There Was Light
There was light.
-Flash!
It was light. Of course, it wasn't just any light. It was an intensely holy, warm, and comforting light. Like a mother's warm embrace, or the morning sunlight brightly illuminating the dawn, it drove away the darkness of the Boundary and subdued the Void.
The light of pure Creation Force. That was the true nature of this dazzling radiance.
-Kyaaaahhh!!!
Alquinoa, bathed in the light of Creation Force, let out a shrill scream as she recoiled. Kim Jihun, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, opened his eyes again. And there he saw her—the great high-ranking auxiliary god, Asrie, who had guided him into the divine race.
"That must have been tough, huh?"
Asrie. The beautiful woman with pure white wings spoke those words. She approached Kim Jihun slowly. Radiant creation light scattered from her wings like a halo.
Seeing her, Kim Jihun felt a wave of relief wash over him. Ahh, so comforting. The Void energy that had infiltrated his body began to dissipate gradually. His depleted Creation Force started to refill. The Asrie before him was sharing her own Creation Force with him.
"This is... a high creation god."
Leila, standing beside him, wiped the tears from her eyes and gazed at the high creation god Asrie. Aside from her own mother and father, she had never seen a high creation god before. This was her first time meeting one outside her parents. She was moved by Asrie's warm Creation Force.
"Ahh... Lady Asrie..."
Unlike the tears of fear she'd shed moments ago, now they were tears of emotion. The sight of her banishing the Void and saving them was the very epitome of a high creation god's majesty.
At that moment, Alquinoa groaned and cried out.
-Asrie!! How many times are you going to interfere!!
Exposed to the intense creation light, the black energy was gradually fading from her body. Asrie's power, now revealing a portion of her true strength, was overwhelming—and that intensity was erasing the Void at the Boundary. Alquinoa's power stemmed from the Void, so she was rapidly weakening under the creation light.
Asrie replied calmly.
"That's enough now, Asria."
Called by her true name, Alquinoa erupted in rage.
-Don't call me by that name! I am Alquinoa!
Void energy surged from her body once more. Alquinoa was drawing on the Void with all her might. But her outburst was swiftly suppressed by Asrie.
"Stop."
-Flash!
An even larger and more brilliant creation light shone forth, shattering the Void power Alquinoa had desperately gathered. Asrie rose slowly from her spot.
"If you keep this up, I won't hold back anymore."
Her expression carried a resolute determination.
Alquinoa glared at Asrie and shouted,
-Next time... next time, I won't lose!
With that cry, she melted into the Void and vanished. Asrie watched the spot where Alquinoa had disappeared, muttering,
"When will you ever grow up?"
Kim Jihun asked Asrie,
"What brings you here? What about Earth?"
He had never imagined Asrie would come to rescue him. She managed her own domain alone and couldn't afford to leave it.
But Asrie replied matter-of-factly to Kim Jihun,
"You're far more precious to me than some Earth."
Kim Jihun blinked blankly at her words, assuming he'd misheard, and let it slide. Watching him, Asrie continued,
"And I asked Kanna to manage my domain in the meantime. How could I not come when you were in danger?"
Asrie had always been watching Kim Jihun. Even during the promotion battle. From her divine realm, she had sensed the insidious, sticky Void energy and immediately space-leaped to his side. The Void enveloping the arena had delayed her slightly, but her superior skill allowed her to arrive just in time.
Asrie said to Kim Jihun,
"You did well in the promotion battle."
Her voice, softer and more tender than usual, rang in his ears. Kim Jihun chuckled and replied,
"No big deal."
Then his eyes began to droop. Having expended so much Creation Force and mental energy—and now that everything was over—his accumulated fatigue crashed over him all at once. Asrie stroked his head gently.
"Get some rest."
With those words, he fell into a deep slumber.
...
How much time had passed? Kim Jihun opened his eyes. Various people surrounded him: instructors, several combat gods, and
"Jihun! Are you okay?!"
Leila too. Kim Jihun sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes as he looked around. Where was this? Rows of beds like in an Earth hospital, and next to him, what looked like medical equipment hummed away. Probably a treatment facility within the school.
Blinking, Kim Jihun asked,
"Where is this place?"
"Ah, it's the hospital. Don't worry."
Someone answered his question. Kim Jihun turned to see the god who had spoken—a mid-rank combat god named Klaus.
He greeted Kim Jihun,
"It's been a while since I guided you around the school on your first day, right? Who would've thought we'd reunite like this in the hospital."
Kim Jihun recognized the male god before him. It was Klaus, the mid-rank combat god who had shown him around on his first day at school. Klaus began explaining the full story.
"The Ma-shin clan was waiting around the arena with the Void from the start. After the promotion battle ended and most low-level gods were forcibly teleported out, they targeted you and attacked."
"Targeted me?"
Jihun was utterly baffled. He hadn't done anything to earn anyone's grudge—why him?
Klaus shared his speculation.
"My guess is they were after your very essence. There's never been a case of an intelligent being becoming a god, so the Ma-shin clan—disadvantaged compared to the divine race—probably planned to kidnap you, study you, and use that data to turn the tide of war."
From his explanation, Jihun pieced together the gist of it. He was far more valuable than he'd realized. A mortal becoming a god was that shocking.
Jihun muttered dejectedly,
"All this... over something like that..."
He felt wronged. Shunned as a half-baked low-level god was frustrating enough, but now even the Ma-shin clan wanted to use him as a lab rat. Jihun shook his head. It irked him how things spun out of his control.
Just then,
"Kim Jihun!"
A woman he'd never seen before threw her arms around him. Startled by the sudden embrace, Kim Jihun turned to look at her. She was stunningly beautiful. Golden hair shimmering with radiant light, a sweet fragrance wafting from her, exquisite features, long lashes. She pressed against him, exuding dense allure. And what clung to him with overwhelming presence was her ample bosom—plump and voluptuous.
Caught off guard by this sensuous beauty hugging him so boldly, Kim Jihun couldn't help but be shocked. He stared at her in surprise.
"..."
She gazed at him with desperate, pleading eyes. After a moment of fluster, Kim Jihun marveled at her beauty anew.
She's too beautiful.
She was. Flowing golden locks, perfectly sculpted features, and an overflowing sensual charm from every curve. For a moment, Kim Jihun nearly lost himself. Her allure hit him hard.
Gazing at her, a vague sense of familiarity tugged at him.
Have I seen her somewhere before?
He felt like he knew this woman who'd suddenly embraced him. Strange—he wouldn't forget someone this beautiful and captivating. Then it hit him, and he jolted.
Her features matched someone he knew all too well: golden hair, beautiful face, long lashes... and that radiating sex appeal.
With a hunch, Jihun murmured,
"Could you be... Leila?"
"That's right!"
Leila beamed with joy at his words and hugged him tighter. Jihun was stunned.
She's Leila?!
Leila had changed beyond recognition. The childish look that made her seem 15 was gone, replaced by a mature beauty who could pass for 19.
Kim Jihun was flustered by her transformation.
Why has she changed like this?!
The girl he'd seen as a kid sister every day had become incredibly alluring. Heart pounding, he steadied himself and looked at her. Tears streamed down her beautiful face as she sniffled and clung to him.
"Thank you... and I'm sorry, Jihun!"
She sobbed, burying herself in his arms. Feeling the soft press of her breasts, Jihun pondered what had happened.
...
"Essence of divine power?"
Kim Jihun eyed Leila before him and asked. She nodded.
"Yeah. We both survived the promotion battle to the end, so we got the reward. I received the essence of divine power and consumed it right away. My divinity rose, and my body grew to match."
The promotion battle reward: essence of divine power. A elixir concentrating immense divine power. Consuming it instantly elevated one's divinity to the next level. Having survived, Leila received it, took it immediately, and her body matured accordingly.
Kim Jihun nodded.
"I see."
As he did, his gaze inadvertently swept over her body. She kept stealing his attention. She was that captivating. Unconsciously, he avoided her eyes. He had no idea how to handle this suddenly alluring Leila.
Sensing the mood, the room fell silent. Their gazes locked in midair. Leila stared at him intensely, like she wanted to devour him or beg him desperately. Jihun, unsure how to respond, stared into space.
Feeling the budding tension between them, the instructors exchanged knowing glances, smirked slyly, and said,
"Ah, glad you're awake safe and sound. We'll head out now."
"Oh yeah, something just came up! Ahem, ahem!"
Klaus and the others made contrived excuses and filed out in an instant, leaving the room as if on purpose.
Soon, only Kim Jihun and Leila remained.
"..."
"..."
Silence. In the quiet hospital room, they stared blankly at each other. Kim Jihun racked his brain over the awkward atmosphere. At first, he'd planned to treat her casually as always. But he couldn't see her as the same little girl anymore.
Why am I like this?
When she looked 15, he'd treated her without a second thought. Her antics seemed childish, her beauty youthful. But now, Leila embodied the mature beauty he'd always admired: tall stature, perfect features, and sexy allure radiating from her sensual curves. Unbidden, he swallowed hard.
Leila gazed at him with moist eyes and called his name pleadingly.
"...Jihun."
Kim Jihun met her gaze. Her cheeks flushed pink as she stared openly at him. Jihun wasn't hopeless with women. He knew this mood, this situation. Tense, he asked,
"Um, Leila?"
The moment he opened his mouth,
"Jihun!"
Leila dove into his arms again. Her lips headed straight for his. Their lips met. Kim Jihun's first kiss.