Chapter 59: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
The Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood - Episode 59
In the beginning, "it" was nothing more than a minuscule lifeform, barely larger than a molecule.
Wriggle...
It possessed no sense of self, no capacity for thought—only the primal drive to survive.
I must live.
Instinctively, it chewed and swallowed dirt and fragments of stone, absorbing nutrients to sustain its existence.
Predation and absorption.
With ruthless efficiency, it devoured its prey, taking in every ounce of nourishment.
What had once been no larger than a molecule soon grew to the size of a palm.
At some point, it became capable of hunting microorganisms and insects with ease.
Centuries passed.
It grew beyond recognition, eventually taking on a form resembling that of a serpent.
Evolution.
Now, it could hunt and consume not just wild beasts but even humans and monsters.
It also developed the ability to think—to possess a rudimentary form of intelligence.
As the quality of its prey improved, its growth accelerated.
Millennia rolled by.
Finally, it attained a size vast enough to swallow entire dimensions whole.
One day, an unknown being—referred to as the Creator God—appeared before it and spoke in a low, gentle voice.
"I created you."
It listened.
"Ouroboros."
Ouroboros.
"That is your name."
It liked its name.
"The reason I gave you life was simply to provide the Watching Eyes with a more intuitive demonstration of his strength."
The Creator God stroked Ouroboros' scales and continued in a measured tone.
"You are nothing more than a device created to enrich the narrative of ■■■..."
Its purpose had been predetermined from the moment of its birth.
"When you meet ■■■ in the distant future, you must sacrifice yourself for the sake of his legend."
The voice was soft, almost like a demon's whisper.
"That is your fate."
Though it had just been handed a cruel destiny, Ouroboros did not despair. Instead, it continued to drift through the Abyss.
All life was bound by a similar fate—hurtling inevitably toward death.
Just as every creature it had devoured had met its end, so too would Ouroboros one day become prey to something greater.
It was the natural order.
And yet...
A deep curiosity stirred within it.
If even its existence—something the entire Abyss had come to fear—was meant only to be sacrificed for the legend of ■■■...
What kind of fate had that being been born under?
How much power did he truly wield?
With that question lingering in its mind, Ouroboros spent another long epoch wandering the Abyss.
Millennia later, after consuming countless dimensions, Ouroboros finally encountered ■■■ in a world called Anux.
'What... is this?'
To its surprise, ■■■ was nothing more than a human.
A frail creature that wouldn't even make for a decent mouthful.
Yet his power defied all reason.
Instinctively, Ouroboros sensed its own defeat.
Still, it fought desperately, clashing with him for thousands of rounds—
'Big, but not much else.'
In the end, Ouroboros tasted defeat for the first time in its life.
It had been certain everything would proceed as fate dictated—that ■■■ would annihilate it, just as the Creator God had foretold.
'Raising a serpent like this might be kind of cool...'
But for reasons unknown, ■■■ did not follow the Creator God's prophecy. Instead, he made an unexpected offer—
'I'll be your master.'
A magnanimous gesture.
The kind of grace only the true apex predator—the one who stood atop the food chain—could afford.
Ouroboros was utterly captivated by ■■■'s overwhelming power and dignified demeanor.
'You're a bit too big to keep in the Imperial Palace...'
After a moment of thought, ■■■ spoke again.
'Guess I'll have to let you roam free.'
Then, with a wave of his hand—
'Go on, now.'
Deeply moved, Ouroboros bowed.
■■■ stroked its scales and said—
'See you next time.'
From that day forward, Ouroboros returned to drifting through the chaos of the Abyss, resuming its life as before.
When hunger struck, it devoured whatever lay in its path.
It amassed power at an uncontrollable rate, growing ever larger.
Hoping that when the day of reunion came, it would be strong enough to be of use.
And now—
Somewhere in the Abyss, Ouroboros lay coiled in slumber when it heard a voice—one it could never forget, even in dreams.
"Serpent that devours dimensions."
At that brief call, Ouroboros stirred as if it had been waiting.
It slithered forth, its massive body carving sinuous curves through the void as it raced toward the source of the voice.
Unbound by time or space, lost in ecstasy, it moved solely to answer its master's summons.
Sssssssss...
In an instant, it arrived at his side.
Its long tongue flicked out repeatedly as it stared down at Kang-jun.
"Been well?"
At Kang-jun's quiet question and faint smile, Ouroboros' eyes trembled violently.
"Seems you've gotten even bigger."
As Kang-jun ran his hand along its hardened scales—
[Ouroboros asks who your enemy is.]
Kang-jun smirked.
"You wanna teach them a lesson?"
His gaze shifted to Jörmungandr, charging toward him without hesitation.
"Think you can handle it?"
Ouroboros responded by splitting its maw wide and unleashing a deafening roar.
"KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH—!"
Its massive body twisted through the air as it shot toward its master's foe.
BOOOOOOOOOOM—!
The two colossal serpents collided midair, the impact shaking the very foundations of the world.
[Ouroboros has declared hostility toward Jörmungandr!]
[Conditions met—'Hidden Piece' activated!]
Kang-jun's eyes flicked over the system message before he murmured—
"Hidden Piece?"
The moment the words left his lips, another crisp chime rang out.
[Hidden Piece: Who is the strongest serpent in the world's lore?]
Jörmungandr, the serpent feared even by the gods of the Asgard Star Cluster, and Ouroboros, the serpent that devours all, have declared war upon each other!
The victor of this battle shall forever be remembered as the strongest serpent in the world's lore!
Furthermore, this tale shall become part of your new myth—Master of the Strongest Serpent in the World—spreading far and wide!
Kang-jun chuckled.
"Strongest serpent, huh..."
His gaze settled on Ouroboros, now locked in a fierce struggle with Jörmungandr.
"KEEEEEEEEEEH—!"
At a glance, Ouroboros was overwhelming its opponent.
"Not bad."
It was only natural—Ouroboros had always held the advantage in sheer size.
CRUNCH—!
Ouroboros sank its fangs deep into Jörmungandr's neck.
The wounded serpent thrashed in agony, its roars shaking the earth.
"KREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH—!"
With every convulsion, the ground fractured, tremors rippling outward.
But Ouroboros paid no heed—instead, it drove its fangs even deeper.
[Divine Authority—'Myth Weaving' has activated!]
[The Creator God has begun writing your myth!]
A resonant voice, like an echo, filled Kang-jun's ears.
"The great serpent Jörmungandr was born of Loki and Angrboða, deities of the Asgard Star Cluster."
"The gods of Asgard, fearing Jörmungandr, cast it into the depths of the sea..."
"Yet there, it grew without end, becoming large enough to encircle Midgard."
"It was so mighty that it survived multiple battles with 'the thunder that none could withstand'—a being of the Asgard Star Cluster."
"Following its father's command, Jörmungandr charged forth without hesitation to slay ■■■..."
"But Ouroboros—"
"The calamity of the Abyss that should have long been erased by ■■■'s hand—stood in its way."
"Spared only by ■■■'s whim, this calamity drove its venomous fangs deep into Jörmungandr's flesh."
"From the wounds inflicted by Ouroboros, countless Living Texts began to spill forth."
"These were the sacred myths and legends Jörmungandr had painstakingly accumulated over millennia as a deity of the Asgard Star Cluster."
"The spilled myths and legends flowed inexorably into Ouroboros—soon to be devoured—"
"And from there, into ■■■, Ouroboros' master."
"Thus, from the ancient myths stolen from Jörmungandr..."
"A new special myth of ■■■ was born—Master of the Strongest Serpent in the World—destined to spread throughout the Abyss."
Just as the voice described, Living Texts gushed from Jörmungandr's wounds like blood.
Some flowed into Ouroboros—but most poured into Kang-jun himself.
Before long, Jörmungandr's colossal body slackened, then slowly toppled sideways.
CRAAAAAAAAASH—!
Dust billowed into the sky, and the earth trembled violently as if on the verge of collapse.
Unfazed, Ouroboros stretched its maw wide—
Gulp. Gulp.
—and swallowed Jörmungandr's corpse whole.
At that moment, multiple system messages appeared before Kang-jun in rapid succession.
[Conditions for 'Hidden Piece' have been fully met.]
[Hidden Piece: Ouroboros, the strongest serpent in the world's lore.]
Ouroboros, the serpent that devours all, has emerged victorious after a fierce battle!
Henceforth, Ouroboros shall forever be recorded as the strongest serpent in the world's lore!
Furthermore, this tale shall become your new myth—Master of the Strongest Serpent in the World—spreading far and wide!
Then, another chime rang out.
[The deity 'Jörmungandr' has been erased from existence.]
[You have contributed the most to Jörmungandr's demise.]
[You have absorbed a portion of Jörmungandr's divine power.]
[You have absorbed a vast amount of Jörmungandr's legends.]
[Your presence as ■■■ has grown more distinct.]
[Your deeds shall spread throughout the Abyss!]
[All deities of the Abyss turn their gaze upon you once more.]
Kang-jun could feel it—Jörmungandr's divine power and legends now belonged to him.
As he closed his eyes, savoring the influx of strength—
[Your new special myth—Master of the Strongest Serpent in the World—resonates throughout the Abyss!]
[Deities who stood with Jörmungandr shall henceforth harbor inexplicable hostility toward you...]
[Conversely, deities who opposed Jörmungandr shall feel an 'unexplained fondness' upon meeting you.]
Kang-jun skimmed the messages—
[The giant with sewn lips, 'Loki,' manifests before you with intense hostility!]
At the edge of his vision, a humanoid figure began to approach.
Thud. Thud.
A pale aura rose from its body like mist.
Though its steps were slow, it closed the distance unnaturally fast—as if folding space itself.
"The giant with sewn lips..."
A name Kang-jun had seen many times in system messages.
A god who, for some reason, hated him with inexplicable intensity.
"Loki."
Loki advanced toward him, face twisted with fury.