First King's Will Activates!!

[Divine power is absorbed into the Blood Oath Dagger.]

"Hraaaaaah!!!"

Every time the Blood Oath Dagger grazed them, the shadows exploded and burst apart, their power seeping into the blade.

Boom! Kwang! Kwaang-!!

Just as the shadows detonated, Black Eye blocked my path, shielding me from the explosions kicked up by their dust.

As if we'd been syncing up for years, I stepped on his shoulder and leaped, plunging the dagger into the heart of the shadow swarm.

True Chilya 4th Sword

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flames lingering on the dagger's blade merged with the sword aura of the four strikes, incinerating every shadow around us.

Skang-! Tsss...!!

Only the lingering flames from the sword aura rose above the shadows' ashes, scattering black smoke.

The glow left by the dying shadows seeped into the blade.

I slowly straightened up.

Yeolhwa-cheon—the ability the man in the dagger's final memory scene had used. It was a crowd buff that strengthened allies with purifying flames generated from the dagger, but it didn't end there. The stronger Yeolhwa-cheon grew, the more Huasin Army it could summon.

Unlike my current flames, which barely supported a few dozen Huasin Army, his Yeolhwa-cheon had ignited the weapons of an army filling the lands beyond a massive castle wall. At least a million strong.

A chill ran down my spine. True to its name—flames migrating like wildfire—every soldier standing on the earth was touched by fire. The sheer scale of that flaming legion sent shivers through me just watching; it looked like it could slay even gods.

I don't know the true identity of that man Mu-yeol, but the fact that he could wield this dagger made by the First King means he too bore the will of Godslayer.

"Kaaaaak!!"

I calmly slashed at the shadows charging to block me, stepping forward.

Puuuung---!!

Explosions continued as the dagger sucked in the remaining shadows' divine power. The more monsters I felled, the more my divine power grew and recovered—swinging the blade freely left me tireless, my body feeling lighter instead.

I can do more.

Even purifying the dagger had left me gasping, barely able to swing it. Ironically, this dangerous god-hunt felt more exhilarating now by comparison.

I can get stronger.

Any Dimension World player thirsted for growth. That's why they fought over levels, gear, skills, traits—racing for the fastest, best, rarest powers. With that chance right in front of me, how could I not be thrilled?

"How...?"

Unlike my empowering dagger, the Curtain God stared in dismay at his shadows falling like autumn leaves.

"Why... are my shadows losing to a mere human's familiar?"

He muttered in confusion.

"Who knows? Looks like humans have been preparing to beat you lot since ancient times."

"Or maybe it's the aspirations of others besides the First King."

Shring—I slowly raised the dagger toward the Curtain God.

"Whoever it came from, the intent to slay gods is the same."

"Insolent...!"

Godslayer. The very word must have sounded treasonous to the Curtain God.

"This dagger was forged by the First King for godslaying. Maybe he foresaw the Calamity sealed in the tower's upper levels. That's why he made it for his descendants. But..."

I met his gaze.

"I don't think it's for slaying gods—it's for hunting the Calamity. Curtain God, if you truly care for the continent's safety, shouldn't you help me?"

"Help? I have no intention of joining some arrogant fool trying to stand above gods."

"I'm just offering a way. Unlike lesser gods, upper gods can't manifest your power directly on the continent. Am I wrong?"

The Curtain God faltered at my words.

"Yeomhwa-ryeong's flames might spark a forest fire at best, but your slightest gesture could sink the continent into the sea. That's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠your 'rules,' right?"

In reality, it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just game settings dictated by the system... but...

Pushing aside the mysteries from the dagger's memories, I tried interpreting this as a Dimension World player.

"That's why you need incarnations to influence this world. You'd know, being a god like the Devotion God who issues oracles through the Descending Dancer."

"How...?"

"We both want to protect the continent. Why can't you, a god, see beyond just one thing?"

Did my words hit home? The veil covering the Curtain God's face trembled slightly, as if his heart wavered.

"What's the point of pride between humans and gods? In the end, we'll be the ones fighting the Calamity—not you. If the continent and humanity vanish, what use is a god left behind? With no one to revere you."

Grip—! I yanked his robe, pulling his face close.

"God, lighten up. If you see us as tools, then find the best way to make those tools stronger."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Didn't I already propose that? Become my incarnation."

"No. You know why that's impossible."

"Why?"

If I'd viewed the god-fight as a player until now, I switched to the memories of being the Iron Kingdom's king from my dreams.

"You can't win as an incarnation."

When the Devotion God's oracle came and his incarnation, the Descending Dancer, appeared, humanity thought hope had arrived. But for me, it was only despair—watching her die repeatedly.

"Just as humans unite against the Calamity, gods must unite too."

"Meaning my power alone isn't enough?"

Judging a god would wound his pride, right or wrong.

"Yes."

I answered without hesitation. I sensed I was the only one who could speak the truth, even if it offended him—gods couldn't foresee the Calamity war's outcome either. Maybe that was the Linker's duty.

"If the tower's sealed Calamity descends, the Devotion God's incarnation will be torn to shreds, and you'd flee in terror."

"...What did you say?"

"Eye for an eye, power for power."

I stared at the Curtain God.

"I seek the power of the last upper god—the God of Slaughter."

The most domineering upper god. But his worship of raw power and destruction risked madness. That's why the Land of Savages' barbarians, despite their might, splintered into tribes—they each claimed to be his incarnation, rejecting others. Different from the scattered northern tribes.

"To claim the God of Slaughter, I'll need help from you, the Devotion God, and the Curtain God."

"Even the Devotion God? That's impossible by nature, strong or weak. Her incarnation can only be a woman."

"Are you dim, or just not listening?"

"...What?"

"I said I don't want to be an incarnation. To hold multiple gods' powers, I can't be bound to one."

The Curtain God stared at me, incredulous.

"A fancy excuse for 'all us upper gods serve you.'"

"Obviously. Who else understands and wields divine power better than me on this continent? Has anyone gained divine power on their own, without becoming an incarnation?"

Sensing his emotions shift, I pressed the advantage.

"I saw the Calamity's harbingers in Mu-hal, that small castle in the duchy. A being called the White Knight was using humans as sacrifices for unknown experiments."

"White Knight...? You mean the Plague Knight?"

As expected, the Curtain God knew of the Apocalyptic Knights. I knew them from dream memories, but this was Dimension World, not a dream.

"Apocalyptic Knights? So there are others besides him?"

I kept my expression neutral and continued.

"Yes. Hmph, already...? The Calamity's harbingers have awakened."

I knew their horror better than anyone.

"Don't believe me? Check Black Eye. As a divine beast body, he absorbed the White Knight's power."

"...What? You hunted him?"

"Yes."

"Unbelievable..."

Even as he spoke, the Curtain God instantly recognized Black Eye's flame armor as the White Knight's.

"A human who stopped a Calamity harbinger..."

"And treats lesser gods and divine beasts as familiars."

"No wonder you're so full of yourself."

As the Curtain God waved his staff, the surrounding shadows vanished. Dozens remained—I could've gained more divine power—but he spoke first.

"How can I trust you're telling the truth?"

"I have a way."

I began the plan I'd prepared, facing him.

"What gods do best."

"...What?"

"Test me."

For a moment, the veil over the Curtain God's face lifted slightly in the breeze, revealing his gaze fixed on me.

"I'll challenge your trial again. Not some trivial forest escape—but a test worthy of one who claims a god's power."

Thump-thump-thump—my heartbeat pounded in my ears.

Then it happened.

"Indeed... You have the confidence to pass the trial I'll set."

The alert appeared, and I clenched my fist without thinking.

Got him.

"Of course. Make sure the quest reward is solid."

I hit accept and spoke to the Curtain God in a low voice.

"I'll take it all for myself."