He had beheaded the most wicked Legion Commanders.
Through those feats, he had attained High Divinity.
Hor, who had once lost all his power and fallen, had finally reclaimed a significant portion of his lost strength. Though he was not yet omniscient or omnipotent, he had once again grasped a Divine Power that bordered on the miraculous.
[Life Creation]
The God looked at his reclaimed power with a peculiar expression. It was a face that looked far too lonely to be expressing joy.
“To create a living, breathing life…”
His sigh-laden voice drifted through the air.
“I no longer have confidence in myself. It is a heavy and burdensome responsibility for me.”
Eyes that looked weary turned toward the outside. A war between the living and the dead was in full swing there. Magic poured down from the sky incessantly.
“Behold. Tragedy has occurred because of the creatures I created.”
The God spoke as if making a confession. Yet, even so, after his lips quivered several times, he looked at us again.
“I need this power.”
We were beings created from the power he required. Then where and how should we be used? Curiosity arose. I wanted to ask the reason for our birth.
*Skreeee!*
Then, from afar, a bird carrying three men let out a long cry. The sound gradually grew closer. The shouts of the men riding the bird were thunderous.
“Go now. Fulfill your duty as mediators.”
He called us mediators. Messengers of the high heavens, born to convey the will of God. We were Angels.
[We shall follow your command.]
*Flutter!*
Thirty pairs of wings flapped grandly. Soon, we left the Castle of Bones and scattered across the continents.
***
The daily routine of Huger, a Titan Marshal, was simple. He spent all day dueling Orcs who challenged him, then he went to sleep.
It was a simple schedule, but not an easy one. The Orcs of Titan who challenged the rising powerhouse, Huger, were fierce, stubborn, and brave.
“*Chweeek!*”
Countless medals were carved into his red skin. Repeated victories and achievements that progressed day by day—however, the King’s Throne of Titan was still far away. His axe had yet to reach the King.
Huger looked up at the sky. The cracked, gray sky made anyone who saw it feel a sense of foreboding. Time was pressing.
He had to become King quickly before that sky shattered. He had to lead the Orcs and help the Great Human Warrior.
Impatience strangled his chest, while the power of Orc Lord Krakta, who sat upon the throne, was like a great mountain.
It felt as if a thick wall stood between him and Krakta.
“Mister Hor. Am I truly destined to become king?”
Richard had told Huger he had the face of a king. Huger had believed those words wholeheartedly. But now, doubt began to bloom in that belief.
“It probably sounds pathetic to you, but no matter how much I think about it, I don’t think I can surpass the King. At least not in a short time.”
*Grrr—*
Narre, who was lying on her belly next to Huger, suddenly turned her head. Her lustrous white mane bristled.
“Cute cat friend. I suppose you find me pathetic, too. *Chweeek*…”
Sorrow began to fill Huger’s face. Then he noticed Narre’s gaze was fixed on a certain spot.
“What are you looking at so intently… *Ch—*”
In a corner of the barracks where Huger ate and slept, there was a translucent woman. She had golden hair and white cloth clothes. And wings.
The mysterious woman, smaller than a fist, was staring blankly at Huger with an expressionless face.
An intruder? Huger gripped his axe handle, then immediately let go. It was because he felt a familiar energy from that nut-sized woman. It was the energy of the Great Human Warrior—the energy of Hor.
[‘The cracks are deepening.’]
Her eyes seemed to pierce through his heart. And as if she truly was looking into Huger’s inner thoughts, the woman’s expression gradually grew cold.
[‘Do not commit any more sins.’]
[‘The crack in the sky is not your fault, but the crack in the belief you harbor within yourself will not escape judgment.’]
The woman scolded Huger in a stern voice. Her body, which had been smaller than a fist, began to grow slowly. Finally, when she reached the size of an adult woman, her translucent form regained its true hue.
[‘I am one of the mediators who follows the command of Hor.’]
Mediator. Huger’s eyes widened.
“Cu… Cu… Cube Pit? Are you saying a Cube Pit has truly come to me?!”
If she was Hor’s mediator, she must be the Cube Pit he had longed for. Unable to calm his excitement, Huger jumped up from his seat. At the same time, the Angel’s hand covered his face.
[‘He said as follows.’]
[‘He told me to show His power to you, who are blocked by a wall.’]
‘That you would see and feel something.’
At the end of the woman’s monotonous voice, light filled Huger’s vision.
***
“*Ch-chweeek*…”
Huger made a bewildered sound. Was this a dream? Before his eyes, a land entirely gouged and pitted stretched out. In the center, two men were glaring at each other.
“Put on your armor.”
The voice of the man enveloped in Aura Armor of Light sounded somewhat familiar. ‘Could that person radiating such incredible momentum be the Great Human Warrior?’
For a moment, Huger’s pupils shook. The middle-aged man was one thing, but the momentum of the one wearing the armor of Light was so high and intense that it was utterly impossible for Huger to fathom. ‘If it was at that level… even more than… King Krakta…’
Huger felt his breath hitch. It was as if he were facing the heaven beyond heaven. To Huger, the sky he could never surpass was Krakta.
But the sky beyond that sky was someone he knew very well. Since when had their gap widened this drastically? Huger’s pride was wounded deeper than the gouged ground around them.
“Great Human Warrior!”
He had no intention of interfering in the sacred duel. He just shouted to let them know he was there. But no one looked at Huger.
[‘You are still in your own quarters. My ability only goes as far as showing and relaying this to you.’]
The Angel who had appeared out of nowhere stood by Huger’s side.
“Is that man over there really… the Great Human Warrior, Richard?”
Realizing it was the name Hor’s envoy was using, the Angel nodded.
“Then is this scene I’m seeing the raw, unadulterated truth without a single lie?”
The Angel affirmed the impatient Orc’s question once more.
*Creeeeak—*
At that moment, Aura Armor was meticulously woven onto the middle-aged man’s body as well. It was armor of a deep indigo, darker than blue. That middle-aged man’s energy also far surpassed Huger’s sky.
“Heh…”
Despair dripped from Huger’s breath. But that was only for a moment. Suddenly, the Angel turned her head to observe Huger.
The Red Orc let all the despair and futility flow out with his breath. He also buried his wounded pride and self-loathing.
“*Chweeek.*”
Removing all the clutter, his eyes were shining brightly. His gaze, which could not tear itself away from the two heavens beyond heaven, was that of someone craving enlightenment.
***
*Clang! Clang!*
I blocked several sword strikes that flew in, cleaving through space. My stomach felt like it was turning over dozens of times. I resolved it by tightening my grip on the hilt of Bad Bond.
*Clang!*
Ludbihi, now clad in indigo Aura Armor, was truly strong. To be honest, in terms of swordsmanship alone, I was a step behind. Just a tiny bit.
A fly’s whisker. Nevertheless, I faced him with only my sword. I exchanged dozens of blows with him, giving it my all.
Neither of us landed a fatal hit. Each of us considered the other’s sword fatal, so the balance of offense and defense remained tense.
Through the aura helm, Ludbihi’s eyes briefly held a sense of pride. ‘He still looks down on me.’ That attitude was so annoying that I was about to snap back at him.
“I have no choice but to admit it. You are a mature Grand Sword Master.”
Ludbihi bent at the waist. What was this all of a sudden? ‘Is it one of those sword rituals I don’t know about?’
I tightened my entire body with tension. But he did not move from that position. Only later did I realize he was apologizing.
“What are you doing?”
“I am apologizing for the mistake I committed against you.”
With a calm demeanor, the Archduke of the Northern Continent showed no flaw in his dignity even while bowing.
“I judged your achievements by my own standards. Even though I knew that this is not a stage one can reach through mere coincidence or luck. I will sincerely reflect on this.”
It was truly a rare sight. However, I didn’t feel very comfortable. When this stubborn old man even bent his waist to apologize, I was actually flustered and lost for words.
“I will clash swords with you with all my might. Let us enjoy this duel to the fullest.”
Ludbihi straightened his back. The air, which had entered a lull, began to heat up again.
“You should also give your all. I heard you learned magic in the Southern Continent. That Gray Aura from earlier is also fine. Crash against me with all the power you possess.”
“I can’t use the Gray Aura whenever I want. Well, since you say so, I’ll use all the power I can summon.”
The corners of Ludbihi’s eyes crinkled slightly behind his helmet. It was a sign that he was truly enjoying this duel. Of course, I was enjoying it too. However, enjoyment wasn’t my first priority. The most important thing was victory.
For the sake of the spectators watching me and for the sake of the Hor religion, I had to win this duel.
[Eye of Laplace – Activated]
“Please excuse me, even if it’s a bit unfair.”
Four rings appeared in an instant and rotated. The Magic Array I had assembled in my head earlier began to glow.
*Blink*
*Clang!*
My sword, which had moved to his rear, was blocked by his blade. However, since he had been forced into a defensive posture, the initiative of the exchange belonged to me.
*Clang, clang, clang!*
The Bartenberg Secret Sword Style… its range is actually closer to long-distance. As long as I didn’t give him any distance, I didn’t need to fear those invisible, intangible blades.
Bad Bond and Man-ryong crossed. Beyond the sparking blades, I looked straight at him and spoke.
“You told me to use all the power I have, right?”
“Indeed. Do not hesitate and come at me with everything you’ve got.”
The master of Bartenberg still seemed composed. However, that composure wouldn’t last long.
*Kaaaah!*
The storm of the Ancient Holy Sword swept through, using Bad Bond as its medium.
*Crackle!*
I layered the High Divinity onto the status of a Grand Sword Master.
“There’s still more left.”
Lightning, like the iron hammer of God, fell violently from the sky.
*Rumble!*
The island, which had to endure all that power, no longer retained its former appearance. The faces of Ludbihi and Vallach hardened. It seemed they hadn’t anticipated this.
“No calling it cheating.”
Since he was the one who told me to give it my all. I grinned and adjusted my grip on my sword.
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