On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 190: #Followers of Despair

“Come. I am Mr. Sword God’s number one subordinate, bestowed with the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword. There is nothing I can’t slash.”

Asimov watched in awe as the blinded Sword Demon pointed his sword at him.

“There’s nothing you can’t slash?” Asimov’s expression twisted like a vengeful spirit’s. “Kukuku! Looks like someone got cocky just because I let my guard down!”

The Russian’s severed arm writhed on the ground, then crackled into a bolt of lightning and shot back into his body.

“There’s this saying where I’m from: ‘It isn’t a sin to break the horns of a rampaging bull’!”

As if on cue, a tremendous surge of electricity pulsated through Asimov.

“Kukuku. Consider yourself lucky for being blind to the unseen!”

Tzz!

“Aaargh! W-what’s that!” Choi Bong-Shik was horrified by Asimov’s inhumane transformation.

The Russian now stood at a towering three meters, with two horns jutting from his forehead and nails as sharp as rakes. Above all, currents surged throughout his body—he was literally a lightning beast!

Choi Bong-Shik summoned every ounce of his strength to teleport away.

Tzzz!

Eeek! I can’t set my coordinates!

Asimov’s lightning bolts spread like webs in all directions, jamming Choi Bong-Shik’s teleportation skill.

-Kukuku!

Asimov bent down, pointing his bull-like horns at Sword Demon and Choi Bong-Shik.

-Now, slash me if you can!

Krrr!

With a deafening roar that shook heaven and earth, Asimov vanished. Soon, bright yellow lightning lit up the skies.

I-I’m going to die!

Choi Bong-Shik squeezed his eyes shut.

“Mr. Sword God, please give me strength!” Sword Demon drew a dagger from his sleeve and held it in his left hand.

“This is my Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword!”

With the sword in his right hand, Sword Demon executed the First Stance, Demon Lord’s Descent—bringing down a demon so powerful that the heavens quaked. With the dagger in his left hand, he executed the Second Stance, Demon Lord’s Pratāpana, unleashing Eight Burning Hells’ strongest flames. Sword Demon’s Demon Lord Twin Swords clashed against the lightning beast.

Ruuumble—Baaam!

The penthouse Choi Bong-Shik bought with a thirty-year loan disappeared just like that.

I-I lived? How?

Choi Bong-Shik couldn't believe he had survived the impact of the clash—and unscathed, no less.

“Ugh...!”

Soon, Choi Bong-Shik found out why. A gaunt man, two-thirds of his body burned, stood before him. It was Sword Demon, still wielding the twin swords. Opposite Sword Demon lay the lightning beast, a massive X-shaped wound carved into its body.

Choi Bong-Shik was at a loss for words. “W-why would you...?”

Surely, Sword Demon could easily dodge the lightning beast with his prowess?

Sword Demon turned his head and said, “Hmph. As Mr. Sword God’s number one subordinate, of course... I have to... protect my junior...”

Plop!

Before he could finish his sentence, Sword Demon collapsed to the ground. Choi Bong-Shik rushed to pick the man up.

“H-Hyungnim! Are you alright?” Tears welled up in Choi Bong-Shik’s eyes. He always thought Sword Demon was a psycho, but he turned out to be a cool psycho.

I should get him to the hospital right away!

Choi Bong-Shik tried teleporting, but he still failed.

“W-why?!”

-Interesting. I’m quite surprised.

Goosebumps erupted on Choi Bong-Shik’s back.

Tzzz!

More sparks flew as Asimov’s body reassembled.

-But as expected, a sword can’t cut lightning.

Asimov got back to his feet.

-Let’s get this over with, shall we?

Tzzz!

Asimov transformed his hands into lightning swords and slashed at the air, aiming to cut down Sword Demon and Choi Bong-Shik.

“Aaargh! Save us!”

Choi Bong-Shik shut his eyes tight with Sword Demon in his arms.

-Hmm? What’s this?

Black flames erupted from Asimov’s chest. They writhed ferociously, as if trying to burn his lightning. He was torn between disbelief and fascination, unsure how to react.

Suddenly, Asimov staggered, overcome by a dizzy spell.

What’s this? I can feel my power being sucked out of me!

Indeed. Although the black flames couldn’t burn him, they were rapidly draining his power!

-Argh!

Swoosh!

Flustered, Asimov hastily slashed at his own chest. The Demon Lord’s Pratāpana’s flames fell and melted the ground below.

-Unbelievable. I’ve never seen such swordsmanship before, especially from a Hunter.

Asimov's eyes sparkled with awe before smoldering with killing intent. Sword Demon was a threat—a roadblock in the Despair Dragon’s cause to cleanse this tainted world. And Asimov’s duty was to eliminate any obstacle in their path.

-Die, Zealots.

Asimov raised his lightning hands, determined to kill both of them.

Ruuumble!

In the next moment, a huge bolt of lightning crashed through the air toward him.

-Gaaaah!

For the first time since he transformed, Asimov staggered and screamed in pain.

Keugh, skills can still affect this body?!

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After receiving Blessing of Lightning, Asimov had always thought he was invincible. However, Sword Demon’s flames and the lightning bolt earlier hit him quite hard. He glared at his attacker—a long-haired girl in an insulating black latex suit and a black helmet.

“Don’t touch Mr. Sword Demon!”

Lightning-type Hunters were rare across the globe. In South Korea, there was a newly appointed S-rank Hunter who was still in her teens, Sung Mi-Ri.

-Kuku. It’s Thunder Emperor.

Asimov licked his lips. He had always looked forward to their face-off. Whose lightning was stronger—the genius girl's or the blessing bestowed upon him by the Despair Dragon?

But then, his lightning, scattered like radar, detected multiple energies rushing toward them at a terrifying speed. Particularly, he recognized Fire-type S-rank Hunter Baek Yoo-Hyun and the notorious Psychic-type SS-rank Hunter Sung Mi-Na, both recognized by the order.

-What a shame.

This wasn’t the right time.

-Even for me, three S-rank and above Hunters are a bit much.

Although he was confident that he wouldn’t lose, he had to consider the risks here.

-We’ll have to do this another time. Kukuku! Next time, you won’t be so lucky!

Tzzz!

With a flash of light, Asimov disappeared.

“Eek! I won’t let you g—!”

Just as she was about to give chase, Sung Mi-Ri saw Sword Demon coughing out black blood in the corner.

“Kyaa! Uncle Sword Demon!”

Giving up on the pursuit, Sung Mi-Ri quickly picked up Sword Demon and headed for the hospital.

***

“Sleep well my dear niece~ The birds and lamb in the front yard and the back garden~ are sleeping soundly too~” I lulled Seong-Yeon to sleep while patting her tummy gently.

She was sleeping like a cherub, even snoring gently. Thankfully, she had no trauma or other after effects despite today’s events.

Thank god, indeed.

Then, I recalled the monsters who claimed to have received the Despair Dragon’s blessings. They had never appeared in Kang Woo’s regressions—or had he simply overlooked them? Regardless, they crossed the line first. I didn’t care if they hurt me, but I could never forgive those who laid a hand on my family. Fortunately, my older sister hadn’t returned yet.

I stamped my thumb on my forehead. “Proliferating Thumb of God, Malevolent God Yu Il-Shin.”

I focused my power on forming Yi-Shin so that Sam-Shin wouldn’t appear. Moments later, a rowdier version of me appeared. Since we shared memories, there was no need for an explanation.

“Now, who’s going?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Yi-Shin glanced at the sleeping Seong-Yeon, gritting his teeth. “They are mine. You should look after her.”

I nodded. One of us should stay here just in case there were any other attacks.

“I can trust you with it, right?”

“Who do you take me for?”

A chilling sneer played at the corners of Yi-Shin’s mouth.

“How dare they lay a hand on what belongs to me! I won’t spare any of those cretins! Skill Sharing, Choi Bong-Shik’s Ruler of Space.”

Swoosh!

Filled with rage, the Malevolent God Yi-Shin went to rain down judgment.

***

The cultists of the Despair Dragon gathered at an abandoned building in the suburbs.

“Our brothers, Nishimura and Issac, were killed.”

The priest, donning a mask that resembled the KKK, spoke in a grave tone.

“I-I’m sorry, Father. It’s all my fault!” Ayaka, her arms missing, trembled as she knelt before the priest.

“No, it’s my fault. I should’ve been more prepared. I lacked information about our opponent.”

But Asimov, kneeling on the ground, shook his head. “It’s not your fault, Father. They’re simply too weak to comprehend the Despair Dragon’s great cause. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everything. I had to retreat because of the influx of S-rank Hunters. However, I'll make sure to eradicate every obstacle in our way!”

“Hoho, that’s so reliable of you, Brother Asimov. Well, you are qualified to say that, after all.”

The priest smiled with satisfaction, patting Asimov on the shoulder. After all, not only did Asimov possess the best blessing, his combat prowess also rivaled that of an SS-rank Hunter.

“Now that I have a new, precious offering, I shall request the Despair Dragon to bestow more blessings upon you, Brother Asimov.”

“Ooh! Really?!”

“Yes. With the new blessings, you’ll be unmatched.”

Asimov’s eyes lit up with joy as he imagined how much stronger he could become.

“But Ayaka, how did you survive from that wicked zealot?”

“Um, about that...”

Ayaka could only shudder at the priest’s question. Then, someone else answered it for her.

-The main body made her a temporary follower and spared her. I’m not sure how much thought he put into it, but it helped me find my way here.

“W-who’s that!”

The priest and cultists were alarmed by the eerie, ruthless voice that echoed in their heads.

Riiip!

Yi-Shin then revealed himself among them.

“Hello, Insects.”