Apostle of the Forge God
Apostle Cheon Gi-seong, an ancient constellation and divinity, had lately found himself deeply immersed in the tales of the human realm.
Yes, from the perspective of other gods, it might seem utterly baffling.
Just as humans never bother peering into the lives of insects, he too had no real stake in whether humans lived or died, excelled or failed.
Yet recently, for reasons he couldn't quite pinpoint, his gaze had been drawn to one particular child. Not one of the familiar Western youths from his own myths, but a boy from the distant East, far removed from those legends.
Pang Yujin, seemingly born to a family of martial artists, yet gifted with extraordinary craftsmanship. It had been centuries since he'd seen talent like this in anyone.
But that alone wouldn't have held his interest. The boy seemed set on the path of a warrior rather than honing his gifts, and gods like those atop Olympus, who had gazed down on the mortal world for millennia, eventually lost all fascination with human affairs.
—Until he witnessed that scene.
"How could such a grotesque life emerge from my body, the pinnacle of Olympus? This child is my shame, an insult to the gods."
'Yujin is excommunicated from the Pang Clan of Hebei.'
Cast out from the foundation of his life,
"Want to survive this treacherous place? Then learn my craft."
'Start with something practical you can use right away... Shall we try?'
He honed his skills from the very bottom without complaint.
"Ares, Aphrodite. Those bastards have finally gone and done it!"
'Yeona, how could you...'
Even when his lover betrayed him and cheated,
"Athena, I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to sleep with you... You might not believe me, but it's all those bastards' scheme."
'...I hate you. ...I hate everyone. ...I hate this world.'
Even when they, as part of their revenge, committed absurd acts that shattered even that love,
"I was a body that should never have been born."
'Why, why can't I do it?'
He endured the injustice, having no choice but to hold back.
...But even when he defended himself, few listened.
In a world where only the victim suffered while the perpetrators went free, was this normal?
That's why he couldn't help but become engrossed in that human child.
A boy of exceptional quality illuminated by the starlight of his constellation, for some reason. A boy cornered by circumstances eerily similar to his own, for some reason.
—Crunch.
Anger surged. His own powerless past projected onto the boy all too clearly.
Sure, in the realm of gods, it might be different. But there was no reason to witness such infuriating mortal nonsense. When the boy finally turned to his innate talent,
He broke his long silence and resolved to intervene in the human world.
"Seek revenge. Fight back. Change it all."
Words from his usually gentle nature, revealing long-buried emotions and wounds.
—Just as he, who had overcome endless trials, eventually met his beloved wife Aglaia,
He found himself hoping the boy too would find a future filled with happiness and light. Such was the sight of this one divinity.
"To protect your worth, become the apostle of this 'Hephaestus'."
His incantation.
It granted immense power to what was once a mere human child.
—Yes, human strength might be feeble, but divine intervention could defy even fate itself.
Those few words carried profound will.
*
We hold the numerical advantage.
Brother Heuk Ung even has a record of crushing that brute one-on-one.
"Grk." "Ugh, what the hell! It won't go out!"
But for all their overconfidence, Heuk Ung and the Sado Gate disciples were struggling hard.
They knew the monster wielded a massive cannon (hwabo) as a weapon.
From reports and the duel they'd witnessed before. So they thought they had a solid countermeasure.
WHOOOOSH!
"Gaaah!" "Hot, it's too hot!"
But that wasn't in the intel!
Flames gradually consuming the space.
Those who couldn't dodge writhed in agony from the horrific burning, some even hurling themselves into wells.
Whatever. Yujin's hands busily sprayed fire everywhere, but his eyes locked on one spot.
The nozzle spewed blistering heat, yet his mind stayed ice-cold, processing info from his rapidly scanning eyes.
His free hand stayed busy too, picking off priority targets.
Click, pssh!
"Kraaak!"
Thud.
Against warriors with meager neigong, the three-barreled handgun sufficed.
Aim roughly with one hand from that little iron lump—they didn't even think to block. Or maybe the raging flames distracted them, missing the timing.
Iron nails from the handgun struck vital points, sending them screaming to the ground.
"I don't know where you got that freakish weapon, but you think it'll let you beat me?"
Sado Gate Master Heuk Ung stepped forward.
Master. In a world teeming with martial artists, not all reach that pinnacle.
What sets masters apart, earning respect? The ability to respond without hesitation to bizarre crises amid countless warriors—and win.
Tat-tat-tat—evasive footwork. "Hah!"
Clang! Followed by relentless Quick Evil Fusion Technique.
The flames were blocked, but before they reached him, his blade grazed the brute in a flash of speed.
'Damn.'
But that bizarre flamethrower was tricky even for Heuk Ung.
The pillar of fire couldn't be ignored—scorching hot, spreading across the ground, limiting his footing.
Pssshhh!
At full speed, though, the curving flames couldn't follow his body.
One hit, one vital strike, and it was over. Circling the brute to create an opening and angle.
Clang, slash.
Yes, just like this. The thin cut felt like slicing meat—victory in sight.
A few more rounds, even if tough, and he'd take down the muscle pig.
'Grk?'
What? Then he realized the weapon's trick.
He hadn't noticed mid-air blasts, but even after hitting the ground long ago, the flames raged on.
No fuel, yet burning wildly, widening paths of fire.
"Fuck!"
He flung off his burning leather shoes. What the hell is this?
For a moment, primal fear gripped him—not of the man, but instinctual dread of fire, like any animal.
What to do? No solution came; Heuk Ung floundered.
"...Huh?"
—Drip, drip.
Small streams began pattering onto his bare feet.
'...Rain! It's raining!'
What luck! Weather had been overcast since yesterday—bound to happen.
Heaven was on his side, literally.
Not a downpour, but fire and water clash by nature.
Soon, the flames would die, the pillars weaken and fade.
Visually, they already seemed dimmer; the liquid from the device washed away by rain.
"Here I go!"
Now's the chance. Might just be a sprinkle, so his counterattack began.
*
"God, I hate getting tangled in political bullshit."
Dohyang, a seasoned Inspectorate official, pondered how to handle his old friend's request.
The smug prick from the Imperial Guard had stormed out, gone radio silent, then popped up with this.
Is he screwing with me?
He hated hassle. Sure, duty might force his hand with authority,
"Rebellion!" "Shit."
But now he had to act.
He was on his rounds anyway; ignoring a revolt as an Inspectorate man? Neglect charges if word got out.
'Wi Eokgi, you sneaky bastard.'
Rubbing his temples, brow furrowed, headache incoming.
Without the tip-off, he'd shrug it as bad luck.
Words differ by context; variables shift judgments.
But with the intel, if it reached the crown prince faction... Horrifying.
No defense; he'd be branded Princess Hyejin's ally.
...So annoying.
"Put out the fire first."
Body moving despite gripes. Subordinates fell in behind.
"You'll pay later. Big time."
A drink won't cut it. He'd make him suffer.
But first, quell the chaos.
"Status of Jiangsu military?" "...They're fighting hard, but suppression's tough."
"Useless!"
Rebellion: when authority fails, show overwhelming force or negotiate.
Otherwise, no dialogue possible. But where to get it?
"Uh, he said read the back after the letter."
"Hm?"
If you need help, contact us anytime. We're ready, and close by—we can aid swiftly.
"Right in his palm."
Sigh. Inspectorate request gives Zhejiang military perfect pretext.
Screw it. He rolled the letter for the messenger bird and prepped to head out.
"Let's go!"
Might as well flex Inspectorate authority properly.
Power games later; they upheld the Emperor's will nationwide.
Authority waned with madmen everywhere, but no one in the empire ignored them outright. Proud badge and banner forward, Dohyang led his men to the scene.