Chapter 119: The Murderous Intent Within Me

Before the war between the Church of Creation and South Korea broke out, a broadcast began.

Although internet broadcasting was a popular trend, who would be interested in a mere stream with a war looming?

Surprisingly, there were many.

It was because the person who started the broadcast was none other than the famous KSW.

[Viewer Count: 1,100,398]

As soon as the broadcast started, the number of viewers surpassed one million.

Part of it was because KSW was a famous figure who had led the revival of internet broadcasting, but the real issue was the title of the stream.

[Requesting a 1:1 duel with Leon of the Church of Creation.]

In the past, this was known as a real-world PK.

This provocative title possessed a strange magic that forced people to watch even if they knew it was bait, and thus, it worked its magic by filling the room with an enormous number of viewers in the shortest time possible.

On the broadcast screen that succeeded in drawing such attention was a single person.

“I am Kim Si-won.”

It was a voice that lacked any hint of emotional heightening.

No, it wasn’t just his tone that lacked emotion.

Not a single expression could be read on his face, as if one were looking at a cyborg.

Even in the midst of the crisis where the Church of Creation was about to descend, his poker face remained unchanged.

That alone was enough to show what a remarkable individual he was.

“I have heard that a declaration of war against South Korea, where I reside, will soon be made. Therefore, I wish to deliver a message through this broadcast to reduce useless sacrifices.”

A message directed at someone.

Everyone could guess where that message was headed.

“Leon. I request a 1:1 duel with him, the master of the Church of Creation and the Demigod of Creation.”

An honest title.

An honest message.

Just as written in the broadcast title, Kim Si-won was requesting a 1:1 duel with Leon, the Demigod of Creation worshiped by the Church of Creation.

Although he added the words about avoiding useless sacrifices, most people interpreted it as a last-ditch effort.

It was because he seemed to be trying to induce a 1:1 duel out of fear toward the Church of Creation, which was incomparable in terms of scale.

However.

“Some might think that I am afraid. But not at all. I am certain that I will be the victor in this war. However, that victory would be nothing more than a flag planted atop a mountain of miserable corpses.”

His words were entirely correct.

No matter how superior the Church of Creation was in terms of military strength, South Korea had Kim Si-won.

As he had proven countless times before, his singular power far surpassed that of a nation.

Even with Leon standing by the Church of Creation, it would not be easy to stop Kim Si-won if he decided to engage in guerrilla warfare.

It was the same logic as the US Army, despite boasting overwhelming power, suffering significant damage by Vietnam. 

No matter how overwhelming one’s forces were, damage was inevitable as long as Kim Si-won was present.

Everyone had expected as much and he pointed out this very fact accurately.

“How many will die the moment I set my mind to it? I do not know the exact number, but many who participate in this war will perish. I am making this proposal now to prevent that.”

A 1:1 duel to avoid sacrifice.

The justification was certainly plausible.

“Furthermore, is the Leon you worship not the Demigod of Creation? Surely such a great being isn’t avoiding me because he is afraid? He must be certain that he can win, right?”

He then struck at Leon’s pride.

He was the Demigod of Creation, after all.

Would a unique and peerless being avoid a challenge?

“Or is he intending to ignore the sacrifices of the believers who worship him?”

That would be an act of betraying the faith of his followers.

That was exactly what Kim Si-won was aiming for.

It was a decisive attack intended to make the duel unavoidable.

“A trap? There is no need to worry about that. If the other side decides the date, the location, and everything else, I will follow along obediently. However, it must be a 1:1 duel. As long as that rule is kept, I intend to accept the duel without any complaints.”

As an explanation to counter the distrust regarding a trap, he gave the other side the right to choose the location and date.

“If you want the duel, please contact me in any way possible. I shall look forward to that day.”

With those final words, spoken as if he were certain the offer would be accepted…

“Click.”

The broadcast ended.

It was a short broadcast lasting only about three minutes.

However, when the broadcast finished, the viewer count was staggering.

[Viewer Count: 23,517,990]

It reached nearly 24 million.

It meant that almost everyone capable of watching the broadcast had seen it.

As if proving this ripple effect, news headlines began to pour out.

— Kim Si-won’s Provocation. Will the Church of Creation accept it?

— A Trap? But it is the only way to avoid sacrifice. We hope for a wise choice.

— The Church of Creation has yet to issue an official statement. Do they intend to see blood in the end?

Currently, the Church of Creation ruled the world.

Naturally, public opinion had mostly been very aggressive toward Kim Si-won and South Korea, but that was reversed by a single broadcast.

Even as time passed, subtle criticism continued toward the Church of Creation for not issuing an official statement.

It was inevitable, as the human desire for life takes precedence over everything else.

Even if it was a war with an overwhelming difference in strength, it was a war where sacrifices would be heavy because of Kim Si-won.

An option had appeared that could prevent the sacrifices of that war and settle things cleanly through a 1:1 duel.

Ordinary citizens—no, even most of those belonging to the Church of Creation—were in a position where they had to welcome it.

There was no way anyone in the world would enjoy a place of death or war.

Therefore, they subtly criticized and pressured the Church of Creation to make a wise choice.

Not long after.

“I am Leon.”

Just like Kim Si-won’s broadcast, Leon, the Demigod of Creation, appeared in person to conduct a broadcast.

“The duel proposed by Kim Si-won… I will gladly accept it. The Church of Creation does not force your sacrifice.”

Leon had accepted the duel.

“The time will be 10 days from now, in Seoul, South Korea. I shall be looking forward to that day.”

The response to the provocation was clear.

Just like his opponent, Leon had chosen Seoul, South Korea, as the location to avoid the stigma of it being a trap.

The duel of the century, which might decide the fate of Earth, was now 10 days away.

***

“The time will be 10 days from now, in Seoul, South Korea. I shall be looking forward to that day.”

I was watching that scene being transmitted through the internet broadcast just a moment ago.

“…Good.”

My reaction was singular.

He took the bait.

I knew he wouldn’t back out.

If he avoided the match for no reason here, the faith of his believers might vanish.

Of course, now that his divinity had disappeared, I wondered what meaning that held, but…

‘It’s different for them.’

They aren’t human.

They had to be wary of human distrust, and they had no choice but to crawl onto the stage I had prepared.

That was why they were the Demon Clan and the Gods.

It was a very welcome development.

However, the match would take place in 10 days.

‘I cannot guarantee victory.’

Setting such a short deadline as if to leave no room for error was a clever move.

Of course.

‘Salmora must be behind this.’

Seeing how they observed the situation instead of reacting immediately, Salmora must have read the situation.

Giving a short deadline…

That was likely intended to prevent me from preparing anything and it was a fairly wise decision.

If the deadline had been longer, I could have prepared more, but that hope had vanished.

Therefore, I had to hurry.

I had to prepare to face the God of Creation, Taecho.

‘No, is it Leon now?’

I should correct myself.

The God Taecho no longer existed.

With the destruction of Asgard, he had become a being named Leon, not Taecho.

However, that did not lead to a weakening of his combat power.

‘As his Rank disappeared, the faith he had gained until now—that worship—seeped into his flesh.’

As Asgard was destroyed, the device that accumulated the power of faith disappeared.

Because of that, the faith accumulated until now had seeped entirely into his physical strength.

Until recently, the Church of Creation was the largest denomination spanning the entire world—and of course, it still was.

What did that mean?

It meant the energy currently seeping into his body was at a level I could hardly handle.

In contrast, what about me?

‘I am pathetic.’

I had once garnered attention with The Only Order, but since the appearance of the Church of Creation, I had been sidelined.

Thanks to that, my physical abilities had only risen a little.

If I were to convert that energy into a percentage, it would be around 5% of my prime.

With that power, which was 50% at most, handling the current Taecho, Leon, was impossible.

If the duel were to happen right now, I would surely lose.

Nevertheless, I had requested the duel because there was one variable.

“Whew—”

I exhaled, stabilizing my breathing.

I sat cross-legged and entered a state of Meditation.

It wasn’t simple meditation, but rather a contemplation of my interior.

Not long after, I could feel something rebelling violently.

‘It’s been a while.’

The thing expressing displeasure at my gaze…

It was me, but also a being that was not me.

In truth, it was impossible for a human to endure 1,000 years with a sound mind.

In the case of someone like Belmond, he maintained his mind with the single-minded goal of conquering the continent, but I had divided myself into several personalities.

“Get lost!”

Among them, the one showing hostility toward me was ‘Murderous Intent.’

I had once entrusted my body to this murderous intent in order to survive.

He was… a specialist in killing.

Among all my personalities, he was the being who showed the most outstanding performance regarding the act of killing someone.

That included not only humans but also monsters, the Demon Clan, and even Gods.

While he dominated the body, I created countless acts of death.

As a result, I gained the alias of the Butcher.

[Butcher Berdan]

Of course, that was another being created by the murderous intent rather than me but he was dangerous.

Since he was born solely for the act of killing, he was frantic about killing living organisms.

So, I sealed him.

“You ungrateful brat. Do you know how many times I’ve saved your life?”

That fact was the reason he was hostile toward me.

“You used me whenever it was dangerous, and then you threw me away when I was no longer needed. I’d rather perish than help you.”

He knew.

He knew the fact that I needed him.

He had to.

‘There’s no chance of winning unless I absorb his killing techniques.’

Only by absorbing him, who possessed absolute talent and ability for killing, could I at least have a chance in the match against Leon.

However, he ignored my circumstances even while knowing them.

Just as I had sealed him in the past.

“I knew you wouldn’t help.”

That was a natural reaction but even so, I needed his power.

Then, what should I do?

“Let’s have a match.”

Just as I had challenged Leon to a duel, I did the same to him.

“The winner of this match gets control over the body.”

And that was a shocking condition that could not help but pique his interest.