Chapter 106: Hunting the Darkness (2)

“How dare you!”

The incredibly arrogant Darkness expresses his fury. 

However, the overwhelming pressure he emitted just moments ago does not return.

“Ugh!”

Yet, he refuses to accept it. 

He cannot believe that he, a god, has been consumed by a power unleashed by a mere human—a mere creation.

But it is futile.

Twilight of the Gods is an absolute Authority I obtained through endless deliberation and struggle. 

There is no way to escape it. 

Even for Darkness, who has achieved Lord Tier Status, the result remains the same.

The realization finally shuts him up.

The Twilight of the Gods I unleashed seals all divine abilities. 

It is a power that forces a god into the same lowly position as the humans they despise so much. 

Divinity, Authority, Transcendence—none of it can be exercised. 

The only thing available is the physical strength of the body that currently forms his status.

“I have been bested.”

He admits it readily.

“Who could have imagined? To set a divine Authority as such a crazy ability.”

No one could have predicted this. 

No one would expect an Authority specifically designed to seal the power of gods. 

It is practically a form of Self-Destruction. 

It is a power that can only be obtained through a shift in perspective—something only those born as lowly humans who rose to godhood could achieve.

Because of this, the Primordial Gods, including Darkness, were bound to be ill-prepared for such a power. 

Of course.

“But you seem to have miscalculated greatly.”

Unlike his initial panic, he has already regained his composure.

“Who do you think I am? I am Darkness! The Primordial God and the omnipotent god! Even if my Status and Authority have vanished, my greatness does not fade!”

That was no bluff.

-Swish

A pair of swords appears in his hands. 

No, they didn’t just appear. 

They were crafted from a part of the physical body hidden within the deceased Demon King.

‘A demon weapon.’

A peerless treasure that only a select few among the Demon Clan can possess. 

These weapons are crafted from the body of a Demon King. 

What Darkness holds now is a pair of swords made from the Demon King’s spine.

“You haven’t forgotten that a part of me was the Demon King, have you? Everything he practiced over those long years dwells within me.”

The Demon King was a part of Darkness. 

Thus, naturally, the Demon King’s training and achievements were fully integrated into Darkness.

“The Demon King did not neglect his training for an eternity. All of that is embedded in me, in this even more superior body, so how could you possibly stop it!”

He takes a stance with confidence. 

Just as he said, his form is not clumsy. 

Rather, the heavy weight of achievements accumulated over a long time begins to weigh down the area.

It certainly wasn’t an empty boast. 

He has absorbed all the results the Demon King achieved. 

No, it could be said he has even strengthened them. 

The Demon King’s physical body was nothing more than a manifestation of a portion of Darkness. 

Darkness is essentially the superior version of the Demon King.

“I see what you intended, but I will make you realize that you’ve made a terrible choice.”

Darkness displays intense confidence. 

And then.

“Are you… done rambling? I thought you were the silent type, but you talk more than I thought. Should I say you have a big mouth?”

“Insolent!”

“An empty wagon makes the most noise. That seems quite fitting for the current situation.”

“You…!”

The agitated god kicks off the ground and approaches.

“Boom!”

It seems his claim of being able to exercise everything the Demon King possessed was not a lie. 

Even though he cannot use any Authority, his movements have reached a realm beyond mere speed.

In an instant.

-Whoosh!

Having closed the distance in a flash, he swings his swords in a cross pattern. 

However, every single attack is blocked by Anus.

“Clang, claaaang!”

‘Excessive excitement is poison.’

A moderate amount of tension and excitement helps in battle. 

But this guy, Darkness, fell for my provocation, and his movements have become bloated due to excessive agitation.

A battle between masters is decided by a hair’s breadth. 

It is foolish to get swept up in emotions in such a critical battle. 

He may have absorbed the Demon King’s achievements, but he clearly knows nothing about mental discipline.

“For all that posturing, you aren’t much.”

“Eeeek!”

The effect was superb!

He falls for the continued provocation, and his movements grow even wider. 

The more strength he puts into them, the larger his motions become, creating openings. 

All I have to do is aim for those gaps and swing Anus.

“Argh!”

Letting out a groan of pain, he falters and retreats. 

This is because his unique Divine Healing and regenerative powers have disappeared through the Twilight of the Gods. 

In other words, if he gets hurt, he suffers pain just like a human, and his physical body undergoes overload.

“H-How can this…?”

He probably didn’t account for this. 

He stares at me, his face contorted from the pain he is feeling for the first time—or at least, for the first time he can remember.

“That is the pain felt by the humans, the creations, whom you think of as insects.”

The gods, including Darkness, had no qualms about killing their creations. 

That’s only natural. 

Does anyone feel a pang of conscience for killing an ant walking down the street? 

No.

From a god’s perspective, humans were even more fragile and lowly than ants, no different from a virus. 

That’s why they often enjoyed giving them trials like hardship and suffering. 

They simply do not know. 

They don’t know how significant the pain humans experience is. 

They have simply used humans for their own entertainment and leisure.

But.

“Now that you’re in their shoes, how does it feel?”

Now, Darkness is in the same position as those humans. 

He is in the position of the lowly human creations, a position he thought he would never experience.

“It’s… not over yet!”

True. 

It isn’t over yet. 

In fact, it’s just the beginning. 

The despair he is about to experience, that is.

-Hummmm!

Will pours into Anus. 

It is the manifested will of the old man who yearned for the ultimate strike.

“How…?”

Darkness is shocked. 

He has no choice but to be. 

He can’t use any Authority because of the Twilight of the Gods. 

He is wondering how I can manifest a power similar to an Authority.

“This is what you call human will.”

The very thing you ignored and trampled upon. 

The weak human will that struggled to resist that massive power. 

But now that all Authority has vanished, that weak human will exerts a powerful force.

Just like this.

-Slash!

The miracle of cutting through a demon weapon made from the Demon King’s spine.

“Aaaah!”

Is it because of the unbelievable reality? 

Darkness forgets even the basic stances and launches a reckless attack. 

A desperate, random assault that relies solely on physical strength without any form or style.

I dodge it indifferently.

‘So this is the essence of a god.’

Some think of gods as great beings. 

The creators of all things. 

Those who transcend everything. 

Those who look over everyone.

But that is nothing more than an outer shell. 

The essence of a god is an arrogant child. 

Unmature. 

Like a three-year-old child handed the strength of an adult. 

They simply hide it behind Authority and transcendental power.

In the past, when I triggered the Twilight of the Gods, I saw it clearly. 

The true faces of the hideous gods I had once thought were great beings. 

That’s why I didn’t panic when Darkness appeared. 

It was because I knew their weakness.

“Where did all that confidence go?”

But he could not answer my words.

“Ugh, aaaaaah!”

He is currently struggling. 

Just like the humans who struggle against the Trials of the gods. 

Like the insects they dismissed as lowly.

Watching that sight is an immense pleasure for me. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll let my guard down. 

I will simply be thorough.

-Slice!

I will break him down slowly and painfully.

“Slash!”

“Aaaaaagh!”

So that he can savor the pain humans must have felt.

“Thud!”

A god without authority is far too easy a prey for me. 

It’s inevitable, as my sword of will through Anus is like poison to those who only use physical strength. 

It’s like the difference between bringing a real sword—no, a chainsaw—to a sparring match with wooden swords. 

No matter how sturdy the demon weapon is, the sword of a guy with no will behind it broke easily, and having lost his weapon, he had no choice but to take my strikes helplessly.

Darkness without a weapon?

With his arms and even his feet severed.

“Guh… uuh…”

He crawls on the ground. 

Since he cannot use Restoration, one of the powers of those with Status, he has no choice but to crawl on the ground in the most miserable state.

I look down at him. 

The sight of the being who should be at the very top crawling at the very bottom. 

That strange dissonance provides an incredible sense of conquest. 

A peculiar feeling, as if I am above God. 

As if I have reached the pinnacle.

“K-Kill me. Please, from this miserable floor…”

It’s impossible to eternally destroy Darkness anyway. 

That’s why he is begging for death. 

Death is the only way for him to escape this miserable situation.

However, I say nothing and do nothing, simply staring at him. 

These are not my eyes alone.

[Number of Viewers: 30,100,230]

A staggering thirty million viewers are watching this sight. 

The God of Darkness. 

The sight of a transcendental being who achieved Lord Tier Status bowing and begging will be vividly remembered in everyone’s minds.

And because of that sight—

-Vrum, vrummmm!

I can feel the power dwelling within me, the faith of the people. 

When does a god gain the most faith? 

The answer to that question is right here.

A battle between gods. 

If you win that duel where, literally, you’ve stripped off your ranks and fought it out, you can gain an enormous amount of faith. 

It’s only natural, as it’s a battle of gods, not just an ordinary fight. 

It’s only right that all glory goes to the one who seized that victory.

Furthermore…

‘The same goes for the Demon Clan.’

Some of the Demon Clan members who have encountered modern civilization will be watching this. 

They will have witnessed the defeat of the god they revere and will lose their faith as a result. 

And some will turn that faith toward me. 

Toward the God of Victory who brings promised triumph.

“Ugh, guuuh—”

I exposed his miserable appearance to my heart’s content. 

The more I do, the stronger the faith and worship toward me become. 

And the moment it reached its peak—

“Your era has now come to an end, Darkness. The same goes for the Goddess of Light, who shares your intentions.”

The Light and Darkness that had ruled since the Gritia Continent. 

That Eternal Cycle, which seemed like it would never end, has been broken on Earth as well. 

By my two hands, just like in the past.

“And…”

I approach the man crawling on the floor and bring my face close to his ear. 

Then, I convey my will in a whisper.

“The same goes for the other gods. All of you gods will disappear from Earth.”

Twilight of the Gods. 

It signifies the severance from the gods. 

It ends with the suppression of Darkness for now, but it won’t be long. 

Every god will come to realize. 

They will realize there is no place for them to set foot on Earth and I will make sure to achieve that.

“Now, get lost.”

After delivering the final insult.

-Slash!

I cut his throat. 

Through that act imbued with will Darkness vanished, turning into dust like burnt ash. 

One of the gods who tried to swallow the Earth, Darkness, had been annihilated from Earth, albeit temporarily.