Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Chapter 176

The residential area near Bangbae-dong, where the Gate had suddenly appeared, was in utter chaos.

"Move aside—!"

Cars were blaring their horns incessantly...

As traffic came to a standstill, voices began rising in frustration.

"You wanna die dragging your feet like that?"

"What the hell did you just say—?"

"If you want to die, do it alone!"

In the sky above, several fighter jets were deployed in formation, preparing for potential Wave Phenomenon outbreaks.

Meanwhile...

The ground was packed with armored vehicles, tanks, fully armed soldiers, and numerous S-rank Hunters.

"What's the situation?"

As soon as the Gate's appearance was reported, Director Seo Do-cheol of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau rushed to the scene. An employee monitoring the equipment answered his question.

"The danger level readings from the Gate are continuously rising, far surpassing the S-rank classification threshold."

At that, Director Seo muttered involuntarily, "Damn it," before asking again.

"It's still increasing?"

The employee responded immediately.

"If this trend continues, it may soon breach not just the Calamity-grade classification but even the Annihilation-grade threshold..."

Director Seo turned his gaze to the rift, which was visibly expanding by the second.

Based on past cases, the Bureau's research team had shockingly concluded that Gate rampages were artificially induced phenomena.

'Does that mean someone can deliberately create a Calamity-grade Gate?'

Who could possibly manipulate a Gate's danger level so freely—and by what means?

"Director."

Just then, one of the Hunters on standby cautiously spoke up.

"Should we continue waiting?"

The moment the Gate appeared, countless civilians had already been swept inside.

Any further delay would inevitably lead to catastrophic casualties.

"We'll observe a little longer..."

With the Gate's exact danger level and scale still uncertain, recklessly deploying Hunters wasn't an option.

Moreover, the S-rank Hunters—the true combat force—hadn't even fully assembled yet.

'We have no choice but to wait...'

As everyone watched anxiously, praying for the danger level's rise to slow—

"What are you all standing around for?"

Kang-jun arrived on the scene.

"You're not going in, right?"

"Who...?"

"Then stop blocking the way and move."

He waved dismissively at the crowd gawking at him and strode toward the Gate.

"Hyung-nim, I'm coming too—!"

Bong-gu quickly followed.

"It's Filial Son Kim Bong-gu..."

"The rising rookie..."

"Kim Bong-gu's team..."

The Hunters gathered at the scene murmured among themselves as they watched Kang-jun and his group.

"Even if it's Filial Son Kim Bong-gu, taking on an S-rank Gate alone is impossible..."

"Kim Bong-gu's team is stacked with elites, isn't it?"

"Except for Filial Son Kim Bong-gu, the rest look like total rookies I've never seen before..."

Just then, two men trudged forward, closely tailing Kang-jun and Bong-gu toward the Gate.

"See? Just as I suspected."

"What do you mean?"

"If this isn't demonic energy, then what is?"

Baal and Dibald chatted casually as they leisurely followed the pair.

"Code Name Immortal!"

Director Seo urgently called out to Kang-jun.

"The Gate's danger level readings are still rising!"

"And?"

"Wouldn't it be better to wait until the assessment is complete...?"

Kang-jun scoffed in response, prompting Baal to interject.

"Hey, human."

"Yes?"

"From what I see..."

Baal glanced at the danger level monitor and continued.

"That flashy machine measures 'danger levels,' right...?"

As Baal trailed off vaguely, Director Seo swallowed dryly.

"Why not measure Immortal's danger level first?"

"Excuse me...?"

"Then you'd have a rough idea of which is more dangerous."

Baal added with genuine advice.

"The world is far vaster than you think—don't act rashly."

"What are you—"

"Before Immortal, you're nothing but a gentle breeze."

This was clearly advice he wished he could give his past self.

Before swearing vengeance against Immortal, or opposing him...

To his reckless, ignorant, and hot-headed former self.

"Understood? Then move."

Instinctively cowed by Baal's presence, Director Seo stepped back.

"By the way, I heard other Hunters refer to Immortal and his group as 'Kim Bong-gu's team.'"

Director Seo spoke again.

"We'll conclude the press release by stating that Filial Son Kim Bong-gu's team has taken the lead in suppressing this Gate."

Kang-jun replied curtly.

"You're sharp."

"Thank you."

"And decent at reading the room."

Director Seo bowed slightly in response.

"We leave it to you."

As Kang-jun placed his palm against the Gate's surface, his body was instantly sucked inside like a whirlpool.

Whoooosh—!

Bong-gu and the others followed without hesitation, vanishing into the Gate.

"Well, I'll be..."

Then—

"Huh?"

The Bureau employee monitoring the Gate's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠danger level suddenly widened his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

Scratching his head, the man muttered.

"I'm not sure what just happened, but after that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠young man talking to the Director appeared on screen..."

After a brief silence.

"The machine froze."

"What do you—"

"Look at the readings."

The device displayed the Gate's danger level numerically, but now...

The screen showed the symbol 「∞」—representing 'infinity.'

"Why would it suddenly...?"

Director Seo murmured before recalling the strange young man's words.

"Could it be...?"

"Measure Immortal's danger level first."

"Then you'll know which is more dangerous."

"The world is far vaster than you think—don't act rashly."

And what else had he said?

"Before Immortal, you're nothing but a gentle breeze."

Yes, those exact words.

Oddly...

They carried profound meaning.

"Director, even with Filial Son Kim Bong-gu, they can only buy us a little time..."

Director Seo replied firmly.

"For now..."

He checked his watch briefly.

"Let's wait..."

The employee reluctantly nodded.

With no immediate countermeasures...

He assumed they were waiting for the S-rank Hunters to assemble.

[ You have entered the Gate 'Jungle of Oblivion'! ]

Facing a system message after so long, Kang-jun took a deep breath.

"It's been a while..."

Stepping into a Gate personally was a rare occurrence.

The Gate's interior resembled a vast plateau...

As he surveyed the scenery, another chime rang.

Ding!

[ Divine Name: The God Who Kills Gods ]

[ Name: Lee Kang-jun (■■■) ]

[ Star Cluster: Unaffiliated ]

[ Class: Necromancer ]

[ Level: 60 ]

[ Titles ]

[ Strength: ??? ]

[ Agility: ??? ]

[ Stamina: ??? ]

[ Magic: ??? ]

[ Divine Power: ??? ]

[ Retainers: 3 ]

[ Upon reaching level '90,' a new retainer slot will unlock. ]

[ Divine Authorities ]

[ Mythos Inscription (EX): All your thoughts and actions are recorded as 'mythos,' spreading throughout the Abyss and passed down through generations. ]

[ Owner of the World's Strongest Serpent (EX): The world's most powerful serpent, 'Ouroboros,' awaits your call somewhere in the Abyss. ]

[ Voyage of Annihilation (EX): You can freely pilot the massive warship 'Naglfar,' capable of traversing the realms of the living and the dead. ]

[ Calamity (EX): By expending divine power, you can summon disasters like thunderstorms, typhoons, and tidal waves in any region. ]

His status screen, viewed after so long, was now densely packed with information.

"Oh..."

What immediately caught Kang-jun's eye was the 'Retainers' section.

"At level 90, I can summon one more..."

Stretching lightly, he muttered.

"By the way, this place sucks."

Baal nodded in agreement.

"An eerie energy swirls here."

Thick mana saturated the air, mixed with vast demonic energy and even traces of divine power.

The conflicting energies created an oppressive, discordant atmosphere.

The mana likely came from monsters, and the demonic energy from the Evil God Cultists, but...

'Then the divine power...?'

Its source remained unknown.

'We'll find out soon.'

Bong-gu licked his parched lips and asked.

"Shouldn't we prioritize searching for civilians accidentally trapped inside? Where would they—"

"Watch out."

Kang-jun suddenly yanked Bong-gu back by the collar.

"Whoa!"

A spear impaled the ground where Bong-gu had stood.

"What the—?!"

The embedded spear then slowly retracted as if magnetized.

Whooosh—!

Perched on a high tree branch, a man smirked down at them with blood-red eyes.

"How disappointing..."

His forehead bore the inverted pentagram—the 'Pentagram'—symbolizing the Evil God Cult.

Licking his lips, he continued.

"I waited to test my new power on the Bureau's dogs, but they only sent in small fry..."

Bong-gu flared his magic and shouted.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Kang-jun simply stared at the man.

"Huh..."

He was undoubtedly human.

Undeniably human...

So why did divine power emanate from him?

"Die!"

The cultist lunged at Bong-gu.

"Where do you think—?!"

Bong-gu barely dodged the spear and chanted a spell.

"Fireball!"

A magic circle appeared above his hand, launching a fireball.

KABOOM!

The cultist blocked it with his shield.

"Pathetic!"

He screamed with manic fervor.

"I am chosen by God!"

Kang-jun, silently observing, finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke.

"Chosen?"

"Yes!" the man roared. "The omnipotent God granted me this spear that strikes as I will and this shield that blocks all!"

Had someone with divine power shared their strength?

No...

They'd clearly lent their weapons too.

"So you can share power too. Learned something new..."

Kang-jun stepped forward.

"Block all, you say?"

"Of course! This shield—"

"Sounds interesting."

Clenching his fist, Kang-jun asked.

"Then try blocking this."

The cultist instinctively stepped back.

Because...

The very space around Kang-jun began distorting.

"You bastard...!"

As Kang-jun advanced, the man shouted.

"The Aegis Shield can block any attack!"

Kang-jun pulled his fist back.

"Let's test that."

The next moment.

KABOOOOOOOM—!

His fist collided with the shield, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave.

Contradiction

This was the violent clash between ■■■'s attack—which could pierce anything—and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shield—which could block anything.