186 - The God's Descent
“……Possession?”
-Holy shit. You didn't see this coming either?
Carpe and even Cheonma were caught off guard by the completely unexpected turn of events.
At that moment—
Kiiing.
A strange sound effect rang out as a new magic circle began to rise beneath Carpe's feet.
But it wasn't your typical magic circle—the shape was a bit unusual.
A circular formation about 2 meters in diameter.
The edges were etched with indecipherable runes and geometric shapes, but at the center was a distinct emblem.
A hammer and anvil.
Identical to the medal Carpe had received from Astel, the ancient god of blacksmiths.
Rumble rumble.
As the magic circle's glow intensified, the entire cave began to shake.
“Grrrrr…… Hnngh!”
Thud!
The dwarf king, who had witnessed the holy light, suddenly acted strangely. His body trembled violently as he dropped to his knees right there.
Frantic was screaming something nearby, but the dwarf king just knelt in place, letting out pained groans.
The ancient god of play is horrified by the current situation.
The ancient god of play desperately warns that you're about to use up all the power you've painstakingly gathered so far.
The ancient god of blacksmiths ignores the ancient god of play.
The ancient god of play sighs deeply.
Possession. Beginning!
Fwaaah!
The moment the brilliant light bursting from the magic circle reached its peak—
<Can you hear me?>
The voice of Astel, the ancient god of blacksmiths, began to echo in his mind. Not as a ghostly projection like Cheonma's, but directly resonating inside his head.
<My apologies. Ideally, I'd ask for consent first, but urgency got the better of me. If you refuse, I'll cancel the possession and withdraw.>
Carpe tried to respond immediately but realized his mouth wouldn't open.
<In possession state, control of the body transfers over. Just reply in your thoughts.>
'Like this?'
<Yes. Loud and clear. So, what say you? Will you lend me your body for a bit?>
'Of course that's fine…… but are you okay with this, Lord Astel?'
Carpe was referring to the alert that had just appeared.
The “all the power you've gathered” that the god of play, Kero, had mentioned.
From the nuance, it seemed this possession would deplete Astel's power entirely……
'Kero's reaction suggests you're pushing yourself way too hard.'
<Hah. You're right. This possession will likely sap most of my strength.>
There was a hint of regret in Astel's voice.
<No wonder that swindler god is furious. Our grand plan, waited on for centuries, is about to be delayed again…… But.>
Soon, his tone shifted back to anger.
refuse to!>
True to form as the god of blacksmiths and dwarves.
In fantasy tales, dwarves were always depicted as tough, macho types—and their god took that to the next level.
<If I've abandoned my divinity, fine—but I can't overlook this outrage!>
With those rage-filled words as the signal, the possession fully took hold.
Possession complete.
Your possession status is 'Temporary Apostle'.
Unable to meet perfect conditions, the god's power cannot be fully manifested. Penalty applied.
Possession potency and duration halved.
Fwaaah!
With the possession complete, the surging white light was fully absorbed into Carpe's body.
“……Half my true power? Still, it should suffice.”
Astel's words emerged from Carpe's mouth. The voice remained Carpe's own.
“Eeeek! Move! I said move! Damn you—what the hell did you do?! I can't comprehend this phenomenon? Impossible!”
Frantic went berserk at the sight of the dwarf king ignoring his commands.
But no matter how much he yelled, the dwarf king didn't budge.
Realizing his brainwashing and madness spells weren't working, Frantic hurled the medal to the ground.
“Damn! Damn! Damn!”
After spitting curses, he seemed to steel himself and pulled a pitch-black orb from his pocket.
“……No choice. Didn't want to use this.”
The orb contained a fragment of the dwarf king's soul.
A tool Frantic had developed after long research—it could force the target to move by ensnaring their soul.
But the backlash severely damaged the soul. In the worst case, it left nothing but an empty shell.
'Gotta kill him fast!'
Wasting such a precious test subject went against Frantic's principles…… but this was an exception.
The aura emanating from that intruder felt wrong.
As a scientist, he hated to admit it, but his instincts screamed to eliminate the man immediately.
“Move! Kill that bastard!”
Frantic slashed his palm with a dagger and dripped blood onto the orb.
The black orb trembled violently.
“Kaaaaah!!!”
The dwarf king let out an agonized scream and rose. Blood vessels burst across his body, and the gruesome sound of twisting bones echoed repeatedly.
Somehow, the dwarf king stood and gripped his hammer once more.
Carpe—no, Astel in Carpe's body—gazed at the scene with sorrow.
“……Forgive me. When the radiant world of gods crumbled, I had no strength left for you. All my failing.”
“Grraaaah!”
Whoooosh!
Tears of blood streaming down, the dwarf king swung his hammer.
It carried far more ferocity than any previous attack—enough to crumple Royard's arms outright!
But—
Thwap!
Astel caught the ferocious blow with one palm. As if humoring a child swinging a toy hammer.
Carpe gulped inwardly at the absurd sight.
'……Whoa. Unreal. That got blocked? One hit like that would've reverse-summoned all my summons. What a glitchy scene.'
-What'd you expect from an ancient god's full power? They only lost to patron spirits. Still a god. No way some mad human's creation gives them trouble.
But the mad human couldn't accept the scene before him.
“I-Impossible! How…….”
“Shut that foul mouth.”
“Guhk!”
Astel glared at Frantic, who was suddenly slammed to the ground. As if crushing gravity bore down on him. The black shield protecting him did nothing.
“I'd tear you apart right now, but seeing off my child comes first. If you value that worm life even a little, stay quiet.”
Astel approached the dwarf king another step.
The king roared and tried to swing, but for some reason, the hammer wouldn't leave Astel's palm.
“Forgive me. This is all I can do.”
Astel knew the instant possession took hold.
The dwarf king could never return to normal.
Both soul and body were ruined—death was the only escape.
Even the ancient god of life and healing couldn't mend that state.
Astel reached out and touched the suffering king's forehead. Pure white light spread from the point of contact, and the king's roars gradually faded.
Focus returned to his eyes. His reason, devoured by demonic energy, was restored.
“Does it feel easier? Are you lucid?”
“Lo……rd…… My…… god.”
“Yes, my child.”
“I…… cannot…… offer…… proper…… rites…… forgive……”
“Enough. What rites in this mess? I should be the one begging forgiveness.”
“Y-Your…… grace……”
“No time—straight to the point. Your body can't be restored. You'll succumb to the demonic taint again soon. Thus, I'll send you off myself. Is that alright?”
“……The greatest…… honor.”
A final burst of clarity?
Like a candle flaring brightest before extinguishing, the dwarf king replied with a clear voice.
“Good. Give me your hammer.”
“Here…… my lord.”
The trembling hands offered the hammer to Astel.
“A fine hammer. Among those I've seen wielded by artisans these 500 years, the finest. You've a worthy companion.”
“A hammer that struck life, not metal. I can never strike metal again…… I can only apologize to my friend.”
“A smith's hammer stained with blood cleanses only with the smith's own. But this wasn't your will—your friend will serve well hereafter.”
“My gratitude.”
“Prepare yourself.”
At Astel's words, the dwarf king knelt and bowed his head.
Dwarves who could no longer wield hammers due to grievous wounds or illness sought death by a kinsman's hand.
They saw such a state as a greater shame than death—for smith and warrior.
A lifelong smith received the clan's greatest warrior's hammer; a lifelong warrior used their own. Tradition.
The warrior's hammer was buried; the smith's melted and reborn anew.
Thus, a funeral by their tribal god's hand was the dwarf king's ultimate honor.
“May your soul find peace.”
Thud!
Astel's hammer snapped the dwarf king's neck clean. The king slumped sideways.
“……”
Astel watched the scene for a long moment before turning away.
There, Frantic crawled on the floor in horror.
“Now then.”
“H-Hiiik!”
“What to do with you?”
Astel's fury-laden voice echoed through the cave.
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