Chapter 362: Star, Nammu (3)
“Twilight and Tiamat’s son are going for a round?”
“Hmmm…? Doesn’t Tiamat want Twilight to be her concubine? Why are they fighting?”
“Maybe that’s the reason.”
“Ah, that’s understandable. Tiamat’s son is suddenly about to get a stepfather he never expected to have. That is one messed up family. Kekeke!”
The news of Chang-Sun and Ushumgalu having a duel quickly spread among the <Anti-Star> Alliance’s Celestials. <Muspelheim> and <Nammu> had been on good terms until now, so they could not help but wonder why Chang-Sun and Ushumgalu were suddenly having a duel. However, they all ended up nodding in agreement after recalling the complicated succession war in <Nammu>.
Their interest now was the duel’s outcome, as it was also an opportunity to gauge the strength of Chang-Sun, who was said to be a <Supreme Light’s Face>. In addition, the <Anti-Star> Alliance’s Celestials had nothing to lose if a rift opened up between <Muspelheim> and <Nammu>, so they had no reason to care about anything else.
All the Celestials followed Chang-Sun and Ushumgalu as they headed to an exercise hall; there, the stage for the duel was prepared in less than an hour. However, Taotie, the cause of the duel, did not particularly look happy.
‘He’s really relaxed. Is that how confident he is?’ Taotie thought, his eyes glued to Chang-Sun as he sat in a spectator’s seat.
Ushumgalu was stretching diligently, but Chang-Sun was quietly yawning as if he merely wanted to get things over with as soon as possible.
“Twilight? He’s an interesting child. Hahaha, he certainly is.”
Taotie recalled Tiamat’s assessment of Chang-Sun. On top of that, Chang-Sun had located Ou Yezi’s descendant and was now the new owner of [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth]. As far as Taotie knew, Tiamat was stingy with compliments, so much so that many children of her own had never even received one. And yet, such a person had spoken highly of Chang-Sun, raising Taotie’s expectations of him…
‘I really can’t tell right now,’ Taotie thought.
Taotie also knew about the <Myth War> and how notorious ‘Divine Twilight’ had been during it, but he never believed anything he was told unless he saw it with his own eyes. Although he had met Chang-Sun in person now, Taotie was still unsure whether Chang-Sun was someone who could live up to his notoriety and Tiamat’s compliments. That was why Taotie had provoked Chang-Sun, but Ushumgalu had unexpectedly interrupted their conversation; still, it had eventually allowed Taotie to test Chang-Sun regardless.
‘If what Tiamat said isn’t an exaggeration…’ Taotie thought, his eyes narrowing. He muttered inaudibly, “...Maybe he’s qualified to touch that after all.”
* * *
“Are you sure about this?” Lahmu asked Ushumgalu.
While Ushumgalu was stretching in a corner, Lahmu and the other brothers had approached him; they shared the same enmity against Chang-Sun.
“What is there to not be sure about?” Ushumgalu scoffed.
“Mother recognized his ability,” Lahmu said.
“She gave me her recognition too,” Ushumgalu retorted.
“He’s also a <Supreme Light’s Face>,” Lahmu reminded Ushumgalu.
“Hmph! <Supreme Light’> is a has-been who stopped watching over the universe. Most people doubt the possibility of him even being alive, so becoming such a being’s avatar doesn’t make Twilight any more significant.”
“The explosion he can create by mixing supreme sacred light and <Darkness> is dangerous enough,” Lahmu said in concern.
Ushumgalu continued to dismiss the warnings, saying, “I can strike him before he starts his explosion.”
“You should still be ca…!” Lahmu began.
“Hey, Lahmu,” Ushumgalu said, cutting him off with a frown of annoyance. “Are you trying to kill my fighting spirit right now? Stop yapping and get lost.”
The irritated Ushumgalu brushed Lahmu aside and walked away. Even though they were on the same side for the time being, Ushumgalu was a doer, not a thinker. Ever since they were young, Ushumgalu had always hated Lahmu for worrying too much.
However, after watching Ushumgalu walk away for a moment, Lahmu’s gaze turned cold as he quietly clicked his tongue. The man who had appeared to express concern for his brother was gone.
The brothers Kulullu and Mushmahhu had been quietly listening to the conversation between Ushumgalu and Lahmu; they glanced at Lahmu and asked, “How do you think the fight will turn out?”
“What do you mean? Of course Ushumgalu will lose. He’ll never beat Twilight,” Lahmu commented cynically.
Lahmu was very smart, to the point that he was often referred to Tiamat’s strategist. From his perspective, the chance of Ushumgalu defeating Chang-Sun was close to zero, but he had left Ushumgalu alone—no, in truth, he had instigated this fight for a reason.
“Then are you just going to let him attack us?” the two brothers asked.
“No way,” Lahmu said, smiling coldly with his arms crossed. “After Ushumgalu loses, the relationship between <Muspelheim> and <Nammu> will naturally sour. Even if Pabilsag tries to prevent it from happening, the people of <Nammu> will continue to raise concerns about how they should be vigilant against Twilight.”
Kulullu and Mushmahhu finally realized Lahmu’s intentions.
“We can use that public opinion to our advantage. Well, we can even start a bigger conflict against Twilight if necessary,” Lahmu continued with a nod.
An outside enemy could naturally lead members of a group to unite. That way, Lahmu planned to get the public of <Nammu> on his side by designating Chang-Sun as the enemy and using Ushumgalu as a scapegoat.
“But what if it causes friction in the <Anti-Star> Alliance?” the brothers asked.
“It’s alright, since Twilight won’t just leave. <Muspelheim> is the one who needs the <Anti-Star> Alliance the most, not <Nammu>,” Lahmu said confidently.
Lahmu believed that no matter how much of a grievance Chang-Sun had against them, he would not be able to do much. If <Nammu> withdrew from the alliance, the <Anti-Star> Alliance would inevitably crumble, and Chang-Sun would end up alone, just as he had been in the <Myth War>.
“So all we need to do is distinguish ourselves in this war and solidify our footing in the succession battle. We can make up with Twilight afterward and say that it was all Ushumgalu’s doing,” Lahmu said with a shrug.
Of course, the <Anti-Star> Alliance also benefited <Nammu> and Lahmu. Thus, Lahmu intended to try reconciling with Chang-Sun after defeating <Purple Star Astrology>, by agreeing to Chang-Sun becoming Tiamat’s concubine or giving him something else he needed. Lahmu thought that Chang-Sun would accept the offer even if he found out what was really going on; after all, it was just politics.
“We can just sit back and enjoy the ride that idiot Ushumgalu prepared for us,” Lahmu said. He sincerely believed that they had nothing to lose from this duel, and that a rosy future awaited them.
However, there was one thing that he had been worrying about, although he did not say it out loud.
‘I can’t see Mother right now…’ Lahmu thought.
Tiamat was precisely the kind of person who would enjoy this situation the most, but she was missing.
* * *
[A Sudden Quest (Honorary Duel) has been created!]
[Honorary Duel]
· Type: Sudden.
· Description: The Celestial ‘Lion-Headed Bizarre Dragon’ has challenged you to a duel for dishonoring <Nammu>; thus, many <Anti-Star> Alliance Celestials are paying attention to this duel right now.
Win this duel and protect your honor. Since the Celestial ‘Lion Headed Bizarre Dragon’ is one of the strongest among Tiamat’s Eleven Demonic Creatures, defeating him will earn you the title of ‘Ushumgalu Crusher’.
· Time Limit: Until the end of the duel.
· Reward: Fame +15,000. Greater influence in the <Anti-Star> Alliance. Taotie the Devil Blacksmith’s recognition. ???.
After reading the quest window, Chang-Sun slowly climbed onto the combat practice area. Although he could sense a lot of people watching him, he just ignored them. Pabilsag and Jörmungandr did not seem to be worried, but Minerva was a little concerned about Chang-Sun getting injured. Meanwhile, Mars was chanting ‘explosion!’ on his own.
“Take out your weapon,” Ushumgalu said, shooting Chang-Sun a scowl as soon as he arrived at the combat practice area. The sight of Chang-Sun not even drawing [Tiamat’s Snaggletooth] made Ushumgalu feel as if Chang-Sun was looking down on him.
The problem was that he was right.
“Stop talking and come at me,” Chang-Sun said. He beckoned Ushumgalu with his index finger, not wanting to speak any further.
“Let’s see if you can still talk like that after you kiss the floor!” Ushumgalu roared as he sprang forth, unable to hold back his anger.
Booom!
[The duel has begun!]
Swoooosh―!
The system message that appeared between the two quickly dissipated. A pool of light spread out from Ushumgalu as he took on his enormous monster form before flying at Chang-Sun.
‘How dare you belittle me? Alright, your arrogance will bring you a crushing defeat!’ Ushumgalu thought, not letting his guard down for a second as he went up against Chang-Sun.
Unlike what he had told Lahmu, Ushumgalu already knew that Chang-Sun was definitely no weaker than him from their initial collision, so he did not hesitate to fight Chang-Sun in his real form. Even though some would point fingers at him and call him a coward… So what? The most important thing in war was victory.
In addition, Ushumgalu believed that he had to defeat this scumbag who stood to become his great mother’s concubine, and that if he did, Tiamat would consider him the most competent of her potential heirs. Thus, this duel was very important to him. Tiamat was Ushumgalu’s final goal, the last milestone of his life that he had to reach someday. Tiamat was Ushumgalu’s everything.
Just then, however…
Whoosh!
All of a sudden, supreme sacred light suddenly engulfed Chang-Sun’s right arm in brilliant white, and <Darkness> shrouded his left arm. The particles of both Divinities floated up from his palms and entangled with one another, eventually taking the form of a sphere.
‘It’s the famous mixture of supreme sacred light and <Darkness>,’ Ushumgalu thought. He reflexively chuckled; the sphere was just too small, even though news had spread about it causing an explosion immense enough to engulf multiple galaxies.
Still, the sphere seemed to be made up of a massive, highly concentrated amount of the two Divinities… Well, it looked as if it would be extinguished if Ushumgalu did so much as swing his front paw, so it was a little funny.
‘…Huh?’ Ushumgalu thought, gaping slightly.
Chang-Sun had suddenly thrown the sphere in Ushumgalu’s direction and started running in the opposite direction, almost as if he was trying to get away from it. Still, it only made him look as if he was running away from this duel.
Ushumgalu had previously thought that there could be something special about Chang-Sun, seeing as Tiamat had chosen him as a concubine; thus, Chang-Sun’s choice was greatly disappointing to him. He decided to slap aside the toy-like sphere and retaliate against Chang-Sun on the spot.
‘It’s… getting bigger?’
Only after getting close to the sphere did Ushumgalu get a strong feeling that something was odd. The sphere of supreme sacred light and <Darkness> spun fiercely, both energies clinging together as if the two Divinities were unwilling to let each other go. The moment the sphere left Chang-Sun’s hand, it had begun growing rapidly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…!
In a flash, the sphere grew not only bigger than Ushumgalu, but also large enough to eclipse the entire ceiling of the exercise hall.
『What in the worl…!』
Ushumgalu screamed, but it was already too late.
“Everybody, run!”
The Celestials had also been blankly watching the sphere, but someone among them shouted just then. They all drew on their divine power to either use teleportation or cast Blink.
Just then, the sphere, which had been maintaining itself with difficulty using its powerful torque, exploded. However, there was no sound. A pool of white light simply filled the exercise hall, and an immense wave of heat instantly struck Ushumgalu and the spectators.
Some of the Celestials, such as Pabilsag and Jörmungandr, had successfully fled before things got dangerous; however, other Celestials had been unable to. The explosion struck Lahmu, Kulullu, Mushmahhu, and Chang-Sun’s other opponents after it hit Ushumgalu. As it had been Chang-Sun’s plan to take out Ushumgalu and everyone else in <Nammu> who was against him, he had intentionally directed the explosion in their direction.
Booom!
Rumble…!
In the end, a huge mushroom cloud rose up from the ruins of the exercise hall. Every Celestial who had barely managed to escape to the outskirts of the divine ground could only watch, dumbstruck.
“This is crazy…!”
“He blew up Tiamat’s divine ground like this…? It’s worse than what we saw before!”
“He got that much stronger so quickly?”
Most of the Celestials had seen Chang-Sun’s explosion experiment on Earth, but they had believed that the explosion would be limited this time, because they were in the land of <Nammu> and Tiamat’s divine power was flowing through the air. Despite everything, the scale of the explosion was outstanding… which meant it was so extraordinary that it could not forcibly be controlled by anything.
Even now, the explosion continued to send heat waves in every direction, knocking trees down like dominoes. Fire soared high into the air and dyed the sky red, creating a sight reminiscent of a world that had met a horrible apocalypse.
That was why the Celestials had no choice but to blankly watch the situation. They were covered with dust and affected by the heat wave, making them look particularly miserable.
Tap!
Just then, Chang-Sun landed on the ground; he was the only one who felt relaxed. Looking at the outcome he had created, he nodded in contentment, saying, “It feels refreshing.”
[The Celestial ‘Abyss-Chasing Great Devil’ lets out a long sigh!]
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l