Chapter 96: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood - Episode 96
Countless spectral warriors, pouring out from beyond the mirror, stood frozen in place like marionettes with their strings cut...
"H-how...?"
Kang-jun answered quietly.
"Undead."
Then he asked in return,
"Is this a gift?"
At those words, Susanoo stared at Kang-jun, unable to hide his bewilderment.
"Just a single sheet of paper."
In the next moment, the armored warrior spirits turned slightly—and pointed their swords not at Kang-jun, but at Susanoo.
"Enjoy the difference in our strength."
Suddenly, the spectral warriors lunged at Susanoo, slashing wildly with their longswords.
Clang! Clash! Screech—!
Susanoo, dumbfounded, could only barely fend off their relentless assault.
"You bastards—!"
Their numbers were overwhelming. Blocking them with just his sword was impossible—he had no choice but to unleash disaster itself.
KRRRRRRUMBLE—!
Lightning struck down upon them.
WHOOSH—!
A tidal wave surged forth, sweeping them away.
"What is this madness—?!"
But their numbers were so vast that there was no sign of them thinning.
Ding!
Then, a crisp chime echoed in Kang-jun's ears.
[The divine authority 'Mythography' (EX) has activated!]
[The Creator God has begun writing your myth!]
A rapid tap-tap-tap sound followed, as if something were being frantically typed out...
And once again, an indistinct voice—or perhaps living text—began spreading throughout the Abyss.
『Susanoo, a high-ranking deity of the Takamagahara Star Cluster, was one of the "Three Noble Children," the most exalted trio of divine beings...』
『A god of war and storms, he wielded dominion over typhoons, the sea, and lightning, alongside peerless swordsmanship.』
『He had come seeking vengeance against "■■■," who had brought shame and disgrace upon his mother, Izanami...』
『Yet no matter what he tried, he could not reach ■■■—and in the end, he suffered the humiliation of losing even his own subordinates.』
It seemed his actions were being recorded as myth, just as always.
Then, as Kang-jun splayed his palm open, a dark spear materialized above it.
Though clearly formed from dense black magic, the spear flickered as if not entirely solid...
Clench.
Kang-jun gripped the spear tightly—his divine form stretching like taffy before vanishing momentarily.
"Time to keep my promise."
His voice was icy as he appeared right before Susanoo, who was too busy fighting to react.
"What do you—"
The next instant—
"You dared speak of my family."
—Kang-jun thrust the spear's tip straight through Susanoo's right wrist, the one gripping his sword.
"I promised to rip out that insolent tongue."
"GAAAAAAH—!"
"It'd be wiser to stay quiet."
Kang-jun didn't stop at piercing his wrist—he drove the spear deep into a distant cliff, pinning him there.
THWUMP—!
With his wrist impaled and dangling from the spear, living text began spilling from Susanoo's wound instead of blood.
- Among Takamagahara's deities, he was the most valiant—yet his reckless actions accumulated many sins, earning him the punishment of having his beard and nails torn out...
Kang-jun muttered, "Good," then opened his palm again, summoning another spear.
"S-stop!"
Susanoo's eyes bulged as he shouted in panic. Kang-jun tilted his head.
"Would you stop?"
Without hesitation, he pressed Susanoo's left wrist against the cliff and impaled it with another spear.
"Ghhh...!"
With both arms now sealed, Kang-jun nodded to himself and murmured,
"Wouldn't want you thrashing around and making this troublesome. Best secure your legs too."
He promptly drove spears through both ankles, nailing them to the cliff.
"Now, let's begin the procedure..."
Grabbing Susanoo's jaw with one hand, Kang-jun forced his mouth open with brutal strength.
"N-no...!"
Clutching the god's tongue, Kang-jun smirked and muttered to himself,
"It's been a while since I've torn one out."
Then, the narrative spoke again.
『Before ■■■ attained divinity, he reigned as the "Emperor," overseeing an entire dimension within the Abyss.』
『Back then, ■■■ often led his soldiers to victory at the forefront of every battlefield...』
『His overwhelming martial prowess was matched only by his infamous cruelty—inflicting brutal torture upon prisoners who refused to surrender.』
Kang-jun spoke again.
"Hey, hey—relax."
Just as he yanked the tongue with all his might—
"GGRRKK—!"
Susanoo, limbs immobilized, writhed in agony.
Kang-jun dangled the freshly torn tongue before his face and added,
"Here. This is your three-inch tongue."
But Susanoo, eyes rolled back from the pain, couldn't even see it.
『■■■ impaled Susanoo's limbs with spears, nailing him to the cliff...』
『Then, with practiced ease, he ripped out Susanoo's tongue in one swift motion.』
『Not content with that, he even dangled the severed tongue before Susanoo's eyes, mocking him...』
『Witnessing this cruelty, the deities of many star clusters could only click their tongues in shock.』
Kang-jun muttered, "Witnessing?" then suddenly looked up at the sky.
"So there are spectators this time too. Might as well give them a proper warning."
Ding!
A chime rang out, and system messages appeared before him.
[The 'Unstoppable Thunder' of the Asgard Star Cluster waves at you cheerfully.]
[The 'Seventh of the Seven Gods of Fortune' from Takamagahara Star Cluster begins to weep bitterly.]
[The 'Giant with Sewn-Shut Mouth' of Asgard expresses furious rage at your cruelty.]
[The 'Flame Giant Who Craves Annihilation' of Asgard threatens that you will soon meet your end.]
Kang-jun ignored them and continued speaking.
"If any of you set foot in my dimension for any reason—this will be your fate. Remember that."
He tossed the tongue aside and condensed black magic into a sharp blade.
"Now, beg for your life. Who knows? I might change my mind."
"S-spare..."
"Did I say begging would make me spare you?"
Without hesitation, Kang-jun drove the blade through Susanoo's throat.
[The deity Susanoo of the Takamagahara Star Cluster has perished.]
[You contributed the most to the demise of Takamagahara's deity.]
[You have absorbed a portion of Susanoo's divine power.]
Susanoo's head and limbs went limp against the cliff.
[Your presence as '■■■' grows more distinct.]
[Your deeds spread throughout the Abyss!]
[All gods of the Abyss turn their gaze upon you once more.]
As Kang-jun scanned the messages, he let out a low hum.
[A new divine authority has been unlocked.]
### Meanwhile
"What in the world just...?"
Those watching the battle from the shore stood frozen in shock.
The clash between the two deities was beyond mortal comprehension—
To their eyes, it had only seemed like the two exchanged fierce blows before vanishing into the distance.
"SKREEEEEEE—!"
Then, Yamata-no-Orochi suddenly let out a deafening roar and began surging toward where its master had disappeared.
"We have to stop it!"
Jung Yoon-chan, who had been watching the duel in a daze, shouted to the other hunters.
Though they had witnessed the life-and-death struggle, they couldn't begin to grasp its scale—
But if that colossal serpent joined the fight, Kang-jun would undoubtedly be overwhelmed.
"Ugh..."
Nuclear Samurai forced himself up, using his sword as a crutch. Yoon-chan spoke.
"We need your help to bind its movements."
Grimacing in pain, Nuclear Samurai nodded weakly.
"Y-yes... I'll help..."
Yoon-chan tilted his head.
"In that state?"
"Huh?"
"Cut off its head instead."
Nuclear Samurai stared at him blankly.
Without answering, Yoon-chan gestured to 'Genji'—charred black by the lightning strike.
"What...?"
Yoon-chan added,
"He's still alive."
True to his words, Genji's fingers twitched faintly.
"Do it before he dies."
Understanding, Nuclear Samurai tightened his grip on his sword's hilt.
Awakeners recovered their stamina whenever their level rose—
Kill, recover, and regain strength.
Swallowing dryly, he swung—decapitating Genji in one stroke.
[Level increased!]
A system message appeared.
[Stamina has been restored.]
His exhausted body surged with renewed energy.
"Hah..."
Staring at Genji's headless corpse, Nuclear Samurai spoke slowly.
"You..."
This cold demeanor was nothing like the Jung Yoon-chan he remembered.
"There are more still breathing. Order your hunters to do the same."
Without another word, Yoon-chan led the Korean hunters to block Yamata-no-Orochi's path.
After a pause, Nuclear Samurai shouted to his own hunters.
"Kill any surviving Shadow Corps members—recover your strength, then assist them!"
He then sprinted after Yoon-chan.
Clang! Clash! Screech—!
At the frontlines, Yoon-chan danced like a whirlwind, fending off all eight of the serpent's heads.
"Tch..."
His movements were fluid, but the strain was evident.
"We're joining!"
Dozens of hunters threw themselves into the chaotic battle against the eight heads and tails—
CRAAAAACK—!
Another rift tore open in the sky.
"Hssssss..."
A serpent many times larger than Yamata-no-Orochi peeked out, flicking its forked tongue.
The hunters froze in terror.
Thud. Thud.
Then, Kang-jun approached from the distance.
"Step back."
At his calm command, the hunters hastily retreated.
"Ouroboros."
Kang-jun spoke again.
"Devour it."
The moment that short order was given—
The most powerful serpent in existence...
Ouroboros swallowed it whole.