The two cities were fully devoted to worshiping Taesan.
Seeing this, the leaders of the other cities grew restless. They hadn’t been idle either; they had anticipated Malbre’s movements and had sent scouts ahead.
As a result, they witnessed the one-sided battle between Taesan and Malbre.
Taesan had single-handedly defeated the Red Apostle.
This signified that he was a warrior beyond any of their capabilities.
Fear gripped them. They believed someone with such power would not simply remain still and would surely crush them and their cities.
However, they did not wish to submit to Taesan. They were not prepared to relinquish their status as rulers of their cities.
They made a decision.
They would form an alliance to defeat the tiger known as Taesan.
Blue Dew, the Martial God, and Kalriat joined forces.
With their combined strength, they advanced toward the city once ruled by the Red Apostle.
“...I’d heard the rumors, but it’s real.”
Upon arriving in Taesan’s city, they frowned. The city was bustling with life, the people’s faces brimming with vitality, and the structures looked sturdy and secure.
“Let’s go.”
They entered the city. The people trembled at the sight of them.
“Uh?”
“What’s... going on?”
As the leaders and officers of the three factions entered in unison, the people shivered in fear.
Enjoying the fearful looks cast their way, they went in search of Taesan.
“Are you the one who defeated Malbre?”
The leader of Blue Dew addressed Taesan arrogantly.
They surrounded him as if to trap him.
“I have a proposal for you. Join hands with us.”
The leader of Blue Dew spoke confidently.
They knew Taesan was powerful.
But they also believed they were no pushovers. With the combined strength of their three groups, they thought they could inflict significant damage on him. Hence, they proposed an alliance.
“We recognize the two cities you’ve conquered as yours. But leave our cities alone.”
They believed Taesan wouldn’t refuse. They thought they had enough strength to make him consider their proposal.
Taesan replied.
“What if I refuse?”
“...”
The man’s face twisted in anger.
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“In that case, unfortunate as it may be, we have no choice. Kill him!”
A deafening roar erupted as the officers from each faction charged at Taesan, smashing through buildings.
Taesan observed them expressionlessly.
The people watching from a distance cried out in terror and crouched low. When they looked up, Taesan and the allied forces were already in battle.
“Die!”
The leader of Kalriat shouted as he unleashed his power.
At the same moment, an invisible force struck Taesan, pushing his body back.
“Hahaha!”
The leader laughed maniacally, swinging his hand wildly, continuously pressing Taesan with the unseen force.
‘Is it similar to telekinesis?’
An invisible force, neither magic nor black magic. It gave no warning signs and was difficult to trace its source.
It was an unusual power. Not only Kalriat, but even his officers were using similar powers.
“Crush him!”
At their leader’s command, the officers slammed their hands down.
Taesan’s body fell to the ground, causing the earth to crack and crumble under the immense pressure.
“Interesting.”
The power was unusual enough to be entertaining.
The leader of Blue Dew also began to wield his power.
Suddenly, a sphere of water formed around Taesan’s face.
His vision was blocked, and his breathing was cut off. Though he shook his head to dispel it, the water sphere formed again.
Not only that, but columns and walls of water rose around him, attempting to restrict his movements.
The leader of the Martial God also made his move. He was swift and powerful, his strikes sharp, and his movements efficient.
However, Taesan observed him closely and realized his movements were not his own. Something was adhering to his body, enforcing this efficiency.
The other officers also possessed unique abilities. As Taesan examined them, he understood the reason.
There was more than one god who had scattered divine power across this world.
Several gods had bestowed their powers to protect this world, and depending on the divine power they received, each individual had gained unique abilities.
“I wonder what powers I’d gain if I used my divine power?”
He grew curious. Though it was beyond him for now, if he could fully acquire divine power in time, he too might wield it in such ways.
“A... Ahhhh!”
The spectators let out cries of despair.
From their perspective, Taesan appeared to be faltering under the relentless onslaught.
They closed their eyes and prayed desperately.
The leader of Kalriat grinned.
‘We can win!’
Though they had never practiced fighting as a team, their coordination was flawless. A sense of euphoria from glimpsing a higher plane overwhelmed him.
They pressed Taesan faster and harder.
The invisible force grabbed Taesan tightly. The leader of Kalriat yelled.
“Kill him!”
The leaders seized the opportunity and charged together. Kalriat’s leader also rushed in with an invisible sword.
Taesan nodded.
“Not bad.”
They were quite formidable.
To him, their power was mere scraps, but they wielded it almost perfectly.
They must have fought desperately, overcoming unimaginable trials, and placing their lives on the line, sometimes leaving everything up to fate.
Such power was not acquired otherwise. Though they were ruthless tyrants, their movements were genuine reflections of their effort and struggle.
But overwhelming power always tramples over everything.
As they drew near, Taesan flicked his hand.
[You have activated Marbas’ Black Tide.]
Darkness engulfed them in an instant.
“Huh?”
The leader of Kalriat opened his eyes.
“Huh...?”
He got up slowly and looked around.
Everything was destroyed.
“Everyone...?”
There was no one left.
All the officers who had followed him were gone without a trace. Only Blue Dew’s leader and the Martial God’s leader, with dazed expressions, were there beside him.
“What... just happened?”
“You survived?”
A voice echoed.
“Though I didn’t even open a portal, I didn’t expect you to survive. Impressive.”
Taesan looked at him calmly.
Only then did Kalriat’s leader recall what had happened.
He had used his power to restrain Taesan, and they thought they had a chance. They all charged together. He, too, had wielded his invisible sword, aiming for Taesan’s heart.
But as they reached him, Taesan had made a small flick of his hand.
Darkness had manifested in that moment.
The memory of that darkness sent chills down his spine. Terrified, he’d wrapped himself in his invisible power.
And then he had blacked out.
When he came to, everything had been swallowed by darkness.
“What...!”
He swung his hand wildly. The strength of his denial fueled his every movement.
Taesan neither dodged nor blocked.
With a light snap of his fingers, he neutralized the attack entirely.
“...”
“You did well enough. I’ll make this quick.”
Step.
Taesan advanced toward him.
The leader, now terrified, gathered his power desperately.
But the moment his power touched Taesan’s body, it dissipated without a trace.
As he tried to escape, he found his body would not move.
“Move! I said, MOVE!”
“You can’t move in that state.”
“Huh, huh?”
After struggling for a while, the leader of Kalriat finally realized his body was immobilized.
Half of his body had sunk into darkness, numbing his senses.
The leaders of the other surviving factions shared his fate. All of them were on the brink of death.
“Aaaah...”
Only now did he understand.
It wasn’t that Taesan hadn’t been able to counter their attacks. Their efforts simply didn’t merit a response.
Realizing that they had deluded themselves into thinking they could win, he stopped resisting.
Taesan finished them off effortlessly.
“Oh... Ohhh!”
The people, who had finally understood the situation, burst into cheers. They cried out, praising Taesan.
“Savior!”
Those who had once feared the monstrous overlords who had treated them as playthings saw them fall helplessly under Taesan’s power.
The tyrannical factions that had ruled through terror were utterly annihilated.
The people shouted Taesan’s name in reverence.
“Ohhh!”
“God!”
No longer did anyone call him a messenger of the gods, nor did anyone address him as a mere savior.
They called him a god.
They believed he was a deity who had descended to this world to save them.
Having finished what he needed to, Taesan moved.
A multitude of people followed him.
He journeyed to the remaining cities, where he cultivated food and provided shelter.
Initially, the people were wary of Taesan, but seeing the fervent faith of those who accompanied him and realizing that Taesan demanded nothing in return, they quickly started to worship him.
Now, more than half of the remaining population in this world worshiped Taesan.
“Hmm?”
At that moment, Taesan felt it.
Something had changed within the faith flowing toward him.
“What... is this?”
It was hard to describe, but his influence—or perhaps his presence—had evolved.
Though its nature remained elusive, he felt that he would understand once he dealt with the remaining two cities.
Taesan resolved the issues in the remaining two cities as well, providing food and shelter.
Now, all five cities worshiped Taesan.
Everyone left alive in this world revered him as their god.
“Huh?”
At that moment, Taesan noticed a qualitative change in the faith directed toward him.
[You have fulfilled the necessary qualifications. Concept Skill [Master of Faith] acquired.]
[Divine Power proficiency increased by 3%.]
"Huh?"
Minerva, who was moving alongside Taesan, widened her eyes. Even Wraith paused in surprise.
"Master?"
[Whoa... something’s definitely different about you.]
Even before they could say anything, Taesan was already aware.
An unusual sensation coursed through his entire body—a strange, awe-inspiring feeling he had never experienced before.
"You suddenly feel so... distant?"
Minerva murmured in a daze. Her words were literal; although she was standing right beside him, it felt as if he were on an entirely different plane of existence.
"..."
Taesan opened his skill window.
[Concept Skill: Master of Faith]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[One who is worshiped by all inhabitants of a world.]
The description was incredibly simple. Taesan raised his hand, releasing his will.
In that moment, the flow of the air shifted.
Even Minerva, the Spirit King, could only purify a single city at a time due to the overwhelming corruption that plagued this planet. That limit highlighted the extent of pollution caused by the ancient gods.
"Wha—"
Minerva gasped in astonishment.
The air was being purified.
The pollution brought by the ancient gods vanished, and countless plants began to turn green and thrive once more.
The people around them realized that breathing had suddenly become much easier.
"...What is this?"
Purification itself was not particularly extraordinary. Taesan already had some influence over nature, and he could purify smaller areas if needed.
But this time, it wasn’t only the city that was being purified.
The freshly purified air extended beyond the city, spreading across the entire world.
Taesan realized something monumental.
He had truly become the god of this planet.