Absolute One's First Time Being a Dad - Episode 119

Four years had passed since the worldwide phenomenon called "Gates" first appeared.

Most nations suffered devastating damage, yet managed to achieve some degree of recovery and reconstruction...

But some countries disappeared from the world map, unable to withstand the aftermath.

North Korea was one such case.

Uncontrollable devastation from the Gates and the monsters that flooded through left the nation in ruins.

Amidst the chaos, their regime collapsed and their economy rapidly eroded.

The result was national annihilation.

Over half their territory became uninhabitable due to swarming monsters...

The remaining half, relatively less affected, became a stage for various criminal organizations.

The reason was simple.

With no functioning administrative institutions, control was laughably superficial at best...

And there was an overflowing workforce willing to do anything for just a day's wages.

From secretly transporting and storing drugs and weapons ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to utilizing numerous underground tunnels...

Thus...

It naturally became a breeding ground for crime, an ideal location for all kinds of massive criminal syndicates to establish themselves.

In Jagang Province, Hyesan City, North Korea...

A blood-red full moon, dyed crimson by the Lunar Eclipse phenomenon, rose high in the vast sky, illuminating the area...

And right beside it...

A newly spawned Calamity-grade Gate hovered in the air, its massive maw gaping wide with a crack!

It was beautiful.

The red moon cast its glow over lush forests untouched by modern science and civilization...

And the multicolored threads of light spilling from the dimensional rift shimmered wildly.

The sight evoked both an eerie sense of alienation and undeniable beauty.

At least, until something emerged from beyond the Gate.

"Grrrrrr..."

A wolf larger than most mountains appeared from within the Gate.

Fenrir.

Perched comfortably on the giant wolf's back was the divine being from the Asgard Star Cluster—the "Giant with Sewn-Shut Lips"—Loki.

"The moon is bright."

Loki's gaze turned toward the crimson moon hanging high in the sky.

"Sköll and Hati succeeded."

A lunar eclipse was supposed to be a natural phenomenon caused by the alignment of the Earth, sun, and moon, wasn't it?

Sköll and Hati, the two wolves destined to chase the sun and moon since birth.

Thanks to the efforts of these two descendants of Loki, they had forcibly induced the Lunar Eclipse phenomenon.

"I have a good feeling..."

He grinned viciously.

Not long ago...

The entire Abyss resonated.

『Thus, the narrative of this world has finally entered the domain of Origin (*起).』

This meant a storm of upheaval was about to sweep across the Abyss.

Perhaps...

Even the owner of the title "■■■" might be replaced.

At this very moment...

S-rank Hunters from various nations, gathered to suppress the Gate, were staring at him with wary eyes.

Not just South Korea's S-rank Hunters, but top-tier Hunters from China and Japan had also assembled early for the operation.

"Maintain defensive formations—!"

Jung Yoon-chan, who had taken overall command of the suppression effort, shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

"First, we analyze its patterns!"

At those words, Loki smirked darkly.

"You dare oppose me?"

Divine energy surged forth...

The Living Text that formed his divine authority swirled like a vortex, corroding the surroundings.

BOOOOOOM—!

Before the real battle even began, several Hunters collapsed, unable to withstand the overwhelming gap in power...

"If you're so eager to die..."

Loki's soft, low voice began to resonate across the battlefield.

"I'll grant your wish."

At the same time...

A massive warship was cutting through the dark night sky.

The great ship Naglfar, sailing toward destruction.

Its bow adorned with the faces of the dead who perished in agony, its sails woven from nails, sinew, and muscle.

"O Immortal..."

Kazan, the director of the private bank "Gathering of Secret Wealth," who had unwillingly joined this journey, bowed his head and spoke.

"Here is the item you commanded us to prepare."

He carefully handed Kang-jun a black cloth robe.

The artifact Hermit's Robe, stored in the bank's vault.

Kang-jun immediately stripped off his top and pants, donning the robe instead...

"Now I feel alive..."

Finally, he pulled the hood deep over his face, completely concealing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his features.

"L-Lord Immortal..."

Kazan's eyes widened as he inadvertently witnessed Kang-jun's naked body during the change.

"Th-That just now..."

Kang-jun replied quietly.

"Pretend you didn't see it."

Then added:

"Everyone who saw me like that is dead."

Kazan gulped audibly, his breath hitching...

"I-I shall obey..."

Behind the hood, Kang-jun's eyes flickered with violet light.

Sensing the divine energy emanating from afar, he murmured softly:

"We're almost there."

Even his voice felt unnervingly different from usual.

Jung Yoon-chan clenched the hilt of his sword.

"What is this..."

Lately, he had been overwhelmed by an unbearable sense of powerlessness multiple times.

In recent months, he had encountered enemies with unimaginable strength one after another.

It started with Hela, whom he faced in the Calamity-grade Gate in India.

Hadn't he also tasted helplessness against the boss monster Susanoo in Shimane Prefecture, Japan?

And again against the ruthless monster in Shanghai's financial district.

Now was no different.

Every time the massive wolf opened its maw, scorching flames poured forth...

"M-Maintain formation!"

"Fall back, everyone!"

"GAAAAAAAH—!"

With each attack, dozens of Hunters turned to ashes, scattering into the wind.

"Damn it..."

Yoon-chan, his fighting spirit broken, stared blankly at the giant wolf rampaging like a beast among sheep.

The wolf's colossal size might be manageable if they worked together...

But the pressure radiating from the unknown being riding it kept freezing his body stiff.

Even if they somehow subdued the wolf and gained the upper hand...

The moment that being, who hadn't even lifted a finger yet, joined the battle, the tide would turn instantly.

"Hero..."

Yoon-chan muttered with a pale face.

Hunters were dying by the second.

These were the ones the world praised and revered as heroes.

"No..."

They weren't fit to be heroes.

Neither was he.

That title belonged to someone else.

"Hey, cool, right?"

Unlike typical protagonists in heroic tales—those concerned with dignity, appearances, or altruism—this one didn't bother with such things.

Yet, in defending peace without asking for reward, he truly deserved the title of hero.

"Immortal..."

Yoon-chan looked up at the crimson moon.

As always, he prayed for him to appear.

He hoped to buy time until he arrived.

Loki, overhearing his mutter, sneered.

"He won't show up today."

Then added:

"No, he can't show up anymore."

He declared with absolute confidence, as if seeing through everything.

"I can freely induce a lunar eclipse, but he weakens under its light..."

Loki's voice echoed.

"We are natural enemies!"

Loki was certain that today, the great title "■■■" would be his.

Hadn't the narrative ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of ■■■ always followed this structure?

An enemy portrayed as invincible, only to be effortlessly subdued by the new ■■■ using their unique traits.

This was the core structure of the classic hero's tale led by the one and only "■■■"...

"Indeed..."

Perhaps the "■■■" who hid in weakness during the eclipse was fated to perish at his hands from the very beginning.

"Maybe the Creator God always intended me to be the true '■■■,' not him—!"

As his maddened shout reverberated...

A massive flying vessel appeared in the sky...

And in that instant, hope and despair clashed across the battlefield.

"T-That's..."

Kang-jun's flagship, Naglfar.

"H-Has he come for us—?"

At Nuclear Samurai's question—his body covered in severe burns—Yoon-chan nodded.

"Most likely..."

Go Du-yeol, his body charred black, muttered "Damn it" and drove his massive shield into the ground.

"Seems this pathetic brother's reached his limit..."

Yoon Hee-su glanced at the floating ship before charging forward again, swinging his sword...

So Cheon-pung, who had recently succeeded her late father Tae Cheon-pung as the new leader of the Cheonpungmun Sect, whispered:

"That ship from back then..."

Amidst the spreading hope...

"GRRRRRRR—!"

Fenrir roared in fury...

"You came despite the eclipse...!"

Loki gnashed his teeth and shouted.

"Under the crimson moon, I'll sever your weakened neck and claim that glorious title for myself!"

Divine energy swirled even more violently...

"I'll reclaim Naglfar, the ship my beloved daughter Hela crafted over eons in Niflheim's underworld!"

The Living Text of his legend ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spilled forth.

"I'll slaughter all your kin, just as you did mine, and vent my wrath by shattering this entire dimension to pieces!"

Then...

A man clad in a thick black robe, his hood pulled low, leaped from the ship.

Thud.

Landing with catlike grace, he strode toward Loki and Fenrir.

"Everyone, step back."

At those words, the battered Hunters, barely holding on, began to retreat...

"Why today of all days?"

At Kang-jun's question, Loki sneered from atop Fenrir.

"Didn't expect you to come willingly."

"I don't die."

"Still bluffing till the end, huh?!"

Loki burst into laughter.

"You think I don't know you weaken under the crimson moon's eclipse?"

Kang-jun tilted his head.

"Who fed you that nonsense..."

Loki clutched his stomach, laughing mockingly.

"Pathetic trick. If not, why have you never shown your face during past eclipses?"

Kang-jun replied:

"You've got it wrong."

A brief silence fell.

Rustle...

Kang-jun removed his hood.

"The reason I avoided going out on days like this..."

As moonlight bathed him, his skin began to melt grotesquely...

Thick, acrid smoke rose like paper burning under a magnifying glass.

Soon, his facial flesh and muscles melted away, revealing bone...

WHOOSH—!

Dark flames erupted violently over his skeletal face, now fully exposed to the moonlight.

"The power surge is nice..."

Dense black magic bloomed across the battlefield in an instant...

Now fully transformed into an undead horror, Kang-jun stared at Loki with glowing violet eyes.

"But the itching and stinging are annoying..."

"W-What the—"

"And I look like shit..."

Kang-jun's voice, now deeply unsettling, continued firmly.

"You made me go out like this..."

Step. Step. He advanced.

"Made me show this disgusting form to everyone..."

He flung off the Hermit's Robe, and his remaining flesh melted away instantly...

His entire body was engulfed in dark flames as his bones reshaped into armor.

"And then you dared drag my family into your filthy mouth..."

The skeletal figure grinned horrifically, his voice dripping with menace.

"Your crimes are unforgivable..."

The next moment.

BOOOOOOM—!

The earth quaked from the deafening impact.

The ground where Kang-jun stood shattered...

And his form vanished.

"GAAAAAH—!"

A massive skeletal hand seized Loki by the neck...

"You won't die cleanly..."

Now nose-to-nose with Loki, Kang-jun chuckled darkly, his grip tightening.

The violet light in his eyes burned brighter than ever.