”

Trudge trudge—

Yu Il-Shin stood between Choi Bong-Shik and the monsters.

Ah, is he going to save me?

Choi Bong-Shik was moved. He never expected Yu Il-Shin would come to his defense after he’d run like a coward... Being a slave to this man was worth it...

“I don’t care if you eat him,” said Yu Il-Shin.

Oh, he isn’t.

“You made Seong-Yeon cry.”

“Waaaah... Uncle... I’m scared.” Seong-Yeon burst into tears, hiding in Yu Il-Shin’s arms like a frightened little chick.

Because of those monsters, her innocent smile was gone. This was sacrilege! Yu Il-Shin felt a different emotion from anger.

Indeed, it was the kind of annoyance one felt when going on a delightful picnic with a carefully prepared, delicious lunch, only to find a swarm of insects on the food.

-Is that the god’s child?

Minotauros, a giant among the monsters, salivated at the sight of Seong-Yeon in Yu Il-Shin’s arms.

-Looks delicious...

Smack! Pwoosh! Thud!

In the next moment, Minotauros’ head was gone, and its body collapsed as blood spewed out like a fountain. Brushing off the blood at his feet, Yu Il-Shin bared his teeth like a beast.

“How dare you maggots run your tongues over what’s mine! Your sin warrants a thousand deaths!”

I didn’t even see him move!

Lyonos was struck with terror.

Despite being favored by his father and achieved the rank of a Mid-tier God, he couldn’t detect Yu Il-Shin’s move with his mana eyes.

Sss—

Yu Il-Shin looked at Seong-Yeon in his arms. No wonder she was frightened. The trauma of nearly being killed by the Spiky Rhinoceros was deeply engraved in her mind.

Yu Il-Shin gently hugged Seong-Yeon’s trembling head, and whispered in her ear, “Listen, Chae Seong-Yeon. You have nothing to fear in this world except for me, the Malevolent God Yu Il-Shin.”

“O-only you, Uncle?”

“Keke, that’s right. Everything you're afraid of is already dead by my hands!”

Seong-Yeon didn’t look up, burying her head in Yu Il-Shin’s embrace. She didn’t witness how wretched her uncle’s face had become.

Rooooar!

Baaam!

The earth shook. Lyonos saw the aura as black as sewage erupt from Yu Il-Shin like a volcano. He instinctively realized it was Yu Il-Shin’s divine power. At that moment, he knew this young god had to be killed at all costs, or he’d surely become an obstacle in the future.

-Grrr! Charge! We must kill him!

-Kiaaaak! For Beast of Deceit and Rapacity!

-You’ll become my meal, Young God!

Lyonos and the monsters went for Yu Il-Shin like a swarm of angry wasps.

***

Lyonos opened its mouth, trying to say something, but with only its head left, it could only spit out a noise like a deflated balloon.

-S-sav—

“Hmph!” Yu Il-Shin crushed its head without mercy. “Annoying insects.”

Yu Il-Shin frowned, wiping the blood off his face with his sleeve. His clothes were stained by the blood from the monsters, but not a single drop fell on Seong-Yeon.

Snore snore—

Seong-Yeon was fast asleep in his arms, either exhausted from all the crying or relieved.

Choi Bong-Shik shivered.

W-what did I just witness? How is all of this even possible?

The legendary beasts that once marked humanity's history had all been annihilated by a single human. They were crushed like bugs in a one-sided massacre, until nothing remained. Choi Bong-Shik collapsed into a pool of monsters' blood, recalling the earlier battle.

-Skill Sharing, Sung Mi-Na’s Power of Words.

-Kill each other.

Upon hearing Yu Il-Shin’s command, the monsters poised to attack him suddenly turned on their own comrades.

-Crushing Forefinger of God.

-Convicting Middle Finger of God.

Bam! Bam!

With each movement of his finger, the monsters were crushed and disintegrated by black flames.

-Demon Lord’s Descent!

With each swing of his sword, the SSS-rank monsters were effortlessly decapitated, falling one by one like slices of tofu.

W-what the hell is he?

Choi Bong-Shik was struck by awe and fear as he looked up at Yu Il-Shin.

Ding!

[Mid-tier Malevolent God Lyonos and the Hundred Apostles of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity have been reaped as sacrifices.]

-----

[Quest: High-tier Malevolent God Promotion (In Progress)]

Sacrifices of S-rank or higher intelligent beings with potential for transcendence: 2,644/10,000

(Predated Gods: Fire Shining in the Highest Skies equivalent to 2,000 S-ranks, Lyonos, Son of Beast of Deceit and Rapacity equivalent to 200 S-ranks.)

-----

Psss! Swoosh!

The monsters turned to ashes, quickly absorbed into God-Maker.

“How tiring. I don’t think there’s much time left.” Yu Il-Shin scanned their surroundings dryly. A number of powerful Hunters were coming in their direction. If the effect of the Proliferating Thumb of God wasn’t running out, he’d have subdued and made them his followers.

“Bong-Shik, take care of the rest.”

“P-pardon?”

“Skill Sharing, Choi Bong-Shik’s Ruler of Space.”

Flash!

Yu Il-Shin and Seong-Yeon disappeared immediately.

Whiiiing!

The monsters’ corpses and Yu Il-Shin disappeared without a trace, and peace had returned to Dysneiland as if nothing had ever happened.

Choi Bong-Shik felt that he had just woken up from a terrible nightmare.