The Martial God's Heavenly Mandate
Searching for corruption was just another ordinary day. Of course, rifts had appeared in nearby cities, and terrorist attacks had broken out in others, but those incidents were no different from the natural disasters that had plagued the world for ages. For those who hadn't suffered direct harm, the blue sky remained a normal, peaceful part of everyday life.
But Kim Woo-jin, a veteran reporter specializing in incidents and accidents at a major newspaper, had been living with growing frustration for the past few months.
Crash!
"Damn it! Are they trying to fire me or what?!"
Once again, his article had been rejected. Kim Woo-jin hurled the document file onto his desk and collapsed into his chair with a heavy sigh filled with anger and worry.
His junior, who had been browsing the internet in the next cubicle, rolled his chair back and spoke up.
"See? I told you the chief would reject it again today."
"…Hah. What's wrong with the chief lately? He's been shooting everything down for months."
"Exactly. It's like he completely changed a few months ago."
"It's not just the chief. The others are acting weird too."
The junior nodded in agreement and let out a sigh. Then he stood up and glanced cautiously around the office.
"Hey, what article are you working on today? I'm writing one about that hero."
"Wait, you're doing a hero piece too?"
"Why? Were you planning to write it? Go ahead, I can pick another hero story."
"True. There are more than enough heroes to dig dirt on."
Even though their department was supposed to cover incidents and accidents, every conversation around them revolved around heroes—specifically, negative stories about heroes destroying things, injuring people, or worse. The positive parts about saving lives or making sacrifices were deliberately omitted, replaced with sensational, accusatory language.
"…They weren't like this in the beginning."
The junior muttered with a mix of confusion and pity before returning to his seat and resuming his internet browsing.
He's probably going to quit soon too.
Seeing his usually energetic junior so listless made Kim Woo-jin crave a cigarette. He suppressed the urge, reopened his laptop, and unlocked the screen.
Just then—
"S-Senior! Senior!"
His junior shouted urgently, pounding on the partition. Kim Woo-jin stood up and walked over.
"What is it?"
"Look at this! Quick!"
The junior moved aside and pointed at his screen.
"What the hell are you—"
Kim Woo-jin froze, doubting his own eyes.
[Breaking News] [Martial God, Baek Yoo-hwa's Official Statement!]
"…Is this real?"
His junior scrolled down and quickly opened the Arena Academy website. There, confirming the news, was a massive banner:
[LIVE] [Director's Official Statement]
It wasn't just text. It was a live broadcast.
"…Open it."
The junior nodded and clicked the banner. The screen changed, revealing the broadcast.
A vast, grand, and ornate hall. In the center sat the Martial God herself, exuding noble dignity with a bored expression, legs crossed on a massive throne.
Kim Woo-jin and his junior watched with bated breath. This was the first official statement from the Martial God, the Transcendent known across the Korean Peninsula—and the entire world. Whatever she had to say, it was bound to be monumental. Tension gave way to fear.
What could possibly make her issue a statement?
Is she planning to leave the country? Did she fail to stop the apostles?
Countless anxious thoughts raced through their minds. Then the Martial God lowered the hand supporting her chin and opened her mouth.
— To cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world…
— Yet recently, cockroach-like vermin have begun defiling not just homes, but the entire nation.
— I can no longer stand idly by.
Her pitch-black eyes turned crimson.
Crack-crack-crack…!
Space itself began fracturing around her.
— I hereby issue my heavenly mandate.
She extended her hand into the air and clenched her fist. A jet-black blade appeared in her grasp.
Vmmmm—!
She slammed the blade into the floor.
CRASH—!!
The fracturing space shattered like broken glass, revealing a deep, pitch-black abyss.
"Holy shit…"
Kim Woo-jin and his junior both cursed under their breath. Their bodies trembled violently. Even through a screen, an overwhelming terror threatened to crush their minds—while simultaneously instilling an irresistible urge to kneel and worship.
Thud. Thud.
The sound of knees hitting the floor echoed from somewhere. They realized it was coming from themselves. They were already kneeling.
— Root out the evil that defiles the Korean Peninsula.
The heavenly mandate resonated in their minds, hearts, and souls. It wasn't just them—everyone kneeling felt it.
— I grant you exactly one month.
— Should you fail to fulfill my mandate within that time…
Shing.
The sound of a sword being drawn rang out.
— Then I shall descend personally.
With those words, the blade sliced through the air.
At the same time—
RUMBLE-RUMBLE-RUMBLE—!!
A deafening roar shook the heavens. Screams of terror erupted from every direction.
— So do not disappoint me.
The Martial God's voice rang clear. Then the broadcast ended.
"…The broadcast has ended."
Kim Woo-jin and his junior let out sighs of relief and leaned against the partition. As they wiped the sweat from their faces—
"…Aaaagh!"
"W-What the hell is that?!"
Panicked shouts came from the window side. They rushed over and looked outside.
"…Holy shit."
The sky had split open. Beyond the crack, the star-filled cosmos was visible.
They stared upward with a mixture of terror and reverence, the Martial God's words echoing in their ears: one month.
Their gazes dropped to their colleagues. Among them, trembling with fear, they saw evil.
Listen up, you fools. The country's gone to hell lately. So clean it up before I wipe everything away myself. Got it?
sky_split.jpg
— What the hell?
— You didn't see the sky this afternoon?
— Yeah, I was sleeping. Did the Martial God really split the sky?
— 100% real. The universe was visible and everyone freaked out.
— Man, I should've stayed awake instead of napping.
We're not slaves.
— You're a Fallen Believer, aren't you?
— Lol, outed yourself.
— Heroes will be coming for you soon.
— Even if you're not a Fallen Believer, you still deserve a beating.
— Calling the Martial God's mandate tyranny? You need a serious beating.
— Lol, braindead idiot.
No wonder he kept telling me to move somewhere "better." Damn it.
— You're screwed. My fiancée was a Fallen Believer.
— Whoa, that's rough.
— At least you're alive, right?
— Dude, read the room…
[Breaking News] Mid-tier guild Ares Guild conducting Fallen Believer purge.
[Breaking News] Majority of Chunha Daily staff revealed as Fallen Believers!
[Breaking News] Mass purges underway in military units!
[Breaking News] Government requests aid from the Great Temple—request accepted.
[Breaking News] Korea Superhuman Association begins Fallen Believer search per the Martial God's mandate…
[Breaking News] Congressman claims: "The Martial God is merely a superhuman who ignores the law. The purge must stop…"
[Article] "Dear citizens! The Martial God is nothing more than a tyrant! Everyone, come to your senses and stop the purge— Aaaagh!"
"That crazy bastard!"
"He's a Fallen Believer! We got him!"
"Grab him! Don't let him escape!"
"The Martial God has drawn her sword! Follow her heavenly mandate!"
"For the Martial God!"
"There! There's a Fallen Believer over there!"
"…It's not me! I'm not a Fallen Believer!"
"Then hold this corruption detector."
"……Shit!"
"He's running! Grab him! No—just kill him!"
The Korean Peninsula was now ablaze with purges. Civilians, superhumans, and even villains were hunting Fallen Believers according to the Martial God's decree. Of course, the punitive forces—including ours—and every guild were no exception.
"…P-Please spare me. I was only threatened by the Fallen Ones…"
"You seemed to be living quite comfortably for someone under threat. Selling out your own subordinates and family, no less."
"T-That's…"
Slash!
"Save your excuses for the afterlife."
Backed by the Martial God's authority, we were thoroughly investigating every major institution.
As expected of the Martial God.
Her overwhelming power and prestige crushed all opposition. I recalled her greatness as she overturned the entire board, and continued searching for Fallen Believers alongside my comrades.
The method was simple. Storm a major institution, declare the Martial God's mandate, and enter without resistance. Then use the portable corruption detectors provided by the Great Temple to locate the unique demonic energy of the Fallen. Those who surrendered were arrested.
"Damn it! We won't go quietly—"
Boom—!
Those who resisted were executed on the spot.
After three weeks of relentless cleansing—
"Finally, the country feels a little cleaner."
We had removed most of the filth spread across the peninsula. However, because we had scrubbed so thoroughly, every punitive force and guild member—except those guarding the frontlines—was now buried in documents from major institutions.
Of course, these weren't ordinary administrative files. They were documents touched by Fallen Believers. The sheer volume was overwhelming.
"Ugh… I'm gonna die."
"…I'd rather fight the Fallen Ones than do this."
"Someone… get me out of this paperwork hell…"
Watching my exhausted teammates with a weary expression, I turned to Kali, who was manipulating dozens of pens with telekinesis amid towers of documents.
"Um, Commander?"
"What is it?"
"I'm just an intern… Is it really okay for me to handle such important documents?"
"You're no ordinary intern."
Well, when you put it that way, I have nothing to say.
"And what we're doing isn't mere paperwork. We're rooting out the filth left by the Fallen Believers. So endure it."
"…Understood."
…Right. I'll endure it. New people will be assigned to these institutions soon anyway.
I swallowed the sigh rising from deep within and picked up my pen again.
Terra… I'm counting on you.
Understood. Leave it to me.