Chapter 16: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 16
Kim Bong-gu swallowed dryly and began slowly organizing his thoughts.
'Was that monster really looking for Kang-jun hyungnim all along?'
At that moment, the Frost Giant Hrimthurs—who had been scanning his fallen brethren—let out a piercing wail.
「 M-My brethren—! 」
They had once been mighty warriors of the Jotun race.
They should have fought valiantly against the "■■■" who violated their sacred grounds and met a warrior's honorable end.
But now?
Resurrected through necromancy, they had been reduced to puppets devoid of will, controlled like marionettes.
"Grrrr..."
Their pitch-black skin devoid of vitality, eyes with only whites remaining where pupils should be—everything served as proof that his brethren were being manipulated by mere necromancy.
「 Brethren, how dare you raise your axes against me, your chieftain? 」
「 How dare you oppose me, apostle of the All-Knowing Giant, the 'Giant with Stitched Lips'—the god all Jotuns revere! 」
As Hrimthurs' booming voice echoed, the blizzard raging across the snowy plains grew even fiercer.
「 ■■■, you've used crude necromancy to deny my brethren eternal rest—! 」
With those final words, the Frost Giant Hrimthurs charged toward Kang-jun with lightning speed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each thunderous step of the colossal Frost Giant shook the earth violently, his massive frame obscuring the sky.
The intensifying blizzard made it impossible to even keep one's eyes open.
Kim Bong-gu whipped his head toward Kang-jun and shouted urgently.
"H-Hyungnim! You have to run—!"
The Frost Giant was a terrifying monster who had effortlessly plucked S-rank Hunter Choo Ji-hoon—ranked 10th as the "Swift Blade"—from the air like swatting a fly, instantly incapacitating him.
No matter how strong Kang-jun was, Kim Bong-gu judged he couldn't possibly defeat such a creature.
"Why run when I can have infinite fun?"
Kang-jun replied nonchalantly before hopping lightly off the Jotun soldier's head and landing on the ground.
With an amused smirk, he muttered in his signature monotone:
"■■■..."
It was something akin to a name he hadn't thought of in a long time.
No—not quite a name.
More like a title...
"You do know me, don't you?"
The moment Kang-jun's icy question dissipated into the air, the dozen Jotun soldiers guarding his back suddenly sprinted toward Hrimthurs.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Soon after, Hrimthurs and the Jotun soldiers clashed violently...
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
With each swing of Hrimthurs' massive fists, Jotun soldiers collapsed helplessly.
The Jotun soldiers—already three to four times larger than average men—were dwarfed by Hrimthurs, who stood two to three times their size.
The difference in scale was overwhelming.
Wherever Hrimthurs' fists struck, the Jotun soldiers' faces caved in grotesquely as if made of tin.
Like a rabid wolf amidst sheep, Hrimthurs rampaged, felling Jotun soldiers one by one.
「 ■■■, how could we not know you? Even the 'Giant with Stitched Lips'—god of all Jotuns—watches you closely! 」
Hrimthurs roared furiously as he lifted the last Jotun soldier by the neck high into the air.
Watching this, Kim Bong-gu sighed deeply.
With all of Kang-jun's summoned Jotun soldiers defeated, the tide had clearly turned in Hrimthurs' favor.
Meanwhile, Kang-jun remained utterly unperturbed, as if he had an ace up his sleeve.
"A god, you say..."
Hrimthurs slammed the Jotun soldier violently to the ground and responded:
「 It's not just the 'Giant with Stitched Lips' who watches you! All gods gaze upon you—the one who dared covet the title of '■■■' and seized it! 」
Kang-jun nodded slightly before asking:
"From your perspective, do you think these gods are stronger than me?"
Hrimthurs' veins bulged as he shouted:
「 ■■■, you ignorant, arrogant fool! Now you dare blaspheme the gods before an apostle of the 'Giant with Stitched Lips'—! 」
Kang-jun had long pondered the existence of so-called "omnipotent" gods.
'Since when was it?'
Perhaps ever since witnessing self-proclaimed "Absolute Ones" of various worlds die after barely lasting a few exchanges against him.
The dragons that once terrorized the Anux continent, the Heavenly Demon from the martial world.
The Spirit King of the Spirit Realm, even the Demon King who ruled all demons—none could rival him.
It was around that time he began feeling an unbearable weariness toward his near-immortal life.
And so.
Kang-jun desperately wished—prayed—for the existence of beings who dared call themselves "gods."
If such omnipotent beings existed, they might finally prove worthy opponents.
"Tell your god this."
Kang-jun's voice carried something akin to anticipation as he added:
"If we meet, I'll wreck him."
Enraged, Hrimthurs howled "Youuuu—!" and charged at Kang-jun like a mad bull.
At that moment, Kang-jun extended his palm toward the fallen Jotun corpses...
Whoooosh—!
An indescribably dark, sinister energy seeped from Kang-jun's palm, enveloping the Jotun corpses.
Soon, an eerie sound—enough to make one's skin crawl—emanated from the corpses shrouded in thick black mist.
Creeeeak—.
Creeak—.
Creeeeak—.
Staring blankly, Kim Bong-gu muttered unconsciously, "What the..."
Through the oppressive mist, he could vaguely discern what was happening.
The Jotun corpses were merging together as if molded from clay.
Bones and flesh amalgamated into a spherical mass that ultimately...
Took the form of a grotesque, colossal ragdoll golem towering over Hrimthurs.
「 W-What is this...? 」
The Jotun Ragdoll Golem raised its massive palm high...
And slammed it down with full force onto the stunned Hrimthurs.
Whoooosh—!
Though Hrimthurs crossed his arms in desperation to block...
「 H-How... 」
Unable to overcome the overwhelming power difference, his stance wavered dangerously before finally collapsing.
Strictly speaking, it was merely a "Ragdoll Golem" fused from Jotun corpses.
An ordinary ragdoll golem could never overpower Hrimthurs, but...
"How about it? Still think your god's stronger than me?"
「 You bastard...! 」
"I asked if your pathetic god's stronger than me."
Infused with Kang-jun's dense, pure black magic, this golem possessed power far beyond conventional limits.
CRASH!
Losing balance under the golem's fierce assault, Hrimthurs was ultimately crushed deep into the earth.
How much time passed?
Witnessing this unbelievable scene, Kim Bong-gu swallowed hard and whispered:
"I-Is it dead...?"
Kang-jun suddenly feigned shock and scolded:
"Hey! Why would you say that?"
"Huh?"
"That's practically a resurrection incantation!"
Kim Bong-gu swallowed words he couldn't voice aloud.
'But hyungnim... isn't resurrecting the dead your specialty?'
Muttering "Now I feel unsettled..." Kang-jun lightly gestured...
The massive Jotun Ragdoll Golem clenched its fists and began relentlessly pummeling Hrimthurs buried in the snow.
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
CRASH!
After dozens of brutal punches, the raging blizzard's intensity gradually waned.
"Seriously, why do weaklings talk so much? Can't even take a few hits before dying..."
As Kang-jun grumbled these words, the giant ragdoll golem suddenly began melting away.
Kim Bong-gu pressed his lips together, staring intently at Hrimthurs' lifeless body buried deep in the snow.
'T-That monster is dead?'
He turned his head, gazing at Kang-jun's profile with awe-filled eyes.
Hrimthurs had effortlessly subdued S-rank Hunter Choo Ji-hoon like swatting a fly.
'Hyungnim... just what...'
What is your identity? What life have you lived?
How could you overpower that monster so completely...?
How does one become that strong?
Meanwhile.
Kang-jun was preoccupied staring at the air before him.
[ Level has increased! ]
[ Level has increased! ]
[ Level has increased! ]
Several status windows appeared sequentially—just like when he defeated the Jotun soldiers earlier.
[ You have defeated the Guardian of Jotunheim's Sacred Grounds: 'Frost Giant Hrimthurs'. ]
[ The gate 'Sacred Grounds of the Jotun Race' will disappear in one hour. ]
[ A-grade achievement 'The One All Giants Fear' has been unlocked. ]
[ Hrimthurs' patron deity 'The Giant with Stitched Lips' now opposes you. ]
[ All gods of the star cluster 'Asgard' now oppose you. ]
[ Your presence as ■■■ has grown more distinct. ]
Reading the messages, Kang-jun chuckled softly and muttered:
"Oppose me? If they're so upset, they should man up and come fight me properly..."
With that, he swiped away the status windows like shooing flies...
"Huh?"
His eyes widened like lanterns upon seeing the new message.
[ Summoning conditions for your subordinate 'Elriel' have been met! ]
[ You may now summon your subordinate 'Elriel'. ]