On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 191: #Followers of Despair (2)

A few hours before Yi-Shin came to the cult’s stronghold...

“Haa! Haa!” Ayaka ran away after losing both her arms.

They never said he would be this strong!

Her arms, bestowed with the Blessing of Binding, had been ripped to shreds. Moreover, her comrade Issac, whose combat prowess ranked top three in their order, was helplessly defeated.

I had to escape while he went to save his niece!

Swoosh!

Just then, something swooped down from the sky at tremendous speed. She was slammed into the ground, strangled like a chick caught by a hawk.

Baaam!

“Aaah!”

Crushing pain racked her whole body. She looked up to find Yu Il-Shin pointing his middle finger at her, from which the very same infernal flames that had burned Issac erupted like a volcano.

“Spare...me...” Ayaka pleaded.

Yu Il-Shin looked down at her. “You want to live?”

“Y-yes!” Tears welled up in her eyes as she nodded. He sounded innocent enough that she could probably draw some sympathy from him. “I’m willing to do anything, so please spare my life!”

She was even willing to sacrifice her luscious body.

“Repeat after me.” Yu Il-Shin cleared his throat and said, “I believe in Yu Il-Shin.”

“W-what?” She was caught off guard by the bizarre request.

“Are you not going to repeat it?”

The black flames spread rapidly, searing her flesh without even touching it, forcing Ayaka to scream in agony.

“Aaaah! I-I’ll do it! I believe in Yu Il-Shin!”

Ding!

[You have succeeded in subduing Ayaka with the overwhelming dominance and terror of a god.]

[Ayaka is now a temporary follower of the Earth branch.]

***

Ayaka didn’t expect Yu Il-Shin to actually let her off after she repeated those words. Suspecting it was a trap, she was extra cautious on her way back to the stronghold.

“Hello, Insects.”

She never would have guessed they’d reunite so soon.

Huh? Something feels off...

She couldn't quite put it into words, but though he looked the same, he didn’t feel the same... Chilling murderous intent emanated from him, making all the hair on her body stand on end. She felt like she was being held at gunpoint.

Sss—

Just then, her eyes met with Yu Il-Shin’s.

Ayaka jolted instinctively, but Yu Il-Shin’s expression eased.

“Well done, Ayaka. I managed to find my way here so easily because of you.”

“W-what? No way...” Ayaka stammered at his praise.

“Ayaka, you traitorous bitch! How dare you betray us!”

“What a disappointment. I never thought you’d side with the zealot.”

Ayaka went pale. “N-no! Father, Brothers! It’s all a misunderstanding!”

“There’s no excuses!”

Asimov glowered as he grabbed Ayaka’s head in a crushing grip.

Tzzz!

Tremendous electrical currents ran through Ayaka. She screamed in pure agony as the searing pain consumed her—but not for long.

Pssss!

Charred, Ayaka collapsed helplessly on the ground like a sandcastle swallowed by a wave.

“Tsk, tsk. Fighting among yourselves already?” Yu Il-Shin’s lips curled sinisterly as he watched from the sidelines. “Don’t bother. You're all going die by my hands anyway.”

“Bastard! I'll obliterate you like that bitch...!”

Sss—

The priest stopped the agitated Asimov and looked at Yu Il-Shin. Eerie red eyes glowed menacingly through the slits of the priest’s mask.

“I can’t sense anyone else’s aura. Are you alone?”

“Hmph! Why would I need helpers to catch bugs?”

Yu Il-Shin’s arrogant reply brought about a sharp, menacing laughter from the priest.

“Kihihi! How arrogant! I expect no less from the self-proclaimed god. Still, you’re too reckless.”

The priest snapped his fingers, and thirty cultists appeared, surrounding Yu Il-Shin

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Riiiip!

Their masks and robes were shredded to pieces, revealing their dragon-like appearances, covered in black scales.

“Oh?” Yu Il-Shin looked up. The monsters were at least three times his size.

-Krrrr!

The monsters spread their jaws like crocodiles, snarling.

“They’re all devoted followers blessed by the Despair Dragon. Even our worst enemy, the world’s strongest Hunter, Royce, wouldn’t survive—”

“Crushing Forefinger of God.”

With the sickening crunch of bones and flesh, blood spurted like a fountain.

“Oh my.” The priest slowly shook his head, assuming Yu Il-Shin had already been killed.

However, when the priest turned to look, all he saw was what remained of the group of dragons—his brethren.

Plop!

Then, someone landed on top of the swamp of blood and flesh.

Yu Il-Shin stood there, wiping off the green blood from his face as he turned to the priest. “Did you say something? Couldn’t hear you over the noise.”

Swoosh!

At that moment, the mangled corpses turned into mist and were absorbed into God-Maker.

Ding!

[You have sacrificed 30 fallen dragon men.]

-----

[High-tier Malevolent God Quest]

Sacrifices of S-rank or higher intelligent beings with potential for transcendence: 2,721/10,000

-----

Feeling the power surge through his body, Yu Il-Shin licked his lips.

“Kekeke, not too shabby of a prey.”

Stunned, the priest stumbled backward at the sight of Yu Il-Shin, who looked like a demon from hell.

“Father, please leave him to me,” said the remaining survivor, Asimov, as he stepped up. “Unlike my brethren, I’m no weakling, for the Despair Dragon has blessed me with lightning!”

“Oh?” Yu Il-Shin lowered his index finger as he watched Asimov’s transformation. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Interesting.”

Pzzz!

Asimov assumed his lightning beast form, scattering ferocious sparks.

-Interesting, you say?

Asimov brandished his rake-like claws at Yu Il-Shin.

-Can you still laugh now?

A bolt of lightning flashed, and Asimov disappeared. His claws were inches from digging into Yu Il-Shin’s pale neck.

“Crushing Forefinger of God.”

-Aaargh!

Suddenly, the three-meter-tall beast was crushed from all directions, as if caught in a massive press.

Yu Il-Shin moved his finger slightly in disappointment. “Is that all?”

-...No way!

The sparks around Asimov scattered away.

-Ha! Got you! I’m immune to all physical attacks!

“Hmm?” Yu Il-Shin was caught by surprise. The lightning beast had returned to life.

Tzzz!

The scattered lightning bolts gathered once again, surging at Yu Il-Shin, but he raised his leg into the air.

Asimov looked down at Yu Il-Shin with a smirk.

-You zealot! I will turn you into a pile of ashes! Hyaaa!

Mustering all his divine power, Asimov launched over a hundred million bolts at Yu Il-Shin.

Baaaam!

The impact blasted a massive hole in the ceiling, and cracks spread across the building's exterior walls like a spiderweb. Yu Il-Shin was now trapped and had nowhere to escape.

-Die! Die! Hahahaha!

Asimov went berserk, laughing maniacally while roasting Yu Il-Shin.

However, he noticed something was amiss. It was quiet—too quiet. Did Yu Il-Shin turn into ashes without even a chance to scream? Just then, Asimov locked eyes with him.

Despite having goosebumps from the shock, Yu Il-Shin seemed wholly unfazed.

“You’re not as good as Mi-Ri.” Yu Il-Shin showed his palm, and Asimov’s gigantic body began shrinking like a deflating balloon.

-Huh?! W-what’s this?!

Yu Il-Shin snickered at the flustered Asimov.

“Insect, my lightning control is second to none.”

After all, Sung Mi-Ri’s skill was the very first one Yu Il-Shin had shared and used ever since he became a god. On top of that, he even went out of his way to unseal her dormant potential, allowing her to become an S-rank Hunter. To him, a Lightning-type Hunter was a piece of cake.

Pzzz!

Yu Il-Shin looked down at Asimov, who had now shrunk to the size of his fist.

“Shall I end it here now?”

Asimov’s face was colored with awe and terror.

-Eeek! P-please, save m—

Yu Il-Shin swung a fist in Asimov’s direction.

Crack!

Asimov, reduced to a sphere of lightning, disappeared without a trace.

Ding!

God-Maker reacted.

[You have sacrificed the fallen Asimov.]

[Asimov is a sacrifice equivalent to 2 S-rank Hunters.]

-----

[High-tier Malevolent God Quest]

Sacrifices of S-rank or higher intelligent beings with potential for transcendence: 2,733[1]/10,000

-----

“Two Hunters? Not bad.” Yu Il-Shin pressed one hand on his head, before turning to the priest.

“Now, you’re the only one left.”

As the saying went, always save the best for last. Yu Il-Shin hoped that, as their leader, the priest would be far stronger than the dragon men and the lightning beast.

“Give me your best shot.” Yu Il-Shin smiled, gesturing to the priest. “Hey, come on now.”

However, the priest remained stiff as a statue.

Yu Il-Shin frowned. Was the priest just a coward who didn’t have the courage to fight?

And he’s supposed to be the boss. What a disappointment.

“Off you go. Crushing Forefinger of God.” Yu Il-Shin pointed his index finger at the priest.

Crack!

The priest was crushed like a bug. However, something felt off. Even God-Maker didn’t respond. Yu Il-Shin kicked the priest’s mask on the ground. Only bone fragments remained, a third of which didn’t even belong to a human. He picked it up for appraisal.

Ding!

[The innate power Blind Eyes of God has been activated.]

-----

[Bibi’s Cranium]

Around for 31 days.

Special note: Remains of one of the Despair Dragon’s puppets.

-----

“A puppet?”

Yu Il-Shin’s expression contorted like a demon. He’d been dealing with a toy the whole time? Just then, a disturbing noise came from the basement.

-God...of Harmony...and Balance.

1. Pretty sure it’s a typo here? It should be 23? ☜