Chapter 511: Side Story, Epilogue (End)
From beyond the cave, a relentless downpour hammered against stone, echoing along the inner walls like a warning carried on the wind. The rain was falling unusually heavily.
Thud!
Without warning, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, briefly illuminating the area near the cave entrance. Almost instinctively, everyone gazed at me. Ha Hee-Jeong stood out the most, as she was fixing me with a sharp, probing stare.
I hurriedly shook my head. “It wasn’t me.”
Amid the damp, earthy scent of rain-soaked soil, a faint yet unmistakably unpleasant odor drifted in. I let out a quiet sigh before I could stop myself.
Of all times... I really wish it wouldn’t come now.
We had taken refuge in the cave to escape the downpour, but if I were to be honest, it was far from comfortable. Regardless of how powerful I was now, humans naturally gravitated toward places where they felt at ease.
Somewhat hopefully, I suggested to Ha Hee-Jeong, “With weather like this, shall we move to a place we can sleep more comfortably?”
At my mild complaint, she stopped stroking Yoonie, who lay across her lap.
She lifted her head with a firm look, leaving little room for negotiation. “Tsk. Travel is supposed to come with a bit of discomfort. A cave, rain pouring down outside, and a crackling campfire. That’s part of the charm.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly, as if daring me to challenge her decision. “So, that lightning just now—”
“I’m serious. That really wasn’t me.”
“Really? I thought perhaps you were expressing your dissatisfaction.”
When I shook my head once more, she softened her tone and coaxed, “Even if it’s uncomfortable, endure it for a little while.”
“Alright.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t particularly uncomfortable—comfort was simply preferable when available. Like I had considered earlier, resting in a proper bed at a hotel on a rainy day was undeniably better than sleeping on a cold cave floor. Especially now, when I could summon a bed at will even without Mung-chi.
I am glad that Mung-chi decided to stay with me even though I told it that it was free to go.
Anyway, Ha Hee-Jeong firmly refused my bed idea. She possessed unwavering resolve, so there was no persuading her otherwise.
She wanted this trip to be as realistic as possible.
To be fair, Ha Hee-Jeong was likely enduring greater discomfort than I was, and she hadn’t preferred this in the past. Previously, even when we had spent time outdoors, we had still made a point of resting in warm, cozy places.
I followed her lead because I understood that she was ultimately doing this for my sake. Though things had been more comfortable back then, when I compared the two, I realized that this made me feel less anxious. I was more immersed in the present, more grounded in the flow of events. I couldn’t exactly tell why, though. Perhaps the small inconveniences gave me enough of a challenge to satisfy me, although it could also be the company.
Gaining strength inevitably changed one’s mindset, allowing them to rely on their power to take the easier path. Perhaps choosing to relinquish a portion of that reliance was what it took to truly move forward.
During this entire exchange, Doppy acted like we weren’t talking and remained focused on a Community chat window.
Doppy: Ryun! What are you doing!
Ryun: Resting... leave me... alone.
Doppy: If you’re bored, come over here!
Ryun: I’m... not bored... but... in a few days... I’ll come... once.
Doppy: Didn’t you say that last time, too!
Ryun: This time... I’m serious.
Aoshi: We’ll come visit as well. It’s such a shame that we couldn’t make it this time. My son just had a child, so...
A small smile spread across my face as I read the messages. Thanks to my newfound abilities, I had connected many of the people I had forged a bond with to the Community.
They didn’t fully understand the concept of a messaging system, so in practice, they were treating it like a normal, in-person conversation. Even so, it allowed me to respond quickly to them if they ran into any trouble, plus it gave them a way to communicate with one another. Friendship wasn’t about visiting others when it was convenient. It was about staying connected, even at a distance.
Hmm.
I had hoped the unpleasant odor wouldn’t draw closer, but amid the rain and the scent of wet earth, it grew steadily stronger. It was still decently far away, but it was clearly following us. We had moved around without much restraint, so whatever it was had picked up our trail along the way.
I was already seated, and standing up felt bothersome.
As I frowned inwardly, the others belatedly noticed the smell as well. Gehenna met my gaze, and in that moment, she read my mind without me having to voice it aloud.
She could handle it herself.
“Gehenna. Take care of it.”
“Okay.”
As Gehenna shrugged and rose to her feet, Phiri followed suit.
“Mind if I come along too?”
“I don’t really mind, but with such a downpour, is there really a need for the two of you to go?”
We were currently staying in a world whose god I had killed for their transgressions. From the beginning, they had treated their own world as nothing more than a tool to farm divinity—no matter the cost. Therefore, Ha Hee-Jeong and I had chosen to watch over it in their stead.
Among the former apostles, the divinity had corrupted some and transformed them into monsters. They resembled the tainted beings I had encountered in the past. However, there was little reason for two of my apostles to handle the situation. Both had received power from me and were incomparably stronger than before.
Phiri scratched the back of her head, her expression faintly awkward. “I’m itching to do something.”
After reconnecting, I had accepted Phiri as my second apostle. Considering our history, she was more than qualified. After all, she was the first person with whom I had resonated through divinity. She had prayed for my sake, and even if she was a prison guard, I didn’t want to confine her to a dreary prison.
As of late, I had sparred with her as I oversaw her training. That was likely why she was feeling so restless.
“Alright.”
When I nodded in approval, Hyang stood up as well.
She was still young but had matured considerably and appeared closer to a teenager than a child. My power had caused her stature to suddenly shoot up, likely a residual effect of the Primordial God’s essence. As a result, Gehenna and I took turns teaching her, and she had openly expressed her wish to become my third apostle.
I am just relieved she isn’t bitter.
Of the many gods I had destroyed, one of them had been Hyang’s father, The Immortal of Ideals. There had been little affection lost between them, but I had still been worried she would have held me accountable. Fortunately, there was no sign of that. If anything, she seemed closer to me than before, almost grateful.
“Can I go too?”
“Yes. Just make sure to be careful.”
Hyang was strong, but she lacked experience. If she went along, it would likely be her first real battle.
“Okay,” she grinned as she answered, and the three of them headed out together.
Fifteen minutes passed, and only the sound of rain filled the cave. At some point, the stench vanished entirely. They had likely burned its source to a crisp, even in the midst of the downpour.
I leaned back against the cave wall and closed my eyes. The uneven surface of the stone didn’t bother me in the slightest. Acting realistically didn’t mean I was refraining from using my strength. Mana rose naturally to support my back, settling it in a way that felt almost gentle.
At some point, Ha Hee-Jeong approached and sat down beside me. She leaned her head against my shoulder.
I found myself appreciating everything.
We had begun traveling like this a couple of months ago. The mind that had grown desolate after decades devoted solely to battle and conquering was gradually recovering, piece by piece. We had originally intended for this journey to only help me recover. However, continuing to wander like this from time to time seemed pleasant.
No.
Perhaps living this way, steadily and without urgency, wouldn’t be such a bad choice after all. Rather than remaining still like the Primordial God and watching from a distance, I could move of my own accord and lend my hand to the people of my world.
When I sensed my two apostles and Hyang returning through the cave entrance, I drew my thoughts to a close and quietly stated, “Good work, everyone. Come on, let’s call it a day.”
***
As Kwon Su-Hyeok had remained absent for a long stretch of time, the intense attention once fixed upon him gradually eased. However, that didn’t mean the appreciation for him had diminished. Rather, people had begun to accept a simple reality—he wasn’t a sports icon or an entertainer, but the god of Earth.
This understanding was reinforced by statements from both the Sect and the government, which explained that he was currently safeguarding the planet from extraterrestrial threats.
As time passed, the Kwon Su-Hyeok Sect’s influence continued to expand. It was an interesting phenomenon, in its own way. They didn’t promise a heaven after death, nor were there any material benefits tied to faith in Kwon Su-Hyeok. Yet for those who had witnessed genuine miracles unfold before their eyes, disbelief was far more difficult than faith. He didn’t demand fervent devotion, nor did he ask for money.
Meanwhile, Earth grew more peaceful than ever. All wars had come to an end, and even unreasonable disputes between nations had disappeared. One person was responsible for this state of peace, not to mention that he continued to protect them without asking for anything in return.
Seen from that perspective, faith felt only natural.
The climbers also gradually blended into everyday life on Earth. Numbering nearly a million, they were active across an extraordinary range of fields.
Most priests devoted themselves to healing others, but those in different roles enjoyed considerable freedom. Some lived ordinary lives, working at companies or returning to the careers they had once had. Others chose entirely different paths. They opened private martial arts dojos, ventured into dangerous and remote regions, and offered aid to those in need.
Mages, unable to freely utilize mana like before, couldn’t establish magic academies. Even so, they found alternative ways to apply their abilities. Rather than performing as stage magicians, they appeared as true mages in live shows or assisted with film production. Magic that carried a level of realism no special effect could replicate was in especially high demand within the visual media industry.
Films centered on different climbers’ stories were also in the middle of production. Although footage from the tower existed, determining how to present it and how to frame events with proper composition was an entirely separate challenge.
That said, creating a film with Kwon Su-Hyeok as the central protagonist proved difficult. Stories involving Doppy, Ryun, and Ha Hee-Jeong couldn’t be excluded, and public resistance was strong. Many insisted that a deity should remain sanctified.
However, there was no shortage of material worth telling. Amid countless trials, there were innumerable episodes capable of moving people deeply. As stories from the tower were brought back into focus, many narratives that had been overlooked due to the intense attention on Kwon Su-Hyeok began to surface.
Cole and Hakin were assisting with those film projects. While recorded footage existed, the intense, raw feeling of a battlefield and its atmosphere—drawn from Cole’s extraordinary memory—conveyed something entirely different.
Anyway, even within such films, Kwon Su-Hyeok inevitably had to appear. However, he was never shown directly. He was depicted only through lightning and light instead.
From the black smoke wrought by flames and the dim battlefield, the horizon slowly began to brighten. Then, a burst of blue-gold lightning heralded the arrival of Kwon Su-Hyeok.
***
Rumble— Boom!
A bolt of lightning split the clear sky. Startled, Kwon Su-Hyeok turned around and cautiously scanned his surroundings.
The child standing in front of him looked just as flustered.
With a nervous glance over Kwon Su-Hyeok’s shoulder, he urgently whispered, “Dad. What are you going to do if Mom comes out?”
The words had barely left his mouth when Ha Hee-Jeong stepped out of the mansion.
“Kwon Bom.”
She didn’t raise her voice, but her short and low tone somehow made it far more frightening.
The child who looked as if Kwon Su-Hyeok and Ha Hee-Jeong had been copied and pasted together lowered his gaze to the ground.
“Yes.”
“You promised you’d only use it during training.”
Kwon Su-Hyeok hurriedly stepped in from the side. “Uh. Well... actually, it was me.”
Without saying a word, Ha Hee-Jeong silenced Kwon Su-Hyeok with a single look. He had always been far too indulgent, especially when it came to their child. Kwon Bom was precious to Ha Hee-Jeong as well. The moment she had first looked at her son, it had felt like an entirely new world had opened before her.
However, loving him didn’t mean she could allow him to do anything he wanted. Kwon Bom wasn’t an ordinary child. He had inherited both of his parents’ powers since birth. Whenever he lost control of his emotions, lightning would fall, nearby flammable objects would suddenly ignite, or objects would move freely at his whim. Because of that, his mental development was far ahead of his peers, and he was exceptionally quick-witted.
Still, regardless of how precocious he was, Kwon Bom was only five years old. They planned to send him to school like any other kid, which meant he needed to learn how to regulate his power before turning eight.
Kwon Bom hadn’t summoned the lightning on purpose. His emotions had simply surged for a moment.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Ha Hee-Jeong pulled him into a gentle embrace. Since it hadn’t been intentional, there was no need to scold him.
“It’s alright. You didn’t do anything wrong. We’re just worried that you may hurt someone.”
As Kwon Bom nodded, Ha Hee-Jeong softly stroked his back. She already knew why his emotions had flared.
“But your dad and I can’t always stay by your side. We’ll do our best, but sometimes we’ll have things we need to take care of.”
“Yes... I know,” Bom answered with a slight pout.
He was clearly unhappy, but he seemed willing to accept it. There was no helping it. Since the day he was born, Kwon Bom had never once been apart from his parents. Ha Hee-Jeong and Kwon Su-Hyeok had put everything else aside to raise him with love.
Recently, they had started practicing leaving for short periods of time.
If he had been an ordinary child, it would have been easier, but Kwon Bom had always been particularly observant—even from a young age—so he often complained whenever they parted.
Kwon Su-Hyeok met his eyes and gently patted his shoulder. “I’ll be back soon. Just hang in there a little. Oh, and Hyang will be coming later too.”
Only then did Kwon Bom break into a wide grin. “Yes!”
Out of everyone he interacted with, he was especially fond of Hyang. Not quite as much as his parents, but whenever Hyang came around, he would follow her closely, calling out, “Noona, noona.”
What kind of person will he grow up to be?
Wondering that, Ha Hee-Jeong wrapped her arms around Kwon Bom from behind and waved toward Kwon Su-Hyeok.
“You should tell Dad to have a safe trip.”
“Yes! Have a safe trip!”
“Alright. You behave while I’m gone, too,” Kwon Su-Hyeok joked as he met Ha Hee-Jeong’s gaze.
Even though time had passed, the two of them remained just as they always had.
“I’ll be back.”
“Okay. Be careful, and come back soon.”
Kwon Su-Hyeok broke into a crooked smile. “Got it.”
Seeing it, Ha Hee-Jeong let out a quiet laugh. It was a perfect duplicate of the smile Kwon Bom had worn just moments earlier.
***
“Huff... huff...”
Someone sprinted through the forest at full speed, his ragged breaths clawing their way up his throat as exhaustion set in.
Thud!
A deafening crash swallowed the sharp crack of splintering wood. Behind him, a monstrous being crushed tree after tree, shattering them without resistance.
It was seven meters long and four meters tall.
The Devouring God, a monstrous wild boar-like being that fed upon every living thing in the forest, was pursuing him relentlessly. He only had a single longsword to defend himself, and although he was skilled, facing the Devouring God directly was nothing short of suicide.
Damn it. I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry.
This entire ordeal had begun with a dream.
In that dream, the Devouring God had burst out of the forest and devoured his closest friend. It had left him feeling a lingering sense of unease, and when that same friend mentioned that he planned to head into the woods to chop trees, he couldn’t bring himself to let his friend go alone.
However, he hadn’t really believed that the dream would turn into reality, that the Devouring God would appear before them. At the very least, he felt comforted knowing that he had drawn the creature’s attention instead of his inexperienced friend. Unfortunately, he didn’t think he would make it back to the village alive.
Ugh.
Holding out until his friend returned wouldn’t be possible.
He was tasting blood, and his throat felt torn beyond relief, as if someone had gouged its inner walls with nails. He had long since passed the point at which adrenaline could sustain fleeing. All he felt was pain, vivid and unrelenting.
Behind him, the Devouring God continued to close the distance, its menacing aura pressing down on him. His vision darkened at the edges, and the world began to blur.
His consciousness was slipping.
Still... at least I saved my friend...
It wasn’t the worst way to die.
Even as his awareness faded, the ground-shaking footsteps of the Devouring God thundered clearly in his ears, each step echoing like a final countdown.
Then, light flashed across his darkened vision.
Light?
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, a short, agonized cry rang out from somewhere nearby—the Devouring God was screaming.
He stopped running, and the sudden halt sent him tumbling forward, his momentum flinging him across the forest floor. Even as he fell, he refused to let go of his sword. Gritting his teeth, he lifted his head and looked back.
What he saw shocked him. The Devouring God’s lifeless body lay on the floor, a double-headed axe buried deep in its skull.
Moreover, a stranger stood before it. Someone unlike anyone he had ever seen in his life.
“W-who... are you?”
The stranger extended an unfamiliar container filled with a liquid. “Drink some water first.”
A strange-looking mechanism covered what appeared to be a spout.
As he stared at it uncertainly, the stranger let out a small laugh. “It isn’t trapped or anything. Just drink. Turn the cap to the side.”
“Cap?”
Following the strange entity’s instructions, he twisted the round piece at the top, uncovering the spout. He hesitated briefly, but this person had saved his life. Steadying his breathing, he brought the bottle to his lips and drank. Only then did he properly look up at the stranger.
Black hair. Apricot-colored skin.
No matter how closely he examined him, he was certain he hadn’t encountered this person before. However, strangely enough, he didn’t feel unfamiliar. Something about those features tugged faintly at his memory. He had heard rumors before that the people who lived across the sea possessed unusual appearances.
Is this man from across the ocean?
“I-I’m Kalain... from Ryukshenne Village. M-may I ask who you are?”
“Me? Kwon Su-Hyeok. I came from across the sea.”
Kwon Su-Hyeok smiled and extended his hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, Kalain took it and rose to his feet. “Thank you for saving me.”
“It’s nothing worth thanking me for. Of course I’d help.”
As Kalain studied him more carefully, he cautiously asked, “But... have we met somewhere before?”
Kwon Su-Hyeok shrugged. “Why? Do I seem familiar?”
“I’m certain this is my first time seeing someone from across the sea...” Kalain trailed off. “It just feels like I’ve been watching you for a very long time. Or waiting for you.”
Despite voicing such a thought, Kalain wasn’t confident in his own words. He was feeling an entirely new sensation, one he couldn’t quite explain.
Kwon Su-Hyeok flashed him a grin. “I hear that a lot.”
When Kalain stared at him in stunned silence, he burst into laughter. “I’m kidding. Maybe you saw me in a dream? I came here because I saw this place in one.”
“Huh?”
Kalain, too, had come here because of a dream. Perhaps he really had seen him there, only without remembering it. A strange certainty settled in his chest, as if he were bound to this man by some vast and immeasurable connection.
“Guess this is fate, then. Nice to meet you,” Kwon Su-Hyeok said with a smile as he offered his hand once more.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, Kalain felt at ease. More than that, he felt oddly uplifted, his heart lighter than it had been moments ago. Thinking that there was something uncanny about the power behind that smile, Kalain clasped his hand.
“Nice to meet you, too.”
Kalain didn’t realize it, but he, who had terrorized and ruled half the universe as Sky of the Nine Heavens in a previous life, was smiling more brightly than ever before.
- The End -
