Monster of the Saga (2)
A moment ago, I'd pulled off the gamble of a lifetime. Ripping out my own heart as an offering and executing the grand magic known as reincarnation. Of course, I had confidence. I'd received power from the deep-sea residents and endured trials of agony to elevate my soul's rank. Still, it had been risky as hell, and without Shin-nim's secret help, things might've gone sideways—like losing an arm or forgetting an organ.
'Thanks, Shin-nim.'
[Husbands and wives are one body. Keep the thanks.]
She says the most embarrassing things so casually. Anyone hearing that would think I was the wife and Shin-nim the husband.
"Ssssh..."
Anyway, that's how I was reborn. Breathing with my newly formed lungs cleared my chest right out. It felt like shedding ten years of grime, my body light enough to soar. Right now, I could take on anyone.
[A fight is inevitable, so no need to drag it out.]
"My bad. Let's get right to it."
I was savoring the reborn vibe when Yog-Sothoth started prodding me. Transformation's done—fight already. It couldn't touch me thanks to Shin-nim, but they'd waited patiently without tricks. Time to give Yog what it wants.
[Let's go.]
I boiled up deep-sea energy. Dark blue mist-like aura rippled, coalescing in midair to form a magic circle. No wounds, no blood—thanks to my transformed body and the deep-sea knowledge from the residents.
"Open the gate"
A bizarre melody flowed from my mouth—not Earth's tongue, but deep-sea script. Using it compressed chants and amplified magic several times over.
—Krwaaang!!
The chant ended, and deep ocean water gushed from the magic circle. But it didn't stop there. Infused with deep-sea energy, it carried residents and kelp.
"Kyaaak!"
[Kyakyakyaak!]
[Kkwooooung...]
None were overwhelmingly strong alone, but their role was huge. With them, this place became deep-sea territory.
[...Displeasing, human child.]
[Jealous? Then get lost to your own house.]
Yog-Sothoth now dominated here, freely manipulating space and time—everything was in its palm. Stealing territory and control was key.
"Build the temple"
I boiled energy again, activating magic. A structure rose from the bottomless deep sea—a temple for a god. Unrelated to Shin-nim, though. Temples seek blessings; I was overflowing with them.
"Worship"
This temple worshipped me—Shin-nim's husband, first legitimate ruler of the seas. Roughly, I'd claimed some ocean domain; details fuzzy.
[Kieeeek!]
[O God... mercy upon me...]
[Uwoooo!]
All residents around me began worshipping. Some sang praises, others screamed in agony, offering lives. Faith energy surged, refilling my depleted mana instantly.
[Enough games.]
"Eek."
Enemies wouldn't just watch. Yog-Sothoth cast magic—no chant—blasting spells rivaling grand magic.
[Fire.]
I commanded the sea to counter. Water orbs floated, becoming arrows at my will, launching at my gesture. Same old technique, but power transformed. Endless space, half-filled with ocean. Horizon-spanning arrows clashed with grand spells—world-shattering boom.
—Krwaaakang!
If this were a normal city, it'd be razed. A magic tower? Crashed into a crater in Anyang City. Here, no holding back.
[Crush]
[Waves, surge forth.]
Fire storms and spell barrages canceled out; we prepped next strikes. Yog tore space at me; I countered with waves—not ordinary water magic, but anomaly-like, brimming with deep-sea power.
[Don't yield.]
[——————!!!]
World folded, crushing the sea. Waves pushed back but held territory without dissipating.
"Huu... Thought I was dead."
I couldn't dodge the aftermath in the sea either. But attacks didn't end. Yog-Sothoth—top cosmic entity, immortal, transcendent—wouldn't stop here.
[Tear endlessly]
Yog snapped fingers; world shattered. Not just air splitting visually—space glass broke, and we witnessed it.
"What the—?!"
Crack spread; rift reached me, splitting my hand with a creak. I surged energy to repair, but ignoring it spelled doom.
"Hm..."
Unfortunately, no counter-magic. Riding waves to retreat—buying time at best. Needed new spell to resolve.
"Sorry, Go-seo? Can you come for a sec?"
[....]
Deep-sea knowledge boosted magic, but I knew little. Needed grimoire... Problem: I'd neglected Go-seo too long.
"My bad, didn't expect the trip to drag. Would've brought you."
[Ung.]
"Remote summon? Yeah, my screw-up. Sorry."
Suddenly, Go-seo was in my hand. But cover wouldn't open—she was pissed. Nearly a month ignored; fair.
"...I'll grant one wish."
[Ung?]
"And sleep with you by my side every night."
[Hubby? What're you saying?]
Shin-nim jumped in fast. No sharing the marital bed with Go-seo. But if I was right... Go-seo wouldn't yield much to her.
[Ung.]
[First: Open your eyes nicely?]
[Ung! Uuung!]
[I'm the wife. You're the daughter.]
[Fuc... wha... thing...]
[Oh? Wanna go?]
Catfight(?) between book(?) and Shin-nim. Normally I'd watch, but life on line now.
"Talk later?! I'm dying soon!"
[...We'll see later.]
[Uong uong.]
Hasty truce. Go-seo leaned into my hand, flipping to desired page. Previously ink-blurred, now vivid.
[Residents of the Second Sea, as your lord and father, I command: Come here and aid me.]
Seemed Korean, but pure deep-sea tongue. Actually, overlapped chants: Go-seo in deep-sea, me in Korean. Power squared, speed same. Not Yog's 0.1-sec instant, but advanced.
"Success!"
—Crack, creeeak.
Chant done, rifts split. Otherworldly critters crawled out, weird noises.
[Pirurung?]
[Kkurruk!]
[Pungpungpung!]
Past summons resembled Earth creatures. These? Totally alien—Yog-side kin, fluid-bodied like slimes.
[Block those!]
[Kkwiruru!]
They obeyed, morphing: expanding, shrinking, puzzle-piecing. Then pung!—vanished; rifts sealed.
'What a mindfuck.'
Body evolved, eyes too. I vaguely saw: morphed bodies pinned space—like clay patching ruins.
[...Indeed, deep-sea's progeny—bizarre and inscrutable.]
"Thanks for the praise?"
Even Yog-Sothoth impressed. Bizarre, but versatile. Mastering would take effort.
[Can't let you grow more.]
"???"
[Time to end it.]
Suddenly, Yog made odd noise. We'd just traded probes—now ultimate attack? Infinite space compressed in its hand; time around me slowed.
"...Tch."
I groaned. No way I could block that. Body adapted? Maybe. Now, just processing insights.
'Shin-nim? Save me?'
[Hmph!]
'I'll grant your wish too.'
[Trust only me, hubby!]
Borrowing her power to shatter time's chains—then Yog swallowed its orb.
Moment of silence.
—Kuugugugugu...
What followed? Foggy. Yog's body collapsed; I blocked the fallout full-throttle, exhausting mana and blacking out. Lucky girl survived blast.
"V. I saved you."
"..."
Opening eyes: Ma Tower infirmary, Min-yeong peace-signing before me.
...No clue what happened.